Not sure I’m entirely comfortable with this week’s TTT prompt: Bookish Brags, but I’ll give it a try!
Bookish Brags & Confessions
Here are eight things I can brag about and two confessions!
I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday.: Bookish Brags and Confessions. I struggled with today’s prompt a bit because I don’t like to brag but I am proud of a few things.
(In no particular order)
1. I’ve reached my GoodReads Goal of 100 books this year.
Currently: 117/100
Reading isn’t a race, and it’s not about the numbers. Enjoyment is more important. However, I enjoy tracking my reads from year to year. Do you set a reading goal? If you set a goal, how are you doing toward meeting your goal?
2. I’ve identified my reading tastes.
On the one hand, knowing your reading tastes leads to a more satisfactory reading life, but on the other hand, it also makes me more stubborn in reading outside my preferred tastes.
3. I’m proud of my three Book Club Kits.
Although I envisioned having more book club kits at this point, I’m proud of the ones I’ve created. I’ve also enjoyed good views of these posts and positive feedback and encouragement.
4. I’m proud of my work toward my goal of bringing great reads to the blog.
I’ve worked hard to bring you some great 4 and 5-star reads that I can highly recommend.
5. I’m proud that reading is my super power!
I’m a voracious reader…more of a book dragon than a bookworm! I think I read fairly fast which helps qualify reading as a super power!
6. I think I’m growing into a “book influencer.”
I’m proud of my ability to influence a person to pick up a book! I enjoy the challenge of matching books with individual reading tastes! Have I influenced you to read a certain book?
7. I’m especially proud of my 7 years as a book blogger!
I’ve learned a great deal about the technical and promotional sides of blogging as well as honing my book review skills. I’m especially proud of the 20-blogger collaboration I’ve compiled for the last five summers! Find my 2024 collab post here. Bookish blogging friends are the best!
8. I’m also a proud DNFer!
I’ve grown in my ability to set aside a book that is not for me! DNFing gets easier with practice! You might enjoy this post about my Love/Hate Relationship With DNF.
9. Confession: I do not enjoy writing negative reviews.
Because I’m not the right reader for a certain book, doesn’t mean that you won’t love it! From the beginning of my blogging days, I decided to feature only 4 and 5 star reading experiences on the blog (occasionally a 3-3.5 might sneak it, but it’s not the norm). I want to write glowing reviews of truly-loved books on the blog. Goodreads is where I rate everything. Although I rarely write negative reviews there. I’ll quietly give it a star rating and move on.
If you see only 4 and 5 star reviews on this blog, it might cause you to think I never rate a book lower. This is simply not the case. I try to vet a book carefully before reading it to minimize putting myself in a position of giving it a low star rating. You might enjoy this blog post about writing honest book reviews.
10. Confession: I do not enjoy Fantasy…at all!
Give me realistic fiction every time! No magical realism, no paranormal, no time travel, no fairies no ghosts. I realize some of you might prefer these elements….that’s absolutely OK. No two persons have the same reading tastes Reading is personal. and everyone should read what he or she enjoys!
QOTD:
What is one of your Bookish Brags?
Do you have a Bookish Confession?
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Fab post Carol! I didn’t feel comfortable with this topic either so haven’t joined it. 😂
Thanks! Maybe I shouldn’t have! Yikes! 😂
I do not write negative reviews anymore. I just DNF books that aren’t working for me.
That’s a good strategy! Thanks for commenting!
Great post and lots to be proud of there!
Thanks! 🙌
Great job on meeting your Goodreads challenge! I’m on target to make mine but still have a ways to go.
The fun is in the trying! 🙌 thanks for commenting!
Great post! I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the topic, but you did a great job! Reading is an amazing superpower, and worth bragging about!
Thanks! It was an intimidating topic at first until I relaxed into it!
Yeah for reaching reading goals!! The Book Club Kits are an awesome idea. I would like to give more things to my (potential) readers but I feel like I just need to get into the grove of regular blogging first.
I do not like fantasy either. Well, Harry Potter. Then my fifteen year old granddaughter was explaining all the different kinds of fantasy (which I’ve already forgotten) and where Harry Potter fits in this past weekend so that maybe I might venture out of my romance realm. I don’t think she was successful.
Thanks Carla! Book Club Kits have received lots of views so that’s encouraging! They are time consuming but I’ve got to make more! I’m waiting for the right next book to provide some inspiration! Thanks for commenting!
Great list, Carol!
Thanks Janet!
I think you came up with a great list, Carol. You have influenced me more than once to pick up a book that I have loved.
Yay! Happy to hear I’ve influenced you! And likewise dear reading friend!
I’m the exact opposite of your 10th point…the less realistic the better for me when I’m reading. Too much realism bores me (but I won’t DNF the book, because I have serious issues doing that). I hope you have a fabulous week.
Here’s my TTT if you wish to visit – https://justanothergirlandherbooks.blogspot.com/2024/10/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-brags-and.html
Lol! I KNEW I’d get a reaction! 😂 Fantasy is a well loved genre! I’m hopping over now to read your post. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
We are in accord on numbers 7, 8 and 10. Though I have a few more years under my belt than you do, I still don’t grasp some of the elements that you have nailed!
Karen, you have helped me tremendously and encouraged me in so many ways! ! I’m even (mostly!) friends with Block Editor because of you!
Very good list! I’ll never understand punishing yourself by finishing a book that doesn’t appeal. I’ve helped liberate a few friends from that curse. Proud of you for working on that successfully!
🙌
I’m very impressed at how hard you work on your blog, not just in writing it but in promoting it. I’ve enjoyed it very much over the years and you’ve definitely influenced me to read certain books. We have similar reading tastes, which helps a lot 🙂
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks Susan! I’m so happy we’ve connected in the bookish blogosphere! I love it when we enjoy the same books! Thanks for your kind words! Im hopping over now to read your post!
Congrats on reaching your Goodreads goal 🎉
You did a great job with your book club kits and should be proud.
I love being included in your summer reading list posts 😊 Collaborating with other bloggers is always fun.
I’m like you in that I don’t like doing negative reviews. I have a good idea of the sort of books I enjoy though so it doesn’t happen often that I read one that is lower than a 3 star for me.
Thanks Jo! And thanks for inspiring me to make book club kits…I need to make more because they are generating lots of views! 🙌
I made a goal of reading 52 books this year, but I’ve made peace with the fact that I’m not going to make it. I went through a pretty big reading slump earlier this year, so I’m just happy to be reading at all!
Don’t stress about the numbers! I hope you are enjoying your current read! Thanks for commenting! 🙌
You have a lot to be proud of, Carol. Don’t go hiding your light under a bushel. I always enjoy your posts. 💖📚💐
Thanks Sandy! 🙌💖
Wow, 117 books! I am only at book 20, but I have also written a novella. My confession is that I have way too many books on ‘currently reading’ on Good Read that might actually be NFM…
Well…one of us has to do the writing! 😂😂😂
re Goodreads…I recently ruthlessly deleted my entire “to read” shelf…it was unwieldy and half the books I don’t remember adding! I can always add the ones I really want to read again!
Great idea! Bold, need to do that too, will be liberating!
It felt great after the initial angst!
It sounds lovely! I’m swamped right now!
I’m proud to say I also DNF books.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/goals-for-2024-3rd-quarter-check-in/
DNFers unite! 🙌
I don’t like writing negative reviews either. It makes me feel like a jerk. I need to get better at DNFing books and pretending they didn’t happen.
Yes, quietly shelve those DNFs!