bookthrasher turns five!

You read the reviews now wear the t-shirt.

First, thank you for being here. Whether it’s your first visit to my blog or you’ve read every review, I appreciate you.

I started bookthrasher during the summer of 2020 but it wasn’t a pandemic whim like making sourdough or doing jigsaw puzzles. No, I’ve been compelled to tell people about what I’ve read for a long time.

My first real job after college was working for a devoted reader with a library of personal development books. One day he announced that he’d pay $25 for every book we read and reviewed. Well, I read so many that he soon changed the rules to limit it to a couple a month. In another job I got into the habit of sending an annual January email to friends, detailing all my favorite reads of the previous year.

A few years later I decided to cold call a local business magazine and offer to review books for them. My first one was a twofer: The Power of Habit and Small Move, Big Change (https://guidetogreatergainesville.com/the-secret-world-of-habits/) I spent two years reviewing for them but I soon tired of deadlines and not being able to read what I want – it became a chore.

Five years ago something clicked and I decided I wanted my own online platform for reviews. And here I am, still reading l like crazy, still sharing my thoughts on the books I’m excited about.

Newspaper reviews are sadly on their way out. The latest victim? The Associated Press, who just announced they’re ending their weekly book reviews. In an email to their reviewers they said –

Unfortunately, the audience for book reviews is relatively low and we can no longer sustain the time it takes to plan, coordinate, write and edit reviews. (dankennedy.net)

That’s a bit depressing but I’m not going anywhere and I hope you continue to be a part of my bookish obsession.

I had the idea for the t-shirts in 2022. A local company designed them (shoutout to Aesthetic Print & Design) and they’re just what I wanted: athletic style, soft and comfortable, classic heathered grey.

Help me celebrate my 5th blog anniversary with a $5 tee! I slashed the price to just five bucks (you pay shipping) and you can find them here: bookthrasher t-shirts on etsy

Here’s to the next chapter!

bookthrasher by the numbers:

• 217 books read
• 147 posts
• infinite thanks

T H A N K    Y O U