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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Re-defining what makes reading fun......



I think there may be a bit of a theme this 2013 with many book bloggers deciding to stop accepting review copies, posting just a few times a week, reading more from their own shelves, and some are even completely closing shop. I have to admit that I have flirted with all of these issues at one time or another. But this past year has really helped me put into perspective what I want to do with my reading and with my blog. Like many of you, I accept a book because at the time it sounds so damn awesome that I couldn't imagine not reading it. Then it arrives along with ten more books and before you know it they're all mating like rabbits! I open the door to my book room only to find that I can't get in very far because of the stacks upon stacks of books!  And then that terrible feeling descends on me and my sunshine attitude goes to crap and I am feeling anxious. The date for the review is looming near and I'm not even close to starting that book....and the anxiety goes up another level.

I've decided to step away from accepting review books for this year. I've been very good at saying no. It isn't easy but I've been doing it. I do have three author requests that I am honoring this year and I'm fine with that..most especially Beth Hoffman's new release...I love her, so I would read her book no matter what! I may even say yes to a few TLC books and once again ,because I truly love TLC and the ladies who run it. But I will be more selective and there will never be more than one every couple of months.

What can you expect when you visit Life in The Thumb?

  •  Mailbox Monday and It's Monday...What Are You Reading participation
  •  First Chapter First Paragraph participation
  •  Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts
  •  Six Sentence Movie Thoughts
  •  Saturday Snapshot participation
  •  Random posts....sometimes I surprise myself with a topic.
  •  Dewey RAT participation

Anxiety and reading should not go hand-in-hand. I want to enjoy the experience. I want to relish each and every book that I decide to read. I want to have fun again. I want to explore my library and actually read a few of the books that come home with me. I want to browse my own bookshelves and finally take one down that has been patiently waiting for me to discover the tale within the covers. I want to clear out some books that are languishing on my Kindle. I want to read for me.

Happy Reading Friends!
Staci

31 comments:

  1. Amen to all that you said Staci. I totally understand where you are coming from and hope these changes make you a happier reader. (So happy you'll still be posting the Tues and Sat features. I do enjoy seeing your posts there).

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  2. LOL "mating like rabbits" - it sure seems that way! I'm with you, sister ;-)

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  3. Good for you girl!!!! So excited to see what 2013 brings here!!!

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  4. Good luck with the New Year's resolution. I'm reading less this year too and doing other things like clearing clutter, and even some books, from their shelves. Enjoy your new freedom.

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  5. Double amen!! You seriously had me lol with your books "mating like rabbits". What an image! I can relate to the anxiety level as you well know. May you find some true gems on your shelves that have waited patiently for you.

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  6. >Anxiety and reading should not go hand-in-hand.

    No kidding--I never let myself go down the path of doing a lot of requested reviews, but even the pressure to keep the blog active sometimes feels like a burden.

    I like your approach to posting--you can be as brief as you like or expansive as the mood strikes. Mailbox Monday is my own comfort zone--full of promise and relatively easy to prep.

    Good luck and happy reading :)

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  7. Amen! I've considered closing shop as well and just staying active at Goodreads, but I'm still not ready to completely give up the blog I've worked so hard to create. Love your blog and your "virtual friendship" and glad you'll be devoting time to YOU! :)

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  8. Awesome that you are doing what you want to do. :)

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  9. I hear you, sister! I need to do the same thing. I am getting better at saying no.

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  10. Applause for you, Staci! Isn't it empowering to reevaluate and make changes that enhance the quality of our lives? No matter how little or how much you decide to post on your blog, I'll always stop by to see what you're up to! You are a gem to keep my new novel on your list, but (and I mean this from my heart), should you decide that you want to take a total break from all reviews (including mine), do it!

    Wishing you a happy (and relaxing) new chapter in your reading life. xo

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  11. Good luck Staci. It's fun to read with no pressure!

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  12. I do want to say no but it's so HARD!

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  13. Hell yeah! I've toyed with closing up shop on occasion too. Unintentionally giving review books the go ahead to "mate like rabbits" has been my downfall and reading under pressure and reading anxiety takes a lot of the joy out of reading and blogging so I've made heaps of progress in the 'no' department. It's still a work in progress for me Staci but every time I read your posts I get a little stronger :)

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  14. Glad you are doing what you need to do in order to be a relaxed, happy reader. I am so excited that Beth has a new book coming!

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  15. Nice to see you are doing what is best for you. I wasn't aware there were many book bloggers limiting or stopping blogging. I think last year was just a stressful year for everyone all the way around. I've gotten much more selective in accepting books for review as well. I understand the 'mating like rabbits' and working on reading those in the stacks for a while. Happy Reading!

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  16. You go girl! I agree that reading should be fun and not be stressful. I too am cutting back and hope to get to more audiobooks instead this year. I'm glad you're doing what's best for you. Love ya!

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  17. What a great post, Staci. I think your idea is a good one--and inspiring. Reading should be fun and sometimes we have to set limits so we can be more free. Here's to a great reading year!

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  18. I can TOTALLY relate!! I hope to participate in the Read-a-thon this April - my first time in about two years.

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  19. good for you. I'm really scaling back this year as well. My books aren't mating like rabbits but my grandchildren are coming along at a good pace and filling up my daytime hours :D

    I wonder if we came across the same blog that took down all images that didn't belong to her (I've cleaned my blog up too.) I've been studying it and if I understand it right the image that is used for advertisement (such as book covers) can be used in a post about that book. I'll see if I can find where I read it and send you the reference. Good luck on the clean up. It's a lot of work.

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  20. I was wrong--apparently the source I read earlier was mistaken. Both Amazon and Goodreads have this to say about cover images: Please do not download or otherwise get cover images from Amazon. Acceptable sources for cover images include author and publisher websites, library sites, and various other public archives. Again, we cannot legally use any cover images from Amazon or other booksellers. An individual user's scans or photos, taken of books they own or have in their possession, are also an acceptable source for cover images.

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  21. I think we all are reaching saturation with review requests. I have been saying no more often and accepting fewer review copies...now if I could stay away from Shelf Awareness.

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  22. I too loved the "mating like rabbits" comment! How true!!!

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  23. Amen to all of that! I'm scaling back this year too...I guess it is the theme for a lot of bloggers this year :) I'm only saying yes to books that I really WANT to read, I'm focusing on my tbr piles and I'm going back to reading for the pleasure of it. I've only been in the blogging world for a relatively short time but it totally changed the way I read...not always for the better. So, good for you!!

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  24. I have made the same vows for the New Year. To bring the joy back into reading, which will probably mean turning away most review books, especially the blog tours with those looming deadlines.

    But, like you, I will find some exceptions, for favorite authors; but that's our prerogative, too. Doing what makes us feel good.

    Thanks for saying it so wonderfully well!

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  25. You said it so well Staci. I've also been evaluating my blog and my reading. Looks like it's something in the book-bloging water. I'm quite sad about some of the people who have closed down their blogs, but I do understand.

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  26. I really appreciate this post. I'm still relatively new to book blogging but it can very overwhelming at times trying to juggle everything and then there is the competitiveness of the blog world. I have to confess that I often suffer from blog envy and wonder how someone has time to read so many books and find the time to write about them. It is comforting to know that others feel the same. I have found at times that I am rushing through a book just to finish it so that I can get a post up, rather than truly enjoying the story and writing. Thanks again for sharing your experience. Here is to a wonderful year of reading in 2013!
    Rebecca @ The Key to the Gate

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  27. I love this post for so many reasons! I think that you need to do whatever you need to do to make blogging fun again. Because it should never be stressful or a chore :) I love book blogging for so many reasons but the main reason always comes down to community and the friends that I have made. I try to always remember that and stay as far away from the stressful aspects as I can. And if I need to take breaks here and there I just do. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Staci!!!

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  28. I love, love, LOVE your post! I agree, reading shouldn't come with pressure. Like you, I want to focus more on my reading from my shelves. I recently culled books from my shelves that I knew I wouldn't read. So now I have an organized book case with my unread books. I'm looking forward to reading through them this year.

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  29. I hear you, but I think you have more willpower than I do. ;) I have cut way back and although I've received some really good ones in recent weeks, I really plan to curtail it even more really soon. I was feeling burned out, but going to 3 posts a week really helped.

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  30. :) I've never accepted too many books, but even the ones I do always cause me stress! This yeat I know I will read less but I hope they will mostly be from my shelves. Your posts always have me shaking my head yea :)

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  31. ". . . before you know it they're all mating like rabbits!" Ahhh HaHaHa! I thought that only happened in my library! :) I, also, have experienced that horrible anxiety feeling and have worked at keeping it at bay with a decent amount of success.

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