15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 15

Day 15: Who are your book blogging mentors?

Ahh! I can't believe this is the last day of the challenge. I really have loved it. This challenge totally got me out of my blogging rut and back to doing what I love.

So like in April's post the following people probably do not know they are my mentors, but I am always looking forward to their posts. I didn't realize how much I had to learn just on the design end for blogging let alone for posts, and they really helped me along the way with their tips posts.

Lori @ Pure Imagination

Ashley @ Nose Graze *plus I love how we have the same name :)

Rachel @ Parajunkee

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 14

Day 14: Tell us your deal breakers

Only one more day of this challenge. It seems like it flew by so quickly. Today's post is about are...

Deal Breakers

There are so many things that make me want to pick up a book and so many things that turn me off a book. This seems really closely linked to this week's Top Ten Tuesday, which mine can be found here. I will try to be too repetitive in this with the TTT post.

The first and the quickest thing that will turn me off a book is bad grammar. If a book is poorly edited and all I can see are these glaring grammar or spelling errors, I just cannot concentrate on the plot or the characters. All I can see are the mistakes.

Love triangles. Need I say more? They are unrealistic and I just ended up despising a character who could have been lovable if the circumstances were different. I feel like so many books, especially young adult novels, use love triangles way too much. It would be refreshing if the book was just about the main character and the romance factor didn't overshadow the plot.

I cannot stand abuse. Especially if it is the male lead in a book doing the abuse. I just want to scream at the book and tell the female main character to run away from it. It's not healthy.

What I find in so many books are unrelatable characters. I prefer more character driven books than plot driven. I have to connect with the characters. I want to feel what they are feeling and if I can't it just frustrates me and I get bored with the book.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 13

Day 13: Describe one underappreciated book EVERYONE should read

Ooh this is a toughie. At first I didn't know what one to pick. Should I go with a fantasy, scifi, etc. Finally I realized the obvious choice for me:

"A boy of many faiths. A 450-pound bengal tiger. A shipwreck. A lifeboat. The pacific ocean."

Life of Pi was a stunning book. I don't even know where to start to describe this book. It gripped me. I read it in a day and a half, and only because I had to go to bed. I borrowed the illustrated version and the illustrations added to the book's beauty.

I think everyone should read this. I haven't seen the movie yet, but the book is AMAZING!

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 12

Day 12: How do you fight blogger fatigue?

Recently, I was in a blogger rut, and it's hard to fight. I was overwhelmed with work and school, and all I wanted to do was sleep on my time off. Reading just took a backseat to nap time unfortunately.

Someways, I used to fight are:

1. Read some novellas. Short books kind of get me back into reading without having to hold my attention a long time.
2. Try a fun challenge (like this challenge. Totally worked for me!)

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 11

Day 11: Show off! 5 of your best blog posts!

This was super hard to pick five, because I always have trouble narrowing things down for a top list.

1. The Moon Dwellers by David Estes
2. XVI by Julia Karr
3. Flame of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
4. Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
5. Top Ten Tuesday - April 16, 2013
   

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 10

Day 10: How do you choose what book to read next?

I have a terrible time deciding what to read next. I've tried the scheduling method and it just doesn't work for me. When I try to schedule when I will read what I just end up bored with the book. I need to be in the mood for science fiction or new adult and sometimes I just don't want to read that specific genre.

So my way is to peruse Goodreads, sometimes for hours until I see something that will tickle my fancy. Occasionally I will read a few pages and realize that's not what I'm in the mood to read, so the process starts all over again.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 9

Day 9: Why do you blog about books?

I only started blogging this year and I tried it about two years ago, but I just didn't have the drive to start it, so I gave up. But this year I decided to make another go of it, and I really love it.

I re-started this year because I love writing reviews and graphic design. Blogging requires both, which is why I love it.

Sometimes what's in my head doesn't always come out coherently, but I feel like I'm getting better the more reviews I write.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 8

Day 8: Quick! Write 15 bullet points of things that appeal to you on blogs.

1. A well organized blog. I don't like a lot of information in the sidebar. One sidebar is okay, but two sometimes looks too busy. Especially if they are both on the same side. The cleaner the look the better.
2. Prettyness. I love a well designed blog. This goes with #1. Colour palettes that don't blind me. I love simplicity, but with a bit a colour splashed in.
3. A well designed header.
4. Easy to read fonts. Don't use script fonts on weird backgrounds. It's so hard to read.
5. GIFS. I love it when bloggers use GIFs to illustrate their point.
6. Specialized rating systems. I love when a blog uses a theme that relates to the blogs name.
7. No music. I hate blogs that automatically have music playing. I just don't get it.
8. Rants. I mean who doesn't love a good rant?
9. Tips and Tricks. Pure Immagination and Parajunkee both have tons of tips. Both of these sites have helped out a ton along the way.
10. Easy to find follow me buttons. If I can't find them easily I won't make the time to search for them.
11. NO CAPTCHA.
12. Top Ten Lists. I love to see what others will pick. Top Ten Tuesday is my favourite day of the week for that reason. 

Okay so that was only twelve, but it's all I could come with. What do you like to see on blogs?

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 7

Day 7: Talk about your blogging quirks.

1. I always pre-outline my reviews before I even finish the book. I get the cover and all the details ready for my review.
2. After finishing a book I have to review it immediately. Otherwise, I forget a ton of details. My ereader does make this easier as I can take a ton of notes and highlight along the way, but I read a paperbook recently and really had a hard time remembering some details.
3. I can't leave well enough alone. I'm constantly fighting the urge to "revamp" the look, and can never settle for it for long.
4. I hate proofing my reviews. I can never find my own typos or grammar mistakes, but it's something I force myself to do.
5. I feel like I don't do enough reviews. I wish I had more time to read, but I have a pretty full schedule that doesn't allow it.
6. I have a tough time writing longer reviews. My thoughts always get jumbled in my head and don't always come out coherently, which ends up with shorter reviews than I would like.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 6

Day 6: Describe how you shop for books.

It's been a long time since I physically went to a bookstore and purchased books. Ever since getting an ereader I have been borrowing a lot more from my local library than purchasing brand new.

If I'm purchasing an ebook I will peruse several Top Lists or Goodreads until I finally settle on one. I find it super hard to just pick one, which is why my TBR list is never ending.

Recently I did go to the bookstore. I forgot how much I used to love going there, and how much I can spend so quickly. I do love buying books online, but the experience just isn't the same. Usually I will shop at Chapters and I just love how huge the stores are. First, I when I walk in I will take a quick look at the bestsellers list, but usually will pass them over. Next, I will hit up the bargain tables. I must say Chapters and Coles always have something for me on the bargain tables.

I used to go to the used bookstore around the corner from my work, but it closed last year, so now I don't come back from my lunch break with piles of books. I do get a lot less weird looks from my coworkers though.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 5

Day 4: Recommend a tear jerker.

Let me start off by saying that I'm not a very emotional person when it comes to "real life," but books or movies on the other hand? I will ball my eyes out...repeatedely.

Wonder caught me by surprise. I was reading it and all a sudden I was crying. Both The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden and The Fault In Our Stars had me sobbing by the end.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 4

Day 3: What was the last book you flung across the room?


I try to resist the urge to fling my books across the room. Mostly because I use an ereader and I would be very sad if it broke. But Where You Could Find Me I wanted to throw several times across the room. The characters were unlikely and the lack of helping the son get over the trauma without pyschologically assistance astounded me.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 3

Day 3: Who are your blogging BFFs?

I've only been blogging a few months now, so I haven't really made any BFFs in the blogging world yet, but someday I will.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 2

Today’s question is about my bedtime routine. I usually have problems getting to sleep if I get ready too early, so I don't even start getting ready for bed until 11:30 PM. After I have brushed my teeth and washed my face I usually will pick up the current book I'm reading. I don't normally start a book before bed, but either continue one or finish one off. Eventually I will read until my eyes tire and I have no control over whether they will stay open any longer. then I will then take that as a hint that it's bedtime for me.

15 Day Blogger Challenge - Day 1

The 15 Day Book Blogger Challenge is hosted by Good Books and Good Wine.

I've been in a reading rut lately, so maybe this challenge will get me out of it. I just haven't had the time to read as much as I would have liked lately. School is finally catching up on me and all I want to do is sleep on my time off. I can't count how many times I have actually fallen asleep with a book in my hand in the past month.

1. I sometimes fall asleep while reading. Literally with my ereader in my hand (it's embarrassing). 
2. I can't stop reading mid-page or mid-sentence. It always has to be at the end of a section or chapter.
3. I cheat while reading. After I'm about 1/3 of the way into a book I always read the last chapter. I just have to know how it ends. Unfortunately, my ereader curbs my cheating as its not so easy to flip to the end "accidentally."
4. I read way to late. Sometimes I just can't put a book down and read way way to late into the night and still have to get up early the next day for work.
5. I have to finish a book. I hate DNF. I will always go back and finish the book. Sometimes I put the book down for a few months, but I still make myself finish it no matter how awful it is.
6. I get overwhelmed when choosing a new book. Sometimes I just stare at my TBR pile and can't pick one so I will turn the TV on instead.
7. I add too many books to my TBR. (Probably why I have #6 issues). 
8. I love reading New Adult books about emotionally damaged characters.  
9. I always fall for a pretty cover. Why can't I ever learn that if it has a pretty dress on it I probably am going to hate it? 
10. Once I finish one book I must start another one. Which just frustrates me when I can't choose another book. 
11. I get jealous of other blogger book hauls. 
12. I refuse to sell or donate my books. I just can't part with them (even to friends).
13. I'm addicted to Goodreads. Before starting a new book I always check to see what the rating and reviews are from my Goodreads friends.
14. I hate love triangles. I always root for one guy and end up hating the other. They just are not realistic.  
15. I can't stand books with multiple grammar errors or ones that need severe editing. No matter how good the story could have been it just ruins the entire book for me.