Tanja is the next person who asked us reviewers a question and therefor she wins a $10 giftcertificate to Loose Id, Congrats 🙂
Tanja: You are all reading a lot of books and therefore writing a lot of reviews. There will be books that blow you away and that you will be thinking of days after reading. When you are reading the next book how do you keep your mind fresh and open in order to give an honest review? To not compare this book to the previous one.
Marieke:
I usually try to read something easy and fluffy in between, so your mind is positive and mellow.
Tammy:
I never think about the book’s I’ve read previously. I’m always focused on the book I’m reading when I’m reading and reviewing it.
Christie:
I think of each book as its own new and unique universe that I get to explore and immerse myself in. Even if it is part of a series, to me that simply means that the book I’m reading is based in the same universe and has some friends I may run into along the way, but it is mostly different and undiscovered.
Cinnamon:
I don’t read two books I’m supposed to review on the same day. One night is usually enough to clear my mind and heart. If not (as I can’t live without reading) I just grab a favorite reread of mine and that does the trick. A few comfort reads later I’m good to go to the next review and book.
Vicki/Tori:
I actually don’t have a very good memory in general, so I read a book, immediately review it, and move on the next book pretty easily. I also don’t tend to go from a review book to a review book, I try to read something in between. I will admit that I have a hard time with by the same author, that’s when I find it challenging not to compare book to book. And sometimes I do, you just can’t help it. If a new book isn’t as good as one you LOVED, it’s hard, and I do mention it, but I always explain why.
Roberta:
I usually take about a two/three day break in between books to allow myself a chance to let the story wash away and allow me to come back fresh for the next story. I usually read books that i’ve read before that i liked to help me in this process.
Jen B:
This is definitely a struggle, as book hangovers are often difficult to overcome. For example, when I read a really fantastic book that blows me away, it is hard to not measure other books to that when rating the next book. They cannot all be five star reviews, so I think this has to come into play to some degree. That being said, I try to clear my mind when I start a new book and allow myself to become a part of the next story.
Pizzygirl:
When that happens I have to read a non-review book or two to clear my head because I absolutely do not want to compare books if I can help it. Sometimes I also take a few days off and binge on TV shows or movies before reading again.
Donna:
If I read a book that blows me away, I try not to follow it up with another review book. I’ll read something that isn’t for the blog, so it doesn’t matter if it all seems a little meh.
Marte:
Some books definitely stays with you. Personally, letting a story sink in after finish reading it, and then writing a review completes a circle in a way for me. I’m working through all my feeling for the book while writing a review, so after I’m done with writing it, I am able to put the book aside. It doesn’t mean I have forgotten about it, I’ve just completed the read, and can start a new one
Dan:
I have to review each book immediately after finishing it, because I tend to forget the details as soon as I open a new book. I live in the ‘now’ with each. Dani will often ask me a question about a book we’ve both read, and unfortunately with my memory issues, I’m usually like “huh?”
Chris:
The way I tend to read kinda helps a lot with this kind of thing. I am usually reading at least three if not more books at the same time so I’ve learned over the years to compartmentalize everything so that things don’t get mixed up. That’s not to say that when I read a really good book (or a really bad one) that the feelings don’t bleed over. Mostly because after you’ve read something great, the next thing you want is something just as good. It’s just that review books are not always a sure thing, so that you can go from something totally amazing to completely underwhelming with no real time to adjust. The sad thing is that a perfectly fine book can sometimes look all the less for the fact that it comes right after that amazing book. I guess that is where trying to look objectively at the bones of the book has to come in.
One of the things I do to help soften the ride from one book to the next is to have something to read that I don’t have to think about or analyze. Something that is just for fun. It usually ends up being fanfiction, to be honest, since I’m used to just letting go and enjoying the story with fanfics. And if worse comes to worse, a mediocre book can look pretty damn good compared to some of the bad fanfics I’ve read over the years.
Kat:
I truly do read each book individually and base my rating on how I perceived the book. It is a bit of a problem however, when I read several fabulous books in a row and then one that just doesn’t do it for me. But I put my “big girl” reader panties on and do the right thing. I state what I liked and didn’t care for in a book. I am a “glass half full” kind of gal so I can usually find at least one positive to write.
Alexander:
To not compare this book to the previous one.
How do you handle a book hangover as they call it?
One commenter will receive a ecopy of choice from Bold Strokes books
Thank you all so much for answering my question. I tend to do what most do to handle a book hangover: read something fluffy or reread a book.
After reading a really good or intense book I usually re-read an old one, because I cannot concentrate on a new one immediately. Sometimes I also take a break for one or two days (which is a long time, since I tend to always read in my freetime^^).
Thanks for such great responses. Book hangovers can be the worst!
Great question and the answers are so different I must admit I’ve often read a fabulous book and then I’m so disappointed when I can’t get into another book for a while.
Great question and responses!
If i read something that really was emotional or affected me in some way i usually re-read one of my favorites. it helps me to clear my mind.
So interesting to see the different ways everyone handles things. I sometimes have to fall back on comfort reads as Cinnamon does.
That was a really good question, I never thought about it. And thank you for the great answers
If I read an amazing book I usually go crazy trying to find something to measure up to it straight away. Stupid huh?
I’d imagine you’d need a mental palate cleanser after a particularly memorable/grueling read!
Good question (I hadn’t thought of that) and really good answers, all handling the issue in effective and professional ways. I’m impressed. Being an amateur reader and reviewer, tbh, I don’t worry about book hangover. I of course want to be objective, but if I read a good/not so good book, and the next I see right away is not as good/better(yay!), then I enjoy the moment. And since I read slowly, by the end of the book, no more hangover, I’m with the “now” book.
Mental palate cleansers I never thought of that. I’m like Tammy, I don’t even thin about the previous book when I start a new one.
Such a good question from Tanja, and I really enjoyed getting behind the scenes with all of you with that answer. Sometimes with a bookhangover, I’ve actually just read the book again or read scenes I really loved. I’m an avowed rereader so I have no problem diving back in and experiencing or gaining new insight into a book. That has to be an AMAZING book, though. Generally I just switch mediums, like tv watching or movie. Or sometimes switching to an audiobook actually clicks my mind into a new direction even if I’m still “reading.”
Usually I take a breather — don’t read anything else for a day or two, turn on TV instead.
I usually take a break, even do some housework if it’s a bad enough book hangover!!!