I finally managed to catch up on my Google Reader, and found that Laurie Gold has given up blogging.
I think it’s a shame actually. Like her or not, she had some interesting things to say.
She said she’d gotten to the point where she had nothing left to say, but personally, I think the DIK Dust-up well and truly did her in.
Anyway, I’m sorry to see her blog die.
vanessa jaye
October 15
12:17 pm
Quite obviously she took the DIK thing to heart, but she’s also handing over the reigns of AAR as Nov 1 to Blythe and a few other ladies/long-time reviewers, so I suspect she also wants to have a zero profile online so the transition is easier for those ladies.
Emmy
October 15
1:49 pm
So long, and thanks for all the fish…
Maddie
October 15
4:24 pm
Hey what happened with DIK? if you do not mind me asking
SarahT
October 15
5:14 pm
I’m also sorry to see Laurie go, especially from AAR. I love AAR as a review resource, not merely for the reviews themselves, but also for the opportunity to discuss the reviewers’ grades with other readers on the forum. No offence to bloggers – whose reviews I also read with interest – but I feel more comfortable vehemently disagreeing with a reviewer’s opinion if it’s not on their personal blog. Does that make sense?
I can understand that Laurie might feel frustrated and unappreciated in the “modern” online romance community. AAR used to be the centre of all lively romance-related discussions/scandals. These kinds of discussions now generally occur on blogs.
TBH, I don’t think it’s just down to blogs that the AAR boards are no longer as popular as they once were. I really dislike the new format of their forums and I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way. Since the change was implemented, there are far fewer posts. The old layout was old-fashioned, to be sure, but the new one is just plain unwieldy.
TBH, I wonder how long AAR will last without Laurie. Her attention to detail and quality were really remarkable.
Dee Tenorio
October 15
5:24 pm
I’m really curious about the DIK thing too. I might just not be recognizing the acronym, lol.
Teddypig
October 15
5:28 pm
Goodbye cruel world!
AztecLady
October 15
5:34 pm
For those who are curious, here.
SarahT
October 15
5:44 pm
While I thought Laurie WAAAAY overreacted to the whole DIK thing, I didn’t like the tone of Jane’s blog. And no, I don’t agree with the poster who thought Jane was a bully! I just didn’t find the blog entry funny and I usually have a very high tolerance for snark and all that is un-PC.
I hope Laurie’s decision to remove herself from the online romance community was not solely down to the whole DIK issue.
LauraD
October 15
6:20 pm
AAR was the opening door to internet romance communities for me when I found it about 7 years ago. I’m another that didn’t make it through the format change, and I also check the reviews less frequently as my reading tastes have changed. AAR has hurt themselves, IMO, by pretty much ignoring ebooks and focusing primarily on mainstream books.
But LLB and crew created an amazing site, and a vibrant community. I felt that Jane’s blog was out of line, and it certainly encouraged the “piling on” that occurred afterwards in the comments. I do agree that LLB overreacted to the DIK website, but the gleeful public humiliation that followed must have been brutal to her. The woman has done a hell of a lot to advance the genre’s online presence.
AztecLady
October 15
6:49 pm
Jane was out of what line, exactly?
YMMV, but from where I sit, neither ARR nor Laurie Gold were ever a factor in my reading, and I wonder how many of the current romance reading public who spend significant time online are even aware of what we fondly call ‘romance blogland’
Jane
October 15
7:25 pm
I’m sorry that LLB decided to hang up her blogging/AAR hat.
I found the DIK thing very silly up to the point where LLB started her online campaign requesting other people post buttons and a letter on blogs and websites to shame the other bloggers into action. I thought that was totally over the line and so I tried to take a light hearted approach to it. You can say that I’m out of line or over the top and that’s fine. But if people want to blame me or DA for LLB “retiring”, I won’t accept that.
AztecLady
October 15
7:34 pm
I think I’m going to cross that line myself, because the timing of her quitting blogging? well, it looks like the epic online flounce to me.
Emmy
October 15
8:16 pm
All good things must come to an end.
I’ve only been widely reading blogs for a year or so, and had never heard of AAR before I read about the DIK mess on DA. While it may have been influential a decade ago, it hasn’t even blipped on the radar of most newbies, many of whom read genres and formats not covered at AAR. Their failure to change with the times is their eminent cause of death, as the readership continues to decline significantly.
That and wild hissy fits.
Teddypig
October 15
8:52 pm
Why was Jane’s blog post out of line when Laurie’s choice of public actions were the problem to begin with? Seemed to me she wanted the attention and she got it.
It also seems to me this taking off is just the continuation of the “look at me” drama.
ME2
October 15
8:56 pm
I was told many moons ago, when I first found the world wide web, that AAR was the “bad place” and I was not to go there, so I haven’t. Apparently that was excellent advice.
Meljean
October 15
9:20 pm
I’m sorry to see LLB go from blogs and AAR. But I totally understand the fatigue — it’s been 10 years, after all.
I also thought that Jane’s post didn’t step over any lines (and I read it as lighthearted, too). And of course some disagree … but disagreements about tone aside, I thought it was much needed post — not just because it started the conversation about the DIK issue, but because it opened up the wider conversation about using different terminology and the impossibility of accounting for the history of certain phrases. As the community grows larger, unless there is legal ownership of a term, can we expect certain phrases to belong to anyone? I don’t think so. Others disagree … but at least the conversation is out there, and there is more understanding on both sides of the issue.
But over-the-line or not, I really, really doubt that the post at Dear Author was the reason LLB is leaving. Maybe it was a sign for her, but she’s withstood much harsher and hotter flare-ups than in that one post, and so I just can’t believe it sent her running. She’s proven herself far tougher than that, over and over again (and her tenacity made AAR what it was). If she’d been the type to quit because she was upset, she’d have been gone long ago. So I’m guessing it was a culmination of many things — and maybe the DIK thing was a tipping point for a decision that she’d already been on her way to making, but wasn’t the *cause*. I just can’t believe that it would be, given everything I’ve seen her fight through at AAR. And I don’t see this is a flounce, either, but a reasoned and measured withdrawal because it was the right time for her to do it.
“TBH, I don’t think it’s just down to blogs that the AAR boards are no longer as popular as they once were. I really dislike the new format of their forums and I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way. Since the change was implemented, there are far fewer posts. The old layout was old-fashioned, to be sure, but the new one is just plain unwieldy.”
I think this is true (I actually prefer the phpBB style, but it is very frustrating to have to click twice to get to the forum you want, and moving between the different forums is also a PITA). But I think the primary reason for the declining reader discussion is the lack of news and a news feed. I can understand AAR not moving to the blog format for their reviews … but I’m still a little bewildered by the idea that, over time, sites like Dear Author have become my source of romance-news (no offense to Dear Author). It’s just that my source used to be AAR, and given all of the industry contacts that the staff there must collectively have, it leaves me scratching my head that they *aren’t* the hub for industry news anymore, even if it’s just relaying a romance-related headline from PW and only having a real ‘scoop’ now and then.
I still love their reviews, features, columns and resources, and I understand that except for the ATBF they want discussion to be reader-generated — but I wish that they had an on-site news feed/blog of some sort (which also would have the advantage of letting readers know right away when other areas of the site had been updated) instead of an off-site entertainment blog. I don’t think AAR has become irrelevant — but I do wish I had more of a reason to visit every day instead of letting a couple of days go by before checking to see if there are new reviews (or any discussion about those reviews).
The online world is greedy, I think — and we want updates to come to us instead of having to go to them. AAR feels very insulated now, but I didn’t feel that way five (or even three) years ago. Maybe that’s what they want, though — for readers to go to them, instead of putting itself out in the larger community?
I also wish that AAR staff could participate in the reviews discussion boards. It seems a shame that a good number of people (who are obviously adept at articulating their thoughts on a book and who already visit the site) can’t offer their views on a book that another staffer has reviewed. I can imagine a much livelier discussion board if that was the case. Maybe it cuts down on staffer tension when they don’t disagree in public (with each other or with readers) but from my perspective as a reader who *isn’t* good at articulating her thoughts on a book and so appreciates any forum where discussions take place, it just adds to that feeling of insulation.
O_o I should probably post this over there, actually. But it’s weird — like going to an author’s site to tell her about your criticisms of her book (even though, for the most part, you enjoyed it). It’s much easier to say it elsewhere. And an author as a reader reviewing a review site? I think the Earth might fold in on itself.
vanessa jaye
October 15
10:51 pm
Ditto.
And Ditto. In my initial post I think I implied that the DIK kerfluffle was big part of her decision, but, like Meljean I believe it was minor, or at the most, that one last thing that solidified or confirmed a decision in the offing.
They used to, and I believe it’s in motion for them to start up again. Laurie had a poll up on one of the message boards asking vistors about this, and the majority of peeps said yes.
SarahT
October 16
12:54 am
To Jane:
I was one of the posters who mentioned that I hoped LLB hadn’t stopped blogging etc. due to the DIK debate. I in no way meant to imply that it was your fault! While your blog entry hit the wrong note with me, it would be a fairly petty action on Laurie’s part to stop blogging/involvement with AAR just because of that. I suspect, though, that Laurie has been becoming disillusioned for a while now and it wasn’t just over the “ownership” of the term DIK.
SarahT
October 16
1:13 am
To Meljean:
I’d already submitted my previous post before I read your most recent one.
You know, I think you hit the nail over the head when you bemoaned the lack of a news feed or simply a news section on AAR. Sometimes stories make it onto the AAR boards, but mostly these are discussions started by people who have read about the issues elsewhere. I’d say pretty much all the “breaking news” of the last year or so has been reported by Karen, Dear Author and SBTB. Not that there’s anything wrong with this, mind, but it does make it seem that AAR is a tad behind when it comes to being on the pulse of the industry.
Funny you should mention AAR reviewers not being allowed to participate in the discussions. This is something which has bugged me, too. There’s a very recent post on the Review forum addressing this issue and announcing a change in policy whereby reviewers can now respond to people’s reactions to their reviews.
Frankly, I hope both AAR and online blogs continue to thrive. While my main source for book reviews remains AAR, no one but Karen can make me spit coffee across my desk on a regular basis!
Keishon
October 16
3:21 am
Since the format changed, I quit participating as much as I did. I just don’t like the set up of the forum and I know she did it to stop all the spam. I don’t think Jane’s post had much to do with her decision to quit either but who am I to speculate. I enjoyed AAR in the early days. Loved visiting there, made friends from there and would be hurt to see it just disappear. It would be a void in the romance universe or something.
I love what Jane has done with DA and right now they are the blog to go to for romance news for readers and authors. Who knew. [shrug] I thought they’d just be a regular reader blog like me 😀
Later.
Jane
October 16
3:31 am
@SarahT – I didn’t think that you were insinuating that. I was just trying to preemptively address that issue.
@Keishon – you know that the only reason I am blogging is because of you. I think that there are a whole host of new blogs that have great author interviews, giveaways, reviews, and insights on the romance genre. Today, I believe that the online romance community is so much stronger than it was in 1996 or even 2006. The more voices that are online, the more strongly we are connected even in our disagreements. Perhaps especially because of our disagreements.
It would be a loss if AAR was not part of the community. It would be a loss if Keishon would stop blogging or Karen would stop blogging or if people stop coming and commenting because the community is made up of all of us.
LauraD
October 16
3:46 am
I certainly didn’t mean to imply that Jane had any responsibility for LLB’s decision. LLB is an adult, and has been involved in plenty of online scuffles.
As to why I think the post was out of line, I think that her parody was as bullying in it’s tone as was LLB’s attempt to shame the DIK ladies. As Azteclady noted, my mileage varied from the majority.
Robin
October 16
4:07 am
I really hope that AAR doesn’t change its identity too much, or at least that they don’t move in the direction that some of the blogs have gone. Count me in as someone who has had a hard time with the new format over there, but I also know that if AAR had been the only Romance option, I would have worked harder to get used to the new format and make the necessary adjustments to it. But once I decided it was too hard to get around or start discussion, I drifted away from commenting more. Plus there always seemed to be a tension around taking the genre “too seriously” that sometimes made me uncomfortable.
I still read the reviews and sometimes the ATBF and check the other forums when something strikes my interest. Whatever happens after Laurie exits and the mantle passes, I hope the uniqueness of AAR doesn’t disappear. I don’t believe they have yet exceeded their potential, but I still see that potential as connected to what they’ve offered so faithfully, which is a comprehensive reader forum that allows simultaneous participation on multiple levels and topics. Not that there isn’t room for innovation, but I hope it’s not just change for the sake of change, if that makes sense.
No one forum can meet everyone’s needs and interests. One of the things that struck me about AAR in the last couple of years was the insistence that AAR was the *best* the *biggest* the *insert more superlatives here* Romance forum — like its importance depended on some quantitative measurement of bestestness (numbers of visitors, etc.). AAR was and is an incredibly important part of the online community, and a definite pioneer, but I started feeling like the advertising exceeded the content, and that it ultimately took away from the good there, perhaps even made it more difficult to build on it. IMO if nothing else ever happened to change AAR, it wouldn’t diminish its contributions to Romance and to the online community, so whatever happens to it as the new management moves forward, I hope it’s a natural evolution based on the unique contributions AAR has made and its distinctive place in the community.
Teresa
October 16
6:07 am
I just find it interesting that she’s demanding people attribute the DIK and If You Like terms to her, yet when I asked her to take my articles OFF her AAR site, she refused, even though the copyright belongs to me. What’s good for the goose, definitely doesn’t seem to be good for the gander.
I for one, am happy to see her go. Maybe after Nov 1, I’ll see if Blythe will remove my articles (I have my reasons for no longer wanting to be associated with AAR and have made period requests for at least 8 years).
Sybil
October 16
12:30 pm
LOL sorry, Jane, I think if anyone gets ‘credit’ for this exist it would be me. Since I am the one she blamed for her behavior.
My mind control knows no limits I tells yah
I like llb, even after her moronic move. And I wouldn’t be shocked if her behavior played into her plans. Or maybe they have been in the works since before the dust up.
Who knows… I could go look at the many unread emails I have from her and check since quoting from private emails is such an A’OK thing in llb’s world. (that is sarcastic by the way, not mad. I am still more amused by being blamed than pissed off and have yet to read most of the emails or her comments quoting me although I am still HAPPY to apologize for any action of mine that caused llb to act like a tool)
But I digress… AAR is not a large part of online romance history – IT IS the history for quite a few years. LLB did amazing things, is an amazing voice and someone I have always admired (even when she annoys the hell out of me).
Honestly I am a cynic and see almost all goodbye posts as look at me, are you looking at me, LOOK AT ME DAMN IT. In fact Kristie J’s post is one of the FEW with a comment of ‘I might need to leave or take a break’ that I would have commented on. But if llb is truly calling it a day I wish her well and honestly no matter what she does next will kick ass cuz you can’t have that kind of drive, smarts, want and NOT kick ass.
Jayne
October 16
12:57 pm
I think the the people who’ve started blogs, review sites and whatever that deal with romance books are reaping the benefits of what TRR and AAR started over a decade ago. I agree with Robin when she says that AAR sometimes got strident about being taken seriously but given the general view of most people to the genre we love, is that so surprising?
Both sites introduced me to romance reviews that actually told me something about books instead of generic, pro rah rah “oh this is great!!!” or outside negative views like “Romance books? What a joke.”
veinglory
October 16
2:12 pm
I have been online and a romance reading for as long as there was an internet–but never spent more than a second on AAR. No one site is *ever* a universal part of online development.
Sybil
October 16
2:22 pm
I would say for the niche you write in (it is m/m yes?) I can believe that. At the same time I would say there is a large amount of romance sites, blogs and reviewers – right now – across the board have been to AAR and influenced by it.
Regardless of it is was to join the fun, a take on what they saw as missing, expanding the genres in romance (be it erotica, erotic romance, m/m, m/f/m, urban fantasy [which I STILL say no HEA not romance but different post *g*], to have a focus on ebooks, to do it ‘right’ or even to try and do it too – at the same time I would tip my hat to Maili and say she influenced a HELLALOT of romance reader bloggers, regardless of if you personally know her of her or not.
Of course I would bet there are sites in your scope of m/m romance and erotica I don’t know of that have been a huge influence on bringing it to the mix and making more readers aware. My personal ignorance does not erase your experience or views. Of course that is just in my lil opinion.
Robin
October 16
4:50 pm
LOL, Jayne, of course you’re right, but I was actually thinking about a different tension — the one within the board where some of us who wanted to talk in a bit more depth were not always welcomed (it’s ONLY Romance, etc.). But your comment is a good reminder that LLB and co. took a lot of crap for refusing to be the official home of Romance hearts and flowers.
Also, am I the only one who still loves the TRR one heart reviews? I know they don’t get the play AAR does, but I still try to read their reviews, which have IMO been especially good in the past few years. In fact, I’ve probably been more persuaded by their reviews than AAR’s for the past year or two, FWIW and whatever that means.
Teddypig
October 16
6:26 pm
AAR? Do they review eBooks or M/M? Do they do a single thing relevant to me?
Because the people who got me involved review those things. Mrs. Freakin Giggles is more of a mentor to my reviewing than Laurie What’s-Her-Bucket.
Honestly, the only time I have ever heard anything about Laurie or AAR was when they were stirring the shit with some other blogger over, of all things, being noticed and given some type of recognition for some type of self important deally or event they wanted promoted.
Who the hell cares! If they can’t seem to find more people to get involved maybe they need to make their site or themselves more attentive or informative about what more people actually want to read.
The best way to kill a site is to not listen and believe in your own hype.
Sybil
October 16
6:42 pm
AAR? Do they review eBooks or M/M? Do they do a single thing relevant to me?
No clue and I would guess not but being relevant to you doesn’t change what they did or didn’t do x amount of years ago does it?
I thought that was the point of why they aren’t as relevant today (because I would say they aren’t) BUT that doesn’t negate what they have done or what they could do if they choose to move forward.
Or not… they can not have ebooks, not have m/m and not be relevant to teddypig or anyone else who is interested in those two and still be something apart of the whole.
Just as teddypig’s ultimate m/m ebook site could be the queen of all blogs of m/m ebooks or ebooks or whatever and have an impact.
You could even believe your own hype and still create something with an impact online be it in a genre, fandom, niche or whatev. Would it be long term who knows, doesn’t look like it but it would depend on how one defines ‘longterm’. ::shrug:: it is what it is
Teddypig
October 16
6:55 pm
Right Sybil,
But in this case it looked like getting the “community” to attack another blogger to make Laurie feel better about herself and her site was what it was.
Sybil
October 16
7:02 pm
oh sorry, I didn’t know you were meaning her behavior now… I totally think she acted like a tool
And I didn’t follow all of it, short attention span yah know. I would ‘guess’ she is taking her toys and going home. If that is best for her and where she is right now, well ok. Regardless I don’t think any of the flamewars (current, in the past or whatev) take away from the impact of what AAR did for a large amount of the romance community.
That I respect as well as her vision behind the idea of what she was trying to do. And she kept going… was she always right? I would say no but I think all of us have something we have done or will do we would change after the fact.
If not we are standing still and will die me think…
Meljean
October 16
8:46 pm
Robin said:
Nope. Another fan of TRR here 😀
Roslyn Holcomb
October 16
9:00 pm
LLB and AAR were/are irrelevant to me as well. They can’t be bothered to read the type books I read, or address any of the issues I have in this community. Therefore, next.
Throwmearope
October 16
9:51 pm
Giving up blogging (for whatever reason) seems to be fashionable right now. (Mrs. Giggles has given up a few times I think.)
I just hope the sites I like don’t decide to go with the new fashion and quit.
K. Z. Snow
October 17
1:44 am
I’ve only skimmed past that site, but I came away with the impression they didn’t go near e-books. Is that true . . . or did I just not search deeply enough?
SarahT
October 17
2:18 am
Although I love several blogs, including Karen’s & Dear Author, I rely more on AAR and TRR for reviews. Karen & DA review a lot of erotica and paranormal romances and I’m not a huge fan of either of these subgenres. AAR & TRR review a lot of contemporaries & historicals, which are still my favourites.
Just out of curiosity, is there any website devoted specifically to reviews of e-books and/or erotica? Or are they reviewed exclusively on specific blogs?
vanessa jaye
October 17
12:17 pm
Another vote for TRR. I also use to check out Slake’s ‘Against the wall’ and ‘On a pedestal’ reader feedback feature, but that site kept getting hit with spam and the posts became less meaty and more ranty.
I’m pretty sure there’s one reviewer over on AAR who reads/reviews a fair bit of ebooks, but it seems to be that she reviews what she buys personally. AAR doesn’t accept ebook submissions for review. Ironically, Laurie reads quite a bit of ebooks/romantica and reviews/talks about thes on her blog; many times she also post those reviews on AAR. So the answer to your question is yes and no.
Angela
October 17
11:52 pm
I like the Op-Ed pieces at DA, but since I don’t read ebooks (not because of I’m not interested, but erotic romance dominates the ebook market, which I don’t read), and I do read historicals with a smattering of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, AAR is more congenial when it comes to discussing books I read.
LLB and AAR were/are irrelevant to me as well. They can’t be bothered to read the type books I read, or address any of the issues I have in this community. Therefore, next. Hey Roslyn, that is true, but in all fairness, “black” romance hasn’t become as integrated with the major romance blogs as I’d like it to be either. It’s a sticky situation, IMO, but I’m not going to cut myself off from any romance hub b/c of that.
I for one am of the mind that I wish more black readers would bombard the mainstream romance hubs with discussions instead of hoarding it off to one section–particularly when non-black readers (or even black readers who don’t know about black fiction sections) frequently express their bewilderment with knowing what to read, as every genre is lumped together under one imprint; knowing who to read, as black romance authors have been marginalized; and even getting their hands on the books, since buyers tend to stock the shelves based on demographics. I liken a possible bombardment of black readers to the infamous sit-ins of the ’50s. 🙂
But I digress. I remember one of my first blog posts was to ask whether AAR was relevant in todays blog-helmed landscape and my answer today is yes and no. As Meljean said, the blogger format is more accessible to the new generation of the online romance community, but a few members of the AAR boards have expressed their dislike of the blogger format as commenting on one feels too “personal” to them, as though if you were to disagree with the blogger, it feels as though you’re insulting them in “their house.”
So, yes AAR is irrelevant in not switching to the insta-news format of blogs, as sites like this one, SBTB, DA, etc have broken news about the genre, as well as lagging behind their former status of editor, agent, author, etc interviews and editorial pieces. But no, AAR isn’t irrelevant as many of you have articulated: it was one of the first romance review sites that broke away from the kittens and kisses style of reviewing, it became a force to be reckoned with concerning media attempts to marginalize the romance genre, and it was a major force in bringing the genre out from behind the general practice of reading romances alone in your home and moving on to the next without analyzing them.
As for the future of the online community, I have no idea. Perhaps ultimately, there could be a blend of AAR and romance blogs that some maverick will found in the coming years.
(BTW Robin, you are missed on the AAR boards. You and LFL, and a bevy of other readers from the old style. I’d rather you come to the boards and argue your point in the intellectual style I like, than back down because you feel derided for it. I would have loved to hear your take on the ongoing discussion about Laura Lee Guhrke’s The Marriage Bed).
DS
October 18
3:11 am
I used to find the scrolling boards on AAR really annoying to navigate. Then things changed and I couldn’t easily find anything. I used to show up every few weeks but I would forget betweens times what to click on. Then I also thought that there was less diversity of opinion. Certain posters dominated the board, but they weren’t the ones I wanted to hear from about romance.
I repect LLB for what she did (and she really was a voice crying in the wilderness at one time), but I’m more entertained elsewhere these days.
Robin
October 18
6:24 pm
LOL, Angela; I haven’t seen the discussion on The Marriage Bed, but the reviews board thread on her latest (Secret Desires of A Gentleman or something like that) has been a temptation for days! I’m sure I will succumb at some point.
It’s not that I fear censure; in fact, it can sometimes actually increase my activity (immature, but there you have it). It’s more about time management and where I feel the most or least resistance to my participation — where it becomes easier or more difficult to say what I want to say the way I want to say it. And I don’t really think I have anything crucial to say on any board (well, crucial to anyone but me), so sometimes my participation on AAR feels duplicative to me. Especially because I seem to be at the other end of the grading scale on SO MANY books they review these days that I have also reviewed.
Also, some of my favorite books haven’t been reviewed there at all (like Jo Goodman’s latest, which I know has been discussed on the RTR board, but which wasn’t even reviewed at AAR despite the fact that Goodman won like three titles in the last AAR Reader’s Poll — sorry, but that discrepancy remains a mystery to me).
Mostly, though, it’s more that I’ve gotten out of the habit of commenting over there, even though I will often contemplate it as I’m reading through various threads.
p.s. and totally OT: have you read the new Melody Thomas yet?
Angela
October 22
3:36 am
It’s next on my TBR list. She keeps sucking me in despite my having the same issue with her books. lol