BBAW Day 5: Blogging Practices

Today's BBAW prompt is to share three things I think are essential tried and true practices for every blogger.  Obviously, this is my opinion and I didn't spend hours thinking about it, just so you know.  Off the top of my head here are the three I try to abide by:

Be respectful, especially when you're angry.
It seems like every week there is a new blogging controversy that happens because someone says something and someone gets mad and says something and there's a whole bunch of nasty things said.  (Ok, most of the time, everyone is very nice.  But we all have off days.)  I think it's a great rule of thumb, particularly when you're angry, to step away from the computer and cool off.  You'll feel better if you don't make those nasty remarks online. 

There will always be someone more popular than you, so don't worry about it.
I know I tend to obsess about my follower number and how many people comment and how many people visit and how many, etc.  And I know I feel happier during the times I just forget about it and do what I want.  It's hard sometimes, but it really is so much more enjoyable.

Blog when you want to, don't when you don't.
Lots of people have said this and it really is some excellent advice.  I notice a drop in the quality of my posts when I don't want to be blogging and do it anyway.  It's better all around to just take a break.  People will still want to read your blog when you return.

The other question is about new trends or tools I’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future.  To be honest, I'm probably the last person in the world to adopt new trends and tools.  I know there are lots out there that will make my blogging easier and faster, but I just don't know what they are.  I'd love to hear about some though, if you have suggestions!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

BBAW Day 4: Readers and the Seven Realms

Another day of BBAW fun and I am excited for this topic. Today BBAW asks: Has blogging changed the way I read?

The short answer: Yes.

To elaborate on this, my post today is the perfect example.  Today, I am talking about my love for the Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima.   But not in the same way I would have before the blog.  Not only do I talk about the love, but now I have the chance to literally share it.

See, back in the pre-blog days, I'd occasionally rave to people about awesome books.  Now, I can rave, I can interact with authors, and I can participate in book celebrations, like this one.  It adds a whole new dimension (or two or three...) to the reading experience.  I love the author interactions, the celebrations and read-alongs and countdowns and cover reveals and giveaways that populate the book blogging world.  I love to host and to simply participate.  All these things have increased my enjoyment and give depth to my reading experience.  And, of course, it's fun too! :)  So, to illustrate, here we go:

As you may recall, I've raved about this series before (specifically The Exiled Queen and The Gray Wolf Throne)- it's pretty much everything you could hope for in an epic fantasy, especially a world so rich and deep it's almost impossible to distinguish it from our own.  It's the kind of book that you fall into and emerge calling yourself Frodo or Arwen or dressing in robes and clutching wands because you're so obsessed with the characters.  A story that will bring something new every time you reread it.

Emily of Emily's Reading Room invited me to join in this Seven Realms celebration by posting part of a puzzle that when put together will spell a secret word that will allow you to enter to win a set of signed Seven Realms books.  You can also change your Twitter avatar to one of the pictures below (each one represents a group from the books) and tweet using the hashtag #sevenrealms for more chances to win!

My piece of the puzzle:

You can find the links to the other pieces of the puzzle at Emily's Reading Room.

Once you have the word, email it to Emily (emilysreadingroom(at)gmail.com) with the subject: Seven Realms Week.

Below are the images to use for Twitter.  The crown represents the Queen’s Guard, the ring represents the Clans, and the amulet represents the Wizards.  On Facebook you can change your profile picture as well, and post on the Provo City Library’s Facebook Page they are offering another set of the books, signed.

So, what has blogging changed in your reading experience?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

BBAW Day 3: Community II

Today's topic is one I feel ridiculously inadequate writing about, so I'm hoping y'all will share your good advice and I will learn.  However, I wanted to mention a few things that I think I've learned (even if I haven't applied them) about blogging community.

First, the book blogging world is enormous.  There will never be a way for you to know every book blog out there and connect with everyone.  I think the best thing to do is find a core group of bloggers that you like.  People whose opinions and reviews you can respect, even if you don't always agree with them.  Connect with them, comment on their reviews or features that you like (and by comment, I mean things of substance).  Chat with them on twitter.  (Oh, how I am laughing at myself for giving this advice - I am so bad at it.)  This doesn't mean, however, that once you have a core group it can't grow, it just means you don't have to feel like you need to have 100 best blogging buddies.  I'd never have the time or energy to keep up with that many.  Kudos to you if you can!

Second, I think it's ok to have blogs on your periphery that you keep track of, but don't personally interact with the bloggers.  I stalk a number of blogs that I comment on irregularly, if at all.  Usually these are the big names that won't notice if there are 96 comments instead of 97.  I don't have the time to comment on everything I read, so usually these are the blogs that I skip.  Bloggers who are just getting started or that are under-the-radar are the ones I am more likely to comment on. 
  
So, let's get to some better advice, shall we?  I'd like to ask you guys, how do you find the time to blog and connect with other bloggers?  How do you start off that initial awkward acquaintance?  What are your tips for the ridiculously shy (like, well, me)?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

BBAW Day 2: Interview

Today I get to interview Vy from Vy's Blog. Here's a little bit about her:

"My name is Vy and I'm a teen blogger. I love reading YA books and getting a chance to share my thoughts."

1. You are a relatively new blogger - what one thing do you like the most about book blogging?  What surprised you the most about becoming a book blogger?
What I like most of all is meeting other bloggers who share the same love for books! Meeting some bloggers in person at some book events are even more fun. I did not realize how much time I'd put into blogging. Book blogging is really fun but I just didn't expect it to be so time consuming.

2. What one book do you find yourself recommending to friends/family/strangers over and over?
I've been recommending Divergent by Veronica Roth the most lately. But the first question I always ask someone is, "Have you read The Hunger Games?". 

3. Share with us the experience(s) with your middle school librarians that started you reading again.
My librarians just make every single book sound like the most exciting thing ever. It was actually during our library orientation and she was telling us about The Hunger Games. After that I had to go get myself a copy and relied off of their recommendations. 

For more from Vy and to see her interview with me, check her out at Vy's Blog or on twitter: @VysBlog

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

BBAW Day 1: Community

Welcome to Book Blogger Appreciation Week!  I'm so excited it's finally here.  I've been helping out the wonderful people who have done most of the work and I feel fortunate to participate.  Be sure to check on the results of the voting and those lovely bloggers and books that won.  Today, we're talking about community and people who have made a difference in our blogging.  I'm not sure this will even cover it, but I thought I should tell you about bloggers I admire and bloggers who make me want to keep blogging.  Here are a few:

Emily of Emily's Reading Room - this girl makes me want to do more.  She kept me up-to-date on Utah author events (and makes me miss it more now) and she seems so tireless in her blogging.  Love to read updates from her.

Jenny at Alternate Readality - a new blogger and one of my favorites.  Her reviews will make you think long and hard about why you liked a book, especially when she can rip it up and down so neatly!  Not only does she write exceptionally honest reviews, she is my most regular commenter, nearly always leaving some comment on every post I do.  She certainly makes me think someone else out there is reading my stuff. :)

Small Review - this is the blog I wish I wrote.  Every review is thoughtful and has some really fun and smart points.  Her features are so interesting that I wish I'd come up with them.  I love the review comparisons and the discussion posts.  Such a unique and wonderful blog. 

Stacked - another blog I wish I had created.  Perhaps it is because Kimberly and Kelly are secretly the librarians I want to be.  They have thoughtful reviews and also fun librarian posts.  Always a pleasure to read.

Susan of Bloggin' 'bout Books - I'm starting to think that everything Susan recommends is something I should read.  We have similar tastes, though I think she is a better judge of a book's literary quality.  I love to read what she has to say, mostly because she is brutally honest as well.  A go-to for books I should read.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention again (and again and again): Suey of It's All About Books - all around nice person and really eclectic in taste.  She blogs about books, but lots of other fun stuff too like music and TV.  She's the one who made me want to be a more active part of the blogging community, particulary the Utah blogging community.  And she invited me to her book club (which I miss so much).  One of my favorite people who happens to be a blogger.

And there you have a handful of my favorite folks.  Who are some of your favorites?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Good Times in the Blogging World

Just wanted to mention a few events that are or will be taking place soon!  I have to admit, I love the blogging events that go on - I think they are one of the reasons I keep blogging even when I'm burned out.  Maybe one of these will help you get out of your slump:

First, Book Bloggers Appreciation Week (BBAW) is celebrating its fourth year in September!  Registration is now open and nominations for blogs and books that you love are open as well.  Be sure to visit and nominate your favorites.  I got the chance to help out (a very little) in the organization details this time and I'm so glad we were able to get things worked out so we can celebrate book bloggers again this year.

Second, I'm joining in with The Book Monsters' Review-a-Thon happening next week, August 7-13. I am ridiculously behind on posting reviews (book reviews from March that haven't been posted yet), so this will be a great chance for me to get lots of them up.

Last of all, I just wanted to shout out to those who haven't seen it yet, Presenting Lenore is doing her semi-annual dystopian celebration. Dystopian August is going to be fabulous with reviews and giveaways and previews for upcoming dystopian titles. Those of you who can't get enough of this genre, be sure to check her out. I'll hopefully be posting a few dystopian reviews this month to join in the fun :)

Oh, and just another shout out for my Name That Book giveaway going on right now.  Very few people have entered, so your odds are really good.  You could win your choice of a YA or MG book including Possession by Elana Johnson or Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  It's open until Sunday, so be sure to enter.

Anything fun you're looking forward to this month in the blogging world? 

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

BBAW Day 5: Future Treasures

This was a hard post to write.  Well, the second half anyway.  I'll admit I am terrible with making goals (and even worse at following through).  But, as far as things I love about BBAW, that isn't too hard.  I loved finding new blogs, and I love that the links will be there for longer than this week and I'll be able to find new blogs for months to come (I didn't visit nearly as many blogs as I'd like to).  I especially loved the Forgotten Treasures we told each other about.  I hope we all pick one of those up and read it, if only to find out what makes another person tick.  I hope someone somewhere picks up Precious Bane and finds a new friend in that book.  

And now, on to the hard part.  I may have cheated a little and looked at other people's blogs first for ideas.  But, that is another one of the benefits of BBAW - a whole truckload of ideas!  Here are three that I finally settled on:

1. Not reading so much and feeling so stressed about finishing books on time that I no longer enjoy reading.  This is actually something I've been feeling coming on for a few weeks.  I have to step back, remember why I love to read, and then find some books that will pull me out of the "I have to finish this by" funk.  

2. Write some more thoughtful reviews.  I notice that with the above problem, my reviews start to all sound the same and I use those cliche words over and over.  If I liked something, why did I like it?  If I didn't, why not?  This will take a little more time when writing reviews, but I think will totally improve the quality of them.  (At the same time, if I can't think of why or why not, I'm not going to bang my head against that review until I figure it out.  So, maybe only some of my reviews will improve! :)

3. Get a new project that I've been sitting on going.  I've been thinking about starting this new feature at my blog which I think will be a lot of fun, but I've been stalled on it.  It will actually require quite a bit of time at first, but I think once I get it going, it will not be as difficult.  I'd like to see the first post go up in a few weeks time at the latest.  I hope you check back and see if I actually accomplish this one.  

So, what are your blogging goals?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart

Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9781606840801
Source: ARC provided by publicist

 

During the World's Fair in Philadelphia in 1876, Katherine must come to terms with the loss of her twin sister Anna.  She struggles to understand why Anna is gone and her part in the loss of her sister.  Surrounded by the people who came to Philadelphia for the fair and by cultures from around the world represented there, we get a very individual and human story of one young woman remembering the times she had with Anna and deciding if she wants to live life without her. 

Things I Liked:
Lovely, lovely writing.  This is my second taste of Beth Kephart, and I have to admit she has a way with words.  The writing isn't what you'd call flowery, showy or gripping, but it has a quiet power that draws you into the heart and soul of her characters.  I loved the setting, a time and place that I haven't read a lot about.  But, I especially loved Anna and Katherine.  They are what make this story tick.  The memories of the heartbreak and joy that both come from the same relationship.  A touching story.  Some lovely quotes:

The bird has gone off on some tune.  Short, unsustained notes - more like questions than songs.  The rustling of its feathers is like the sound of a hand cupped to an ear - that space between the hand and the ear, where the heartbeat echoes. p 38-39 of ARC

High above is the crystal chandelier, and Anna won't take her eyes off it; in Anna's eyes it shines.  It's like the icicles that form on the edge of a roof when the sun gets trapped inside - a cascade of ice and sun. 
"Like sitting inside a jewelry box," Anna whispers, and Katherine nods. p 158 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
I found that I was less interested in the present parts of the story, at least initially.  I loved far more the flashbacks Katherine experiences, her memories of Anna.  When she was in the present, things were so much more foggy.  I think that might have been intentional, since she was trying to deal with the guilt and sorrow and it was clouding her sight.  However, I got confused and even a bit bored with those parts.  But, taken as a whole, I really enjoyed this book!

Read-alikes:
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
that I recall...

mrg-factor: X
a very little implied

v-factor: ->
some scary situations, nothing graphically violent

Overall rating: ****

The Hidden Treasures idea for a BBAW post is perfect for this review.  I know Kephart's books have been under the radar for many, though the efforts of Amy from My Friend Amy and Nicole from Linus' Blanket have helped a lot. I know they are the reasons I picked up my first Kephart and why I agreed to read this one as well. She could certainly use more attention, and I think deserves it, if only for the sheer beauty of her writing!

And I would be remiss in my Hidden Treasure duties if I didn't also mention an absolute favorite classic book that I think I have yet to meet a book blogger who's read it! This beautiful book is Precious Bane by Mary Webb, which I posted a review of a long time ago. This book impacted me so much when I read it, possibly because it was a gift from my sister-in-law during a time when I was recovering from a (seemingly) broken heart. I was definitely mopey, sad, and feeling ugly. This book reminded me what beauty is and to look for it in everyone. If you can get through the colloquial language of the book (which is probably the hardest thing people find when reading it), then it is bright and sparkling and so lovely. If you have the time and patience, do try it and then come back and let's talk about it. Ok, end of raving.

What is your Hidden Treasure?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley
Publisher: Bantam
Publication date: April 2009
ISBN: 9780385343497
Source: Library

 

Flavia de Luce is in a perpetual rivalry with her two older sisters, Ophelia and Daphne.  Fortunately, she has a passion for chemistry which makes revenge something delightfully sweet any time she wants to cook up a little poison.  But, when a body finds its way into her family's garden, mysteriously dead and unfortunately implicating her father, Flavia must use all her skills, not just chemistry-related, to solve the crime and protect her father. 

Today's BBAW topic is Unexpected Treasure, and I have to tell you, this is perfect.  My review today is proof that bloggers have influence (even bloggers that are not Angie).  I have never been a big fan of newly released adult titles, especially not mystery titles (let's be honest, most of what I review is young adult and non-mystery).  I always feel like I have to wait and wait until I've heard enough good about them before I'll pick them up.  But, even then, I don't remember any other adult mysteries I've read.  I'm not sure if I just avoided them altogether because I had so many other favorites, or because of some unconscious decision.  Either way, this book was not on my radar.  Until it kept showing up all over the place, with people adoring and praising it to the skies.  I do not even remember which review finally pushed me over the edge, but I am oh so glad I finally caved.

Things I Liked:
Flavia is an absolute gem!  I couldn't help but love her to pieces, even when I couldn't understand her chemistry delights (I'm from a whole family of chemists, but I never even took a class).  Bradley has created such a real character, this precocious (totally overused, but really can't think of another word for it) eleven-year-old with a sense of humor you wouldn't believe.  I wanted to keep reading more about her and with her.  I wanted to follow her around everwhere and find out what she'd do or say next.  I especially wanted more of her sisterly escapades - even with four older sisters, I never had much skill in the revenge department.  And the story itself was a delight to read!  Well written with an unforgettable character.  Here are just a few of my favorite parts:

Their two yellow brick annexes, postulantly Victorian, folded back like the pinioned wings of a bone yard angel which to my eyes, gave the tall windows and shutters of Buckshaw's Georgian front the prim and surprised look of an old maid whose bun is too tight. p 7

It occured to me that Heaven must be a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
No...eight days a week. p 59

It's a fact of life that a girl can tell in a flash if another girl likes her.  Feely says that there is a broken telephone connection between men and women and we can never know which of us rang off.  With a boy you never know whether he's smitten or gagging, but with a girl you can tell in teh first three seconds.  Between girls there is a silent and unending flow of invisible signals... p85

It was downhill all the way, and I made good speed.  When I backpedaled, the Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub on Gladys's rear wheel gave off a noise like a den of enraged venom-dripping rattlesnakes.  I pretended they were right there behind me striking at my heels.  It was glorious!  I hadn't felt in such fine form since the day I first produced, by successive extraction and evaporation, a synthetic curare from the bog arum in the Vicar's lily pond. p156

Things I Didn't Like:
Not much to not like.  The mystery aspect was a bit simplistic, I thought.  Some parts of it were fairly easy to figure out, though others completely took me by surprise.  Definitely worth reading.

Read-alikes:
Apparently, there's already another Flavia de Luce mystery, with a third in the wings - get started already! 
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee (though they are both more Victorian...)

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few, not a lot

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some fairly scary stuff, also a bit of violence

Overall rating: *****

What is your Unexpected Treasure?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

BBAW, Day 2: New Treasure

I managed to participate in this year's BBAW interview swap (which makes me happy, since I forgot to sign up last year).  I got to interview the lovely Lu of Regular Rumination, which is a new blog for me.  Definitely take a look at her site - it's full of literary goodness!

ME: Tell us about your blog and the story behind creating it.

LU: I started Regular Rumination one December when I was on break from school and very bored. I didn't have any books to read

ME: What genre of books do your favorites (generally) come from?

LU: Hmmm, I'm not sure.  When I say I read everything, I really mean I read almost everything.  My favorite books come from a number of different genres, from YA dystopian to classics to literary fiction to horror.  

ME: If you could meet any character from any book, who would you choose and why?

LU: Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is at the top of my list.  Also Kay from The Night Watch.  Actually for very similar reasons: first I'd like to give each of them a big hug, then I'd like to take both of them out to coffee and make sure they became my best friends.  They're strong, level-headed women that have been through a lot and I think would have a lot to share.

ME: Who is your favorite villain from a book and why?

LU: I just recently read Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi and the villain is the main character's father.  He is so terrifying because we know there was a time when he loved his son, but greed turned him into a villain.

ME: If you wrote a book what would be the name of your main character?

LU: I recently started thinking about an idea and the name Annemarie popped into my head.  

ME: In five words, tell us what you think makes a great book.

LU: Characterization, setting, language, drama, & beauty.

ME: What is your favorite thing about reading?

LU: There's nothing I love more than getting so engrossed in a book that I forget the world around me.  I love that escape.  Beyond that, there is the wonderful community of readers and the instant connection you can make with people through books. Reading is something that I have shared with my family, my boyfriend and my friends. Now I can share it with the world too.  There are few things in life that make me quite as happy as getting lost in a wonderful book.  I don't even mind reading the bad ones so much.  
 

ME: What do you do when you aren't reading or blogging?

LU: Crocheting, hanging out with the boyfriend and my friends, watching Prison Break and Weeds. 

ME: What is your favorite part about BBAW or blogging in general?

LU: All the community building!  I love BBAW because we all get together and tell each other how fabulous we are.  I love book blogging because I get to meet people that have the same interests as me, but come from completely different walks of life.

Yes, exactly!  (And don't you just want to hang out with her?  I love the tin foil superhero look.)  I loved getting to know more about Lu and reading her interesting answers to these questions.  To get more Lu, head to her blog Regular Rumination or she's on twitter @lulu_bella and also, if you want to read my answers to some questions, check it out there too.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Listless Monday, Numb3r5 Edition

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature.  Be sure to check out their lists!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

I finally am getting back into the swing of things (I think).  Though, I may have to make Listless Monday an every other Monday feature.  We'll see.  I tried my hardest to think of a BBAW-related list, but just couldn't think of anything that wouldn't simply be a list of awesome blog links.  And if you want that, check out my Second Opinions blog list on the right.  So, since some of us are school-ing right now, I thought it'd be appropriate to pull out a numerical list.  Books that have a number in the title.

Numb3r5

1-10:
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
The Stolen One by Suzanne Carlisle Crowley
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West by Sid Fleischman

11-100:
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
The 13th Reality, Book 2: The Hunt for Dark Infinity by James Dashner
The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 clues book 4)
The 39 Clues: One False Note by Gordon Korman (39 clues book 2)
The 39 Clues: The Black Circle by Patrick Carman (39 clues book 5)
The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (39 clues book 1)
The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (39 clues book 3)
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

100+:
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
1776 by David McCullough
Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Mississippi Trial, 1955 by Chris Crowe
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

And, since it is Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I thought I'd highlight a few of my favorite blogs that I think I've discovered since last September (hey, my memory isn't that great).  Mostly, these are the ones I've found because of the awesome features and memes they do.  The first two are found at the top of this post.  Court of Once Upon a Bookshelf, whose Listed feature is so excellent - seriously, she's much more consistent than myself and has a lot of interesting lists, including extensive Canadian books.  Also, Amanda of A Bookshelf Monstrosity whose Books by Theme feature is always a delight to look at.  While the lists are shorter, they are usually so much more in depth and can be helpful if you are looking for a few books on a specific topic.  And last, I just wanted to mention Danielle of There's a Book, whose A Bit of Me(Me) I've just started doing on a semi-regular basis.  I love that she's created this meme that helps me actually share something about me, rather than just what I read.  For, though we may spend hours and hours reading, it isn't the whole of who we are.  These are three blogs that I quite enjoy.  Be sure to check them out! 

Any additions to the list or blogs you'd love to share?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Blogger Appreciation Week, 2010

This is the third year for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. It's a great way to party with our book blogging community. This year, it is going to be held from September 13-17.  I enjoyed BBAW so much last year, mostly because I was introduced to lots of new book blogs that I came to love! 

This year, everyone can register their blogs in order to vote for winners of an award category and also to nominate themselves in an award category.  I have to admit that I was (and still am) rather reluctant to nominate myself for an award.  But, I'm stepping outside of my comfort zone and doing it anyway.  I'm shooting for Best Speculative Fiction Book Blog, because I figure I read a lot of fantasy and some of the other subgenres for this niche.  Here are my five posts:

Review: Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Review: Daughter of Forest by Juliet Marillier
Review: Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson
Essay: Why We Love Fairy Tales Updated: sorry for the bad link!
Recommendation: Listless Monday, Steampunk and Historical Fantasy Edition

Best of luck to all of you who are registering for an award!

Back From the Dead (aka the Moving) and Giveaway Winner

Sorry for the silent weekend. After all that BBAW work, I needed a break (just kidding, I was moving). Anyway, we are in our new place and surrounded by boxes, but fortunately I did not misplace my extra copy of The View From Saturday. So, without further ado, here is the winner:

Marie

Who mentioned one of her favorite book blogs is West of Mars, which I also enjoy (especially for learning about contests). I've sent you an email, so be sure to get your mail address to me.

Thanks to everyone for letting me know about your favorites. My reader is practically exploding!

BBAW Day 5: Concise is My Middle Name (sorta)

Goals in 50 words or less? Bring. It. On.

What I like best: simple layout, review format.

What I want in one year: more reviews and more readers. I want my blog to be a resource for reviews with content ratings. I wouldn't mind doing other things, but the focus of this blog should always be the reviews.

I would love to hear suggestions on what you think I could improve and what you think I'm doing pretty well. (No, really, you can tell me what I need to do better - I won't be offended!)

BBAW Day 4: To Those Honorary Librarians

I don't know how many books I've picked up solely on the basis of another blogger's recommendation. I love seeing books pop up over and over on different blogs - and then realizing I'd better get my library card in gear!

Anyway, looking back over the past few months, I realized there were two books I could distinctly recall seeing on other blogs and picking them up based on their reviews.

Recently, while perusing one of my favorite local (to me) book blogs, Confessions of a Book Habitue (pronunciation guide on her blog header) I read her review of The Lacemaker and the Princess. I have a secret love for historical fiction that sometimes gets neglected in favor of those flashy fantasy novels, but I was intrigued by her words: "This book makes you think. It was a lot deeper than I expected a JF to be." And so I checked it out - and I really enjoyed it! I would never have even heard of it without her recommendation, though. And I love that. Be sure you stop by and read Britt's interesting reviews - she definitely has a way with words (and grammar).

The second recommendation sparked a huge interest for me, not just in one book, but in a new (to me) author. When I first saw Melissa of Melissa's Bookshelf's review of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, I was intrigued. Not only was the cover gorgeous, but Melissa's raving about the writing, story, and characters stood out to me - I wanted it! But, being the forgetful person I am, I did not immediately put it on my TBR list (gasp). However, fortunately for me, there was a conspiracy of Melissas out to get this melissa to read that book! Less than a month later, I read on another Melissa's blog, Book Nut, about Poison Study. Not only was there another fabulous cover, but that same delicious story line and more praise. I remembered (finally) to get this on my list - and I simply adored Poison Study, devoured Magic Study, consumed Fire Study, and anxiously anticipate getting my hands on Storm Glass and Sea Glass! Thank you, bloggers, for keeping me informed of all the fabulous books you find.

One of the most rewarding things about being a librarian is helping people find what they are looking for. Often, they aren't sure what they seek, but librarians can be the ones to guide them in the right direction - to a great book or to vital information. So I guess that makes you all honorary book-bloggy librarians! :)

BBAW Day 3: Who Dunnit?

A Bookish Meme: Clue Style

The Crime #1: someone found knocked unconscious with a hard, squarish-shaped object (probably interrupted someone's reading...)

The Perpetrator: It was some crazy reader (who me?), under the tree (in the sunshine), with her series OR standalone hard copy book (it would have been much harder with an audiobook - I would have had to choke them with my mp3 player?)


The Crime #2: a library book was discovered plastered with notes and drawings *gasp*

The Perpetrator: It would NEVER BE me, in the pantry (getting chocolate or fruit), with two different books in hand (currently Graceling and The Magician's Elephant)


The Crime #3: laundry was being ignored and dishing were piling ridiculously high

The Perpetrator: It was me, in the middle of the chapter (unless I couldn't possibly put it down yet), with the random scrap of paper to mark my spot (in my fiction OR nonfiction selection).

What are your criminal reading habits?

BBAW Day 2 Continues: Books Help Me Escape from Computers

Several months ago, I posted about my first experience with the Kindle from Amazon. I came away with a fairly favorable opinion, though I'm not entirely sold on the idea of an eReader replacing hard copies of books.

However, Kevin Hamilton from IREX posted on BBAW's site about their newest eReader coming out. In response to the question of what I think is the most important factor in an eReader is rather simple. But, let me do a little explaining first (just to drag things out).

I'm a college librarian and I work in a very small, rather underused library in a rather out-of-the-way location (in the school). Most of the day, I don't get to help students find information. Most of the day, I gather dust sitting at my desk. In front of my computer. I do library stuff as well as spend time blogging. At the end of a typical day, my eyes are tired. I don't want to look at a screen any longer. I go home hoping I won't have to sit at the computer for one more instant!

And with that intro, the most important thing to me in a eReader is that it's easy on the eyes. It can't make me feel (literally or even figuratively) like I'm back at the computer. I don't like e-books in general, because of my desire not to stare at the screen longer than I absolutely must. I know that some eReaders out there have some kind of non-back-lighting design, but I think they haven't quite got it perfected yet. I'm still hoping. Maybe when it starts to feel just like the printed page (to my eyes and possibly my hands) then I'll jump on the eReader bandwagon. (Oh, and when the prices are more affordable for me, too.)

Any thoughts about eReaders? What do you most want in an eReader?

BBAW Day 2: Book Review: The Possibility of Everything by Hope Edelman

Since I TOTALLY dropped the ball in getting myself signed up for a blogger interview swap, I will instead be posting my review of this fabulous book that is being released TODAY!

*ARC provided by the publisher*

The Possibility of Everythingchronicles Hope's experiences dealing with the sudden appearance of her daughter Maya's rather frightening imaginary friend, along with doubts in her life and marriage. When their family takes a trip to Belize, she makes an extraordinary decision to see a shaman healer that changes their lives forever.

Things I Liked:
I loved the religious/faith/philosophical ideas that are explored in the book. Edelman does a beautiful job of bringing her experiences to life - her writing is really gorgeous. I enjoyed the everyday things that happened, her interactions with Maya and Uzi. I was really astounded at how connected I felt to her and her family. The story arc surrounding Maya was really intriguing as well. I loved the ending - I thought it was a great (though perhaps not unexpected) conclusion to their remarkable experiences. I really appreciated throughout the honest depictions of her feelings - it must be really difficult sometimes to tell things as she really felt and experienced them. A beautiful family-strengthening story! Even if you're not a mother, I think you will find something in this story that will help you grow!

Things I Didn't Like:
Some of the tangents she seemed to go off on were a little distracting - describing some aspects of "unrelated" things a little too much. Sometimes I had a hard time reading through the parts that didn't immediately relate to the story. Some of them contributed more to the experience than others, though.

Read-alikes:
I haven't read a lot of stuff like this, but it reminded me of other mother-child stories I read in The Mother in Me edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a moderate amount of swearing

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

If you haven't seen this video, I found it a perfect addition to the book - photos of Edelman's family!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week, Day 1 and a GIVEAWAY!

BBAW 2009 has officially started - YEAH! Today's post are spotlights of some of my favorite blogs and, of course, a giveaway!

Abby (the) Librarian was one of the very first blogs I found back when I was a newbie blogger. Not only did I feel kinship because she happens to be a librarian, but I also really enjoy reading about books she's found and days in the life of a children's librarian. It's nice for me to read stuff from other librarians, especially since I'm kind of isolated in my tiny college library. If you haven't yet, go check out her blog!

Also, Tina at Fantastic Book Review was nominated in several categories, but specifically, I think her giveaways are, well, fantastic! She seems to always be having three or four going on at once. Here site is also brimming with gorgeous covers, so I love to visit just to see what she has up! If you haven't visited, go there quickly! (And definitely enter her contests!)

One of my other favorites is a local (to me) blogger, Suey at It's All About Books. Suey is one of those who makes those of us new and shy feel very welcome! And also, pretty much, everyone else feel welcome and appreciated. She also recently played a huge part in convincing me to join Twitter. (Which I did. I haven't been too active yet, though. Still wetting my feet.) I love her reviews, which are given a letter grade as opposed to stars. Also, I really like how she includes links to other people's reviews - something I'd like to do, but am too lazy to get around to it.

Now, on to the giveaway! I have one gently used paperback copy of The View from Saturday by E.L. Kongisburg, which I reviewed yesterday. I really love this book - so much that I bought it twice without thinking! Fortunately for you, I now have a copy to share; unfortunately, I can only ship in the US.

If you would like to win this book, please leave a comment telling me about a book blog you love to read (I'm not fishing for compliments, but trying to find more blogs to read).

Leave me an email address if it isn't readily available on your profile! Enter by midnight on Friday, September 18. I will (try) to choose a winner on Saturday, but I am moving that day, so it might be Sunday or Monday before I get it posted.