Hello,

I'm an active author/blogger/reviewer on this and other sites.

I've recently committed to reviewing the novels of new indie-published authors because who needs reviews more than them (believe me, I know)? I download free books from Smashwords, Amazon and StoryCartel.

It has been both surprising and disconcerting how many really good novels I've found that have had little or no recognition.

I've also began posting video book reviews though I'm wondering if this is a bit of an oxymoron. Your thoughts?

Finally, I am trying to build a stable of beta readers for my soon-to-be-published next novel. This is not critiquing by rather pointing of plot glitches and other discrepancies I've overlooked. If you're interested please contact me at rod_raglin@yahoo.com. I'd be happy to return the favor.

Hope I haven't violated any guidelines here.

Thanks.

Hello,

I'm an active author&blogger and reviewer on this and otehr sites.

I am a book addict and the genre matters not as long as the prose sings to me. Vocationally I am also a Systems Engineer and avocationally a Book Reviewer. In the early days I felt like I had been skimming too much and not really getting much out of my reading. Then came Close Reading and Book Reviewing. And nothing was ever the same.

What it means to me to be a critic/reviewer? For a lot of readers, a “reviewer” or “critic” is an embittered failed novelist or worse, a barely restrained serial rapist. Book critics may take the form of a dilettante, theorist, essayist, or even historian, but almost never reviewers, who sometimes lack the distancing from the text required by the demands of academia synthesis.

A few years ago I attended a class on English Comparative Literature at Universidade de Letras in Lisbon. My teacher, Vicky Hartnack, introduced me to the New Criticism concept of “Close Reading”, which I’ve been following ever since, and I’ve been mentioning it ad nauseum in a lot of my reviews. You’ll find in the following pages plenty of examples of this critical stance.

One of the reasons I love writing book critique is because it allows me the pleasure of close reading. Invariably this leads to question: “Why do you think the writer did that?” The ‘that’ could be a technique, a literary device, a plot point or some clever thing (like the iambic pentameter in Shakespeare or the visual cues R.J. Ellory uses so masterfully).

Close reading is a wonderful technique to tell us how the writers use language for effect. It’s all about grabbing our attention. They just wrap it up in a nice little phrase that make us think before they answer the questions they always answer.

It can be noted that some of the reviews I usually write also have a biographical component. It is intentional. Some of the books reviewed here cannot be disassociated from my own personal history. Thus the reviews reflect this fact. I only contemplate reviewing when it ties with my own personal history. I'm just not interested in reading impersonal and synopsis-like reviews. The fun of it is our personal relationship with a certain book. Why did matter in that particular junction in time? Why did I hate it so much? Why should I persevere reading a certain author?

What I always look for in a review is a visceral take on a particular book. My favourite take on this is our ability to create a particular timeline with one particular book.

Hello,

I'm normally a very active blogger but have been on holiday the last month, scheduled to return to RL and the frozen Southern Hemisphere next week. Typically I read and review approximately 13 books a month, mostly cozy mysteries, historical mysteries, paranormal, and the odd YA and Steampunk thrown into the mix. I also read non-fiction; science and readable history ( meaning I stay away from the dry and academic) and dip my toes into memoirs on occasion. I am known to occasionally post non-reviews of furry or feathered critters and as I am currently on holiday there have been a few holiday photos slipped in when no one is looking.

My reviews are honest, sometimes blistering but most often mild and non-offensive. I try not to swear but sometimes do. I comment on other blogs whenever I think I might have something constructive to add to the conversation, and I follow pretty much anyone who follows me that is active, obviously reads, and isn't an author trying to promote to me.

Hi
I'm an active reviewer on here and a few other sites. I read a heck of a lot because I have way too much time on my hands and a lack of motivation for housework.

I am an avid reader of most genres, my main books at the moment are horror/zombie, but if it looks good I'll give it a go!

I follow quite a few blogs and only contribute when I have something to say that's not stupid or nasty. New to actual blogging so I'll be secretive about that at the moment.

I like reviewing and if I don't like a book, or get so bored that I give up (this does happen) I'll explain why, hopefully without being a b*tch about it.

Hi everyone.

I've been following along and love the flurry of activity and followers this has produced. What a great idea. I thought I had put a post on this thread, but apparently not ... so a little about me.

I'm a pretty avid reader with widely eclectic taste. I have a few faves that I go to all the time --> books I buy without even reading a synopsis because I love the author. Others get picked because they sound interesting, tickle my fancy and sometimes, just because I love the cover art.

My reading mantra has turned into "I do not have time to start another series ... I do not have time to start another series" yet I still manage to get sucked in.

I'm (mumble-mumble) years old, have two grown daughters, a full time job, a few other outside obligations and I love to read, watch movies, enjoy live theater and spending time with my girls and a few select "besties". Who needs sleep anyway?

I do blog on here and on a few other sites as well as a blog of my own that I have started recently. If anyone cares to check it out it's at http://constantlymovingthebookmark.blogspot.ca/. Always looking for followers because Netgalley loves their reviewers to have lots of followers, but mostly I blog because it helps me keep track of my books and let's admit it ... I love to hear myself type.

I try to comment and like blog posts and if I don't please don't think I don't care or don't read them ... I do! They're the reason my TBR pile is out of control. Keep blogging everyone!

Hi all...*waves*

Not sure what qualifies as 'active', but I'd like to think I am.

I update both here and at Goodreads, though as far as liking/commenting, I am much, much more active here. (Goodreads has become mainly a cataloging site for me.)

My favorite genres are historical romance, paranormal romance, historical mystery, mystery/thriller, and horror, though I will read from any genre if the book sounds interesting to me.

I've also recently discovered a new appreciation for audiobooks.

I'm am so not good at these types of introductory posts, I am so sorry.

Hello *waves*

I guess I'm active - I post reviews at least twice a week as a rule. Although I have profiles on other sites such as goodreads, booklikes is by far my favourite and is where I'm most active.

I'll read pretty much any genre but crime and paranormal are my favourites. Sometimes I just need some time out from them and will read a romcom, for example. I'm not adverse to a bit of horror either.

I spend lots of time reading and reviewing books, so decided to start a blog a little while ago and this seemed as good a place as any. I really enjoy reading all the posts on my news feed and hopefully people enjoy reading mine.

This is such a great idea!

Hey, everyone! I'm enjoying all this new activity from this group--what a great idea, and thank you for creating it.

I'm a fairly active reviewer, though certainly not the most prolific. I do a lot of my "reading" by listening to audio books during runs (just recently completed my very first 50k, so it took lots of running to prepare for that), though I also read text versions, both on my Kindle and in print. I have a bad habit of accepting far too many "read now" books from NetGalley, but vow to catch up on my backlog someday. I made a rule for myself not to request anything, but I often can't resist a "read now" that sounds intriguing.

My tastes are pretty eclectic. I've been reading/listening to "Walking Dead" (Governor series) novels lately, but I also love many kinds of literary fiction, various kinds of sci fi/speculative fiction, mysteries, procedurals, graphic novels, memoirs, other non-fiction, and other categories I can't think of at the moment. I rarely read just one thing at once. :)

This is a fun thread! I'm an active blogger but have to slow down a bit at times due to my school work. I've been on booklikes for a while now. I just checked and my first booklikes blog post was February 22, 2013. I read and review mostly mysteries, particularly cozy and golden age. I also seem to read anything I can find that is set in France. Right now I have quite a few classics in my reading mix because I'm working on my Master's in Literature. I will pick up anything in any genre that catches my interest and I love to discuss books with other readers. I don't hesitate to be honest in my reviews.

Nice to see everyone here!

Hi everybody! I read a little bit of everything and lately have been consciously trying to incorporate more diversity in my reading list. The majority of my book consumption is on audio. The reviews I post are more of a reflection of my thoughts and experience with each book, rather than an attempt at a formal book review.

I've been active on BL for almost two years but work and school have kept me tied up for the last several months. I'm happy to be back and interested to see the changes in the site and the community and I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with old friends and getting to know some new friends.

Hi everyone,
I am an active user since last week. Although I've joined Booklikes earlier, but never used it much.
I would be pleased if you can follow my blog.
http://letmebefictional.booklikes.com

Relative active on this site. I reviewed books non fiction, children and YA books. Looking forward to find more reviewers to follow reviews.

Could find me here. http://xox.booklikes.com

Hi, all! I've been lurking around Booklikes since the beginning and am still looking for a vibrant community to join. I'm so glad this thread is running!

I do my best do be active here in Booklikes. This is a good community with great people and I'm proud to be part of it. Right now I'm reading the GOT booka,but I will read everything. My favorite genres are Fantasy and M/m.

Hi,

I’m a fairly active reviewer. I try to post 1-2 times a week, and I’ll read anything that interests me. My BookLikes blog is a mini-me version of my Blogger blog (http://ajsterkel.blogspot.com/). I would like to be more social on here, but I’ve been really busy lately, and I’ve found BookLikes to be slightly confusing to use. I do try to follow back everybody who follows me.