How to write something when you're stumped.

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

Sometimes it's difficult to pin anything down about why a book was good or not so good. Or it's difficult to articulate, to find the words, to express the feelings the book evokes. But of course we want to say something, and we probably also want to think about the book a little more carefully. So what extra tidbits could be considered?

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

Lately I've been trying to think more about names of characters. Right now I'm reading a short story, time travel SF, and one of the characters is named Heloise. Unusual name; probably chosen for a reason other than 'it sounds cool.' If I had trouble writing a review for this story, especially if it were a full book, I might explore the names the author chose for his characters.

Also, just a thought I've been musing on, it does seem like authors who choose their characters' names with care still forget that it's generally the *parents* of the characters who chose those names. Sometime, in some other discussion group, I want to explore why Hermione's muggle parents gave her that name, because I'm pretty sure Rowling chose all of her characters' names *very* carefully.

[Killer of Dreams]

Cheryl wrote: "Sometimes it's difficult to pin anything down about why a book was good or not so good. Or it's difficult to articulate, to find the words, to express the feelings the book evokes. But of course we..."

When I do feel that I cannot articulate myself and just feel empty in regards to a book I just finished reading, I write at least something in the review. Over the next few days I will visit the review or skim the book to conjure up feelings. Both of these actions allow me to fill in the review further with more notes before I finally have a finished version. Through this process, I am able to make my review whole and determine if the rating is appropriate.

I have found a problem with feeling emptiness in regards to a book and how to rate that emptiness, despite following the steps mentioned above. When I had finished Slaughterhouse-Five, I had felt the same emptiness and did not know what rating it should receive. I did not think emptiness deserved a one star-rating (did not like it) or a three star-rating (liked it), so I settled for the two star-rating (it was OK). This neutral rating seems most appropriate. Writing this now makes me wonder if assigning no rating is the best decision, since emptiness does not fit in the Goodreads rating spectrum of enjoyment.

Hope these thoughts help you out, Cheryl!

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

Great tips, thank you!

[L J]

Some things I find helpful when I am reading a book I know I need to review:
Usually the first 10% or so of a book, fiction and non-fiction, is introductory. After I read that I write a few sentences with basic information about the book and how I feel at that point.
I add a few sentences at about the halfway point.
I find these notes help when I get to the end of the book and need to write a review.
I know people who take notes through the whole book. Helpful if I were writing a paper for a class but not helpful when writing a review. That's simply too much information.

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

That makes sense. Thanks!