Ever read a review and wondered… “Well, that’s one person’s opinion — I wonder what other readers thought?” Well, from now on, whenever I review a book — Sundays and Wednesdays usually — anyone who has also written a review on the book is encouraged to comment or email me a link to their review. (If you don’t have a blog, feel free to write your own review in the comments). This way, readers get a selection of opinions on a work — not just mine.
I’m excited about this idea because while quality obviously has objective elements, we all know just how subjective taste can be. For example, Oprah books tend to be on the dark side — which is just fine with me since I like a bit of grit in my reading — but when she first started her book club, readers were NOT happy! So, look for other voices to emerge in the upcoming weeks… And, remember, if you don’t have blog, but do have an opinion on something I’ve reviewed — please leave a comment — the more voices, the better!
To kick off this new policy, here is a sampling of books I’ve reviewed in the past. If you have also reviewed any of them, please leave a comment w/ a link (and the title) or email me the link. I’ll then add a link to your review on my previous review… Up to now my reviews have been pretty rambling and informal, but here they are!
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
- The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (book club kit available starting tomorrow!)
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos
- Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
- Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
- Run by Ann Patchett
- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Strange As This Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake
- Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
- Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
- The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble
- The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
- Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
- The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford
- Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
- A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
- Envy by Kathryn Harrison
- The Gathering by Ann Enright
- The Faith Club by
- Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
- The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
- To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
- Why My Wife Thinks I’m An Idiot by Mike Greenberg
- In the Drink by Kate Christensen
- Good Dog. Stay by Anna Quindlen
Here’s a list of my 50 states, 50 books reviews (click on the STATE to get the review):
Alabama: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (check out my To Kill A Mockingbird Sample Kit!)
Michigan: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides
Alaska: The Man Who Swam With Beavers by Nancy Lord
Arizona: The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
North Dakota: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Vermont: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Hawaii: Heads by Harry by Lois-ann Yamanaka
Florida: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Nora Zeale Hurston
Minnesota: In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’Brien
Wisconsin: When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton
Louisiana: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells (Jones’ pick) and The Awakening by Kate Chopin (my pick)
Colorado: Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Maryland: Anything by Anne Tyler
Georgia: Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones and Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
(Wondering where your state is? Coming soon… In the meantime, check out my 50 States, 50 Books List)
Whew! I’ve been a reading and reviewing fool this year… 
Thanks to Darla at Books & Other Thoughts for this great idea — and to Dewey for organizing everything!
And I moved my What I’m Reading blog roll from the side bar to its own page — be sure to check it out! I’m always adding new blogs that tickle my reading fancy…
I’ve reviewed Broken for You! http://deweymonster.com/?p=248
I’ve reviewed The Road, too, but it’s snarky, so I’ll skip leaving you that link.
Thank you, Dewey — I love the format of your review! I’m so glad you enjoyed Kallos’ novel as much as I did, too! By the way, snarky is fine — The Road WAS brutal (even though I really liked it!)
I love this idea! I’ll have to browse and add my thoughts to yours on books I’ve read. Very nice.
Kristen, Thanks again for your guest post on my blog!
This is a great idea. I’ve been over to look at Weekly Geeks but I’m not ready to commit to it yet.
I’ve read many of these books but only reviewed a couple, and they weren’t even proper reviews. But if in the future I review something you’ve reviewed, I’ll be sure to let you know.
Thank you, Lisa! I know what you mean about proper reviews — this challenge has really made me rethink how informal my “reviews” usually are. I need to raise my personal bar for my reviews in the future…! Thanks for the comment!
Hi Kristen! Here’s my review for Nineteen Minutes: http://heatherlo.wordpress.com/2008/03/11/review-nineteen-minutes/
and Housekeeping:
http://heatherlo.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/review-housekeeping/
I loved The Road. Here is my review for it:
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
and for Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult too!
Pingback: Booking Through Thursday, May 9 | BOOK CLUB CLASSICS!