Reading Reflections Introduction
San Diego, California. 2022
Personal growth over amateur critique
Who am I to judge another person’s work? Even if I think a book was bad, was it still worth reading? These and many other questions caused me to reevaluate my attention to book reviews. Even though I am a writer and an avid reader, I have always felt unsettled by the idea of scoring someone’s writing. But I want to write something. I want to hold onto the words and the knowledge I have gained from what I have read. The first thought was to join Bookstagram.
I love to read, and joining the Bookstagram community seemed like an obvious choice. I wrote my own book reviews, read comments by other readers, and enjoy beautiful photos in my Instagram feed. What I found was that taking photos took a lot of time, I wasn’t reading what was popular, and I disliked rating books, especially the 1-5 star option. I also started limiting my time on social media, which led to the end of my Bookstagram account. Instead, I began posting about the books on my blog. I created monthly reading lists which included a brief summary, observations, and my own rating of each book. But this process also became lengthy and was not what I hoped to continue.
I was looking for inspiration when I stumbled upon Haley Larson’s Substack Closely Reading and her article “How To: Write a Reading Reflection.” Her dislike of ratings and the cultural obsession with data resonated deeply with me. Like Larson, I do not care if people like the books I read. I care more about whether a book moved me, changed my perspective, healed me, informed me, and, especially, whether it affected my values. I am looking for things that cannot be quantified. Larson goes on to extend an invitation to write a reflection rather than a review.
what is the difference between a reading reflection and a book review?
Goal and Purpose
A reading reflection focuses on personal growth, enlightenment, and knowledge. A book review provides background information, critical analysis, and recommendations.
Focus and Attention
A reading reflection is an internal process and something that helps the reader better understand themselves. A book review is concentrated on content, quality of writing, meeting expectations, comparisons, and so on.
Perspective and Experience
A reading reflection is subjective and personal, touching on life experiences, values, and beliefs. A book review is objective and analytical, focusing on the work's strengths and weaknesses.
Substance and Style
A reading reflection includes personal experiences and connections, asking questions, and sharing the emotional, spiritual, and educational influences. A book review follows the pattern of summary, what is liked and disliked, whether they would recommend the book, and often includes a rating.
Why Am I sharing my reading reflections?
The theme of my blog is kinship, and I believe that reading can bring people closer together. Because books can transcend time, reality, perspective, culture, and personal experience, they offer an opportunity for empathy and deeper understanding. Books can entertain, but they can also provide enlightenment and an education.
I wish I were more skilled at conveying what I read, but that’s not my strong suit. Writing down my thoughts and ideas helps me, as it reinforces my comprehension. My hope is that not only will I benefit from written reflection, but my insights might also help others.
What do I include in my reading reflections?
Short Summary
To give the reader an idea of the topic and theme without going into too much depth (summaries can easily be found online).
Why This Book?
What happened in my personal life that led me to pick that particular book at that moment? The motivation could be author, genre, topic, or even at random.
Expectations
What did I expect when I started reading the book? Did the book meet expectations? Exceed? Underwhelm?
What Stood Out?
It could be quotes, lines, or ideas. A common theme or message might also stand out.
What Was Gained?
This is really the heart of the reflection. Did I learn something about the world? About myself? About life?
Book reviews have their place. They are necessary to assess a book's quality and whether the author met expectations. I will accept reviews of my book once it is published. However, I have found the reading reflections are a better approach for me. The focus is less on likability and more on my response to what I have read. There is room to explore how someone's writing influenced me and what there is to learn.
What is something you hope to experience with reading reflections that you do not find with book reviews? Is there another question beyond those on my list above that would be insightful?