Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Just A Reader ( Nothing More) Part I

The bookstore I am working at is closing in May. We haven't gotten new releases since the closing sale started. So I not on top of the new releases and bestsellers and it feels a bit weird. I know when this is all over, I will probably be even less informed about what's coming out. I'll be dare I say it just a reader. I must admit that scares some.

I will never turn into the customer who ask for the new James Patterson (please don't do this. booksellers HATE this question)but I know I'll miss finding new authors by accident. Also its not helping that I don't have much faith in finding many books by authors of color reviewed in mainstream media.

I do like the reviews in People magazine. They are usually on point. I also enjoy publishers weekly reviews. I find the NYT Review of Books is too dry for me. Half the time I feel like I need cliff notes. All of the time I am left wondering how the reviewer felt about the book. And the reviews are the length of a novelette.

I know there are great reviews in Vogue and O magazine. Though unless someone tells me about them I won't read them. It takes forever to find the reviews. With People magazine, simply start from the back to find books reviews quickly.

Since, I will be returning to just reader status very soon, any suggestions for where I should look for book recommendations. Please include any blogs you love.

8 comments:

tanita✿davis said...

Oh, Doret!!!! I'm sorry about your job - losing a job you love is hard already, but just plain old losing a job really is hard. I hope you find that books just-as-a-reader fills you even more than your work did...

Helen said...

Sorry about the job. Here is a link to an African Sister Reader who does reviews on the African Reading Challenge.

http://ugandaninsomniac.wordpress.com/africa-reading-challenge/

MotherReader said...

Sorry to hear about your job. I had the same feeling of loss on being up-to-date when I was laid off from the library. It's just too easy to see those new books coming in and feel connected to them, rather than reading reviews online. I don't have a particular link to share, but I sympathize with you.

Vasilly said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your job! I find some excellent books to read through magazines too. There are always some great reviews featured in O magazine. Just open it in the middle and work your way towards the back. I buy O mag just for the book section though it could be longer.

Doret said...

Tanita- Thanks. Its a bit easier knowing I had out grown the job.

Qualil.Helen - I really appreciate the link. The few African authors I've read I've loved, so looking forward to finding a few more.

MotherReader- That's it exactly.

Vasilly - I will try the open in the middle trick.

Charlotte said...

Ah gee, Doret--I hope this door closing results in tons of better doors opening!

Cheryl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cheryl said...

I am really sorry to hear about that. Actually most of the reviews that I do on my blog are authors of color. Here is a link to my blog http://www.blackdiamondsbookreviews.com/. I also put my reviews on Urban Image Magazine: http://urbanimagemagazine.com/category/uim-blog-topics/urban-urban-image/. I have interviewed Daddy Rich, Frank J. Matthews, and for the next issue coming up I interviewed Zane and K'Wan!