This discussion is inspired by my feelings lately when reading and reviewing ARCs versus the feelings I had when I requested those same ARCs:
ARC GREED
ARC greed -- have we all experienced this? What I even mean by this term is that I sometimes feel overwhelmed when looking at Netgalley and Edelweiss and I sometimes over-request, if only because I can! I get greedy when I see all the new and shiny ARCs available and I will sometimes request things that have even a hint of interest for me, not necessarily focusing only on those books that I really, really want.
The problem with this over-requesting and with getting greedy with requesting (and receiving) ARCs is when it comes time to read and review these ARCs. Last month and this month, I have looked at my ARCs with a release date in each respective month and I just haven't wanted to read any of them. I need to start asking myself -- If I was immediately approved for this ARC, would I read it right this minute? And if the answer is no, I really need to stop being so greedy with requesting. It's easy to get greedy when it comes to requesting ARCs -- you will see books you've been wanting, new books from authors you love or even just a book that you've seen on a WoW -- and suddenly, you can take the chance of being able to read that book early. I need to stop falling into this trap but I guess what I most want to know is whether I'm alone in this feeling. Do you ever request something that down the line you don't even really want to read, or at least not on a strict timeline for review? Do you feel guilty when you do?
As always, these are just my thoughts -- I'm sure someone somewhere has discussed something similar. And if you know of such a post, please link it to me below! In the meantime, let me know if you are ever super hungry, or even greedy, when it comes to ARCs. Does that same feeling still exist when you eventually read the ARC or do you read ARCs as soon as you get them without pause for their release date? And, if so, how do you do it? Teach me your ways!
LET'S DISCUSS!
WHAT DO YOU THINK and
ARE YOU HUNGRY OR GREEDY FOR ARCs?
I have definitely over requested than so not wanted to read a book later. I hate that I do that. I have gotten better at requesting less but then there are times where I go nuts because I can't help it. I actually have a gazillion pending requests on EW because they are all books I genuinely want to read but if they all come in I am beat and will have to read some sooner to lessen the pile up in 2017. I have no answers for you but totally understand what you are saying!!
ReplyDeleteI've had this problem a lot lately. I am such a moody reader that I'll request something that I'm dying to read, but by the time I actually have time to read it, then I'm not in the mood for it anymore. I so wish I was one of those readers who could read anything no matter what their mood is. They get through ARC's so much faster than me. It usually takes me a few months to get an ARC read that I requested, but I still go out and review it. Because I've become such a moody reader, I'm trying to limit what I request these days. Only authors I know I enjoy and books I have had my eyes on.
ReplyDeleteThere just isn't enough time to read all the wonderful books we want to read!
I was just discussing this with Nereyda the other day! I'll see a book on NG or EW and it sounds great and I'll request, but when the time comes to read it, I just don't have the interest anymore and I'll ditch it, which is bad. I'm trying to read the books as I get approval on them, but it's hard because I have a backlog of so many past ones. I'm glad I'm not alone in my feelings of this though.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Eva!
YES! I have definitely experienced this. I think every new blogger experiences this when they first discover these websites and realize they can get review copies. I have totally gone through phases with Netgalley where I request anything and everything and then I have way too many books to review. I am just now getting control of my Netgalley. I'm almost back to that 80% that they recommend. But I am also still constantly requesting stuff so it's hard.
ReplyDeleteI think the key is definitely to only request books that you know you are going to read. Sometimes you will see a book you haven't heard of before that sounds good, which I like, but it's all about being more thoughtful about it.
It's good to know that I'm not the only one who has experienced this and the guilt that sometimes comes with the ARC greed. Great post!
Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally
I feel like kind of a lone wolf when it comes to ARCs because I do not prowl EW and NG for them. I typically only hit up those sites when I am looking for a specific upcoming release by a favorite author. Back when I first started blogging I guess there was sometimes a feeling of "wow, so many others are getting ARCs of these highly anticipated, high-in-demand titles." But I got over it quickly because, tbh, I rarely mind waiting for the actual release date and enjoying the book on my own time. I wonder sometimes if the people who get those ARCs of the super big releases actually want them or if it's just a matter of being able to say "I have an ARC of *insert name of book*." For the few ARCs I do request/receive I'm pretty good at keeping track of the release dates and making sure I read them in advance and post a review on the release date or within a few days after. I couldn't handle letting them lanquish for ages... I would feel like I wasn't upholding my end of the bargain with the publisher.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely ARC greedy, Eva! I am very good at reading and reviewing ARCs, but I still request more than I should, and I sometimes feel as if I don't even give myself the time to read books I've bought. With my own, hard-earned money! And that's not good!
ReplyDeleteIt's just so very tempting to request ARCs, and I try to be good, even if that very rarely happens.
I will usually search for my favorite authors on NG, not just look at what's new :)
Great post!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I do know what you mean, there are soooo many awesome books!! I've learned to curb mine until I get caught up, because you can get behind so easily.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten so much better and requesting ARCs for review. I used to be greedy and request the crap out of everything but I've learned my lesson. I caught up on reviews and this year, I only requested books that I couldn't wait for.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter does this thing before making decisions where she says (out loud), "Will this bring happiness to my life?" and I've taken to doing that when requesting books on NG and EW. If I seriously can't wait to read it, I'll request it. If not, I'll wait for the release date and just buy it.
OMG yes! That's currently happening to me, last week I had almost 10 ARCs on my Kindle, from NG, publishers and blog tours - now a few of them are not due till January but when I request a book it's because I want to read it ASAP, so when they all arrive at the same time I have to prioritize and then comes the hard part, reviewing all these books which is not fun tbh, I just want to read even more books, or take a few days off and relax and let my brain soak up the stories.
ReplyDeleteOhhh yes, I love this. Because I have done that SO. MANY. TIMES. And then I started to do basically exactly what you said-thought "would I read this if it were dropped in my lap" and a LOT of times the answer was no, so I didn't request it. I have gotten a lot better. Though today, I totally jumped the gun and requested a book and then was like "errr maybe I shouldn't have" but Netgalley has no take-backsies. But yeah, I am trying to be better, and maybe it is working. Sometimes. Cause I am totally still greedy sometimes ;)
ReplyDeleteYes! I am really glad that I started limiting what to request, because there have been books where I was like "WHY did I request this?" I think my problem (and I'm sure others as well) is that I'm requesting only to get approved, and therefore feel like I am important and wanted, you know? Like my blog is worth something. And that is definitely NOT something that I want to care about, but once in a while, the thought pops up and I'm like "What's the point of blogging if I don't get the books I request?", so this leads to requesting more, and getting them, and then whoops I have a million of the shiny new books (and yeah, having them be shiny and new leads to requesting them as well).
ReplyDeleteBut again, I have done REALLY WELL when it comes to limiting myself, which I am proud of and will continue doing :)
Awesome post Eva!
When I first started blogging I requested a ton of books, but now I'm a lot more selective. Still, I do find times where I ask myself (mostly when the archive date is looming) why did I request this?! I try and ask myself if I can detect anything that will annoy me before requesting or if I'll have time to read it. If I'm in doubt, I don't request. I figure if I change my mind I can always get a library copy later or buy it. That also takes away the obligation of reviewing the book if I'm not in the mood. That has helped turned reading back into a beloved hobby for me instead of what felt like a second job. Great post, Eva! :)
ReplyDeleteI really pulled back on the number of books I request from publishers. What I started doing was creating a spreadsheet of the books I requested and unsolicited books I get and note the release date, who sent it to me, and whether I owe a review. It's really kept me grounded. I do the same thing as you. If I am super, super interested and know I will read it, I will request it. If I'm just "kind of" interested, I don't.
ReplyDeleteI for one think bloggers get a little too caught up in getting ARCS. Sure, it's nice to have them but they're not the end all be all. The book will eventually come out! I definitely cut back on ARCS SUBSTANTIALLY. It just gets a little too crazy!
ReplyDeleteI admit I would be so greedy with ARCs and request so much. I'm still requesting but I do ponder on whether I'll be really interested or if I'm requesting because others are reading it. When I realize it's the latter, I don't request a book.
ReplyDeleteI keep track of all the ARCs I have in the OneNote app in Windows. I have it by months and the day of release and I add next to it R|RV (R for read and RV for review). When I'm done reading a book, I bold the R. When I've written the review, I bold the RV and that's it :) I find that it's easy to follow and organize.
Genesis @ Latte Nights Reviews
It can be so challenging to look at all of those shiny books and NOT request them all. I mean, there are so many books that look amazing. It's kind of the book version of the old saying, "Her eyes were bigger than her stomach." :-)
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I fucking love that you aren't afraid to say that you feel greedy for over-requesting arcs. I think we all have at some point or another and that's fine.
ReplyDeleteNick and I have been talking about this. I will get an earc, and since I can't review it yet because its way too soon (and I have a horrible memory if I were to read it now) then I put it off. Sometimes I will lose interest after reading reviews and it ends up sounding like something I may not like, other times I just lose interest just because. I hate that feeling. I wish I could just read earcs as soon as I get them, maybe that would help...
Great post Eva!
Nereyda│ Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist
Oh I just love this post and I agree with it 100% and I am like you though... There are so many available ARC's out there and so tempting to request. And sometimes it's just an author I want to try out but many a time when I get to the book I am so NOT in the mood to read it. What I really should do is read them the moment I am in the mood instead of waiting. Normally I like to wait to read them when it's within a month of release date but I am thinking I should nip that in the bud because I just am not in the right mood if I wait too long and other times j honestly forget to read them. So I need to either figure out a way to balance it out or just stop altogether. Great discussion and I loved hearing your thoughts on a topic we all relate with!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion post! I fully agree with you about ARC greed. I try not to over request because most publishers only have a limited quantity of ARCs and E-ARCs. If I don't want to read the book that bad, there may be someone that does that won't get approved. I will admit though that I have requested a couple of books that later I realized I didn't want to read quite as bad as I thought and I probably shouldn't have requested it. No one's perfect! :D I think people should just be careful not to go TOO crazy requesting ARCs.
ReplyDeleteI don't do ARCs (since I exclusively review audiobooks), but I am sometimes guilty of accepting books offered for review when I'm not that excited about them. I am trying to get better at politely refusing.
ReplyDeleteI really don't request often because I go to library book sales and win books often enough, i always have piles of books around to read!! Now with this recent news that HarperCollins will not give physical ARC's to bookbloggers I prob should have requested more from then, but you win and lose some!
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