Well, every now and again I like to throw out a random thought about blogging.  Today, it’s about commenting.

Okay, when I first started blogging – I basically had no idea there was a whole blogging universe out there (btw I frequently say that I live under a rock) – people all over the world to talk to about books who share the same love that I do and who won’t be bored to tears by book talk. Just imagine!!

Anyway, my story about getting into blogging is relatively simple and for those who know how badly organised I am won’t come as a surprise. I basically used to keep a book diary, all my books and authors were on there with a few paragraphs, just for me, about each one – full of spoilers and snippets. I loved that diary! However, can you believe I kept this in the form of a never ending draft email.  I know, I know. Long story short I lost my diary when the computer had to be reinstalled – all my files were saved – but not drafts!!  I was gutted. Then my lovely better half set me up on a blog.  I didn’t want it – not at all!  Resisted it in fact. And things were different.  Of course I had no idea that anybody would read what I wrote, and when I realised that they might I had to change the way I wrote my little snippets!  My reviews have probably changed in style slightly as I picked up guidance from others and also because I didn’t want to throw spoilers around like confetti.

But, out of all this, the most positive thing, for me personally, about blogging is the friendships (albeit electronic) with other book lovers – and comments are what gradually lead to these friendships.  I would say I have a very good number of blogs that I rely on for book recommendations – whose opinions I trust and who I look forward to talking to.

I don’t think for one minute that every book blog out there is going to appeal to me or anyone else for that matter because we’re all different but once you find the blogs you enjoy you’ll want to talk to those people and this brings me to the comments.

So, I don’t always comment, even on the blogs I love – which is simply because sometimes I miss things accidentally.  Sometimes I don’t comment because I genuinely don’t have anything to say or, put simply, nothing needs to be said.  Sometimes I don’t comment because the piece I just read is so damned good or intelligent that anything I say will sound trite or I’ll send dumb (this does happen!). However, more often than not, I want to talk to people and generate conversation.  Basically, I do like to comment because I want to talk to people about books (and other things) and blogging gives me that outlet.  If I don’t comment it’s usually purely by chance, maybe I’ve been on holiday or socialising a lot and it’s difficult to catch up with maybe two weeks worth of blog posts.  It’s difficult to catch up isn’t it?  And, after all, this is a hobby.

Now, what about you – are you a commenter or not?  What are your views.  Does it stress you out.  Do you feel it doesn’t matter.  Do you comment regardless?  I’m just interested to know how you all keep up with it – or, if you don’t for that matter (which, actually (doh) – I’ll never know about because, if you’re not the sort of person who comments, you probably won’t comment here!)

Thoughts please.