It's August!

Alison Can Read Feature & FollowAnother Friday and it's already August! There's only four months left of 2013 and I'm freaking out because when did this year happen? Did I miss it? Anyways, it's Friday which means questions have to be answered. Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee and this week's question is:
How do you handle a book you don't like? Do you DNF or do you power through.


It really depends on how much I don't like the book. I once tried to read 'The Italian' by Ann Radcliffe and I just couldn't do it. There's only so much fainting and waxing lyrical over how the moon reflects on the water a girl can take. So usually it's DNF, because there's plenty of other books I should be reading, rather than waste time on books I don't like.

It's always worse when it's a book I got sent for review, but once it got so bad I emailed the author and said I just couldn't get into it and that if I finished it the review would be immensely negative. The author then kindly asked me to not read the book. At university I don't have  a choice, as such. I have to read the books in order to keep up, but there is some freedom in how you read. If I'm sure I don't want to use it for exams and essays I skim-read it, if I like it I read it properly. Although I gave up on 'To The Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf. I just couldn't deal with it.

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This week's question is:
How do you turn down a review request?


It depends on why I want to turn it down. If I really don't want to read it because it just isn't my kind of book then I just tell them I don't think I'd be a suitable reviewer. It's no fair on the author either if I force myself through their book and dislike it, simply because I don't like the genre etc.

I have been really busy in the last couple of months, so if I find myself short on time (which is most of the time) I offer them a guestpost or a spotlight. I do think I should start referring to other bloggers, that would be a great way of spreading around review requests!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice. This week I'm using 'Building Great Sentences' by Brooks Landon, which I just got from Netgalley.

BB:
'"This is what I mean when I call myself a writer," writes novelist Don DeLillo. "I construct sentences."'
This book probably won't be a very "fun" read, in the sense that a novel is. But I do genuinely enjoy these kinds of books so I hope this will be a good one as well!

F56:
'The principle is this: 'When you write, you make a point not by subtracting as though you sharpened a pencil, but by adding. When you put one word after another, your statement should be more precise the more you add.'
That sounds very true. Although sometimes I do think that less is more, especially when it comes to adjectives for example, I do think that it is detail in sentences that makes them beautiful!


So, what do you think? Which book have you used for your memes?

Comments

  1. Exactly! That's usually why I DNF a book. I give it my all but if I just can't get into it, I'd rather give something else a try! Too many TBR books and not even sure if I can finish them all before I die!! There are just too many!

    Here's my Follow Friday

    Have a GREAT weekend!

    Old Follower :)

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  2. Nice way to think of writing - constructing sentences, making a point, and being more precise the more you add. Good book to feature.

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  3. Building Great Sentences sounds like a great look into how a writer creates his/her story. This would benefit both a new writer and avid reader. I am adding this to my To Read list. Thanks for sharing and visting me @ The Key to the Gate!
    Happy Reading,
    Rebecca @ The Key to the Gate

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  4. Agree. Same here. Happy Friday!

    new follower via twitter & bloglovin

    http://www.itchingforbooks.com/2013/08/feature-and-follow-58.html

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  5. You're right...probably not as much fun as a novel, but I do enjoy the occasional "how to" book, especially if there is practical advice. Enjoy!

    Here's
    MY FRIDAY MEMES POST

    P.S. A sidenote: sometimes I think that those that design the word verifications are trying to drive me blind, if not mad! lol

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  6. Seems to textbook-like for my reading pleasure.

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  7. I love books about writing, so this one is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing it on Book Beginnings on Fridays.

    My opening this week came from Flying Finish by Dick Francis, who is one of my favorites.

    Rose City Reader

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  8. Very nice way to turn down a request. I do say that I am not the person to review your book and suggest another site, but not another blogger. I don't want to put that blogger on the spot.

    Declining is tricky, but it can be done graciously as I have seen from many answers today including mine. :)

    Stop by for my full answer if you like.

    Happy Hopping!!

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog Hop Answer

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  9. You have great answers to these questions, Juli!

    I totally agree with you on not finishing a book I don't like. Even if I was sent the book in order to review it, I feel I have to be honest and state that I won't be able to do the book justice. However, I do feel more comfortable doing this through the publisher, instead of directly to the author.

    Recently, I emailed a tour company who had sent me a book (a printed one, too!) to tell them I couldn't review it. I had read a couple of chapters, and just didn't like it at all. They were very nice about it, too.

    As for individual review requests, I don't get them anymore, thankfully! I used to get a lot of them, but no more! I have a very simple solution to the problem of having to turn down these requests.

    I love reading nonfiction, and want to do more of it in order to review it on my blog. I really like your choice for "The Friday 56"; in fact, I'm going to get this book!

    Happy Friday, and Happy Blogging!! : )



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  10. "I construct sentences."

    I like that :)

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. I like your BB. Stop by for mine if you like.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  12. haha "waxing lyrical about the moon reflecting on the water" would drive me up the wall as well!
    I'm a new bloglovin follower!

    - Kritika@Snowflakes and Spider Silk

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  13. oooh, so you refer other bloggers? we probably should start a pool up, or something. i get so many requests that i don't know what to do with some of them ...

    your 56 is so true. keep adding but make sure its worth adding ... or it can become a huge mess!

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  14. This may be a stupid question, but what is DNF?

    And...we should get a list of bloggers and what they like to read and refer authors to them.

    What does everyone think? I will compile it. All we would need would be everyone's e-mail and what genres they read.

    I like that idea.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews

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    Replies
    1. DNF means Did Not Finish, I think! At least that's what I decided it stood for XD I love the idea of a kind of Blogger Directory! I'll email you :)
      Juli

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  15. THANK YOU Juli.

    I should have figured DNF out. LOL!!

    I received your e-mail. THANKS.

    Elizabeth

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  16. I really enjoy books about writing too as I'm trying to start writing myself. Hope you enjoy this one.

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