BBAW: Reading Meme

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Yes! Usually it’s whatever I find in the kitchen or what sounds good at the moment.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
What?! Books aren’t cheap, so why would I want to mark them up?

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
Bookmark! I hate when people dog-ear the pages – that should be a crime. And if you lay a book flat open, that just ruins the binding.

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Fiction

Hard copy or audio-books?
Nothing beats having the actually book in your hands. But audio-books can be nice for long drives or while cleaning the house (ugh!)

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
Unless within the chapter there is a break, I have to read to the end. Otherwise, when I start back up I tend to forget what happened. Then I have to back-track.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
Why yes I do!

What are you currently reading?
Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

What is the last book you bought?
Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
Usually just one at a time. If I read more then one then I'm like what? which book did this happen in?

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
I like to read where ever that is peace and quiet! I do a lot of my reading late in the day and at night.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
I like them both, but stand alone novels don't leave me hanging at the end, plus I don't have to wait a year to find out what happens :)

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
By the author's last name. I have so many books and that's the easiest way for me to find the one I want.

BBAW: Blogger Interviews

Name: Shauna
Blog name: Reading and Ruminations
URL: http://readingandruminations.wordpress.com/

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Let's see. I'm in my mid-20s, and I'm currently a legal assistant at a small law firm in my town. I'd been in the library field for a few years, but was a victim of budget cuts and the bad economy. In the long run, once the economy improves, I'd like to go back to library work. I miss it a lot! I like my job now, but it's really not the same.

When and why did you start your blog?

I actually started Reading and Ruminations under a different name on LiveJournal in 2005 because another friend had started a book blog as well, and it looked really interesting to me. I posted sporadically over a few years, then changed the name and began posting regularly in 2008. By the end of 2008, I'd become pretty unhappy with LiveJournal and its style for book blogging, so I made the transition to WordPress, and it's been much better for me.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books?

I love classics and literary fiction. I'm particularly fond of British literature, both classics and contemporary. My favorite novel is Pride and Prejudice. I read it when I was 17, and I loved the story. But in addition to loving the story, it also reinvigorated me. To that point, I'd been reading a lot of mass-market fiction, and reading Pride and Prejudice ultimately led me to a whole world of fiction and novels I'd never tapped before. So it did a good thing for me. Some of my other favorite novels are The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, and Atonement by Ian McEwan.

Lets say you’re going to a deserted island and you can only take 3 books with you. Which ones would you take? Why?

I always have a really hard time with this question, because I'm never sure if I want to have old favorites, or something new-but-long. So I'm going to answer this question two ways, if that's okay. If I'm taking old favorites, I am taking Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, and The Three Musketeers. If I am taking new books, I'd take War and Peace, The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman, and Atlas Shrugged. I would want books that were going to keep me occupied for awhile, rather than being done in an hour.

Any tips or advice you can give for those who are starting – or thinking about starting – a blog?

I have several tips. Schedule time to blog (this is advice that I've been given but have yet to actually implement). Try not to get too caught up in requesting ARCs and review copies. Review copies are great, and I've found some great books that way, but when you receive them faster than you can read and review them, it gets overwhelming. Challenges are fun, but they too can be overwhelming if you sign up for too many. And don't be afraid to leave a comment on another blog; you can make great friends that way. I could go on for a while, but in the interest of time and eyestrain, I won't.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I want to make sure I take the time to thank Amy and her committees for all their hard work this week. I know the awards committee alone has been discussing and planning for BBAW since January, which is a huge committment. I'd also like to take a minute to encourage everyone to visit some new blogs this week. You never know where you might find a friend. And lastly, I'd like to thank you, Casey, for interviewing me. This was a lot of fun!

Thanks Shauna!! Be sure to stop by Reading and Ruminations.

BBAW Shout-Outs

Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2009 – Day One!

It’s the first day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week! Very exciting! Congrats to everyone who was shortlisted for an award, and even those who were nominated for one. Today, is also a day to give a shout-out to some of our favorite blogs that didn’t make the shortlist.

In no particular order, here are some of mine:

Kate from The Neverending Shelf – Kate is an amazing person and I love just chatting with her. And of course, I love her blog too! I enjoy reading everything she posts about: reviews, memes, and especially her feature, Branching Out, where she interviews bloggers about their site. It’s a great way to find new blogs.

Sab H. from Crystal Reviews – I have discovered some great books from reading her reviews. Also, she has a feature that I love, “News for YAbookaholics” where she posts news about anything book related.

Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century – I automatically fell in love with Kristen’s blog on my first visit to it. She has great reviews. They’re honest and straight to the point, which I love. Hands down, Kristen’s blog is amazing!!

Tina from Fantastic Book Reivew – She posts great reviews, interview, and some awesome contests.

Lauren from Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf – I really enjoy reading what she has to say. I love her blog layout too!

Alex and Lauren from A Flight of Minds – These girls are hilarious and their posts are always fun to read.

Yan from Books By Their Cover – Absolutely love her reviews. She doesn’t beat around the bush and she tells it how it is. When I want an honest opinion of a book, I always read her reviews.

I visit these blogs on a regular basis and suggest everyone go check them out!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

The second annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week is now accepting nominations for you favorite blogs! Anyone who blogs is welcome to participate. In fact, you don't have to have a blog to vote for you favorites. BBAW will take place September 14-18.