BBAW: Blogging Loves

Blogging
The world of blogging is continually changing. Share 3 things you are essential tried and true practices for every blogger and 1-3 new trends or tools you’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future.

I love knowing what people are reading - which is why I have a Books on My Nightstand section, which I try to update weekly.

I love seeing the different memes and weekly features - for some reason I find them fascinating

I love how the community is so sharing with their ideas.

Anything you'd like to see changed/different at YABookNerd????

BBAW: How Blogging has changed my reading habits

Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read?

I have always love reading. I remember special days when I was little of going to the library and then the Laundromat with my Dad. I remember going to a different library - one that had my last name (no relation) on the building. I remember really reading through middle school and high school. In college, I mostly read during the summers only until my senior year. I took a children's literature course - where we had to read tons of books. I walked downtown to the public library and got a card. And then I checked out a bunch of adult and children's books. I wish I had done this all four years. I started graduate school the following year, reading my first teens books in years. I fell in love with teen literature.

Now, after being a librarian for eight years, and blogging in one form or another for most of that time, my reading habits have changed a bit.

I try to read more middle school reads, more tween reads, and more reads with boys as the main characters. Book blogging and reading other blogs have helped my see I need to be a little more diverse in my reading. I read mostly for pleasure - and I want to the books to be happy and entertaining. However, there are times I need to be aware of certain books and have a sound knowledge of them in order to chat about them with my patrons. Book bloggers are a GREAT resource for this. I don't have to read every book I purchase for teens. Where would I find the time? But it's great that I can know about them from reading blogs. Blog are also great for finding out about upcoming books. It makes my purchasing list so much easier.

My goal for this year is to read 365books - from all ages. As of this morning, I'm at 247 books. Thanks to GoodReads, I can keep track of the number with their reading challenge App. It tells me how many books I'm behind on my goal (that would be 10). I'm grateful for bloggers for introducing me to books, creating buzz around books, and pushing me to read books that I would not normally pick up.

Books I'm Dying to Read: November Edition

Liar's Moon: I really enjoyed the first book - curious to find out what happens next! GoodReads

Little Women and Me: I LOVE Little Women - so curious about this one! I love the idea of Emily attempting to change the storyline and getting sucked into the novel. GoodReads

Merchant's Daughter: I love the cover! And it sounds thrilling and romantic. GoodReads

Prized: I LOVE the new cover scheme. Gaia must survive in a society where a kiss is forbidden and women rule. I adored the first book! GoodReads

At First Bite: I LOVE Ruth Ames (aka Aimee Friedman). This looks like an adorable tween vampire read! GoodReads

Saving June June's sister Harper wants to uncover the truth about her sister's death. I can't tell if this is the real cover or not.. GoodReads


Future of Us: An Awesome read! I couldn't put it down. I'll review it closer to the release date) It's 1996 and Emma just got AOL. She discovers Facebook and herself in the future. She tells her used-to-be best friend Josh about it. Together they start to realize they can change their futures... GoodReads

Legend: Same - another awesome read. June and Day comes from opposite worlds, but one death brings them closer together than they ever imagined. GoodReads

Kiss of Frost: I Love the first book in the series! I can't wait to see what happens next to Gwen. Plus these covers ROCK! GoodReads

Last Breath: I'm a HUGE fan of this series! What sort of trouble will Claire and her friends get into this time? GoodReads


Darker Still: AMAZING cover! Dark magic, a creepy feeling, a handsome painting, and a girl drawn inside. GoodReads

The Pledge: A violent country, a deadly secret, and an intense attraction! GoodReads


Daughters Join the Party: LOVE this series! A new girl enters the trio - she's the daughter of an important Senator who's running for President. She's never fit in before, but that's where The Daughters come in. GoodReads

Shatter Me: The last time Juliette touched someone - she killed them. Is she a prisoner or a weapon, Described a part Hunger Games and part X-Men! GoodReads

BBAW: blogging community

Community Part II
The world of book blogging has grown enormously and sometimes it can be hard to find a place. Share your tips for finding and keeping community in book blogging despite the hectic demands made on your time and the overwhelming number of blogs out there. If you’re struggling with finding a community, share your concerns and explain what you’re looking for–this is the week to connect!

I try to read Blogs daily. I feel so out of the loop when it doesn't happen. Plus as a librarian, I think it's important to know what's

I look for blogs that have similar reading tastes - mainly YA.
Although I do like blogs that point me in the direction of a book I *might* not have picked up on my own.
I look for blogs that are cute looking
I look for blogs that update regularly (at least three times a week if not 5)
I'm mostly a silent reader. There are very few bloggers that I know personally and a few that I've connected to online. I don't comment much, but I'm working on that.
Although I'm better on twitter - which also helps me find new blogs.

Tween Tuesday Review: Secret of Rover

Twins Katie and David are excited to learn they will be getting a new baby sister. They're parents must travel to the foreign lands of Katkajan for the adoption. Katie and David are left in the hands of a babysitter.

Right away Katie notices that the babysitter isn't normal. She's not thrilled to be left alone with her. Katie doesn't mention her unease to her parents as she doesn't want anything to disturb their trip. Katie never dreams her worst fears would become reality.

The babysitter isn't interested in watching them. She's not there to help them; she's there to keep them in line. Katie and David's parents invented a spy technology that the war torn country of Katkajan badly wants. Katkajan people have dangled this baby in front of the family in order to lure them out of into their country. Katie and David's parents are now hostages.

When Katie and David learn about their parents, they formulate a plan. They must travel to Vermont to find their uncle. They've never met their uncle. He lives in wilds of Vermont and has become a hermit. If they can get to him, they might have a chance at rescuing their parents. Can they make the journey from Washington D.C. to Vermont without anyone following them?

My Thoughts: A great thriller for tweens. Secrets of Rover isn't too scary, but contains lots of action and danger. Katie and David are smart, resourceful, and quick on their toes. I love the government secrets and their attempt to help. I love the trip to Vermont. I love the people the twins meet along the way. I hope there are more adventures for Katie and David.

Cover Thoughts: Love the cover and how it portrays the action and the tense scenes

Source: reviewed for TeensReadToo

BBAW: Jamie of Perpetual Page Turner

Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner is chatting with us during Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Check out her interview with me and then head on over to her blog.

What made you start blogging? In 2008 I created a College Students group on Goodreads and became obsessed with having a place to talk books with others. Through that group I saw that a fellow member, April of Good Books and Good Wine, had a blog. I kept wanting to do it for FOREVER and finally got a few group members to form The Broke and the Bookish with me in June of 2010. I then promptly created my personal book blog because I just fell in love with being able to blog about books I loved or didn't love and have people actually interact and get excited with me!

What's your favorite bookish moment? I have honestly had so many great bookish moments between all the bookish events I've been to (BEA, author signings, book fests) and just during blogging in general but I'm going to have to say that my first night at BEA meeting some of my very best blogging friends for the first time at a pizza place. It was epic and amazing and I loved the bookish and non-bookish conversations we had and I just couldn't believe that after talking books for so long together that we were finally meeting and having the best time. Really all of BEA was epic for that reason.

Oh, I LOVE BEA

What book out in 2012 are you most looking forward to reading? Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver ..I just have to know what happens and I really just love Lauren's writing.

What is your proudest blog moment? Oh goodness. Hmm I think recently was when I pretty much peed my pants when Maureen Johnson (OMG!) recognized me from my Twitter picture (@brokeandbookish)! I just turned to my fiance after we left and (COMPLETELY JOKINGLY) said, "You know, that kind of makes me a BIG DEAL since Maureen knew who I was. You are dating a superstar." He just died laughing at my complete nerddom.
That's Awesome she recognized you.. Maureen Johnson is a ROCK STAR!



What author would you love to meet? I have been very fortunate to a ton of my favorite authors (Laurie Halse Anderson, David Levithan, Megan McCafferty, Libba Bray. I can't even think of them all!) but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to meet Stephanie Perkins. Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door are two of my all time fave YA novels and I just think she is incredibly sweet and awesome to her fans! I think she is a master of the contemporary YA and I just love her books so hardcore.
I'm jealous that you got to read Lola and the Boy Next Door already!

Thanks Jamie!

If You Like....Project Runway

If You Like… is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love. This week’s post features recommendations for books, movies, tv shows, and music related to Project Runway.

Check out this weeks list!