You meet somebody who doesn't like to read.
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You meet somebody who hasn't read one of your favorite books.
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This goes with the one above because it just DOES NOT COMPUTE. I have a favorite book and when I see or hear that someone didn't like it (specifically a friend), I can't understand it. I have this huge love for a certain book/series and then someone doesn't like it? Excuse me?
You see somebody got a coveted ARC..that you didn't get.
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Yes, it's petty. Yes, it's warned all the time. Yes, it's pure jealousy. But if you know me well, you know that I have a continual problem with jealousy. It's a bad thing, that monstrous little green bug. You request an ARC, hear nothing, but then see on someone's blog that they got it. So then you can't help, but wonder why didn't you get it?
You read an anticipated book and it didn't live up to the hype.
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Another disappointment related to feeling insecure. You know, there's always that one book that you are so excited for and you see only positive reviews. All the trusted bloggers and friends rave about it and not a one rated it lower than three stars. Then you get to it and you keep checking the cover to make sure that you really did pick up the right book. When I write a negative review, it's relieving in a way, but when I see that so many people liked it and I feel like that I'm the oddball, I feel like a failed reader. Of course, that feels like a failed blogger. Expectations are powerful.
You realize you now have less time to read.
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This may be only me, but after the start of blogging, I go through phases of reading. I'll either have tons of time to read or suddenly life happens and blogging feels like a pressure and I suddenly have no time to read. With reading being a strong passion, this is one of the most disappointing things to ever happen. I see great posts encouraging bloggers to not feel pressured about their blogs and to not let reading become like a chore. I definitely appreciate those posts and this is me saying that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Also, congrats to the bloggers who don't find themselves in this situation.
You get negative comments.
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Thankfully, I haven't had to experience this one, but I know it can be a disappointing thing to bloggers. Some of them brush it off, some of them might even like it, but I can imagine it to be pretty deflating. As a devoted reader to others' blogs, I hate when I hear that commenters are nasty to them or write something that tears them down. So thank you to everyone who has written the sweetest things on here.
I know there must be way more so go comment below! I appreciate hearing your thoughts, you lovely people. I promise this week I will be better at blogging, reading, and commenting on others' blogs because I desperately miss it.
So 100% accurate! I love the use of GIFS. It is so sad when a book doesn't live up to the hype! Brilliant Post
ReplyDeleteAh, Sunny...the thing to remember about all of the disappointments you mentioned is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Seriously. I actually started blogging because IRL, I have NO ONE to talk to about books. Both of my sisters read, but neither is as passionate about books as I am. And every book I try to recommend them gets me nowhere. I mean, I rec'd my favorite book last year to my older sis -- I even bought her a copy -- and she was all "meh".
ReplyDeleteAnd don't feel bad about that green-eyed monster. He visits us all. I still feel bad when I've requested an ARC and hear nothing back, only to see someone else with it. Worse is when I've seen an ARC in the wild, only to be told that they're not sending them out for another couple of months...and even then I don't get one. It's petty, but it's human nature, I suppose. Acceptance is key. :P
Anyway, I hope that you're getting tons of awesome reading done this summer!
^^ being international i must accept teh fact that yes arc are just a dream for me and it's sometimes not easy when it's one from your favourite series and you see it on a blog... ( add to that all teh contest/ giveaway we can't enter and that's even more disappointement) but i discovered a fabulous book community who love to share beyong world and that's something i'm really grateful for.
ReplyDeletemy mother love to read, devour books but not those i love to read so we can share, we understand each other passion but we don't share it ^^ .... i wouldn't become crazy because someone doesn't love a book i adored it can happed but someone who doesn't love to read who abuse her/his books that's something i can't accept!
all bloger i know needed at least a little break at a moment or another and really i understand that so don't worry because yes reading must stay a pleasure ^^
Fantastic post, I agree with all of these. Starting from the bottom, I recently got my first negative comment (The one on the DNF 5th Wave review right above your comment) and I was just so mad. I had to step away and calm down before I could write an intelligent response. I'm not used to having defend my opinion. Since I'm going to college next year I had a long summer so I have had time to read but when I go back to school I am terrified I won't have enough time to read. Anticipated book, that also goes along with the 5th Wave. I feel like I am the only one who didn't like it. Oh boy, the ARC one. I feel you. I spend an hour writing a nice email to a publisher and.... nothing. But that blog around the corner (Internet, whatever) shows up with a copy. Le sigh. Someone who doesn't like to read sdfghjk. There was this one kid named Wiz, no joke, and he was always like "I don't read. What are books?" And he was somewhat jokinh but he hated to read and I'm just like shooting daggers into his head from the back of the classroom. Blah. Great post, Sunny!
ReplyDeleteReally great post, really relatable. I'm still struggling with my time management. When I find a little free time I always end up having to choose between reading or blogging.
ReplyDelete-Mari @ The Sirenic Codex
Ah, you make so many good points here, Sunny. Reading a book that others love and you just don't get can be a disappointment. But I always remind myself that not all books are for all people. I get disappointed when I recommend a book to someone only to have them completely hate it. I feel bad. Great post. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post Sunny, I hate it when a book doesn't live up to my expectations especially when I've been waiting for it for so long. Lately this has been happening with me a lot :( I also get jealous when people are accepted for review copies and I'm just flat out rejected, it's not that I don't have enough books of my own to read, but the rejection can leave an awful feeling :(
ReplyDeleteOne huge yes to all of these!
ReplyDelete1) Yes, yes! I totally cannot comprehend it when I hear that someone does not like to read. They're just joking with us, right? Right?!
2) I run into this all the time! It really makes you wonder what you love about the book and wonder what they didn't like about it exactly.
3)It's always so disappointing when I don't get an ARC I requested. I'm currently trying not to stalk all the bloggers who got an ARC I wanted *cough Cress cough*, but, as Dory says, just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
4)YES! I've done this so many times. I get a book everyone loves, have high expectations for it, and then think "Did I read the same book? Was I supposed to be more excited?" It always makes me wonder why I didn't love it as much as everyone else did.
5)It's so hard to find the time to read the book and then write a good enough post for it! :(
6) Ugh, negative comments. I got my first one this year, and while it wasn't really, really mean, it was still negative and saying that they didn't like my review style/what I said. I just don't understand why someone would go through the effort of typing something like that.
I go through a lot of library jealousy, book bloggers will post pics of the new books their library got in and I'm thinking, "What town do you live in? Because I want to move there and go to that library too!"
Great post, Sunny! Love the gifs, they went with each topic perfectly! :)
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
I am totally with you on all of these! I get so sad when a friend doesn't like a book I loved. :( And I definitely get bit by the jealous bug too. All the time! You are definitely not alone with these!
ReplyDeleteI think getting negative comments would really put me off blogging! I have a lot of respect for those who do get them and don't let it affect what they do. And I am so with you on the high expectations. There's always that one book that everyone loves, but as soon as I give it a try, I can't for the life of me work out what everyone sees in it. I hate that oddball feeling.
ReplyDeleteReally great post, Sunny! I think I can relate to most if not all of these. :)
This is so true, especially number one, for which you found a fantastic GIF, by the way. I completely lose my ability to even when people say they don't like reading. I can understand why my classmates might not appreciate the beauty of language in a book like Shatter Me as much as we word nerds do, but how can they not enjoy escaping in a story? All I can think is, "You like TV, don't you? Well, books are like TV except better."
ReplyDeleteAnd negative comments…Part of me would be excited to get one because I kind of view them as indicators of influence, but they also seem to be annoying. I have gotten spam pointing out my supposedly numerous grammar and spelling errors (this constructive criticism was delivered in a run-on sentence devoid of capital letters), but nothing legitimate. It would be saddening because our community is so nice, but there are always a few crazies.
Lovely post, Sunny!
I love you and this post so much I want to give it a big hug. YES to all of this. I have experienced every one of these, except the last one thankfully. But I almost didn't start blogging b/c some of the major drama and backlash over other people's blog posts. I had FEAR that I'd be hit with the negativity. Also thankfully, everyone I've encountered so far in this community has been amazing.
ReplyDeleteI think my biggest trouble with blogging is "you realize you have less time to read." TRUTH. I take forever to write a review. Like multiple hours, and that cuts way down on my reading time. Plus I have a life and a family and other commitments and can't read all the time. BUMMER. But as much as a I love blogging, it does require a lot of upkeep. Even visiting blogs - which is FUN takes up lots of time. BUt I definitely swing through periods where I feel so much PRESSURE and i don't know how I'll manage everything, and other times where I feel like I can do lots of reading. It's a constant balancing act. But I love it so much!
Thanks for this post. You're the best.
I have to admit, I can totally relate over the jealousy surrounding ARC's. I'm one of the unlucky ones that still can't seem to get Harper, Harlequin, Penguin, etc. to know I exist. I get some through Netgalley and others through Edelweiss, but very rarely do I receive anything in the mail. It's a normal weekend for me going through the Stacking the Shelves and In My Mailbox posts, oogling at all the amazing ARC's people have received. Pure jealousy, I tell you! I beat myself up about it because I shouldn't be jealous... but it's an honest reaction, I think. I may not be as big and wellknown as some of the other blogs, but I'm happy with my blog just the way it is. I get to be on a more personal level with just a handful of bloggers that I really enjoy, versus a bunch of people I've never talked to before. So even though being bigger and more wellknown has its benefits, smaller, sweeter blogs have their benefits too. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat list. I particularly agree with having expectations about books. I try not to read too many reviews of books that I'm about to read, as I'd rather make up my own mind without the weight of what I should think hanging over me!
ReplyDeleteAnd also yes to the pressures of book blogging. I think blogging should always be fun, so it doesn't matter if you have a lull sometimes, because other times you'll have loads to post.
Sarah