skaeth

skaeth, 4 months ago

@shauna @bookstodon

Libraries are gold. My reading spiked during the pandemic too, and I'm grateful for that and for my library being so accommodating! 10% is a good number I think. It gives a chance for the plot to get started so you can feel how the story might progress.

skaeth, 4 months ago

@shauna @bookstodon

How often do you pick a book back up after you set it aside?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@Grizzlysgrowls @shauna @bookstodon

I've done that too. Sometimes I hit a book that's just way too dark for me. It might be brilliantly written and sometimes it's just my mood, but why slog through a book when I an easily find something lighter that I'll enjoy more (if that's the problem)?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@crcollins @bookstodon

I'm the same way. I, too, went from always finishing to "life is too short". And that's how I think of it, too. Why waste my time on a book that's not for me? My TBR is toppling as it is!

skaeth, 4 months ago

@patchworkbunny @bookstodon

I hear you! And reading slumps are annoying. I love reading too much to be comfortable flailing around without anything to read.

How often do you do reading challenges? I've found them to be amazing for pushing me out of my comfort zone and introducing me to books I might otherwise not have tried, but I don't do them super often. (Perhaps not as often as I should!)

skaeth, 4 months ago

@Klepsis @bookstodon @shauna

Are you more likely to finish a book you own? Do you use subscription models (like KU or Kobo Plus) much? I'm curious about your borrowed reads to owned reads percentage.

skaeth, 4 months ago

@penalbatoday @bookstodon

I haven't been in a situation since school that I've needed to read only one or two chapters. Usually I'm in it for the whole book. Do you find you read sections instead of the entirety of a book often?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@paulthenerd @bookstodon

Yup, I totally agree! This is basically me these days. It took me a while to get here, but it's so freeing.

skaeth, 4 months ago

@Nichelle @bookstodon

I completely agree! And 25% gives the book a huge chance! If the book hasn't captured you within the first act, it's probably not going to.

skaeth, 4 months ago

@otherdog @bookstodon

Why do you think you haven't been able to shake the guilt from DNFing? Do you ever have trepidation about picking up a book because you might not like it and still feel compelled to finish it?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@bobthomson70 @bookstodon

I really need to read Iain Banks, lol. I love that you included your reasons for DNF--totally fair. Did you enjoy the books you picked up instead of these better?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@rateexportpilot @bookstodon

I have no idea how that works with Libby either, but with reading to the kids at bedtime, we've certainly hit that same time crunch of not having quite finished the book and it gets whisked off the iPad, lol.

That's interesting that another book calling you will cause you to DNF! Do you borrow one book at a time? Do you ever go back later to a book you dropped?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@bluGill @bookstodon

Even setting a book down and planning to come back to it later is sort of DNF territory I think-- I think it fits, anyway! What will get you to DNF-for-now?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@Grizzlysgrowls @shauna @bookstodon

Yeah, it's definitely harder when you know the author, I think. But most authors I know would rather you go read something else you enjoy better, too, so hopefully that helps!

skaeth, 4 months ago

@hoare_spitall @shauna @bookstodon

You tried so hard, though! 5 and 6 times of trying to get into those books- sounds like they just weren't for you. I hope you went on to books you enjoyed better!

skaeth, 4 months ago

@penalbatoday @bookstodon

That makes sense! What are your answers to your questions? If you read a bit of something, do you often feel compelled to read the rest, or no?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@bhalpin @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy
No forgiveness necessary! It's good to cover all the bases. I am indeed working on building up my newsletter list but I'm nearing the cap, after which it'll get expensive-- far more than I make monthly/yearly.
With Kirkus reviews, I know that people like them & this is pretty common advice that I've never followed, so I don't know. Do they also help with discovery (sharing well-reviewed books to a platform or whatnot)? Or is it more a seal of approval?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@anakin78z @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

Thank you-- that does help! Are you finding these lists on book blogs, etc?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@templetongate @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

Thank you for your input!

Yes, NetGalley is pricey, but it's worth it for a lot of people because it's so much easier to get their books in the hands of readers in return for a review.

Do you follow authors and editors through their blogs, social media, or like on BookBub or Amazon? Or multiple ways?

skaeth, 4 months ago

@kimlockhartga @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

I love the long, detailed response! Thank you!

I love Bookstodon--I've gotten so many amazing recommendations just as a reader from here! My books are on some of those sites (Goodreads, Storygraph, BookBub) already but I will check the others and see if I can get on there too.

skaeth, 4 months ago

@bhalpin @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

I've never heard of this one! Thank you-- I will check it out.

skaeth, 4 months ago

@bloodravenlib @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

Thank you, this is helpful. The RSS feeds-- are those from like book bloggers mainly?

Actually I'm interested in the librarian professional review sources too if you want to delve into that! Partly simply curiosity, and partly I have worked hard to make sure my books are easily available to libraries if by chance they want to have them, and I'm always interested in what else I can do to make things easy. Libraries were my haven growing up.

skaeth, 4 months ago

@templetongate @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

That makes sense! There are so many amazing books to read. It's impossible to find time for them all!

Thanks for all your input- I really appreciate it!

skaeth, 4 months ago

@bloodravenlib @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

Oh absolutely. And that's fair-- there's only so much space, after all. Most of the libraries that I've seen have my books in their catalogue only have the digital version, which makes total sense.

Thank you for all your help!