Booking Through Thursday - 02/23/12

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

What do you look for when reading a book blog? Does the blogger have to read the same genre? Do you like reviews? Personal posts? Memes? Giveaways? What attracts you to a book blog?

And–what are your favorite book blogs?

When I am deciding whether to follow a blog, the first thing I look at is if I have any interest in the books they have read recently (ie - recent reviews). So yes, reviews are very important.  Most of the time, the answer is yes. I have such a wide range of interests and read so many different genres. 

However, there are times that I scroll back several months and its nothing except...Paranormal YA....or Christian Adult...

Not my favorite, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are toast in my book. I will then look at a few of their posts. If their writing is interesting, funny, entertaining I will often give them a shot. I've actually got a couple of fashion blogs followed even though I have no interest in fashion, but the bloggers are fun to read.  If their reading taste is very different, or to specific, and their blog isn't very entertaining to me, I usually chock it up to "to each his own" and pass.

Generally,  memes and giveaways are the last thing I notice.

Some of my favorites are:

Dog Ear Diary

Everyday Reading

Mabel's House

 

Life is Short, Read Fast

Freckles in April

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Read More

Booking Through Thursday - 02/02/12

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

Have you ever read a random book left in a waiting room or on a park bench, etc., and did you like it?

In college, I used to find myself at the local laundromat weekly. I have always considered laundry time relaxing and restful.  So, though I usually had classwork to focus on, I more often found myself looking to avoid it and zone out.

Many laundromats have TVs and, of course, you can always check out the other patrons (what color underwear does he wear?!?!). But I always loved it when folks left their used magazines and books on the window ledge. More than once I picked up a book and delved into it. Most of the time the books were not at all of my interest or taste, but given that I was looking for something brainless and offering little stress I usually enjoyed these books very much.

Read More

Booking Thru Thursday - 01/26/12

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

What’s more important: Good writing? Or a good story?

(Of course, a book should have BOTH, but…) 

What do you think?

I wish I could get all intellectual and say, "Well darling, the  writing of course....sniff, sniff!" 

But the honest truth is, the story is more important for me.  

I read a book a few years ago, a memoir about the Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island, and the writing was...okay, just okay.  There were tons of typos and some grammatical errors. It drove me crazy!  But, I was really into the story of the person's experience that night, what happened, what didn't happen. Though I cringed every time I read an error, I battled my way through just because the story was so interesting.

Then I blamed the cheapo-publisher for not getting a good (any?!) proof-reader! 

I do suppose there's a limit...but if I got through that mess, I must love a good story a heck of a lot more than good writing!

Read More

Booking Through Thursday - 11/3/11

Booking Through Thursday - A weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading.   

 

All other things being equal, would you rather read a book that’s hard/challenging/rewarding or light/enjoyable/easy?

As others have noted, it really depends on my mood which is why my TBR list is so large and so varied.  

But...the question does state: "All other things being equal..." 

So, I will say that I would rather read something "light/enjoyable/easy".  Not meant to be an indication of my intellectual pursuits, this is only because reading generally gives me relief from the stresses and craziness of the day. Something light is almost always good to enjoy, whereas something hard or challenging is sometimes too much.  Also, something light and easy enables me to read more books...which, given my TBR List is a good thing!

Read More