I’m getting started on this a little bit late because I wasn’t really sure if I was going to participate. But after seeing a few of the posts that have gone up, I’ve decided to jump on in! Since I’m late getting started, I’m going to try to do a few posts over the next couple of days to catch up!
To find out more about Armchair BEA and to join in the fun, go here.
So this is my post for Day 1, starting with a little bit about myself!
1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Where in the world are you blogging from?
I’m Emily, and I’ve technically had this blog up and running since 2009, though I’ve only started seriously blogging over the past year. I got into it because I reviewed new releases for an online arts & entertainment magazine and I wanted somewhere I could do the same for books that weren’t brand new as well. Over time, though, I’ve discovered that I love participating in link-ups and writing the occasional discussion post, in addition to reviews. I’m blogging from the west coast of Canada.
2. Describe your blog in just one sentence. Then, list your social details — Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. — so we can connect more online.
A place for me to talk about books as obsessively as I want without getting shushed! I’m on Twitter as @Backlist_Books, on Facebook here and on Instagram as @west_coast_kid.
You can find all my social links in the sidebar over there —>
3. What genre do you read the most? I love to read because ___________________ .
Over the past year I discovered the YA genre, and I’ve been reading a lot of YA books because I feel like I have SO MUCH CATCHING UP TO DO!!! I’m starting to mix in more of a variety though, so you’ll be seeing more “grown up” books reviewed as well.
I love to read because… well, what don’t I love about it? I love being transported to another world by a really good book. I love meeting characters I’d never come across in real life, an experiencing their diverse lives. I love that reading teaches me about the world and about what it’s like inside other people’s heads. I think it’s as close to magic as you can get in the real world, and that my mental health always suffers if I’m not reading enough. Books are my teachers and friends.
4. What was your favorite book read last year? What’s your favorite book so far this year?
As I said, last year I discovered YA. Thanks to a little book I’m sure none of you have ever heard of (*sarcasm*) called The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I know it’s predictable, I know there’s a ton of hype about it right now, but that doesn’t change the fact that this was an amazing book and most definitely the best one I read last year.
This year I’ve read a few really great books so far, so it’s hard to pick just one! The top three are The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett and All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews (thanks, Karen!)
5. Spread the love by naming your favorite blogs/bloggers (doesn’t necessarily have to be book blogs/bloggers).
There are so many amazing book sites and blogs out there, many that I haven’t discovered yet, that it’s hard to make a manageable list. But here are a few I’ve enjoyed in the recent past (in no particular order):
- One More Page… – For thought-provoking and impeccably written reviews of a great variety of books – both adult and YA.
- Writer of Wrongs – For truly GIF-tastic reviews that will make you giggle out loud in the most embarrassing manner.
- Chrissi Reads – Chrissi does a great many reviews and link-ups, but one of my favourite things she does is discussion reviews, where she’ll essentially transcribe a conversation she has with another reader about a book. I love this interactive style, and find that it makes me feel like I come out of it with a more in-depth perspective on the book.
- Notebook Sisters – For hilarious content of all stripes.
- Outlandish Lit – For the quirky and…well, outlandish reader.
- The Broke and the Bookish – Home of the epic Top Ten Tuesday link-up!
- Books Galore – For one of the sweetest bloggers in existence who does a ton of reviews of YA books as well as weekly link-ups and discussion posts.
- Book Riot – Okay, so this one isn’t really a book blog, it’s a book site, but it honestly is one of the best bookish places on the interwebs, so I had to include it. They have varied contributors, so whatever your genre or bookish area of interest, they’ll have something for you. They also excel at coming up with amazingly original topics and ideas that never cease to blow my mind.
While these are the first to come to mind at the current moment in time, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Check out my blog list over in the sidebar for more! ——>
6. Share your favorite book or reading related quote.
I’m going to cheat and pick a few:
- “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C. S. Lewis
- “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.” – Groucho Marx
- “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” – John Green, The Fault In Our Stars
That was one more than the required 5, so I’m going to stop there! If you’ve written your own BEA intro post, share the link and I’ll come check you out, or feel free to share some of your own answers to these questions (particularly quotes – I LOVE book quotes) in the comments! //<![CDATA[ var sc_project=10144299; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="82f610c9"; var scJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://secure." : "http://www."); document.write("”); //]]>
No YOU'RE the best. I don't know if it'll be quirky enough for you – and it's definitely a tearjerker. But I loved it (yep, I'm a big ole softy), so I'd say if you can borrow it from someone, give it a try. You might be surprised!
No YOU'RE the best. I don't know if it'll be quirky enough for you – and it's definitely a tearjerker. But I loved it (yep, I'm a big ole softy), so I'd say if you can borrow it from someone, give it a try. You might be surprised!
Again, you're the best. And that John Green quote is amazing and perfect. I guess I should really read The Fault in Our Stars… That would be the second YA book you talked me into reading haha.
Again, you're the best. And that John Green quote is amazing and perfect. I guess I should really read The Fault in Our Stars… That would be the second YA book you talked me into reading haha.
Canadians FTW!!! One of my fave book bloggers, Karen over at One More Page, is in Ontario too.
Canadians FTW!!! One of my fave book bloggers, Karen over at One More Page, is in Ontario too.
Great getting to know you. I'm in Canada too, but in Ontario!
I like how you got into blogging, its a far more interesting story than mine haha. I love link-post because it gives me a chance to talk about books that I loved growing up and that I read before blogging, when I finally get around to rereading them all I'll be able to post my reviews, but for now I like having the chance to showcase books that came out more than 5+ years ago, as well as talking about new favourites.
having a place to talk about books as much as you want is very important, being a avid book reader sometimes comes with its downsides because all you want to do is talk none stop about a good book you've just read or a book that wasn't so good and not everyone gets that or is willing to listen in day to day life.
The Fault In Our Stars is one of those books that even though it was hyped up ridiculously, something I didn't know truly about till I started bloggin properly, like you said it doesn't change the fact that it's a great book. I've read a number of books that are loved by everyone and I don't like it, its not a bad thing in my eyes because not everyone can like the books but that one, it's just too special.
Thank you for what you said about me, it really is such a nice thing and I really appreciate it. I try really hard to keep up to date but sometimes I fall short and it's nice to know that people are actually reading and enjoying my blog.
Like I said, I really am thinking about doing this. The give away will be the hard one for me though, every book I own is special in one way or another for me and I don't think I could give them away. Might have to think about a gift voucher instead but have no idea how I would go about doing a give away or if it was worth it at all, you know?
Great post hun, really 🙂
I like how you got into blogging, its a far more interesting story than mine haha. I love link-post because it gives me a chance to talk about books that I loved growing up and that I read before blogging, when I finally get around to rereading them all I'll be able to post my reviews, but for now I like having the chance to showcase books that came out more than 5+ years ago, as well as talking about new favourites.
having a place to talk about books as much as you want is very important, being a avid book reader sometimes comes with its downsides because all you want to do is talk none stop about a good book you've just read or a book that wasn't so good and not everyone gets that or is willing to listen in day to day life.
The Fault In Our Stars is one of those books that even though it was hyped up ridiculously, something I didn't know truly about till I started bloggin properly, like you said it doesn't change the fact that it's a great book. I've read a number of books that are loved by everyone and I don't like it, its not a bad thing in my eyes because not everyone can like the books but that one, it's just too special.
Thank you for what you said about me, it really is such a nice thing and I really appreciate it. I try really hard to keep up to date but sometimes I fall short and it's nice to know that people are actually reading and enjoying my blog.
Like I said, I really am thinking about doing this. The give away will be the hard one for me though, every book I own is special in one way or another for me and I don't think I could give them away. Might have to think about a gift voucher instead but have no idea how I would go about doing a give away or if it was worth it at all, you know?
Great post hun, really 🙂
Oh no! Did any of the library survive? That makes me unbelievably sad. Libraries are such wonderful places, and it must be heartbreaking to lose one to a flood! I ended up buying a copy of it because I got quite attached to the characters and I know it's a book I'll read again. If you get a chance to read it, I'd definitely recommend it, but the movie is apparently really good and follows the book quite closely. I read Paper Towns, which didn't really work for me. I really loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson which was co-authored by Green and David Levithan – I think that was my second favourite piece of Green writing after TFIOS. I started Looking for Alaska twice, but so far I haven't been drawn in by it, though I've heard it's very good. I do intend to go back and give it a more determined shot at some point! Thanks for visiting my blog!
Oh no! Did any of the library survive? That makes me unbelievably sad. Libraries are such wonderful places, and it must be heartbreaking to lose one to a flood! I ended up buying a copy of it because I got quite attached to the characters and I know it's a book I'll read again. If you get a chance to read it, I'd definitely recommend it, but the movie is apparently really good and follows the book quite closely. I read Paper Towns, which didn't really work for me. I really loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson which was co-authored by Green and David Levithan – I think that was my second favourite piece of Green writing after TFIOS. I started Looking for Alaska twice, but so far I haven't been drawn in by it, though I've heard it's very good. I do intend to go back and give it a more determined shot at some point! Thanks for visiting my blog!
Isn't she awesome! I love her writing style – natural yet eloquent and thoughtful. That's interesting – I've heard from a few people that TFIOS wasn't as powerful as they expected it to be. For some people it was the hype getting their expectations up ridiculously high – I think I was lucky to go into it with really no idea what it was going to be. A.J. Fikry was just my type of book. I loved the feeling of reading it and the phrasing; there were so many quotable passages! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Isn't she awesome! I love her writing style – natural yet eloquent and thoughtful. That's interesting – I've heard from a few people that TFIOS wasn't as powerful as they expected it to be. For some people it was the hype getting their expectations up ridiculously high – I think I was lucky to go into it with really no idea what it was going to be. A.J. Fikry was just my type of book. I loved the feeling of reading it and the phrasing; there were so many quotable passages! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
You're more than welcome! 🙂 I think you totally should. I really enjoy reading your personal posts!
You're more than welcome! 🙂 I think you totally should. I really enjoy reading your personal posts!
Hi Emily,
I had “The Fault in Our Stars” reserved at the library but we had a massive flash flood which closed the library. It looks like I'll see the movie before I get to read the book. Have you read any other John Greene books?
Hi Emily,
I had “The Fault in Our Stars” reserved at the library but we had a massive flash flood which closed the library. It looks like I'll see the movie before I get to read the book. Have you read any other John Greene books?
Hi there! I'm a big fan of Karen's blog too. I read TFIOS and liked it, but I wasn't blown away. I really want to see the movie. Maybe seeing the story on screen will make me feel different (as in, cry). I loved A.J. Fikry too! It's probably very book of the year so far.
Hi there! I'm a big fan of Karen's blog too. I read TFIOS and liked it, but I wasn't blown away. I really want to see the movie. Maybe seeing the story on screen will make me feel different (as in, cry). I loved A.J. Fikry too! It's probably very book of the year so far.
yet again, thanks for the mention and I'll write a full length comment tomorrow. Also thinking about taking part in this, love posts that are personal. 🙂
yet again, thanks for the mention and I'll write a full length comment tomorrow. Also thinking about taking part in this, love posts that are personal. 🙂