Follow My Book Blog Friday Hop #17

Happy Follow Friday!!

And Happy New Year!!

This weekly feature is hosted by

Rachel at Parajunkee's View 

and 

Alison at Alison Can Read. 

Rachel not only has fabulous features,

but is a web designer

'par excellence'!!

Alison has a beautiful and very

interesting blog!

You can find the rules at the links above.

Join in the fun and make new blogging friends!!

This week's featured blogs are:

Ex Libris

and

Kristin Can Read!!!!

This week's question is:

The New Year is here — and everyone

wants to know your New Year's

Blogging Resolution!

What are you going to try

to revise, revamp and redo

for 2012 on your blog?

Interesting question!  This is an issue that's been on my back burner for a while now...

I have learned a lot since I first started blogging, which obviously meant some risk-taking on my part, and it's been pretty exciting. However, I don't want to drastically revamp things at this point in time.  That's because I'm no computer geek!  True, I've managed to get this far without major mishaps, but I'm still too scared I might make a huge mistake during "a revamping session", and then all my hard work would go down the drain!  (Hey, I think being honest always pays off in the end, so I'm being very upfront here.)  Therefore, I won't be making any dramatic changes to my blog, such as switching to a new template, or completely re-designing the whole blog.  Besides, I happen to love the current template, with its cosmic blue background!  (And I love the color blue, period.  I'm not contemplating changing my color scheme at all, either.) 

I have been changing my header from time to time, as well as rearranging things in my sidebar.  I'll continue to do that.  I love to change book widgets occasionally, for instance.

One thing I've been mulling over, though, is the possibility of hosting book tours.  I'm researching a couple of tour sites, to see if I'll be able to do this.  Tours would add more variety to my blog, and I know that readers love to hear about new authors, especially if an interview/giveaway package is included!  However, time is a very important factor for me, since I hold down two jobs.  Blogging is so time-consuming!  I do love it, of course, but it does take a lot of time to keep up a blog.  Along with that comes promotion of one's blog, as well as commenting on and following other blogs, etc.  But I am seriously considering the possibility.

In regards to the blogging community, I am fully committed to following back those who follow me, as well as commenting on those blogs whose creators have commented on mine.  So I will continue to do this to the best of my ability, because I believe it's the courteous thing to do.  I will also strive to continue replying to comments made on my posts -- not only here on my blog, but on the commenters' blogs, as well.  Yes, doing this takes up more time, I know, but again, I think it's the courteous thing to do.   It's also important for me to try to comment more often on other blogs, and I will certainly work on this, since I do feel I need to do more of it.

I would also like to host more giveaways, although that, too, can be a problem because of the time factor.  However, I will soon be using Rafflecopter, which will definitely expedite this process! 

Another of my goals for 2012 is to post more reviews!  It's ironic that I would say that, I think, because I've noticed that reviews don't get that many comments.  However, I do enjoy writing them!  In order to do more of them, though, I need to read more books, and I go right back to the time problem...and I'm not a fast reader.  I've never been interested in speed reading courses, either.  Reading more slowly means that one really gets to  savor a book.  But what's a book blog primarily for, if not for posting book reviews?  So I've got to do something about reading a little bit faster...

Yet another possibility is to cook up a couple of new book memes, perhaps combining them with blog hops, although, in my experience, it hasn't been easy to get people interested in joining new book memes/blog hops.

Well, as you've just found out, I'm not planning a drastic re-designing of my blog, although I do want to add some variety to it.  You can look forward to new headers periodically.  (I might revert to an older header every now and then, too, if it's one I'm really fond of.)

I sure do hope my present followers continue to enjoy this blog, and I also hope to attract new ones!

Follow My Book Blog Friday Hop #16

Happy Follow Friday!!

This weekly feature is hosted by

Rachel at Parajunkee's View 

and 

Alison at Alison Can Read. 

Rachel not only has fabulous features,

but is a web designer

'par excellence'!!

Alison has a beautiful and very

interesting blog!

You can find the rules at the links above.

Join in the fun and make new blogging friends!!

This week's featured blogs are:

Celestial Reviews

and

from the shadows i review!!

This week's question is:

If you had to spend eternity inside

the pages of a book,

which book would you choose,

and why?

Needless to say, I have quite a few books I'd like to spend eternity in!  However, there are two fantasy series in particular that I would have no trouble living in forever!  I really can't choose between the two, so I'm declaring a tie.  The two series are The Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter books.  Both of them depict very compelling worlds, filled with wonderful characters and adventures!


Tolkien's world, for example, has such vivid, believable characters that a reader immediately falls in love with!  I adore Gandalf, Frodo, Aragorn, Legolas, Arwen, Galadriel... I especially love Gandalf, because he's the kind of wise, gentle, yet powerful grandfather I wish I could have had... I would love to have him as a tutor in magic!  Frodo is such a steadfast, loyal, and totally determined character, one with integrity and courage.  What a role model!  Aragorn, of course, is also a role model of courage, as well as true humility.  And Legolas, ah, Legolas!  He's a member of a magical race dedicated to beauty.  I see him as an artist, as well as a courageous warrior.  Arwen is a wonderful counterpart to Aragorn, with her steadfast love, and Galadriel is a truly mystical character.


Of all the beautiful places in Middle Earth, none can compare in beauty and mellow grace with Lothlorien.  That is precisely where I would love to spend eternity!  To hear the wondrous singing of the elves, to bask in the gentle breezes of the magical trees...that would be true happiness for me! 

Lothlorien

My other favorite fantasy world is that of the Harry Potter series, whose characters and setting I also love!  My favorite characters are Harry (of course!), Hermione Granger, Dumbledore, and Hagrid.  The place I would love to live in is Hogwarts, naturally.  I wouldn't mind being an eternal student there!  The classes are so wonderful, after all!  I would love to live in the dorm, and try to find my way around the school, with all of its mysterious passageways and tricky ladders, as well as funny, helpful ghosts!  I would love to play Quidditch (even though I'm terrible at sports), and wield my wand!  And what about those neat-looking robes?  I'd love to wear them all the time, except during the summer, of course. 

What can I say about Harry?  He's the classic 'underdog', bullied not only by Snape (the slimy rat!), but Draco Malfoy, too.  Throughout the books, Harry retains his courage and determination, in spite of it all.  He battles not only Voldemort, but his own inner demons, as well.  I greatly admire him!  Hermione is such a smart, totally resourceful character!  She nevers falters in the midst of all the mayhem.  I would have paired her off with Harry, since they're both not only great magicians, but also totally honest people committed to the same goal -- the downfall of Voldemort.  As for Dumbledore, ah, here's anothe surrogate grandfather... Wonderful, wise, gentle Dumbledore...he could be Gandalf's twin, and I'm sure Rowling was inspired by Tolkien's character.  Dumbledore was a great father figure to Harry, and I wish I could have been tutored by him, as well!  As for Hagrid -- he's a rather large guy, but with such a gentle, loving heart...he's been misjudged and unfairly disciplined, as happens too often with those who least deserve it.   I admire and love him for not becoming bitter.  Instead, he remains his gentle, sweet, loving self throughout. 

Hogwarts

What magical book or books

would you all

love to spend eternity in?

Follow My Book Blog Friday Hop #15

Happy Follow Friday!!

This weekly feature is hosted by

Rachel at Parajunkee's View 

and 

Alison at Alison Can Read.

Rachel not only has fabulous features,

but is a web designer

'par excellence'!!

Alison has a beautiful and very

interesting blog!

You can find the rules at the links above.

Join in the fun and make new blogging friends!!

This week's featured blogs are:

Books Are Vital

and

Once Upon A Time!!!

This week's question is:

When you’ve read a book,

what do you do with it?

( Keep it, give it away, donate it,

sell it, swap it..? )

Well, first of all, I consider books to be sacred treasures, which is why, incidentally, I will never own a Kindle!  Or a Nook, for that matter.  Or any other ereader.  A book is more than just words and sentences, whether printed or digital.  A book is a valuable object in itself.  It's a work of art.  It's incredibly precious!  Even the lowliest paperback has that distinction for me!  Therefore, I do not treat books lightly. 

If I love a book's plot and characters, I will definitely keep it, even if I never read it again.  (I always plan to do just that, of course, but life usually gets in the way....)  The book has joined my group of accumulated sacred treasures!  If I totally dislike a book, I have no problem getting rid of it, though.  I will usually donate it to the public library, or give it away to whoever I think might get something out of it.

As for swapping books -- that's not for me at all.  I don't like reading books that have been handled by others.  Maybe it's because they leave their "vibes" on the book.  Maybe it's because they haven't treated the book with the proper reverence.  There are people who fold a page over to mark their place in a book.  I cringe when I see that.... Then there are those who turn the front cover of a paperback over, as if the paperback were a magazine.  The result is that the book's spine not only gets creased, but also tilted.  No, no, no!!  I can't stand seeing that!! 

Another reason I dislike the idea of swapping books is because, if I really like a book, I feel a very strong bond with it.  Thus, I just can't bear to let it go!  It has become part of me.  I would have to tear a chunk of me off, if I were to swap it with someone else.

So it's either keep it or get rid of it for me!  And, if I decide to keep a book, I give it a lot of TLC!  I laminate paperbacks, for example.  Yes, I buy rolls of clear plastic on Amazon, and cover my paperbacks with it.  First I write my full name, as well as the year I bought the book, on the inside front cover.  Then I proceed with the plastic.   With hardcovers, I will laminate the dust jacket, and either write my name and year of purchase inside the front cover, or paste a book plate on the very first page, with the same information.

Last but most definitely not least, I never, ever lend my books to anyone.  That's bibliophile's heresy for me! 

What do you all like

to do with

the books you've read?

Follow My Book Blog Friday Hop #14

Happy Follow Friday!!

This weekly feature is hosted by

Rachel at Parajunkee's View 

and 

Alison at Alison Can Read,

 which you really must go and check out!!

You can find the rules at the links above.

Join in the fun and make new blogging friends!!

This week's featured blogs are:

Anonymous Reads

and

Keeping Up With Roxy's Books!!!

This week's question is:

In keeping with the Spirit of Giving

this season,

what book do you think

EVERYONE should read

and if you could,

you would buy it

for all of your family and friends?

What a great, thought-provoking question!!  it's the type of question I most enjoy answering, because I can reach within and share those things I treasure, things I have learned through those greatest treasures -- books!! 

I would love to provide a comprehensive list of all the books that have deeply affected me, books that have indelibly marked me as a person; in short, books that have changed my life -- perhaps not in overly dramatic ways, but in the sense that they have expanded my mind and engaged my emotions, given me new horizons to look toward, and simply enriched my existence immeasurably.  We're supposed to pick one, though...Hmm...

Well, there is, in fact, one book that comes to mind right away, but I really can't limit myself to one, because hot on the heels of that first book, there follows another one, and then another....

The four books I'm including here all speak to the universal human experience, although, at first glance, that may not seem to be the case.  They deal with such age-old themes as the clash of different personalities in romantic relationships, the conflict between love and one's conscience, coming of age, the conflict between rigid orthodoxy and the creative imagination, the spirituality of art, the need to find meaning within life's constant paradoxes, the corrosive nature of prejudice, and the inevitable shock of innocence encountering evil for the first time...

These are truly unforgettable books.  These are books that I would love to give to everyone I meet, not just friends and family, because once you read them, you understand what it truly means to be human.

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte

Hardcover, 596 pages

Everyman's Library

October 15, 1992

(first published 1847)

Genre: Romance, Literary Fiction

This novel is a tour de force of passion and intrigue,

a very beautiful romance

that is also full of depth, since it

explores the mysteries of

the human heart,

as well as such themes

as moral courage, true independence of spirit,

and psychological resiliency.

It's also a feminist manifesto,

one that was very much ahead of its time

when it was first published.

I will always be fascinated by this

very compelling tale,

relishing it again and again in years to come.

Everyone should read it at least once

in their lifetime!

My Name Is Asher Lev

Chaim Potok

Hardcover, 369 pages

Alfred A. Knopf

March 12, 1972

Genre: Literary Fiction, Art, Religion

This is an incredibly beautiful, luminous novel,

in which the creation of art

is shown to be a sacred, even mystical

activity, one that should not

be barred by religion,

but instead engaged in precisely because of

its inherently spiritual dimension.

I read this book years ago, as

a college art student, and it has retained

a very special place in my heart.

In spite of its focus on the world of

traditional Judaism, this novel

is universal in scope,

as well as a deeply moving one.

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

Betty Smith

Hardcover, 512 pages

Harper Collins

November 1, 2001

(first published 1943)

Genre: Literary Fiction

This is another incredibly beautiful novel,

as deeply moving as any of the other books
I've chosen.

It is a story of life and its unavoidable

disappointments and tragedies.

It is a tale of the wonder, joy, beauty and sadness of

human existence.

To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Mass Market Paperback, 281 pages

Warner Books

December 11, 1982

(first published 1960)

Genre: Literary Fiction

Here is yet another truly beautiful novel,

one that deals with several themes,

chief among them being the

nature of prejudice and its insidious influence,

which totally corrupts and

distorts human relationships.

It is also a coming-of-age story,

told through the eyes of someone

who has not yet learned 'how

the world works',

someone who will, through

the narrated events,

discover the cruelty of discrimination,

as well as the strength of

moral character.

It is another unforgettable book!!

What memorable books

would you all love to give

to your friends and family
this holiday season?



Follow My Book Blog Friday Hop #13

Happy Follow Friday!!

This weekly feature is hosted by

Rachel at Parajunkee's View 

and 

Alison at Alison Can Read,

 which you really must go and check out!!

You can find the rules at the links above.

Join in the fun and make new blogging friends!!

This week's featured blogs are:

Shanan @ The Book Addict

and

Fran @ Books and Beyond

This week's question is:

It’s Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.

so we want to know what

you are thankful for –

blogging related of course!

Who has helped you out along the way?

What books are you thankful for reading?

This is not only an interesting question, but a spiritual one, as well.  To begin with, I'm very thankful for this topic, because it gives me an opportunity to pause and reflect, and we all need to do that from time to time.

Well, when it comes to blogging, the very first thing I'm thankful for is the fact of blogging itself!  However, I'd have to go further than that -- I'm thankful for the very existence of the Internet.  Without it, there would be no such thing as blogging, no social networking at all, no place to share my love of books on a worldwide basis.  So...yay for the Internet!!! 

I'm also very thankful for the Blogger platform, which is the one I use.  Barring occasional glitches, it has worked out very well for me!   Also, it has the GFC widget, which I think makes networking with other bloggers so much easier.  It also allows one to keep better track of one's followers.  This is especially useful for those who are definitely not computer geeks, like me.

I'm very grateful to Rachel at Parajunkee, and Alison at Alison Can Read, for hosting this fantabulous blog hop!  Without it, many of us wouldn't get a chance to meet each other!! 

Of course, I also have to mention some very special friends in the blogosphere.  These are supportive people who have delighted me with their wonderful, very interesting comments, as well as their pleasant personalities!  Their blogs are just as terrific as they are!  Here's a list, and I sure hope I haven't excluded anybody!  (My apologies to anyone I might have missed.  Do leave a comment, and I'll include you at once!)



Jessie @ .bibliophile. .anonymous.

Giselle @ Xpresso Reads

Kat @ A Myriad of Books

Amy @ Amy's Book Den

Ao @ aobibliosphere

yay @ Book That Thing!

Kimberly @ Kimba the Caffeinated

Book Reviewer

Katie @ Legacy of a Writer

Jamie @ Mithril Wisdom

Ron @ Stories of my life

Thanks to this blog hop, I have just met

two more wonderful bloggers!

Jackie @ Jackies Bookbytes

and

Amanda @ Book Love 101!!!!

I am also very, very grateful for my love of reading!!  Without that, I wouldn't be blogging about books in the first place!  My passion for reading is something I was simply born with.  No one else in my family loves books as much as I do -- not even my Mom, who used to carry a book around with her everywhere she went, when she was younger.  But she's not an obsessive book buyer.  Me?  Well...if Amazon and eBay were to give out awards for the customers who purchase the most books, I'm sure I'd win first prize!  Bookstore salespeople know me very well, too.  When I call one bookstore located a mere block from my job in downtown Miami, I say, "This is Book Addict!  I'm looking for this particular book...."  (Of course, they know my real name, too.  Lol.)

I am especially thankful for the following much-beloved books!  They have not only provided me with many hours of pure reading delight, but they have completely transported me from this boring reality I have to live in...

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte

The Hobbit and

The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Twilight Saga

Stephenie Meyer

The Harry Potter Series

J.K. Rowling

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens

Sunshine and Shadow

Tom and Sharon Curtis

Tryst

Elswyth Thane

Stranger In A Strange Land

Robert A. Heinlein

Rebecca

Daphne Du Maurier

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Thomas Hardy

The Martian Chronicles

Ray Bradbury

Gee, I guess I'm truly blessed!

What are you all thankful for?