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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

READIN’ for HER reviews

29/4/2015

19 Comments

 
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I’ve been asked twice now about my approach to reading for reviews and, grateful for that interest, I’ve given it a little more serious thought. Coincidentally, after almost a year of regular book blogging, I’m probably in need of some kind of policy; until I develop something more formal, this post will have to stand for that. While it might appear somewhat back to front, it makes more sense to me to begin by outlining what I’m trying to achieve followed by how I go about it. Your feedback, as ever, would be much appreciated.

HER reviews

My aim is to produce something Honest, Engaging and Respectful based around what I’ve read. Honest seems fairly obvious, but it isn’t entirely straightforward: I’m committed to telling the truth and nothing but the truth, yet I won’t write the whole truth of my reactions to a book if doing so interferes with my attempts to produce engaging posts that treat the author with respect. I know how hard it is to write, publish and promote a novel, and I’m reluctant to add to that burden without good reason. Yet I prefer to aim for a respectful approach than a guaranteed positive one; I want to be free to acknowledge what I don’t like – it would be disrespectful to my readers to do otherwise – but I’m also conscious of the context in which a book is published, and I’m likely to read a highly-hyped or big-name novel more critically than one that’s struggling for a mention. Alongside all that, I’m less concerned with providing a thorough analysis of a novel than with producing blog content that has a chance of being read. Many of my regular readers aren’t necessarily looking for yet another book to add to their TBR pile, so the post has to be engaging in itself. I’m rather chuffed that some of the liveliest discussions (such as this on the right to die debate and this on the treatment of “special” children) have evolved from my reviews of novels I didn’t particularly enjoy.

My READIN’ for reviews

British readers of a certain age will have grown up with a radio programme that began “Are you sitting comfortably?” Following that tradition, my reading has to be, first and foremost, an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Weather permitting, that might entail lounging in the garden; more often I’m in the sitting room on a reclining armchair with a cup of tea. Then, although I’m bound to have some preconceptions from the cover, blurb and, occasionally, other reviews, I try to read with what Freud termed evenly suspended attention, letting the book take me where it will. I’ve come across other reviewers who have a checklist of things to look out for (e.g. character, plot, etc) but, although those are important characteristics that often crop up in my reviews, I don’t keep them consciously in mind.

Although there’s no formal contract when I receive a book from a publisher, I do generally feel a sense of professional accountability both to read to the end and to write up a review, especially if it’s a book I’ve requested (although, like JJ Marsh, I value my time more than the price of even a hardback, and my accountability to my blog followers trumps that to the publishing industry). And, if I’ve received a copy sufficiently in advance of UK publication, I jot down this date in my diary and try to post my review on that day. (If and when either A or D get too chaotic I revert to R. As it happens, 9 April saw five novels from my TBR pile published but, when it came to it, I didn’t post a single review on that day. Although I take my reviewing seriously, I’m doing this for pleasure, and the sky won’t fall down if I don’t do it right.)

With my evenly suspended attention, I’m looking out for something interesting to share on my blog. Sometimes it will be around what I can take from the book as a writer; sometimes it’s the pleasure of the prose. Sometimes I find I have more to say about the subject matter than how it’s been fictionalised. While I probably have a particular blogging style, and there might be more repetition from one review to another than I’d like (although, as you’ve probably noticed, I do like making links between my reviews where I find them, which can sometimes throw a review out of shape), I’m aiming to maintain both my own and my readers’ interest by making my reviews almost as individual as the novels themselves.
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Finally, although I like to have access to pencil and paper while I’m reading, I don’t always take a lot of notes, unless it’s a book that’s made such a strong impression on me (for example, A History of Loneliness and The Narrow Road to the Deep North) that I feel compelled to go into great detail about the story and/or where it’s particularly complex (for example, The Chimes) and I don’t want to confuse readers by getting details wrong. I do note down page numbers of extracts I’d like to quote, of course, but I’m still strangely reluctant to mark the actual text, usually using the publisher’s press sheet, if there is one, for my scribbles. Having spent a significant part of my professional life listening to people talk about themselves for almost an hour at a time without taking notes, I’m probably quite skilled at keeping my ideas in my head till I can splurge at the computer, but I do occasionally begin drafting my reviews before reaching the end of the novel, although that’s a strategy that can backfire.

So that’s the HER READIN’ of my review process. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for a descriptor beginning with G?

On that note, there’s no doubt that readers’ feedback has shaped my review process, whether it’s your generous cheerleading, tangential discussions or additional questions, including pushing me to come down from the fence when I’m fudging it. Another thing that undoubtedly helps, although I don’t have as much time to do so as I ought to, is comparing my reviews with those of others. Sometimes, it merely confirms the fact that different readers take different things from a novel; other times, such as with A Spool of Blue Thread, it points the way to doing it better. Though I have no particular ambitions for my reviews, as with many things, I hope to improve with practice. While there are plenty of book bloggers I admire, my gold standard – not that I always agree with them – comes from the weekly review section of the Guardian newspaper.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
19 Comments
Poppy Peacock
29/4/2015 12:54:30 pm

Anne this is very interesting & very informative... I'm exploring & deliberating ideas and angles to potentially blog about reading & writing so this is great insight. Thank you for sharing! Your G could be guiding newbies ;)

Reply
Annecdotist
1/5/2015 10:06:41 am

Thanks, Poppy, look forward to your post too. But as to guiding newbies, I be worried about getting everyone lost in the fog!

Reply
Lori Schafer link
29/4/2015 02:07:43 pm

Nice post, Anne. But my favorite part is the photo - I feel more relaxed already :)

Reply
Annecdotist
1/5/2015 10:07:53 am

Thanks, Lori, you probably don't see the frozen pose at this resolution.

Reply
sarah link
29/4/2015 02:56:26 pm

I agree with Lori. Love the photo. :-)

I'm glad you wrote this. I often wondered how you read so much but also how you pulled together such impressive reviews of those books. It seemed mission impossible.

Fantastic post but I particularly like the first part: Honest Engaging Respectful. Like you said, many of your readers aren't looking to add mass amounts of books to their TBR pile but still enjoy reading your reviews. Why? This: HER. That's why. You engage your blog readers. I have read reviews that are dry or include spoilers without mention or are just bad. You are respectful to the author. I have read many reviews that trash the book and author in numerous ways. These are people you're attacking! And, you are honest. For some reason, "reviewers" now often give everything a gold sticky star with sugar on top. I don't read any reviews by people who give every single book 5 stars. I don't trust their opinion anymore. I understand the pressure but you must be able to say the book is simply not good or you didn't care for it but someone else might. It seems that, because of social media and blogs, we feel we know the authors so can't possibly say we didn't like their book.

('G' for 'genre'?)

Reply
Annecdot
1/5/2015 10:12:30 am

Aw, Sarah, you are too kind. I'm thinking perhaps the G should be forward the generosity of my readers who indulge this habit of mine.
But yeah, that 5* business does bother me somewhat, indeed the whole star system is a bit hard to get my head around – perhaps that will be another post.

Reply
Charli Mills
29/4/2015 06:59:31 pm

Love this! HER READIN' is perfectly paired with you reclinin' in the garden with a book. I've come to value your reviews for the discussions that follow and for the connectivity of your reviews to current publishing. You have strong focus, both to finish what you read in a short time and to hold ideas in your head until you can spill them. Thanks for sharing a behind-the-scenes at Annecdotal!

Reply
Annecdotist
1/5/2015 10:15:25 am

Thanks, Charli, I love the discussions too, especially when they take off in a direction I couldn't have envisaged. Reading just never seems a hardship (or hardly ever) and I always feel I learn so much from others' writing.

Reply
geoff link
30/4/2015 03:10:39 pm

(hat picture; now those kind people who don't live in the UK think that is genuine; you live oop north so there's no way you'd be out like that at this time of year; your mother would tell you to put something sensible on or you'll catch your death!
maybe G for genuine; you have a unique style as you wrap one book into another and often tie it to your fabulous collection of short stories. But genuine might overlap with honest. So you may need a different G.
As for your reviews they are great; my current read is the narrow Road, thanks to you. And yes the debates make it worth while (even if for every comment I have to fill I the same wretched boxes each time and your responses don't come to me automatically so I have to remember to return - not your fault, just because we use different blogging sites Grr Weebly! Thanks for the insights

Reply
Annecdotist
1/5/2015 10:23:33 am

Ah, Geoff, you really think I'd try to deceive my readers? Anyway, I don't live in the North, albeit north of you, it's the Midlands! And we had some really scorchio weather just after Easter – I think I was lucky to catch it 😉
I'm excited that you are reading The Narrow Road and sorry about the system here – you're right, you have to be pretty determined to get through. Thanks for doing that and you're welcome to have a rant about it now and then.

Reply
Geoff link
2/5/2015 02:09:02 am

The weather generally has been extraordinary, hasn't it. Glad we had rain this week and just now though. A friend has just brought us a wild courgette from Greece to grow. It looks like a coconut crossed with a gourd. Maybe it will survive today with the increase in temperatures.
The Narrow Rosd is very very good. Not excellent, at least not yet (third if the way). I heard three survivors of the Japanese on the radio in Friday, one of whom mentioned it. I think it was one of the reunion programmes Sue Macgregor does if you did catch it first up.

Annecdotist
2/5/2015 07:00:19 am

I've got a Greek squash but it's rather like a pale courgette. Yours sounds interesting. Wonder what it's like to eat?

Clare O'Dea link
3/5/2015 11:27:09 am

At last an insight into the inner workings of the annecdotal machine. I don't review as routinely as you do but when I do I tend to follow a similar HER credo. Great pic Anne, love the wicker sofa!

Reply
Annecdotist
4/5/2015 01:23:10 am

Glad you identify with HER, Clare. I do think you handle your reviews very sensitively. I've had that sofa years but my husband doesn't like it so I was pleased to find a new use for it in the garden.

Reply
irene waters link
5/5/2015 07:10:21 am

Anne, Thank you for giving an insight into your process. I am even more in awe now and I enjoyed your photo of you in reviewing position. It is one facet of your reviews that I have always thought you have done exceptionally well and that is being able to say you don't enjoy a book and yet give a very positive review about it which would still enthuse others to want to give it a go themselves. That is a real skil and you have it mastered. As you say you treat your author with respect but at the same time you treat your readers with respect also.
You have also succeeded in making your posts entertaining and although I don't join in the conversation as often as I'd like (partly due to the different platform and partly due to me being flat out and not having the time at the moment) I do always enjoy the repartee that I read when I visit.
You read as I read but you remember much more of the fine detail than I do. I struggle to read with a pen in hand as it stops the natural flow of the writing but if I don't make notes I then spend hours looking for bits that I want to use. Perhaps as you say you have trained your brain to remember efficiently.
Cheers Irene

Reply
Annecdotist
5/5/2015 10:48:00 am

Thanks for that generous feedback, Irene *basks in warm glow*.
As with any kind of writing, you can't know sure whether it's coming across the way you intend it, so I am glad to know you think I'm ticking the boxes. I do appreciate the support of you and others who pop into the blog at whatever frequency suits you, and I rely on you to pull me up when I deviate from the task.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
10/5/2015 04:59:44 am

I really enjoyed reading this post, Anne, and I apologize for having left it so long to comment. I read it when it was first published and obviously forgot to leave a comment so appreciate your prompting me to do so on Twitter.
Thank you for responding to my request for greater detail about your reading/reviewing process. I love the way you have chosen to do this with your very clever acronym. The previous comments have captured in part some of the points I would comment on.
I have always appreciated the respectful way you engage with your readers (like me) and the honesty with which your review each book, always finding something positive to counterbalance anything you may have felt detracted from the story's impact. That you are more concerned about writing an engaging and thought-provoking post than writing a review based on a predetermined formula or structure is obvious in your reviews, though I hadn't really thought about it before. I appreciate that you are writing for your readers, rather than the writer or publisher. It elevates we readers in importance, which I guess should be the goal of any writer. Well done on the "HER" part.
The "READIN'" part is also very well done. I like that you are relaxed about your reading and love the photograph of you in relaxation mode in your garden. However I hope you are/were not intending to read that pile of books in one sitting (reclining)!
I like that you seek out interesting things to write about. I am constantly on the look out for something to pique my interest and to spark a post as well, so I was pleased to find that point of commonality. I also share your dislike of writing notes on the books. Unless it's a text book, which I do highlight and make comments on, I do not like to mark my books.
Then for the g - what about a reflection of your Good Reads goal or tally? It is there in your sidebar and something that you work towards, or exceed. Just a thought.
Thanks for sharing this inspirational post. You have described attitudes worthy for many to emulate.

Reply
Annecdotist
11/5/2015 07:12:19 am

Thank you, Norah, your generous comment was well worth waiting for. I'm very glad you think I'm doing what I think I am!
Interesting that you pick out the importance of writing blog posts to speak to the reader rather than to please whoever sent me the book – as you say, it's kind of the basics of what any writer should do (after writing to please herself first and foremost) and yet it wasn't so obvious to me about these reviews until you picked that out. (Must be some residue of wanting to appease authority figures.) So you've helped me to be able to keep that in mind.
Thanks for your suggestion for the G – I do like Goodreads in name and in practice although I am slightly embarrassed about the goal-setting element (which isn't compulsory, I hasten to add). Although I do like the fact that I'm reading more books (not just for the pleasure of it, but I assume it will help me immensely to improve my own writing) it's not really a competition, is it, even with oneself?
Although it's quite windy this afternoon, it's probably the warmest it's been here since that photo was taken, so I'm just going to go out with my book and recline! (And you'll probably be pleased to know that most of the books in that photo are still unread!)

Reply
Kirtida Gautam link
2/12/2015 10:55:20 am

Really nice post.

Reply



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