Hello friends, happy Wednesday! How are you? I’m glad to write this now because I’m having a day off work today and boy, it feels GOOD ahah. Anyway, today I’m, as always, thrilled to be back with my Blogging Ways feature and a way to rant about everything blogging. I have had this blog post in mind for a couple of weeks now and I’m glad to actually sit down and talk about it all.
In case you didn’t know this, I’m French and living in France. I don’t know why, for people not knowing this, it always seems to surprise them. I’m not sure, I’m guessing I should take this as a compliment that my English isn’t so bad? Anyway, I’m not here to talk about how I eat baguettes (I do), but to talk about BOOKS and how, as the tiny French I am, I’m having the case of international book blogging struggles.
Before heading into this, disclaimer: I am writing this to zoom on the struggles I am having and trying to be honest. I’m not here to bash on people lucky enough to get physical ARCs, enjoy their local librairies and all. Just saying, you’re lucky.
The physical ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) problem
Let’s start this blog post with the most obvious – and controversial, really – topic of being an international book blogger, which is ARCs. In case you’re not familiar with this, ARCs are Advance Reader Copies, books bloggers are lucky enough to get before the book releases to read and review it. Being able to get physical ARCs at all is such a chance ; but when you’re an international blogger, it is basically impossible. Or at least, it is way, way harder. I have been blogging for over two and a half years now, I have built a pretty decent following and I have tried and requested physical ARCs more than once from publishers, but I actually never got one from big publishing houses. You know, just like you’re seeing all over on Twitter and everywhere.
I’m lucky enough to get e-ARCs once in a while, but sometimes the territory restrictions don’t allow me to be approved for some titles. Which, let’s be honest, kind of makes me sad. On the other hand, I’m just telling myself I am buying the books when they are released and even if I’m missing all of the pre-release hype people are always ranting on, I’m supporting the authors. Even if I’m waiting months after everyone has read the book to actually get to it.#foreverlatetothehype
The bookstore / library problem
I’m going to say something that will make most of you scream in despair. I have no bookshop or library – at least, none with the books I want to read. The only books they have in English are the classics, they have never heard of young adult books. If I want to read all of the books I love, I have no choice but to buy them online. In France, I’m lucky enough to get free shipping from Amazon, and BookDepository is also an amazing free-shipping option, but I know other bloggers don’t have that chance. BOOKS can get quite expensive veeeeeeeery quickly. I can’t browse in the bookshops and libraries for hours on end and get the physical book right away, I need to wait. Obviously, whenever I can fly away to an English-speaking country with bookshops, I stay in these places for hours on end reading all the books and my sister hates me.
The book events / conventions / author signings problem
As most of you probably know already, most of the bookish events and conventions are happening across the Atlantic for me, in the USA. Most of the authors are touring this very same country – and Canada as well sometimes, when their book is released. A lot of bookish events are also happening way way down there in Australia. There is an event that sounds quite amazing being held in the lovely and my favorite city in the world, London, in the summer, called YALC. Basically, everything is in English-speaking countries and I was born saying Bonjour and sometimes I’m not sure why because I speak English in my head and would dream of going to these events.
I can’t go to any of these things because of geography. I tried but apparently I am not able to teleport myself there. I don’t have enough days off and money to actually get on a plane and be able to go to these wonderful events I’m dreaming of. Someday, maybe. In the meantime, I’m living through all of you.
The time-difference problem
You know, that old song from Simple Plan going “You say good morning, when it’s midnight” ? Nevermind if you don’t know this song, you’ll get the gist here: this is a summary of my life as a book blogger, especially when it comes to the twitter community. On WordPress, no one cares or notices the time, really – or at least, I know I don’t. But whenever I want to try and get involved in the Twitter community, it is always hard to because most of the amazing Twitter Chats are happening when it is 1 a.m here and I need to sleep in order not to be a zombie to go to work the next morning, so I feel like I am missing out on a LOT of things because of time difference.
And geography, basically.
In other ways, I know I’m lucky, and geography has nothing to do with that. I’m lucky to spend my weekends writing blog posts and enjoying what I am doing, having this little place to fangirl about books and having people understand it. Being a book blogger, a YA book blogger, reading books mostly in English, and living in a non-English-speaking country has a LOT of struggles and more than once I have felt envy. It’s only human to, I guess. But I also guess that I can eat my baguettes and enjoy my delicious French food. Whenever I’ll get to travel again, I’ll spend a whole lot of time in bookshops and annoy people and it will all feel quite exceptional to have all of these books at hand, even if just for a moment.
If you’re an international blogger, are you feeling some of these struggles? How do you deal with it? Did you ever get a physical ARC? Do you have book budgets, since books are harder to get by?
If you’re not an international blogger (meaning: you’re not experimenting these struggles), did you know about all of these struggles? Would you enjoy your bookshops a bit more for us, please?
Feel free to share your thoughts in comments!
That’s funny, you speaking English in your head. :-0
But I do feel for you and your book troubles. 🙁
Good luck on future ARCs.
~Icky. 🙂
Haha it really is, I don’t know if I’m really normal 😛 Thank you so much, Icky! 🙂
You already know I struggled with all these ‘problems’ myself. “I tried but apparently I am not able to teleport myself there. I don’t have enough days off and money to actually get on a plane and be able to go to these wonderful events I’m dreaming of.” This. This so much.
Also, yes, it sucks that we don’t have amazing bookshops or libraries with the latest English novels. Online shopping has definitely been a saving grace for me reading and blogging life…not so much for my wallet though 😀
Great post as always, Marie!
Haha same here. I am so thankful to be able to order books online, otherwise I don’t know how I would survive haha 😛
Thank you so, so much Lauren, I’m glad you can relate to this <3 <3
I’m in the same boat but different ocean (like literally, on the India ocean) #ImSoLateThereIsNoHypeAnymore
Ohhh really, that sucks :/ Well we can live the hype through other bloggers thanks to the internet, I guess haha 🙂 I’m glad you can relate to this <3
I’m not a book blogger but I can totally relate to this post. Especially on the bookstore and library problem. It’s even worse in Japan (I’m a Malaysian living here) because it’s almost impossible to find English books and to make it worse I live in the countryside. So English books are pretty rare and the only option I have is online shopping (Amazon, Book Depositary). Luckily, I own a Kindle lol.
Nurul Rasya | Blog
Haha oh, Kindles and ebooks are life-savers, aren’t they! I’m glad – but also a bit sad – that you can relate to my struggles. I’m really thankful we have online shopping to save us, allowing us to get all the books one way or another 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
I totally understand your struggles! Mine isn’t solely a book review blog, but I do read a lot and am trying to begin a writing career. All of the writing conferences and face-to-face networking take place across an ocean. I am an English speaking US citizen who lives in China.
Oh I didn’t know so many writing events happened in the US as well – it’s so bad you can’t get there either :/ I’m guessing we all have our struggles where we live, but…we should remember our perks as well 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment, Lonna, and best of luck for your writing career! 🙂
Yes, you are right that we should remember our perks as well. I love living overseas and wouldn’t change the lifestyle I’ve chosen. No matter where we live, there will always be good and bad together.
Agreed 🙂
I knew about the ARC issues but hadn’t considered the others. That’s unfortunate – and I do take my easy access to books for granted. Thanks for enlightening me!
Oh you’re welcome, thank you so much for your sweet comment – and please enjoy the librairies and bookshops for me 😀
I really feel for you! It is so unfair for you!
Haha well, I guess I have other perks of living where I live (hint: food. I love food). As long as I can get my books online or somewhere, I’ll be okay 🙂 Thank you for your comment <3
I’m an English speaker who reads, writes and blogs in English but lives in the Netherlands. Thankfully, the Dutch are multilingual. All bookstores have books in English and not just the classics! There are even several English-only bookstores! But I feel your struggles having lived in Germany and Turkey where English books are either strictly classics for schoolchildren or non-existent. As a writer who markets mostly to Americans, I struggle. I can’t afford to send physical ARCs and book signing? Yeah, not going to happen.
I feel your struggles!
Ohhh this is SO awesome – you make me want to move to The Netherlands right away ahah, that sounds like the dream <3
Thank you so, so much for your comment, I'm glad you could relate to this 🙂
It is pretty awesome here ?
Awww, you’re too sweet! <33
I relate so much! Fortunately, here in the Netherlands English books are much easier to get to and we do have libraries and bookstores with YA books. I have just requested a few ARCs and one of the publishers actually sent it to me and I AM OVER THE MOON! It was not from a major publisher but still! So maybe I am lucky ? but the problem of time zones and not being able to go to bookish gatherings and events is a struggle for me as well.
I SO want to live in the Netherlands right now, it sounds so great! And congratulations on the ARCs, that’s fantastic, you are so lucky! This gives me some hope too ahah 🙂
We should start up our own bookish events, gather all European fellows and everything 🙂
Thank you so much Lia <3 <3
Thank youu! And yes we should have our own bookish events! And then with international books and not just the ones published in our countries (I don’t particularly like Dutch YA books). We deserve the chance to meet US/UK writers too!
You’re welcome!
YES, agreed, that would be awesome 😀 <3
Being in Canada is hard enough – I can’t imagine how much harder it is in France! Book prices in the states are so cheap! Here, for some hardcovers, it’s 30-40$. And you’re right, signings rarely ever come around unless I want to travel 4+ hours. Book conventions – forget it! Sorry being a book lover is so hard for you! That just makes you an even more dedicated reader ?
WHAT?! Jeez that seems so expensive! Frnech editions of books in hardcovers are quite expensive as well, this is so annoying…and the reason why I buy everything online and wait for the paperbacks.
Aha yes, I guess it makes me even more dedicated, you’re right 🙂 Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
I usually always wait for paperback editions. They are SO much cheaper!
Same here – except for a couple of favorite authors where I just can’t wait for paperbacks editions, I always get the paperbacks 🙂
Ugh, yes!! I’m still based in North America, but not in the US, so a lot of these struggles still apply. It’s quite annoying to come across exciting giveaways on blogs, only to be unable to enter them because I don’t live in the US! Not to mention all those great book conventions and writers conferences – they’re so far away, and the US dollar is just way too strong for my to justify a trip down. AND books are often published here way later than in the US, so I have to wait forever to get my hands on all the fantastic books I’ve been reading reviews of on all my favourite blogs. :'(
But I do get state-funded medical care, so there’s that. 😉
OH yes, there are so many great giveaways – and I understand how the shipping fees might be too expensive for people to actually extend the giveaways internationally, but….all the books ahah.
I have to wait forever as well to get the books, it is so annoying at times, always reading the books after everyone’s done with them and moving on ahah 🙂
There are positive things though for sure about the places we live, and we are dedicated readers and bloggers 🙂
I feel you! I’m living in France as well but I’m actually from the Philippines. I was so dismayed the first time I went into a bookstore and there’s no English book in sight. Libraries don’t offer much either. I haven’t tried requesting physical ARCs yet as I know it will be nearly impossible. For now, I’ll have to be content with digital ARCs.
Ohh you’re living in France as well? That’s so great! 😀 <3
It is really sad that there aren't many English books in bookshops. Some have small English sections but well…they are small unfortunately. I'm glad we can order online ahah 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! <3 <3
So true. My husband and I have to go to the city just so I can buy books. But it always makes me happy seeing a lot of books even if it’s in French. Just goes to show how you guys love to read. Even the library I go to have a huge collection. ?
It’s always great indeed to see loads of books, even if they aren’t necessarily the ones we love. Being surrounded by books is such a great feeling 🙂
True that! Have a great weekend! ?
Thank you so much, you too – well, a great week now 🙂
My friend Sammi at onebookishgirl (WordPress) is an AUS blogger and she has finally gotten in touch with the AUS pubs and imprints: she gets titles and is on some blogger lists for pubs now! I’m very impressed that she started getting ARCs: one of the biggest probs is that one company will publish in the US , but a diff imprint might publish the same book in AUS. I don’t know if they do that in your country but I thought mentioning it wouldn’t hurt!
That’s so great for her! 😀 Thank you for the tip, but it won’t work, since all the books here are published in, well, French, ahah, so it’s not the same – there isn’t an English publishing company here that releases the books in English whom I can ask to, unfortunately. Oh well, I have the e-ARCs sometimes when I’m lucky enough 😀
Thank you, Stephanie! <3 <3
Oh of course! You guys have books in French! Duh! ?♀️
Sorry! I forget that AUS is essentially like the US and U.K. – English speaking
Haha, no worries! 😀 <3
I thought I had it bad living in England as a book blogger because most events happen in the US and books are usually released there earlier as well, but honestly reading your post I realise how lucky I actually am as a book blogger! The only thing I can relate to is time zones because UK and France time is only an hour different so I also find that everything happens at midnight. Is YA often translated into French?
BUT I LOVE England, you ARE lucky to live in England it’s such a beautiful country 🙂 <3 Also it's so great, you get some books released earlier than in the US and everything, from cool English writers 😀
Yes, all the popular YA books are usually translated into French, but it takes a little while and…I really love reading them in English. Also, more than often, I don't know why, the French titles end up being ridiculous hahaha 😛
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
Haha you’re welcome ? I do love England a lot, and France is so beautiful too! Yeah I did forget to mention all the wonderful English YA authors, it’s just a shame that a lot of them don’t get as much hype as US authors.
I agree with you – there are so many incredible English YA authors, yet I feel like they’re not really well-known, that’s a shame! They deserve all the love for sure.
As a German blogger I can definitely relate to most of the point you made above – minus the time zones thing. My sleeping is so messed up at the moment that I’m usually awake for the Twitter chats. I’ll just sometimes forget they are happening!
I recently signed up for a blogger program Random House Germany is offering and was able to request ARCs that way though unfortunately none of them were recent English releases that I would’ve loved to read but rather books I hadn’t heard about before! Have you checked if the big publishing houses offer similar programs in France?
Also, you guys’ have RIDICULOUSLY expensive books over there! I just recently talked to a friend over there about books and prices and it’s such a difference! I mean, brand new hardcovers are pretty expensive here too (Lord Of Shadows came in at 23€ when it was first released) but at least paperbacks are usually on the cheaper side and luckily if it’s a well-known author they’ll release paperbacks pretty quickly after the initial release.
Ahah oh really? I’m sorry you’ve been having a bit of a messed-up sleeping schedule :/ I’m with you on forgetting, though. The little ones actually happening in my time zone are so off my radar when they are happening, I’m mad at myself afterwards haha.
Ohhh this is so great, I had no idea about that program! Thank you for mentioning it, I need to see if such a thing exists here as well 🙂
RIGHT?! Books are so overpriced at times, that’s why I’d rather order online….but sometimes some books are still expensive and only on hardcovers so I have to wait even longer just to order them ahah. Life of a bookworm…it’s not easy (but worth it!) 😀
Than you so much for your comment! <3 <3
I don’t know if thriftbooks works for you, but I am a huge fan of this website, because they sell used books for a very reasonable price. I can get 3-4 books for about $15 and free shipping! I don’t know if they will send it to your country, but if they do, then I totally recommend it in order to save money xxx
Melina | http://www.ivefoundwaldo.com
Ohh, thank you so much for the tip – I need to check this out! 😀
???xxx
I totally understand your struggles Marie, maybe in a slightly different way but it still counts right? 🙂 My local library doesn’t have any books I can read either, I mean they’re all in English because I live in England but they’re all a good five years old now. I seriously can’t think of the last time my library actually updated their catalogue but every time I go there I always see the same books on the shelves.
I feel like we all struggle with time zones as well, in our own ways maybe, I’m not on Twitter but I definitely get where you’re coming from there. 🙂
Hopefully there are things that make being an international book blogger worth it, or just things that make being a book blogger worth it for you in the end though. 😀 <3
Great post as well. 🙂
Oh no, that’s annoying! Maybe they’ll get the hint and update their catalog soon, I certainly hope so. You always have the fabulous Waterstone’s, right? 😀
Yes, definitely. In the end, if I’m struggling with these little things, I still am over the moon to be able to blog and love it that much, so yes it’s definitely worth it <3
Thanky ou so much, Beth! <3 <3
I hope so, I can’t imagine there are too many people that visit the library to check out the same books over and over again. Yep, Waterstones makes up for it all! 😀
That’s great to hear, there’s always something to make blogging worthwhile even if there are things that make it not worthwhile you know?
That’s all right! 🙂 <3
Definitely, and the conversations I have are worth all of the struggles for sure 🙂 <3
Ah Marie as you know I go through all of these (except for the time difference thing yikes) but yeah 🙁 Sucks. And it’s true! In some countries the YA genre is unheard of. In Ecuador we do have a section for YA books but what saddens me is that we don’t PRODUCE YA books. No one here writes YA. Except for Zoraida Cordova, but then she doesn’t really count because she grew up in the US and the culture is different, but I still love her because it’s a bit of ecuadorian in the YA community and that’s amazing.
How do I deal with the bookshop problem… I’m a bit lucky in the sense that we have one bookshop that brings YA titles both in spanish and some in english. I don’t read in spanish anymore which is a damn shame because a new independent bookstore that brings books from Mexico just opened in the city and is bringing more updated releases and I’m like WHYYYYY. But anywayyy, I get a few books, two or three per year from local bookstore and my mom sends me two or three books once or twice a year whenever she can send me a package from the US. And then there’s also my little trips to visit my mom, in 2015 and then this past march, in which I bought about 30 books between the two trips. HAD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE!
Sadly, Amazon doesn’t ship to Ecuador without a huge hassle, and TBD doesn’t either 🙁 But we manage, right? Every time I feel down about not being able to participate in the community as the others do, I remind myself that I still have books and to make the best out of the situation by rereading or reading romance ebooks!
OH same here – well I don’t really read tons of French authors so I can’t really say, but it seems to me like YA is really a centered market in the US and a little bit in the UK, it is sad.
It’s so great that you have a good bookstore, and that your mom can send you a couple of books! At least you have some advantages for sure – everything is good to take!
It makes me so sad and upset for you that you can’t order on amazon or TBD! I’m happy to hear you still manage to spread the love, and I guess all of the hassle just means we are crazy-dedicated to books 😀
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts about this, Pam! <3
I can totally relate to this post! Yeah, I can understand with shipping costs issues with physical books but why do they have to put territory restrictions on ebooks. It’s totally ridiculous! I mean blogs are a global platform medium for book marketing and everything bookish. All the best books in netgalley are territory restricted and it’s totally not fair for international bloggers like us.
I agree with you and have to admit, I don’t understand the restriction either when it comes to e-books?! They are virtual and there is no hassle with shipping costs and everything so I don’t really get why it wouldn’t be available for us as well. It makes me a bit sad :/
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me, Raven <3
Wow! I am fortunate enough to live in the United States, be ten minutes from my library, and twenty minutes from a small indie bookseller.
I did know that Book Depository and Amazon ship internationally, and realize that the distance would be a struggle, but I didn’t know anything about the libraries or the bookstores. It makes sense, but my brain didn’t bridge the gaps.
Oh wow, you’re so lucky! I’d be you, I would spend every single day going to the library ahah <3
Oh I get it – in the end, I think it's easy to forget when we're all surrounded by books 🙂 But well, we manage by getting the books other ways, buying them online and everything 😀
Thank you s omuch for your comment, Lauren <3
OH MY GOD MARIE. YES. YOU ARE SPEAKING MY MIND.
I had an idea for a post like this as well (I literally thought of the exact same title hahaha) but I was going to focus it more on ARCS! Because #thestruggleisreal when it comes being an international book blogger and wanting to receive ARCs. I always get sooo jealous when I see people receiving all these wonderful new releases MONTHS in advance and I’m sat here in good ol’ Germany like….. okay *sobs*
AND THE CONVENTIONS THING. YES. WITH THE WHOLE BOOK EXPO/BOOK CON THINGY A FEW WEEKS AGO I’VE TRULY REALISED HOW MUCH IT SUCKS NOT TO BE LIVING IN THE US (OR UK). I’m glad we’re both in the same boat though, it makes me feel a little less sad and alone 😀 <3
Haha oh, great minds think alike, right? 😀 Yes, I can’t help but feel a little jealous whenever I see all of these gorgeous ARCs around and wonder if I’ll ever get so lucky. I still am pretty lucky to scream about the books I love all day, but the ARCs…well it seems special ahah 🙂
Haha yes you are NOT ALONE in this, we can struggle together now for sure 😛 <3
I feel you so much on this one! I’m from Denmark and though I can’t relate on the ARC thing I’m so over my local library as well. I read most of my books in English, most of which I’ve bought myself because the library didn’t have them…
The selection of international books at the stores are pretty limited as well 🙁 However something amazing did happen once! There was actually a signing at my favorite bookstore, so I went there and got my copy of Divergent signed by Veronica Roth. That was really awesome (and terrifying) 😀
Ohhh Denmark, really? I would LOVE to visit someday, the country seems so beautiful <3
WOW! Well, even if there aren't big English sections, you had that lucky moment – and maybe it'll mean more authors will come to your country?! 😀 Let's hope so! 😀
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
Yeah?It is, but very rainy?Yup, let’s hope so! Always my pleasure?
I live in the US, so I don’t face the same struggles as you haha! And WHAAAAT. No English YA books in bookstores/libraries near you? I’m sorry. :'( But I do feel out of the loop with time zones because I have lots of friends (including you!) who live internationally and I can’t talk to them as often! But hey, you get baguettes. I love me some baguettes. XD
Not even one tiny little bookstore or library haha. That sucks but I’m glad online bookshops exist to save me 😛
Haha, we should trade for a while, I give you fabulous baguettes and French food and you give me a bit of your bookstores privileges 😛
Thank you, May! 😀
Another reason why the internet is so great. 😉
Oh yes! I definitely need some baguettes — and I’m sure you have more book money to use anyways! XD
Haha I’ll send you some baguettes and French food 😛
I doubt you’d want American food. XD AH, but THAI FOOD is the best. ?
OH YES. I’d take Thai Food for sure 😛
Haha, I just had some! It’d be weird to me if I didn’t have it at least five tines a week. XD
Haha, that’s SO cool. I want to eat more Thai food. #lifegoals
I feel so lucky that I’m a book lover in the US!
There are a couple publishers that do international giveaways for ARCs but they do them so infrequently. I’m a new blogger so the only reason I’ve been able to get ARCs is through giveaways or festivals. I’ve heard for some people in other countries that it’s actually easier for them to get physical ARCs but I guess it really depends on what country you live in and how the publisher handles ARCs!
Yeah, I guess it all depends on the countries. I don’t live in an English speaking country and I read books in English so I guess this makes things even harder ahah. But I regret nothing, ARCs or not, I love it so…I guess it’s okay 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
Totally understand! I am from Colombia in South America and get arc or stuff like that it’s almost IMPOSSIBLE. I mean books in english or so are quite expensive and authors or events like BEA never happen here so I understand the struggle :/
I’m glad — but also sad obviously – that you get the same struggles :/ At least we are still trying to talk about the books we love and get them and love them even if it’s a bit harder, so…we are warriors 😛
Thank you so much for your comment, Nina! <3
Hi Marie! Or Bonjour! I had no idea you were blogging from France. Your English s fabulous! My French, not so much. I’m very impressed! I am sorry about your lack of English speaking books. I wish there was something I could do to help! I too like YA books, but it’s really expensive to mail to France. Does anyone have any book sharing ideas? I know my family ships books to each other, maybe a group of friendly bloggers could ship to each other? Just a thought.
Bonjour! Aww thank you so, so much, that means a lot to me <3 I'm always scared to me silly mistakes while writing, I'm glad that doesn't come up or show, if I do ahah 🙂
Oh this is such an incredible idea, it would be pretty amazing to have a big book exchange. However, I don't know how that would work and if that could, since shipping can be so expensive at times…. Well, it's something I will think about for sure! Thank you SO much for the idea <3
Despite living in Canada, getting physical ARCs can be a bit of a pain for me. Maybe I just don’t have the stats on paper to do it, but I rarely get physical ARCs–or if I’m offered, I feel bad because shipping can get pricey! On the other hand, anytime I browse Netgalley, I always seem to be into the titles that aren’t available in my region 😛
My local library was really tiny growing up so I made sure when I moved to a larger city for university, I took full advantage of getting a library card. Books are so expensive! (eBooks are getting pricier too!) And I was running out of book space. Thankfully, eBooks are really catching on at my local library (they share with a bunch of libraries so we get more books) so I definitely have more titles at my disposal than before.
Ahah right, happens to me all the time on NetGalley as well, the titles aren’t available for me and I want to cry haha.
RIGHT? E-books are SO pricey at times, it’s crazy because it is a digital book and sometimes it’s even more expensive or the same price as the actual physical copy…I don’t know why that happens. It makes me mad :/
I’m glad to hear you have more books at your disposal now though, that’s awesome 😀
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Lauren! <3 <3
I’m international too and I experience all these things too! I’m from Belgium actually ? The only thing I don’t have is the bookstore problem. I’m lucky enough that one of the local bookstores (I live in a city, so there are several. Again, lucky) has English books. Still it’s a struggle with my local library.
I’ve never gotten an ARC, but I don’t think my blog is big enough yet.
And it sucks not being able to go to bookish events.?
Ohhh Belgium, hi, neighbor! 😀 <3
It's so great that you have a bookstore with great English books, that's the dream for sure 😀 <3
Oh, the bookish events…and the ARCs. I want to believe someday we'll get both, let's not lose hope 😀 <3
Thank you so much for your comment, Eva!
Hi neigbour!? It’s indeed amazing that those bookstores have English books! The biggest one in town has books in Dutch, French and English and that’s were I get my books.
Let’s not lose hope indeed!
You’re welcome ?
Ohh that’s awesome. I need to visit soon ahah 🙂
?
This post is so relatable!
Aww thank you, I’m glad you could relate to this! <3 <3
I’m all over the seven seas, so I can understand all these struggles pretty well. 🙂
I’m glad you can relate! Thank you so much 🙂 <3
I hear you on all of those!!! My cousin recently found a library that lets you borrow YA ebooks and I was just like “WHAT IS THIS MAGIC PLACE YOU SPEAK OF!?”, but libraries aren’t free in Austria. To borrow anything you have to get a a membership or library card for a fee.
And speaking of events!!! I looked everywhere but Vancouver is a wasteland for book signings. I really want to go back to Toronto. They have all the fun stuff happening.
Also, I just want to say that I think it’s dumb when you can’t request something on NetGalley because of country restrictions. I mean, seriously?! As long as I blog in English and the readership comes from English speaking countries, who gives a fuck? People rarely know I am from Austria either, so it just doesn’t make any sense to me. Then again, lots about NetGalley doesn’t make sense sometimes.
OH REALLY? THAT’S SO COOL.
I get the struggle, libraries aren’t free in France either, there is a membership fee, it’s not too expensive but you have to pay it every year.
OH really, that sucks :/ Well….too bad Toronto is so far away from Vancouver, you can’t really go there just for a day when there is a cool signing :/
I so agree with you here – right? I don’t get why it matters if we aren’t based in the USA – as long as we have the readership. NetGalley is so obscure sometimes ahah. Thank you, Kat <3
She has free membership because of uni at that library. She’s one lucky girl hahaha
Yeah, Toronto is like a 5 hour flight or 3+ days by train, so I can’t just go for fun. BUT Toronto doesn’t have as much filming, so there’s always that.
Yes…there’s always that, meeting actors on the streets and talking to PAs and stuff. Could be worse, right? 😛 <3
Oh definitely! I think I am not actually allowed to complain about anything ahahaha
Well…you always are allowed to complain to me if you need to 😛
<3
Your English is amazing! Great topic as always, how do you think of all these every week?! Send me your blogging brain vibes please. Although I live in the UK I definitely share some of the struggles with you as I live in a small town so we have a library but they don’t have a big selection. I feel super lucky that they do have a YA section though so sometimes it can be very good. Although for some reason they have series sometimes without having the first book, and it’s not a case that someone is borrowing it. It’s that they bought like the 3rd or 4th book in. Usually it’s old series they have too 🙂 So jealous of the American libraries which have new releases!
I also share the signings and events struggle like I mentioned I live in a small town so they don’t happen near me. I could get 2 trains in order to get into London so a 4 hour journey but that would cost quite a lot and it’s just not an outgoing I can’t afford.
I watch all the American Booktubers with such envy!
just read that back and realised I have typed ‘it’s just not an outgoing I can’t afford’ – it’s meant to say can afford. I definitely cannot afford dropping that sort of money haha! Oopsy my bad sorry 🙂
Haha it’s okay, I understood it this way 😀
Aww thank you so much, Hannah, that’s so sweeet of you to say <3
It's so great you have a YA section – I dream of that ahah 🙂 I would love to have all of the new releases close-by as well, it has to be SO COOL to be able to get them so quickly!
OH I get it – so many fun signings and events are happening in London (like YALC this summer, I so want to go there) – I hope someday you'll be able to go to one and experience all the fun! <3
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts with me, Hannah <3
I hope you get to experience them too! If you do I definitely want a blog post of your adventures!
Ohh, I’ll write about it for sure someday (let’s hope so!) 🙂
That’s sad about the library situation. I’ve heard that some libraries only let you check two things out or are just too small. There’s library in my home state where the lady whose the librarian works by herself all day with no help. She doesn’t have a degree either; someone needed to be there and so she volunteers despite no help. As are as the ARC stuff, I don’t think it’s a big deal. I haven’t been very lucky in that for a while. I hope things get better for you for being able to get books easier. I don’t get a ton of book events either sadly…there all hundreds of miles away. One day hopefully. But I really enjoyed reading this; I feel more educated knowing how things are in another part of the world 🙂
Thank you so, so much, I’m glad you enjoyed reading this post! 🙂 It is a struggle at times, but I love books too much to give up so it’s okay 🙂 <3
Definitely. I do hope that publishers and other places do more international giveaways to give more chances 🙂 but I do love that Book Depository is free shipping and goes pretty much anywhere. I think their prices actually beat Amazon sometimes
Yeah, sometimes they have better prices – I often check to see where it’s better to order 😛
I’m a Canadian book blogger and I can certainly relate to many of these struggles you listed. I have been fortunate to be contacted by a couple of publishing houses, although I was a bad blogger who didn’t follow through with the review — they were cookbooks with expensive ingredients, so sue me… one day I’ll write about them. But I was recently chosen by HarperCollins to receive a book titled ‘Local Girl Missing’, which I will review quickly. A small handful of books I have collected but otherwise I’m a major supporter of my public library – yes, I do miss the hype, but what can ya do?
Oh I’m glad – well obviously sad as well – that you experiment the same struggles. It’s so good that you have been contacted by publishers, and HarperCollins to review a book, that’s awesome! I hope you enjoyed that book, Local Girl Missing? 🙂
Yes sometimes I guess we miss the hype but well…we do our best after all 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment <3
Your English is amazing- seriously!! Ahhh that would be terrible- don’t worry- it’s not controversial and I always feel super lucky about the library thing- I just wish there were libraries full of all different books all around the world to solve this problem!!
Ohh thank you so, SO MUCH <3 <3 I wish so too…but well, I'm really thankful for the internet to be able to order the books ahah 🙂
You’re welcome!!! <3 <3 hehehe me too!! 😀 Best invention ever!
Thank you so much for sharing this enlightening post, Marie!
I must confess that I take being an American book blogger for granted a lot. I’m so grateful that I have bookstores and libraries nearby where I live (although I never take advantage of the latter). And the ARCs are always such a privilege, too.
But I can definitely sort of relate with the bookish events being so far away from me. Then again, it’s not overseas like you, of course. But I still can’t attend 90% of the time since bigger events are usually in NY, LA, or some other big city that I need airplane tickets in order to get to. (Unless I want to take long road trips.) Luckily though, Yallfest happens to be in my state, however. Although it is a smaller event. But I guess it’s better than nothing, haha.
Anyway, wonderful post! (Also, you’re free to visit me sometime and we can go book shopping and/or attend Yallfest together!)
I saw you talking about Yallfest, I think you wrote a blog post about it all? I LOVED reading it and it sounds like such a fun event. Sometimes, even if the event is small, it can be even better because less crowds and everything 🙂 I’ll DEFINITELY take you up on that offer, Summer, I would love that so much <3 <3
Thank you! <3 <3
Indeed, I did! And omg, yes! Let’s totally make that happen if the opportunity of you visiting the southeast US arises someday. :’) <3 <3
I hope it will happen someday, it would be a dream! <3
‘I was born saying bonjour’ I can’t help but picture a tiny baby Marie saying bonjour now hahaha ALL OF THESE THOUGH. I RELATE. A LOT. I am lucky to live in Amsterdam so I have two English book stores close to me, but their young adult section is nothing compared to the ones in America and the UK haha (I laugh but really I want to cry when I remember how many YA books they sell in other countries ?) A lot of books are never at the bookstores though so I end up ordering a lot too. Don’t even get me started on libraries though I’m so jealous of people living in English-speaking countries haha
HAHAHAHA, oh how funny was I when I was little hahaha.
It is SO cool that you have two bookstores in Amsterdam like that – I need to go back there as soon as I can to visit these! <3 It is CRAZY though, yes, how massive the YA sections are in the UK and in the US, I am forever jealous as well ahah 🙂
Thank you, Michelle! <3 <3
I’m also an international blogger (I live in Austria at the moment) and I can relate to all of these sooo much!
I have never gotten a physical ARC. In the beginning I was jealous of people who got them, but with time I realised that it would bother me to have unfinished copies of books on my shelves. So I don’t really mind not getting them, I’m happy to get ARCs from NetGalley and just read them on my Kindle. 🙂
I also can’t get books in bookstores or libraries and have to order them online most of the time. Actually the bookstores here in Vienna do have some YA books and other genres that interest me, but it’s a very limited selection. I used to love reading from the library (when I was younger and reading in my native language), but now I can’t find books that I’m interested in in the library and have to buy them for myself.
I have never been to a bookish event before. As you said, all of them are in English speaking countries and I just don’t have the means to get there and go to those events. (After all traveling isn’t cheap!) That’s the saddest part for me I think, simply because I would love to meet some of my favourite authors and just attend those events. But hopefully I will be able to do that in the future.
Amazing post! 😀 (And sorry, I ended up rambling a lot here!)
Oh I understand – finished copies are for sure beautiful, and it feels good to tell ourselves that we are helping the authors by buying their books 🙂 I can’t help but feel a little envy at people reading so many books earlier ahah, I’m really impatient at times 😛
Oh yes, same here. Traveling is quite expensive, and I’d dream of meeting my favorite authors someday and go to these amazing events. Let’s hope we will do that someday! 😀
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, and never apologize for rambling, I LOVE it <3
I’m lucky enough to receive some ARCs, but whenever I see something sometimes that’s like US only my heart breaks a little haha ? I totally feel you on the bookstores and time differences. Like I live in a small town and we only have 1 bookstore here and they are ridiculously expensive. Being Australian, I always end up logging onto Twitter in the middle of everything and am left sitting there like “WAIT, WHAT’S GOING ON???” and am desperately trying to catch up haha.
Haha, same here. I have a bit of ARC envy, really, but I’m working on it. There are many privileges to being a bookworm living in an English speaking country, but I guess there are perks of living where I live as well 🙂
Hahaha oh yes, same about the Twitter thing. With the time difference, I never get what is happening and miss all of the dramas and such. It’s not a bad thing, though, when you think about it… 😛
Thank you so much, Lauren! <3
Wow! I’m not sure what I would do without libraries… or rather a library with books I want to read! Wow… I’m a little in shock! Did you read Jackie’s post about the used book service? She is in Germany and not sure you can use it in France but… worth a shot? I feel you about physical ARCs especially since you have to budget for every book you read! We in America are spoiled! The time zone issue I hadn’t thought of… we need more twitter things on the weekends! What a lovely post… I feel some of your pain now, though I know you are such a positive good hearted person that you just deal with it ❤️??
I did read Jackie’s post and I need to look that up for sure! 🙂 Ahah yes, I guess you’re lucky, please enjoy the bookshops and libraries for me :P. I’m trying to make the most of it and know I, at least, have internet to order books online and everything, so I’m trying to stay positive. It feels good to rant about it sometimes though 🙂 Thank you so, so much, Dani, you’re way too sweet <3
I’ve never related more to a post before! There’s only a few libraries in Lebanon that sell YA books, but I’ve read them all. They only have the really famous books like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Divergent so every single time I go there I end up ordering many books which take around 3 months to get here. One of my brothers is studying in the US and I can’t wait till I’m able to visit him there. I’ve already planned that when I finish high school in two years, I’m going to live with him for a month and go to all conventions happening at that time and I can’t wait! Also, I talk English in my head and to close friends/family too but that’s because I’m English educated.
Oh wow, 3 months, that’s a long time to wait for books. I don’t know how you do it, you are my hero, Tatiana, ahah.
Ohhh this is so awesome, you’re going to have the BEST time there, I’m sure! 😀 <3
Thank you so, so much for your comment <3
Relaaaaatableeeeee ! Such an awesome post twinnie !! I’ve told you I tried requesting arcs before but living in Morocco is even worse than France so no luck so far, I was thinking about giving up but after taking to a friend I might give it another chance very soon and see what might come of it.
Libraries and bookstores are the biggest of my struggles and what I’m most bittet about to be honest because I want to have a bookshelf overflowing with physical copies but I can’t because there’s nowhere to get them or they are super expensive and let’s not talk about shipping hahaha. So I’d rather get ebook because I can get more for the same amount of money.
Aww thank you so, so much my twinnie <3 <3 I hope your ARC quest will be successful – and if it is, TIPS and everything ahaha 🙂
Oh I get it – I feel lucky enough that shipping isn't that expensive or sometimes free, so I can have bookshelves but I'm definitely grateful for e-books as well. They are so much less expensive and even if I miss the feeling of holding an actual book, they're pretty practical as well 🙂 <3
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this post, Marie! As a fellow international blogger, I get a lot of these struggles. Like all these American bloggers I know get signed books and meet authors and go to BEA or whatever… there isn’t anything like that in India. Nor can I really get review copies of books I actually want to read. We haven’t got Net Galley yet although I guess that is an option… I don’t have twitter so the time difference thing isn’t so big. Also, I guess I’m lucky because I went to an international school and that had an okay library and then I can also get ebooks from a library in New Zealand. Anyway, thank you so so much for this post because I feel like a lot of bloggers don’t realise how lucky they are <3
OH thank YOU, Shar, for your sweet comment, I am so glad you could relate to this post. Some bloggers definitely are luckier, I guess we all are dedicated and, because of all of the struggles we encounter, some of us are even more, which I admire so much. I don’t think some bloggers know their luck, or at least, just take it for granted, or that’smy feeling at times.
of course, the endless struggles of an international book blogger, hahaha.
i think i do have a few more positives and a few more negatives than the ones you mentioned. for example, because the YA book community is growing fast on my country, book events are also becoming more popular. last weekend, i had the chance to go to a book event in my city and meet benjamin alire saenz and alwyn hamilton, which was fantastic! i also know that victoria schwab is coming to brazil in a few months, for another book event, so i’m definitely lucky on that side.
however, reading books in english is hard in my country, because they’re soooo expensive. i know a few people that do buy english copies so they don’t have to wait for it to be translated, but i rather wait, since i can get it for a lot cheaper. of course, there are also some books that don’t ever get translated, so we stay in the endless feeling of *we’re missing out* because there’s really, no other option but spend way too much money in a copy that might take one month to get here.
so, yes, struggles are real, hahah. fantastic post!
Ohh this is so awesome! I’m so glad you’re getting more book events – and you got to meet authors already, that’s SO COOL! 😀
I get it – English books aren’t cheap in my country either so I’d rather order online, there is more to chose from there as well 🙂
Thank you so, so much, Lais! <3 <3
This is so relatable! Like, I’ve only every been to one convention (whilst I was on holiday), and I loved it so much, but I know I will likely never get the chance to go again.
But there are so many other lovely international bloggers out there 😀
Megan @ http://www.wanderingsofabookbird.blogspot.co.uk
Yay, I’m grateful there is such a big international blogging community, it is awesome 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
This is really interesting! I never would have thought about things like time-zone being a problem. It would be really hard to not have access to English books in libraries and bookstores. I went to a bookstore in Paris and it was a really nice store, but the YA section was teeny! I’m becoming more and more aware of how lucky I am to have libraries nearby…
Anyway, fantastic post!!
Oh thank you so, so much Lenna, I’m really happy you enjoyed reading this post and getting to know a bit more about how it is for international bloggers 🙂 It’s quite hard not to have bookstores or libraries with the books I want, but I’m glad to be able to order online ahah 🙂 Thank you! <3
I clicked on your blog firstly because of the title – it is catchy but it made me think of books read in front of the fire. I clicked ‘follow’ almost immediately because I was so impressed with the look of your site. Even though I know I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover! Also I know a few YA readers and struggle to know what books to get them for their birthdays etc & I suspect some I have chosen are not actually read. Your blog is informative, helpful for people interested in improving their blogging skills too. (Like me.)
I know what you mean about the international date line – it is a disability on social media. And, gosh, I’m going on a bit, but quite often as a reader I trust the reviews that come after the hype reviews. A great blog, at least to me, is one I can read in front of my fire on a rainy day.
Aw thank you, I hope you’ll like the blog content just as much, then! 🙂
Oh, my Sweechie, we are in the same boat sharing a baguette! *sigh* It can be very frustrating for me not to be able to attend events, especially now that I’m getting better (oh, there’s an event in Bordeaux in April where I’ll be part of the jury if you want to come 😀 Okay, probably no authors we love will be there but it’s a book event, it’s in the center of Bordeaux, and there’s me xD)
As for the ARCs, I’m lucky to be on a couple of blogging lists from publishers who don’t mind, other than that, I have to rely on the ebook format and my eye doctor is not approving! I also find it so unfair that audible is an ass when you win a code from audible UK or US!
Fabulous post my Sweechie, we need to go and conquer the English part of life as soon as possible!!!
At least….We LOVE our baguettes, right? 😛
WHAT KIND OF EVENT, TELL ME EVERYTHING?!!
It’s so great you got on some publisher’s lists, I’m so happy for you!! <3 <3
What’s not to love in a baguette? :p
It’s L’escale du livre! An entire weekend with plenty of authors and books. It’ll be my first time and as a student I have to organize a few things, I’m so excited! It’s no Harrogate, but it’s gonna be nice! There are lots of different genres and usually conferences and such! <3
Ohhhhh that’s SO cool, I’m sure you’ll have TONS of fun! It’s still in a while ahah, it’d be a dream to come as well 🙂
I am a South African book blogger currently living in Indonesia so I know exactly what you are talking about. You are not alone.
Ohhh hi Sue! I’m glad – but a bit sad as well – that you can relate to this. At least…well we have each other and aren’t alone in this now 🙂 Thank you! <3 <3
I’m not international, I live in the U.S., so I only know so much of what you’re talking about, but I CAN IMAGINE. Right now I live in a really small town with a very small library (and I can’t get a library card anyway, as I can’t prove that I’m a resident of the town – which is another story). I get most of my books online as well, and I mostly read kindle books because I’m broke forever. So I can’t really participate in Bookstagram (something I came to terms with recently). I’m not “blogging famous” so I don’t get the physical ARCs and even if I did, I wouldn’t have the space to house them.
All that to say: you’re not alone in feeling like you’re somehow missing out on part of the blogging community. BUT I think this community needs more voices like yours. For all that we’re about diversity, I wish we had more diverse voices from people with different experiences. I think it’s fascinating that you’re French, but you think in English. I honestly admire that SO MUCH because I tried teaching myself French and pronunciation is SO HARD!!
Anyway, thank you for sharing your thoughts so honestly. I think it’s so important that we all try to recognize the ways we’re lucky, even when it doesn’t always feel like it. <3
Oh thank you so, SO much, Christine, for sharing your thoughts about this topic <3 I have to admit that I sometimes feel a bit left out of everything because of these struggles but it makes me happy to hear you feel differently and like I'm bringing something different, so thank you SO much for telling me that, it means a lot to me <3 <3 <3
You definitely bring a wonderful perspective to book blogging! I know I haven’t been around much lately, but your blog is one that I always come back to when I get a few extra moments. You’re important!! <3
Oh, Christine, you are WAY too sweet <3 <3 <3 Also, I hope that everything is going well for you, I miss you around here <3 <3
Thank you Marie!! I miss being around here more! Things are going slowly but surely. I’m hoping to be back fulltime in mid-September, so fingers crossed! <3
I’ll keep my fingers crossed then, and hope that your bus-adventure is going well (looking forward to read more about that on your blog!) 🙂 <3
You know, I think that I knew that you were from France at one point and I totally forgot. Your English is impeccable! I totally empathize with you and your struggles. In Canada, it seems that we have less opportunities than the US, but we do get quite a few authors who visit. It must be so much fun to go into a bookstore when you are on holidays, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
Ohh, thank you, that means so much to me <3 It is a lot of fun, and another reason why I always look forward to my holidays – to end up hours browsing in the bookstores ahah 🙂
Thank you so much! <3 <3
I live in US, so I don’t feel the restrictions that you do, but I definitely won’t be taking what I get for granted. I think it’s amazing how you live in France but you blog entirely in English! I definitely could not do that in Chinese or Spanish <3 No matter what, your voice is heard, and you were one of the first blogs I followed when I first started blogging, so I'm always going to remember that! <3
Oh thank you SO much, Alice, you’re so sweet <3 <3 That means so much to me, thank you <3 Also, yes, enjoy the bookstores – and buy books?! – for me as well ahah 😀
Omg that Jet Lag ref made me feel SO old! Lol. But seriously, Marie. YES TO EVERYTHING YOU SAID! And I know that Philippines maybe get it a tad bit better since the time difference is a clean cut 12 hours (sometimes 13) and international authors, a.k.a. mostly-based-in-the-US authors, come visit us from time to time but I feel you to my bones all the same. Requesting ARCs is especially hard; I mostly get mine, if I ever do get one, from authors who are generous and kind to mail abroad. Same dilemma with local (independent) bookstores and libraries. </3 But you're absolutely right. I guess it's a matter of looking at things and putting them into perspective. Thoughtful article, dear! And the "Deal with it" gif is so on point I cannot!
PS. "My English isn't so bad?" WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!
PPS. If it's any comfort to you, the day I visit France, especially Paris, is probably the day I cry in the streets.
OH thank you so, so much, Miel, that’s so sweet of you to say <3 In a way, if book blogging is a bit harder to deal with at times, it's also really rewarding because we are fighting all of these struggles and shouting our love for books anyway 😀
Also, hahaha that comment about Paris made me laugh. I hope you'll get to visit France someday – there are SO many pretty cities here 😀
Hi Marie! I tagged you for the Mystery Blogger Award 🙂 No obligation to participate, but if you’d like to check it out it’s here: Mystery Blogger Award
Jo-Ann
Ohh thank you so much, Jo-Ann, I’ll check it out for sure! 🙂 <3
Thanks for sharing! That stinks that they don’t really have bookstores or libraries. Hoping Earcs will become more accessible and you’ll finally have someone who will start sending physical arcs! ❤️
Oh thank you so, so much, Sarah <3 <3 Let's hope so, and in the meantime, just…keep on blogging and loving it 🙂 <3
YES TO EVERYTHING!!! I agree with this completely! I’ll also add one. There are a few conventions this year happening in Italy where authors that I’m honestly dying to meet are attending, BUT IT’S TOO FREAKIN FAR AWAY! ALSO, a lot of preorder campaigns are US only too. So not fair! I kind of get the big conventions, especially if it paid by the authors, but I totally don’t understand why big publishing houses aren’t even trying to get their international bestselling authors over the ocean, without making the authors pay for that themselves. Anyway, I agree with everything you said, especially the Twitter thing. Every time I try it out, there’s an online event at 2 am or 3 am for me and I’m like “But I wake up in 2 hours after that, I can’t not sleep”.
Oh thank you so much for your sweet ccomment, I’m glad you can relate to this post 🙂 All of the events seem to be taking place far away (in reality) and / or at nights (online) which always makes me a bit sad, but well…we have our perks living where we are, I guess 🙂
Thank you ! 🙂
I’m an international blogger and I totally feel you!!!!! I had a discussion on ARC as an international blogger with a friend and we felt its so crap to be rejected even for e-ARCs ? But at the moment I dont even read enough or blog enough to request for ARCs so I don’t feel it as bad…as for missing out on the hype…I’m always on the “forever late” train ? At least in Malaysia we have a healthy selection of English books but omg SOOOOOOO EXPENSIVE its a struggle ? I love book sales ? But I can totally relate!
Hahaha welcome to the forever late train, I’m living there ? ? ? It gets pretty cozy after a while ?
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and struggles with me – I hope things will get better, and well…we are dedicated readers so that’s something positive to remember 😀
The forever late train is nice that theres no pressure ??
YES exactly 😀
I relate so hard to this post, and I’m not even technically an international blogger. I’m from Puerto Rico, which is supposed to be part of the US but all the publishers treat it as international *sighs*. The timezones thing is frustrating because all my friends are in different timezones! I always seem to be saying “hi” just when they’re going to sleep, lol.
Oh no – that really sucks, especially since it is supposed to be part of the US :/ I’m so sorry to hear that. It IS frustrating, yes, everytime I feel like I am missing out on things, there when everyone is going to bed / sleeping / at work or busy during the day It’s really hard to find moments to have long conversations…but they happen at times ahah 🙂
I guess we are really dedicated to blog and share our love for books, because despite the struggles we keep on going 🙂 <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Marianne! <3 Also, you are the first blogger I'm meeting coming from Puerto Rico, that's so cool 🙂 <3
I get what you’re saying. I live in L.A., and while access grants itself to me, I’d kill to live in NYC, which to me, earns its “American Book Mecca”. I can get there, but with a cost and my budgets not always up for the challenge.
Keep doing what you do, even when the hurdles feel impossible to jump.
Oh thank you for sharing your thoughts about this with me. It’s funny, no matter where we are, we have different bookish struggles after all 🙂
Thank you so much! <3 <3
This is such an amazing post, Marie! Although I don’t really have experience as an international blogger, I’ve lived most of my life in a developing country where libraries are virtually non-existent, and I had NO idea ARCs even existed until a couple years ago. So I definitely understand the struggle it is for international bloggers, but that increases my respect for y’all tenfold. The motivation you have to keep blogging despite being unfairly left out in so many things- like giveaways, Twitter chats, etcetera- is so commendable. Here’s to hoping the book community keeps expanding and growing to the point where everybody feels properly represented in it. ?
~ Aimal @ Bookshelves & Paperbacks
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Aimal <3 I'm happy to see progress with this, at least I'm always glad whenever I see international bloggers getting physical ARCs, some bookish events taking place, or even Twitter chats at an okay time for me. I'm hoping things will get better for sure, but I'm also and will always be dedicated to blogging because I'm loving it, no matter if it's easy or hard or anything. To share the love for books 🙂 <3
YES TO ALL OF THIS. I especially feel you on the lack of English titles in libraries, like you said — the only English titles are classics, which I’m not really interested in. I rely very much on e-ARCs in that way, although, again, I don’t get approved for everything because I live in Belgium. It can be really frustrating sometimes.
Oh you’re from Belgium? That’s great, hi, neighbor! 🙂
It really is frustrating – and sometimes I don’t get that we get denied some titles because of where we live. I understand for physical ARCs, since it can quickly get expensive to ship books, but when it’s all virtual…. I don’t really understand all of it ahah.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
I’M WITH THEM SO MUCH!! I mean, mine wouldn’t be to the degree of yours because, being Australian, I at least have the opportunity for a lot of ARCs! But like when the Americans talk about their cheap book prices, I just cry because howwwww. A book for me is like $16 for a paperback and $30 at least for a hardcover. Haha…yeah, no I can’t afford that mostly. LIBRARIES ARE LIFE. And I love Edelweiss for the fact that it doesn’t seem to care about territories? Either that or I accidentally signed up as American oops hahaa. But Netgalley loves to just disprove me for everything. I don’t get it?! Like it’s an eBOOK. Why can’t it be available to more of us?! Gah.
*cries with you and shares the cake*
THANK YOU for the cake, Cait, that’s so sweet of you <3 <3
Right?! Whenever I'm lucky enough to find an actual English bookshop in big cities in France, they are so expensive :/
You're so lucky, ahah, I still don't get Edelweiss, and NetGalley is sometimes so…capricious?! It's weird hahaha.
Thank you so, so much <3 <3
Already sort of addicted to your blog! I love your writing style, it’s quite unique. ?
Aww thank you, so happy you like it <3 <3 <3
I live in the U.S., and I’ll admit that I know it’s way easier to get ARCs over here than in other countries, but I honestly had no idea about the lack of libraries or bookstores that sell YA books in other countries. That’s a real bummer. I usually buy my books online anyway because they’re cheaper, but I do love going to my library or bookstores just to browse, so I’ll definitely be enjoying that a lot more now that I know YA in English isn’t a big thing everywhere else.
I was in an English-speaking country just a couple days ago and being in the bookshops there, with an incredible selection of YA books, was just a dream haha 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Kelly! I hope you’ll enjoy your libraries and bookstores <3 <3
Same here, I’m a frenchie moving in England soon so I’ll blog in English about my new life but I had a long time considering whether I should write in English or French ! I have decided to blog in English and I’ll provide French translations if required !
And I totally agree with you, bookshops lack novels in English, even stores like Fnac or Cultura. But fortunately, I live near the biggets independant bookshop of Brittany and they have a more than decent number of YA and detective novels ! Anyway, stay strong because the struggle is real !
Oh thank you so much for your sweet comment, so great to meet another Frenchie – and YAY for moving to England, you’ll have all of the fantastic bookshops at hand! 🙂 <3
Oh my goodness. I couldn’t imagine not having a library. That’s my prime source of reading. There’s no way I’d be able to afford all the books I read. 🙁
Kristin @ Book Sniffers Anonymous
Having a great library with ALL the books you want to read – or at least loads – is like, a dream ? It’s so great you can enjoy it so much! Thank you for stopping by, Kristin <3
I read your about after reading this and feel like I’ve met my bookish soulmate! I live in the Philippines, so receiving physical ARCs is sometimes impossible, but I’m grateful that I received a Kindle a few months back which allows me the options of e-ARCs. While I do have the option of buying certain books, I don’t have the finances for it! Popular books are quite expensive, so most of the time I just wait months to get them – because even secondhand, they’re still too expensive for me. I’ve been lucky enough that a few of the authors I’ve approached were willing to send me physical copies of their books in spite of the shipping fees.
What really saddens me is when there are giveaways for the book you want but they’re only for US and Canada entrants ><
BOOKISH SOULMATE, yes I’m so happy to meet you FINALLY <3 <3 Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 I'm so glad – but also very sad – that you can relate to this. Popular books are quite expensive online as well sometimes, it's so annoying :/ It's so great you found some authors willing to send you their books, that must have been great to find them in your mailbox! 😀
OH, same here. So many US / CAN giveaways :/
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
Hahaha it’s really exciting when you see those giveaways open internationally na? Oh and I love, lovw your blog btw!
It IS so exciting – even if luck is never on my side, it’s always fun to see them happening 😀
Ohh thank you so much, you are so, so sweet!! <3 <3 <3
I. RELATE. SO. MUCH! ARE YOU READING MY MIND?!
I don’t like it when people say “support your local independent library”. LIKE?? I DON’T HAVE ONE??? I WOULD BUT LOOK THERE IS NO LOCAL LIBRARY TO SUPPORT!! Give me one and I gladly would! Also I’ve never requested Arcs but it makes me sad knowing that I have no chance of me getting some. New releases?? FORGET THOSE. Only shipping takes about 3 weeks mate. It’s never going to be a new release by then is it?? ARGHH much frustration. But hey I guess we CAN read books in BOTH languages so there are twice as many books for us!!
AMAZING POST <3!
Ahhh I’m SO glad you can relate, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SWEET COMMENT <3 <3
Same here – I would happily support my local library but…it's hard to without actually having one to support haha. Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking? 🙂 Oh yes, you're right, at least we can read in both languages so that's pretty awesome ::D THANK YOU! <3
I think ALL OF US are pretty awsome for being all around bookworms that struggle with all this and STILL have a passion for books so…WE DESERVE COOKIES AND CAKE ❤!!
(I’m actually from Romania. Yup it’s pretty much like Narnia in the way that nobody has ever heard of it or think it’s real.)
OH YES, definitely. It’s pretty cool that we are so stubborn we want all the books and WILL GET THEM no matter the struggles ?
Ohhhhh that’s so very cool, you’re the first blogger from Romania I meet. I LOVE IT.
I’ve heard bookshops and libraries are a little more scarce in some countries. That’s quite sad! I get practically all my books from the library. I can’t afford to buy them all myself!
It is a bit annoying – I’m grateful to have online bookshops to buy from, but can’t do that too often, money doesn’t grow on trees unfortunately ? I guess, on the positive side, I’m not buying too many books and only focusing on the ones I reaaaaally want to read? Ahah. Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Krysta! <3
Omg! I only saw this post now and DAMN SO RELATABLE. I’m not a book blogger but I dream to go on book conventions and etc. Everytime I see my timeline discussing it I cry a little and then go try to research passages prices and etc and then I cry a bit more because yes, maybe in two years if I stop eating.
Thankfully here in Brazil we have lots of libraries/bookstores that sell YA but I only survive on e-books though because priceeees.
And I don’t know where to ask this but it seems like good place so: since you are also a French writer, how do you deal with all the publishing problem? I believe you are writing in english, but do you pretend to self-publish or go for traditional? (have you wrote about this before? I’m sorry if you have)
It’s something I have been thinking for some time now (putting the the cart before the horses), and I would love to talk about it with other international writers.
OH THANK YOU! I’m so glad – also, I’m sorry!- that you can relate to this post. I would DREAM of going to all of these bookish conventions. Maybe someday we will, who knows! 😀
No, I haven’t written about this before – to be honest I’m not to the point where I’m thinking about publishing, so I wouldn’t know how to answer your question. Obviously, publishing would be a dream, but for now, I’d be happy to read my full story once it’s done and edited and everything haha. I would dream to be traditionally published someday 🙂 What about you? 🙂
Yes! Maybe someday we can go to all those fun conventions! (I hope they are as fun as they look like)
And I totally understand – because I’m also not in the point to think about it – but still get anxious thinking (let’s say I think too much about things I shouldn’t hahahaha)
I like the idea of publishing traditionally, but I also like the freedom of self-publishing, so I’m not sure. Maybe when my story is done and edited things will have changed so much that I will have new problems to think about.
You do well by only focusing on the story right now!
And thanks for the answer! TvT
Oh yes, someday we will go to all of these fun bookish events 😀
Oh it’s okay haha, I get it, I sometimes overthink everything as well, you’re not alone 😛 Best of luck for your story! <3
Lovely post, I agree so much with everything you’ve pointed out. I relate so much with wanting to go to conventions, but not being able to teleport! ?? it’s really sad, it should be possible if it’s for such an important reason as meeting your favourite authors!
Aww thank you, you’re so sweet! <3 <3 I agree ahah, well.. let's try and make teleportation possible 😛 I think we've got some work to do here haha.
This is a really interesting topic and I find that I agree with you on a lot of it! I live in New Zealand, and while I think I’m quite lucky compared to some bloggers out of US and UK/ANZ, there are still a lot of things missing. It took me a lot longer to find the publisher contacts for New Zealand, and some publishers (like Bloomsbury, crii) won’t send books to me because they mainly based in US/UK and even with an Australian base, they don’t have enough copies for me. But I am grateful that I have the support of HarperCollins NZ, Hachette NZ and Walker Books Australia!
Book conventions? They really don’t exist here. I think in Auckland, the largest city here there’s occasionally an author talk, but that’s a three hour plane ride from here I can’t afford and it doesn’t compare to the BookCons in US. As for buying books, my local library has quite a good collection, but they recently got rid of their “suggest an item” feature (which is what I used to be able to read the latest in YA a few months late but without having to buy it). The local bookstores are pretty great, but rarely have discounts (books vary from $20-$30NZD). If I’m to buy from BD there’s free shipping and it’s cheaper, but it’s a lot more effort. Amazon shipping here is super duper expensive.
I think I have received a physical arc but from a self published author rather than publisher. I’ve also received one but it was an old copy. I’m not exactly sure about the books I get from Hachette NZ, as some of them arrive on/before the release date specified on the brochure but sometimes I see the books around town before that date so I don’t know if they’re arcs; if so, they’re not specially marked.
So I realised this comment is extraordinarily long (whoops) so I’ll wrap it up, but time zones. Yes. Definitely! I post in EST, but it’s weird when it’s midnight there are 4/5/6pm here depending on Daylight Saving.
Okay, first things first: you are from New Zealand?! This is SO COOL. I DREAM of going there someday, it seems like such a beautiful country. Also, it’s on the other side of the world, but well,… I still want to go ahah. <3
It is so great that you managed to find and get the support of some publishers here!! We might struggle a bit more with getting contacts, but it's great to know that it's not impossible if we are not from the US 🙂
I dream of going to book conventions someday, these events sound so great! I wish events like this could happen in your country as well 🙁 Book Depository is GREAT and I'm so glad it exists, but I have to admit… I'd love to be able to browse in libraries and bookstores for new books, instead of just online 🙂
THANK YOU so much for sharing your thoughts on this topic, it's so great to talk with other bloggers about their struggles and realize we are not alone. <3 <3
No problem, I’m glad you wrote this post! 🙂 I suppose it is quite pretty where I live but sometimes I’d prefer a larger city with more concerts, book events etc. Yeah they do sound absolutely amazing, I really want to go to one and you get to meet your favourite authors?!
OH I understand. I hope we’ll get to travel someplace where there are book conventions and authors meet-ups, so that we can experience that as well 😀
Yes to everything Marie! I did got physical ARCs but they are few. Usually it’s the author who loved my reviews and contacted me rirectly asking if I would agree reviewing their books. I’m feeling luck as I now hav built a strong and close relationship with fantastic authors even if I’m (still) a small blog. The blog envy is the worst. Feeling inadequate too. I see so many gorgeous blogs and always feel like mine is not enough. Then I think that as you said I’m lucky in many many ways and it helps me. I speak French too LOL
Oh this is so great that you built relationships with authors like that, definitely a goal of mine! 😀
Oh don’t say that, you shouldn’t feel inadequate and you are NOT, you are enough and sharing your love for books in the ways that you can, for that it is already awesome and all of these authors and so many more people are grateful for you 🙂
haha yay, BONJOUR 😀
thank you so much for your comment!! xx
I hear you! I am a South African currently living in a very remote region of Indonesia. There are no English bookshops or libraries so I buy most of my books online. Almost always ebooks because although BD does post for free the post takes 6weeks plus to get to me!
Oh that’s so annoying – I wish we could have amazing libraries and bookshops…. well, I guess we are so much more dedicated, since… even if getting books is complicated, we still pursue that passion 🙂
Reblogged this on Living my youth..
I relate on a spiritual level honestly! This was so relatable and hilarious and sassy, everything I love!
Awww thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed this!! 😀 <3
I have a question- and I realize this post is old and you may never even see this comment- but why English books? Is it just personal preference? Or do French writers/publishers not write/publish in your favorite genre? (And if not, why?!) I always feel like I’m probsbly missing out on something awesome by not being able to read all the languages.
Hi Sarah! 🙂
Yes, for me it’s a personal preference, I have always loved the English language ever since I was very young and I slowly started reading in English and just never stopped. I also read a lot of authors originally writing their stories in English, so I love being able to read their actual words and not a translation. It’s just a personal preference though, nothing against my French language and French authors either 😀
Ahh thank you for explaining (and I’m sorry to be so nosy). What you said put it in perspective for me- when I read translated books I always wonder how accurate they are and what I might be missing by not being able to read the original. Great post- very enlightening!
Of course there’s nothing wrong with preferring English- I was just more like: Do the French not write YA fantasy?! What an untapped market that probably would be! Lol
Oh you’re so welcome and not at all, I’m always glad if I could help or explain anything!! 😀
Ahah they do, they do write YA Fantasy and YA books as a whole, too, it’s just not that big of a market compared to the US, and even the UK one 🙂
I feel you about libraries and bookshops! I don’t have any one of them near where I live. I have to go to the city for bookshops. And to find the books that I want to read is another struggle to talk about. And then there’s problem about money too. Books from abroad are expensive here in my country and what with the living cost which keeps on increasing each year, it’s a challenge. I usually bought secondhand copy of the book online.
Anyway, I’m sorry I’m so late to this discussion ? but hello, another international blogger here!
Yees that’s exactly it. Books are expensive here and especially when they’re imported, so it’s easier to buy them online, but then there’s the whole shipping costs issue…. it’s complicated sometimes 🙁
Oh no need to apologize, thank YOU for reading, I’m always so happy to chat with international bloggers!! 😀
Ahh yes the shipping costs issue. It is complicated sometimes.
Yeayy!! Thank you, Marie ??