I can’t believe I made it…. holy smokes what a big week…
It wasnt just work, although that was busy too… it was several days of big evening plans with little gap between work and other commitments. Pretty much I dragged myself home after 9:00 pm three times this week and my body feels it. Workouts went to the wayside… no time for that, laundry has been washed but not dried and put away, and books…. have not been read.
BUT…
today is Friday and I am off (off off off…. it echo’s nicely don’t you agree?) I have no plans today, no commitments… and there is a real good chance I may not leave my house. (Probably not true… I do want to mail some books today and maybe stop at the library….)
Mostly though… I am hanging out. I am writing a couple of reviews, I am making plans for Banned Books Week, and I am reading. Ahhh… such a great word. 😛
In other random news…. Audible.com is having an AMAZING sale on their audio with over 200 titles now at $4.95 each. Oh my goodness, I am so excited and found several great titles for myself and I bet if you pop in, you will too. I picked up The Kitchen House, Outlander, Night Road… all for $4.95 each. If you want to check out the sale the link is on this banner below.
AND – this is uber exciting! I also seen that The NIght Circus on audible is being read by …… wait for it…. wait for it….. Jim Dale! Yes, Jim Dale who narrated for the Harry Potter books… Jim who is totally totally totally scream worthy….. (did I say totally?)
Anyway because I am sooooooo excited about The Night Circus, and because I see so many of you are as well… I am going to offer up another hard cover copy today for the last day of #BBAW. To enter you just need to be anywhere Amazon delivers, and answer this question: (*when I put my BBAW post up later today you can get a second entry by commenting on that one as well)
Todays BBAW topic is about blogging. As a book blogger yourself, or as a reader of blogs, what do you like to see the most on blogs. Or in other words, what keeps you coming back to certain blogs (layout, memes, book topics, variety, the writing, giveaways, etc…)
And finally – my winners of the last two days of giveaways…
Vicki (I’d Rather Be Reading At The Beach)
Alexia’s Books and Such
Yay to both winners!!! Now don’t forget to enter todays for The Night Circus!!!!!
Book Journey 
I noticed Minn. nights are getting a bit nippy. I hope you’ll still have a lot of nice days for biking, rollerblading, and all that other energetic “stuff” you do. 😀
Thanks Barbara… yes it has become cold suddenly. My office is fairly warm but going outside, I do need a jacket. Seems to soon for me… 🙂
I sometimes go to a blog for the meme, but mostly for the personality (voice) of the blogger. Also, I like it if the blog is slightly personal about the blogger, so that you feel you can get to know them by reading the blog. That’s why I like your blog. 🙂
Thanks Heidi, I like those things in a blog too… I like when a little bit of them “eeeks” out into their posts.
Hi there Shelia, I do hope you manage to have a chilled out weekend, after the week you have had.
When I visit a Book Blog it is first and foremost for the Book Reviews, in my opinion there are too many book blogs out there that are all glitz and glam with very little actual useful content, They often seem more concerned with follower numbers than writing interesting reviews! Sorry to be so harsh but you hit a nerve. I am looking for quality not quantity.
LOL Nicely put! I agree with you on the ones that are having follower contests… I just want to read reviews, or maybe enter a giveaway but not have hoops to jump through to do it. 😀
Thanks for the heads up on Audible. You will LOVE Outlander (Davina Porter is awesome), I liked The Kitchen House too, Orlagh Cassidy is great. I now want to listen to The Night Circus as I love Jim Dale. Yesterday, I listened to The Alchemist as I gutted and cleaned the kitchen!!
I used my credit this morning Nise to grab up The Night Circus audio! 😀
As the founder & leader of a neighborhood book club I read blogs because they give me the best reviews on new releases. That way our book club stays up to date with what’s out there & it helps with our club’s choices. And the giveaways don’t hurt either!
Thanks Ruthie, comments like these make me a better book blogger 😀
For me, it’s the writing and the personal touches. When it comes to book reviews, I like a good mix of the reaction and what the book came to mean to a person. I don’t like pure plot-outline reviews, or pure analysis reviews, or pure reaction reviews, but a combination of all three. And i like the blog to have more than just reviews. I like blogs that spend less time branding themselves and more time just doing what they want. 😀
And yes, I want another chance to win The Night Circus!! Maybe I’ll get lucky this time.
Awesome Amanda… I like that too… personality in the reviews… if it made my cry I say so, if I made a fool of myself yelling at the fictional character… yeah, I confess that too… 😛
I love going to blogs and laughing at a review and knowing what they mean…
(oh and I was hoping you would stoop back for another chance! :razz:)
Oh my goodness – I would LOVE a copy of The Night Circus!! What keeps me coming back to book blogs are the recommendations of new or soon-to-be-released books. It also helps when the blog posts aren’t too long and are well written!! Thanks!!
Thanks Krytsen, yes, I agree… I like a good middle size review – not uber long… those lose me plus I fear spoilers…. Too short and I feel I could have learned just as much from the book synopsis on line. 😀
I will come back to a site if the blogger consistently writes good reviews, doesn’t do too many memes, and for their personality.
Amanda, good thoughts. I know when I first started blogging I was using memes all the time as a way to connect to others… as I grew into my own I dropped most of them, and only do the one I put out on Mondays, and the weekend ones that I can tie into reviews or meanderings….
I love to see book reviews and personal news on what people are doing in their own lives. It makes me feel like I am really getting to know the blogger. Love your blog because it is an excellent mix of both!
Thanks Joy…. I remember when I first started doing the “Morning Meanderings” which was meant to be (and is) me unplugged. Not necessarily books, but it could also be life happenings, work outs, events, whatever.
I was amazed at the responses to it. people liked knowing that side of me…. thats when 😀
that is a hard question…there are blogs i read because i like the “voice”..they are snarky, or funny or sincere,etc
other blogs i like because their reviews are usually books i love and they are concise etc
still others are eclectic and i love the surprise of it!
I enjoy the mix too Diana. 🙂
I would LOVE to read The Night Circus. Yay!!
And I keep coming back to blogs that have “personality.” Sharing bits and pieces of the blogger’s life (like your Morning Meanderings, that completely won me over), are sure fire magnets for me.
I also enjoy looking at an interesting layout, but one that doesn’t take FOREVER to load. Those annoy me.
The voice, though, is the most important part…and the lively activities.
Thanks!
I agree on the lay out Laurel – I love good looking blogs but hate if they take too long to load, honestly I just move on….
(be sure to tell me if mine ever does that! :razz:)
So far, so good, Sheila!
LOL – thanks Laurel 😀
Thanks for the giveaway – I’d love to win THE NIGHT CIRCUS. What a great BBAW it has been.
Hasnt it? I was so busy but participated when and where I could 😉
Good Morning…or is it? I’ve had a rough night with the kids and now I’m not feeling well. Gotta love back to school and back to all the contact with germs. I’m having to substitute my regular morning coffee with tea. That’s torture! Mind you I do like tea but I love my coffee! Since you’re home today I’m going to wish you a good one and have a coffee for me! Count me in on the giveaway please! Thanks!
Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com
Thanks Margaret – you are going to laugh… I am drinking tea this morning as well. I purchased a variety for this weeks book club theme, apparently in the 1940s during the war coffee was quite hard to get so many were tea drinkers. I have a lot of tea left over so I have been sampling the different types… 😀
I usually read blogs because of their content – i.e. I am interested in books, music, healthy lifestyle, so I look for blogs on these topics. But I nice design of the blog doesn´t hurt either 🙂
All good qualities I agree Lenna 😀
If I wasn’t half asleep I’d be jumping up and down about Jim Dale narrating. That in itself makes me want to hold off on reading it until I can locate an audiobook version.
NO kidding right??? That will be the next audio I listen to and I can not wait! I have the book but I am going audio first. 😀
I keep entering to win this one *laughs!!*
What keeps me coming back to a blog is three things: the personality of the blogger (I like to see their uniqueness shining through), the quality of the writing, and lots of book reviews of books that I am interested in reading 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!!
I like uniqueness too Wendy, when they put a littler personality in the mix it makes me want to check in and see what they are up to now. 😀
Book reviews are what keep my coming back-books that I would be interested in. There are some blogs I do not visit as often as their genre of books are not mine. I like learning about all the new books out there.
I love learning about new books Esme and have purchased so many just ont he gushing alone of other bloggers 😀
I like discussion-type posts, but I think I agree with an earlier commenter; it’s the voice of the blogger that most often keeps me coming back. Have a good Friday! Off is such a good word. 😀
I do like the word “off” Hannah 😀 Enjoy your Friday too!
I did, thanks!
Ooh, I’ll have to browse through Audible and see if there’s anything that strikes my fancy.
I stick with a blog because I enjoy the blogger’s writing style, or because their personality shines through loud and clear. I like personal, engaging blogs that draw me right in and give me a clear sense of the person behind the screen.
YES. Well put and oddly I have nothing to add. 😯
LOL
I have newly discovered book blogs and still feel a bit lost amongst all the variety! What I am coming to realize though, is that I prefer blogs where the blogger’s love of reading is obvious. There a few blogs where it seems as though they are reading/reviewing if only to keep up a certain number of posts or to fulfill commitments. I want to be inspired and excited by reading.
You have a great blog and I would LOVE to win a copy of the Night Circus. There has definitely been a lot of excitement about this book!
Thank you Katie… I agree, I love to read reviews where the reviewer gushes when it is awesome… and can be honest when it is “meh” 😀
Oh yes, I’d love another chance at winning The Night Circus! Thanks for all the generous giveaways, Sheila.
What I like on blogs – I think good book reviews are important, and I like it if the bloggers shows some of his or her personality, so it’s not too anonymous.You’re doing great both ways!
Thanks Judith! 😀
Yaaay for audiobooks and yaaay for The NIght Circus too..
I keep coming back to visit you because it’s so much fun here! No need to enter me in the giveaway. My copy of Night Circus arrived yesterday and I’ll also be hosting a giveaway in the next week. 🙂
OOH I want wait to read my copy but am in deep with The chaos walking series. 😀
I go back to blogs for the people who are writing them, because eventually I start to feel like I know them, and it’s like keeping up with a good friend. And for book blogs or author blogs, I love getting a look at the “making of”, like book cover reveals or posts about their experiences revising, touring, etc.
I feel the same way Natalia, I check in on people, I know when they are sick, or they are traveling…I love that!
Congrats to your winners. As for what I like about blogs most are unique interviews and guest posts…they have to keep me interested, but if the layout is hard to follow or has a black background with white writing, ugh, I can’t stand reading it.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh I know what you mean! I feel bad for those bloggers – I want to tell them but I dont want to come off as rude…. the black is hard with the white and some of them load so slow too…..
I am always looking for the newest releases. I get so excited about adding new books to my “To-Read” list. Hearing about new books gets me excited about reading!
Me too Emily! 😀
Woo Hoo!! Thanks so much Sheila!
What makes a blog interesting to me is that there is more going on than just books. I love reviews and giveaways, but I also like photos, recipes, fitness stuff and learning about the bloggers family. In other words, I like seeing the bloggers personality. That’s why I love your blog so much.
Thanks Vicki, I hope you enjoy the book, email me your address and I will get it sent out today or Monday.
I will always come back if you put heart into your reviews. I want to know why you didn’t like a book or not and not just “this wasn’t for me”. I am always on the look out for new books to add to my always growing TBR pile so I love finding new releases info. And of course, who doesn’t love a great giveaway?
Right Tiffany! Double right!!! 😀
For me it’s a personality. I don’t mean people have to be over-the-top or really “out there”, just that when they write a post, you can get a sense of who they are. That’s why I like the response section of review posts better than the actual reviews, and why I have no problem with “personal” posts. Great question!
I have the most fun writing reviews Trisha that I either really enjoyed or really did not…. they bring out the emotions in me and when I read through them I feel they are the best of my reviews….love or hate. 😀
I remember JIm Dale from the film “Pete’s Dragon!”
He does make an excellent audio book voice…
Many thanks, Cindi
Sure Cindi 🙂
i am constantly amazed by how much posting and commenting you manage to do in spite of your busy busy non-virtual life
i’m getting more excited about The Night Circus by the minute. thanks to you i was first in queue at the library for their 2 copies on-order. but it would still be cool to win!!
Oh nice Joy!!! I hope it is as awesome as I have bragged it up to be 🙂 They hype around it has me excited that this may be the next big read! 😀
I work in a bookstore and when The Night Circus came in, it was instant booklust at first sight. We have a different cover in the UK but just as gorgeous, it was like the book grabbed me and shouted in my face: “KATIE I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME!” Then my friend promised to buy it for my birthday. I hadn’t heard of this book before, or only in passing, but I can’t wait to read it.
Its suppose to be big Katie…. like Harry Potter big…. of course, I have heard that before…. but I am hopeful. 😀
Hi Sheila,
I received a tweet yesterday from @poofbooks recommending that I check out “The Night Circus” – so here I am 🙂
I would say what keeps me coming back to a particular blog is if the blogger reaches out and establishes a personal relationship with me. They respond to my comment. They visit my blog and comment. They RT one of my tweets on Twitter or “like” one of my status posts on Facebook. You get the idea. I then feel more comfortable accepting their suggestions about what to read.
Have a great weekend,
Nicole
Awesome Nicole and I agree… I don’t trust everyone’s reviews but if they are someone I chat back and forth with and I like what I read, then I will go off their recommendation. 🙂
Like Nicole, right above, I love building relationships with bloggers who have similar tastes. That means we comment on each other’s blogs, plus there’s always something I want to read!
I soooo would love a copy. I have heard a million good things about the Night Circus.
I can not believe two copies of this book have sat in my home since early June and I have refrained….LOL 😀
How is that possible!? LOL
I go for the bloggers voice and if you can feel like you really know him or her from how they deal with books and other posts.If it feels like a personal connection as well as a book connection. But I also go to find out what people think of new and old books and to get a feeling for what I want to add to my TBR list. I never feel like I know enough readers or people who like to read the same things I do so to be able to connect and discuss with readers who I wouldn’t see on a face to face basis gives a sense of community.
It really does Jill… and I too like to see the old and the new books, and have found many books i never dreamed I would read but because of a book blogger I do and discover a great book! 😀
Oh, I have read Outlander (more than a few times) and listened to it on audio and I loved it! If I didn’t have to listen in the car with my children I would think about listening to the series again. I keep thinking about rereading the series, but then new books come onto my radar and I push back the plan a little.
Really? I am so pumped as I have not read this series… sometimes audio gives me that push I need to get into a series and then off I go. I have been collecting the books as I find them at sales. 😀
For me it is about the writing and the connection I form with the blogger and their subject matter. I am not drawn to meme’s at all and sometimes it is a turn off as that is all some bloggers to do. Yep, it is definitely the writing style and that all important personal connection that keeps me coming back.
I agree Laura when all I see are memes that is not what I want to read. I like the memes that promote discussions and there are a few good ones out there that tie into what you are reading anyway.
Thank you Sheila! Mara Dyer is one of those books I coveted at BEA, but couldn’t get my hands on, so very excited! 😀
As for the question of the day, the thing that keeps me coming back to a blog depends on the blog. I follow some that have great book reviews and help me discover new titles. Others have such great personalities that I keep coming back for more, even though we read different genres. There are my book blogging buddies who I try to visit several times a week so. And then there are the ones that are fun and quirky and irresistible must reads!
I didn’t get that one either…. I don’t think…. now that you mention it I had better go check…LOL 😛
I like the variety too and you bring up a good point, different blogs for different reasons… some I love because their reviews knock my socks off, some are just hilarious in their life happenings, some are great book adventurers (author events, travel, bookish stuff) all appeal to me 😀
Well, I like the quality of writing where a review makes the book alive to you.
A good review is hard to pass up. 😀
Two things keep me coming back…obviously the giveaways, but also the writing especially when humor is involved.
I like that too Nancy… I love to put the feelings I have when I read a book into my review… I don’t know why, I just like the realness when I say I cried through a whole section or I threw it across the room then lovingly ran to it to finish the read… 😀
Honest reviews & humour keep me coming back to blogs.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Me too Mary 😀
Similar interest and or personality makes me come back to blogs. You are so energetic still don’t know how you do it.
Fingers crossed for Night Circus.
I went to bed at 7:30 last night Marce….LOL…. I crash sometimes. 😛
What keeps me coming back to a blog is when the blogger reads the same genre(s) I do. I enjoying reading reviews on books I have read or am about to read. It’s interesting to note when a blogger feels the same about several books as I do and then there is that one that we differ on. Makes me think about why I really liked or disliked a book.
I love the differences Shonda… I like to think about how each of us feel differently and that’s what I love so much about book discussions. 😀
New releases and giveaways always bring me back! 🙂
misusedinnocence@aol.com
Reviews of new releases.
penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I’d definitely say that the writing makes a huge difference. I like reading blogs that are a little bit different and not just the same old thing. In saying that I love blogs that are mostly reviews or interesting posts about literary subjects. And I enjoy a blog that looks clean and simple from a design perspecitve. Too much going on puts me off.
Good points Rachel – I like a well written blog as well.