Now then, peeps! We all love ARCs. Who wouldn't? Free copies of lovely shiny new books, ahead of publication, and often in those not-quite-done covers that make you feel just a teeny tiny bit special because your copy looks different from everyone else's...
But at what point, I wonder, do review books start to become homework? It came to my attention this week that four of the six books I've read so far this year have been review copies. One of the two books I'm currently reading is also a review copy, as is the book I'm planning to read after that. At the moment, every time I finish a book, the question isn't, "What do I want to read next?" but "What do I need to read next?" or even "What should I have read last week but couldn't quite get to in time?"
Admittedly, part of the reason for my skewed reading priorities (and the self-pressure that inevitably follows) is the fact that I had that almighty chunk of non-reading time at the start of 2012. Now that my time is more balanced again (books, music AND telly, thank you very much) I'm finding myself with a stack of unread review copies clamouring for my attention. If I miss more than one or two I feel really, seriously guilty. After all, this one might have been The One, the one I would have raved about and recommended to anyone and everyone! I haven't done my reviewerly duty! I'VE LET EVERYONE DOWN!
Meanwhile the books continue to pour into my house from other places too. We all know that no matter how hard I try to stoke up my willpower, I'm powerless to resist the siren call of book shopping for long. The books I've chosen for some of my challenges this year remain firmly on the shelves. New titles pile up under the bed. I try to refrain from buying anything else but of course, that always fails sooner or later. Books I've bought this year, books I was given for Christmas, books I was CONVINCED I would read almost immediately because I JUST COULDN'T WAIT - all left shiny and unloved. And let's not even talk about the sixteen library books that have been sitting on my windowsill since December...
So, with all this in mind, and to clear my head ready for another round of review-book fever, I've decided that after The Snow Child and one of the many young adult ARCs I'm 'meant' to have read in the last week or so, I'm going to have a little break from review copies and enjoy a book or two off my own shelves! It'll be nice to have a couple of weeks of following my own reading whims instead of choosing my books based on what's being published next. After that I'll be more than happy to go back to review copies again for a while, but I think I owe it to my shelves to give them some love every once in a while!
Over to you! How do you balance the demands of review copies and ARCs with the other books you want to read? Is there ever a point at which you just say 'Enough!' and back away from ARCs for a little while? Or do you think it's more a matter of good planning? Do share your thoughts, tips and advice in the comments!
I don't like admitting it... but I resent review copies so much. When I first started receiving them I was absolutely thrilled, now I'm WAY more careful about what I accept because I know I'll have to force myself to start it.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that I'm not grateful for the ARCS I get, far from it! Just that maybe I shouldn't set such unachievable targets!
I have really been cutting back on books for review lately. My downfall is always NetGalley. I sign up for so many books and then get behind. I have been trying to read more books from my own bookshelf lately too.
ReplyDeleteOooh, The Snow Child is my next read. I'm on holiday next week, so it'll be a good holiday book, I think.
ReplyDeleteI've only received two review books in my blogging career. Admittedly, I haven't gone out of my way to receive them. Free books and advance copies are great, but it's all I can do to stay on top of my to-read pile. (This is a lie. I can't even do that.) And sometimes I read people's blogs saying, "So many review books, I haven't got time to read what I really want to read." Sticking just to my own books takes the pressure off (though I haven't written so much on my blog in the last few months, and I do feel bad about that.)
I can very much relate to your post. I love the thrill of getting an ARC in the mail, but then have to wonder how quickly I can possibly get to it. I feel guilty looking at the large stack that remains untouched, but that doesn't mean I won't still ask for more, or request them from NetGalley. My own books often go unread because I can't possibly keep up with the library books that are checked out let alone the ARCs and my own books. This year I have read more of my own stuff and let some of the library books go back unread. My reading stacks will probably never be under control, and mostly I'm OK with that, although my husband would be much happier if there weren't books everywhere he looked.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteBalancing ARCs, library reads and the ones sitting on my shelf stresses me out at times-at the moment I've turned down a few requests because if I don't catch up I also feel guilty! I hate that feeling!
I also hate feeling obligated to read something rather than being able to choose a book according to my mood.
OMG I feel exactly the same! With a massive pile of books waiting for me to read from way back when i feel terribly guilty and have the feeling that if i don't sort myself out soon all will be lost!
ReplyDeleteSomehow life always seems to get in the way of things and demand our attention to other things. Now that you know what you have to do you will be flying through the pages with ease.
I am hoping my second funk ends very soon and i can get back on the review train!
(2nd attempt at commenting! I have copied and pasted this time just in case!)
So when I first started receiving review copies I would make sure I read them as soon as possible for fear of the publishers hating me, not having the latest content on my blog, guilt at being sent these books and not reading them etc
ReplyDeleteBut now I get so many for review that I've got to the point where I'm more relaxed with it, I think because it would be impossible to read them all. I'm on so many mailing lists that if a book arrives and isn't my kind of thing I have no qualms with passing it on to somebody else and not even reading it never mind reviewing it.
What I do now is make a reading pile for every month with a mix of new review books, bought books, books that I've bought that have recently came out, books I've been meaning to get to, older books, review books I've been meaning to get to, some series books if a new one's due out soon, that way I have a real mix every month and I try not to look at it as review book VS MY books but just see them all as books I want to read and if I happen to pick up a review book then yay all the better! I think when you start looking at them as review books rather than YOUR books that's when it feels like homework. But I don't beat myself up about it anymore. I've found publishers don't mind too much on when a reviews up or if it's late they're awesome like that!
I feel your pain and share it too. Right now I have 29 review books in the stack - nine of which publish in March. I don't think I'll read any of my own purchases this month.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing response! I expected a few "Jeez, stop moaning already" comments but it's so lovely that so many other people feel the same way! Makes it easier for all of us when someone 'fesses up, perhaps? ;)
ReplyDeleteHanna - It DOES become a bit of a love/hate thing sometimes, doesn't it?
Anne - I did that when I bought my Kindle, but since I'm now selling it again I can at least strike Netgalley off my list!
Katie - Exactly... I hope you enjoy 'The Snow Child' - I'm about 2/3 through now and it's absolutely beautiful. Maybe take some tissues with you though - it's just got that FEELING about it that it's going to be a heartbreaker.
Tina - I think 'going with the flow' is probably something I need to work on! I tend to just look around once in a while, clock the multiple piles of books and think "Arrrrgh! Now what?!"
Tammy - The obligation is definitely an issue for me. I sometimes wonder if review books I rate badly end up that way because of the book, or because I didn't really fancy reading it that much at the time?
Young1 - Yup, reading slumps definitely don't help! And life certainly gets in the way, particularly as the bookshop gets busier. Hope the panic is over soon and that all is, in fact, NOT lost... :)
Jess - Awesome comment sweets, thank you! I absolutely J'ADORE your 'reading pile' idea - I might try that for March and see how I get on! I'll have a look at my library books, review pile, challenge books and ye olde bookshelves, and pick a little stack to start with. THANK YOU!
Kathy - Yup, I've just noticed a bunch more publication dates coming up in my diary. Here's hoping Jess's idea helps pave the way to less guilt and more balanced reading! :)
I've been cutting back on ARCs too. The pressure from reading what's on my annual reading list - and reviewing those - is quite enough for now.
ReplyDeleteMaybe next year I won't have such an ambitious list and will be able to take on ARCS again.
Debbie - I think it makes a difference if you review every book you read, too. I know some of the more prolific bloggers/readers don't, but because my blog is kind of a reading diary as well, I make a point of it. A good review can take several hours to put together, which is several hours I'm not reading!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you so much. I'm grateful for all of these amazing books, and I have asked for most of them (or at least said "yes, that sounds good" to emails)... but they are a massive pile beside the computer that makes me sad. It's about 2 months' worth... and I can't stand 2 months of reading that aren't my own books! I know I can mission through several in a weekend if I choose, but then I have to review them as well and that takes time... argh. Frustration.
ReplyDeleteSo, er, yes. Well said.
Agreed... Just like sometimes I'll buy, say, three books but won't fancy reading two of them quite yet. All the review books sound good - but that doesn't mean I want to read them all together, right now. Particularly because a lot of mine are YA when I actually read really widely when left to my own devices - sometimes I just want a book about adults, or some non-fiction, instead of another teenage novel!
ReplyDeleteI think I need to work on mixing things up more, instead of reading ALL review books, then getting fed up and reading ALL my own books and getting in a tangle. Hence my enthusiasm for Jess's 'reading pile' idea... I'm going to spend a bit of time this week creating a March pile I think, so I can stop feeling guilty about the rest of my bookshelves and focus on the month at hand instead!
Seriously, lately I've been looking at my review pile and wondering, how did I get myself into all this? Lately there have been a ton of books offered to me for review, that I really want to read! So now I have stopped accepting reviews for a while and just sticking to the publishing and PR companies that I've built up a relationship with. And I'm limiting myself to no more than two from them a month. That way I can get to the challenge reading and all the books on my bookshelves, because I can't seem to stop buying books!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteLove your blog and am now a follower. Keep up the great work!
Warmly,
Beth
http://www.candlebeambooks.com
I try to limit it to two per month, which I can get from Amazon Vine, but when you're offered books that were on your wishlist anyway ... I can't resist. Consequently my pile of ARCs and review copies is always larger than I wish it to be. I am turning down more these days though, and I always reply saying that I can't promise to read them immediately.
ReplyDeleteShan - Most of mine come from two publishing houses, but they tend to go through spells where they send multiple books out in one week and they do pile up very quickly! Not that I don't love getting them, and sometimes books I've never heard of can really surprise me, but they can get a bit overwhelming at times. Sometimes I only have a couple of weeks before the publication date, or four books will be published on the same day, and that's when I start to struggle to keep up. And yes, I just bought another four books with my BD voucher! ;)
ReplyDeleteBeth - Hello and welcome! Glad you like the blog! :)
Annabel - Oh yes, if a book was already on my wishlist I'd say it falls outside the realm of 'homework'. Like 'The Snow Child', which I was sent and have now nearly finished. I was so excited to get that one after the rave reviews across the pond, so although there's a bit of a time constraint it's been a wonderful read!
I've only been book blogging for a year but I've noticed that I've become wayyyy more selective with what books I accept!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I've been blogging about a year and a half and I'm finally getting review requests for the kinds of books I want to read, so I'm pretty excited about it. I'm sure I'll get sick of them at some point, but for now, there's something really different about reading FOR an author or a publisher, as opposed to reading someone famous who won't care what you write. But I would hate to start reading books just because people ask me to. I try to pick carefully and limit what I choose.
ReplyDeleteI would equate the books I read for my book clubs to your review books. And what really stinks, is when one of those books just doesn't catch your interest and takes longer than it should to finish. Then, I feel like I'm wasting all this time that could have been spent reading books I want to read!
ReplyDelete