I have seen this talked about through social media and I finally actually want to write a post about it. I saw a tweet about an angry author who was annoyed because a book blogger most likely didn't review the book, I guess, as he wanted to. He then went ahead to dismiss book bloggers and talk about how useless in the world of books. Today I want to talk about this and I want to see what other people think.
ARCs are sent out to send a buzz and spark publicity but people most of the people who read books have no time to go online and see what Book Bloggers say about when they can get a review easily from a professional online from big newspapers such as the Guardian. Book bloggers don't really help the sales of a book go up massively and that can be an argument but book bloggers are honest reviewers from around the world and our ages range from 9-90 years old (maybe even older!). If you authors or publishers want a review from a regular person who reads books as a hobby and it enthusiastic about it the book bloggers and people are part of sites like Goodreads definitely the answer. It just annoys me how we are not valued as much as reviewers.
I do believe that Book Bloggers are just as important in the bloggers community as any other reviewer out in the professional world. We might not have years of experience of working for big firms but honesty is the best policy. The book lovers just like me and you are venturing out and making sure our love for books is spread. Let us not forget how we are endlessly and eagerly talk about books which we love on Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram etc. I am definitely not trying to say that every single author and publisher hates our guts and would rather burn the books than give them to book reviews, I am trying to state the fact the book bloggers play a vital role in the whole book community in general and that how if we weren't there, who will be there to read your books. I personally have built my TBR pile before I even started book blogging from other book blogs and there are books I would have never heard about if it wasn't for them and their honest reviews.
This is my first ever discussion post and this is a topic I wanted to start off with!! Although it might be really jumpy, I want to carry on with these in the future!!
Do you think that book bloggers are appreciated enough? Do you think
that blogger affect book sales in a way?
Keep Reading,
Naomi...xxx
I love this post. Yay for you and I love you haha! This post is so true and spoken from the bottom of your heart, I can tell. I'm going on a limb here and being honest when I say that no, I don't think bloggers are appreciated to the fullest extent and as much as they could be. I tend to realize nowadays that really only book bloggers read each other's blogs and it's like a community for book bloggers only.And in all honestly, booktubers and Book Youtubers are making far more publicity and getting more recognition. A tip would be to start a Youtube channel, as I have, to get the attention for books that you want. Not that it's all about attention but I would want people to actually be reading my content. My favorite hobby is, of course, surfing through my list of subscribed blogs and checking them out because it's giving love back to the community and letting me explore the recent hype. I think you did the right thing in writing this post even though I know how you're feeling right now (like you think this post is whiny or people will take you the wrong way). I 100% understand where you're coming from and this has got to change for the better. More recognition for bloggers!
ReplyDeleteAlex @ The Book's Buzz
I'm obsessed with booktube and I think it is great now that they are getting even more publicity too! One of my goals this year is to start booktube and enter the community. I think that book blogs shouldn't be limited to just book bloggers but to everybody.
DeleteBeautiful topic for a first discussion post, Naomi! :) I think book bloggers are important to create buzz and publicity in books because they help authors + publishers promote their books. But I think this is a two-way thing. If a book blogger gives a book a negative review but is VERY HONEST, I believe that authors should learn to accept the criticism because, you know, it's feedback. Feedback from other readers are very helpful! And not everyone is going to like an author's book and give it a glowing review. But then again, bloggers should know how to state criticism constructively because bashing the book is not gonna help :/ Obviously, that's gonna tick off the authors and make them burst out with anger via e-mail. (Which is scary. I've heard of other bloggers who had authors bash them online.) :(
ReplyDeleteAgain, I love this post! I'm looking forward to more of your discussion posts ^_^ I love discussions!
Jillian @ Jillian's Books
Thank you and I authors should be able to take constructive criticism but should kindly ask the person who is bashing them as an author for no reason to politely stop and probably remove the review. What I don't agree with is taking it out on every single book blogger.
DeleteBloggers are so important to the reading community because we can promote new books! I love blogging as it's great group of people that can all be excited over the same thing.
ReplyDeleteBloggers are very important to the book world. I think that sometimes smaller authors like indie and small press need us more because we can help spread the word about their books. I also feel that sometimes we are not going to like everything we read, i rather be honest and tell you why I didn't like the book, but I may like another book by said author in the future. So sometimes we have to walk a fine line. Great first discussion post.
ReplyDeleteGrace @ Books of Love
That's so horrible that an author said that about book bloggers! I think that book bloggers deserve to be respected, especially because of how much work and effort we put into all of our reviews. Plus, it's such a hobby of ours and our opinions are honest! I think that bloggers do effect some sales of books, especially when they have some dedicated readers. Great discussion post!
ReplyDeleteI always thought that we had our part in the publicity of books. Maybe one single book blogger cannot make a noticeable publicity for a book but there are so many of us out there! We surely are important, I think. Or so I like to think because, when I love a book or author, I, too, talk about it endlessly and I've noticed people on Goodreads or the blogosphere actually reading books because of my reviews or posts. And that's the best of feelings. Also, as you said, we give an HONEST opinion and that's very valuable, or so it should be. It sucks, it really does, and I understand it, for an author (especially indie) to receive plenty of negative reviews for their book, but... we're not here to knock them down... we're just expressing our thoughts, although sometimes negative. They need to respect that. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteConsidering how often I've bought a book because another book blogger recommended it, I do think book bloggers affect sales. Maybe mostly for other bloggers though? Before I got into book blogging, I mostly checked amazon reviews, I guess. I did sometimes Google search a book and read the reviews I found on blogs. It would be interesting to have some stats for how book bloggers affect book sales! Apart from all that, book bloggers are readers, so they affect sales in any case. Most authors are decent human beings, who appreciate their readers. It's only that the occasional stupid ones are the ones that get everyone all riled up. Probably, it would be more effective to just ignore them. If they can't take a bad review, that's their problem.
ReplyDeleteI do think book bloggers are important, and personally I try to be the best one I can be. When I read a book I advertise it on every social media site I possibly can - which means all the ones I am on. Because of this it means that readers can see the cover of the book at least, and then it becomes memorable in some way and maybe int he future they will get it. Or maybe not. And then they can even see the review if they choose to click back to the link. And most book bloggers cross post to amazon and goodreads, and that is where readers are most likely to check out the rating (which we contribute to) and possibly some reviews as well.
ReplyDeleteIn that way, we can argue that they are useful. But then again, a lot of readers aren't online and simply just pick up good looking books. And for those people, publishers go to other kinds of advertisers :3
Brilliant first discussion post Naomi and wonderfully written <3
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think that we are. I don't think it's due to who's popular or who the cool kids influence, but that once you put your review out there, that it's searchable by ANYONE. The public beyond our initial followers and blog reach. But if you loved a book, rate it, review it and reach someone who also purchases that book, it snowballs and by far the most effective way to advertise is word of mouth. As for authors chucking a tanty because someone didn't enjoy their book... Some days I'd love to shake those ones and yell, 'You're lucky anyone is reading it at all!' As long as it's the book that's being reviewed and not that of the actual author, I think they might need to pull back and stop reading reviews until they develop thicker skin, or able to separate themselves from their work.
That's a really great discussion topic!
ReplyDeleteI've bought a couple books due to reviews I've seen on blogs. I think they do help sales in a way because word of mouth travels fast. I know when I'm given an ARC or a part of a tour I advertise on every social media I can to hopefully spark one person to buy the book. I've read a couple stories where authors go too far when it comes to receiving a bad review, which I think is horrible. Like the person above me mentioned, it's awesome to have at least one person reading your book. Not everyone will love every book. Not every book is for everyone.
Personally, I think bloggers help spread the word even with good or bad reviews. There are some bloggers whose opinions I fully trust so I know if they loved the book I'll love it to but if they didn't enough it then I probably won't.
I love that you decided to touch on this! I think book bloggers certainly have their place, and their contributions to the book world can be invaluable. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has decided to purchase a book based upon raving reviews written by peers, or decided to never read a book based upon several disappointing reviews. In this sense, I think bloggers have some sort of say in the sales of a particular book or series, particularly if it receives quite a bit of hype in the book blogging community (either good or bad hype). I agree that honesty, without a doubt, should play an integral role in posts and reviews - without it, bloggers wouldn't have much of a purpose. I think there is a fine line, however, between honestly critiquing a book and personally slamming an author, which seems to be a recurring issue recently. This was an excellent first discussion post (and I can't wait for future ones)!
ReplyDelete-Olivia, http://www.brewingupbooks.wordpress.com