New Year, New Direction......

As I sit here wondering in what direction I want to take my main blog, I have been reflecting on what I'm really looking for when I read a fellow book lover's reviews. I've come to the conclusion that I could really care less about the literary value (so to speak), and taking the story apart and exploring the deeper meaning that the author implied (not that I ever did this). What I'm looking for is how this book affected the reader. Would I feel the same way? Could I make a connection with one of the characters? Would this be a story that would haunt me for days? Would I be screaming at the top of my lungs for everyone to read it??? What I'm looking for is the word IMPACT. So I'm thinking that I'm going to veer away from 'reviews' and free flow my thoughts on the books that I read for 2012. What that means is I'm going to open a post up on Blogger before I open my book. When the mood strikes me to record I will do that using bullet points. I am sure I will find myself adding a lot of things that struck a chord with me as I'm reading. Then when I'm finished with the book, I can look over those points and hone them a bit, smooth out the rough edges and then hit that lovely button "publish post." To me this feels like freedom and goes along with my OLW Project (scrapbooking) that I'm venturing into this year- so I'mRENEWing the way I talk about books and renewing my love for reading and blogging. I don't want pressure...I don't want to feel like I have to impress anyone...I don't want to worry whether or not I've offended an author because I didn't like their book...I don't want to have constraints put on my joy of the written word. So with that in mind, I'm also cutting back on review copies and being on a someone else's schedule. If a book shows up unsolicited, I will decide whether I read it or NOT. I've been saying NO a lot more lately to book offers and author requests. I will accept reviews of books that speak to me. I want to read from my own shelves, I want to explore authors at a whim, I want to be real, in the present, and authentic. I feel such optimism and excitement about this....so I'm off to open up my first post for The Lost Wife....and I welcome the changes with open arms!