tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post6966201032749760377..comments2024-03-20T04:19:52.573-05:00Comments on Stuff, Things, etc.: July Books 2017 (and the recommendation problem)Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12075708535155080258noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-15445754295906781082017-08-10T13:44:34.937-05:002017-08-10T13:44:34.937-05:00I feel like I won't love Evelyn Hugo, so I am ...I feel like I won't love Evelyn Hugo, so I am planning to skip it for now despite the hype. The teaching book sounds great for my SIL. I'm going to check it out now! XO - Alexandra<br /><br /><a href="http://simplyalexandramyfavoritethings.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things</a>Simply Alexandra // My Favorite Thingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10005714012822874818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-63108409560317090042017-08-09T11:38:22.654-05:002017-08-09T11:38:22.654-05:00I really liked Evelyn Hugo, but completely agree w...I really liked Evelyn Hugo, but completely agree with you about the characters. I didn't like any of them! Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17987539776935412156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-49686294718298719762017-08-09T08:29:16.100-05:002017-08-09T08:29:16.100-05:00Andrew Clement has a new book out called The Loser...Andrew Clement has a new book out called The Loser's Club and it's the reading side of things, whereas Frindle was more writing. It's really good!<br /><br />I'm with you on reading what you want though. I like recommendations, especially from other bloggers, but I'm not going to read something JUST because everyone loves it. I have to be interested by it!<br /><br />-Lauren<br />www.shootingstarsmag.netLaurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07173712310551704579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-6137512960244314722017-08-08T18:26:53.161-05:002017-08-08T18:26:53.161-05:00I'm pretty sure it's a mutual friend of ou...I'm pretty sure it's a mutual friend of ours who posted about The Nightingale I actually thought of you when I saw it. I liked it, but I wasn't in love with it. Becky Doughertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11137408537369933534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-27892362386640695892017-08-08T17:20:49.861-05:002017-08-08T17:20:49.861-05:00I looooved the Sweet Valley Senior Year and Junior...I looooved the Sweet Valley Senior Year and Junior High series and still have most of them. I feel like I probably wouldn't appreciate them as much reading them as an adult, but I have been tempted to reread one recently. I'm always kind of weird about recommendations too, more so because I get nervous someone won't like a book I suggest, which is so stupid because it really doesn't matter because everyone has different tastes. Carlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10337403009854474701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-45580650260817059552017-08-08T13:22:41.371-05:002017-08-08T13:22:41.371-05:00i sometimes feel the need to tick things off a lis...i sometimes feel the need to tick things off a list or complete a task, which is why i have such a hard time quitting books. but i am pretty good about not forcing myself to read, it really does take the joy out of it. and 100 times yes about reading what you want to read. it's so easy to get swept up in recommendations, but the second i pick up a book because someone else loved it and not because it sounds like something i would like, it's not going to end well. i try not to be too over the top with my recommendations either because just because i like something doesn't mean anyone else would (like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one of my favourites OF ALL TIME but i get it, truly i do). But then sometimes recommendations do work? Like the martian is not something i would have picked up, i'm glad i did, i'm glad i didn't shut up about it until most people i knew had read it. so you know. it's a balance.<br />oh lord i LOVED sweet valley, every single one of them - kids, high, whatever. i read them all. all out of order of course, but loved them all the same. i was also a huge BSC fan, but i loved BSC first and then moved up to sweet valley. anywho. i honestly don't think i could read sweet valley now. i don't want to ruin my childhood haha. did you read the most recent one? 10 years later or something? such a bummer.Kristen @ See You In A Porridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592108031437491276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-8607362332301257902017-08-08T13:20:17.983-05:002017-08-08T13:20:17.983-05:00My own reading tastes are super subjective, much l...My own reading tastes are super subjective, much like everyone else. I have a few friends/bloggers/etc whose tastes are quite similar, so I usually prefer their recommendations but I usually do end up going with books that have descriptions that sound amazing to me. I also don't have a problem DNFing books anymore so I always feel like it's okay to give it a try and then abandon it if necessary. I have the first Rose Gardner book on kindle but haven't gotten to it yet! I will, though!! ;) It sounds like my type of book for sure.<br />Heather @ The Maritime Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14334570091224362628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-40483061690708419842017-08-08T13:11:56.736-05:002017-08-08T13:11:56.736-05:00I loved Evelyn Hugo but it was my first TJR book s...I loved Evelyn Hugo but it was my first TJR book so I have no idea how it relates to her other books. Sometimes I am negatively influenced by recommendations in that I read a book that gets so much praise that isn't one I would have chosen on my own and hate it. The flip side, is sometimes I also end up loving that book. Ironically that happened to me with The Nightingale. :D And I remember loving Sweet Valley High books when I was in middle school but I'd be scared to reread them again. Tanya @ A Mindful Migrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12662395965850097235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-53172872417935982532017-08-08T11:27:02.223-05:002017-08-08T11:27:02.223-05:00I'm scared to reread most of the books from my...I'm scared to reread most of the books from my childhood! Haha. I definitely read tons of Sweet Valley books, up to the college years which had some crime/supernatural elements even. Brittany Alwayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09886277401522534205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-12787831629504670952017-08-08T11:13:50.447-05:002017-08-08T11:13:50.447-05:00I love TJR. I know what I'm getting when I rea...I love TJR. I know what I'm getting when I read her books and I appreciate that sometimes.<br /><br />Re: recommendations. They are just that. Suggestions. Just because someone recommends a book doesn't make you obligated to read it. Read what you want.Jana @ Jana Sayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15501814243709445827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-53108521796341463272017-08-08T11:08:03.301-05:002017-08-08T11:08:03.301-05:00I've read two of the Denise Swank books.I've read two of the Denise Swank books.SMD @ lifeaccordingtostephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09884611147965544589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-56878112888151733732017-08-08T10:44:38.309-05:002017-08-08T10:44:38.309-05:00I've wanted to re-read all the Judy Blume book...I've wanted to re-read all the Judy Blume books that I grew up on & am afraid they'll be junk to me now when I remember them from childhood as being amazing.Rebecca Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03965781380511208862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-90823958277496716492017-08-08T09:42:15.818-05:002017-08-08T09:42:15.818-05:00I sometimes feel pressure to read deep, thought-pr...I sometimes feel pressure to read deep, thought-provoking books. And those are fine. I just can't do that all the time. My brain wants some entertainment while reading too. I'm still working on finding the balance between lighter books and ones with more meaning.Micahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05855902602026706552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-76933988302967767412017-08-08T09:23:51.601-05:002017-08-08T09:23:51.601-05:00I'm starting to read mixed reviews of Evelyn H...I'm starting to read mixed reviews of Evelyn Hugo. I really wanted it to by my first TJR book but now I'm having second thoughts. I don't really trust book recommendations, and would agree with Rachel's comment. I like to sort of synthesize my own recommendations from multiple sources. I read a lot of blog/instagram book reviews, I should probably count them in my monthly reading totals :) Just curious, no recommendations here, What are your favorite kinds of books? You seem to read a pretty good mix of everything. Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08209535310773458540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-46588974842419530902017-08-08T07:51:34.664-05:002017-08-08T07:51:34.664-05:00I've heard so many things about TJR books and ...I've heard so many things about TJR books and while they're ok "beach reads", I wouldn't actively be searching/waiting for them. I've come to realize that romancey, familial drama type books aren't my cup of tea; I prefer sci-fi action, espionage, gritty cop/drug cartel stories instead. Kathy@MoreCoffeeLessTalkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11044005966979731361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-7977964593325461652017-08-08T07:21:43.342-05:002017-08-08T07:21:43.342-05:00I'm in the middle of Evelyn Hugo and while it ...I'm in the middle of Evelyn Hugo and while it isn't grabbing me as much as a normal TJR book, I'm still into it. You're right about the characters being flat, but I kind of like Evelyn for doing what she needs to and owning it (I'm about halfway through). I have found that my expectations can affect how I perceive books for sure. I normally like a book better when I can't remember how it got on my TBR or that so and so liked it. It's nice to go in a bit blind.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01625993635674294934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-88139126029027528802017-08-08T01:37:41.725-05:002017-08-08T01:37:41.725-05:00I definitely think descriptions are a lot more use...I definitely think descriptions are a lot more useful than just plain recommendations. Reading tastes are very subjective...I've noticed I tend to read a lot more "guy" type of books (like adventure novels with almost no female characters) and I enjoy them but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them because I know most of my friends would not enjoy that genre.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07894832851934334471noreply@blogger.com