Down Under Views

I don’t get to do these kind of posts very often because I don’t get a lot of review books sent to me, and I don’t go to the library a heap. But I’ve had a haul, lately!

Pistols for Two – Breakfast for One by Mattew J. Dick (review book)
Whom Must I Kill to Get Published by Jason Horger (review book)
Secrets: You Tell Me Yours and I’ll Tell You Mine… maybe by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein (review book)
Life and How to Survive It by Robin Skynner and John Cleese (library book)
(not pictured) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Steig Larsson (friend loan)

I certainly have a lot to read coming up! I’m thinking about running reviews twice a week instead of one. What do you think? Do you have a reviewing schedule?

It seems to me that an increasing number of reviewers (and critics in other areas as well, I imagine) think that the only way to make a name in the business of reviewing is to hate everything they read, make snarky comments as often as possible, and have a general loathing for humanity thrown in just to make things interesting.

Granted, those are the more extreme cases, but there truly are a lot of people out there who seem to think that the only way to make a name in the review world is to loathe everything.

I do understand. It wasn’t until I put up my first review of a book I didn’t like at all up on The Book Stacks that I started drawing a bit more attention to my reviews. Yes, you do need to have the occasional negative review so you can preserve your credibility and show that you aren’t someone who is scared to hurt people’s feelings.

That doesn’t mean you need to ‘hate’ everything for the sake of appearing ‘tough’.

Yes, be honest in your reviews. Yes, point out things (gently, not vindictively) that didn’t work for you. Yes, do put in the occasional negative review to help you become a well-rounded reviewer.

Don’t hate for the sake of hating. That’s just boring.

Plus, at least in my eyes, having all negative reviews is the same thing as having all positive reviews – I can’t take your reviews seriously.

PS. If you think it will take ‘forever’ for you to become ‘known’ as a reviewer then talk to me. If you have a site, I know how to get your review site more views. No trollishness needed.

(For my non-Oz friends: ) In Australia, when someone says you’ve been gasbagging, you’re most likely a woman who has been talking a lot with another woman. This post? This is going to be a gasbagging post – at least on my part.

Firstly, I didn’t expect to have no internet connection at the new place for as long as I was. We got a severe runaround from our ISP, but we eventually got our connection up and running. Of course, I had to get my desk built and my desktop hooked up after that.

All boring details that are taken care of now.

The new place is lovely. We’re not completely unpacked, but we’re already heaps more relaxed than we were in the old place. No police cars, no screaming matches and no being paranoid about leaving the place for fear of windows being broken into.

Just to add to the chaos, we’ve added a new member to our family:

This is Asimov, our eight week old male kitten of no particular breed. He’s very playful and loves cuddles. He’d always rather sleep in someone’s arms rather than in his comfy bed. Unlike all cats I’ve known in the past, he is very vocal. He’ll let you know how he’s feeling – especially when he’s wanting some attention.

Asimov is the first pet who is truly mine and is the Bloke’s and my first pet as a couple. The Bloke isn’t a cat guy, but Asimov has even made a place in his heart.

I have found the scale and stepped on it, but I’m not going to utter the numbers. Besides, I’ve somehow acquired a stomach virus that will certainly influence my weight anyway. Until the unpacking is done and we’re truly settled in, I’m going to just look after my health and deal with the other stuff later.

Having moved AND gotten a kitten, the Bloke and I are feeling good about going through with the things we say we are going to do. The next steps will be things like planting some veggies and herbs, exercising consistently and going out less.

Things are looking good…

I know a lot of people have these great 2009 reviews and lists, etc, but I didn’t start this blog until mid-August. I still feel like this place is a bit of a baby.

Plus, I don’t know what to say in that regard. I could mention my favourite books, but I rate them anyway. I could list all the books I have reviewed this year, but you can check that just as easily by clicking on the book reviews category.

But I suppose there are a few things I could mention…

I won’t be taking part in any challenges – at least, not at this point. I’m a slow reader and a moody reader. That plus everything else going on makes me feel inclined to just go with the flow and enjoy.

While I’m not a resolution kind of woman, there are some things I’m going to work toward like getting through my TBR mountain. I’ll also be switching café reviews to Mondays so it’s not such a stress on my weekends. I haven’t been setting firm boundaries between my work time and life time, so it’s been grating at me.

Plus, regular reviews means more café visits for me. Mwahaha…

As always, I’m open to suggestions for what you would like to see here. I think I’m doing a decent job of making this site something other than ‘just another book review blog’, but if there is something else/more you would like to see…

Most importantly, I wish nothing but the best for all of you in the coming year. I hope that everything you truly need for happiness and security comes to you and those you love. I hope you remember to be the change you want to see in the word, always pay it forward and realize that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. I hope the answers you seek are to the truly important questions, and I hope you remember that you can never truly know what another person has gone through to get to where they are.

Best always…