Monday, September 15, 2008

BBAW: A Little Blogger Love

I have been twiddling my thumbs, trying to decide how to kick off Book Blogger Appreciation Week here at Musings of a Bookish Kitty. My being away for the past couple of weeks meant missing out on some of the bigger announcements such as the upcoming award presentation schedule and the various giveaways and raffles being held.

Today's topic over at My Friend Amy's, the host site for the BBAW events, is to highlight favorite blogs and bloggers. There are many blogs out there that I am quite fond of--all unique in their own ways. When I began blogging, I never anticipated just how much of a community the blogosphere was. Your support, kindness, and generosity have not gone unnoticed and they are greatly appreciated. I am lucky enough to count many of you among my friends, having gotten to know you over the last couple of years.

Some of you take the time to comment on nearly every post I write, and I cannot even come close to expressing just how much that means to me. I also appreciate those who are only able to stop in now and then as well as the lurkers who visit but remain anonymous. I know how busy life can be--not too mention trying to keep up with all the terrific blogs out there.

I wanted to give a special shout out to one blog and blogger in particular that has become an important part of my blogging life. This particular person blogs about more than just books. She blogs about life as well. Her posts are always articulate and well thought out. Her comment box has become a place where I can express my own thoughts about topics that I do not broach on my own blog. Admittedly, that means my comments can sometimes get a little long. She's never complained though. She takes the time to respond to every comment left for her on her blog and has introduced me to many other blogs on a variety of topics.

She understands what it's like to be stuck in rush hour traffic, loves dogs just as much as I do, appreciates a good movie, and has good taste in music. She has introduced me to books I might never have discovered otherwise. She is honest and encouraging. If you have not already, please do stop in and visit Florinda over at The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness. She is one of my blogging inspirations.



In honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I think a book giveaway or two is in order, don't you? I am giving away my extra copies of When A Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa by Peter Goodwin and Helen Tse's Sweet Mandarin (which I will be reviewing in the near future--so stay on the look out).

To Enter:
1) Leave a Comment to this post along with the title of the book you are interested in winning (you can request both but will only be eligible to win one).
2) Share a link of a blogger or blog you appreciate and give a brief explanation as to why (if you are participating in today's BBAW topic, feel free to provide a direct link to your own post).

Please remember to include your e-mail address in the comment section if it is not easily accessible on your blog so I can contact you if you win. The winners will be chosen at random, and the deadline to enter is Friday, September 19th at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). I will announce the winner on Saturday, September 20th.

[Edited to add: Open to anyone with a valid mailing address regardless of country.]

Good luck!

34 comments:

  1. I already own (although haven't yet read) "Sweet Mandarin," so I would love to win "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun."

    My favorite blogger is Literate Housewife because not only is she soooo sweet, she was also my original blogging influence.

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  2. Aw, shucks, Wendy, I'm speechless! (Yeah, you know better than to believe that, I'm sure.) Thank you so much for the shout-out, and you know I would say many of the same things about you :-)! And please, keep commenting!

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  3. I would love to be entered for When a Crocodile Eats the Sun as well!

    I love many bloggers...all for different reasons. but for this I'll say I love Book Binge...especially Holly b/c they write great reviews and b/c she was a real encouragement to me on Twitter during BBAW prep!

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  4. Hi There! I would love to win "Sweet Mandarin."

    One of my favorite book blogger is Lisa at Books on the Brain. I have been reading her blog for over a year now and really like her professionalism and I enjoy reading her posts. We have struck up an "internet/blogger friendship" which is nice as well.

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  5. I would like to be entered for both contests. One of the newest blogs I found through BBAW is my interview partner Jill from The Magic Lasso. I love her blog and her reviews of books

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  6. Though there are many wonderful bloggers out there, Trish at Trish's Reading Nook (www.trishsbooks.blogspot.com) introduced me to the world of blogging. She writes such thoughtful reviews, and she leaves really great comments as well! I also really enjoy your blog and your comments :)

    I would love to win Sweet Mandarin!

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  7. I'm with you, Wendy, that Florinda is one great blogger! :)

    One thing I love about this whole book blogging community because it brings all of us booklovers so much closer, no matter wherever we are. :)

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  8. I agree with you! Florinda is indeed a great blogger!

    Here is my link:

    Book blogs I love to read

    BTW, I would love to have the Afria book.

    gautami.tripathy[at]gmail.com

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  9. I would love to win When the Crocodile Eats the Sun. I enjoy http://bookingmama.blogspot.com
    Yours too by the way:)
    Thanks for the giveaway
    bookroomreviews@hotmail.com

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  10. I would love When the Crocodile Eats the Sun, it's on my TBR list. I participated in today's BBAW challenge here.

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  11. I would like to win Sweet Mandarin, it's on my reading list. Here's a link to my post about the blogs I like:

    http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2008/09/blogs-i-love.html

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  12. I would love to win a copy of Sweet Mandarin.
    Thanks

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  13. Hi Wendy, thanks for introducing Florinda to us. You're a great blogger friend. My original blogging influence is Scott Ginsberg, the nametag guy.

    I'd like to be entered for Sweet Mandarin. Thanks! :)

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  14. I would love to win either one. My favorite blogger is J-kaye
    J-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com
    She brings so much to her viewers, a variety of books and spot lights other blogger sites which i think is very cool. She makes us feel like she appreciates us visiting her site, did i mention she's funny to yeah she has a little wit about her, i just love her! I would like to be entered in your contest to win either one of these books Thanks!
    photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  15. I'd love to be entered for 'Sweet Mandarin'.
    One of the blogs I really appreciate is yours! But I would also say Iliana (Bookgirl's Nightstand). I'm pretty sure hers was one of the first I started reading, and I love her book chat. Plus I'm always adding to my wishlist after reading her posts!

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  16. I am interested in "Sweet Mandarin". Enter me, please!

    Thanks!
    Adayla S.
    emaildayla(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  17. I'd love to win either book, they both sound wonderful.

    One of my favorite book blogs is written by Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf. She'll be hosting a 24-hour read-a-thon in October -- check it out!

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  18. "Sweet Mandarin", is the book I have had my eye on for a while now and currently do not own.... please enter me for this drawing.
    My favorite blogger is "Boo Club Girl"...she is so "real"; I feel as thou we have been friends for a long time.
    Thank you for this opportunity!
    Darby
    darbyscloset (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  19. Jen (Devourer of Books) - I really like Jennifer's blog too. Thank you for entering!

    Florinda - You are welcome. Everything I said is true. :-)

    Karen - I like Lisa's blog too. She's such a nice person too. Thanks for entering!

    Serena - Isn't Jill's blog great? Thank you for entering!

    Laura - It's hard to choose just one, isn't it? Trish is one of my favorites too. :-) Thanks for entering!

    Melody - I really enjoy her posts. You have a very good blog yourself and I always look forward to your posts.

    Gautami - And so are you! I feel so lucky to have met such a wonderful group of people that I might not have ever met otherwise. Thanks for entering!

    Tracy - Julie does have a great blog. :-) Thanks for entering!

    Callista - It's so good to see you again! Thank you for entering!

    Alyce - You seem to be having a lucky streak when it comes to winning these giveaways, I've noticed. :-) Thanks for entering!

    Becca - It's promising to be a good book. Do you have a favorite blog recommendation for us?

    Alice - A new one to me! Thank you for sharing your original blogging influence. :-) And for entering the giveaway!

    Photoquest - J. Kaye is awesome. She does so much for the blogging community. Thank you for entering!

    Nat - Thank you for the compliment! I agree, Iliana's is one I really appreciate too. Thank you for entering!

    Adayla - Such a pretty name! Do you have a favorite blog?

    Tammy - Dewey is another blogger who has really been great at community building. I really admire all she does. Thank you for entering!

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  20. Darby - Thanks for entering and for the blog recommendation! It's neat how close we grow to each other despite only knowing each other online.

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  21. Hi there,

    I'd like to try my luck! Please count me in for the Memoir of Africa book.

    My favourite blog would be Becky's Book Reviews. She updates regularly with lots of cool book reviews. Plus she has the ability to read a lot in a short time too. Simply amazing!

    josettebooks[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  22. Both of those books sound great!

    Two of the book bloggers I appreciate most are Dewey and Litlove. They are both strong, successful, intelligent women who have fibromyalgia just like me. They're both an inspiration!

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  23. I'd love to read Sweet Mandarin.

    One of my favorite blogs to read right now is author Sara Zarr's blog, The Stories of a Girl, http://www.sarazarr.com/

    I love it because it's honest, a good mix of book stuff and person stuff. It really engages the reader.

    hannah.freeATgmail.com

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  24. I'm interested in When A Crocodile Eats the Sun. Here's my post about blogs I love.

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  25. Oh, I would love to win either!!! I don't have either of them.

    Thanks so much for hosting this! :) sweetness.

    bethany.canfieldATgmail.com

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  26. I would love to win "Sweet Mandarin," it looks interesting to read

    My favorite blogger is Book Chic, [http://www.myspace.com/bookchicclub]... because he's ridiculously funny and has become a great friend of mine... and his fear of dogs is funny [sorry B.C.].

    ;}

    -theDizzy

    etwilight @ yahoo .com

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  27. Josette - Thank you for entering! I enjoy Becky's blog too--and her reviews. :-)

    Eva - Two wonderful blogs, most definitely! Thank you for entering!

    Word Lily - A new blog to check out! Thank you for the recommendation. And thanks for entering the giveaway!

    Kathy - Thank you for entering! I'm discovering a few new blogs this way. :-)

    Bethany - They both sound really good, don't they? Did you have a favorite blog you wanted to mention?

    The Dizzy - Thank you for entering! I look forward to checking out Book Chic! :-)

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  28. I haven't read either of these books so I'd love to be entered to win both of them. Thanks for joining in all the fun this week!

    My favorite book blog is J. Kaye's Book Blog because it was one of the first ones I found and J. Kaye is absolutely one of the sweetest people I've met through blogging and her reviews are excellent.
    http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

    doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
    Elizabeth

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  29. This is an awesome giveaway! I would love to win either of these books.

    I like Deena at www.deenasbooks.blogspot.com She has great reviews and this month she is doing a huge giveaway!

    stonefox@pobox.com

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  30. I'd like to win Sweet Mandarin!
    I like Jenn's Bookshelf
    http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
    I love to read review of books I've read to see which reviewers agree with me--then I find new books that way!
    digicat @ sbcglobal.net

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  31. I'd love a chance to win "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun."

    One of my favourite book bloggers is Nymeth at http://thingsmeanalot.blogspot.com/

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  32. I'd love to win either book!

    I'm commenting on a blog with a blogger I really appreciate right now! But hey, I guess if you want me to pick someone else I'd say Eva at A Striped Armchair and CJ at My Years of Reading Seriously. I seem to share more interests than just books with both of them, they write great reviews, and it's just been an all around pleasure to see their name in my comments and get to know them and talk to them on theirs! =)

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  33. I would absolutely love to win either one..

    and I love Reviewer X's blog because she does a great job reviewing YA books both that I've been curious about and some that I've never heard of before and there are also great non review posts that are still book related and very informative yet fun to read....yay run on sentences!

    -Lucile

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  34. Elizabeth - Thank you for entering! J. Kaye's blog is great fun, isn't it?

    Heidi - I only recently discovered Deena's blog, but I do enjoy what I've read so far. :-) Thank you for the recommendation and for entering the contest!

    Carol - It is nice to find bloggers with similar tastes, I agree. Thank you for entering!

    Ikkinlala - Nymeth is awesome! Thank you for entering!

    Megan - Two very good blogs and among my favorites too! Thank you for entering.

    Lucile - Thank you for pointing out Reviewer X's blog to me and for entering!

    Thank you for your comments everyone! And thank you, too, to all those who entered the giveaways!

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