Introducing: Joel, Associate Book Reviewer

Today I'm lucky enough to welcome another associate reviewer to In The Next Room. Joel reads a lot and will be able to add some sci-fi and fantasy reviews to the blog, something I don't usually get around to myself! Here's a nice little introduction from Joel, and you can look forward to seeing his reviews around in the future :)

Hello to all! My name is Joel, I’m almost thirty, a husband, father, trainer, reader and, now thanks to Zoe, reviewer! Being a voracious reader, who averages between 150 to 200 books in a year, I have often thought about getting into the book review blogging scene. So I’m really excited for this opportunity to share with you all some of my thoughts on the books I have read.

My reading tastes tend to the science fiction/fantasy side of the spectrum, but I also enjoy historical (fiction and non), thrillers, more literary offerings, memoirs, indie published works and pretty much anything as long as it is well written and tells a good story. Reading has always been a huge part of my life – I was the family member who would sit in a corner during family reunions with my nose stuck in a book and who used to get bookshop gift certificates as presents! I’m sure most can relate!
 

Following in Meghan’s footsteps, I thought I’d share my top five books from 2012:

1. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

2. Winter of the World by Ken Follett

3. Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon

4. Shadow of Freedom by David Weber

5. The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye

You can find me here on Goodreads, my blog, or here at my Twitter account, @RavenusReader

Introducing: Meghan, Associate Book Reviewer

Two weeks ago, I put out a request for an associate book reviewer on In The Next Room. I wasn't sure if I'd find anyone, because I really wanted the right match for the site and for me. Luckily, I heard from Meghan! Her background, personality, and quality of writing all let me know she was perfect for In The Next Room. You can expect to see her reviews about once a week, and they'll be clearly identified. I'm so excited to welcome Meghan to In The Next Room. Here's a little introduction directly from her :)

My name is Meghan and I’m a 20 year old college student studying Creative Writing, Theatre, and Art History. My dream is to be a book reviewer—and for me, dreams really do come true here In the Next Room! I am so excited to become a reviewer for the site!

I read mainly fiction, though I do appreciate a good memoir or essay collection. I love poetry, short stories, YA fiction of all flavors, plays, mysteries, historical fiction, GLBTQ, fantasy, sci-fi, true crime, and independently published works. (Particularly those from authors in Ohio or Colorado—my two homes!)

I devour books like most people eat chocolate chip cookies: frequently, quickly, and with great joy.

The best books I’ve read so far in 2012:

1. Enchantments by: Kathryn Harrison

2. Rules of Civility by: Amor Towles

3. John Dies at the End by: David Wong

4. My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me: Forty New Fairy Tales edited by: Kate Bernheimer

5. The Catch Trap by: Marion Zimmer Bradley

You can find me here on Goodreads or here at my Twitter account, @meghanc303

I redesigned my blog...

...all by myself!

Very proud of the way things have turned out and although it has been many hours of work I am thinking I am pretty much done for now. I even have a cute icon for my mailbox posts and for once a button I actually like! So please, take my button:

<center><a href="http://inthenextroom.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/zoedm/finalblogbutton.png"/></a></center>

Plus, now that I have my own button I am thinking swapping with other bloggers is a good idea, so let me know if that interests you.

I decided to combine some of my other loves besides reading into the layout, purple which is one of my two favourite colours (along with red, but I thought it made for a more cheerful blog) and flowers, as I am currently doing my masters in plant genetics so although I don't actually work with these specific flowers (pansies, incase you are curious), I do work with flowering plants.

Here's a sneak peek at my new design, but of course you should stop by the blog if you're reading this from a feed and check it out firsthand.

What do you think of In The Next Room's new look?

Do you summarize?

Lately I've come to realize that writing reviews is a lot more stressful and full of pressure than it should be. As somebody who prides myself on my writing ability, I find myself spending a lot of time making sure the review is perfect. Although I enjoy writing reviews and sharing my thoughts- there's one thing I don't enjoy and that is summaries! Having to come up with a unique plot summary for each book I review honestly is the most time-consuming part of writing reviews for me and the least-enjoyable.

So I had a thought. Plenty of big blogs just use a summary already available like the one from Goodreads. Why not me? I think this would allow me to focus on the personal part of the review and you'd still have an easily accessible synopsis so you know what I am talking about. I think this will make writing reviews a lot more fun for me.

Anyway, I am curious on your thoughts so I'm including a mini poll. Please let me know what you think, it's anonymous and I'd really love to get some feedback on this issue. Feel free to comment as well about your own thoughts.



Thanks for your feedback!