Up Close and (un)Conventional #15
Welcome to this week’s Up Close and (un)Conventional. This is where I discuss both things that have to do with reading and blogging, and things that just have to do with life in general. This week, I’m wondering what other bloggers have noticed about their reviews and where they get the most interactions with other bloggers. It has been pretty consistent for me that my ARC reviews get quite a bit of traffic, but not that many comments. I can understand it, because I sometimes read ARC reviews for books I want in a diagonal way, so as to not be spoiled. And commenting only to say I only partly read the review can be a little weird – but I often do so anyway.
When it comes to books that have been released a while ago, I get a lot more comments, though, and even some discussion about character development, a specific plot point or something else that happened in the book. This is what I really love, because it’s so great to be able to chat with someone who has read the book already, and see if we agree or disagree about certain points. Of course, this is something that can happen much more often with books that have been released a while ago, as even ARCs aren’t always read as soon as we receive them.
I will continue to read and review ARCs, because I love reading books before they are released, it’s like I’m part of something secret when I can do that. However, since I’ve been a lot better at actually reviewing books I have bought this year, books that may have been released last year, I have seen that I do get more interactions on those reviews, and that’s encouraging me to continue to review ‘older’ books as well.
Have you noticed a difference? Or do you get just as many comments on your ARC reviews as on reviews for books that are not as recent?
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I don’t know that I’ve ever paid much attention. Since I mostly review audios, which we rarely get ARCs in advance of release, I rarely get them live until after several other reviews are posted. That’s a good question. I’ll have to pay more attention to reviews in relation to release date. Great topic.
Maybe this is something that happens more here on my blog than elsewhere, Melanie? I don’t know. But it’s great when the discussion takes off, and people come back to comment more than once in the thread, too!
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I agree. I think that is one reason I like discussion posts more than reviews because there tens to be more of a discussion.
I often wish I could come up with more topics for discussion posts! Sometimes, I get a great idea, and then I forget about it before I get to the computer 😉
I have noticed a big difference, but I think a lot of that is largely attributed to readers wanting to discuss there experience with having read the book themselves. It is actually really freeing. I too will continue to review ARC’s, but it is good to know that I can happily read and talk about anything on my TBR and not turn visitors away.
You are right on both counts, Suzi! I have so many books that have been on my kindle for a long time, that being encouraged to read and review them because I get comments is a very good thing!
However, reading ARCs is always fun, too, it took a while before I started getting accepted, and now, I’m always thankful when I can read a book by a favorite author before the release date 🙂
I haven’t been reviewing ARCs for that long, yet I haven’t noticed much of a difference so far. The kind of books I usually review (urban fantasy, historical romances and the like) have received moreover the same number of coms as ARCs or old reviews if my memory serves, the only one who didn’t get as much feedback was a creepy thriller whose cover scared several people, lol ! (Little girls by Ronald Malfi). But it’s only a recent experience 😉
That’s good, Iza, it’s always fun to have comments, and if you have as many on your ARC reviews and your reviews for older books, you are keeping busy and happy 😉
LOL, I loved your review for Little Girls, and I definitely want to read it!
Due to time constraints, I definitely find joy in being able to visit various blogs to find out about new books and authors, so the interaction that occurs based on a review is pretty neat for me. Gives me the opportunity to get some objective opinions. Also a great way to meet new friends. Hugs…
That’s really good to know, Ro. I think that finding new friends in the blogisphere is as much fun to me as finding a new book to read it!
And I will definitely continue to write ARC reviews, I had just noticed lately that there was a quite big difference in the number of comments I got on the different reviews 🙂
Twitter: limabean74
One of my kids friends was just looking at books I have and I said they are all ARCs, they haven’t been released yet and he was like WOW That’s so cool, and I was thinking I know lol. I am like a kid with ARCs. I try to keep all my reviews spoiler free (like everybody) when it comes to ARCs but books that have been out FOREVER, All bets are off. I am not sure what gets more hits. Sometimes I think it’s about even for me. I do like visiting people that read ARCS because it introduces me to new books and maybe some new people however I like the older books too since they might be new to me also. Have I totally gone off topic 🙂 I will stop now! Great Post, Lexxie oxox
LOL Michelle, I’m like a kid with ARCs, too! Even my husband gets that, though, even if he’s not really a reader!
I don’t always request (or get) very popular ARCs, but it’s true that those that are among the most anticipated may get more traffic and comments because a lot of other people are excited to get their hands on them as well 🙂
And like you, I love reading ARC reviews – even if I may read them kind of diagonally, so I have as little notion about the actual plot as possible.
You never have to stop, Michelle!! Thanks for stopping by.
I haven’t really noticed much of a difference – in terms of comments at least. I do like when people can say more with older books. I try and do a mix; lately I’ve been reading/reviewing a lot of older titles.
-Lauren
I have been better at reviewing my ‘older’ books lately too, and that’s how I’ve noticed it! Last year was really the first year I got a LOT of ARCs, and I went totally crazy at Netgalley. So my own, bought books were put on the back burner.
I haven’t really paid as to which gets more comments but when I’m visiting a blog I like a mix of ARCs, new releases, and older books. Being able to freely discuss the plot and details is a definite advantage to older books though I do try to keep even those reviews spoiler-free for those people who haven’t read the book yet. Currently I’m mostly reviewing new releases and ARCs, time to work in some older titles!
I agree, Bea, I definitely love to read both, and being able to chat about some more things in what happened in a book that’s been out for a while is great. And I think that when other people have read the same book, it makes the discussions more interesting as well 🙂
I know the feeling of wanting and reading those ARCs, it’s an added excitement to me, at least.
I haven’t noticed a difference in the amount of comments or interactions with older books versus ARCS. However, I love discussing a book that I’ve already read versus commenting on one that I haven’t. At the same time, I get to discover new books that I wasn’t aware of when I see reviews for ARCS. Great discussion post Lexx!!!
Yeah, if I read a review for a book I’ve already read, it’s very easy to comment on specific points. And I also agree about the ARC reviews, it’s a great way to find new books to add to my shelves – even if my shelves really don’t need any more books to fill them 😀
Definitely. When I review older books, especially those part of a popular series, I get more first time comment. People who have never left one before chime in and give their thoughts. I love it. Also, I like when I review an older book, and people are just discovering it for the first time on my blog.
Ah, that may be it, Christy, people who may come and read a review but not comment who are commenting on the ‘older’ books’ reviews. Very good point, I hadn’t even thought of that!
I’d say I’ve noticed about the same things. I only get a good amount of comments on ARCs that are especially popular. Older books are always better at getting people involved. It makes sense since more people will have read established books!
It seems we all have different experiences when it comes to this topic, Cayt, I’m kind of glad I’m not the only one who has noticed that there may be a difference 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
I still see a lot of interaction regardless of book, but you are right comments on older books are more in depth. Since I read a nice mix it works out well. A lot of the audio books I read folks have already reviewed the physical copy which is kind of cool too. Great topic and interesting observation. I love blogs that have a mix of genres as well as new and old books to discover 🙂
I agree about enjoying the blogs that have a mix of both genres and new and old, because I know very well that most genres appeal to me, and there are so many books out there just waiting for me to discover them 🙂
I’m glad you get as much interactions on ARC reviews as you get on reviews on older books, that gives me hope 😉
Thanks for stopping by, Kim.
I get a pretty consistent amount of comments on my review posts, I feel like it doesn’t really matter which book I review. I do notice that books that are more well known or popular get more comments about people having actually read the book as well or are planning to read the book. Like my review of Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep this week. I don’t really look at the amount of visits that often, so i can’t really say anything about visits and comments and how they differ for ARCs and not ARC’s.
I do read and review some ARC’s, but often don’t post them until the release day or later and sometimes I don’t even get them read in time. I do feel like less people have read those than some older books. I also hate to comment I have only read the review half, it depends a bit on the book, when i really don’t want to be spoiled I am more carefull to avoid reviews. For some books I don’t mind as much and just read the reviews, I also follow quite some bloggers who I know won’t spoil big things and I actually enjoy reading those reviews and getting more excited to read that book.
I like seeing reviews of ARC’s on blogs as they can make me excited for an upcoming book, so I do think that reviewing ARC’s is a good thing. Great post Lexxie!
Maybe I don’t review enough of the very popular and sought-after books for my ARCs, but the books I’ve bought do fall into that category quite often. I don’t look all that much at visits, either, but I do love having some comments to look at, answer, and also visit other blogs that way.
I am always very careful with spoilers, because that’s really something I hate myself! It can completely ruin the reading experience for me if I am spoiled.
Thanks for stopping by Lola.
I haven’t noticed about comments, but I definitely like to see a mix of ARC and older books. If we were all just posting ARC reviews, we’d all be posting about the same things. It’s nice to turn to an older book and find a fellow blogger’s opinion on it 🙂
I don’t review ARCs, just books I’ve purchased or checked out from the library, so I cannot provide input from a bloggers perspective, but I can from a readers perspective. I might scope out one or two reviews for a new release, but I am definitely more likely to read and comment on a book review for a book that I’ve read (which means it’s been it’s been on the bookshelves for a while).