Featured Blogger: Stephanie of Bringing Paperback

Today please welcome Stephanie, 

who blogs at Bringing Paperback.

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

My blog's name is play on words. It can be read as both Bringing Paperback or Bringing Paper back.  

How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging for about 10 months now.

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

My book blog features book reviews for all types of young adult books all while adding a couple of blog posts in between. 

What genres do you write about most, and why?

Young adult, fantasy, and contemporary because those are the books I enjoy reading the most.

Every blogger feels pressure at some point. What's something you feel pressured to do or not do on your blog? How do you deal with it?

I was pressured as to whether or not I should switch to wordpress, but I decided to stay with Weebly because I believe that if I work hard enough the domain site won't matter to the readers.

What's one book you think everyone should read?

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas!

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

No.. but I do use post its to write notes if I need to!

What's your favorite place to read or blog?

At home or at the library!

Is Amazon.com the evil empire? Discuss.

YES.. I can't leave without adding something to cart...

Book shelfie time! Take a "shelfie" of your bookshelves and share it with us.

I don't have much of a shelf.. instead I have a pile?! YAY

Check it out here!

What have you learned from other bloggers or your readers?

I have learned that blogs can be whatever you want them to be!

Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?

I try my best not to! (but sometimes it just happens).

One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?

Paperweight by Meg Haston was a book I didn't particularly like, but I saw a lot of other reviewers liked!

To DNF or not to DNF?

Only ONE book ever. I was too scared to continue.

What's one book that intimidates you?

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (the same book I couldn't finish...).

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

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER!

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I love to draw, paint, play volleyball, or bake!

What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?

Harry Potter movie series is one of my all time favorites!

What are 3 favorite posts or reviews you've read by other book bloggers?

When We Collided by Nikki Want at Fiction Freak
A Court of Mist and Fury by Twirling Pages
Lady Midnight by Thinpaperback

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

All Rounder!

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Thank you for joining us today, Stephanie! 

Remember to check out Stephanie's blog, Bringing Paperback, 

and leave a comment or question.

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Featured Blogger: Dinara Tengri

Today please welcome Dinara, who blogs at Dinara Tengri.

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

It's just my name. I wanted to keep it as simple as possible.

How long have you been blogging?

A couple of weeks. This is my second book blog. Last year I blogged for a few months.

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

It's a blog where I get to write about books I read. It's very simple. And very personal, and I am very honest in my reviews.

What genres do you write about most, and why?

I love science fiction. I also enjoy fantasy and historical books (non-fiction, that is), and scentfic books (Stephen Hawking, Brian Greene etc)

Every blogger feels pressure at some point. What's something you feel pressured to do or not do on your blog? How do you deal with it?

Sometimes I feel like I should adopt a certain writing style. I read other blogs and I think they do it better than me, and that I should write like them. I know from experience that this sort of thing never works, so I try to write as simple and honest as possible.

What's one book you think everyone should read?

The book I've recently reviewed, Voices from Chernobyl, by Svetlana Alexievich.

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

You mean like leaving notes? Hell to the no :)

What's your favorite place to read or blog?

In my office. And by "office" I mean "my room".

Is Amazon.com the evil empire? Discuss.

I want to say yes. But I have no personal experience with them. Yet. So I'll wait with that one.

Book shelfie time! Take a "shelfie" of your bookshelves and share it with us.

So these four shelves are fiction only.

One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?

Most people are in love with Moby Dick. I hated it.

To DNF or not to DNF?

DNF. But only on occasion.

What's one book that intimidates you?

I don't think I've read a book that would have this effect on me.

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

Ray Bradbury's Mars. It's a magical place.

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I recently picked up knitting. I also dance, and put together furniture from IKEA.

What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?

Favorite: The Martian
Least favorite: The Shining

What are 3 favorite posts or reviews you've read by other book bloggers?

• A Thousand Nights
• David Duchovny - Holy Cow
• it turns out that I can kinda deal with romance. occasionally.

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

I'm a quiet reader. But I have an opinion on everything I read.

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Thank you for joining us today, Dinara! Remember to check out Dinara's blog and leave a comment or question.

Featured Blogger: Muhammad Saad Khan of DePorridge

Today please welcome Muhammad Saad Khan, who blogs at DePorridge.

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How long have you been blogging?

A month

What genres do you write about most, and why?

I usually read YA,general fiction,classics,fantasy and sci fi.But I also read any ARC that I win/receive. 

What's one book you think everyone should read?

The Quran 

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

no

Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?

Both

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

Hogwarts

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

Soccer and MOOCs

What's your favorite or least favorite book to movie adaptation?

The Fault in our Stars

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

Eclectic Reader

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Thank you for joining us today, Muhammad Saad Khan! 

Remember to check out Muhammad Saad Khan's blog, DePorridge, 

and leave a comment or question.

Featured Blogger: Marina of Till the last word

Today please welcome Marina, who blogs at Till the last word.

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

it means that we should read every book until the end, there are some books that aren´t really exciting while you are reading them but in the end it makes it worth reading.
also, it has something to do the fact that I cant start a new book until I finish the previous one.

How long have you been blogging?

3 months, it´s been really little, but I am planning on keep going.

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

i don´t think UNIQUE is the right word. I would say that it makes it interesting that I don´t have a special genre that I publish about, so you will find different reviews about many books.

What genres do you write about most, and why?

currently, I am writing a lot about science fiction, but I don´t have a preference.

Every blogger feels pressure at some point. What's something you feel pressured to do or not do on your blog? How do you deal with it?

sometimes I feel the pressure about writing more, because I think it´s not enough. I didn´t really get over it, I just accept that I don´t have enough time.
and other thing is if I am good in what I do, to "deal" with it I give my reviews to other people so they can give me an opinion. I really learn a lot

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

HELL NO!! except it is an autograph

What's your favorite place to read or blog?

the kitchen, i feel more confortable there jaja

What have you learned from other bloggers or your readers?

I learned that people prefers new releases rather that classics.

Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?

sometimes, it depends on the cover jajaaj

To DNF or not to DNF?

not to DNF

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I watch a lot of series and movies. and I also go to the gym


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

The 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.

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Thank you for joining us today, Marina! 

Remember to check out Marina's blog, Till the last word, 

and leave a comment or question.

Featured #Bookstagrammer Memory, aka @Xicanti

Our featured #Bookstagrammer today is Memory, also known by her Instagram handle @Xicanti, and accompanied here by her wee poodle, Murchie. When not Instragramming, Memory blogs about books and food at In the Forest of Stories. Take it away, Memory!

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Tell us about yourself! Where do you work/play? What books do you like to read? Do you have any non-bookish hobbies? Any pets? What's your one great ambition?

I'm Memory, an avid reader of most things and a particular fan of SFF. I live with a tiny poodle named Murchie, who stands opposed to my Ultimate Life Goal, which is to pet every dog ever. He's much more supportive when it comes to my ongoing quest to eat all the tacos, though he does wish I'd share the spoils a little more often.

How did you get started blogging on IG? How long ago?

I first heard of Instagram through Kelly of The Written World. It looked like a lot of fun, so I signed up as soon as I acquired my first mobile device with a camera. I think that was around three years ago, but I'm bad with time.

IG started as a way for me to share pictures of my dog, Murchie, and my feed quickly expanded to include shots of my current reads, places I'd wandered to on my walks, and whatever I was eating. Around a year ago, I decided to combine the Murchie photos with the book photos; thus was my Murchie Plus Books series born.

Hashtags: What are some of your favorites? Do you have any "rules" when it comes to using hashtags?

I tag all my bookish pictures with #murchieplusbooks. When Murchie and I are apart and I've got to use a stand-in (usually someone else's pet, but sometimes one of my Funko Pop! bobbleheads) , I add #specialgueststar[stand-in's name].

Right now, I've also been tagging all my food pics so people observing Ramadan can filter them out if they deem it necessary. And I always tag my taco pics with #tacowatch2k15, which started as a joke on Twitter and has now become an actual thing.

What are some NON-bookish things you love posting?

Foooooooooood. Whenever I end up with a remotely photogenic meal, I Instagram it. Tacos have a particularly large presence on my feed on account of Ultimate Life Goal #2.

Selfies: Yes or meh?

Meh on my own account. I've taken maybe five selfies in my entire life, and at least two of those were alongside Murchie. I'm not a photogenic person. I do enjoy other peoples' selfies, though.

They say a picture's worth 1000 words. What story does your Instagram feed tell about you? Do you think it's accurate?

Surely anyone who stumbled across my feed would think I like dogs and comics and things one can eat. This is entirely accurate.

How do you integrate IG with your blog? Or do you?

Every Sunday, I do a round-up of all my Murchie Plus Books posts from the previous week. I include descriptive alt tags for my vision-impaired readers, and I add some additional commentary on the books and on anything cute or quirky Murchie may have done during the photo session.

What are four of your best or favorite photos/videos that you've posted in the past year?

A small grey poodle, Murchie, sits on a fuzzy red and white blanket. He wears an orange t-shirt and has his mouth stretched wide open. Behind him is a white Kobo with the cover of John Lewis's March, Book One on its screen.

Murchie stands on a patch of green grass, his ears perked. Slightly in front of him is a trade paperback copy of Tomboy by Liz Prince.

Murchie lays on a concrete step, his paws stretched out before him. He wears an orange t-shirt with brown trim. Beside him is a paperback copy of The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.

Murchie lays on a black couch. Beside him is a white Kobo with the cover of Matt Fraction and Christian Ward's Ody-C on its screen.

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If you want more cute poodle pics, be sure to follow Memory's Instagram account. You can also connect with her on Twitter.

Featured Blogger: Nicolette from Book Punks

Today please welcome Nicolette, who blogs at Book Punks.



What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?
The short answer is that we love books with a punk mentality: questioning, subversive, and addressing issues or writteny by authors getting ignored by the mainstream.

The long answer about where the name came from lives here: http://www.bookpunks.com/fire-in-the-books-a-book-punks-creation-story/


How long have you been blogging?
Me personally? Almost ten years.
Me, Book Punks? We celebrated our first birthday in May.


Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
Unique is a heavy word.

But what makes us us are the people behind the pens. I am an American permenantly transplanted in Germany and a freelance travel writer and editor. My co-editor Erika is a young adult librarian who lives in California who likes to pair books with songs. We met in college (where we both studied literature), and we both love SFF with the burning passion of a thousand red giants.

We also have a few folks from Anarcho Geek Review who do a column, as well as the occasional review from Tara, a seamtress audio book geek based in Maryland.


What genres do you write about most, and why?
We focus on speculative fiction, though if something from another genre really gets under our skin, we'll review it. It is all book love all the time, but what my co-editor Erika and I love the most is science fiction and fantasy.


Every blogger feels pressure at some point. What's something you feel pressured to do or not do on your blog? How do you deal with it?
I don't buy into blogging pressure. The moment I feel anything remotely like it I change what I am doing to fit my needs. I wish I had all the time to write all the things, but I don't. Realistic expectations can go a long way to eliminating the chance of falling into a stressed blogger trap. If I don't feel like writing about books I might try a new format--say, short reviews. Or I will write about general reading issues instead of books. Or not at all. I see blogging as something that should increase my happiness, and as soon as it stops doing that, I stop and re-assess.


What's one book you think everyone should read?
Well, at the moment I am obsessed with The Fictional Man by Al Ewing. It has everything I love: science fictional elements, questions about what it means to be human, social commentary, a page-turning plot, writers writing, and a large dose of meta.


Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
While I do have a few books that I would never write in--the signed copies or special collector's hardcovers--I write in books all the time. But only in pencil.


What's your favorite place to read or blog?
On my porch in the sun. In bed. In my favorite chair at the local cafe with free wifi.


Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?
Both. I am horribly judgemental about covers. But if someone whose taste I trust recommends something with a bad cover, I'll get over it and try it.


To DNF or not to DNF?
I went on a long rant about this recently here: http://www.bookpunks.com/making-the-painful-decision-to-give-up-on-a-book/

Basically it boils down to this: Life is too short to read mediocre books.


What's one book that intimidates you?
Ulysses by James Joyce


If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
Walter Moers Zamonien or China Mieville's Bas-Lag.


How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
Sing. Bike. Build shit.


What are 3 favorite posts or reviews you've read by other book bloggers?
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (2004) by Susanna Clarke by From Couch to Moon
Review: The Kingdom of the Gods, N. K. Jemisin by Reading the End
Reading Fantasy in a Tiny Country by Of Dragons and Hearts

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


Thank you for joining us today, Nicolette!
Remember to check out Nicolette's blog, Book Punks, and leave a comment or question for her below!

Featured Blogger: Riley from Book Blogs!

Today please welcome Riley, who blogs at Book Blogs!

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How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging for about a year and a half now!

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

No! The only writing that should be in books is the actual story not anything else!

What's your favorite place to read or blog?

At the beach, I love reading while hearing the waves crashing on the sand!

What have you learned from other bloggers or your readers?

I have learned so much such as how to get noticed and make better posts. Other bloggers have been so kind and helped me so much and I'm so thankful! 

What's one book that intimidates you?

There are so many books, such as A Tale Of Two Cities, that I want to read yet I can never bring myself to read them because they look so thick and the text looks really small and I'm afraid I'll get bored!

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I love to figure skate, I love jumping and even just gliding across the ice. It makes me feel so free! :)

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Thank you for joining us today, Riley! Remember to check out Riley's blog, Book Blogs!, and leave a comment or question.

Featured Blogger: Julianne from Outlandish Lit

Today please welcome Julianne, who blogs at Outlandish Lit.

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

My intent was just to be super clear about what kind of books I read! Sometimes I read pretty run of the mill adult literary fiction, but what sets my heart aflutter is stories that are weird, surreal, quirky, experimental, and/or dark. Or, for lack of a better work, outlandish!

How long have you been blogging?

Oooh, this is a good question haha. I want to say 2 years or so, but I had to stop for like a year early on due to school. So really only 1. I still feel like a new blogger.

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

I try to introduce people to books that they might not otherwise read. Books that are a little stranger, or aren't hugely popular (though I do like to read some of those books too). I love contemporary fiction, but I also review backlist books! And I try to keep my posts interesting and fun to read (like reviews in the form of chatlogs with another reader, or the occasional youtube video).

What's one book you think everyone should read?

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer!

Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?

I'm veeeeery partial to pretty, modern covers. I can't help it. Looking at books is almost as good as reading them, kind of.

To DNF or not to DNF?

I want to say that I can DNF, but like can I in practice? Hard to say, because I never do haha. It's not that I CAN'T, I just don't want to. I can stop whenever I want, I don't have a problem. I just sometimes get caught up in spite reading. Once I start saying "blah blah blah" out loud as I'm reading, it's probably a good sign that I should stop, though.

What's one book that intimidates you?

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. I started it a couple years ago, but it's too hard to commit to!

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I go to school for CGI and visual effects, so I'm generally doing some sort of 3D modelling or compositing on the computer. Otherwise, I'm watching horror movies, camping, drinking Angry Orchard, playing the bagpipes, knitting, going to thrift stores, performing in live lit shows, or eating $2 tacos somewhere in Chicago.

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

The All-Rounder

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Thank you for joining us today, Julianne! Remember to check out Julianne's blog, Outlandish Lit, and leave a comment or question.

Featuring: Laura from Books Against the Current!

Today please welcome Laura, who blogs at Boats Against the Current.


What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?
Boats against the current' is actually from the closing line of The Great Gatsby: 'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.' It's one of my favourite quotes from literature, so I decided to use it as my blog name, even if it doesn't have any immediate relevance to books!


How long have you been blogging?

Since July 2014, so only about six months!


Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
I review a huge range of genres from the classics and literary fiction to fantasy, sci-fi and YA. I also do a lot of discussion posts about reading and blogging, and have been known to do the odd post about writing, because that is another of my passions!


What genres do you write about most, and why?
I read most genres, but my all time favourite is definitely fantasy, so I write a lot about that.


Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
Hell to the no! At school they used to make us write notes in our books and it was almost physically painful for me!


What's your favorite place to read or blog?
I would love to say I sit at an antique desk in my study surrounded by bookcases full of leather bound books, but admittedly, most of the time I just sit in bed and blog! If I had such a study I would blog there, but unfortunately I don't.


One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?
I know a lot of people love 'The Catcher in the Rye', but I started it and just couldn't get into it.


To DNF or not to DNF?
I really hate not finishing books, but I think if a book makes it so that you really don't want to read, or really can't be bothered reading, then you should just admit defeat, and move on to something you're excited to read.


How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
I love writing (both fiction and non-fiction) and photography.


What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?
Most of the time I'm not too keen on book to movie adaptations, but I do love The Lord of the Rings films!



Thank you for joining us today, Laura!

Remember to check out Laura's blog, Boats Against the Current, and leave a comment or question for Laura below!

Featuring Brenda from Daily Mayo

Today please welcome Brenda Priddy, who blogs at Daily Mayo.

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

It's sort of vain. A long time ago, I read a story about how there was a girl who was the "mayo" of the group- the girl who could get along with everyone. I thought that fit well with me. The Daily part is half newspaper inspired and half inspired by how often I try to post. 

How long have you been blogging?

I started back in 2009 just for fun, but it wasn't until 2013 that I started getting more serious about it. 

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

The focus of Daily Mayo is how to make reading more enriching. I like to create content that is fun and a little outside the box. I recently did a post on The Game of Thrones, where I came up with cocktails to fit many of the women in the book. I also like to create book lists to inspire people to read beyond their comfort zone. On Thursdays, I host Quote Me Thursday, where I share some of my favorite quotes from books and authors. 

What genres do you write about most, and why?

Science fiction is my first love, but recently, I've been delving a lot into contemporary fiction and literary fiction. I like the how the emphasis is placed on characters rather than plot in these genres. The writing is so different!

What's your earliest memory of reading?

When I was learning to read, I struggled with it. I remember thinking it was impossible. But a few months later, I read a story about a deaf man who said the wrong words (not a very politically correct story), which I thought was hilarious, Since then, I've loved to read. 

What was the first book you read over and over, or the book you've reread the most?

I have probably read either Little Women or Anne of Green Gables the most. I loved reading about spunky girls growing up! I also read the Ramona books a lot. 

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

I have never done it, but I don't see why you couldn't. I guess I never thought I had anything of enough value that would add to the story to warrant writing in one. 

What's your favorite place to read?

Probably bed. 

Do you have any reading accessories you can't do without?

I really should use more bookmarks. Generally, my phone or, ironically, my Kindle, often end up as my bookmark. 

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

overflowing and I need to buy more. 

My TBR pile is...

Too long right now. I've stopped taking review requests for a while until I can catch up!

What's a book that's changed your life?

I guess Anne of Green Gables changed my life. I loved that she was able to be feminine and educated and smart at the same time. 

One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?

I don't think I liked the Divergent series as much as other people. It just didn't stand out to me. 

To DNF or not to DNF?

I used to be like, "no, finish all the books!" But now, I don't have time or energy to read a book I don't like. So I will abandon books more frequently now. 

What's one book that intimidates you?

I don't think any. If a book is difficult to read, and I think it has merit, I'll read it, but I despise books that are written just to be difficult. 

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

Like a fictional world? I think I would love to visit Inkworld. It sounds beautiful! Middle-earth would also be fun as long as it was during one of the peaceful times. 

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I like to be active and just do things. I'll pretty much do whatever. Play games, go to flea markets, run around with my kids, whatever. I also really love board games. The difficult ones. 

What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?

Have you ever seen the cartoon version of The Return of the King? That was pretty terrible. 

What are 3 of your must-read blogs?

• Book Riot
• Go Book Yourself
• Parajunkee's View

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

The Eclectic Reader



Thank you for joining us today, Brenda! Remember to check out 's blog, Daily Mayo, and leave a comment or question.

Featuring Rachel of Rach the Redhead

Today please welcome Rachel, 

who blogs at Rach the Redhead.

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

It's pretty simple - just my name and my hair color!

What genres do you write about most, and why?

I mostly write about literary fiction, just because it's my favorite genre. I love the variety; there's a little bit of everything!

What's your earliest memory of reading?

I probably wasn't reading, just reciting the words I'd memorized from one of my picture books. Either way, my parents were pretty impressed! It was a book about bubblegum, I think.

What was the first book you read over and over, or the book you've reread the most?

My entire Harry Potter series is falling apart, I've reread it so much.

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

Sometimes; I've gotten away from it since I finished my English Degree, but occasionally I just have to.

What's your favorite place to read?

A big, cushy chair next to a window (preferably when it's raining outside).

Do you have any reading accessories you can't do without?

I technically can read without my reading glasses, but it's painful after a while.

My TBR pile is...

Always growing!

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

The All-Rounder

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Thank you for joining us today, Rachel! 

Remember to check out Rachel's blog, Rach the Redhead, 

and leave a comment or question.

Featuring Rachel of Bookishly Witty

Today please welcome Rachel, 

who blogs at Bookishly Witty.

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Like many book bloggers, I've been reading since before I can remember. But when I was 12 or 13, I suddenly decided that it was time to Read the Great Works of Literature. And embark on that quest I did. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was my first classic, and it opened up a beautiful, wonderful world.

Fast forward to college, where I believed that the straightest path to becoming a professional reader and writer was to become an English professor (cue grad school, cue Ph.D, cue disillusionment). But I realized quickly enough that the world of acadmic writing wasn't what I was looking for. But what to do with all my bookish thoughts?

And then my husband and I had twins and I basically kissed reading goodbye for a year (reading, which was like oxygen to me). There was no time to do anything but take care of the babies and try to get some sleep.

Just as things started settling into a manageable routine, I heard about Book Riot through a friend and started reading their posts. It was a revelation to me, because here were people talking about books in a humorous, casual way, and having lots of fun doing it. I figured, why not pitch an idea I'd had about some humorous "lessons" we could glean from great works of literature. Soon I became a regular contributor (and it's been more fun than I can explain), and that made me kick my reading back up into high gear.

I started "Bookishly Witty," my book blog devoted to reviews, recommendations, and literary humor, soon after and set a schedule for myself. I would post something every Monday and Wednesday (at least), plus maintain a Facebook page connected to the blog. The many fantastic bookish people whom I met through Book Riot, Twitter, and book-related FB pages have kept me going in my quest to carve out my own little bookish niche in the blogosphere.

Each week, I offer a "Random Recommendation" and three "Books to Look For," both of which allow me to talk about my favorite books and writers and keep up with the latest releases and news. I also write about books "From My TBR Shelf" and reviews of newer works. I had my head stuck in the 19th century for so long, but now I'm wading into the sea of contemporary literture and loving it. Sharing my love of reading with other book-lovers and being hilariously irreverent along the way has been so rewarding. My hope is that my blog will give readers useful recommendations for their own reading and inspire them to go write about the books they love. The bookternet, my friends, is a wonderful thing.

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Thank you for joining us today, Rachel! 

Remember to check out Rachel's blog, Bookishly Witty, 

and leave a comment or question.

Sibella Asher from YA Book Reviews

Today please welcome Sibella Asher, who blogs at YA Book Reviews.

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

Well I'm going to be honest here. My blog has such a boring name. The reason behind that is, the day I was making my blog, I was not feeling very creative. I just couldn't find it in me to come up with something that is clever or fun. I would change my blog name in a second if I could come up with a name that I actually liked.

How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging for (As of Semptember 2013) a total of 9 months. 

What genres do you write about most, and why?

My blog focuses on YA books and YA books only. I only review YA books because they are my favorite EVER and they are the genre of books that I read the most.

What's your earliest memory of reading?

My earliest memory of reading is when I was about 6 or 7 years. I was given a Magic Treehouse book. I think that it was Saber-tooth at Sunset by Mary Pope Osborne. After reading that in 2 days I discovered my love of reading. :)

What was the first book you read over and over, or the book you've reread the most?

Th first book I reread was Need by Carrie Jones. I love all of the books in the Need Series.

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

It's fine to write in books as long as they belong to you. If they belong to you, you can do whatever you want with them and nobody can tell you different.

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

never going to be full.

My TBR pile is...

always being added to.

What's a book that's changed your life?

A book that changed my life...hmmm. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi? It reminded me that people have very strong emotions and that people have tons of secrets that they keep well hidden inside the deepest parts of themselves.

One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?

I seem to be the only one in the history of the universe that doesn't like The Maze Runner by James Dashner. It's disappointing because the book has so much hype over it because of the movie and I'm not involved in the excitement.

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

Not feeling like reading? Is that contagious? Just kidding, just kidding. When I'm not reading, I'm probably writing or drawing. 

What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?

I hated the movie adaption of Beautiful Creatures. The book was fantastic and the movie did not due it justice. They just changed so much! So much in fact that it would be almost impossible for them to make a Beautiful Darkness movie without completely changing the storyline.

What are 3 of your must-read blogs?

YA Lit Reviews From a Librarian
Pika Pages

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

Exacting Reader!

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Thank you for joining us today, Sibella Asher! Remember to check out Sibella Asher's blog, YA Book Reviews, and leave a comment or question.