Featuring: Arya of Arya the Fangirl

Today please welcome Arya, who blogs at Arya the Fangirl.

What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?


In my webpage class in high school we had code names so our work could be published without other students being able to judge an individual based on their skill level. Mine happened to be Arya. I added fangirl because I am proud of that title. If I love something everyone is going to know it!


How long have you been blogging?
I have been blogging on my current blog for 3 months now!

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
I think my book blog is unique because I read a large variety of books. My blog reflects my reading taste and I try to read and enjoy as many genres and topics as I can. I post on books from Middle Grade to Adult.


What genres do you write about most, and why?
The most written about topic on my blog is romance. :P What can I say I am a hopeless romantic! 
Besides romance I also love books that deal with real life issues.


Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
I don't write in books that are for enjoyment. I have and will continue to write in textbooks for school. It happens to be so much help for me!


What have you learned from other bloggers or your readers?
Community and comments are the best things ever! Everyone has been so nice and I love hearing from everyone! Share The Love!!!


Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?
I have friends who love to read if they recommend a book to me than I will for sure at least try to read it.
If I see an eye catching cover than I am drawn to pick it up and at least read the blurb. I've never bought a book just because of the cover!


What's one book that intimidates you?
War and Peace! The concept is something I know I would be in to but its so long and there is never enough time in the world!


If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
Hmm! Is Hogwarts too cliche?


How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
I am a t.v. series junkie! If I'm not reading than I am binge watching a show! I recently also found Gimp and I love making blog buttons and banners and other assortments of creations.


Thank you for joining us today, Arya! Remember to check out Arya's blog, Arya the Fangirl, and leave a comment or question below!

My Favorite Thriller Reads I've Read This Year by Wesley from Library Educated

Today please welcome Wesley from Library Educated. He's here to recommend a few mysteries and thrillers for your fall reading!

If you’ve been around the blog lately you might have seen that I’m not one for scary, Halloween-y reads. However, when I want a pulse racing read there are still books for someone like me! Suspense and thrillers provide the excitement, twists and turns without the overtly scary imagery that makes nightmare fodder for me. The only suspense books I can’t get into are spy novels. I have tried “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” a few times and can’t get past the first few pages. Sorry John le Carre!

I’ve read a couple of good thrillers lately, and one I’m really looking forward to reading and I want to share them with you!

“A Man Came Out of a Door in the Mountain” by Adrianne Harun

On the surface, this book is about a group of teenage friends living in a small Canadian town. The town is pretty miserable; poverty, addiction, abuse and worse are the norm here. There’s also a string of disappearances of native, teenage girls along the local highway, so that’s also bad. Then the Devil comes to town (yeah, THE Devil). He appears in different forms to different people in this already fragile community. Things disintegrate quickly! I love when a book has a pretty normal setting but then there’s a subtle supernatural twist that can surprise you. This book does that so well!

“The String Diaries” by Stephen Lloyd Jones

This book starts with a bang: a woman names Hannah is speeding through the nighttime English countryside with her daughter asleep in the backseat while her husband bleeds profusely in the passenger seat next to her. They are on the run from a dangerous enemy that has stalked her family for a very long time. The story takes us back in time and all around Europe as Hannah does everything she can to protect and save her family members. I found myself holding my breath as I was reading this book. The story is face paced and taut, the characters complex but relatable. I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel!

“Hold the Dark” by William Giraldi

This book is on the tippy top of my to-be read list! I forget where I heard about it (I can never remember!) but I knew I had to read it when I read the “blurb”! The story takes place in a tiny, remote Alaskan village. Wolves have begun sneaking into the village and snapping up children. A wolf and nature expert whose life is in ruins, a father of a missing child and his childhood friend set out to see if they can find the wolves and end the village’s terror. But instead of answers about the wolves they find out something much worse…Doesn’t that sound exciting? I’m pumped for it!

Do you have any favorite thrillers to recommend?

Featuring: Jordin from A Bottomless Book Bag

Today please welcome Jordin, who blogs at A Bottomless Book Bag.

What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?
I was inspired by Hermione's bag in Deathly Hallows. I liked the idea of being able to reach into a bottomless bag filled with books. While my blog is in no way bottomless yet, I do hope to post reviews for all the books I read.


How long have you been blogging?
Technically, I first posted in November 2013, but I didn't make that second post until February 2014 when I start blogging way more consistently.


Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
I'm still trying to figure out where exactly I fit in amongst all the book blogs out there. Mostly, I have been reviewing young adult books on my blog and participating in a meme here or there. But I have started a newish feature called "Let's Talk about the Ending" where I can rant and rave about the endings of books.


What genres do you write about most, and why?
I mostly review Young Adult books, but I've been trying to incorporate a few adult books too. I probably read fantasy and contemporary YA the most, but I also like dystopians, paranormal, retellings, and mystery/thrillers.


What's one book you think everyone should read?
It's not really one book, but one author: Tamora Pierce. She's written sooooo many books. A lot of them focus on strong women and are coming of age stories. It's fantasy, but I honestly think anyone will appreciate her books... well mainly any female :)


Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
It depends... I would write in some of my books for school and college, but I just can't bring myself to do it in my fun books.

If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
Hogwarts :)

What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)
The All-Rounder

Your responses showed you fitting equally into all four reading personalities:

Involved Reader: You don't just love to read books, you love to read about books. For you, half the fun of reading is the thrill of the chase - discovering new books and authors, and discussing your finds with others.
Exacting Reader: You love books but you rarely have as much time to read as you'd like - so you're very particular about the books you choose.
Serial Reader: Once you discover a favorite writer you tend to stick with him/her through thick and thin.
Eclectic Reader: You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.


Thank you for joining us today, Jordin! Remember to check out Jordin's blog, A Bottomless Book Bag, and leave a comment or question.

BBI is on the Lookout for an International Team Member!

We are looking for one (or possibly two) new team members at Book Bloggers International.  Our lives have each gotten much busier since we started BBI and we would love to bring on new team members to work with!

Since the three of us all live in the U.S., we are in particular looking for an international book blogger to join our team.  If you live outside the U.S. and are interested in being considered for our new opening, please fill out the form below!  

We will be selecting the candidate in the next month. 

We will also be back to regularly scheduled posts, soon, with both new featured bloggers, as well as theme months.  Thanks for being patient with us!