Put me down as another non-lover of sanpaku-eyes.

I pleased that you put Sybil’s heartfelt post, Story Siren’s spot-on list of peeves and your appreciation of DA all into one post. Whilst they’re not precisely related, the fact that you’ve got them all here helps to underline how very many interests and views there are in this community.

I have to agree with you about DA. It’s still my main touchstone for what’s going on in romanceland and for reviews generally. I glide over the e-stuff but that’s personal preference as I don’t have an e-reader. I agree that it has a different tone from most reader blogs and in that sense, I think it’s fair to regard it almost as in a different category, and as an industry blog, as Wendy said. I can well understand that those running the blog see it as no different from any other blog, but what sets it apart, for me is the sheer range of material it covers, the commitment to new (and quality) content and the way it has donned a ‘spokesperson’ persona for the community. (Possibly this last characteristic is something other bloggers object to and part of the reason for some of the backlash they get). Frankly I’m astonished by how much they – Jane in particular – gets done. I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite blog – and that’s partly because of its size and less intimate feel; partly because it does feel more ‘official’ than other blogs I follow – but it’s my first stop most days and yes, it would be a serious contender for my desert island blog as well.

Honestly? criticism is much easier to take than the very kind things you said about DA. Mostly because now we will want to live up to everything you wrote and will undoubtedly fail.

I do see DA as a reader blog because I am a reader, first and foremost, and most of what I do and blog about at DA is from a reader perspective, but my interests in reading do stem to what is going on in the industry and how it is changing so I can see where the “industry blog” label is appropriate as well.

I’ll always maintain that we are a reader blog but can see other people perceiving it differently. In my mind, it’s still a blog that just a few of us readers are running.

And I have aspirations to publish, but only as an academic.

Anyway, thank you so much for your kind word about DA. It’s wonderful to hear it and great to be part of such an amazing blog.

As for the “reader blog” designation, I still think it applies to DA because we read and review what we want to read and review (even if someone else has reviewed that book at DA before), don’t force ourselves to finish books that aren’t working for us, blog on topics that catch our interest, etc.

Except for me, no one else at DA has aspirations to publish a book, as far as I know. When Jane and Jayne started DA back in 2006 they were doing it for themselves and a few friends. There was never a grand plan to be viewed as professionals. And the opinions espoused in the reviews, no matter how cogently stated (if I do say so myself) are still first and foremost reader responses. DA is essentially a hobby for everyone who writes for it. A very rewarding hobby, even a hobby some of us are passionate about, but a hobby nonetheless.

Need to acknowledge her somehow because her passion enhances my reading life What would you prefer? Chocolates, gift certificate to Borders or something else?

I’ve blogged about libraries and romance in the past, but it’s been a while. The problem? Librarians are over-educated and therefore the academic stigma of the romance genre rubs off on them. It’s “trash.” It’s badly written. It’s fluff. Etc. etc. etc. So for every librarian that’s very cool (ooooh, like me LOL), there are literally dozens of librarians who turn up their nose at the genre for pretty much the same reasons many of your colleagues do. It’s frustrating, to say the least. Most of the time I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying to these librarians, “Could you please retire or die already? You’re making my job harder.” Sigh.

This snobbery is also why a lot of libraries have shitty romance novel collections. The old “we must educate the masses” as opposed to “offer readers shit they actually want to read” mentality. I’m not saying libraries shouldn’t “educate” – but it needs to be a balancing act. Give them what they want, along with what they need. Libraries need to strive to offer both.

I have seen that comment about DA in several places, and then I see DA bloggers retort that DA is a reader blog. I am not exactly sure what hangs on that label. I will need to do some more thinking on that one.

As for libraries, I would guess that romance novels are some of the most highly circulating (?) books, yet they are like the dirty little secret of my library — never featured in new fiction displays, authors visits, or book fair events. Is it fair to say that there is hypocrisy when it comes to libraries’ reliance on romance novels and romance readers, and their refusal to acknowledge this publicly?

katiebabs: you could be the first guest in our brand new second bedroom, but it’s our 1 year anniversary

wendy: i think the DC area also has huge RWA chapters (based on no facts, i just have this feeling). for shame on these book festivals!

A lot of reader bloggers are hobbyists at heart. Nothing wrong with that. Hell, I’d classify the Bat Cave as my “hobby.” But what Jane is doing with DA just “feels” different – hence my slapping the industry blog label on her.

Re: The Book Festival. Welcome to my world. Every year I seethe when I see the line-up for the L.A. Times Book Festival and there’s not ONE romance author to be found. And it’s especially shameful since there are numerous, kickass RWA chapters out here that would literally fall all over themselves to be a part of the event. It never fails to piss me off. Which is why I’ve lobbied hard to have a romance panel every year for my library’s literary event. We’re celebrating year #4 in April with Tessa Dare, HelenKay Dimon and Linda Wisdom