On reviewing, and getting better at it

This corner of the site holds the more personal writing: essays on how reading and reviewing books has changed over time, and reflections on where the process still falls short. One early post, "How The Forty Rules of Love taught me a lot about reviewing books" (June 1, 2018), traces how a single novel reshaped the way reviews here get written.

New beginnings and shifting opinions

"Hello Publishers…" (December 1, 2018) marks a turning point in the blog's relationship with the publishing side of books — a note on starting conversations with the industry rather than only writing about what comes out of it.

Not every post is diplomatic. "Why I no longer recommend Murakami to readers" (May 23, 2018) lays out a changed opinion on an author once recommended often, and stands as one of the more direct pieces of commentary here.

• Commentary on how book reviewing has evolved as a practice.
• Notes on starting new chapters within the blog itself.
• Candid opinions on specific authors and literary trends.

These posts sit alongside the Books section's reviews and the guest-driven Traveling Biblio Chronicles, offering a more opinionated, first-person layer to the site's reading life.