Book Blogger Hop (19th - 25th December)

 

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

Do you write a review for every book you read or only review copies from publishers?

 

I write a review for all the ARCs I've received from publishers but not every book I read. Sometimes it's nice to just enjoy a book without thinking about what I'm going to say about it. I go through stages where reviewing can feel like a chore and reading should be all about relaxing and enjoying the novel. For that reason I try and keep my review/Netgalley requests down to a minimum where possible or only for books that I really want to read.

Book Blogger Hop (August 15th-21st)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

What is your favorite electronic device to use to add posts and content to your blog? Example: Your phone, your computer, your iPad, or another device?

 

My favourite is my desktop computer as it's much easier to use for adding new posts. I have used my tablet before for this but it's awkward and takes a very long time. My tablet and phone are okay for looking up other blogs and adding comments though. 

 

Book Blogger Hop (1st-7th August)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

How many bookcases do you have, and how do you organise the shelves?

 

I have four bookcases, two large ones in the living room, one small one in my bedroom and another in the spare bedroom. The two downstairs are for favourite books (there's a couple of shelves full of just Stephen King novels) and I also have some from my TBR on those as well. The upstairs bookcases aren't very organised at all, they have a mixture of books that we've read but still want to keep and unread ones that we may get around to one day. The bookcase in the spare room is quite messy but no one can see it so it doesn't matter. 

Book Blogger Hop (11th - 17th July)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

Do you read books in translation? What are the last 3 books in translation you read?

 

I do read books that have been translated into English. A couple of the last 3 I've read are also two of my favourite books, Beside The Sea by Veronique Olmi and The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist. I also enjoy Niccolo Ammaniti's novels. 

 

 

Book Blogger Hop (20th - 26th June)

 

 

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

Do you prefer Nook, Kindle, other reader or paper book?

I find it doesn't strain my eyes as much to read on my Kindle compared with a paper book and I also read quicker on it as well. It's much more convenient to take to work or when I go out than a large hardback book for example. Then again if I read more than 2 ebooks in a row I miss holding a paper book and I still borrow a lot of them from the library. I always buy the latest Stephen King in hardback rather than the ebook version as I like to see them on my shelf. Although I think I slightly prefer the Kindle because of the convenience of it I'll never be able to give up on paper books. It's more exciting going into a bookshop for a browse and coming home with something to add to my tbr pile rather than just downloading a digital version. I do love the Kindle daily deals though and you can often get some very good ebooks for only £0.99p.

Book Blogger Hop (11th-17th April)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

What do you think is the best book marketing tool? Blog, facebook, twitter, pinterest, or goodreads?

 

I  like Twitter, Goodreads and book blogs, I'm not on facebook and have never used pinterest. For me though I think twitter is the best book marketing tool.  I can post links to reviews on my blog via it and also put the authors and or publishers @ address on the end as well. Sometimes they retweet these so their many followers can read the reviews. I've also read others reviews this way and heard about books I might not have otherwise.  I've also received books from publishers when they tweet giveaways to bloggers. 

Book Blogger Hop (7th-13th March)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

Do you have a schedule set for blogging and reading time? Or do you not have a set time and just let it happen?

 

I don't have a schedule set for blogging and reading time. There are some memes that I like to participate in regularly if I can but apart from that I fit it in around other commitments. At the moment I'm not reviewing much because I've been busy but will hopefully start again soon.  I do try and sit down to read for at least one hour a day when I'm not at work but again this can vary and I always read for a little while in bed at night. If I set myself targets for reading and blogging then it can feel like a chore rather than something I enjoy to do.

Book Blogger Hop (31st January - 6th February)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

When you receive new books in the mail, do the older ones get moved to the bottom of your list or do you go strictly "by the book" and keep your list with older books first then the new ones?

 

I tend to read whatever I'm in the mood for next, I've got books on my shelf that I was desperate to read when I ordered them but by the time they arrived I felt like a different genre, a couple of years on and they're still sitting there unread. In other cases I've started them straight away, also if it's a review book it may need to be read quite quickly anyway so that gets pushed to near the top of the list. But I don't have a system for reading books, if I choose one because I feel I have to read it rather than want to then I won't enjoy it as much.

 

Book Blogger Hop (24th-30th January)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

Do you think you will ever read every book in your TBR stack?  

 

Unfortunately I don't think I will as I seem to add more books to it quicker than I can read them. I read, or at least try to, library books as soon as I get them so my own get pushed gradually down the pile. Also review books need reading by a certain time so they have to take precedence as well. I don't buy lots of new novels but do like a bargain, especially wishlist books that are in the kindle daily deal or for a good price in a charity/second hand bookshop.

 

Book Blogger Hop 27th December - 2nd January

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2014?

 

The one I'm most looking forward to is Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King which is due to be published in June. Also Mother Island by Bethan Roberts, Road Ends by Mary Lawson and The Dynamite Room by Jason Hewitt are on my wishlist.

 

 

Book Blogger Hop (8th-14th November)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

Do you post your book reviews as soon as you have completed the book or do you wait a few days?

 

I normally write and post my review after I've finished reading the book. This is because I will usually start my next read quite quickly and want to write my thoughts while the book is still clear in my mind.

 

 

 

Book Blogger Hop (1st-7th November)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

When you are out of town, do you still participate in weekly memes or do you have your post scheduled to appear on your blog and perhaps check back? Or do you not participate at all?

I've only been away once since I started my blog earlier this year and I scheduled a few posts. In fact I do this most of the time anyway, work on and schedule mine in advance when I've got time, then when online the day it appears, put my link on the organisers blog and look at other participants posts. This one was done on 24th October.

Book Blogger Hop (25th-31st October)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

 Halloween Edition: What Is Your Favourite Horror Novel And Why?

 

Mine has to be Pet Sematary by Stephen King. I've read it twice, once as a teenager and again a few years ago, it doesn't rely on blood and gore to scare. Not only is it a horror novel in the traditional sense but also contains emotional aspects that you can realistically relate to. There are two parts of the story in particular involving Gage and Louis Creed that I find heartbreaking, those of you who've read it will probably know what I mean.

 

Book Blogger Hop (4th - 10th October)

 

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

  Halloween Edition: What book gave you goosebumps?

 

 

Although I like horror novels it takes a lot to scare me nowadays. However when I was a teenager anything by Stephen King or James Herbert terrified me and gave me goosebumps and a lot of King's books still do, particularly Pet Sematary.

 

Book Blogger Hop (27th September-3rd October)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

What weekly memes do you follow on a regular basis?

 

Apart from Book Blogger Hop I also follow:

It's Monday! What Are You Reading 

Top Ten Tuesday 

Book Beginnings on Fridays 
Waiting On Wednesday 
WWW Wednesdays 
Teaser Tuesdays 
Friday Finds 

  

Book Blogger Hop (20th-26th September)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

What is your favourite genre? List two of your favourite books in that genre.

I found this weeks question difficult to answer as I like a lot of different genres. I've decided to go with post apocalyptic and my two favourite from this genre are:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy 

The Stand by Stephen King

I've read them both more than once and will probably read them again in the future as well.

  

Book Blogger Hop (6th-12th September)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

 

What got you started as a blogger? Everyone has a story/reason, what's yours? 

 

 

A couple of years ago I started to put a few reviews on Amazon and the Read It Swap It website, then earlier this year I joined Goodreads and also NetGalley which obviously meant more books to review. I'd previously thought about starting a book blog but didn't really have the time to set it up, didn't think anyone would be interested or even if I'd be able to do it. I'm currently not working and have some spare time on my hands so decided this would be the perfect time to give it a try. To be honest I wondered if I'd get bored but I have to say I love it, there are so many memes to take part in and the blogging community are very friendly.

Book Blogger Hop (23rd-29th August)

 

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question is:

Book blogging is more than just reading. Who helped you set up or run your blog? Or did you do it all yourself?

 

 

My Answer:

 

I'd been reviewing on Goodreads for a little while when I decided I'd like to have a book blog. I set it up myself but did look at other blogs first to get an idea of what would work for me. I thought I'd be using it to just post my reviews online but soon found plenty of enjoyable memes to take part in (including this one).

Book Blogger Hop (16th-22nd August)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings Of A Coffee Addicted Writer and gives bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog. All you need to do is answer this weeks question on your blog, enter the link to your post here then visit other blogs on the list and comment on their posts. This weeks question is:

Were you a born bookworm or somebody got you into the habit of reading? 

My Answer:

I've always enjoyed books and reading but whether I was born a bookworm or if it was because my Mum loves books and read them to me I don't know. I used to think it was because of her influence, but now I have two daughters, one who loves reading and one who doesn't. This is despite the fact that I read and look at books with them both. This may change and I don't want to force her and put her off reading for life. My brother was never as into books as me when younger but now reads a lot and has a Kindle.

 

Book Blogger Hop (9th-15th August)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer and gives bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog. All you need to do is answer this weeks question on your blog, enter the link to your post here then visit other blogs on the list and comment on their posts. This weeks question is:


If you don't like a book that you said you would review, do you graciously turn it down and explain why or do you struggle through it and hopefully come up with a half decent review?

My Answer:

There has only been one occasion where I gave up on a review book, I do try to finish them and give my thoughts even if I don't think they are any good. I'd received the book through NetGalley (I won't say what book it was). I was really struggling and not enjoying it at all so I stopped reading it and left feedback explaining why, I just couldn't get into it and I didn't care what happened to the characters. I think life's too short to read something you're really not enjoying, even if it is a review copy.