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Tuesday, June 29, 2021
[New post] 5 Things That Make Me Read a Book Blog
Krysta posted: " There are many aspects to appreciate about book blogs! Here are just five things I enjoy that make me want to read all the latest from a blog! Original Content This may be obvious, but I am particularly drawn to content that I cannot find "
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New post on Pages Unbound | Book Reviews & Discussions
There are many aspects to appreciate about book blogs! Here are just five things I enjoy that make me want to read all the latest from a blog!
Original Content
This may be obvious, but I am particularly drawn to content that I cannot find anywhere else! This might mean interesting discussion posts, or even a signature writing voice that just makes every post feel humorous or enjoyable. It also means that I tend to prefer blogs that are not mostly memes (unless they are discussion memes) and tags. While I appreciate that memes and tags are a great way for bloggers to connect, if I see ten posts in my feed with the same meme, I likely won't read all of them because it starts to feel repetitive. I will, however, click on a post that stands out from the crowd.
It is not difficult to find writers bewailing the deceased attention span of readers. Nor is it difficult to find book bloggers who are convinced it is time to ditch the book review altogether. However, I still love reading book reviews and, in particular, book reviews that have some substance to them. I think four to five paragraphs is the ideal length for a review, since it gives the writer time to develop their argument, without the risk of losing the thread--but I am willing to read much longer posts, if the content is written in an engaging manner and there is a clear argument being developed and supported.
Having a well-developed argument is key, though; an engaging post is not created simply through an arbitrary ideal length. The idea that blog posts should have an argument might sound overly formal or academic, but it really just means, in this case, that the review has some sort of point (i. e. the book is good and I should read it, or the book is not good and I should not read it) supported by some sort of of textual evidence (reference to plot points, characterization, quotes, etc.). My desire to see more than one to three paragraphs in a book review usually is simply because assessing a book in a meaningful way becomes more difficult when a reviewer does not have the space to build up their argument.
I recognize that this viewpoint runs counter to many tips proposed by book bloggers, who often recommend shorter posts or posts broken up with plenty of graphics and/or GIFs to keep readers engaged. However, I think it just goes to show that there's likely an audience out there for you, no matter what your writing style is. Don't be troubled if others find your posts "too long" or "academic-sounding" or whatever other terms people may use to suggest that readers will not like it. Readers are not a monolithic group. What one person does not enjoy may be what someone else does.
My enjoyment of lengthy discussion posts comes from many of the same reasons I noted above for my enjoyment of in-depth reviews--I like to see discussions that have space for the writer to make a point and then back it up. Quite often, a paragraph or two simply does not give a writer enough room to develop their points. I am not advocating for the five-paragraph essay to make a return (such essays tend not to bring out the best in any writer), but the concept behind the five-paragraph essay is worth returning to, even for those no longer in school: advance an argument, then back it up with several examples. I think interesting discussions are more likely to evolve from posts that give several points for readers to think about and respond to, and so longer posts tend to get my attention more than shorter ones.
Recommendation lists are a staple of many book blogs, and I particularly enjoy ones that have a larger number of recommendations (around 10), as well as ones that are more specific ("10 Middle Grade Fantasies with Unicorns" instead of just "10 Unicorn Books"). Longer lists with specific titles mean I am more likely to find a recommendation that will suit me. If five of the 10 unicorn books are picture books, but I wanted an adult fantasy, I won't find that as useful. And if there are only three recommendations, and I don't like any of them, I won't find that as useful, either.
I also really love unique book lists, ones with themes that I would not have thought of myself, or that I cannot easily search and find a bunch of other recommendations for.
Personality can really make a blog! I enjoy lively and witty posts that are fun to read, usually moreso than angry ones (though, like many people, I also love a hilariously snarky review now and then!). I also love blogs where the blogger is friendly and interacts in the comments.
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