The fella behind the ubiquitous blog Stuff White People Like has published a book based on the blog. I've been interested in how this might turn out and stumbled across this review of the book in Variety:
Anyone who reads Stuff White People Like without perusing the blog it is based upon first, might well wonder what all the fuss is about. Stripped of the blog's media riffs, hyperlinks and swiped photos — its very blogginess — the tome must rely on the wit and insight of its "research findings," and there's not much of that.
This review taps into something I've been suspecting: that a blog format isn't necessarily all that translatable to books. The Fug Girls have a book out and I have to say, while I love their blog, I'm not sure I'd like it in book form.
What do you think? Are you hesitant to buy a blog in book form? Or do you think the mediums complement each other well?
Replay
Ezekiel
Coggles.com
i love this site!
so hilarious
1Huh, I'm really intrigued...
2Some blogs I wouldn't be so sure about, but the woman from Petite Anglaise has a book that recently came out, and I'm excited to read it...I guess it depends on the subject matter.
3The Fug Girls' book is actually pretty entertaining. My mom bought it and I read parts of it when I was staying with her. But to be honest, Stuff White People Like, while a great blog, just isn't going to cut it for me.
4For one thing, I'd buy the book of WaiterRant.net . I know the writer said that he isn't working in the Cafe Machiavelli anymore, but I do reread his blog (my fave entry: http://waiterrant.net/?p=45 ) and wish that I'd get the book soon.
5If Michael K from Dlisted wrote a book, I'd be the first in line to buy it.
6Kevin Smith did this with his blog. I didn't buy the book but i always read his blog. It is very funny and entertaining.
7The Long Tail book wasn't very good. (Magazine article first, then blog).
8Wow, I was going to answer this question about an hour and a half ago, but I've been drawn into reading WaiterRant all morning. I will totally buy that book. Thanks for the link, Bisque!
I think it really depends on the blog- for example, WaiterRant works because it's relatively timeless. It's not dependent on the immediacy of pop culture to make it interesting. Whereas, as much as I adore the Fug girls, their blog has to be current and immediate, and by the time something were to make it into a book you'd have seen it a million times in US or Life & Style or on dlisted. It would lose most of its appeal.
That said, I haven't read the Fug book yet, and maybe they found a way to make it work. I'm not sure about Stuff White People Like- I guess it also depends on how they make the transition.
9It depends on the blog's content. Some blogs wind up telling stories, which can make for good books if the writing is solid enough and if it's not just a straight ripped collection of blog posts. The key is good writing, I think.
10Mimi Smartypants has a book that is hilarious.
11I plan on reading Petite Anglaise and Wife In The North, the only blog book I have read yet is the Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl, based on dietgirl.org, which is well worth a read!
12the site was entertainign for a bit but it got kinda boring and like.. okay this isnt funny anymore.. how many times can you say the same thing over and over.
13Ahh! I love Michael K.
But otherwise... blogs are only fun because they're updated and have new stuff everyday.
14I'd PREFER to read the book than the blog! Purely because it's more accessible! And, sure, if it's a good blog - publish away!
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