The Bookchain Project
Welcome to the explanatory post for this blog!
Thanks for dropping by, and glad you could make it. I suppose you'd like to know how this string of book reviews will be different from the countless others spreading across the web–
Well, I'll tell you.
My premise is more than just reviewing novels for entertainment value and demonstrated writing skills; in fact, it's more of a reader's travel adventure, in much the same way a travel blogger would describe a series of experiences as they went from one destination to another; however, my destinations will be the beautiful worlds in books, linked together into what I call a bookchain.
Here's the bit where I explain the rules. Really, there's just one rule, a golden rule: each book will be determined by recommendations derived from the novel prior. And that's it.
Where will those recommendations come from, you ask?
Anywhere really. Goodreads, the indy bookstore downtown, or someone else I might happen to chat with in passing. Preferably that last one though. So long as it's an outside source (because the only way to recommend a book to yourself is by finding it on the shelf) and it's generated by actual humans–not algorithms–it's game. I'll simply request my next read by a 'If you liked this, then you should read [blank],' method. I'll be sure to cite where each recommendation has come from, too.
Now, why this mode of propulsion?
A few reasons. It keeps me from sorting the good and the bad by my opinion alone. This project is really about seeing how the book choices people make measure up against what I (and probably many other avid reader/writers) judge to be worth reading on a technical and artistic level. Which means, in a world where pretty much anyone can publish work at pretty much any level, my reviews and recommendations will be more relatable and valuable to you as a pleasure reader. It will also be a great expander for my taste in books and, likely, a fun exercise in reaching beyond genres and styles I'd comfortably try on in the normal world.
Other preferences?
I'd like to stick with Young Adult novels as much as possible. That being said, I understand that recommendations know no categorical or genre limitation. We could stretch that as far as length and form, too. Though I have my hopes, whatever comes will be, and that is a sacrifice I will make for the greater good (or not so good, who knows?).
So how will the premiere novel be chosen?
Easy. I'm often getting recommendations from people about books to read, so I figured the best choice would be suggested from a novel I already love and would be something I hadn't learned about on my own. Don't worry, you'll hear all about it in the next post.
Is this a one-time thing?
Who knows. But for now, I'll just be focusing on this one bookchain. I would, however, love to start some others later on, and it'd be great to get the beginnings for those bookchains from you. Whether or not your recommendations make it into a bookchain, I'll happily accept them all the same. Because that's what book lovers do.
I guess that's all the housekeeping for awhile. So stick around, do some browsing, and read on!
-SB
Thanks for dropping by, and glad you could make it. I suppose you'd like to know how this string of book reviews will be different from the countless others spreading across the web–
Well, I'll tell you.
My premise is more than just reviewing novels for entertainment value and demonstrated writing skills; in fact, it's more of a reader's travel adventure, in much the same way a travel blogger would describe a series of experiences as they went from one destination to another; however, my destinations will be the beautiful worlds in books, linked together into what I call a bookchain.
Here's the bit where I explain the rules. Really, there's just one rule, a golden rule: each book will be determined by recommendations derived from the novel prior. And that's it.
Where will those recommendations come from, you ask?
Anywhere really. Goodreads, the indy bookstore downtown, or someone else I might happen to chat with in passing. Preferably that last one though. So long as it's an outside source (because the only way to recommend a book to yourself is by finding it on the shelf) and it's generated by actual humans–not algorithms–it's game. I'll simply request my next read by a 'If you liked this, then you should read [blank],' method. I'll be sure to cite where each recommendation has come from, too.
Now, why this mode of propulsion?
A few reasons. It keeps me from sorting the good and the bad by my opinion alone. This project is really about seeing how the book choices people make measure up against what I (and probably many other avid reader/writers) judge to be worth reading on a technical and artistic level. Which means, in a world where pretty much anyone can publish work at pretty much any level, my reviews and recommendations will be more relatable and valuable to you as a pleasure reader. It will also be a great expander for my taste in books and, likely, a fun exercise in reaching beyond genres and styles I'd comfortably try on in the normal world.
Other preferences?
I'd like to stick with Young Adult novels as much as possible. That being said, I understand that recommendations know no categorical or genre limitation. We could stretch that as far as length and form, too. Though I have my hopes, whatever comes will be, and that is a sacrifice I will make for the greater good (or not so good, who knows?).
So how will the premiere novel be chosen?
Easy. I'm often getting recommendations from people about books to read, so I figured the best choice would be suggested from a novel I already love and would be something I hadn't learned about on my own. Don't worry, you'll hear all about it in the next post.
Is this a one-time thing?
Who knows. But for now, I'll just be focusing on this one bookchain. I would, however, love to start some others later on, and it'd be great to get the beginnings for those bookchains from you. Whether or not your recommendations make it into a bookchain, I'll happily accept them all the same. Because that's what book lovers do.
I guess that's all the housekeeping for awhile. So stick around, do some browsing, and read on!
-SB
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