Now I know that most of us who have been reading, reviewing, and blogging about books over the years have cultivated some close friendships. That is, after all, to be expected among people with like interests. What I didn't expect after my criticisms of the Blogging for Books program yesterday was the incredible outpouring of support across the book blogging world. I was - brace yourself - nearly struck speechless. And those of you who know me are well aware how utterly earth shattering that phenomenon is. The messages that poured in across Twitter and through Tumblr-land were astounding - veteran and new book bloggers alike, many I knew and many more that I did not, but all were extremely supportive.
And this reminded me that despite the daily routines - the reviews, the interviews, the memes, the projects, the readalongs, the reathathons - where we often strive so hard to make our work stand out from all the rest, we are indeed a still a community. There have been many times over the past few years when I've despaired of that sense of camaraderie as we've all branched out with different projects and adventures. I've often felt a lot of what used to be community support has turned into competition.
Seeing the book blogging world come together on an issue that they feel is important is a nice reminder that we are - when push comes to shove - very much still a community. And not just the kind that gathers over a drink or two in a hotel bar at BEA each year, but a real community that can pull together to right a wrong when we see it. This is a wide-ranging community of book bloggers who know how to write their own reviews and won't be patronized. I'm proud to be a part of that.
So thank you. All of you. You know who you are. For seven years I've read books with you, commiserated with you, bitched with you, and laughed myself silly with you. I wouldn't trade that for the world. Well....I might trade it for a better Klout Score. Pffft. #KlouttheCrown
I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have someone as eloquent and yet succinct as you to make the argument of why the hoops of blogging for books and staving off the evil warlord hoarders is so important. Yay that you spoke for many and got someone's attention. Klout Pout....who cares. #KlouttheCrown. Wednesday night will never be the same.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, that's so kind of you to say. I'm pretty sure I was just saying what most of you were talking about. I just took y'all's words and put them in a blog post. ;)
DeleteIf you had a layover at MCO, I'd come down there and hug you. Yes of course we are still a community. We all started as fellow bloggers, the shitty competitive ones are off doing their shitty competitive things with their Karma on their back, and the rest of us have branched out but have not forgotten our roots. We got your back baby.
ReplyDeleteI think there are a few of us that started at the same time that have some real ties to each other. I love that. I can't believe how important you all have become to me.
DeleteYesterday's post troubled me a little but this one restores my faith in humanity.
ReplyDeleteI do have faith, I'm just one of the crotchety old bloggers that never says it enough. I suppose I ought to work on that. :)
DeleteHip hip hooray!
ReplyDeleteHa...you're my favorite cheerleader.
DeleteThank you for having the courage to speak up and remind us that we are not pawns in the publishing world. We need that reminder every once in a while. What you started yesterday was amazing and thrilling to watch unfold.
ReplyDeleteYou all picked up the ball and ran with it. Funniest twitter party ever. Ever.
DeleteWow, I just read both posts. I had a similar experience with a different publicity agency. I reviewed about 3 books for them, and the 4th one I read was TERRIBLE. Like, I could barely make it through the book wanted to throw it off the balcony terrible. But I posted my review, and not three minutes later, a publicist contacted me saying I had to take the review down and send the book back to them because they only wanted positive reviews. I was flabbergasted.
ReplyDeleteThat is not a blogger or reviewer's job. We review books honestly, and that is 1. how we keep our reputation up (regardless of readership, lord knows mine is nonexistent) and 2. what we love to do. Why on earth would we post fake reviews? It just makes zero sense to me.
And I'm totally on board, checking through my NetGalley to make sure I don't have Crown Publishing listed in there.
Holy cow, Cassie. Your comment makes me wonder if the book blogging community doesn't need some kind of executive board/professional committee that bloggers can bring their complaints like this to. You should NOT have had to go through this. You are professional and should be treated as such. Newer book reviewers (and these are the ones I worry about) might not have the experience to know how to fight this kind of treatment.
Delete*fist bump*
ReplyDeleteback at you, my friend!
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ReplyDelete