I love Read-a-Thons, and I haven't participated in one for a while. So, when I heard that The Bookish Type and Book-Savvy were hosting a Read-a-Thon, I knew I wanted to sign up. So, head on over to their blogs to participate in the Out with a Bang Read-a-Thon!
Here are the details, as listed on their sites: The Readathon will run from December 29 — 31 and participants will be reading as many books as they can during that time! This Readathon is mainly to finish off the fabulous debuts for the Debut Author Challenge, but participants don't have to focus on that category if they have non-debut books that they would like to finish before 2010 ends.
And, if you need an extra incentive to participate, we'll also be giving away tons of swag and books during the Readathon (and a lot of it will be signed!)
Several awesome authors have been kind enough to donate items! I will do a special thank you post once we have all the details so that I don't miss anyone!
Heather and I will be hosting giveaways during the event, and there will also be fun daily Mini-Challenges, hosted by the following fabulous bloggers: (see their sites for the list)
It's Friday again, which means that both Parajunkee's View and Crazy for Books are hosting their weekly blog hops. I think it's a lot of fun to participate and love meeting new bloggers and finding new blogs! (And, I just have to say how totally excited I am that it's Friday the 13th. It's like... Awesome!)
If you are new, Welcome! Please leave me a comment with your blog URL so I can return the favor! And, please, enter my current giveaway for Samantha Bee's hilarious memior, I know I am but what are you?. You can find it HERE.
Jennifer asks us a question each week. Today's question is How many books are on your TBR Shelf? Well, if it was a shelf of books that I actually own needing to be read? Almost 200. However, if it's all the books that I want to read and think, I need to read that someday? Then the number is actually closer to 1400.:) I love books!
I don't usually do a Mailbox-eqs post, partly because I don't usually get a ton of stuff, but mostly because I just... don't. But, this last week I got so much awesomeness that I just can't keep it all to myself, so I'm going to share it!:)
I participated in a blogger Secret Santa exchange, and my Secret Santa (Margot from Joyfully Retired) was made of awesome. I got a box which included a really pretty purple journal, a hardback copy of Revolutionby Jennifer Donnelly (in my blog for my review -loved it!) and a book called How to Plant a Tree. Each was individually wrapped, which is always lots of fun. I opened the tree book first, which I admit threw me for a minute, but then I opened the journal, which I included in a list of wants on a Chronicle Book list a few weeks back. I remembered that I had also linked a photographic coffee table volume of trees, with the aside, I seriously love trees. It's amazing how much thought she put into what to get me, and it definitely makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Basically, it was just amazing.:)
Then, as if that wasn't great enough, today I got 7 packages in the mail. In fact, my packages were the only mail that came today. We didn't even get any junk mail! 4 of those contained tour books, which I never bother mentioning, because I figure the reviews are usually up within a few weeks, so whatever, but the other three packages were all mine, and most exciting.
The first was a box from amazon, filled with books I've wanted for a while that I bought to get free shipping for my little brother's Christmas present. (I spent at least 15 dollars more than I would have spent on shipping, but I got new books!:) ) I bought Enchantress from the Stars by Sylvia Engdhal, The Thief and The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner, and The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DePrau. Yay for books!
A while ago, Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner had a birthday giveaway, and I won a journal. I love journals. When I was in high school, I wrote in them all the time. I filled 9 journals in 2 years. I can't promise that anything I said was at all interesting, but I was definitely diligent. I admit that now I seem to like the idea of a journal better than the actuality, but I still can't seem to stop buying/obtaining all these really pretty journals. I got my new journal today, and it's lovely. The pages don't have lines, which is, I admit, a potential problem, but there are really pretty flowers placed throughout the book, so I think I might turn it into something special, rather than the mundane ramblings of a potentially crazy person.;) Also included in that package was an 'Old School Ledger'! How cool is that?! The front has to-do lists with perforated edges, the middle looks like a way to track money, and the back is a lined notebook! I'm totally excited for it, and kind of wish I was cool enough to have something official to use it for.:)
And finally, the package I was the most excited for. Antony John had an awesome giveaway on his blog the other week, and I won!! I received a personalized copy of his novel, Five Flavors of Dumb, which I have wanted to read for a while now. It looks really interesting. And, I also received an ARC copy of Where She Went by Gayle Forman. This book has been eating at me for a while now, I want to read it so bad, so I was ecstatic when I found out I had won. Both books are definitely on my radar, and now they are mine! Mwa hahaha!;)
I'm so incredibly excited about everything that I got this week, I can't even handle it! It's beyond amazing. BooYa!
Chronicle Books is hosting a contest for the Holidays. They are giving $500 in free books to one blogger! Seriously, how cool is that? To participate, explore Chronicle's online book store, select the $500 in books of your choice, list them in a blog post, fill out the entry form (visible here) and wait, hope and pray that they draw your name on Dec. 13.
But, it gets even better! It's hard to believe, but it definitely does. Not only will the blogger receive their choice of books up to $500, but so will one lucky commenter on their blog! That's right! Comment on this post, and if I win, you might win too! I think this is the greatest idea ever! I win the books I pick out, and so do you! (Win the books I pick out, that is...)
So, what books would I select if I had $500 to spend at Chronicle?! These:
A Gratitude Journal (because it's always nice to be reminded of what we have to be grateful for, and I love new journals.
Anna Sui Calico Cabaret Journal (ahem... It's pretty, and I love journals. Remember?)
Blackbird Bakery: Gluten-Free (because my dad has a gluten allergy and is so sad that he rarely gets to eat dessert)
Whip Up Mini Quilts (because my mom is definitely a quilter, but I don't have the patience for it. Mini seems like a great way to start, but if I hate it, I can pretend I bought it for her birthday. Hehehe...)
Every Day's a Holiday (because crafting with kids (if you're okay with a mess) is just so much fun!)
The Life and Love of Trees (because I just seriously love trees)
Breaking Bounds 2011 Wall Calendar (because I need a calendar, and this looks ridiculously cool)
How to Speak Zombie (seriously, like I need to explain why I want this?!:) )
Mama, Do You Love Me?
The Story of Little Red Riding Hood
The Magic Flute
Spinning Out
The Space Between Trees
A Child's Garden of Verses
Aesop's Fables
Sylvia Long's Mother Goose
The Little Books Boxed Set
Hush Little Baby
Creature ABC
Duck! Rabbit!
Lullaby Baby
Vincent's Colors
Monet's Impressions
The Lonesome Puppy
Once Upon a Lily Pad
So, that's my list. I think it totals just under $480. I thought about adding another book or two, but decided that I didn't trust my math, and was too lazy to total everything up all over again. BUT, I'm pretty excited about my list, and now I think I'm probably going to cry a little if I don't win. Sigh... I guess a girl can only hope, right? Anyway, I hope you all comment away so that if, by some small miracle, I did win, you could too!
It's been a while for me since I participated in the Hop, but I'm excited to be back this week. I love visiting new blogs and 'meeting' new blogging friends! There are two weekly hops, one hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books, and one by Parajunkee at Parajunkee's View.
If you are visiting from the hops, please — Leave me a comment with a link to your blog so I can stop by and say hi back! I'd love to hear from you, and I hope you like my blog! This week, Parajunkee asked us how long we've been blogging — Almost 6 months (Dec. 2 is Basically Amazing's Half Birthday!) and Jen asked us what we are thankful for and what our holiday traditions are. I'm thankful for a lot of things right now, more than I could share in one blog post but a few of the major 'thankfuls' on my mind right now are My family, because they are pretty much great, Those really close friends that never get old, who no matter how long it's been since you've seen each other pick up as if you just talked yesterday, The holiday season because I think people are generally better this time of year, and (of course) Books! But more than books, I'm grateful for literacy and the ability to read. Thank you to everyone stopping by my blog today! Each of you are added to my list of 'thankfuls' because everyone loves hearing good things about them, and comments and new people are some of the greatest parts about blogging. Oh ya, and I do have a giveaway going on right now to win Lipstick in Afghanistan. Click the title to read my review, and be taken to the form that will enter you to win!:) Happy Hopping all!
I don't normally do any In My Mailbox type posts, because I don't usually get a lot of new books for me. I rarely buy new books right now, because I'm (like everyone else it seems) trying to save money, and I don't really have the space for them anyway. Most of the books I read right now are either the books I do own, books I get from the library, or (more recently) the books I receive through the ARC tour sites I follow. And, I figure if I get a tour book in the mail, I'll be reviewing it within a week or two anyway, so there's no real need for a post about it.
BUT, this past week, I got some of my giveaway prizes in the mail, and I'm so excited about them, I just had to share them!
So, back in September, I won a giveaway on the blog, The Mountains of Instead. She's a UK blogger, which is why they took so long to get here. I got The Enemy AND The Dead, both by Charlie Higson. And even better? The Dead doesn't come out over here until next year, so I get it early!:)
That same day I also received the book I won on Alexandra's blog — The Publication Follies of Alexandra Shostak. I received a personalized copy of Freefall by Mindi Scott, a book I have been wanting to read for a long time now. And, it came with signed bookmarks, which are always a plus!:)
And yesterday, I got the package I won on author Cindy C. Bennet's Blog. She sent me a signed copy of her book Geek Girl, which I had never heard of before but am intrigued by, several bookmarks, a large bag of Halloween Candy (it was a Halloween giveaway) and an Amazon gift card. My birthday is in December, so I'm letting myself take this as a birthday in a box.:) Definitely a great package to open!
I was definitely excited by my mailbox this week, and only wish that every week were as exciting for me.
Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gatley is the story of a Elsa, an ER nurse in her early 20s who wants to make a difference in the world. She is accepted as a relief nurse with an international organization and sent to Afghanistan in 2002 to help run the local hospital. Drama ensues.
I had a few problems with this book. And the bulk of my review will dwell on what I didn't think worked very well. But I do want to say that this book isn't bad. There is a market for this book, and I know people who would love reading this book. I, unfortunately, just wasn't one of them. But the book does have merit, and there were times when it was plain to see that the author had lived among these people and has an emotional attachment to their culture.
So, there are positive things to this book, and you won't be wasting your life if you decide to read it. However, I struggled with this book. It's an easy read, but I found my self speed reading, hoping to reach the end faster. I find it very hard to enjoy reading the book when I strongly dislike the main character. Elsa was whiny, annoying and naive. There's a part of the story, after she's been in Afghanistan for a while when she tries to convince her friend, Parween (and the other narrator of the story) that growing up poor in the poor part of Boston means she understands all the suffering any of the Afghanis have experienced.
She doesn't stop to think, and parts of other people's personalities rub off on her, (like Parween's impulsive thoughtlessness). She's incredibly self-centered, focusing only on things as they touch her. She can't imagine that life is bad in Afghanistan, or that other places are dangerous, or that her town is dangerous because she hasn't personally been exposed to it. If she doesn't see it, it doesn't really exist. It's like kids who see something bad on the news but think, 'that would never happen to me.' It got really old really fast.
I won't go into detail about the other characters, although I definitely could. There were a lot of people in the story, and all of them were rather black and white. They are good or bad. They are victims or fighters. They are happy or miserable. They are helpful or hurtful. And none of them felt real. I've heard a lot of people complain about authors telling rather than showing. This is one of the few times when I desperately agree. I can normally overlook that if I'm really enjoying the story, but in this case it made me want to pull my hair out. Everything I knew about any of these characters was because I was told that's how it supposed to be, not because the author just let them be that way. I didn't believe in anyone. I didn't believe their actions were reasonable or logical, and I didn't believe the situations they were in were realistic.
I also felt that the author was missing that happy median on details. We were either given very few, very sparse details about events, or overloaded with them. Some detailed accounts, such as the wedding ceremony was interesting, but most were not. It was just too much. The writing felt forced and murky and kind of like she was trying just a little bit too hard.
And the lipstick... I know this is a personal thing but I missed the lipstick point. I know that the author shares Elsa's fondness and need for lipstick, but I don't get it. And, there were times when I felt that the lipstick was more important than the story, and that the author relied on the lipstick to carry the story forward. It just didn't feel right to me.
Like I said before, I can see that this will be a book many people could enjoy. It just wasn't for me. Maybe someone else will have better luck.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher.
The publisher has also been kind enough to offer two copies of this book for two lucky (US ONLY) readers. (Sorry, the books are coming from the publisher, not me!)
If you are interested in receiving a copy, just Fill out the form by Nov. 29. I'll randomly select two winners on the 30th, and give you 48 hours to respond.
In September, I participated in Blogfest, a weekend full of giveaways with blogs from all over. I had (if I may say so) a pretty awesome contest, where I would chose a book from the wishlist of the winners, and mail it to them, all secret like.
One of the winners received her book this week, and posted about it in her IMM this week. You can read it about it on her blog, The Book Vixen. It's a fun post, I hope you check it out, to see what I picked out for her!:)
I'll be posting my actual review of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson soon, but I wanted to share a few of the links from fellow bloggers who are shouting out about this Wesley Scroggins mess. I posted some of my thoughts, but I still fume about it every time I think about it. There's so much to be said on this topic, and most of it has been said at one point or another by different bloggers and authors from all over.
So, here is a list compiled by Natalie at Mindful Musings. I can only imagine how much time and effort went into contacting everyone and gathering all this information, and I thank her for it, because it makes it so much easier to find.
Bloggers Speak Out is a movement sparked by the recent article, "Filthy Books Demeaning to Republic Education " by Dr. Wesley Scroggins that was published in the Springfield, MO News-Leader on September 18th. In this article, Scroggins vehemently advocates the censorship of books in schools, and specifically requests that the following books be removed from the Republic school system: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. To show our support of these authors and to fight against book banning and censorship, we have decided to take action and speak out.
Below is a list of links of bloggers speaking out against book banning and censorship--in the form of giveaways, posts, and reviews. Some are "officially" participating in what we're calling Bloggers Speak Out, and others are posts that we've found around the blogosphere. If you get time, you should definitely check them out! Giveaways of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson **All giveaways will end on 10/3, unless otherwise noted** Papercut Reviews Braintasia Books Escape through the Pages Tina's Book Reviews Sea of Pages Mrs. Deraps Reads Moonlight Book Reviews Cari's Book Blog Just Your Typical Book Blog For What It's Worth Wondrous Reads (Ends 9/27) Frankie Writes (Ends?) The Elliot Review (Ends?) The Bookologist (Ends?) La Femme Readers
Other Giveaways **All giveaways will end on 10/3, unless otherwise noted** -Lisa Schroeder: ARC of The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (Ends 9/23) -Will Write for Cake: Win Speak, Twenty Boy Summer, or Slaughterhouse Five -Mindful Musings (here): Win Speak, Twenty Boy Summer, or Slaughterhouse Five -Teens Read and Write: Win The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian -Mundie Moms: Win Speak, Burned, Twenty Boy Summer, or The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Ends 9/26) -Wicked Awesome Books: Win a "Filthy Books" Prize Pack -Carol's Prints: Win Speak and The Mockingbirds -Myra McEntire: Win Speak, Twenty Boy Summer, or Harry Potter -The Bookish Type: Win Speak or Twenty Boy Summer -Bea's Book Nook: Win Speak & an ALA Challenged Book (Ends 10/2) -Sarah Ockler: Win a Wesley Scroggins Filthy Books Prize Pack (Ends 10/1)
Other Posts Against Book Banning and Censorship Braintasia Books Escape Through the Pages As Told by Jen Aine's Realm The Compulsive Reader Once Upon a Bookcase Daily Dose Speak Loudly Book Drop @ Late Bloomer Online A Life Bound by Books Red House Books Frankie Writes Michelle's Bookshelf I Should Be Writing The Undercover Book Lover Punk Writer Kid Lisa and Laura Write Between the Covers Another Book Junkie Jenni Elyse Eve's Fan Garden The Ultimate Dumpees Reading the Best of the Best The Pirate's Bounty Reclusive Bibliophile Book Faery Bloggers Heart Books Book Swarm Fantasy 4 Eva The Ladybug Reads The Lady Critic's Library Emilie's Book World Jacob's Beloved Just Your Typical Book Blog Maggie's Bookshelf Basically Amazing Books Novel Thoughts Random Ramblings Holes in my Brain Readligion Vision Quest Fail Shelby Barwood Supernatural Snark Consumed by Books Ann Marie Gamble The Darker Side of the Fire Katie's Book Blog Sassymonkey (BlogHer) GreenBeanTeenQueen Jessica Lei Maria Romana Abby Minard The Mimosa Stimulus Books and Things Beyond the Trestle
Authors Speak Out Laurie Halse Anderson: This guy thinks Speak is pornographic Laurie Halse Anderson: The power of speaking loudly Author Gayle Forman @ Eve's Fan Garden Author Saundra Mitchell @ Eve's Fan Garden Karen Rivers Sarah Ockler: I Speak Loudly for Speak Sarah Ockler: On Book Banning Zealots and Ostriches Author Laura Manivong @ Page Turners Cheryl Rainfield: Fight Against Ignorance Myra McEntire: Speak Loudly: In Defense of Laurie Halse Anderson Andrea Cremer: Speak Out Natalie Standiford on Censorship @ Emily's Reading Room
Important Articles on the Subject "Filthy Books Demeaning to Republic Education" (the article that started it all) Scroggins' Official Complaint to the School Board (PDF) "Republic School Book Choices under Fire " (Springfield News-Leader) Laurie Halse Anderson's Editiorial in the Springfield News-Leader Sarah Ockler's Editorial in the Springfield News-Leader Natalie @ Mindful Musings' Letter to the Editor in the Springfield News-Leader Essay: Kurt Vonnegut's Thoughts on the First Amendment Thanks to everyone who has spoken out about this. It's not something that will be going away soon, but it's something that we can fight a little better every day. We can make progress. We can make a difference. Speak out, and don't ever let anyone else do your thinking for you.
So, I know that everyone has been talking lately about Wesely Scroggins wonderful article promoting book banning. (Spit) As soon as I read about it, I knew I was going to have to say something about it, because it makes me so angry and when I get this angry, I get a little bit irrational. Like, deciding I should fly to Missouri with my two 50 lbs suitcases and 2 carry-on items filled with copies of Speak, and Slaughterhouse-Five Twenty Boy Summer, distribute them to anyone on the street who looks like they want a copy, then head over to Scroggins office and laugh in his face when I tell him that I just handed out 200 copied of his filth to the members of his town... Ahem.
That's not practical. I don't have that kind of money, but boy do I wish I did. If I could make it rain banned books, I definitely would. I know that this little town of Republic, MO is getting a lot of attention right now, but this happens all over the place and every time, it makes me cry a little inside.
But, I'm not writing today to talk about banned books in general, although I am sure a post about that will come soon enough. I'm here today to talk about a book that I love. That I've loved since I first picked it up like 5 years ago. A book that I think could very easily make that difference in a person's life that let's them know they are not alone, that there are people who know what they are dealing with and that there are people who will listen and who will help. I'm talking about Speak.
I will say that I feel a little bad for Twenty Boy Summer and Slaughterhouse-Five. They were called out in the same article but haven't been getting nearly as much attention as Speak. I haven't read Twenty Boy Summer yet, although I did just grab it from the library and I plan to read it this week (Thank You Dr. Scroggins) but I have read Slaughterhouse-Five and I thought the book was brilliant. But, I'm going to be just like everyone else and focus on Speak because what he said about that book is reprehensible.
I did read the full article, and I specifically looked at Scroggins reasons for believing Speak to be pornographic. I read it more than once, and do you know what conclusion I came to? He's either puffed up on his own self importance or he's the guilty party and is trying to cover up his issues with a public outcry against this wonderfully uplifting, moving and incredibly powerful book. I've read the book Scroggins. Have you? Have you really read it? Or does the word rape automatically make you assume that it's pornographic. Because, if that's the case, you might have bigger issues than just not wanting the upstanding citizens in your town to read this book.
But really Scroggins, when it all comes down to it, we get the last laugh. You do realize, do you not, that more people, especially those very high school students you want to protect are now going to pick up Slaughterhouse-Five, specifically because you mentioned the frequency of the f-word and the immoral scene behind glass. Sales of Speak and Twenty Boy Summer are only going to rise with the number of bloggers, authors and people upset by your small-mindedness. Just take a look around at all these book bloggers and others who are hosting giveaways of some variation of these books. That's helping to promote them. I don't know if you are even able to comprehend the amount of publicity you are giving these books because you spoke out against them. Now, everyone is speaking up FOR them, and when it all comes down to it, you are the one going to look the fool. How does it feel to have a huge population of very well read, very outspoken people fuming mad at you? Are you proud of yourself? Does it make you feel better to know that you are publicly condemning a book that has saved the sanity and emotional well being of countless young girls and boys?! If you don't believe me, view Ms. Anderson's website. She has a video link up, where she talks about the thousands and thousands of letters she has received from victims telling her that this one book saved them, brought them hope. I highly doubt that anyone who has been the victim of rape or any sexual attack would be writing thank you notes to the author of a book glorifying the action, or making it pornographic. It just wouldn't happen.
I'm going to say something mean now, so I need to be clear that it's not just directed at Scroggins, but to all those out there who believe they are more qualified to decide what I should or should not be able to read, or what you should or should not be able to read... I hope you choke on your own bile.
I wonder if a book can sue for defamation of character... ?
Alright. So, after a lot of counting and recounting and losing my place because people kept talking to me, I finally have the giveaway winners from my Blogfest contests!
This was an incredible experience for me and I'm a little overwhelmed by the response I received. It was incredible! I figured I'd have a lot of entries in my contests, because this was a big event, and a lot of people were involved, but I was not prepared for the 169 people who entered my Vertical Run contest, let alone the 366 who entered my "Wishlist Surprise". It's a little mind-boggling but makes me pretty happy.:)
I also was not expecting the number of new followers from this event! It's almost scary, and a lot humbling, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me feel pretty good. I've more than doubled my followers, and that makes me really want to do something extra special for you guys. (Stay tuned, because I'm thinking of a really cool giveaway, just for you!)
Anyway, what you are actually interested in here — who won my giveaways? Well, because this response I received from Blogfest WAY exceeded my expectations, I'm going to exceed yours!:) I decided to pick a second winner for my wishlist surprise giveaway, just because I can.:)
So, for my US giveaway — The winner of Vertical Run is Lisa, who blogs over at Once Upon a Chapter. I'm pretty excited to hear what she thought of the book, as well as anyone else who added it to their tbr this weekend.
For my international (and really super awesome, if I do say so myself) Wishlist giveaway, the two winners are The Book Vixen and Ashley at Book Labyrinth. I'm pretty excited, going through their wishlists and deciding what I'm going to send them and I can't wait to hear from them once they've received their package! If you are interested in what they are going to get, stay tuned. The Book Vixen has already told me she would be including this in a future IMM, and I will include a link to her post once it's live so everyone else can see what she received as well, and if Ashley is interested, I'll do the same for her!
Thanks again to everyone who entered my giveaway. I'm thrilled by the response, I found a TON of really great blogs that I'm now following (and very few are blogs that had followers as a requirement for their giveaway.) It was a great weekend, and I hope you had just as much fun as I have!!
Oh, and just in case you're interested — I've added an astounding number of new books to my TBR shelf. Going through the comments you left me, with the titles of your favorites I saw a lot of great books. I kind of feel that if a book is someone's absolute very favorite (even if it is just for right now...) that it must have some merit. I know that not every book is for everyone, and there are some genre's that I just don't read, I tend to give a book more consideration if I know it's a specific someone's personal favorite. I was thrilled to see some of my favorites and books I just really liked included (Pride and Prejudice, The Book Thief, Harry Potter), and a great childhood favorite (The Girl with the Silver Eyes) that no one seems to know about anymore. I also saw a lot that have been on my TBR for a while that have now been moved up higher (Jane Eyre, Graceling/Fire, finally finishing The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and many more that I've now added to my TBR pile (Her Fearful Symmetry, The Hand that First Held Mine, Still Alice). Thanks again to everyone who participated in anyway, and I really do hope that everyone else's weekend went just as well as mine!
I know I'm a little late getting this up, but today has been one of those days. And, I've never been very good about getting things planned far in advance... So — I'm posting this now.
The theme of Book Blogger Appreciation Week this year is treasure, and (of course) blogs are definitely the treasure. So, for Monday, they are asking us about our First Treasure, or the first blog we found or that influenced us to become bloggers. (Or at least, that's the way I'm choosing to interpret the question!)
So, this answer for me has two parts. The first blogs that I remember reading are written by Misty, at The Book Rat and April at Good Books & Good Wine. I knew them both from Goodreads and I always liked reading their comments and thoughts on books. I definitely think you should take a look at their blogs. I find that I generally agree with one or both of their attitudes about a book. So, while it's not a guarantee, I will usually add a book to my TBR if they really liked it.:) Their blogs were also the first time that I think I noticed that some people blogged specifically about books. I never thought I'd have a blog, so I didn't pay much attention to them, besides reading my sister's family blog so that I could look at the cute pictures she posted of my nephews.
Then, earlier this year, I discovered Lori's blog, The Next Best Book Blog. I also knew Lori from Goodreads, where she moderates a group I'm a member of — (can you guess what it's called?) Yup. The Next Best Book Club. She seemed to have a lot of fun writing for the blog, and I enjoyed visiting it. She asked me for the URL to my blog, and I decided to make one. My sister had been pushing me to create a book blog for a long time, and I was starting to give in. So, my sister was the driving force, but Lori was the catalyst. So thanks Lori! And if anyone else hasn't read her blog, I recommend doing so. She focuses a lot on fairly unknown writers, but she has a lot of author spotlights, a lot of giveaways, and some really interesting insights into books.
My Blogfest Update — The winner will come sometime tomorrow, hopefully in the morning. I had way more responses than I anticipated (THANK YOU SO MUCH!!) and it's taking me longer than I thought to sort through all the entries. (366 people for one, and 169 people for the other, without including the extra entries) So, please bear with me, and I promise I'll update soon! Thanks again!!
Hey everyone and thanks for stopping by! It's finally time for Blogfest, hosted by A Journey of Books. This is something that I've been excited about almost since I started blogging. I hope you've had fun stopping by everyone else's blogs, and that you will enjoy visiting mine! I'm still pretty new to this whole blogging thing (just reached my 3 month marker!) and I would love to hear what you think about my blog!
I have two giveaways planned for this weekend. They are open now, and will close Sunday, September 12th at 11:59 pm MST.
The first one will be open to the US only (sorry). A while ago, I review Vertical Run, a book I loved when I was younger. (Review here.) One of my friends who reads my blog saw that I loved it and found a copy of it while she was in a used book store. So, she grabbed it for me and brought it over. I was really excited, because I love the book, but... I already own a copy. (One that I've read many times). So, I'm giving away the one in better condition. Although it is in good condition, it's been read a time or two and there is a crease along the spine. But, the book is definitely worth it.
Fill out THIS FORM to enter!
The other giveaway will be open internationally, and will be slightly more complex... I will ship you a brand new book, probably from The Book Depository, although the actual site may change. In the form below, there will be a place where you can list some of your wish-list books. If you have a want-to-own list on Goodreads or Library Thing or Amazon or Barnes and Noble or a word document (etc etc etc) you can link that as well. Give me a list of books you would really like to own, and I'll see that you get at least one thing from the list. What I actually send to you will remain a surprise though, and then it can be like your birthday in a box.:)
Fill out THIS FORM to enter!
You don't have to be a follower to enter either of the giveaways, although it will help your chances. All extra entry options are included in the form. You are more than welcome to enter both giveaways, but you can only win one of them.
If you are participating in Blogfest, here is a link to a tracking site that will make it easier for you to keep track of which of the 250+ blogs you've already visited. Not only will it help you keep track of where you've been, every blog you check off on the site will enter you in a chance to win a great grand Blogfest prize!
So, thanks for stopping by my site, and entering my giveaway! Next on the list is Romance To Make Your Heart Race. It is a romance blog, and Wendi includes a content warning for only 18+, but if you enjoy romance (and are old enough to view the content) it's worth checking out! I hope you are enjoying Blogfest! Can't wait to see who wins!
I know I've been a little remiss about posting when my giveaways end, but I'm going to correct that soon. My contest to win Samantha Bee's book, I know I am but what are you just ended. I have sent out the emails to the 3 winners, and have given them 48 hours to respond. Once they have responded with their shipping address, I will post and let everyone know who the winners were. And, I will also include a short statement about the winners of my other giveaways also.
And, don't forget! There is still enough time to enter my next giveaway for a fun MG adventure story! in my blog!
Hey everyone and thanks for visiting! I'm once again participating in this lovely Friday hop/follow gig hosted by both Crazy for Books and Parajunkee's View. I'd love to hear from you, so please, if you are visiting from either site, please leave me a comment so I know you stopped by, and a link to your site so that I can return the favor!
I'd also love for you to enter my giveaways. They are listed at the very top of the sidebar on the right, and you don't need to do anything special to enter, just leave me a comment!
I'm also semi-participating in the From Dusk until Dawn Read-A-Thon hosted by Book Crazy. It's come at the most perfect time and the absolute worst time for me. I've been experiencing some insomnia lately, which isn't totally uncommon, because I am most definitely a night person, but it's been a little worse than normal. So, I have plenty of awake time at night to read. However, that's bad, because I really should be doing things to combat the insomnia, not encourage it. But who doesn't love an excuse to read, right?! So, I'm trying to accomplish a little bit, while (hopefully) not going overboard).
Now, to answer Jen's question, Yes. I do use a rating system for my books, although I only post it as a tag. I rarely mention it in my actual post/review about the book. I use this because this blog was meant for a way to communicate how much I love books to other people, the way I talk with them to my friends. (One only has so many friends, and eventually they get tired of only hearing about books. Sigh...) Anyway, when I talk to family or friends about a book I just read, those ratings are pretty close to how I talk to people in real life. I have actually said, 'meh' when someone asked me what I thought about a book. And, I've definitely used 'basically amazing' before!:) You can see a list of the ratings that I use in my right sidebar.
I can't wait to find me some new blogs!:) Thanks again for stopping by!
Full post to come and welcome. I'm in a rush I didn't think I'd be in when I signed up today for the hop, so I'll fill this out more later (promise!) but thanks for hopping by! Leave me a link and I'll head over to check you out!
;)
Ahem. Now that I'm back with a little more time, I can say Hello! properly. So, if you are visiting, thanks for stopping by! It's nice to have you. Please, feel free to click the right sidebar links and enter one or both of my current giveaways. It's always lovely to have lots of entries!:)
So, again I would like to thank Jennifer at Crazy for Books and Rachel at Parajunkee's View for hosting this hop. It's always a lot of fun, and I really like the chance to meet new bloggers and expand my horizons a little.
To answer Jennifer's question today — How many blogs do you follow — I say, not as many as I read, although I DO read every blog I follow. I add a few new ones every week through the hop and I like to see what everyone has to say.
So, leave me a comment and I'll come take a look at your blog!
A few days ago, I posted an interview with author Allan R. Shickman who wrote Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure and Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country. (You can also view my review HERE.)
When I was contacted by Bonnie with Earthshaker Books to review these two books, she also offered a set of SIGNED books to giveaway as well. So, as promised, this is the post where I offer one of you lucky readers the chance to win a set of these two books.
And, I've got to tell you, they are a lot of fun to read. I enjoyed them a lot. Reading them, I would say that I think the ideal age group for this book are 10-13 year old boys. Yup, that's right. This is a boy book, and as readers, we all know how hard it is to find those, especially in the historical fiction genre.
These books were a lot of fun to read, have great characters and would be great to keep, or to pass along to that young boy you really want to pick up a book. So, what do you have to do to win? Not much. Not much at all.
Just leave me a comment with your email address below. No extra entries this time or anything like that. Just a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win.
The contest will run from today, August 19 until September 5 at 11:59 pm. I will contact the winner sometime that Monday, and will give you 48 hours to respond. If I don't hear back from you, I'll draw a new name.
Good luck to you all! They really are a lot of fun to read!
Well. When I reviewed Samantha Bee's new book, I know I am, but what are you? the other day, I promised you a giveaway. So, here it is! My contact at Simon and Schuster has agreed to make three, yup three copies of this wonderfully funny book available to my readers. If you missed my review of the book, you can see it HERE. And, I'm sorry, but because this is coming from the publisher, it's only open in the US.
The contest will run from today (August 12) until Tuesday, August 31st at 11:59 pm. I will select the winners sometime September 1st. If you are selected as a winner, I will send you an email and I will give you 48 hours to respond. If I haven't heard from you within that 48 hours, I will draw a new name and the book will be given to someone else.
So here is HOW TO ENTER:
Leave me a comment that includes your name, email address and any extra entries. If I don't have your email, I can't contact you. AND if you do not claim your extra entries, I will not give them to you. YOU need to TELL me!
For EXTRA ENTRIES:
~*~Be a follower. New followers +1 Old followers +2
~*~Comment on my review of the book, found HERE. (This MUST be a MEANINGFUL comment. "Sounds great" doesn't tell me you actually read the review.)
~*~Pass the word along. +2 for any promotion — Tweets, sidebar, blog posts, whatever. Just leave me a link, and tell me where you posted. (up to 4 times)
It's a great book and I'm so excited to give you a chance to win a copy!
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I know I am, but what are you? is a book written by Samantha Bee, currently the Most Senior Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I haven't watched a lot of The Daily Show, because I don't really watch much TV, but I've seen a few clips and it always makes me laugh. So, I don't really know how funny Samantha is on TV, but I can tell you that she is hilarious in writing.
This book is a memoir, or more accurately, a collection of personal essays detailing the many adventures of young Samantha. She adopts a frank and droll tone as she discusses the events from her past with an almost resigned acceptance. Her writing is so clear, and her voice so well drafted that there were times I could almost hear her sigh and admit, Yes. That really is what happened. This really is my life.
Although her stories were funny, what really made this book for me was her writing. She has such a strong voice as she writes that I think she could probably make a quiet Thursday evening watching TV into something wildly entertaining. Some of the stories that she told felt a little like that. They were interesting, but told by someone else would probably end up as one of those stories that trail off awkwardly as the teller looks embarrassed and mumbles, Well, you probably just had to be there...
I didn't really know what to expect when I accepted this book. Although I enjoy comedy and humorous writing, there's a pretty thin line between really funny — makes you laugh out loud — and the wow, you really just said that?! I know you are trying to be funny, but maybe you should stop. You all know how those situations go. Someone thinks they are so funny, but no one else seems to agree. I never once felt like Samantha was trying too hard with this book. It was just the perfect blend of an interesting story, good writing, comedic timing, fact, and probably just a little bit of fiction. I don't know how much creative license Samantha Bee used when telling the story of her life, but whatever it is she did, it definitely worked for me.
I laughed out loud reading this book more than I can remember ever laughing before. And, since I read this book on more than one occasion in public, it made for some interesting conversations, and some really awkward looks. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. From the pictures and the reader comments on the dust jacket to the very last line, this is a wonderfully entertaining and amusing book.
I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of The Daily Show, anyone who has ever felt like their life is too weird for words, and everyone who likes to laugh. I can only hope that Samantha Bee will be writing more in the future.
And, stay tuned because the awesome publishers have made copies of this book available to giveaway! More information coming soon!
So, I've been gone most of this week — out of town with no internet — so I haven't done much blogging. I'm hoping to correct that for next week. I've got a bunch of new stuff I want to try, so I'm excited to get back into things.
If you are visiting from the hop, Welcome! I'm glad to see you! Be sure to leave your blog url in the comments if you do visit so that I can return the favor! Also, feel free to enter my giveaway! It's a great book, and it's open for another few days! You know you want to!:)
I've also got some great things planned for the upcoming weeks. Another giveaway ready to go and a few author interviews as well. It should be pretty great, so stayed tuned!
Thanks to both Parajunkee and Crazy for Books for hosting these great memes! I have a lot of fun with them, and can't wait to get hopping around!
