Blog: Emma Lee’s Blog
X: @Emma_Lee1
Instagram: @emmainleicester
Bluesky: @emmalee1.bsky.social
Started Reviewing: August 2017
Meet Emma Lee
Questions on Reviewing
What made you start a book blog and/or book review social media account?
Reviewing for poetry magazines can be precarious as editors change or a magazine goes on hiatus (sometimes permanently) so having a poetry book review blog seemed like a good way of being able to continue to consistently review poetry books. I already had a track record with reviewing for poetry magazines and now review a mix of books I’ve chosen and also selecting from requests made by poets, publishers and book marketers.
What have you learned about the poetry industry since reviewing?
It gave me more of an appreciation for the work that goes into putting together a coherent poetry collection. The best collections don’t necessarily have a theme, but do have something that links the poems together so they don’t feel like a random selection. It also taught me there’s no such thing as a universal collection that appeals to everyone. As a reviewer there are some books you’re simply not the target market for and that’s fine.
Are there any poets you have discovered through reviewing that you might have otherwise missed out on?
I like to think I keep up with new releases and poetry publishers’ newsletters so reviewing usually affirms my instincts for what might interest me.
What do you think makes a great book review?
A great review is entertaining to read, whether or not the book being reviewed is of interest, and lets the review reader know whether they want to buy the book at the end of it. It’s possible to enjoy a review even if you don’t like the book being reviewed. If a review reader gets to the end of a review and doesn’t know whether they want to read the book under review, then the review’s failed.
How do you handle reviewing a book you dislike?
Remember it’s OK not to be part of the target market for a book, but describe the book in a way that the target market will recognise it’s for them. A poetry publisher said he’d sold books on the basis of one of my reviews which was clear that the book didn’t strike a chord with me, but described the book so well that target readers recognised that they would love it. There was a music reviewer and every time he loved an album, it would go on my ‘never ever buy this’ list, but every time he hated an album, I’d rush out and buy it. We had opposite tastes, but because he described the albums under review, I knew which ones would appeal to me. “Reviewer didn’t like book” is not necessarily a bad review.
Is there anything that puts you off reviewing a book or author?
Requesting a review via a social media tag instead of following my blog’s review guidelines. I know it’s fine to turn down a review request if my schedule’s already full, but forcing me to make a public answer means my response will be seen by people who don’t appreciate my schedule is full. It feels like a guilt-trip into reviewing something.
Questions About Books
Firstly, the most important question, what books are currently ‘by your bedside’?
Han Kang’s Light and Thread, Arthur Sze’s Into the Hush, Kim Hyesoon’s Phantom Pain Wings, a mix of books to read and ones I like to go back and dip into.
What children’s book would you recommend all adults read?
Any children’s poetry anthology.
What was the last book you read that you would recommend?
Victoria Chang’s With My Back To The World.
Is there an author you always read?
There would be too many poets to list so I’m going to pick Han Kang.
Who is your literary icon?
Patricia Smith, American poet and tutor who is very generous in her readings and responses to audience’s questions. Her collection Blood Dazzler was superb and I’m looking forward to her The Intentions of Thunder (which isn’t out in the UK yet).
How do you sort your books?
Alphabetically by author or by title if an anthology of several authors’ work (these go in a separate bookcase). This might not be the most photogenic approach, but I like to be able to find books.
What underrated book should more people read?
Han Kang’s The White Book, a poetic exploration of grief and its aftermath.
What are three books that define your taste as a reader?
Sylvia Plath’s Ariel, Jean Rhys’ Good Morning Midnight, and Kim Hyesoon’s Phantom Pain Wings. It’s rare for me to go back to a book outside of reviewing it but these I do go back to and re-read in whole or in part.
And finally…
Do you have any other reviewers or bloggers you would recommend?
Poetry London’s reviews, Nigel Kent’s blog, Sheenagh Pugh’s “Good God there’s writing on both sides of that paper” blog, Robin Houghton’ s poetry blog and the North Sea Poets.
Thank you Emma😊
Books By Your Bedside 