I have been out of town for the past five days, and it’s been nice to have an essentially blog-free weekend! I did get my book club book read this week, but other than that, it’s even been a light reading week.
That said, my reception back in to the blogging world seriously made my day, my week, my month, and my blogging year.
Rebecca Reads has been shortlisted for Best General Review Blog along with these excellent bloggers:
- 100 Scope Notes
- Books on the Nightstand
- She is Too Fond of Books
- The Zen Leaf
I have to say that Amanda at The Zen Leaf is one of my favorite bloggers, so I think it’s totally awesome that we’ve both been shortlisted! I can tell that these other bloggers, while relatively new to me, are also definitely awesome. I am honored (I can’t even express how honored and excited I am) to be in such great company, and I’m so excited to find a handy list at the BBAW site for great books blogs in dozens of other categories.
Peruse the shortlists (with hyperlinks to the blogs) and then GO AND VOTE for your favorite books blogs by Saturday, September 12 at 11:59 PM EST.
I know there are hundreds more great books blogs, so I am very excited for the community aspect of next week. It’s not just about “awards.” Next week will be full of giveaways (oh my, last year had so many giveaways!), book blogger interviews and memes, and lots of discussions CELEBRATING BOOKS. I wrote a guest post about reading and reviewing classics, and I really look forward to seeing what other guest posts are in the works! Go to Book Blogger Appreciation Week for frequent updates so you’ll be in a loop – and you don’t have to be a book blogger to appreciate book blogs!
As you know, I submitted five posts to the committee for evaluation. I tried to submit reviews from a variety of genres. I also think these particular reviews have different tones, showing the variety of ways that I review books I read. By the way, I liked all of these books and would consider them favorites in the given genre.
- Literary Fiction Review: Possession by A.S. Byatt
- General Nonfiction: The Discoverers by Daniel Boorstin
- Memoir: A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenburg
- Review of a Poetry Anthology and General Thoughts on Poetry: The Norton Introduction to Poetry + My Introduction to Poetry
- Review of an Old Classic: The Iliad by Homer, trans by Robert Fagles
I’ve also been working on a “my favorite books” post, but I have an incredibly hard time choosing favorites, so that will have to wait for yet another day.
What post have I written that you remember, if any? I’m really curious if any of them stand out to the readers of Rebecca Reads. If it’s my Winnie-the-Pooh poems, I may have to rethink my general reviewing style… 🙂
Congratulations, Rebecca! I was very happy to see you on the list 😀
You deserve it, Rebecca. Even though it’s sort of awful to have to go up in the same category, it’s also kind of nice to have a friend in the room. I’m not (yet) familiar with the other nominees, either. I have so many people to get to know!
I second Nymeth! Seeing you on the short list made me smile!
Lezlie
Congratulations on making the shortlist! I think all of your reviews are great!
Congrats!
Congrats!!! I can’t even comprehend how you make the time for all these blogs, let alone the incredible amount of reading and writing you do. Well deserved nomination!!!
Thanks for the congrats!
Amanda, I agree. We can be overwhelmed together! I’m amazed at how many bloggers I am not familiar with, but since I cut my reader down in February, I guess I shouldn’t be. I had hundreds before that, and I’m afraid I just can’t keep up with hundreds!!
Tami, I have no idea how I have time either! I’m wondering lately too. Having my husband gone every Monday to Thursday does give me four evenings to blog, though, so that helps 🙂
Congratulations! So much better than the shortlist I was trying to get you on!! You have an amazing blog and I hope that you win! You have my vote!
Congratulations on the nomination! You ABSOLUTELY deserve it, and anonymity be damned, you have my vote.
I really enjoyed your posts on the Arabian nights (including your discussion of Jasmine’s skimpy outfit in Alladin), so those stick out in my mind. But if I’m being REALLY honest, I don’t think you ever write a bad post, so really your nomination is very apt in my opinion!
Congratulations! As everyone said above, you totally deserve it. I’m so looking forward to the melee that will be next week!
Jackie, well, i think a shortlist is a shortlist! But I don’t consider my blog any one genre, so it was hard to figure out which posts would be best for any particular genre. I just can’t believe you didn’t get shortlisted for Literary Fiction blog with all your Booker work …. but ah well, I guess that’s what Monday is for!
Steph, aw, thanks Steph. I’m glad my thoughts of Jasmine stuck out. I’m glad you like my posts.
Emily, oh, next week is going to be crazy. They had TONS of giveaways and this year is even huger, so I’m sure there is a lot more!
Congrats, Rebecca!
This is my first year experiencing BBAW, so I’m looking forward to what next week is like.
As for which post stands out the most, it’s hard for me to say because we have similiar tastes in books! Posts stand out the most when I’m thinking, “wow, I’d like to read that book, too” or “wow, I read that one also and liked it too” so there’s a lot of that when I read your blog.
Valerie, that’s why I love blogging so much! It’s great to find people who read what I also want to read. My husband and family don’t so much…
Huge congratulations to you!
Thank you for your kind words, but to be honest I don’t think I deserve to be short listed for best literary fiction blog. I review many literary books, but not in a very literary way! I’ll be highlighting my favourite literary fiction blogs on Monday and I’ll bet most people will never have heard of them!
Thanks, Rose City Reader!
Jackie, well I don’t think book blogs have to be literary to be great. I really don’t. That said, I do think your blog is. You really get me thinking about the books you’ve reviewed and I’ve added so many to my list, thanks to you!!
I’m pleased you enjoy reading my blog – thank you!
Congratulations, Rebecca! You are very deserving and I wish you the best of luck!!