The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book-related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blogs.
When you write your reviews, which do you discuss more – the plot or the characters?
(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews)
I discuss whatever standouts the most to me. Sometimes that’s various aspects of the plot – typically the pace, narration, setting, and just overall reading experience – does it draw you in, is the plot predictable, does it remind me of any other story, how I enjoyed my reading experience and anything else that comes to mind upon finishing a book.
I also discuss the characters as part of my typical review. Still, I spend more time talking about them if a story is particularly character-driven with well-conceptualized characters that really make the story what it is. I spend less time on them if discussing them would give away spoilers or if other aspects stand out more to me.
So basically, my format automatically has me looking at a few aspects, including the characters. On top of those aspects, I let the story and my reading experience dictate what else I talk about.
Below is a pdf version of my book review template and rating scale for anyone unfamiliar with my reviews:
What do you discuss more of in your reviews?
I’ve been at the beach all week, in a house right on the beach. You all know how much I love the beach, so I’ve been a happy camper all week. We did have bad weather on Wednesday and Thursday – lots of it and all day long – but the great thing when your house is oceanside is that you can enjoy the beach even when the weather is bad – you just enjoy it from the dry comfort of the place you are staying. So, I was okay with that. I already had sunburn and windburn by Wednesday, so my skin let out a sigh of relief that it was getting a break from more abuse.
How was your week?
- Monday 6/12/2023 – Book Reviews of The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley and A Cornish Seaside Murder by Fiona Leitch
- Tuesday, 6/13/23 – Book Review of Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
- Wednesday, 6/14/23 – WWW Wednesday & Weekly Book Haul
- Thursday, 6/15/23 – Thriller Book Reviews of You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard and Dirt Creek by Hayley Scrivenor
- Friday, 6/16/23 – Book Blogger Hop and Weekly Updates
- Monday 6/19/2023 – Book Review of A Fatal Illusion by Anna Lee Huber
- Tuesday, 6/20/23 – Book Review of First Position by Melanie Hamrick
- Wednesday, 6/21/23 – WWW Wednesday & Weekly Book Haul
- Thursday, 6/22/23 – Book Reviews of The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz, What The Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman, and Her Majesty’s Coven by Juno Dawson (and book 2, The Shadow Cabinet – maybe)
- Friday, 6/23/23 – Book Blogger Hop and Weekly Updates
16 responses to “What do you discuss in your reviews? Plus, Weekly Updates #BookBloggerHop #bookish #discussionpost”
Great post. I don’t know how I’d reply to this question, as so far, I’m primarily reviewing nonfiction. So plot, and characters aren’t usually an aspect. I’m usually looking for things like “is it informative?” “is the information up to date?” “Is it neurodiversity friendly”, “Do I feel better after reading it, or do I want to throw it across the room in disgust or anger?”
That’s actually good information for me to have. I received a couple of non fiction books from Simon and Schuster and I had no idea how to review them. Thank you for some great ideas with that.
Glad I could help! Some other suggestions are things like “is the information accurate?” You’d be surprised these days how many people write about things they know nothing about! It’s ridiculous. Also, of course, part of being neurodiversity friendly is not using ableist language or ideas.
Readability is something that crosses genres. So that’s something you can use from your familiarity reviewing fiction. 🙂. I find some nonfiction to be easier to read because it’s more narrative like, whether or not they are trying to be. And others tend to be dry and hard to engage with. Some books I’ve reallly wanted to read, but because the language they use is highly technical, I’ve had to put it down because I’m all out of practice since I graduated university, and my brain just won’t go there any more. I suppose that could be filed under “accessibility” as well.
Just some thoughts. Hope they help. 🙂
such a beautiful view 😊I’m the same as you, I write whatever I feel stands out, I have the same format for my reviews with the number of paragraphs I write. I hope you have a lovely weekend 💕
Happy Birthday, Jenny! 🥳
A house on the beach and what a view, I’d be a happy camper too 😂 I do the same as you, I discuss whatever I feel needs to be discussed but without spoiling anything.
I love being right on the beach 😍
I definitely agree about loving being able to look at rough seas while you’re safe and warm. I love the sea whatever the weather. I think I need to develop more of a regular format with my reviews. They are very random at the moment.
I do too. It’s always beautiful no matter the weather 😊
Interesting question! I don’t use book blurbs in my reviews so my first step is to try and succinctly setup what the story is about. That process helps me stay on point (most of the time😏) and gets me to focus on the critical aspects of the story. I always like to comment on the story’s main genre elements. But most importantly, I want to convey what worked/didn’t work for me about the book. And, as I listen to most books, characterizing the narration is crucial.
Have fun at the beach!
Definitely on the narration! You give just the right amount of plot summary. Your setup works so well 💕
We used to rent a house in the ocean for 2 weeks every summer, I miss doing that. Is that a half eaten squid? I have no idea either 😂
Agree, I write about the points which spring into mind, when I think of the book. This means my reviews are very different and not particularly consistent. I even think, I write in a slightly different style depending on the book in question.
I talk about character, about the story line, without spoilers and the style of the book. Whether I enjoyed the book and how many stars.
Beautiful beach photos. Like you, what I discuss in the review depends on the book. Some are character driven, some are not. Some have humor, or a fast-paced plot. It just depends.
It’s the same with me. I discuss a little bit of everything but focus on what stands out most world and characters are my most favorite when it comes to fantasy and characters for character-driven stories.