Let's Talk: Books I Have Read Because of Book Bloggers

Friday, April 20, 2012




Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!
Question: What books have you read because of the recommendations of book bloggers?

Let's be honest, kids. We've all heard (probably more than once, too) that bloggers don't sell books. I adamantly, vehemently disagree. There are so many books that I've read simply based on the excessive reviews and recommendations of other bloggers. I trust what book bloggers have to say because, for the most part, they provide thoughtful, insightful reviews that give me a taste of what a book will do for me. That is so much better than going to a book store and standing in front of the shelves blankly for hours trying simply to go off summaries.

Now, there are far too many books to list them all, but I figured I'd go ahead and tell you my top five. Bear in mind, please, that these are books I would never have otherwise read. I tend to be rather close-minded when it comes to books. It's one of my greatest faults. However, I've come to realize that if I let other bloggers into my head, they my book horizons expand, and that's truly incomparable. Here are my top three:

Contemporary has never been my thing. I used to shout that from the rooftops (or just all over my blog), but this one challenge those preconceived notions of mine that I continue to cling to. Raw Blue is a testament to YA contemporary fiction, embodying its title and breathing new life into a tired and, so sue me, otherwise often petty genre. 

I've since told pretty much every book blogger, reader and person that I know that this is a book, and an author, to watch. With a gritty writing style and true, honest emotion, I was just completely blown away.
After reading and suffering through the entire saga of another vampire series that shall not be named on this blog, I swore up and down I would never read about vampires again. I believe it was the constant insisting of book bloggers across the board that finally convinced me to pick up Vampire Academy and give it a go.

Just by doing so, I was able to see why bloggers and lay-readers, alike, love the series so much. It's about vampires, of course, but it's gritty and challenges the boundaries of YA.
I was way late to the game with this series, I'm ashamed to say. I consistently saw them on those special tables at Barnes & Noble, but I consistently walked past them because I thought they looked like Harry Potter castoffs, and I was still in mourning at Harry Potter being complete. 

When I finally did read The Lightning Thief though, I was hooked. I've read all of the books multiple times, I share them with everyone I know and I'm proud to say I've read them all in under a day each. And despite what any stupid idiots in the media might say about adults being stupid to read YA/MG books...I'm proud to carry this series in public! HA!


18 comments:

  1. Truthfully, there are tons of books I picked up because of Book Bloggers, or they made me aware of this book! Book Bloggers are my source for most of the books in my radar. 

    I wanted at some point keep track on the books I only read because there was an awesome Review, but I forgot... 

    Happy Friday! 

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  2. I learn about a ton of books because of bloggers. It was super frustrating when I lived in NZ because there were a lot of new releases that just weren't distributed over there.

    I like to think I influence a few people to buy books they wouldn't otherwise. I can think of at least one person who has read two or three books recently because of me.

    Books I've read because of bloggers are: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd, A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker. Those are just a few off the top of my head. Some I liked more than others.

    I will admit that I learn about, buy and read books not so much because of reviews that other bloggers write but because they rave about them on twitter, mention that they're excited to read the book or do a giveaway or summat.

    It's rare that I'll go out of my way to buy a book ASAP because of a blogger. I do think they are the fuel to my purchasing a book when I'm faced with it in person. It can take a lot of small amount of exposure to a book before you buy it and I think that bloggers can make that happen.

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  3. I've heard SO MANY great things about Raw Blue. So many. And I've heard so many great things about Vampire Academy, too, but I've yet to pick it up. I really want to, but finding the time to squeeze it into life is so hard. But I totally plan on it. 

    PUH-LEEZ, Percy Jackson! There is NEVER A DAY that goes by that someone in my house of five isn't reading or re-reading one of those books. I am absolutely dead serious right now. That is, as a family, one of our top-three most loved series - along with Harry Potter (of course) and the Warriors books. At our house we are MIDDLE GRADE FOREVER. And that is probably mostly ME. I am a huge, unapologetic Middle Grade fan! When I'm at my library, I go to that section before I even hit the YA shelves! 

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  4. Pretty much every book I have read is because of you...I mean bloggers! Thanks for being so awesome. I <3 you pistachio!

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  5. Well, the Hunger Games was the biggie, but except for the odd one or two books, I pretty much stayed away from YA as a whole until I started reading other bloggers' recommendations. Most of my bottom shelf of my bookshelf is YA books from the last few years, most of which I wouldn't have picked up or even heard of if it weren't for the reviews.

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  6. It kills me to know how much you adore Raw Blue, since I can't read it because it's not out in the states yet!! XD I have not read Vampire Academy or Percy Jackson. VA I have the first few books of, so maybe I'll try them. Great discussion!

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  7. I do believe there's a link where you can actually buy it now, believe it or not! I really think you should read all of these, but I'll try to find you that Raw Blue link so I can send it to you :)

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  8. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH have I told you lately that I love you, Amykins?!?! I miss you and owe you a text or 40+ ;)

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  9. It's kind of awesome to see how your book list evolves bc of bloggers and their reviews, isn't it?!

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  10. HAHA! This is why I adore you, Asheley :)

    More bloggers and book fans should be as unapologetic about their love of YA and MG. Lord knows that is right where I gravitate, as well!

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  11. I definitely see what you're saying. I think I'll trust some bloggers' opinions more than others right off, but for the most part, I generally trust those rave, unapologetic reviews across the board these days...unless it's undue industry hype haha

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  12. I just finished The Sea of Monsters and I am IN LOVE. Totally one of those series I'm going to push on people all over the place.

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  13. I can't telll you how many books I've read because of my fellow bloggers. In fact, the last one and the next two are recommendations from blogger friends.

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  14. ! This is the topic at G Reads Books today!

    http://www.greadsbooks.com/2012/04/tgif-at-greads-60-book-blogger.html

    Might be better to try to cross check topics since she posts hers ahead of time so you aren't splitting bloggers between two posts :)

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  15. Lol, most books I read have been recommended :)

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  16. Yay, for the Percy Jackson series! I truly love those books. Raw Blue was something that caught my eye too due to the raving reviews about it in the blogoverse. I have to try VA sometime soon as well, cause I feel like I'm getting left out. :)

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  17. I add books to my "to-be-read" list due to your reviews all the time! I enjoy book bloggers because y'all tend to introduce me to books I might not have heard of if I didn't read your posts!

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  18. I got turned onto VA by bloggers too! The covers are such a turn off and even the title did nothing for me. But bloggers raved about them and so I picked them up - AND they are my favorite vampire books.

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