Reading Excursions

  What in the world???  🫣 Yup  …  that’s the subject of this bookish blog  …   I want to address something that happened to me a few nights ago. And, while I wanted to go in depth on social media … this was more appropriate for a blog.    Before I continue – this is a long blog, but it was necessary. Even more so as the person continued to escalate the harassment.    I first found myself tagged in this comment ( 8/20/2024 – approximately 7pm PDT)   ⤵️     😳   To say I was at a loss for words is just not even accurate or adequate. I really didn’t even know WHAT to say.     Where did that comment come from? I literally had no idea. And, one person I told said it was terrible.    That comment was left in response to an author who posted about low-star ratings without reviews. I don’t even know the author or follow them. I do understand the author’s problem though. Leave a review ...

WHAT DO I DO WITH BAD REVIEWS? I wasn’t sure where I wanted to put this – either my “Soapbox” blog or here on Reading Excursions.   But, I chose this blog because it deals with the main subject:   REVIEWS   While most of my reviews are about books – which I have absolutely LOVE doing …   I also review items on Amazon, especially for their “invite only” Vine program. I also review items I’ve bought (electronics, clothing, home goods, etc) too.   I’ve been a member since July 2020.   I’ve gotten great products, I’ve gotten products that slide either way, and some ROTTEN products.   Whether you’re a product manufacturer, seller, or author – NO ONE WANTS TO BE TOLD “you aren’t good at this”, “I don’t like this”, “this is awful”. I hated it in school with bullies and with teachers.   I remember one book report I got a “D” on.   Yeah, I know, hard to believe with the reviews I write.   The main reason? Something I wrote: ...

About my Reviews … After a recent email from an author about one of my reviews; and trust me, it was a doozy of one – the email, not the review; I wanted to step aside and revisit how I write my reviews and where I get the ratings I do.    I previously discussed this in the following blogs:    https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html (this is always included with a review at the bottom so anyone reading the blog can see why I gave the rating I did)   As well as https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2021/03/how-i-write-my-book-reviews.html   There are times a negative experience can be a learning tool or point. This is one such moment. The email or the review? Both actually.   To understand my reviews. It should be asked:    Who is a review for? The reader? Potential reader? Authors & publishers?   Good question. This is up for a LOT of debate, and there is NO real answer to define...