September 13 -17, 2010

Can it really be that time again? Yup, it is. Book Blogger Appreciation Week will be here before we know it. This year there are different rules for registration and voting. To see them all, visit this post on the BBAW dedicated blog.

The most significant change from 2009 to 2010 is that to be considered for an award this year, bloggers must announce their intent to register by publishing a post on their blog highlighting and linking to five past posts they feel distinguish their blog in their chosen niche. There are several niche categories from which to chose – but I’ve decided to stay in the category where I have received nominations in the past: Best Literary Fiction blog. Three of the five linked posts must be reviews, recommendations, or analyses of a specific title; 2 posts are up to the nominated blogger. Please note this clarification: “By registering, you are not saying that you think you have the best blog, or anything like that. It’s simply registration into a particular category.“

After much consideration, here are the posts which I think best typify my blog in the category of literary fiction:

• The Passport – Book Review
• The Children’s Book – Book Review
• The Lizard Cage – Book Review
• Tinkers – Book Review
• Guest Post: Author Ru Freeman

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We are also invited to register in a featured category: Best Written Book Blog, Best Author Interviews, or Best New Book Blog. Since I don’t do author interviews, and I am not new to the book blogger world, that leaves Best Written Book Blog. In this category bloggers are asked to submit 3 reviews, recommendations, or analyses of a specific title; 2 are up to the nominated blogger. Here are my selections:

• Let’s Take the Long Way Home – Book Review
• The Singer’s Gun – Book Review
• Everything is Broken – Book Review
• Book Blogging in 2010
• Pool Dogs

Today’s post is all about recognizing the books recommended by other bloggers. The BBAW team writes:

Today we encourage you to blog about a book you read only because you discovered it on another book blog.  Preferably, this will be a book you loved!  You might also write a bit about the blog you discovered it on!

I love this idea! I periodically participate in Jenn’s Friday Finds weekly meme…and so I can go back and tell you where I first heard of a particular book. Here is one that I not only read, but absolutely loved:

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh (posted about on November 22, 2008 Friday Finds). This book was reviewed by Mystic Wanderer’s at What Am I Reading and I was so impressed with her review that I ran right out and bought the hardcover book at Barnes and Noble. This is a gorgeous book in scope and characterization (and I was really happy to know it is the first in a projected trilogy). You can read my review of the book here.

Have you visited What Am I Reading yet? If you enjoy literary fiction, this is definitely a blog you want to add to your feed reader.  Here is a blogger who knows how to craft a review…and it is all about the reviews on Mystic Wanderer’s blog.  I hope you’ll stop by, and I bet if you do, you’ll be adding a few more books to your towering TBR pile!

To read all my Friday Finds and get links to some great looking books and reviews from other bloggers, go here.

Today are the interviews for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Last year I didn’t have time to do this part of the week, but this year I did not want to miss out. And I’m glad I carved out the time in my schedule because I got to meet a terrific blogger. Valorie blogs at Morbid Romantic…and she graciously answered all my questions.

How did you get started with book blogging?

It was very haphazard, you could say. I just sort of “fell into it.” My blog has been around for years, a present to myself when I started college. I enjoyed blogging, but I originally lacked focus with it. I ran your typical ‘this is what I did today, this is how I feel’ sort of blog, which is ultimately interesting to no one. I realized quickly that it wasn’t my way to simply write about trivialities and that I wanted to focus my blog on something. For lack of other things to write, I started posting my book reviews on the blog. I was already writing them for a book list webpage and various book sites, but it seemed to make perfect sense once it came to me to place them on my website. I was amazed I didn’t think of it sooner. Once I got into the actual community, I found that I really enjoyed book blogging as a whole and that I would devote the entirety of my blog to it. It was definitely the right choice for me.

One of the things I love about blogging is that I can recommend books to total strangers and not feel awkward or shy about it. Have you ever recommended a book to a stranger in real life?

I am so painfully shy that I cannot approach anyone about anything! Sometimes I see someone standing with a good book and I am just dying to talk to them about it and encourage them to buy it, but my shyness gets in the way and I just stand there staring at them like a total weirdo. That is why I especially love that I can do it here now on the internet. No need to overcome shyness and I get a wide audience.

If you had a $1000 gift card to your favorite book store and only half an hour to spend it, which section of the store would you head to first?

I would head to where they keep the historical fiction and purchase every single book in every single series available set in Ancient Rome. I have set a goal for myself to read any and every book set in Ancient Rome. I think that I could easily spend almost every cent on that subject alone. At least, I hope that I can.

What has been the most unexpected consequence of blogging? What surprised you the most about the whole experience?

What surprised me the most was to discover that running a blog can be quite lucrative once you get into advertising and sponsoring. I like that I can advertise and get enough to pay my yearly domain fee plus some, which I use to spoil myself with. It is a nice little treat. Though, having said that, I wouldn’t recommend to people to accept a lot of advertising offers and post sponsored posts frequently because that really annoys viewers. It was just both unexpected and a suprise to find out I could make the money I spent back.

You say that your favorite Greek god is Bacchus – tell us why.

I think I love the spirit of freedom that he embodies. I’m not a fan of getting drunk and having wild liasons with random anonymous people, but I love the idea of a god that embraces freedom and human nature for the bad and the good in it. Plus, he has some good stories! I just adore stories of Maenads tearing men apart from their mountains, going into mad frenzies of passion and drunkeness.

You have an amazing collection of Anne Rice/Vampire chronicle memorabilia…tell us about that! How did you get started collecting? What do you wish you had in the collection, but still have not acquired?

Originally, I was not looking to collect Anne Rice memorabilia. Though she is without a doubt my favorite author, I have never been much of a collector or had any desire to collect. Initially, my purchases were all impulses. I would be innocently shopping eBay and would run across something that I had to have, so I would guiltlessly purchase it. Once I realized that I did in fact have a collection, it became an actual effort of mine to find various Anne Rice goods to purchase.

I am DYING to find the Blood and Gold bookmark that used to be sold at the official store, but is unfortunately no longer. I keep watching and searching eBay, hoping one day that one will pop up and I will be able to buy it. I also would love an uncorrected proof of the book Pandora. I had one once, won in auction and everything, but the shipper forgot to put in the box with the other uncorrected proof I won and I had to count my loses and get my money back. It was very disappointing.

You are a graduate student and are teaching at a University. When you sit down to read for fun, what are you most apt to pick up? Do you find that your reading tends to be more geared to your life as a teacher/graduate student; or would you say you are able to balance your reading equally between academics and “fun” reading?

I don’t have much time to read for fun now, which is very sad for me. I look at my pile of pleasure books and sigh with sadness because my ‘required reading’ list this semester is mind numbing. Though I do think when I read for pleasure, it is very much tied into what I do as a teacher and as a student. As a graduate student, I am studying Ancient Rome and teaching European history. As it is, I love historical fiction set in Ancient Rome and various other points of European history such as the Renaissance. So, I do think that my interests bleed into one another and I just carry them over from one persuit to the next.

On average, how many books do you read and review each month?

I really envy those reviewers who have a book review done every two days or so. I can’t imagine being able to fit that much reading into my life! I tend to do about four a month, one a week. I keep pretty busy with my websites and real life, so reading is something I do to relax in between hectic moments. If I could spend all of my time pleasure reading, I so would.

What do you feel are the main differences between print and online book reviews?

Print book reviews are so formal! I am used to historical book reviews, which take a very critical look at things like accuracy and historiography. And when people review books in papers or any other means of print, their intent seems to be more critical and formal. Online book reviews are, for the most part, very personal. It seems the prevailing trend of online book reviews to really make the review a matter of opinion. Bloggers are much more likely to post their personal feelings on a book, why they liked it or didn’t like it, than what you see in print.

Is there anything you want the readers of your blog to know about you that you have not yet revealed?

I want all of you to know that I am very painfully shy! I am not an avid commentor or participator not because I don’t want to be part of the community or I lack the desire, but I am just so shy that I hate to butt in. I have a perpetual feeling of “not wantedness.” So please don’t think me unfriendly. I am just awkward. I read at least 70 blogs, though, and enjoy every one of them.

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Thank you so much, Valorie, for participating in the interview part of BBAW! I really enjoyed getting to know you a little bit better. For those of you who haven’t visited Valorie’s blog yet, I encourage you to do so! You can read Valorie’s interview with me over there today.

To read other blogger interviews, check out the Interview Mr. Linky at the BBAW blog.

In case you haven’t been following the BBAW blog, award announcements have been going on all day. Caribousmom was shortlisted for The Best Literary Fiction Review blog along with:

books i done read
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?
Boston Bibliophile
Rhapsody in Books

I feel honored to have shared the podium with these fantastic bloggers. Congratulations to Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?  for taking the top prize!

Today marks the first day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week … many, many thanks to the tireless work that has gone into this event and the many bloggers who stepped up to help – and a special thanks to Amy who conceived this event and whose dedication to the book blogging community is amazing.

Amy has asked us to recognize those blogs who are our favorites, but which did not make the shortlists in any category.

This is almost an impossible task for me because I subscribe to over 300 blogs in my Google Reader…and I am always at a loss when it comes to singling any one out for recognition. But, I am taking a deep breath and will name a few who have been in my reader for a long time. Please know that if your name is not in this post, it does not mean I don’t think you have an awesome blog!!

Laura at Musings

I discovered Laura’s blog some time ago…and immediately knew I’d found my bookie soulmate – a reader whose interests nearly always parallel my own. Laura’s reviews are concise, well thought out, and I never miss them. My bookshelves are filled with books Laura has recommended – more than any other blogger, Laura adds to my TBR mountain!

Wendy at Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Not only do Wendy and I share a name (and our state of residence!) but we often share the love of the same books. Wendy’s reviews are always beautifully written…and I  love reading about her animals too. Wendy’s kind heart shines through on her blog which I think was the first thing that drew me to it.

Staci at Life in the Thumb

Staci’s blog was one of the first that found its way into my Google Reader.  Her blog is welcoming, filled with insight and just plain fun to read. Here is another blogger whose reviews I trust to lead me to some great books.

Jackie at Farm Lane Books

This blogger from across the pond is one I am glad I found. Like me, Jackie enjoys literary fiction and haunts the award lists. She is a terrific writer and her reviews are some of the best out there. Jackie’s reviews of the Orange Prize books are ones I treasure since I am slowly working my way though that prize list. I trust her impressions and value her opinions.

Michelle at 1MoreChapter

Michelle maintains more than one blog, and they are all incredible – easy to navigate, classically designed, and filled with all things bookish. Michelle has helped me out IMMENSELY on my blog (she designed my header among other things). Her blog Novels Now is a collaborative blog which pulls together reviews of all the newest fiction. Her challenges are some of the most popular. If you haven’t visited Michelle’s blog, you should!

Les at Lesley’s Book Nook

I can’t even remember any more how I found Lesley’s wonderful blog – it seems like it has always been there in my reader! Lesley loves the women’s fiction that I also adore (although she reads from lots of other genres too), and reading her reviews is like sitting down with a good friend and just talking books. Here is another blogger whose heart shines through the pages of her blog. I often wish Les lived closer to me so we could meet in person.

To all of the other fantastic blogs which I read daily….THANK YOU for your hard work, your amazing reviews, your incredible insights and (often) your friendship. You have enriched my life in more ways then you will ever know!

…that Caribousmom has made the short list for Best Literary Fiction Review blog for the 2009 Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I am really thrilled and honored. All the short listed blogs (with links) in every category may be found here. The Voting booth is located here. Voting closes Saturday September 12 at 11:59 PM EST.

Wow, I feel like I have truly been honored lately. First I received the Heartfelt Award from Kristi at Books and Needlepoint which states:

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you’re relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt award is all about: feeling warm inside!

I am always so happy to know when my blog warms the hearts of my fellow readers. And Kristi’s blog is one I visit regularly. Have you dropped by to see her lately? Her reviews and thoughts are always so beautifully written! Thank you for the honor, Kristi!

And then there are the nominations for BBAW. Wow. I was thrilled, surprised and truly grateful for the nominations I received for Caribousmom:

• Best General Book Review blog
• Best Literary Fiction blog
• Best Reviews
• Best Writing
• Most Altruistic
• Best Community Builder

You can read descriptions of all nomination categories here.

I also picked up nominations for A Novel Challenge blog in the categories of: Best Challenge Host AND Most Collaborative blog. And Notable Books Blog (co-owned by me and Michelle at 1 More Chapter and with 40 different bloggers contributing) picked up a nomination for Best Literary Fiction blog.

This year panels have been assigned to evaluate each nominee and select a short list in each category. I have no idea whether or not any of my blogs will be “short listed” but it doesn’t really matter – I am completely honored to have been nominated at all. So thanks to all who submitted my blogs for nomination!

Which leads me to my final “announcement”… I agreed to sit on a panel for a category for which I was not nominated. I take the responsibility very seriously and there are many blogs I will be reading and evaluating this week. So please forgive me if I get even further behind on my Google Reader over the next several days.

To see the schedule for BBAW check out this page. You might as well just bookmark the BBAW blog as there are TONS of activities being planned and many ways to get involved!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week is not that far off now (September 14-18, 2009). Have you nominated your favorite blogs? Just today I made my final decisions – whew, I don’t know about the rest of you, but that was way too hard to narrow down. I have over 300 blogs in my Google Reader, and they are there because I love them all.Choosing just a few to nominate was painfully difficult.

Amy has asked us to do a little meme. Here are my answers:

1)  What was the highlight (something that happened, a post, an activity, etc.) of BBAW for you last year?

Well I won’t lie – a huge highlight for me last year was being honored by your votes and getting selected Best Literary Fiction blog. Not only was I completely surprised, but I felt very humbled.

As with a lot of people, another highlight is the connection with other bloggers. When I started my blog in 2005, it was just a personal space. Then I discovered the wonderful world of book bloggers at the end of 2006, and by 2007 I was completely immersed in this fabulous community. People were so friendly and helpful. I knew nothing really about blogging, and whenever I had a question, there was always someone glad to provide an answer. Book Blogger Appreciation Week last year brought the community together to visit new blogs and reconnect with favorites. I know I personally added more than 50 new blogs to my reader after last year’s event!

2)  What is one new blog you discovered during BBAW last year?

Oh my gosh – I can only pick one? Well, I know I discovered Sheri’s blog A Novel Menagarie around that time – and I think it was through this event.

3)  What tips would you share to help others get the most out of their BBAW experience?

Get involved in whatever way you can – whether it is through doing memes, visiting other bloggers, offering giveaways…Although the awards are fun (and you should definitely nominate and vote!), they are not the only things happening. For example, right now you can sign up to interview and be interviewed by another blogger.  I know for myself that the week went by far too fast last year. This year I plan on carving out a little extra time to visit blogs and hope to add some more to my Google Reader!

To see other bloggers’ answers to this meme, visit the BBAW Blog!

This summer, after book blogging was patronized and criticized in the mainstream media, Amy from My Friend Amy made a suggestion that we celebrate book blogging. From that idea, Book Blogger Appreciation Week was born. Many of us have participated in interviews, contests, give-aways, and through awards; but, this would never have happened were it not for the dream, perseverance, planning, hard work and dedication of Amy. This has been a wonderful week and as members of the Book Blogging community, in one voice we want to thank Amy for all that she has done.

Amy, you are truly the Queen of Book Bloggers and we love you!

I was up very early this morning and off to work – a long day filled with meetings and other boring things. I just got home and this was my first opportunity to log in to the Internet all day – thank you for the honor of being voted Best Literary Fiction Blog for BBAW 2008!

When I first started blogging, I blogged about my life and my animals…and then in early 2007 I discovered the wonderful community of book bloggers. I discovered their enthusiasm, generosity, addictiveness to all things bookish (including those pesky challenges), and friendship. And I was hooked. I am thankful for all the support I have gotten from this awesome community – it has motivated me and shown me that readers are indeed some of the best people around.

*accepts award with gratitude!*

**I happily accept Book N’ Border Collies Chocolate Martini to celebrate – CHEERS!