Thursday, December 2, 2010

Blog Hop December 2-5


This week's question: What do you do besides reading/reviewing as a hobby?

Hm. Reading is such a predominant hobby for me that I really don't do much else! That's kind of sad really, but reading makes me happy and there's nothing better than being able to read a good book while the husband watches some strange television show or plays Final Fantasy! Outside of books, I love movies. I actually majored in film in college so movies are a big passion of mine and love to go whenever I get a chance!



This week's question: What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?

Hm, this is a surprisingly difficult question to answer! Most recently I had trouble getting through Ellen Schreiber's Once in a Full Moon. I don' t know that it's overly hyped or popular in the YA world, but I just couldn't connect with the characters and the story wasn't quite as strong as a lot of the paranormal YA books I've read recently. I haven't posted the review yet, it will go up the week after next, but I always try to be really diplomatic in my reviews and point out both positives and negatives for each book, so I never get too nervous about the review going up. I don't think anyone really enjoys writing less than flattering reviews because we know it's someone's hard work, but I want to be honest in my opinions as well so I try to find a nice balance in my writing.

42 comments:

  1. Hopping through! It's funny - I almost never watch movies. I can barely concentrate on TV and unless I'm really into a movie (like HP or Twilight), I get bored. I actually spent most of the third Bourne movie checking my watch at the theater while my husband stared openmouthed at the screen. :-)

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  2. Gosh I love this response. I speak for all book bloggers when I say reading is our number one hobby. Checked out your books on the side. I must say I Can't wait for Steel. New Follower.

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  3. Yay! Commenting just for the joy of having no confirmation letters! Thanks again.

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  4. Just stopping by to say Happy Hop!

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  5. Hopping by :)

    I'm right there with you about your hobbies. When I think of my hobbies, the top, erm, five or so, all have to do with books in some way!

    I enjoy your reviews and think you do strike a very diplomatic middle ground when reviewing both the positives and negatives of a book. I appreciate that about your reviews.

    Here's my HOP. I'm also hosting an event that you and any other blogger is more than welcome to attend. I hope to see you there!

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  6. I don't have much time for any hobby beside reading either- but that's okay cause I love to read!

    Now following your blog :)
    In The Next Room

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  7. Just cruising by. I haven't heard of the book you didn't care for. TGIF!

    Hope you come by and see my answer!

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  8. Hi! Just stopping by to say hi.
    Hope you have a great weekend :)
    Caroline @ Bon Bons and Reveries

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  9. Old follower just stopping through! Have a great weekend and happy reading :)

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  10. New follower here! Stopping by to say hi and have a great weekend!

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  11. Old Follower Hoppin thru!

    Outside of reading I also enjoy cooking, playing online games like Pogo and ones on Facebook, and having playdates with my neice and nephew. And last but not least I am a huge horror movie freak!

    A Page Turner 4U

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  12. Hey! I'm an old follower just saying hey on FF. I know what you mean about having no time for other hobbies because of reading. It's hard to find time for everything. Have a great weekend!

    Carmel @ Rabid Reads (Twitter)

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  13. Ha! I just saw another blogger respond with the same answer! This one I did like, but then after talking to other bloggers I did realize it was a little too much like her first book, so I remain indifferent about it.

    I did have another "hyped" book I just couldn't get into and I really really did want to like it, but I ended up practically hating it.

    Here's my full Hop post

    Happy Friday!

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  14. I'm a new follower! Sounds like you read as voraciously as I write LOL and I hate being disappointed by something I'm drooling to read due to the hype. You can find me here: http://blog.juliealindsey.com/

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  15. Happy Friday! Have a great weekend :)

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  16. Hoping through to say Hi...:)
    That happens with a lot of YA books I think, sometimes the characters are just to immature for me to connect to.

    Have a great weekend!!

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  17. Hi There!
    I'm an old follower dropping by to say hi! I think there's nothing better than curling up with a good book also!

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  18. Hi,
    Yay! It's Friday! I'm so glad for the week to be over maybe now I can get some reading time in. I'm stopping by for the Blog Hop and Follow Friday. I hope you have a awesome weekend!

    I'm an old follower. =)

    Danielle
    Romance Book Junkies

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  19. Yep, I know what you mean. None of wants to give a bad review, we all want to enjoy the books we read. I mean very little is worse than spending all that time reading a book that you didn't enjoy, we could have been reading something we did enjoy. But its always good to be honest because although someone did work hard on this book people are reading our reviews, and their depending (maybe) on our opinion of whether they should spend their time (and money) on reading a book.

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  21. I haven't tried Once in a Full Moon. But I couldn't help but give up the Anita Blake series. The first few were great paranormal mysteries, after that the story was lost and I wanted to pull my hair out!

    I'm a new follower!

    My Hop is at Coffee Table Press

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  22. Ditto on the similar taste! I love Psy-Changelings almost as much as I loved Black Dagger Brotherhood! Can't wait to continue reading the series! Your waiting to read list on the sidebar is fantastic! Oh and I'm your new follower!

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  23. Hopping by, new follower. Haven't heard of Once in a Full Moon, I'll have to check that out.
    Feel free to stop by http://gnbstacks.blogspot.com/

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  24. hello! new follower! hehe.
    final fantasy is great =) and i love movies too. what are you favorite movies?

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  25. I'm following back! Thanks for the follow :)

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  26. It is alway a must to be honest in reviews however and regardless of they came out. Same as yours I had a hard time reading In A Full Moon. I wasn't connecting with the book and the ending of the story was all wrong.

    Dropping by from the hop. Visit me at Clandestine Sanctuary to know my answer. I am your newest follower. :)

    Have a great weekend.

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  27. Hopping by! I'm having a hard time with Once In A Full Moon, too. I'm currently reading it. That's cool you majored in film! Have a fabulous weekend :)

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  28. Hi Jenny, and thanks for stopping by! I struggled with this question, too - I feel like most of my free time is taken up by reading and blogging, but I scrapped up a few answers, haha!

    Argh, I do very careful research about books before I read them, but I got it so so wrong once.

    Happy Hop!

    -Linds, bibliophile brouhaha

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  29. It is so cool that you majored in film! I'm finally taking my first film class (about Orson Welles) next semester and I'm so excited!

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  30. Hey, old follower hopping through. =]
    I'm quite looking forward to the release of Once in a Full Moon...
    I love your sidebar with all the releases on it... It's so annoying because I keep adding books to my TBR pile, but I love it! Thanks! =]

    Bella
    www.cheezyfeetbooks.blogspot.com

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  31. I like movies, too. But nothing is better than reading, for sure!

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  32. I'm a big movie fan too. What are some of your favorites?

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  33. I have never read that novel before, but I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy it. If you can't connect with the charries, it does make the book harder to read. Am a new follower, though! :D

    Happy Reading,
    Zakiya @ Butterfly Feet Walking on Books

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  34. Say it ain't so! I really, really want to read Once in a Full Moon. I haven't read Schreiber's Vampire Kisses books, though I've come across them everywhere. I have high hopes for Once in a Full Moon. I will not let you discourage me!

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  35. Just stopped by for the hop. I'm the same way with reading, it just takes up all of my spare time that there really isn't time for anything else. I hope you have a great weekend!!
    A Book Obsession..

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  36. Thanks for dropping by and commenting, Jenny! Haha yes I was obsessed with my blog too (actually, not sure I ever really left that stage :D). And I agree about the meaningful comments - quality over quantity!

    I do the same with my reviews - even if the overall rating is negative, I always try to point out the positive aspects as well, to be fair.

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  37. hi Jenny! thanks for dropping by my blog and for following. you have a great weekend too.

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  38. Old follower hopping by and saying HI! I’m still pretty new to the book blogosphere, so I haven’t come across this problem yet… Almost every novel has some redeeming quality so I suppose I would focus on that - especially if it was a new author. Have a great weekend!

    Stop by and say hi if you get a chance. http://twobibliomaniacs.blogspot.com

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  39. Hmm, yeah I've heard mixed things about Once in a Full Moon. I think I'll probably pass on that one.

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  40. Hopping by :)

    One of my worries about writing my true thoughts is the influence we can have on future readers. I haven't looked at Once in a Full Moon yet - but I still may take a peak..

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  41. Hopping through :)

    I had a REALLY hard time with The Hollows and the Bree Tanner novella.

    Come by and visit The Bookish Snob Enjoy your weekend !

    Enjoy your weekend !

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