Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read?
When I began blogging, I was looking for other readers to talk about books with. I’d hoped I’d find other people who read what I had read so we could have a discussion. As people began visiting my blog, I returned the favor by reading their blogs. I was amazed by the variety of wonderful-sounding books that were out there, and I got plenty of wonderful ideas for my future reading. For a year or so, I tried to read a little bit of everything, pretty much trying to read a little bit of what everyone else was reading. I read a lot, sometimes more than 20 books a month. (That’s a lot for me.)
As I blogged more, I began to find that my favorite books fit into certain categories. I began to settle on classics as the books I longed to pick up next. As my life has become busier, I’ve found that I read a lot less, but the classics haven’t been going away. I still enjoy writing about what I read.
Nonetheless, I look at book blogging as opening up the world of classics. Although I studied English in college and was awarded a Bachelor’s degree, it was book blogging that introduced me to Wilkie Collins. Honestly, I’d never heard of him before! And, I’d always meant to read Steinbeck and Dickens and so forth in depth, but it was knowing that there is a community of readers out there that also (may have) enjoyed these books that prompted me to pick it up and reflect on it on a blog. I love having a place to vent about those classics I didn’t love. Blog readers have, in some cases, encouraged me to give a book a second chance.
I don’t want to go back to writing 10-page papers on literature, as I did when I was in school. I did enjoy it for four years, but I’m in a different stage of life right now, stay-at-home motherhood, which is busy enough. Instead, I thrive on writing my reactions to what I’ve read for my blog readers. It’s for me, too, of course. But I love clicking publish and then seeing other reader’s reactions, good or bad, to the same book. I love reading back through old posts and seeing where I’ve been. And ultimately, I love knowing that I have years of reading and reflecting yet to come.
And long may your love of classics continue 🙂
Tony » 🙂 Thanks, and yours too!
I read most of the classics before I was blogging!
Reading is a part of life. Any kind of reading. Be it research papers or book blogs. They always keep us going, the dear book bloggers!
Here is my post:
BBAW 2011: Readers
gautami tripathy » hmmm. I suspect you have a few more classics you could read. Check out the Classics Circuit past tour lists 🙂
I thought I had read a lot of classics but once I started book blogging I realized how many great books and authors were out there that I was never introduced to in school! And I can’t even count how many people have been telling me to pick up some Wilkie Collins – definitely have to get to that soon!
lisa 🙂 » yes, I love THE WOMAN IN WHITE! and I have found the same, that there are tons of classics I haven’t heard of let alone read! I thank research for the Classics Circuit for that realization…
I got a BA in English and never learned about Wilkie Collins either. My introduction to him was through a book club I was in briefly whose goal was to read books from the Barnes & Noble Classics list. One of the girls picked Woman in White randomly and I ended up buying it. I actually didn’t realize until I started reading the introduction, etc. that Wikie Collins was a man. lol. I guess he’s just a writer that most BA programs don’t cover for some reason.
Julie @ Read Handed » I guess because Wilkie Collins is so much fun, not academic or symbolic or anything. He was just the popular lit of the day…plus he was Dickens’ contemporary and Dickens always seems to get the school attention!
I really love that feeling of reading a book others have read and will most likely want to discuss, too. It’s so rewarding! I’ve found it happens much more often with classics and backlist titles, which is one of the reasons why I’m hoping to swing my focus in that direction more in the upcoming months. I’m finding what I love best about blogging is having that connection that happens when two people can talk about a book from the standpoint of having read it.
Erin » I love that part of the blogging discussion too. And that’s why I’ve found myself swaying more and more towards classics.
I’m so glad you discovered Wilkie Collins. His stories are just so amazing.
Trisha » yes, I’m looking forward to reading more. I also read a biography and it was fascinating. He was a crazy but fascinating man.
I’ve never learned about lots of classics through blogging – now I just have to read them 🙂 heh.
Amy » he he, me too. So much to read.
I actually hate reading my old posts…
Kailana » aw, I like it. sometimes I think I’m getting lazier in my posting, but that’s because I used to have more time. I like reflecting back on what I read and when. But yes, some posts are rather cringe worthy.
For me, book blogging is so I don’t have to get a bachelor’s degree in English. I love books but I also love economics, geography, politics, and a whole host of other fields. With book blogging I can explore both classics and contemporary novels on my own time without feeling the pressure of having the “correct” interpretation for my 10 page papers.
Christina » ah yes, but see there is no “correct” interpretation. That’s why I loved those 10 page papers, I could read and reread the book until I found what I really thought it was saying. IF I could prove it with the text, then voila, I had a “correct” interpretation. But yes, I too enjoy this stage of reading too. Where I don’t have to reread to start a discussion about the finer points of classic literature. Thanks for reading alone. I can relate to the interests in a little of everything. 🙂