Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Things I Wish I Knew More About As a New Book Blogger

Hi Everyone!

Today is a freebie week for the Top Ten Tuesday and I decided that I would write a list of things that despite blogging for several months, I haven’t a clue about. I am sure that I could research these things, I just haven’t had a chance to do so yet.  So given that, here are a few that I have no idea about:

1) What is included in a good book review? Do you include spoilers? How do you balance between telling enough about a book to get people interested and not ruining for everyone else?

2) Should you use blogger or word press? Or something else? Should I self host my site?

3) What places should I be on social media? Are there accounts that I should follow? Also, what is tweet deck? (I have been told what it is, but how does it work?)

4) What are your favorite readathons and when do they happen?

5) How do you participate in a blog tour? How do you find out about tours?

6) Should I do giveaways? If I do, should I use rafflecopter or something else? Is it expensive to ship international?

7) Can you request arcs directly from publishers? If you do, how do you do that and who do you contact? Is this how you get authors to directly send you books?

8) How do you track your books? Goodreads? Library Thing?

9) Is there a list of book events, blog events, or reading groups? This could be local or broader. How does BEA and ALA work? I have attended Book Con, but never the other two. Are there other types of events that are similar to these? Do you have to be a member of ALA to attend their events?

10)  Is there a blogging mentor program? I would love to have regular conversations with people who have ideas about any of the topics above or any other blog topics. 

As you can see, I have a lot of unanswered questions! I know that I just need to take some time and I am sure that someone has posted for me to learn the answers to these questions. Have you? If you have and have a link to relevant topics, please feel free to share below!

Thanks! Happy Reading!

Book Review: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Author: Becky Albertalli

Summary from Goodreads:
This is the story of Simon and his admirer, Blue. Simon has not yet come out to his family and friends, but can be his true self with Blue. When his secret gets discovered, he gets blackmailed into helping someone else so his secret won’t come out.  

Personal Review:
I enjoyed this book.  I picked it up because a lot of other bloggers have been speaking so highly of it. I am glad that I did. I especially enjoyed the plot of this story. It kept me wanting to read and know what happens. The words flow in an easy way.

This book did a good job of making me feel for the characters. You can tell especially for Simon that he is working through some complex feelings and is being pulled in a number of directions. I like that connection to the main person.

The story itself was an interesting one and I feel like it challenges the traditional young adult norm of a story a little bit. I appreciate that it makes me familiar with topics I would have not been previously familiar with.

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Love That Split the World

Photo Credit: Amazon

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: 
The Love That Split The World

By Emily Henry
Publication Date: January 26th

From Amazon:
Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start…until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right.

That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.” The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2015 Books I've Recently Added To My TBR

Hi Everyone!

Stopping by with another Top Ten Tuesday sponsored by the lovely people over at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Top Ten 2015 Books I've Recently Added To My TBR.

1. Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist
2. The Leaving Season
3.  I'll Meet You There
4.  Pink Smog
5. Eat Brains Love
6. This Raging Light
7. The Stars of Summer
8. Arena
9. Cinder
10. Placebo Junkies


You can find out more information about these by visiting my GoodReads!

What books have you added to your list?

Happy Reading!

#24in48 readathon

Six Hour Check In

1. Where in the world are you reading from this weekend? Northern VA/DC
2. Have you done the 24in48 readathon before? Nope, first time
3. Where did you hear about the readathon? I think I found it in a google search for readathons!
4. What book are you most excited about reading this weekend? All of them!
5. Tell us something about yourself. I am a book blogger as well!
6. Remind us where to find you online this weekend. Twitter-@hesaidbooksorme

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Wrap Up Post

1. How many books did you read? Pages? I read a total of 4 books or 1,071 pages.
2. How many hours did you read? I didn't keep track.
3. What do you think worked well in this readathon? I liked that I picked a variety of books, so I could pick up whatever fit my mood.
4. What do you think could be done to improve the readathon for next time? Nothing from the organizers, but from my point I think I need to be a bit more strategic in the books I want to read.
5. Will you participate in a future 24in48 readathon? Likely if it fits my schedule! 

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Overview of Books I Finished

A Confederacy of Dunces
In this book, Ignatuis, the main character in the book experiences a series of strange and unusual events that intertwines a variety of characters and situations. The book read much like a series of short stories instead of one continuous one. I picked it up because we are going to be traveling to New Orleans in a few weeks and this is the setting for the book.

I Can Barely Take Care of Myself
In this book, comedian Jen Kirkman discusses her decision to remain childfree. She shares stories about conversations and thoughts she has had on the topic. An interesting book about the things people say to others and interesting book.

Keefer: The People's Choice
A book about a racing greyhound and his claim to fame. I got this one as a gift from my mother in law and I enjoyed it alot. I have a greyhound, but have never been to the track before, so I enjoyed this insider view about the sport. Whether you agree or not, for me it always will be about the dogs and this one was legendary.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Never Broken: Songs are only half the story

Author: Jewel

Summary from Goodreads:
In her memoir, Jewel discusses her motivation behind her songs and the stages of her life. She describes times that were challenging and required survival. She also describes how she used those tough times as motivation for her music. An interesting read.  

Personal Review:
I really enjoyed this book. I found out a lot of information that I never knew about Jewel before. I had no idea that she was from Alaska. I also never realized how many different things she experienced as a child and a teenager that shaped her world view.

I think that the thing I liked most about this book was the honesty. She told stories exactly as she remembered them and how they made her feel. In addition to being her song lyric, the words Never Broken resonate in her life as well.

The book leads up to where she is in her current life. While it is not perfect, she is learning to get through every day. I really enjoyed reading about her story and the challenges she has had. It is nice to see the person behind the famous one you think you know.

Happy Reading!