It interested me when I read this point on Claire's post today: "I have a bad case of review-block. Review-block occurs when you allow blog reviews to stack up to an almost unmanageable amount and proceed to temporarily lose access to your review notes."
It made me smile.
And then it made me think. Because, personally? If I don't post a review immediately after reading that book, or at least within twenty-four hours, forget it. I don't have a prayer of being able to relay exactly what that book meant to me with ease.
I'll remember a general mood. I'll remember the plot. I'll remember my favorite characters. But, I won't be able to convey it all quite as clearly if I let too much time pass.
So, I'm wondering, how do you review? Immediately? Or, when you look at a stack of reviews which have laid a bit longer than you'd like?
I always review right away! If I let reviews stack up I would never get around to posting. In fact, I usually have an unpublished post in progress the entire time I'm reading. Besides, I'm usually too excited to share what I think in order to wait!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you have changed your blog. And once again, it is stunning!
ReplyDeleteI try to review a book soon after I read it. It doesn't have to be within 24 hours, but it should be within a couple of days, so it's fresh in my mind.
I always review right away because I'm afraid of losing my thoughts on the books if I wait for too long.
ReplyDeleteI'm just like you...I review immediately otherwise forget it. I don't really take notes while reading nor do I make marks on my books so it really has to be fresh in my mind when I start writing my thoughts on it.
ReplyDeleteI try to review a book within a day of finishing it. Never later than two days. I also have this "rule": I can't start a new book until I have reviewed the book I just finished. Otherwise I forget what I wanted to say. This works best for me.
ReplyDeleteI review a few days after reading the book as quite often when Ive had time to think about it I sometimes change my mind on how I felt about the book.
ReplyDeleteI'm very much like you. And I like to be able to write my review straight after closing the book if possible, it gets it out of the way and I find I finish it quicker. A few weeks ago I left it for the next morning and proceeded to put it off until the afternoon when I realised it was now or never. Starting a new book before writing about the last isn't an option.
ReplyDeleteI tend to wait a few days, but then run the risk of getting busy. There are now 4 books I loved, have not reviewed in a timely manner, and feel that I cannot do justice to now. This needs to change!!
ReplyDeleteI wait a few days to a week- gives me time to ponder it all and reflect on the plot and characters. Also I tend to compare it to the next book I pick up (probably not a good idea as I like to read 'different' types of books in succession).
ReplyDeleteI'd love to to it more frequently, but work etc can be so draining I don't think I'd make much sense (like now)!
My choice is to write a review right away. I know if I get involved in another book, I'll lose the feelings that reading engendered. Now, when I say right away I mean within a day or so.
ReplyDeleteI try to write my review pretty quickly after finishing the book and then sit on it a few days, so I can re-read it and correct most of the errors before it goes live.
ReplyDeleteI write my reviews as soon as possible after reading so I can still feel the emotions I associate with the book. And since I generally read a few books at a time, I review in fits and starts, I'm afraid, finishing a couple of titles in quick succession!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I think I've forgotten how to review. :( When I was blogging and reading more regularly, I would actually start drafting the reviews in my head while I was reading! As soon as I was finished, I'd continue thinking about it until I could get to Blogger to put it down. Not sure why this changed last fall, but there are dozens of books I've read and haven't reviewed--and like you I forget them. If I could remember the plots at least I could fumble my way through, but I'm terrible at even remembering characters' names!!
ReplyDeleteThere are a few books I've read the past month and a half that I'd still like to review but I don't know where to start. Seems if I don't get it done right away, it doesn't get done at all.
Blogger's Block. Stinks, huh!! :)
Hope you're having a lovely Friday.
The biggest problem, for me, with waiting to review a book is finding the time — if I put it off, invariably something else comes up, which now has to be put off. Some reviews I put off so long, they simply don't happen.
ReplyDeleteI do notice that my reviews have a very different tone depending on whether I write them immediately (more emotional) or later (more objective).
I review as soon as possible, for all the same reasons as you and others mentioned. I'll often start the review while reading the book, or make some general notes in a draft of a post.
ReplyDeleteEven though I write the review immediately, sometimes I will wait to post it - especially if it is a book I was just meh about. I'll use that as filler for a day when I can't think of what to say or write.
I review right away. I have a checklist of stuff for when I finish a book (tracking on my books read spreadsheet, marking as read in Goodreads, changing the currently reading widget on my blog, etc. That checklist is not complete until the review is written, posted and linked wherever necessary. I don't feel "done" with a book until the review and the rest of the checklist are complete.
ReplyDeleteI usually write the first part of my review format (short take, why I read it and most of the summary) before I even finish the book. Then I'm left with the rest of the summary and my thoughts. I write better about my thoughts if I do it right away.
I take time after I finish a book to review it. I want the story to sink in and get a feel for its lasting impression before I put words to that impression. However, I do keep a small notebook in which I write down my thoughts about a book immediately upon finishing and use that extensively when I'm writing up my reviews.
ReplyDeleteI not only review as soon as is physically possible after finishing a book, but try to have it close to hand( a slight problem with library books) so I can refer to it as well as my notes.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is precisely why so many of the books I read don't ever get reviewed! It is rather difficult to review a book if I get more than a couple of days away from the reading of it. I have tried to be disciplined about sitting down and writing almost immediately after reading, but I rather come and go from this discipline. Sigh. It's always on my list of things to "try and do better."
ReplyDeleteAh the disciplined life has so much to recommend it - but then just drifting with the book and realizing that you are laying down another wonderful filter in your mind that holds only the precious fragments like ashes ready to blow away or be regrouped around a thought or another character or mood. Lovely randomness. M2
ReplyDeleteIf that is review block I am on one, with 20 reviews waiting to be written. And I think I am. I just don't feel as excited lately.. But I'm sure the right feeling will return.
ReplyDeleteIf I don't review a book practically immediately, I'm lost. Whether it's a sign of advancing age or just too many other things on my mind, I lose track of all the thoughts and ideas I had about the book, even if I've taken notes.
ReplyDeleteI would love to say that I'm organized and get my reviews written within 24 hours of completion, but it just isn't so. Life gets in the way. My new book grabs my attention. My dog wants to be walked. Meals need to be cooked. The weather is beautiful and a bike ride is in order. Quickly, the reviews stack up and before I know it, I have three to write. Since I generally prefer to write on the weekend, I better get a move on. The first review is for a book I finished 3 weeks ago! I think I've caught a bad case of review-block! Hope there's a cure.
ReplyDeleteIf I take notes while reading a book, I can review it whenever I want to. But if I don't, I usually have to reread a book or look at my post-its to remember what I like about it. Often if I don't review a book right away, I usually don't review it at all.
ReplyDeleteI have to review a book pretty soon after I've read it or I just lose interest in writing about it. I read many more books than are reflected on my blog which I guess is a reflection of my writing block or laziness!
ReplyDeleteI don't always review right away. Sometimes, that's a BIG mistake but usually I can remember enough to write. It does occasionally get overwhelming if I'm in the mood to read but not write for a while and I let the unwritten reviews back up.
ReplyDelete