The Purpose of This (Response to an E-mail).

Hello all.

I feel that I have harped on this enough in the past so that my readers know why I started this whole shebang and why I am "forcing" myself through this list of the classics. Late last summer I hit a wall and this idea came to me in the middle of the night. At the time, I was insanely frustrated with where I was headed in my professional life. I had no permanent job (and I still don't), was doubting what my purpose was, and needed to find some answers (You can find more about this in my "About Me" page up at the top of my blog).

So I turned to something that has always been there for me in times of need before: books. I decided what better way to improve my circumstances than by reading through a list of classics. Who better to teach me about life and love? And since then, I have read nearly 80 books from the list and each of them has taught me something. I am an incredibly different person than who I was just over a year ago.

On Wednesday, I had an e-mail from a reader in my inbox. I read it, thinking they were asking a question about a post or something of that sort, but I was wrong. Instead, it was a rant TO ME about what I am doing here. I won't quote the entire thing here, but to give you a small taste of what the e-mail said, here is a short portion;

"The thing about your blog is that no one really cares. You're reading from this list like you're some big deal, but you're not. You offer nothing new or intelligent on any of the books you've read and you are torturing yourself through books you don't like. I don't understand your purpose or why you're trying to do this. Its almost as if you are trying to become something you are CLEARLY not.

Do us all a favor and revert back to what you usually read. Perhaps then your posts will be more intelligent and better written."

I don't feel like I need to explain myself to anyone, and originally I wasn't going to give any kind of a reply. Matt convinced me otherwise.

Here's the thing...I don't give a crap what anyone thinks of what I am writing. When I started this whole shebang I didn't even know how extensive the book blogging community was. I figured my mom and a few friends would read every once in awhile. This whole blog and project was for me, not for any of you (sorry if that offends you). My goals and reasons for starting this had nothing to do with reviewing books, but recording what I learned while I was reading them, and my reflections about each book and author when I finished with them.

I have tried to stay true to that as I have explored the vastness of the book blogging community. And while I may call myself a book blogger, I don't do it to review books. I do it as purely selfish thing and I'm still amazed by the response I get. When I had my first comment that was not from my mom or a friend, I was absolutely astounded. And if everyone decided to banish me from the community, I would be okay to continue on with writing for myself. I participate in the things that interest me, and I don't have a heart attack if I can't meet a commitment for a post or a read-a-long. That's why it has never really bothered me when people comment on my "unconventional reviewing technique." I post in a way that works for me and I will continue to do it as long as I think it serves its purpose.

I don't like defending myself or my project to anyone. And if you don't like what I am doing, or why I am doing it, or the method I choose to complete it in, then please don't read anymore.

And with that, I have one more thing to say. For all of you who have been supportive and welcoming and who have taken the time to come by and read, THANK YOU. I truly appreciate all of the support, advice, and mentorship I have received since starting this little project over a year ago. I talk about all of you to my husband until he gets twitchy. This has become another home for me and I enjoy writing here. And I hope you enjoy reading here.

THANK YOU.