Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.
Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.
Hi Guys!
This has been an interesting week in bookish community, to say the least.
If you’re on twitter, you couldn’t escape that drama everyone was talking about. Some true colors showed up, and that is all I’m going to say because I had enough negativity on my feed this whole year.
When it comes to me personally, one of author’s minions decided to spam my goodreads review for Olive, Again. I usually like to get comments from people with different opinions, but when a profile is created just for sake of spamming, I will not tolerate that. And it is so obvious that “Armando” is fake account that it makes me question the intelligence of a person behind it.
I think they even flagged my review as spam because I noticed people “like” it and I get an email about it, but then it is not in my notifications. I can’t say for sure, though!
The question is: When will authors, their publicists and relatives realize that book reviews are subjective and written for other readers??
I, as a reviewer, don’t owe positive review to anyone!!
We, bloggers, do this for free in most cases, so at least what we can get is little respect. Unfortunately, it often lacked this year when it comes to my personal experience.
Then I got declined for two Netgalley requests, and mentally sent everything to hell, purchased two ebooks I wanted to read and took a break from my review copies.
I am not sure for how long this break will last, but there is so many books I want to read that just sit on my shelf or I never even purchased them because of review copies I wanted to read first.
It is the last day of HoHoHo readathon and I am about to finish my third book. It’s not amazing result, but it is enough, for all I care!
Also, I had some technical problems so two blog posts that should have been posted this week will go live next week, including giveaway for signed copy of The Bear and the Nightingale.
Last Week on Book Dust Magic:
Monday: I talked about The Lion King movie
Tuesday: I reviewed Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
Wednesday: I talked about changes I noticed on my body during pregnancy
Saturday: I reviewed Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Next Week on Book Dust Magic:
Upcoming reviews:
There will also be my post about meeting Katherine Arden including a giveawy.
Book Haul:
I purchased these two ebooks:
Currently reading:
I am reading this sequel to Wintersong and am loving it so much.
That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!
Book Dust Magic 
I’ll never forget the time I got hit up for a negative review by an author and all of her friends. I struggled to respond in a civil manner, without resorting to the tactics the author and her friends used. It was painful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry to hear about that. I know there’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbow, but I wish those kinds of negativity wouldn’t exist. We as bloggers help authors and publishing houses, and one negative review from time to time won’t harm or ruin anyone’s career.
Sometimes I wish we’d get more recognition.
LikeLike
I try to stay far away from book drama. It’s not worth the stress. Just let authors write and reviewers review! It’s not hard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with AJ, the drama isn’t worth the stress. Hope you enjoy your books and get to read some of the ones on your shelves, I need to catch up on that too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, wow, I hate book drama! I’ve had negative comments made to me on reviews, sometimes just a little bit, but it does leave a bit of pain behind. I think one of my regular authors who gave me review copies stopped…because of something I said in the review about one of the characters. It wasn’t even all that bad, and I still gave a mostly positive review. Sigh.
Enjoy your week and your purchases.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also had the similar experience with one of the publicists. I gave three stars to book I got unsolicited, and since then, books stopped arriving.
At first it was a bitter feeling, but now I don’t care all that much.
I noticed ppl who give 5 stars all the time get physical copies and those who don’t rate books, but I am not about that.
I started reviewing books for me, to get to know me through reading and to maybe analyze what I like and don’t like, and I won’t change it.
It’s not like I’m paid to promote books so…
LikeLike
Well Irena thanks to you I now know what happened (did a Google search to get the gist of it). I do agree with you that respect is of the utmost importance. From the authors but also from the readers/reviewers! And as far as netgalley is concerned I have nearly no access to many books that I love!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me neither. I can wish for them in most cases, especially when it comes to ya. And my last granted wish was back in 2017.
Sometimes it makes me really sad to be international blogger, we don’t get go have wide access to ARCs, and books are so much more expensive to begin with.
But that is what I signed up for so…
LikeLike
Oh no sorry to hear about the spam thing. I don’t get it either. Authors and their “surrogates” or whatever they are lol should have more to do than worry about blogger reviews- I mean, we have to be honest, right? Good grief I don’t get that.
I did see some of the other drama too. Again- wow.
Anyway, hope you have a fabulous new week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
In my opinion, they should put that energy into promoting books, instead of bring reviewers down.
LikeLike
I missed whatever the drama was, but ugh authors really should know better by now. The resulting fuss does more harm than any one review.
Wishing you a better reading week
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Irena. I missed any drama that was about last week.
I’m sorry that your review got targeted. I struggle to understand that because I read the review and you were very objective in it, and did not write anything insulting or uncalled for. You are right, we do not owe any positive reviews and no book / author should expect all positive reviews.
I look forward to Haunting Hill House review. I’m guessing that was the one that was originally planned for last week.
I hope you have a good restful reading week. No stressing!
Amanda xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Amanda!
Yes, that was the one plus the giveaway for The Bear and the Nightingale. That one will be posted on Friday, if everything goes as planned.
LikeLike
OMG, I just went to your Goodreads review and read some of Armando’s comments, unbelievable. I think it was a great, honest review and gave your feelings and why you felt that way. Three books for HO HO HO is wonderful. I had hopes to read five and I only finished two, but have two others half finished, so I guess I could say I read three. 😅 I have Well Met to read, so will watch for your review.
LikeLike
Thank you Carla. I really appreciate everything you said. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I missed the drama on Twitter, so I’m not sure what happened. I hate it when I get harassed for my review on Goodreads! I’ve had it happen for a positive review recently by another reader who I wasn’t even friends with and she came on my review to tell me what an idiot I was for liking the book I read. So rude. I’ve also had authors “like” my tweets for negative reviews that automatically post on twitter. Wasn’t sure what to do with that, but I was relieved there were no comments attached.
I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with the negativity when you’re just stating your honest opinion! That’s what we’re supposed to give when getting books for review! Negative or positive. How can a blogger be trusted if they give a false reaction because of fear of reactions from the author or publisher? Not fair. Sometimes I request from the library if I’m not sure that a book will work for me so I don’t have to bother to leave a review.
LikeLike
I only review books from netgalley or if I purchased them/won them in a giveaway/got them as gift.
I don’t participate in blog tours anymore after I got passive/agressive email for tour organizer who represented the publishing house.
I don’t want to be dishonest in my reviews just for sake of free books. I am not about that, and I don’t even follow bloggers who only give 5 stars to books they read.
I noticed many bloggers stopped rating books in general because they are probably afraid publishers will stop working with them.
I would understand all that if they were paid for it, but if I invest 9 hours of my free time to read a book, I want to be able to tell my honest feelings about it.
I am sorry to hear you got bitter comments on your review. I really don’t understand people who bash someone’s positive opinion, I understand where negative comments for negative reviews come from, but this I can’t.
LikeLike
I like how strong you are with your opinions especially on books you don’t like and not afraid of the consequences 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jasmine. My policy is if I invested my 8-9 hours to read your book and decide to talk about it on my platform without being paid for, them I’ll be honest!
But I am always honest in my life, and the consequences in this case are that some publishers stopped sending me books, but since I’m international there weren’t many books to begin with.
Also, since I live in small European country, I am not afraid that the author will stock me, but I guess I’ll never know for sure! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought big publishers do have an international presence. Ultimately publishers want to sell books and the negative reviews could hurt them but they forgot that the reviews are on ARCs and authors do have a chance to edit their work before publishing it. One thing is, I can’t finish a book if it doesn’t interest me. But you able to read until the end?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they do have presence, at least big publishers do, but they often have limited number of book releases they send internationally.
It’s easier to get an eARC.
I almost always finish a book I’m reading. Especially if I got it for review.
I understand your points and I 100% agree with them. I understand we get review copies to promote books, that’s why I always try to be respectful in my reviews and state that if something didn’t work for me,maybe it would for others.
But I can’t, won’t, lie that I liked a book if I didn’t.
And I review all the books I read, except sometimes if I purchased them myself or got them as a gift/borrowed them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am honest too but I am unable to finish a book if I lose interest. I just think I rather read something I enjoy with my time. Often I don’t give a rating if I only read 80 pages. So good for you that you able to finish no matter what.
LikeLike
I feel what you are saying about people spamming and such. I had someone say my review wasn’t real because I received a complimentary copy of the book. If they had bothered to check out my long list of reviews, they would have seen that I buy way more than I received for free and always leave honest reviews. I guess some people just have too much time on their hands.
LikeLike
I missed the drama, but I stand by your side 100%! xxx
LikeLike
I have no idea what’s been happening with the bookish drama on twitter. I try to avoid twitter book drama like the plague. There always seems to be something blowing up…
I hope this week is a better week and that you enjoy your new books!
LikeLike
Thank you Nicci. I also try to avoid the drama but this one was pretty big and my feed was filled with it. It was that Sarah Dessed situation.
LikeLike