Matthew: Librarian, Blogger, Bibliofreak!

[bibliofreak]

Your blog is quite nice. We have tossed around the idea of doing book reviews here on BookTalk.org, but the work involved has been too much for just me to handle. Your blog impressed me and maybe at some point we can do something together. I'm not sure how many readers you have on your site, but we have over 600,000 pages view per month so decent traffic here. Maybe there is a way you can do reviews for BookTalk.org.

Chris - thanks for the kind comments about my blog, I'm just starting out so praise or suggestions are gratefully received You're clearly doing very well here at BookTalk - rightly so, it seems a great resource!

I haven't syndicated my reviews anywhere at present, but I'd definitely be interested in working on something together. If you would like to drop me a message or an e-mail please feel free, I'd be more than happy to have a chat about it.

[bibliofreak]

I like your review style.
A lot of reviewers just retell the story and say whether they like the characters or not. You bring literary knowledge into the reviews and breakdown the writing.

Thanks for the compliment. I've got to agree that too many of the mainstream reviews simply outline the plot and a few of the general themes. As a Brit, I'm sorry to say that we seem particularly susceptible to this, and it has seeped into blogger's articles too. I find the US press far more insightful when it comes to literature, but sadly standards seem to be dropping across the board (pull up a review from twenty or thrity years ago - the complexity of the arguments and the repect for the reader is wonderful).

You should check out Christopher Hitchens', Arguably. He has an amazing style and each review is well researched.

Thanks for the recommendation. I was fingering Hitchens's latest in a book shop just the other day. I really liked the title, and look forward to picking it up some day soon. I'm all for great reviews; I read a collection of Martin Amis's essays and reviews recently and found the boldness and intelligence hugely refreshing. Of course, for a good laugh I'd recommend Amis senior - he had some very 'interesting' views.

[kelstan]

Nice to meet you.

[bibliofreak]

And you, Kelstan

[Chris OConnor]

I'd only be interested in you doing exclusive reviews for BookTalk.org and not in a syndication. I don't want BookTalk.org Reviews elsewhere on the web. I'm more thinking about creating a book review section on BookTalk.org and having a few good writers do book reviews that are not published anywhere else on the web. I receive dozens of books from publishers and authors every month that could be passed along to book reviewers.

I'm just talking right now. I've wanted to do this for a long time and I just don't have much extra time to put together such a program.

[bibliofreak]

It sounds like a good idea to me Chris, and like Sal said, it seems as though there are enough people around who would interested. I think so long as bloggers are able to link back to their own site from any reviews they write most would be happy to publish exclusively here.

I know what you mean about review copies too, since starting the blog I have been completely flooded. As a book lover, it's wonderful. But, like you say, there simply aren't enough hours in the day

Anyway, if you decide to start offering reviews feel free to e-mail or message me. Details on my site (not sure if I'm allowed to post them here).

[Aqueda_Veronica]

Hi Matthew
Sorry it took me so long to get back with a feedback on your blog. It might sound odd but I think it's got both class, which is as awesome thing. Very readable.
I started browsing from your Ishiguro reviews and since Japanese literature used to be my thing I highly recommend Yasunari for future reference.
I will definitely keep track of your blog since I like what I've seen so far.
Have a lovely day!

[bibliofreak]

Aqueda_Veronica, thanks so much for the comments - it's really flattering to to know what you are doing is appreciated. It'd be lovely to have you drop back anytime, and feel free to leave comments - I love getting to know other people in the community Do you blog yourself?

[heledd]

Hi Matthew, and welcome.
I liked your site, and was really interested in the Pullman review. Can't wait to get a copy!

[Avid Reader]

Your blog is quite nice. We have tossed around the idea of doing book reviews here on BookTalk.org, but the work involved has been too much for just me to handle. Your blog impressed me and maybe at some point we can do something together. I'm not sure how many readers you have on your site, but we have over 600,000 pages view per month so decent traffic here. Maybe there is a way you can do reviews for BookTalk.org.

I think this is great idea, setting things up so that members can do reviews? I have seen so many interesting comments on books here, it seems like there would be a ton of review talent to mine. You should probably restrict reviewers to senior members that have proven themselves to be capable, maybe setting a high minimum limit of posts (perhaps 500 or 1000), so we don't get a lot of people just trying to promote their own or their friends' books. And leaving the reviews open to comments might generate a lot of interesting replies.