I have guilty pleasures like anyone else, but my “jam” is definitely non-fiction, diversity (both in content and authors), books set in a destination, horror, morbid topics (i.e. books about death), historical fiction, books written by female authors, books that have a “deeper” message about hot topic issues (i.e. abortion, race, etc), and so on.
Ashley Hubbard – 10 May 2020
About Reviewing
How did you get started?
I’ve been blogging since 2013 and now have three blogs of my own. The most recent one is my book (and more) blog. It’s for enthusiastic readers, the plant-curious, and those who need coffee to function. I’ve been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember and would regularly recommend books to my followers of my other blogs, but I finally decided I wanted a specific platform for that.
How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?
I take notes as I go! I used to be pretty anti e-book, but I have to say, it’s really nice to be able to easily highlight quotes – especially since it connects directly to my Goodreads too.
For physical copies of a book, I often borrow library books which is, of course, impossible to take notes. For those I use little post-its or just jot down notes on a piece of paper as I go.
What are you looking for?
At Books Beans & Botany, I am looking to read and review books that have been recently released or have not yet been released.
I know I’m new to the book blog world, but I do think I tend to review an eclectic and somewhat unique range of books compared to other blogs I’ve seen.
I have guilty pleasures like anyone else, but my “jam” is definitely non-fiction, diversity (both in content and authors), books set in a destination, horror, morbid topics (i.e. books about death), historical fiction, books written by female authors, books that have a “deeper” message about hot topic issues (i.e. abortion, race, etc), and so on.
All that being said, I’m happy to consider anything! Like I said, I enjoy all genres including young adult.
I am not looking to review childrens’ books, however.
If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?
Ultimately, a great story is a great story. If grammar and spelling is off, but clearly just an oversight (and not just a bad writer) then I assume a better editor is needed.
With many people self-publishing these days, I understand they may not have an editor and I understand that.
As a writer myself, I know I can look over something ten times and see a typo on the 11th time so mistakes happen!
I’m not going to be the grammar police on someone’s hard work – unless, of course, that’s something they asked me to look at as I’m reading.
All of that being said, a book that is just full of grammar and spelling mistakes can be quite annoying. There’s a difference between a few mistakes and like someone didn’t even read past the first draft.
How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?
Now I’m going to have time myself next time, but about 3-4 hours. I’m a pretty quick reader as far as I understand.
How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?
I rate from 1-5 stars similar to Goodreads.
5 stars – this book is amazing and is considered one of my favorite books ever. This book absolutely blew me away, I can’t stop thinking about or talking about this book.
4 stars – this book was great and I would highly recommend it to someone.
3 stars – this book was good, but had some flaws. I liked it but didn’t love it. I may have enjoyed it but wouldn’t read it again.
2 stars – this book wasn’t great and overall I didn’t like it.
1 star – this book was a struggle or I did not finish it.
What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?
While, yes, you are giving us a book for free, please realize you’re asking to read an entire book (and not just read it but analyze it) and leave a detailed and thorough review and promote it. It’s way more work than you may realize.
So, please be kind, send your request with thorough information needed for the reviewer to make an informed decision on whether this is a good fit, and don’t demand a certain review date (requesting is fine, of course!)
Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?
Yes, I have!
My advice to authors on getting a ‘bad’ review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author’s point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to ‘argue’ with the reviewer – would you agree with that?
Yes, for the most part. I don’t believe in bashing writers or books (unless there are some absolutely horrible things said – for instance I gave a bad review to a book that had some very blatant xenophobic and racist vibes in it and I was not having it.) But, I do believe in being completely honest, while also logical and constructive.
About Reading
We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we’re all here. Why do you think people love reading? We’re seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a pastime is dying – do you think that’s the case?
I definitely don’t think reading is dying as a pastime. One of the good things from this horrible pandemic is that people are finding their way back to books again as well.
About Writing
What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?
Grammar and spelling mistakes which I also make as a writer. If self-publishing, I think some writers may tend to rush publication because they’re excited to get it out there.
We’re told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel; what do you think about that? If a book hasn’t grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?
No, definitely not. I mean I understand the idea here, but if I quit a book after five pages, I would have quit a lot of books by now.
Is there anything you will not review?
Non-vegan cookbooks. Not that I review cookbooks really.
A story that involves injustice is a story. A book that is blatantly xenophobic, racist, homophobic, etc is not for me. I promise I will not leave you a glowing review.
About Publishing
What do you think of the oft-quoted comment that the “slush-pile has moved online”?
I think the internet has made books more accessible and that’s always a good thing.
Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to indie or self-published titles?
With literature more easily at our fingertips, we’re likely to be exposed to more “bad” literature but we’re also exposed to more great literature that may never have been published.
End of Interview:
To check out Ashley’s reviews, visit her website, Books Beans & Botany.