How Book Blogging Changed the Way I Read

I’ve been remotely following the bookish community ever since I signed up on goodreads. It was way back in 2011. I kept track of the books being released, tracked my own reading, reviewed books, and read other people reviews. But being on goodreads isn’t the same as actually being in the book blogging community.

As of November 2, I would have been blogging for 8 months ♦ I have always loved reading, but I never actually thought I’d be a book blogger. I mean, I didn’t even think I would be this dedicated to my blog, I thought it was just a temporary thing 😛 Having been on the book blogging community had changed a lot of things in me, but most importantly, it had changed the way I read.

Before I started blogging, I only reviewed books on goodreads and sometimes not at all. By then, my reviews consisted of mostly ‘aaaahhhh’ and ‘ooohhhh’ and ramble about how the books made me feel. Sometimes my reviews are even more useless and super short. I don’t want to post short and useless reviews on my blog, that’s why since I started posting reviews on the blog, I tried to write a better, more comprehensive review that not only focuses on how the book makes me feel but also on the more technical aspects. 

I started to analyze every aspects, the pace, the plot, characterization, world building, tropes, twists, climax, ending, even the writing. I also always try to find the good and the bad on every book I read and that turned me into a completely critical reader! Sometimes I hate myself for that, I could no longer just enjoy a book without over analyzing its elements :’)

Ever since I became more critical with my review, I found it more and more difficult to rate a book 5-stars. There are almost always some things that kept me from giving all the stars. The way a book makes me feel isn’t my only deciding factor anymore. That being said, my standard has drastically changed. It has definitely gotten higher and I am getting harder to please. 

And this is a problem because I’m a notorious re-reader. I keep finding more and more problems with my old favorites and that is just sad. Books I once deemed as my ultimate favorite no longer felt like it. The other month I was rereading Harry Potter and turned out I disliked some of the things I previously adored </3

I’ve always been following the trend in the bookish community, but before I started blogging, I never had this urge to read a book right on its release date! I was usually patient enough to wait a couple of months for the books to arrive on our local bookstores but lately I’ve been feeling like I’m always in a rush to get my hands on latest release :’) I mean, when the whole blogging community is raving on a certain new release, it’s really hard not to want to read it too. You’re gonna feel left out if you don’t read it 😛 and I really don’t want to miss out on whatever everyone else is reading! Hahaha….

Which is why the delay of imported books arrival has been such a huge struggle for me! At this moment, I’m dying inside because my copy of Gemina still hasn’t arrived yet 😦 the paperback version is already available on local book store but I wanted the hardback and already ordered it </3

Book blogging is definitely making me read books I never thought I would.  Of all the genres in this world, I probably only read fantasy and contemporary with a bit sci fi and paranormal occasionally. And I didn’t read diversely, all books I read portrayed characters who are mostly white and straight and I couldn’t imagine otherwise.

But ever since I started blogging, I tried to branch out to other genres and subjects. Initially it was because I didn’t want to feel left out or miss out on what everyone’s reading, but lately it was because I have realized the importance and benefits from reading diversely and more genre-wise. 

If you read my discussion post about diversity, you must have known that I used to never care about being represented in books. If it wasn’t for the bookish community and #DiverseAThon, I wouldn’t have picked up a book like, say… Homegoing. It’s a historical fiction (a genre I kind of dislike) and set in Ghana, a country I probably knew nothing about. I wouldn’t have picked it up on my own, but I’m glad I did. It was so enlightening and really really precious ♥

If you’re an international book blogger like me, you may have experiences difficulties on getting the newest books paperback. Which is why I used to resort to ebook, it’s more affordable and faster. Most of the books I read from the previous years are on ebook.

However, ever since I started blogging and bookstagram-ing, I’m no longer happy with them. I want the physical versions that I could photograph :’) technically you could take photos of ebook, but it’s just not the same. This really complicates things because I might go bankrupt from buying too many books. I even planned to buy the physical version of some series I have read on ebook. And I bought wayyy too many books this month, I’ll show you my haul on this month recap 😛

P.S. Send HELP 😦 I totally blame bookstagram for this…

But do follow my bookstagram account @sparklingletters_ 😛

The truth is, reading is a solitary activity. I used to read alone and never really had people to talk to afterwards. I mean, I did talk to my friends and my family and sometimes even persuaded them to read said books, but it wasn’t satisfying because either they didn’t enjoy the books or they did but didn’t want to talk about it all the time.

In the book blogging community, I have found people who are as excited as I am about certain books and willing to talk about it non stop. Even years after the book was released, I could still find at least someone who wants to rave or rant about it. So yes, meeting people who are as crazy about books as I am is just the best thing ever 😛

Well, those are 6 ways book blogging have changed the way I read. OH, and I definitely read A LOT MORE books than before I started blogging! ♦ What about you, have you noticed changes in you ever since you started blogging? I’d love to hear your thoughts! ♥

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