Why I'm Not a Book Blogger

This is week is book blogger appreciation week.  I didn't sign-up to participate "officially" because, well, I don't feel that I've ever quite fit into the book blogging community.  Not REALLY.  To be honest, my book posts usually get the fewest hits.  I tell myself that I really need to get out there and...

• blog more!
• comment more!
• do giveaways and challenges and read-alongs and events!
• start a facebook/tumblr/twitter/flickr just for the blog!
• ARCs!
• Ads!

The truth?  I don't really want to do all of these things.  I may do a some of these things some of the time.  My Charles Dickens month was packed full of giveaways and I  had comments out the whazoo, tons of folks reading, I was in nerd heaven.... but it exhausted me.  I felt pressure -- mostly from my perfectionist self -- to keep going.  I don't know how others manage, but I didn't have the energy to sustain being an active book blogger and have time to read all the books and then have time to review them all on the blog.  Reviewing all of the books became a drag as well.  And I what about all the other parts of my life I want to share: children, baking, stitching, overall nerdiness? 

What I've realized is that I'm an introvert blogger.  It is exhausting to try to "socialize" all the time.  There are some extroverted bloggers I love.  They post a great deal -- and it is all wonderful stuff -- and their involvement in the book blogging community is amazing.  I'm not saying that they are wrong and I'm right... it is that they are different.  In fact, they may be introverted in real life, but their blog allows them to open up in a different way.

I stepped back from labeling myself a book blogger for several reasons besides the pressure.

• advertising pressure:  I really don't want ads on my blog was a big reason; BlogHer is not for me.  No ad swapping. No sponsoring each month. 
• comment overload:  I want people to comment -- mainly to know that there are "kindred spirits in the world -- but I was overwhelmed with the number of comments I had on a few of my posts.  More than 10 and I'm dizzy.  I can't imagine contacting all of these people or responding.  I didn't want the pressure to comment on every post I read. 
• the pressure to return the favor:  I try to comment only when I really have something to add to the conversation or the post has impacted me.  If I add something to my TBR pile based on a book review I post.  If I had a similar breastfeeding experience I post.  If I want to try that recipe because it looks wonderful I post.  If my only response is one generic exclamation then I abstain from posting.  When someone posts on my blog I always check out there blog, but if I see if is mostly romances or paranormal teen lit or something else that doesn't tickle my fancy, I leave a comment, but I don't follow their blog.  I think this harkens back to my desire to only say things with meaning and this reflects my introverted personality.  Let me get something straight... once I know you and I like you, I will talk your ear off (or comment your blog to death)

 I'm comfortable with where I'm at as a "life" blogger.  I do admit, though, that I feel a bit like the awkward geek at the 6th grade lunch table.  I look at the camaraderie among most book bloggers and I'm jealous.  On the other hand, I've seen people get ugly, hurtful, and judgmental over book blogs and I've avoided drama and hurt feelings as well. 

I have a deep affinity with book bloggers, they are my people.  They read.  They love to read.  Literature lights up their world.  

Cheers to book bloggers and non-book bloggers alike.  I believe there is a place for all of us in this big ole world-wide-web world.  Happy book blogger appreciation to all the book bloggers and happy non-book blogger appreciation to all the other awesome blogs.