Review By: Autumn Sky Reviews

Review by: Autumn Sky Reviews
Date of review: August 25, 2006

First Impressions

Ooh black. My first impression is that you’ve changed your layout since I last showed up at your site, and it looks nice. I see coding in the current post… umm, mysql coding, which means you’re smarter than me. Aha, you’re the Jem of BellaBook, of course you’re smarter than me. I can tell this is going to be one of those tough reviews where you’re scrambling to find something wrong.

Graphic Design

There’s not a lot of graphics in your design, which is just fine. It seems to be the main graphic and the background for the sidebar. I actually love the simplicity of the main image. It’s just simple enough to declare its existance, but not so bland that you don’t even see it. I think I remember those same types of retro circles in your last layout, so kudos on carrying the theme across.

Honestly, the only real complaint I can make about your graphics is the bullets. They’re pink, but they just don’t seem to flow with the layout. They’re also so small that the more you try and see them, the less they’re there, if that makes sense. I think you should opt for a slightly bigger bullet… doesn’t even have to be by much, just a pixel or two. It would be cute to make a mini version of your retro circle to use as a bullet!

Coding

It’s going to be a joke, trying to find anything wrong. Let’s see. Valid XHTML Strict, valid CSS. Your layout is perfectly aligned in Internet Explorer and Firefox. Your site is perfectly readible with CSS or images disabled. Ooh, a fluid layout! Looks great in both resolutions I have (800 and 1024). Zero errors, zero warnings, says my Tidy extension. Images have alts (though you don’t use too many images), and links have titles. Come on, Jem, can’t you slip up somewhere so I can catch you??

Aha! I’m not sure if this is supposed to be there, but it’s only in IE, so I’ll assume it’s not. When I hover your main graphic to go back to the index, there’s a grey underline. If it’s intended, I’m grasping for straws, but I thought I’d point that out.

Content and Organization

About

I actually really love your about page. I’ve had a lot of reviewers tell me, “write out your life story! be detailed! go on and on and on about yourself!” Honestly, I like the way you have it set up. You’ve got a paragraph and then a bunch of little lists, and I personally love lists on about pages, so you’ve got me there. Only a few changes I can think of.

“My Life, in Short” — We Americans have no clue what you’re year six is. For us, that’s sixth grade… where you are when you’re about eleven! Since I don’t think you took your SATs that early, perhaps explain?
“Other.. Stuff” — Ellipses should have three dots
“I am” — Why did you wait until almost last to divulge that you are female??

Scribblings

Okay, I didn’t read each and every one of these, but I read the ones that I thought looked interesting, and I’m really impressed. I heartily agree with the internet articles, about how people don’t validate things and code with FrontPage. Okay, I’ll admit, my first couple of layouts were non-validated, etc, but that was because I was scared to get into it, that I’d be over my head. I wish I would have read your articles back then. They’re very to-the-point and make a lot of sense. I didn’t find any real errors, just a few disagreements in opinion.

Reviews

The first time I came past your site, a while back, it was the reviews that made me stop and read. I absolutely love the reviews you do on other sites, the unrequested ones. Yeah, they are a little harsh and often sarcastic (sometimes hilariously so), but what I’ve read of you so far, that’s just because it’s true. Your reviews remind me a lot of Rhiannon’s reviews… a bit sarcastic but always absolutely honest. Of course, I say all this before someone like you has a go at my site. Your book reviews, on the other hand, are kind of short. After your long and detailed website reviews, the short book reviews were almost a disappointment! They did, however, give me the general gist of the books, but I’d like to hear even more, especially if I had already read the book. If you go too far into it, a spoiler warning should suffice, eh?

About the Domain

This is actually by far the best “domain” pages I’ve seen in a long time. It tells you everything you need to know without glossing over things and without going too far into it and losing your readers. Ah, I see you’re another one who reviews your reviews… Amanda got me hooked on that and I think it’s a useful thing to do. The only think I can really think of adding is perhaps some sort of way to show your old layouts. I’m intrigued by your design style, and I’d personally like to see even just screenshots of your old layouts. You could probably handle them the same way you’ve done your site awards… a small, unobtrusive thumbnail that links to maybe a half-size screenshot. This is especially the case when I glance through the reviews you’ve recieved and see reviews of a rainbow-like layout… dang it, I’m curious, and I’d like to see it!

Useful Goodies

Oh my, I’m pleasantly surprised! I’m new to this minimalistic, anti-graphic and clean coding thing (so shoot me), and I keep assuming that the people with that style layout (read: you) aren’t graphically inclined. I was wrong! Your avatars are beautiful… I’m definitely saving a couple. The code converter has been thoroughly bookmarked, and if I used smilies, I’d be using your eyes. The only thing I’m worried about are the three little pixel awards. How do they belong here, if they’re something you won? You’re not offering them… should they be on another page?

Free Themes

I got really excited prior to clicking this link, but I’m just a little disappointed by your WordPress themes. I mean, they’re correctly coded and they’re not ugly, but they’re lacking… “oomph,” for lack of a better word. The graphic quality isn’t the best, and I think a little attention to detail would take you a long way. I’d love to see themes that look a little more like the theme you have now… something you could actually see yourself using. On the other hand, the BellaBook themes are good. Style-wise, they’re not my favorite, but I love the idea that you have free themes for your own script. I actually never saw a need for guestbooks outside of comment-less Geocities sites (shoot me again), which brings to mind kids, and therefore your “kid” theme is absolutely perfect.

Anything Else?

I’ve just been to your site map to see if I’ve forgotten anything… the one thing that caught my eye was the “family for sale” page. Hmm, if I put my family up for sale, do you think we could make it a package deal? Oh, and I think the coolest thing I’ve seen on your site thus far would be the typo reporter for your “Mummy.” I clicked on the link from the site map, and lo and behold! it puts in the url from which I came from. Anyway you could make this script available for general use? Or is it just a glorified email form?

Final Impression

Jem, your site is amazing. I first came to it from Shawna’s site, because she has you as her site of the moment down in her footer. I see now exactly why you’re there. It was a struggle coming up with things I didn’t like on your site. You have a lot of attention to detail, content-wise, that I’d love to see you carry out through your design. The fact that you have created your own content management system is astounding. I’d love to learn how to do that… if I can ever stop hugging WordPress. Your wit and sarcasm make you an easy and entertaining read, and definitely worth coming back for more. I only hope this review doesn’t find its way into your wall of shame!

Page last modified: July 4, 2008