Category: discussion

discussion

Let’s Talk Bookish – Blogger Imposter Syndrome

Fives @ Down The Rabbit Hole

Aria @ Book Nook Bits is the new host for Let’s Talk Bookish! If you aren’t following her yet, good check out her blog and give her a follow!

May 12: Book Blogger’s Imposter Syndrome (Aria)

Prompts: How long have you been blogging? Do you feel like you’ve ‘figured out’ blogging, or do you ever doubt yourself? Do you feel you ever have book blogger’s imposter syndrome? How do you find confidence with your blogging and writing?

Welcome to another week of LTB here at DTRH, everyone! Today’s topic is certainly interesting, and something I relate to. I wonder how many others out there experience the same thing. I know it’s not an uncommon topic outside of blogging and in the workplace too, so I wonder how prevalent it is here. Without further ado, let’s go!

I’ve been blogging since around…2018, so not that long by this community’s standards I think. Very actively blogging though, I think in total maybe only about 3–4 years though, which I suppose is still fairly new!

Sometimes I feel like I have figured out at least the tone, but with life getting in the way, scheduling posts and coming up with new ideas actually takes up more time than I thought. Even just reading books isn’t as casual as I’d like it to be, and sometimes I just have to commit to reading a book for a deadline rather than just out of pure interest if I didn’t have to attend to my regular daily life. That being said, at this point i’m still not entirely sure what the best content is—some things do better than others, and it isn’t always predictable, so I guess I’m still learning!

I definitely get imposter syndrome sometimes. I feel like I’m not as committed to this whole community as some others are, and sometimes I feel like I don’t know what the newest releases are, or don’t know what’s popular in the community and it makes me feel like I’m not doing enough, or by extension, am not enough. But this doesn’t stop me from enjoying blogging and also seeing what others are doing in the community!

I generally have confidence in what I do, and I enjoy sharing it with you guys, whether it be reviews, blogposts, or other fun posts. Therefore, even if I sometimes feel like a blogger on the outskirts, I still really enjoy making and sharing posts with the all of you! And my identity isn’t really tied to being a blogger, so I just try and enjoy making and sharing content with my co-author and with you all, so it’s always worth it in the end!

What about you all? Do you ever feel like there’s a bit of imposter syndrome? If so, no need! I think you are all welcome. But let me know how y’all feel in the comments below!

discussion

Let’s Talk Bookish – Long or Short Series

Fives @ Down The Rabbit Hole

Aria @ Book Nook Bits is the new host for Let’s Talk Bookish! If you aren’t following her yet, good check out her blog and give her a follow!

May 5: Long Series vs. Short Series (Hannah @ Hannah’s Library)

Prompts: What is the ideal number of books in a series? Does it depend on the genre? Do you prefer longer series with five or more books, or shorter series with less than that? Have you ever read a duology and if so, did you wish it was longer, or was two books enough for the story?

Welcome to another week of LTB here at DTRH, everyone! It is now May, and time is flying rapidly by. Unfortunately it is not quite spring yet where I am, but I hope it’s nicer where you all are! Today’s topic is a new one I don’t think I’ve seen before, so I’m super glad for Hannah’s suggestion. Without further ado, let’s discuss!

The first prompt is certainly quite a loaded question. The ideal number of books in a series is: just the right amount. But of course, that is not really an answer. I think generally, two or three books in a series is great. I think when it gets to four, it can be a little bit exhausting, unless it’s really good—but even then, it’s really difficult to have four really great books. I think of Stalking Jack the Ripper series as a decent four-book series, but I think generally even with two- or three-book series, it can be really hard to keep your audience.

Number of books in a series definitely does correlate with genre. In my mind, it would be unsurprising that the fantasy books often have two or three books to their series. But I think it makes sense, since world-building generally takes time, and the more that is explored, the more words that are needed. The genres I read a lot of, which are thrillers and mysteries, definitely doesn’t lend itself it sequels.

I think I generally prefer duologies and trilogies. Instantly the ones that come to mind are: Six of Crows and Caraval, respectively. It just allows for a lot of exploration of the different characters and the world-building. Of course, this is by no means necessary, but if a world is developed well enough and left open in the first book, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were readers and fans who would want more of it. That’s certainly how I feel about some books, and that is why we all cry out for sequels from time to time, right?

I rarely ever read anything with five books or more. Harry Potter is the main one that comes to mind, and other ones that I read as a child. Nowadays, it often just feels like such a big commitment to even commit to a book or two, I can’t remember what it’s like to read book after book in the same series! Because of the genres I read, I often only read standalones, and I generally prefer them, just so that I don’t feel the pressure of reading a sequel. But that being said, nothing wrong with a good sequel if the first book is just that good.

I think as long as the author has in mind that a book is complete after two or three books, it never feels too short. Of course, often I might want to see more of a character, or more of a particular world, or more of the mechanics of the magic involved, but these are just things that are also sometimes best left to the imagination as well. I think it’s always hard to say whether a series is too short or too long objectively, just because it really depends what piqued the reader’s interest in the first place. Of course, if you’re into the characters and their development, more books on world-building may not satisfy your thirst. So it really all depends. In general, I don’t think a duology is too short, though!

discussion

Let’s Talk Bookish – Buying Too Many Books

Fives @ Down The Rabbit Hole

Aria @ Book Nook Bits is the new host for Let’s Talk Bookish! If you aren’t following her yet, good check out her blog and give her a follow!

April 21: Buying More Books than You Can Read (Laura @ Life Love Read)

Prompts: Do you buy a lot of books? Do you read all of the books you buy right away? Or do you buy more books than you can read? How do you choose which books you buy? 

Welcome to another week of LTB here at DTRH, everyone! The weather has been a rollercoaster recently but I think spring is coming…kind of. Today’s topic is, I’m sure, quite the relatable one, but I think I know what most people are going to say already—that our bookshelves are all overflowing and that we are mostly moving to non-traditional media like e-books and audiobooks. Let’s see if I’m right!

I don’t generally buy a lot of books. But that is not for want of trying. If I had the funds and the space, I think I would always go to bookstore and buy books. I’ve recently really enjoyed going to old/used bookstores and looking for little treasures there too. It is honestly so hard to resist, but I think I already have way too many books, so I definitely have to remember to pace myself, which I do!

I do usually read books that I buy right away, because I bought them for that very purpose. However, books I receive as gifts might take some time to get to. Or if I buy (gasp) multiple books at once, that can take me some time. But if I end up buying the occasional book, it’s usually to satisfy a curiosity right away, which usually means instant reading session.

I usually limit myself to one book that I really want at a time. But if there’s a good sale, like those $5-$6 books…it’s just so hard to resist sometimes. There are a few classics out there I haven’t read yet, and those are usually the opportunities for me to pick it up and get to it.

I usually choose books that look good on a shelf even after I’ve read them to buy. After all, it’s unlikely that I read the average book more than once. So it better serve at least some aesthetic value in my home! Or at least, sentimental value or meaningful in some way. In general though I’ve been trying to limit my book buying for only my very favourites—that helps to slow the purge of books I have to do every so often!

How about you all? Book-buying crazes or nah? I feel like most of us have been a lot more conservative with how much we buy and tend to stick to digital versions for the sake of space and perhaps paper/tree conversation. But let me know in the comments below what you do!