Comments | bookcrossing: journal comments

judith in bookcrossing

journal comments

Jan 27, 2009 07:04

Lately I have been doing more controlled releases than wild ones. I joined a virtual book box and sent books here and there for that, I joined a regular book box and added my books to that one, I gave away books as part of a random drawing, that sort of thing ( Read more... )

Comments 8

I'm usually the odd one out ... thecrrcookie January 27 2009, 16:10:11 UTC

Most of the time I am the one that hated it when everyone else loved it or thought a book was good enough to send on and when I got journal entries they said that the book was drivel. I really need to find a reading buddy that has similar tastes. ;)

I try not to worry with it. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, there are etiquette rules that should be followed. No one should ever be "taken to task" because of their feelings about a book. Each person arrives at a book with a unique life experience and a book will simply not mean the same things to every person that reads it.

The apology to you for sending a book she didn't like was sweet. I think that she felt guilty for asking for something and then couldn't bring herself to like it as she expected. Although I also hope the book is passed on as another person may have liked it much better.

Just keep on crossing one day you'll get a journal entry that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

Re: I'm usually the odd one out ... judith January 27 2009, 16:19:49 UTC

I mentioned these comments because most of the comments are not personal as these were. I can see when I reread her comment that maybe she was being nicer than I originally believed, but read the whole comment:

A strange book that focused on the Gay culture in San Francisco.A life style that I know very little about but it seems as though the characters are having sex with anyone and everyone that they can get their hands on. There are very few monogamous relationships, and the emphasis is on who can one find to "hook up" with.Running through the book was a rather lame mystery which at least gave the reader a break from all the "gayness"
I feel sorry that jlautner spent her money to send me a book that I didn't really enjoy.

I have no problem with others having different opinions of books. I like that! I just felt personally attacked in these two cases.

Re: I'm usually the odd one out ... m03m January 28 2009, 11:22:23 UTC

I don't see the second comment as an attack at all. The way I read it, she's apologizing for not liking the book.
I'm not sure how 'I feel sorry' can even constitute an attack.

Re: I'm usually the odd one out ... judith January 28 2009, 14:40:47 UTC

Yes, as I said, I can see by rereading that it might not have been an attack. Or I should say not that personal (I don't think either was an "attack", really). I think the reason I felt that is that I offered that specific book to others so when she said she was sorry I spent money on sending it...I offered it because I intended to send it to someone. So I took that as a sidewise comment on my choice of literature.

If she had said something like "I am sorry I chose this one" that would have been entirely different, to my mind.

I realize I am a bit sensitive about it! And indeed I probably read more into it than was there.

lynn_nicholas January 27 2009, 22:09:56 UTC

I think both book recipients were missing the point. We pass books along with no expectations: some will be loved, some will be hated, some will get a so-so rating. That's what keeps it all interesting - the different opinions and tastes journaled in the entries. Criticizing someone else's journal entry is really tacky. Too bad. Hopefully the books will get passed along to someone who "gets it".

judith January 28 2009, 14:42:58 UTC

I really hope they both go on to other readers in any case! One cool thing about my sending more books to fellow bookcrossers is that I hear from them so much more often.

Yet still I really bookcross primarily for the wild releases. And every now and then one I let go years ago will raise its little head again. Gotta say that's a real thrill!

poeticgoddss February 13 2009, 12:43:01 UTC

I've found similar situations over my years on bookcrossing and sometimes it annoys me. I try not to let it get me out of the spirit of sharing though. Everyone's snarky sometimes.

judith February 13 2009, 16:27:12 UTC

Oh believe me, I did not let it stop me or get me down. It is such a rare thing, really. That's the beauty of bookcrossing.