** This post will mainly be about my experience and feelings; However I’ll include is as a try on conversation post if yall wanna converse with what YOU struggle with as an internationnal book blogger. **
Welcome back, everyone !
So, as many of us know – we don’t all have the same blogging experiences; specially when we’re talking about internationnal bloggers. No, I won’t address what’s happening in our community right now; the debate everyone seems to be a part of, as I feel it isn’t my place to. I just wanna express and talk about our struggles and how we, as humans, may not quite feel like we are in our place here (specially at the start) but in the end.. we do ! and we all have some of thoses, no matter where we come from ! 🙂
What I felt like, is that the community is more english based; which is totally fine in the aspect that I am bilingual. However, my native language is french (in case you didn’t know) and although I can communicate fine.. I’m still not in the state where I can read in english. In fact, I haven’t touched an english book since high school, as it made me sleepy and it was hard to stay awake.. I even never finished any mendatory read ever ! ahahah shhht, I was in a « special » case where I moved from a only french speaking town to a bilingual one .. so I wasn’t as strong as all the other kids who always was surrounded by it.
When I came in this community, I wanted to be able to speak with others on books as it’s something I never had before; me and my godmother not having the same taste and.. it’s just not the same. I wanted to be a part of a group within people of the same age range as me. But soon after I came in … I started feeling kinda odd – like I didn’t totally belong.
Let me explains;
- As I can’t read english books, I cannot go on the hype train with other bloggers …so no new release for me, nor arcs ..
- Books needs to be translated first for me to “match” what others are doing, which take time and well… hype is gone xD some times, the books are not even in my taste range ! (well, that’s another story..)
- I cannot read as quick either, so eeeh reviews is not something I can post regularly. unlike many others … again, making me feel like the odd one.
- Because of all of thoses things ..I sometime doubt of the pertinance of my blog and what to post. Because doing all that, and among reading french book that’s not even in english sometimes .. you’d wonder who the hell would wanna stay, right ??
- Canada is kind of, a grey area too… sure I’m not part of american bloggers, but im not quite internationnal either ?? sometimes we are included with US, some times we are not. That can be really confusing..
And I forgot my train of thoughts .. 0u0
When you start blogging, alot of things can seems like you are not as good, or not as much a part of this as everyone else is. I assume it must be even easier when you are also prone to anxiety like me .. but I promise that you are ! i’m sure all, if not all of us, have been through that before completely going over it and felt like they were a full part of it as much as everybody else in here.
anyway, this post was a bit more lenghty than what I intended to 😂 Im sorry! In case you didn’t knew, and like me are reading in another language than english; we can get Arcs aswell !! Thank you to Jenny, I learned that netgalley also had a french website, which is available for US, Can, UK & Australia !! (there’s also a deutch, UK and japaneese one!) so for me, that was such a huge deal, as I see every other bloggers having arcs and too many of them and what not, while I couldn’t.. so I didn’t felt legitimate enough as a blogger, until I found out that I actually can aswell !!! I’m so happy !!
So for the conversation part of this post ;
º When you first came on here, did you felt something along thoses lines aswell ?
º What would be one thing you struggle the most with as an internationnal blogger?
º Would you have any advice for an internationnal newcommer into book blogging ? Anything you know that you wish you had knew then ?
º Anything else you’d wanna share with us ?
I’m an INTL blogger from the Philippines, but luckily I grew up with English as my first language. I TOTALLY don’t finish required reads, too, but that’s just because I hate it when people FORCE me to read something. XD
I think you’re absolutely strong, lovely! Starting a book blog while having this struggle is very commendable. Keep reading and blogging! <3
– Aimee @ Aimee, Always
Aww thank you soso much ❤️❤️ I love every one of you I befriended along the way ; not wanting to leave any time soon!
Yeah ik heh 😪 if they would atleast give a little choice or something…
I’m an INTL blogger from the Philippines, but luckily I grew up with English as my first language. I TOTALLY don’t finish required reads, too, but that’s just because I hate it when people FORCE me to read something. XD
I think you’re absolutely strong, lovely! Starting a book blog while having this struggle is very commendable. Keep reading and blogging! <3
– Aimee @ Aimee, Always
Aww thank you soso much ❤️❤️ I love every one of you I befriended along the way ; not wanting to leave any time soon!
Yeah ik heh 😪 if they would atleast give a little choice or something…
And so, omg your first language is French, it’s just so awesome, I hope there comes a day when I can read a book in another language as fast as I can read a book in English and I feel your struggle, the book community can seem very overwhelming, especially when it comes to arcs and it sucks so much that you have to wait for books to be translated, the struggle is very real for you.
Yeps.. and cost alot more due to translating 🙃 however!! Before this posted I got my first arc eeek!! Will also be my first in english since high school so we will see how it goes .. 😅 also being a ebook, it checks two of my goals for 2018 👌🏼
And so, omg your first language is French, it’s just so awesome, I hope there comes a day when I can read a book in another language as fast as I can read a book in English and I feel your struggle, the book community can seem very overwhelming, especially when it comes to arcs and it sucks so much that you have to wait for books to be translated, the struggle is very real for you.
Yeps.. and cost alot more due to translating 🙃 however!! Before this posted I got my first arc eeek!! Will also be my first in english since high school so we will see how it goes .. 😅 also being a ebook, it checks two of my goals for 2018 👌🏼
I am an Indian and we have Hindi as are main language. But yet, English is the one which is followed country wise. Even our authors don’t write in Hindi anymore, so English is the main thing now. Butbyes I can understand your trouble. And wow, I had no idea that you are not comfortable in reading English books. But your English is so good 😊
I wish you all the luck Kristina. And yes, nice post!
Aww thank you! 💕
Wow thats interresting! To be fair only eng books i read was mendatory.. so i’ll give it a shot with one I think id love after I finish my current read so we’ll see!
Definitely 😊
I am an Indian and we have Hindi as are main language. But yet, English is the one which is followed country wise. Even our authors don’t write in Hindi anymore, so English is the main thing now. Butbyes I can understand your trouble. And wow, I had no idea that you are not comfortable in reading English books. But your English is so good 😊
I wish you all the luck Kristina. And yes, nice post!
Aww thank you! 💕
Wow thats interresting! To be fair only eng books i read was mendatory.. so i’ll give it a shot with one I think id love after I finish my current read so we’ll see!
Definitely 😊
It’s one of those things where I don’t think American and UK bloggers even realize how easy we have it until you internationals start talking about stuff!
I don’t feel like I have it the worst though .. hey atleast my book store have french books that I can read ! (less than half of their stock of english ones, and much pricier but .. ) 😅
It’s one of those things where I don’t think American and UK bloggers even realize how easy we have it until you internationals start talking about stuff!
I don’t feel like I have it the worst though .. hey atleast my book store have french books that I can read ! (less than half of their stock of english ones, and much pricier but .. ) 😅
Sometimes I wish I still had time to read in Japanese! But needless to say, I read in Japanese MUCH slower than you read in English xD (but it’s so much fun. I love Japanese with all my heart.) So signing up for Japanese NetGalley keeps tempting me 🙂
I really do hope you get a lot of books in French that way! But I would also suggest starting to read in English too. I was fluent for as much as I can remember myself, almost (cartoons…), BUT I didn’t read books for a long time, because I felt like I was definitely not good enough and that maybe someone would judge (I know right. Who would even find out??? XD) and the first year was strange. Especially because I read old classics and the language was tough xD but then it just got easy and normal. So the sooner you start the easier it will be 🙂 just try it, like reading on the side. Maybe start with middle grade 🙂 (I love middle grade!!)
For now all my requests in french has been refused ; and my arc I did get is in english AND ebook, So hopefully! 🙂 gotta start somewhere .. heheh
you totally should get into Japanese netgalley!
Sometimes I wish I still had time to read in Japanese! But needless to say, I read in Japanese MUCH slower than you read in English xD (but it’s so much fun. I love Japanese with all my heart.) So signing up for Japanese NetGalley keeps tempting me 🙂
I really do hope you get a lot of books in French that way! But I would also suggest starting to read in English too. I was fluent for as much as I can remember myself, almost (cartoons…), BUT I didn’t read books for a long time, because I felt like I was definitely not good enough and that maybe someone would judge (I know right. Who would even find out??? XD) and the first year was strange. Especially because I read old classics and the language was tough xD but then it just got easy and normal. So the sooner you start the easier it will be 🙂 just try it, like reading on the side. Maybe start with middle grade 🙂 (I love middle grade!!)
For now all my requests in french has been refused ; and my arc I did get is in english AND ebook, So hopefully! 🙂 gotta start somewhere .. heheh
you totally should get into Japanese netgalley!
tfw i wanna send u an arc but its not french ;A;
Uhoh ;-; sorry!
Hahah well I got accepted for one in english, which i’ll get to it when im done reading the 70pages remaining of my current book. Hopefully all will be good!
For sure! Good luck with it. If you ever feel ready to try English you better ask me if i have anything going 💙
Sure thing! Thank you, Lauren ❤️
tfw i wanna send u an arc but its not french ;A;
Uhoh ;-; sorry!
Hahah well I got accepted for one in english, which i’ll get to it when im done reading the 70pages remaining of my current book. Hopefully all will be good!
For sure! Good luck with it. If you ever feel ready to try English you better ask me if i have anything going 💙
Sure thing! Thank you, Lauren ❤️
Can I say off the bat that when you said your first language was French my brain started reading the next paragraphs with a smexy french accent? LOL
Anyway. I’m from the Philippines and some of the hard parts of being an international blogger are – barely get approved for ARCs, if we do get sent physical copies it takes about a month before it gets to me, we have no public libraries that carry pop fiction (you read that right), books are soooooo expensive, and there is a lack in local support.
Despite those struggles I keep reading and writing. Blogging for now is still more for me and I am just glad there are others who read my work (*rants..lol) and follow my blog. 😉
hahahaha 😂 not sure how accurate that is considering I am not from france, but from Canada (but yknow I don’t hear myself talk soo… Idk..)
aww :/ yeah, I got one so far but it was an english e-book … I dont think im gonna get a physical one either, although im not *as far* from the US & our money is actually less than theirs but eh … I don’t really, mind ?
oh noo .. 😥 that’s really unfortunate, well atleast you can get your hands on some ! since mines are translations they also cost like, half of a english one .. and rarely on sale, I think one of the only I crossed was 13 reasons why, but that was in Walmart .. so not like a legit “book store”.
aww yes ! xx I deeply love every one I crossed path with because of my blog !
Can I say off the bat that when you said your first language was French my brain started reading the next paragraphs with a smexy french accent? LOL
Anyway. I’m from the Philippines and some of the hard parts of being an international blogger are – barely get approved for ARCs, if we do get sent physical copies it takes about a month before it gets to me, we have no public libraries that carry pop fiction (you read that right), books are soooooo expensive, and there is a lack in local support.
Despite those struggles I keep reading and writing. Blogging for now is still more for me and I am just glad there are others who read my work (*rants..lol) and follow my blog. 😉
hahahaha 😂 not sure how accurate that is considering I am not from france, but from Canada (but yknow I don’t hear myself talk soo… Idk..)
aww :/ yeah, I got one so far but it was an english e-book … I dont think im gonna get a physical one either, although im not *as far* from the US & our money is actually less than theirs but eh … I don’t really, mind ?
oh noo .. 😥 that’s really unfortunate, well atleast you can get your hands on some ! since mines are translations they also cost like, half of a english one .. and rarely on sale, I think one of the only I crossed was 13 reasons why, but that was in Walmart .. so not like a legit “book store”.
aww yes ! xx I deeply love every one I crossed path with because of my blog !
I love that you blog even when you have so many issues. I can understand, as a blogger who is not from the English speaking country myself, the pain of reading in the other languages than your mother tongue and not having access to books.
Awww thank you! Thankfully I do have access to french books, although we dont have as many than english ones .. now its the pain of « is it translated? If so what it is » 😂 and if not well eeeh, guess i’ll review a french book 🤷🏽♀️
I love that you blog even when you have so many issues. I can understand, as a blogger who is not from the English speaking country myself, the pain of reading in the other languages than your mother tongue and not having access to books.
Awww thank you! Thankfully I do have access to french books, although we dont have as many than english ones .. now its the pain of « is it translated? If so what it is » 😂 and if not well eeeh, guess i’ll review a french book 🤷🏽♀️
Not a book blogger but as someone whose native language is not English, I feel some kind of anxiety when I post/comment in English because I don’t know whether my English is good or not.
I also couldn’t get into the train hype with other book bloggers because the books that I read are usually not in English means I’m fangirling all by myself lol.
ANd it such a surprise that you couldn’t read in English because judging from your blog posts your English is so good.
Awhh thank you! ❤️ how long have you been using english? I had that anxiety myself before I got my job- where I need to communicate half of the time in english. Just the thought of having to speak in english was a huge thing for me ! Writting, not so much, because we have more time to like, construct our sentences to where we think is understandable. With speaking, it’s more instant. 😅
Not a book blogger but as someone whose native language is not English, I feel some kind of anxiety when I post/comment in English because I don’t know whether my English is good or not.
I also couldn’t get into the train hype with other book bloggers because the books that I read are usually not in English means I’m fangirling all by myself lol.
ANd it such a surprise that you couldn’t read in English because judging from your blog posts your English is so good.
Awhh thank you! ❤️ how long have you been using english? I had that anxiety myself before I got my job- where I need to communicate half of the time in english. Just the thought of having to speak in english was a huge thing for me ! Writting, not so much, because we have more time to like, construct our sentences to where we think is understandable. With speaking, it’s more instant. 😅
I definitely understand having to wait for the books to be released in your country. I do read most of my books in English, so it is easier for me to get new releases… but I don’t.
I think you will discover the book community has more to offer than the new releases or hyped books. So do nout doubt your blog. As long as you love books, then that is all that matters!
I still feel a bit like not belonging because of looking for different books, but the people are great and they made me feel welcomed anyway.
Thank you ! 💝 yes, definately! everyone here is all so kind and loving.
I definitely understand having to wait for the books to be released in your country. I do read most of my books in English, so it is easier for me to get new releases… but I don’t.
I think you will discover the book community has more to offer than the new releases or hyped books. So do nout doubt your blog. As long as you love books, then that is all that matters!
I still feel a bit like not belonging because of looking for different books, but the people are great and they made me feel welcomed anyway.
Thank you ! 💝 yes, definately! everyone here is all so kind and loving.
I think it’s great that we have the international community out there but there must also be some people out there who don’t read and review in English but would be reading in their native language. It must be hard sometimes without being able to jump on the hype train and no new releases as well. I never really thought about it, but you’re right. There should be a community of bloggers like this too! And your reviews still matter and mean a lot <3 Especially as some people are looking for reviews on how enjoyable translated versions are too.
My recent post: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/01/lets-talk-about-love-book-review-giveaway/
Well i started reading in english and it’s going well although some sentences leave me confused xD but also, I have people from France looking at my blog.. so even if my followers dont read that french only book ive read, it can still be useful for someone who do read in french aswell who happen to fall on it .. 🤔
And it also brings some diversity isnt it? 😅 its not all the same books everyone have over reviewed already. Id love to know a few people within our community to read in french also! Since it’s mostly english based, its quickly to make you feel oddish in here..
I think it’s great that we have the international community out there but there must also be some people out there who don’t read and review in English but would be reading in their native language. It must be hard sometimes without being able to jump on the hype train and no new releases as well. I never really thought about it, but you’re right. There should be a community of bloggers like this too! And your reviews still matter and mean a lot <3 Especially as some people are looking for reviews on how enjoyable translated versions are too.
My recent post: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/01/lets-talk-about-love-book-review-giveaway/
Well i started reading in english and it’s going well although some sentences leave me confused xD but also, I have people from France looking at my blog.. so even if my followers dont read that french only book ive read, it can still be useful for someone who do read in french aswell who happen to fall on it .. 🤔
And it also brings some diversity isnt it? 😅 its not all the same books everyone have over reviewed already. Id love to know a few people within our community to read in french also! Since it’s mostly english based, its quickly to make you feel oddish in here..