Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Review writing slump

I have a lot of reviews to catch up on. So many now that I'm almost afraid to count. I'm not sure what it is. I absolutely loved a lot of the books that I've been reading lately, I just can't find the words to tell you how much. I'm absolutely stuck. I cannot for the life of me get back into the routine of writing reviews. So I'm really sorry, there will few reviews around these parts. I figure there's no point putting myself under pressure to write them, I'll just ride this review-writing slump until it passes.

I have been writing other posts, and I'll hope you'll enjoy them. For now, maybe you could help spark some of my enthusiasm for the following books by asking questions about them? If I were to review these books (and I really do want to review them all, even if they are in a mini-review format) what are you desperate to know about? If you've already the books, even better you can ask how I felt about ... some aspect of the story? The characters? The love story? Anything, and when I do sit down to write my reviews, I might have a good starting point.

And if not, you can at least ogle my list of reviews and wonder (like me!) how I'll ever manage to get caught up again. You can make me feel better by telling me how far behind you are, I don't mind!

Here are the books:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Divergent by Veronica Roth
A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli

Fade by Lisa McMann
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott
By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead by Julie Anne Peters
Love Is the Higher Law by David Levithan
Choker by Elizabeth Woods

How Not To Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel


And there we have it. Shocking, isn't it? Just wanted to let you know where I'm at right now. I do hope to struggle through writing some reviews to fill up next week's Mental Health Week as that's something that's incredibly important and personal to me. But after that, I'll be very relaxed about my review writing process.


Have you ever gone through a review writing slump? How did you power through? How many reviews are you behind at the moment?

17 comments:

  1. I've made a rule, that if I don't write at least an outline for a review, I can't read on to the next book. So I'm on track with my reviews, but I read REALLY slowly.

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  2. What a great list of read books! I really want to read Forgotten and Starcrossed. I know what you mean about review slumps, it's tough sometimes. I'm on a bit of a reading slump at the moment which is sucky. Re. your mental health week - I'm really looking forward to it, it's a subject that I have a personal interest in. Incidentally, Saving Francesca and The Piper's Son deal with depression in one of the most realistic ways I've come across.

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  3. Cass - Oh, I definitely write notes about each book I read, I just can't make that leap from writing brief notes into fully-formed sentences :( How fantastic though, that you're all caught up! (*cries*)

    Sya - Forgotten and Starcrossed are both AMAZING. Two of the most addictive books I've read in awhile. Same with Divergent. I really just couldn't put those three books down.

    I'm sorry to hear that you're going through a reading slump! :( That's way worse than a review-writing slump :(

    As for mental health week, I will definitely be mentioning Saving Francesca as I really thought that it handled depression and the effects depression can have on a family incredibly well. I haven't read Piper's Son (YET!) but I hope to soon.

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  4. I'm in a similar position to yours, and I really sympathise. My to-be-reviewed pile is towering!

    I think mini-reviews are the way to go, and I might try that too. Hmm... I think the single most important thing I look for in reviews is the mood and "feel" of a book - or rather, how it made you feel as a reader. I suppose I like to know so that I can choose the right book for myself depending on the mood I'm in. Or something. ;)

    Good luck with it all, Clover! Your blog is always fantastic whatever you post!

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  5. Oh no Luisa! I'm really sorry to hear you're going through something similar :( Here's hoping we both pull out of it, and soon!

    I think I will definitely go back to doing mini-reviews in order to catch up. It might just be the only way. Thanks for the advice on what you're looking for, I shall remember to include that in my reviews! :)

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  6. Oh, you read so many great books! I want to read When You Reach Me and Across The Universe sooooo bad! I think your reviews are terrific the way they are : ) Mini reviews would be a great way to do things faster, though, if you're stuck.

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  7. I try to review as I read them, as I get too scared this will happen to me. Mini reviews will definitely help you get past the pile.

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  8. I think everyone goes through a review writing slump at some point, so don't worry too much about it. I think the more you think about it, the worse it gets. You said you always write notes for reviews, and I've found that if you just look over the notes and make a short quick handwritten draft of what you want to write, even if it's only a paragraph, when you start to type it up, things suddenly come to you and you end up finishing it. Still, mini-reviews are amazing - I think mini-reviewing is the only way I'm going to get through my tbr list :P. Good luck and don't stress too much :).

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  9. When I first started blogging I wouldn't let myself start the next book until I'd reviewed the one I'd just written. That all went out of the window a long time ago when I hit a reviewing slump & every time I get close to catching up I find I go through another one LOL. I'm currently about 9 books behind when it comes to writing reviews so I don't think I'll get caught up any time soon either :o(

    One day I'll be organised & have reviews written & scheduled in advance (well I hope so anyway hehe)

    I hope you get over your slump soon, mini reviews might be a good way to catch up though :o)

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  10. Cliona - Thank you so much for saying so :) (When You Reach Me and Across the Universe were both excellent by the way!) And I think I might just mini-review a few of them and see how I get on..

    Vivienne - I'm in awe of anyone who reads them reviews! I could never do it.. Sigh.

    Liz - I'm sure most book bloggers do go through slumps, but I haven't had one in awhile :( I think it's an excellent idea, handwriting the start of a review, thanks for the tip :)

    Sarah - I'm glad it isn't just me! :) I love having reviews schedules in advance, it makes me feel very good about myself! One of these days I'll pull myself out! :) Good luck to both of us catching up.

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  11. Sorry to hear about your review writing slump,I can sympathise because I'm in a reading slump at the moment.I think all we can do is just ride it out for a while,at least if you do mini-reviews you can still catch up without having to come up with as many words as usual!

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  12. I loved A Small Free Kiss in the Dark but it is not a book which will be easy to review (I am yet to read mine!). I'd love to hear what you thought of it!

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  13. I am in such a review-writing slump right now, it's awful. I have no brilliant advice to you, but if you figure out how to get rid of the slump please please tell me. :/

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  14. I'm the exact same just now. I do reviews for products and blog post but can't get into the book reviews and like you I have read so many great books. x

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  15. I'm sorry to hear about your slump, I can only imagine how frustrating that must feel. I had a reading slump last year and it was miserable.

    I love reading whatever you write, and I'm definitely looking forward to your Mental Health week. If writing reviews isn't working for you at the moment try not too worry about it too much - blogging shouldn't be causing you stress. Mini reviews sounds like it might be a way back in?

    You've got some great books on that list, I'd love to know your take on Divergent. I agree with Luisa, knowing how a book made you feel as a reader is a very valuable part of a review for me.

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  16. Oh Michelle - you are so not alone. I'm in the same position that you are. It seems the more I try to polish off one review, the more the review pile just seems to grow.

    And yes, there are so many gorgeous books that are waiting to reviewed, but somehow I just can't get myself to get through all of these reviews. I do hope that you manage to find the needed time for your reviews - at the moment, I'm just trying to ride on this wave. I'm sure it will pass for both of us.

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  17. Hayley - Reading slumps are so much worse than review-writing slumps! :( I hope you are out of yours very soon. Mini-reviews do look like the best option, but I'm finding it very difficult to get back into the swing of things. Perhaps after the long weekend, when everything goes back to 'normal'!

    Library Mice - Oh, Small Free Kiss in the Dark is causing me a little bit of stress in terms of writing the review. It is definitely a book that does easily lend itself to review-writing, especially during my slump! I shall hopefully find the words soon!

    Jenny - I shall do. Good luck to ys both!

    Susan - Oh no! You too? I wish you the best of luck with your book reviews as well :)

    Jenni - Thank you for lovely comment. I shall try the mini-reviews, I think. And will definitely take it easy on myself. Blogging is just a hobby, right? :)

    Tammy - Good luck to us both dragging ourselves out of this!

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