Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.
Hey there! Since I’ve missed a few of these, I’m going to play a little catch up with the past topics.
Also – I FINISHED A BOOK! My only book for March and only my 8th book for 2019. But I have faith that I will start catching up now that I’m settled into the new place and have unpacked most of my unread books.
*she says as she avoids books by going on Twitter, IG, and plays games instead*
Anyway – it was Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young and after a bit of a rough start (I found it to be very similar to her previous books) it took a fun (or should I say CREEPY) turn and I enjoyed it. I’m hoping to get a review up this week. So maybe look for it in 2-3 weeks lol
On to TMST!
From March 12th: To Tour or Not to Tour? Do you participate in book tours? Why or why not?
Answer: Not to tour. I used to enjoy promoting books and authors back in the day (& I still do of course!) but it’s become so labor intensive and for awhile there every tour post was similar on every blog so it was like being hit over & over with the same content. BORING.
But mostly it’s because the tour groups either…1) have bad formatting and getting it all right takes HOURS to make it look readable 2) they don’t bother promoting your post (unless you’re a bigger/more popular blog) so it just sits there – neglected after all that work.
I really have to believe in what I promote these days.
So I’m not totally against it but it will be for a books or authors I love to make it worth the effort.
March 19th: What personality traits do you love/hate in a character? (Courtesy of Roberta@ Offbeat YA
Answer: I’ll stick with traits I love since I’ve ranted about what I hate numerous times.
Characters that want to do do better, characters with a sense of humor, ones that communicate well instead of jumping to conclusions and running off.
March 26th: What are things that make you steer clear of a book?
Answer: Short answer – the opposite of any of the above.
April 2nd: How do you feel about author’s throwing big, obscure words into their books?
Answer: I don’t mind – especially with e-readers since you can highlight and get the definition in a snap.
It’s fun to learn obscure words and use them in front of Kevin and watch Mr. Smarty Pants go….what the hell does that mean? lol
I don’t like it if the book, as a whole, becomes so obscure that I’m stopping every page to look up a word or they are used just to make the characters seem smarter than they are or if it makes the prose to flowery and pretentious.
What are your thoughts about any or all of the above topics?
Do you think I will actually post a review this week? 😜
Yay for finishing a book! And Girls With Sharp Sticks is one I've seen positive reviews for so glad it worked out in the end. Can't wait to see your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of blog tours unless there's a chance to review the book since I don't want the same generic post as someone else but it works for some people.
And long words in books? Only acceptable if I'm reading on an eraser or have my phone to hand for googling. I'm never normally not near my phone so never an issue but it's only fine as long as it makes sense within the writing too. Don't want some teenager with a better vocab than me without good context for it.
I dabbled back into tours last year but only posting reviews and even that was a flop. The tour group/author doesn't have to promote the post but why have a tour if you aren't??? It's just weird and I can just wait for the book instead of dealing with coding and deadlines.
Deletelol to the teenagers being smarter. I run into that a lot and I always wonder who these kids are!
One book down and you're back in the game!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful for my ereader teaching me new words, I feel I usually use it for historical things and words that are not American English.
I agree with you about book tours. I still get sucked into a handful, but they're not really satisfying.
They really aren't. A tour group will beg you to be on the tour - then harass you to post on time and include what they want you to promote and then just leave you hanging there with 0 promotion of your post on their part.
DeleteI've had tour groups (that were otherwise great) *like* my post but never RT or anything like that. And this was for positive reviews and even their giveaways. O_O
I would rather just post on my own schedule without added pressure.
Omg I love that I can look up words on my ereader!! One of it's best features!
ReplyDeleteIt is!
DeleteThat's what I was saying. I love learning a new word, and my kindle will define it for me right then and there.
ReplyDeleteI usually have my phone nearby too to google but I love the Kindle for that. So easy!
DeleteOh my gosh I LOVED Girls With Sharp Sticks! I haven't read her previous books, but if I had and they're similar, that might have irked me some, so I guess I'm glad I haven't lol! Can't wait to see your review.
ReplyDeleteI have never done a blog tour, and I'm kinda glad?
They ended up being quite different so that was great but so many scenes were similar at first and it made me a little wary (& bored) but I ended up liking it.
DeleteI used to do a few tours per week years ago but then I stopped. I dabbled a bit last year but it just reaffirmed my decision to skip them. I wouldn't be opposed if it was for an author/book I loved though.
I hate the highlight thing, I highlight things by mistake and it drives me insane, lol. But if I would not do that then it would be good, so yes on knowing words
ReplyDeleteOh really? I guess I have once or twice but it's easy enough to delete.
DeleteWhat Kindle do you have? maybe that makes a difference.
I don't participate in blog tours. Just not my thing. Some authors throw in a big word now and then and that's fine. But if it looks like they're just showing off then no, I don't care for it. I stopped following a couple of bloggers that threw in big words when they didn't need to just so they could show off and sound snooty. Not a fan.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah - I didn't think of it from a blogger perspective. I know I've picked up new words over the years but I get what you mean and have stopped following a few reviewers for the same reason.
DeleteOoh, I’m glad you enjoyed Girls With Sharp Sticks - I agree there were no surprises to be had, but I still liked it and was happy that there was resolution.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the second half. The first part felt too much like The Program to me - even repeating certain scenes but then it goes it's own way.
DeleteI love characters with a good sense of humor. It's wonderful when a book can make me laugh. I've heard good things about Girls With Sharp Sticks, so I'm excited to read your review!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I LOVE humor in books.
DeleteI think 8 books so far in 2019 sounds pretty impressive, but I am also the world's slowest reader so I'm maybe at half that for the year. I actually have no idea, but I'll have to check out my Goodreads list to see where we are for the year. How are YOU!? Getting settled in? Liking the new digs? Also I loved reading your answers to these. I have mixed feelings about big words in books. If I have to look up something on every page, I'm likely to lose interest real quick. BUT sometimes it's fun to learn new things as you go :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet heard of Girls with Sharp Sticks, but just added to my TBR list. Thank you!
I used to read so fast! Easily one book per day so it's driving me crazy as I fall behind.
DeleteI share all of your feelings on book tours. They are boring (mostly) and I always had to fiddle with the format to work on the blog and then there's the expectation that you'll read and review the book (with a good review). No thanks.
ReplyDeleteI've worked with a few groups who were great with formatting but then don't promote anything. I'm not sure why you're hosting a tour then?? Or just say you only want big/influencer blogs.
DeleteI can't wait to pick up my copy of Girls With Sharp Sticks seeing how much you've enjoyed it! I've always found her books entertaining but this sounds like a break out novel from her. Super excited! There's been a bit of chatter this week about book tours hasn't there. I organise review tours for Aussie bloggers as a go between for bloggers and publishers In Australia and New Zealand but as a facilitating role. We try to place books in the hands of own voices readers and bloggers who aren't afforded the same opportunities as popular bloggers, in much the same way some hosts only promote well known bloggers. Another blogger yesterday had shared a private post from Facebook from a prominent tour host who sees bloggers not wanting to join tours as a personal attack. All very messy business.
ReplyDeleteI really respect the reputable tour groups. It's a LOT of work on their end. And bloggers have their fair share of bad behavior with tours.
DeleteI would absolutely join a tour for something I believe in but not just to pump out posts. Between the technical issues and the tour groups/publishers leaving you hanging out on your own - it's not worth it.
And I think Young's books have always touched on issues peripherally - but with this one she sharpened (excuse the pun) it and taken the topic head on.
Glad you were able to finish a book. Congratulations on your move. I'm sure you'll be back to your old reading schedule soon enough. I love seeing your pics on Instagram.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm getting there...new routines are hard to get going.
DeleteI hate when obscure words are used for no other reason than the author trying too hard but don't mind them if there's a purpose.
ReplyDeleteI'm touring less because I'm so tired of being treated like crap and having things sent the day/night(!) before its to be posted.
Congrats on finishing a book!
Yeah - when they are pitching things to you it's all YAY let's do this! But then when you post - crickets. At least in my case.
DeleteI don't join for page views but I don't see the point of posting for a tour if you aren't trying to get eyeballs on the posts to promote the book.
Hurray for finishing a book! And a good one at that! I rarely do tours because they really are labor intensive and usually take forever to format. Much more work than just posting a review. So I only do it if it's the only way to get a review copy or, as you said, if it's a book or author that's worth it. I agree with you about the obscure words, and lol about using them!
ReplyDeleteThey really do! Even when they send all the info and can take hours to adapt it to your blog style, add links, photos etc.
DeleteI would for a book or author I believed in though & in most cases Is tick to reviews now because their easier for tours.
Hopefully that now the move is over and you guys are pretty much settled you'll get back into reading. It's always so hard after a big move for me to find the motivation to just sit still and read. I feel like I need to be up and doing something. LoL
ReplyDeleteI'mt he opposite. I have ZERO energy lol
DeleteI used to do a lot of blog tour stuff but nobody ever commented on the posts and I realised that few people were interested in seeing a ton of it on blogs. I stopped doing it and I never comment on blog tour posts myself!
ReplyDeleteThey got so generic. I know a few years back one post - like a cover reveal or something - would be on over 100 blogs in one day. You just glaze over at that point.
DeleteThey're hard to do and get little reward so unless it's something I love or it's unique - I won't bother.
I agree on everything you said about blog tours. It was amazing to me how many bloggers would just post the original post with crappy formatting. I got tired of links not working. It was so much trouble finding the pages and adding my own links to the buttons. Ugh. 😜
ReplyDeleteI don't mind some if it fits the story but if it's out of the blue $10k words when a 5cent word would fit better...oy. I had one author I quit that seriously 5 times on a page you were looking up words. It was tedious.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind obscure words when the main character is a geek and I know they would use them. Otherwise, no thanks. And I'm the same! I only do blog tours if I am going to be able to review on the tour and it's a book I really want to read and review already. Otherwise they all seem the same to me >.>
ReplyDelete