Hello world. I seem to have taken a little break from blogging. It wasn’t planned. I was on vacation and thus lazy, plus I think there’s been stuff going on online that I wanted to breather from for a bit. I have been reading, but four of the books are coming out in October and I didn’t want to review them too early, and one of them is non-fiction which I don’t really review over here. 🙂 I didn’t plan very well, did I? I’m back now though. I swear! I am really well set for October!
To show that I haven’t been a total miscreant, here is some stuff I’m involved in, and some stuff other lovely bloggers are involved in that you should check out:
I was asked to join the YAckers, which is an online book club with a group of mostly YA bloggers, and I’ve been a member since July. Every month the Keeper of the Book chooses a few books and the members vote on a YA book to read. We read, and discuss online and our discussion turns into blog posts. There are a lot of no holds barred personalities in this club and it is a lot of fun. If reading discussion posts and hearing how a book affects people differently is your thing, check us out. I’m the newest Keeper! Next we will be discussing Sarah Rees Brennan’s Unspoken. This book bowled me over and I’m curious to see what the rest of the group thinks. Look for that discussion towards the end of September/early October. Until then, YAckers has discussed other YA books like The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.
This month a fellow YAcker who runs the blog Word For Teens is highlighting strong characters and I will be contributing.
“A strong character isn’t necessarily one that is kick-ass or rules the world or is, as a person, strong at all. A strong character is one that pops off the page and seems as real to us as we are.”
Also this month over at Book Harbinger, Holly is hosting “Seven Days for Sevenwaters, a week-long blog event dedicated to Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters series”. Oooo, I am looking forward to this one. It starts next week, September 10th. I’ve read (and liked) Daughter of the Forest and I have MEANT TO pick up the next one and kept going. I really should do that one day. I have a feeling these upcoming posts will be the right kick to do so.
Book Blogger Appreciation Week is next week too. This year, the organizers have decided to go back to basics and not have BBAW awards. I think that’s a nice change. If you are a book blogger, there are things you can do to join in, like the daily blogging topics and interview swap (you can still register for that – it’s open till this Sunday).
And tomorrow, September 7th, it’s National Buy a Book Day! Ahem, all I need is an excuse, so I am very jazzed about it. You can spread the word with badges for your site, join the Facebook event, check out the website, and of course — this is very important — buy a book.
In the meantime, I am waiting impatiently for my copy of Ashes of Honor. I would like the world to know that Fedex Smartpost is the devil! What do you MEAN it arrived in my town at 6:41am today but it hasn’t moved since then?! T_T Do you know how often I’ve refreshed the tracking page? Anyway, as soon as is it is in my hot little hands, I will be having the fangirl squee incisive and thoughtful discussion with Chelle of Persephone Reads. It will be epic. Chelle has already read it and I don’t know why she hasn’t burst yet from waiting for me.
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Thanks for the all reminders like BBAW and National Buy a Book Day (ie, every day for me). I’m glad you’re back! How dare life get in the way of book blogging!
Not gonna lie – it was rather relaxing being LAZAY. Writing up this post helped though. There’s a lot to look forward to (and I do have a couple of things in draft form now). 😀
Heh, I have been trying to decide what to buy for National Book Buying day. So many choices.
I am having the EXACT SAME gripe about SmartPost involving the EXACT SAME book! Why don’t I have my Ashes of Honor yet? *pout*
Also, I just heard about National Buy a Book Day and will be spreading the word on my blog. 🙂
Finally, ooh, Sevenwaters! Like you, I loved Daughter of the Forest but hadn’t gotten around to the rest of the series yet. But I actually did read Son of the Shadows a couple weeks ago — and eek, I think I forgot to review it! This must be rectified. But I thought it was very good too, so perhaps I’ll have to get cracking on Child of the Prophecy.
Wow, really? OK this means it’s really them. I am not being unreasonable! I’m about to go check my mail (again), wish me luck.
🙂 About National Book Buying Day: yay! I am still pondering what book to buy today. Leaning towards preordering something.
Oh you are ahead of me on Sevenwaters, but I am happy to hear that you liked the second book. Really should pick up my copy…
I cannot wait to hear what you think about Ashes of Honor! Hope you get it soon. 🙂
Still not here. So now it has been.. 37 hours and 20 minutes since it was marked arrived in my city/town and it hasn’t been delivered to my place yet. I do not like Fedex Smartpost. Do not like them at ALL.
Aw, that’s not good at all. 😦
Ashes of Honor is my favorite in the series so far. I think you’ll love it too!
It kills me sooo much because I went into B&N today and there’s Ashes of Honor on the shelves. And here I am, having preordered the book.. still without it. 😦
Oh, it will be epic. 🙂 And you’ve no idea how hard it’s been to bury the need/urge to fangirl hard in your direction, which is why I’ve seriously contemplated buying you a copy and delivering it personally. That probably would have been quicker than Fedex! I need you to read this book!!!
Thanks for the heads-up on all of those events! I’m a bit out of the book blogging loop these days. Looking forward to that discussion of Unspoken and, like you, I’m in the same boat re: Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters books.
I think if that book doesn’t come by tonight, I am going to go out and buy it. This is freaking painful – having to wait for it! 😦
Yes, lots going on! I forgot to also say that the Hugos were recently announced. I want to read a couple of the winning entries too. So much going on, so little time.
I LOVE YAckers!! Wow, so cool!! Also let me tell you, Son of the Shadows is my favorite Marillier book I think. Daughter of the Forest is amazing as well but something about Son of the Shadows that just really got to me. I hope that you read them all and love them!!! I also really love the idea of the Blogger Appreciation Week, it made me so happy! I missed Buy a Book Day….welp might need to go buy a few to catch up!
Thanks for this recap, I really enjoyed every part!!
You love Yackers? 🙂 Aw, thank you.
Knowing it’s your favorite does make me look forward to Son of the Shadows more. Really do need to get going on that series..
Yes, you should join up on BBAW, it’s a lot of fun. And heh, exactly – love those ‘reasons’ for buying more books.
Your absence was noticed! Glad your back, and thanks for the shout out. Did you end up buying anything on the 7th? Sadly, I didn’t.
🙂 I was still sorta on twitter and facebook so I figured people weren’t that worried if they saw me online at least.
I did! I went to B&N and didn’t see anything I wanted, but then went home and bought the third Kowalski book (Shannon Stacey). Kinda was thinking I’ve been on a bit of a UF tear and needed a break soon so a contemporary romance would do it.
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