{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 15: Blogging Sensei

Sorry guys it took so long for me to finish the 15 day Blogger Challenge by Good Books and Good Wine, today as the last day we must talk about our blogging mentors.

For me the fact that I started blogging was more of a let’s do it now before I chicken out kind of thing, so I didn’t have a lot of time to really look around to see what other book bloggers were doing what I did was just look if it existed “Yes, it exists!” and then I just started blogging.

Along the way I started looking at other blogs here and there, but it wasn’t until I started interacting with other bloggers that I started to think of them as mentors.

One of the bloggers I’ve learned the most from is Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer she answers people when they comment, she helps them by doing her segement called “How The Heck Did You Do That?!? Tips and Tricks”, she isn’t afraid to go her own way and she always has new content coming our way.

At this point I will only talk about her because it’s the blogger I’ve learned more from it doesn’t mean that I haven’t learned from other bloggers but because she is the one I’ve learned the most.

I try to keep my eyes open for things that I like and dislike in blogs and sometimes those things give me ideas about things I should change on my blog, which as a dear friend mentioned recently I must make my meme’s easier to understand and less complicated, so I guess I will make that my challenge for August.

What about you guys?? Who are your blogging mentors?

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 14: Deal Breakers

Hello guys and sorry for taking two days off this wonderful challenge that Good Books and Good Wine started. Today I am doing day number 14 in which we talk about our buzzkills in books.

First lets go through the no way around it buzzkills.

No matter the way that it’s done it always disappoints me is a weak main character, for me it doesn’t matter if the characters was rich, poor, has/had a family, personal tragedy, etc. He/She must find a way to keep on going and keep from falling into the same mistakes time and time again.

Characters in an abusive relationship with a way out that decide to stay because of reasons... do I need to say more?

Important deaths that just feel meh, I don’t want to feel meh if the character is important to the story at least make my throat feel the knot forming.

Characters that just steal important page time from the main characters that have no real use on the story.

The other part of my buzzkills is in the execution, I don’t care if you use a love triangle but truly make me believe that both guys have a shot or maybe you want to use some cliches well give it a twist people!! or maybe you want to do a cliffhanger ending it’s ok to do that but don’t do one that will leave the reader with the feeling that he/she needs to hunt you down (not in a good way).

This are my buzzkills what are yours?

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 13: An Underappreciated Book Everyone Should Know About

An unappreciated book that others may not know about is a really good part for the last days for the wonderful challenge that Good Wine and Good Books came up with.

My unappreciated book is the Hollowed Ones by Laura Bickle this book portrays a strong heroine that defies the rules of the world she has been raised in and now has to face that the outside world she always wanted to get to know.

Now the world is run over by something that has eaten the outside world, the only thing Katie and the Amish community know is that they are safe with in the community and the enemy always attacks at night.

Katie has defied her elders by letting an outsider in and that is not the only thing that is changing in the community, something wrong is happening and Katie is trying to figure out the who, how and why while trying to take care of the outsider she took in.

This is a wonderful book, exciting and different from what I’m used to. If you would like to know more about this book here is my full review. If you don’t like long waits the second book comes out on September.

What is your underappreciated book?

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 12: Fighting blogger fatigue

The 15 day blogging challenge that Good Books and Good Wine starte is almost at its end we are on day twelve and I’ve liked what I’ve seen and learned from my fellow book bloggers and myself . Today we are big on blogging fatigue.

I am going to suck big time on this one because I think that a plus side of being a moody book picker is that it takes your mind away from blogging fatigue.

If I don’t post it usually means that work got heavy, my social life is finally being social or something’s up. But no real lack of posting because of blogging fatigue, I guess we found another plus for my people.

What about you? How do you fight blogging fatigue?

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 11: My Best 5

Good Books and Good Wine had a wonderful idea with the 15 day Book Blogger Challenge not only does she make us dig deep into ourselves but she also creates a sense of community around all of us that are participating and it’s thanks to this sense of community that talking about our 5 best posts doesn’t sound as us being pompous or arrogant it is just sharing if everyone is doing it… right??

I want to talk about the post that have been in my blog that may not have gotten the most comments or the most visits but they’ve been either fun to read or to write.

5.- This book helped me in the nights I had to stay in the hospital after my dad had a stroke, it was a good companion and a great way to keep my mind off things while my dad slept but focus enough that I never forgot for who I was there for. Book review, Burn Mark by Lauren Powell

4.- Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi is the evidence that when an audio book is done right it makes a girl do crazy things, in this case it made me write a “Fangirling on” post, other times I’ve suppressed the urges but this one just had a mind of its own. Are you ready to fan girl about Under the Never Sky

3.- There is a section on my blog called If you liked this, then read that; what it basically does is that you share a suggestion using a TV/Internet series or a movie to recommend a book. This is one of those times that the series and the book fit perfectly to one another and I had to write a post. If you liked The Twilight Zone then read Parallel by Lauren Miller

2.- I would like to dedicate the first two places for those awesome bloggers that took the time to guest post on my blog I would like to share first the thank you interview that most blogger do, I love that part because it lets other book bloggers get to know them a little better and that is where they personality really starts to shine So shelf we get to know the guest bloggers

1.- The first place belongs to the same bloggers that have guest posted here and this is the hard part they do, they use series and movies to recommend books in hopes to corrupt more innocent souls into the wonderful world of books. If you liked this, then read that Guest Posts

* This post go from older to the newest, ignore the last 3 they are not guest posts.

Well this are my top 5, what are yours??

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 10: Picking Up Your Next Read

 We’ve all faced that time when you’ve finished a book and it’s time to move on and see who is the next book that will be graduating from TBR to Read. Some of you will say you’ve made list or had an idea of what you wanted to read, which is wonderful and I truly wish I could function like that but I am the worst king of “Let’s see what should I read next” type of person.

Why you ask then answer is fairly simple, I am a moody next book picker, my kind also accepts the name moody reader.

 I dislike it at times it makes me feel like one of those girls that has her closet full of clothes and always says that she doesn’t have anything to wear, I know that at the end of the day it’s the same only with books and the phrase I don’t have what to read.

But... I have nothing to read!!!
Ridiculous, I know!

What I like about being a moody reader is that I never know exactly what I am going to read next, unless I have a blog tour review it is hard for me to say “Yes after I finish X book I will be starting Y book, not doubt about it” and even then if there have been 2 or 3 blog tour reads I need a break and I will end up like a spoiled brat throwing a mental tantrum on why I need a break from all those books I must read and will take a break with a book that I don’t have to read.

It is an interesting experience but I do feel that if someone would have to see me go thought that everytime it happens it would be terribly annoying. So there is my un-ortodox method a.k.a. moody reader a.k.a. I don’t think that counts as a method, what is your method for picking up your next read??

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 9: Why do you book blog babe?

GoodBooks and Good Wine had a wonderful idea and so for 15 days and 15 nights you will see post that will make us search deep inside ourselves and gives us a chance to let us know more about our fellow bloggers.

Today we have one of those that makes you look deep inside of you, why do you book blog babe?

I started blogging about books because of Comic-Con I got some books and I wanted to share it with others.

It started like a way to talk about books and do something that I could be constant at, yet this blog has turned into so much more for me, before I started blogging I was depressed I can say that now because my output in life is much more positive and I’m more active now.

Book blogging helped me get my voice back, become more sure of myself and the book blogging community besides giving out a sense of belonging it also gives me a sense of acceptance and for that I thank you guys.

So this is my reasons for blogging about books, now it’s your turn why do you book blog?

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 8: 15 things that appeal you on blogs

 GoodBooks and Good Wine is doing a 15 day book blogger challenge a chance for this wonderful community to get to know thy neighbor as well as to dig a little deeper into ourselves as book lover/bloggers/readers.

Today we talk about what appeals to us in blogs, 15 bullets to share and let others know we like in others and our own blogs.

1.- I have a higher change at commenting in a blog that has Disqus, it is not a racist notion, nor am I trying to speak badly about other forms of accepting comments. Disqus lets me know when someone replied to my comment on other’s blog, when someone commented in mine, I can set up rules to what sort of content should go directly into the pending pile and it lets me look for the commenters info (not stalking info) but their blog and twitter.

2.- Blogs that do this sort of thing, but the hell out of me it takes some of the fun in reading it’s content because the highlighting is really distracting for me.

3.- When you put sparkles to my cursor it has exactly the same effect only this one looks pretty at first before starting its distracting game.

4.- Answering to reviews is important, I look at some posts to see if the host replies to comments and will return most of the time after a couple of days to see if I got a reply, if I didn’t it is probable I won’t bother in commenting on that blog again.

5.- You lose me completely if you erase comments. 1 of my comments can be understandable if it offended you in some way that I can’t comprehend or you know rude comments in general, but deleting a bunch of replies is a dishonorable thing to do and in my opinion a sign of ungratefulness.

6.- I like blogs that use original memes, especially the ones that keep on fighting to keep their ideas alive!

7.- On some days reading a more personal post is what I prefer instead of reading reviews, interviews, blitz or your regular schedule meme.

8.- I don’t care if you are taking a break just let your faithfull readers know about it, if not we will feel like puppies abandoned in the middle of the road on a rainy day.

9.- Let your readers know if a review you are doing has spoilers! Your regulars may know but sometimes people are stopping by for the first time and without a warning you have spoiled the book for them.

10.- I may be guilty of this one but messy side bars are a mayor turn off for me, some categories or a sense of order will be nice. Please let me know what you think.

11.- I love posts that have at the end “related” material that way if I liked your review I can go and pick at another without have to do a great search.

12.- Labels are a book bloggers best friend. Sometimes the related material that is suggested just doesn’t do it for me so I like to search by labels sadly I see that a lot of bloggers are now leaving labels behind and so I end my searches through that blog earlier.

13.- As soon as I investigate how to add the button to add a book to your goodreads “Want to Read” pile I will do it, I find that little button really useful and a great way to not loose a beat on the books you would like to read.

14.- Blogloving is now a must have, true but for me it is also a great way to keep up with those blogs you once decided to follow. The Blogloving layout is more user friendly and less tiring to look at.

15.- The most important thing to do is to blog for yourself, not to get more followers, ARCs or book swag. As long as you like it and know how to pace yourself it will not become something you HAVE to do and it will stay as something that you LIKE to do. Sometimes you can see when people shift from one to another in the way the write their posts.

I know I didn’t really do the appeal thing more like my personal do’s and don’ts but I hope you find them helpful and if you feel I am guilty of some of this 15 points please let me know so I can make it better.

What are your 15 book blog appeals or do’s and don’ts?

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 7: Blogging Quirks

Hi guys, sorry for posting so late today but I am trying to make things up. This 15 day blogging challenge was created by Good Book and Good Wine a wonderful way to get to know other bloggers and search a little deeper into the blogging side of you.

Let’s start with blogging quirks… let’s see…

I have to write my posts on word, I think it leaves it leaves them looking really clean and it usually doesn’t shift and leaves it looking just the way I like it.

I have to leave about two days pass after finishing a book, that way it feels like I can be more objective without feeling like I am losing any important information from the book I just read.

GIF’s can be easily over exploited so I try not to stay away from them unless I find them absolutely necessary, that and there was this whole copyright thing with GIF’s that I just didn’t know how it ended so just in case.

I dislike re-reading what I write, it’s kind of hearing a recording of your own voice, I don’t know I just don’t like but I push myself to do it.

I hate how I don’t stay away from the “I” even when there is a conscious effort to it, it makes me feel really self-centered.

Having my post posted after 12:00 am feels like a statement that I’m not good at managing my time.

Well those are some of my writing quirks I am sure that more will pop up as the days go by, but for now that is all. Do you have any blogging quirks??

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 6: Book Shopping Rituals

Good Books and Good Wine is making a 15 day blogger challenge, it sounds like a fun way for book bloggers a virtual way to know thy neighbored.

Ahhh the book buying experience is there anything greater then knowing that one of those bad boys is going home with you?

When I go book shopping I usually have a book or two in mind and I always always always go with a limited budget if not it would be a one way street into bankruptcy.

Little by little I’m becoming a more… special buyer, I will check out all the books on my list to see if any of them is at a good state that means no dents, no scratches, no annoying stickes and no hurt pages.

I know it is not that interesting but I do enjoy it, it might sound a lot like Monica from Friend’s saying that there is no fun with out rules, but that way both me and my economy end up being happy campers. 

So what are your book shopping rituals?

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 5: Recommend a Tear Jerker

Ok today’s task is harder than the usual ones, I dislike sad book, sad stories and sad movies; anything that I know will make me cry I try to stay the hell away from unless I’ve been mentally preparing myself to see it.

So tear jerkers usually caught me by surprise or as I’ve said I get mentally prepared for them. I am trying to remember the last book that made me cry…

Ok, the last book that made me cry and that I would recommend it Whiter by Lauren DeStefano, that was a beautiful heartbreak with a side dish of tears and I highly recommend it.

This next book didn’t really make me cry, it created a knot on my throat but that doesn’t mean it lacked in any department, I am talking about 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I decided to run away from the book and go for the audiobook route yet I feel it gave it an extra depth, the way we get to experience this story closer to the way Clay is just makes you forget where you are and drowns you in the story.

What about you guys do you have a tear jerker you recommend? Have you jumped GoodBooks and Good Wine’s 15 day book blogger challenge?? 

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 4: Last Book you Flung across the Room

First of all I would like to start by pointing out I don’t believe in truly flung a book across the room.

But I would put a book away because I got mad at it, the protagonist is doing something stupid or the story became predictable and the outcome will most likely be a bad one.

In those cases I do go:

…. You know figuratively.

I think the last book that I “flung across the room” was Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer, there were a lot of stupid decisions made by some of the characters that just let me feeling that I needed a pause, one of those it’s you, it’s not me. Which was a real downer because the first book had me almost screaming at the ending!!

But the book that really made me want to literally flung a book across the room was Pride and Prejudice, yes I did needed time to process the Mr. Darcy moments but that would never want to make a girl hurt a book, it was Mr. Collins!!! He would just talk and talk and talk in the book I don’t know how Jane Austen could let him drag along, he is the sole reason that I can’t read P&P in one sit and why I think it twice before reading it. 

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 3: Blogging BFF's

Good Books and Good Wine is making a 15 day blogger challenge, it sounds like a fun way for book bloggers a virtual way to know thy neighbored.

Today is day number 3 in which we have to talk about our blogging Bff’s.

Book Blogging community is a place where if you aren’t trying to pass another’s job for yours or being mean to other bloggers they will receive you with open arms.

I would have to say that one of the people that has always received me with open arms about any questions and I feel has kept the line of communication open is Shaft from Shaft’s World.

I may not always be the warmest person online, not because I don’t want to but because I’m just awkward, especially at continuing conversations in the virtual world and live I am bad at small talk unless there is something I remember that the other person likes and then it is easier to continue talking.

There are other bloggers I’ve had a great time talking too, we may not always talk but I know they are great people and if need be I would like to think I could count on them, they are Crystal from Get Lost in Fiction, Megan the Book Babe from The Book Babe’s Reads and Robyn from Fairy Tales & Folklore. But as I said before I am bad at keeping contact with people so we don’t get to talk a lot.

In case you are wondering what Good Books and Good Wine has installed for tomorrows 15 day blogger challenge here is the full schedule.

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 2:Bedtime Reading Rituals

Good Books and Good Wine is making a 15 day blogger challenge, it sounds like a fun way for book bloggers to get to know each other so I jumped the train.

Today’s challenge is reading bedtime rituals:

Well I have a few rules when my reading time is really close to well… my bedtime.

First if there are less than a 100 pages left from the book, then I will wait until morning comes or else I will be up all night!! I always say that I can stop but we all know that is a big fat lie.

If this is a Horror/Sad story then I will not read it at night, I don’t like the idea of going to sleep sad or scared to death.

I hate finishing a book really close to bedtime because sometimes you get what I call book withdrawal symptoms which may include insomnia.

 Other than that I read until I am tired which is easier this days as my glasses are being repaired.

{15 Day Book Blogger Challenge} Day 1: 15 Book Related Confessions

GoodBooks and Good Wine is making a 15 day blogger challenge, it sounds like a fun way for book bloggers to get to know each other so I jumped the train.

Today’s challenge is 15 book related confessions:

1.- If you have read some of my reviews you might have stumbled upon the fact that my official reader poker face is non-existing. So I don’t usually read in public places when the book has tendencies to make me laugh, cry or scream.

2.-  Following the first one you must know that my roommates have assigned “reading hours” because of my tendency to react to some books.

3.- I get mad with books, sometimes we need to take a break but you must know it’s not me it’s a character or part of the story line, most of the times we make up and I am able to finish the story.

4.- I’m not a fast reader, yet I wouldn’t call myself a slow reader either. I read a the pace the book is setting for me.

5.- I rarely read Non-Fiction.

6.- I have this strange believe that when you start a book you are making a sort of contract, not because of the author but because of all the work the author put into the book it has a soul.

7.- Warner from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is the first bad guy that has won over the good guy and is not in my FC list (Fictional Crush).

8.- I hate cover make-overs in series I think it is a slap in the face for the fans.

9.- Audio books are not what I expected, I thought it was going to be something closer to those old school radio novels/series. Yet some narrators make the story come to life and most of the times make up for the fact that they are not what I expected.

10.- I judge publishing houses by how they treat people in Comic-Con.

11.- I avoid books that make me cry and if I’m going to get the book it’s going to be an audio book.

12.- I can’t deal with books that make the girl go all stupid for a guy.

13.- I love bookmarks yet I don’t use them I use receipts, recycled pages, presentation cards, practically anything but bookmarks.

14.- Even if I’ve been blogging for more than a year I still have problems remembering some character’s name. It makes sense when I am reading the book yet as soon as I disconnect myself from the book I can’t really remember the names of the character but I do know what each of them did.

15.- I hate this about myself but I judge a book by its cover! If the cover doesn’t have a kind of appeal to me no matter how good the blurb is I won’t read it, but if a good fellow blogger or a friend recommends and he/she is in my trusted list I will read it.