Just a little overwhelmed with reviews sorry
Home of Translated fiction and #translationthurs
21 Sep 2018 11 Comments
by winstonsdad in #translationthurs
Just a little overwhelmed with reviews sorry
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winstonsdad |
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books, translation |
Sep 21, 2018 @ 14:30:07
I have gotten so much fantastic exposure to books I never would have discovered. You will be missed.
Sep 21, 2018 @ 14:54:10
Gosh Stu, I hear you but am glad the moment has passed. I’m just waking surrounded by 30 unmarked cartons of books with no idea where anything is (including a nice stash of review copies) and the last book I read is yet unreviewed and I have to remember blogging is a hobby… all the Best, this will pass.
Sep 21, 2018 @ 14:55:12
Yes just gets a bit overwhelming at times
Sep 21, 2018 @ 15:05:22
I have enjoyed and benefited from your “round-the-world” approach to good reading, and hope to see you return.
Sep 21, 2018 @ 15:07:05
Be here just struggling with time to review
Sep 21, 2018 @ 15:16:52
I had a feeling that you were not as active with your blog as in previous years but we all go through these times when we have to give our attention to other priorities. What a shock to find though that you are giving up entirely. You have introduced me to countless authors that I had no prior knowledge about and I know I am not the only one to have appreciated your insights so you will be sorely missed. Maybe just take a break and come back when you are feeling refreshed???
Sep 21, 2018 @ 15:51:28
I checked your blog for my translated and foreign novels I so dearly love to read.
A few years ago I blogged with reviews before there was blogging I reviewed on Yahoo.
I still have a blog, however I will review a short paragraph, describing why I liked/didn’t like a book. These last few years I find reviewing interferes with reading.
Hoping all is well and wishing you happy reading without the stress of reviewing.
Sep 21, 2018 @ 23:15:03
Gosh, Stu, you nearly gave me a heart attack! I opened up my email this morning, and there it was! My heart is still pounding!!!!
Now trust me, I do know how you feel because publishers don’t realise that although they’re only sending one book, there are other publishers also sending one book and it does, it gets overwhelming even though there is no obligation to do anything. We, our readers and the publishers should remember that we are not an unpaid arm of the publishing industry, we are volunteers in the service of the literature we love. And volunteers *always* have choice.
Volunteers who have a demanding job and a loving partner that it’s important to spend time with, should never feel so pressured by their voluntary work that it takes over everything. I know this, because for years while I was putting in long hours at school, I was very stupid putting in extra hours of voluntary work as president of a teachers’ professional association and at the end of it I got a book for a present and was promptly forgotten. I’m not bitter about that, but I have learned my lesson. You only have one life and you should make the most of it.
Now, unless I’m wrong about you, you love reading, and you love talking about translated fiction to those of us who love it too. So stay around, and just chat with us. I’ve certainly appreciated your comments on my blog while you’ve been taking a break from yours.
In the meantime, I’m sure there are some of us who can give you some advice about how to manage the review pile but I’ll give you one quick tip now. Pick out the books that don’t appeal,or that you’ve read and forgotten, or that you didn’t really like. Put them all in the charity bin and forget about them.
Lisa, sending you a restorative hug across the miles…
Sep 21, 2018 @ 23:46:35
It does get overwhelming at times. I’m coming out of one of those spells myself so my best wishes to you.
Sep 22, 2018 @ 07:02:25
What? I know I haven’t commented here much because I don’t get much time to read translated fiction – something I’m sure you understand given your awareness of our blogger specialties and preferences – but I love seeing your posts appear in my inbox, and whenever I do read a translated book I always check to see if you’ve read it.
So, what Lisa says – particularly re publishers and feeling pressure from them.
BUT if you really feel you need a break, that you can’t do it in a half-hearted sort of way, have a break, and see how you feel. You may want to come back or you may feel a new lease of life. Do what’s best for you.
Sep 23, 2018 @ 01:35:41
I’m really sorry to hear this but I totally understand. I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed with blogging on top of everything else myself right now. You’ll be missed, but in the end, you’ve got to do what’s right for you.