Creativity in Book Reviews

I've started participating in a Thursday meme over at Chrissie's Corner called Radiant Reviews. Basically, this is a meme where you link to any one of your book reviews that has been lacking attention and you bring it up again in the hope that others will see and comment on it showing other bloggers some love as comments really are a vital part of the blog. I love this concept. It's also a way to celebrate book reviewing that takes time and hard work. I've been having fun hopping around to different book blogs and reading their reviews. I'm noticing differences in review style, presentation, what they like to read and it amazes me how unique we all are when it comes to reading and reviewing books. For the most part, I like what I see or I wouldn't keep reading book blogs. I do love book blogs!
I like the creative diversity that can be found in book reviewing. I know I'm as guilty as anyone to falling into a rut and reviewing books in the same way over & over again. I'd like to remedy that. Once in a while, though, I've been inspired by the book to come up with a creative book review. So, I've tried to go for it and use that inspiration. By doing that, it really helps me feel like I've accomplished something. I feel it is important that book bloggers strive to use creativity with book blogging. After all, I think our creativity is what sets us apart from reviews that we could easily find and read on other venues.

Here are some creative things I like to find in book reviews online:

• Write from the heart and use original short & sweet summaries. If I want a summary from the publisher, I can usually find on the back flap or read it at a site like Amazon. I like to see what the reader's point of view was while reading the book.
• Use an occasional different format: a Q & A, a table, poem or prose - something that is unique once in a while that fits the book and feels inspired from it. Of course, these reviews take a lot longer to write so it is ok if they don't show up very much but they are sure fun to read when they do!
• Please let me know if you're going to spoil it. For me, book reading is an experience and I don't want to know a whole lot about a book going in all the time. I like something that will tease me into reading the book. So please, use a spoiler alert, so it's my fault, not yours, if I keep reading the book review and it spoils the book for me.

I realize these are pretty basic in book blogging and this is just my opinion so you don't have to take my word for it anyway. Instead, read other book blogs and see what you think.

Would you like to see more creativity in book blogging? What creative things do you like to see when it comes to book reviews? Do you even read book reviews?

Leave a precious comment and let me know. I'd like to see examples of your favorite book reviews too. :)

*This post was inspired from the #bblog discussion on twitter.

Tweets to ponder:

@SRMcAvoy "Thankfully, we can all find books we love if we read, read often and read deeply." From his disclaimer on book reviewing.

@leewind "If everyone goes home and writes to the trends, then the vampires win." -- Justin Chanda

@markfergbk "let's make sure that love of books is one of the most vibrant messages on the Internet" (roughly) #bookbloggercon

@WritersRelief "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~Scott Adams

@deadwhiteguys "Not a fan of all-review blogs- I can walk through B&N and read blurbs if that's all I wanted..prefer more conversation.."#bblog

Thanks for reading!
This post is also an official challenge to all book reviewers to show us what you've got and use more of your own creativity in book reviews. I know you can be visionary!