I was listening to a recent edition of books on the nightstand podcast and they reminded me of a story I had seen a few weeks ago in the guardian again about this Japanese bookstore that has turned choice on its head by choosing one book a week to be highlighted and sold in its shop and every week the art work events during the week all focus on the one book of that week .Well I was on nights last night and pondered would this work as a way to Blog. By choosing one book a week.Using that one book to quote, review, interview the writer / translator / publicist , other ways to connect other books to the single book, recipes pictures of the places in the book. For example. I have often wondered if there is a way to expand beyond a simple review format without getting to pretensious .But I have want to show a book is more than just a book. I want to place it in context with other books and even other media. A way of discovering the writers feelings about the book , also the readers feeling and also its place in the grand scheme of fiction. I think of how Holmes Mind palace is displayed in the television show Sherlock. The way ones mind can jump from place to place and your own memories and experience in life and in books form a backbone of a reading. Whilst reading so each reader is on their own journey with a book. I still not sure if this would be overkill or a new and different way to focus on one book a week that gives a single book more of the spotlight but also allows for more focus on each book. I still thinking of this as an idea. Do you think it would work or be overkill for a book ? I do think it may be helpful for a lot of the smaller publishers I review books for to have their book in focus for a week on the blog.
Nice idea Stu – if it’s a really good book, one you feel strongly about, you could do several posts highlighting different aspects!
I rather like that idea – but it sounds like a lot of work to do that every week. Maybe once a month focus for a week on just one book?
It would certainly give you a wide appreciation of the book but sounds like a lot of work too. Maybe try it once or twice and see how much effort it takes before committing yourself?
Very interesting idea, Stu! I am sure that the small publishers would love to have their books showcased for an entire week.
One book a week would be less work than I usually do for my blog.
You are on track Stu. This is very much what happens when a book goes on a blog tour except that it’s a different blog each day. If you featured one book a month this way it would be unique and very interesting. One each week might be overkill. I for one would like to see which recipes you might include for a given book. Other blogs I have visited like cocktails with books and one even did a dinner party with a table setting for the books that her book club read.
That’s why I love the Happy Reader magazine. It’s one book per quarter, and I love the articles surrounding each book, in the style similar to what you mentioned above.
Maybe when you hit a book you absolutely love then do it. There’s no doubt the publishers would appreciate it!
A great idea for a book you really love, but covering more than one book from a small publisher like you often do is also great. Don’t make a rod for your back with just one format.