Five years ago, after reading Caleb Carr’s book The Alienist I decided that I had to share it with everyone I knew. That turned into Bryan’s Book Review, which went out via email to various friends and family. Over the years (and 547 books later), it grew into something massive, daunting and unmanageable. Add to that the fact that (1) I will be returning to college soon to finish my degree, (2) my wife and I are expecting our first child in a little over a month, (3) I want to focus a little more on my own writing and (4) that I recently increased my work schedule, delivering a monthly Book Review became impossible. So, I decided to indefinitely postpone my email reviews.Well, there came an outcry from those who received my reviews. And, to paraphrase Mayor “Diamond” Joe Quimby of Springfield, “knowing which way the wind blows, let it not be said that Bryan does not also blow.”
So, where does that leave us? I received some sage advice from some friends whose opinions I deeply respect regarding the original intent of my reviews which was not to overwhelm but to get people discussing reading and literature and books and share my thoughts on the book I have read. (I have a library that is right now some 1400+ volumes strong. There are literally more books than there is shelf space.) So, with that in mind, and a friend’s suggestion to move it to blogger.com, here we are.
Those of you who received my reviews via email in the past will see a lot less structure here than there was in those reviews. One friend said to me, basically, “Keep It Simple Stupid.” So, what you’re going to get here are straight reviews. Books and nothing else. I’m cutting the weblinks, movie stats, long lists of recommended similar books, and anything else that was just adding to the bulk of those email reviews. What we’re going to have here is just books, books and more books.
Also, reviews will be added as I finish books, with no concern as to end-of-the-month deadlines, so check back frequently, as the reviews will update as I go.
So, without further ado, welcome to Bryan’s Book Blog, grab your hardhat (the site is under construction after all) and thanks for reading, and feel free to let me know what you think!
– Bryan R. Terry
5 comments:
This calls to mind the fact that books are what brought us together in the first place (thank you, Timothy Zahn). You are going to make an excellent English teacher, and a SuperHero Daddy. FYI, Gentle Readers, I don't mind Bryan's hundreds of books everywhere. I can scarcely imagine a more useful and delightful obsession!
Yea! I'm glad you found a way to
keep this important part of you.
I tip my tiara (don't like hats)
to whoever thought of turning
the review into a blog.
Bryan, may you have many years
of peace and prosperity in your
new blog.
How lucky we are that you are doing a blog...now I can read your reviews at my convenience and not worry about them being deleted by my stupid e-mail...HOORAY!!! BTW, I just finished Caleb Carr's Angel of Darkness...thanks for recommending his books, they're terrific!
I would love to see some more of your orignal writting like a new version of Demon Child.
I ran across your blog awhile ago and fell in love with book blogs for the first time. I have very recently started my own, I just want to thank you for reading and for writing and for sharing. Love the links and the dedication you have put in.
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