Maintenance Monday
To Review or Not to Review?
Today's topic is a little different: Dreams & Speculation, formerly known as Book Love Affair, asked me if I'd be willing to write a Monday Coming Attraction during the month of May, as she was going to be covered up with non-book related activities. I was happy to help out, so instead of rambling here about some random topic, would you so kind as to check out my rambling over there? The topic is "To Review or Not to Review?" and I talk about the reasons I started reviewing books (they might surprise you!) and what book blogging means if you're a writing trying to break into the business. Please, come say hi, read the post, check out D&S's excellent blog, and swing back here for the rest of the usual goodies. :)
To Review or Not to Review?FAVOR!! When I review a book you've read and reviewed yourself, would you kindly provide a link to your review in the comments of mine? I love seeing what others think, and sometimes I see those reviews but don't read them as I don't want to spoil myself on something I know I'll read in the future. The problem, then, is I often forget to go back and read the reviews I missed! So please, if you've reviewed something I'm reviewing, shoot a link my way. :)
New Layout! There's a new layout at calico_reaction, and while some of you are loving it already, I'd love to hear what works and what doesn't work for you! Just click here and take a peak!
Book Club Selections
June: Sunshine by Robin McKinley
July: Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff
August: Theme: 2010 Hugo Nominees, VOTE HERE Deadline: June 10th
Robin's Guest Blog: Read it here, especially once you finish reading Sunshine! It's a lot of fun, and don't worry, there's no spoilers. :)
Book Sale: In order to buy new books, I have to sell old ones. Help me out? :) Details are here.
Follow me on Facebook, and find me on Paperback Swap!
Giveaways & Challenges
@ calico_reaction: Watch a video, win a free book. Okay, so it's not as simple as that, but Sandra McDonald has put together a WONDERFUL video celebrating 75 years of fabulous women writers in the SF/F genre as a way of promoting her short story collection Diana Comet and Other Improbable Stories, and it's worth watching. Also, there's a giveaway for US mailing addys, so click here, watch the video, and enter to win! Deadline 6/16.
@ Jawas Read, Too!, the "Summer of Series" reading challenge is going strong! May is over, and now it's time for June's series: Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea. Am I participating? Hell yeah! For more details on how to sign up, or to see what series are coming your way in the future, click here.
Got a giveaway or reading challenge you'd like to promote? Please comment.
Upcoming Reviews: The Man Who Turned Into Himself by David Ambrose and Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev
Currently Reading: The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
2010 Reading Total: 50 out of 75 (once I hit 75, I'll move that number up to 100).
2010 Comics Total: 179 out of 365. #180 will be tonight! Poll Time!
To tag or not to tag? That's actually not the question. The question is WHICH TAGS to use. I don't know how many of you read this blog outside of an LJ friend's page, but if you do, then you know there's a LONG LIST of tags down the side, and it's kind of crazy and overwhelming. Which makes me wonder: do any of you use my tagging system to navigate this blog, and if so, which ones are most helpful?
For any book, you get author's name (and pen name where applicable), genre/sub-genre, rating, the word "reviews", and sometimes the publisher. I also add awards when applicable. But my question to you, are any of these any good? Would you prefer a different method of tagging? Vote below and let me know, and as always, you're welcome to comment. :) Thanks for your help!
Poll Tagging
Today's topic is a little different: Dreams & Speculation, formerly known as Book Love Affair, asked me if I'd be willing to write a Monday Coming Attraction during the month of May, as she was going to be covered up with non-book related activities. I was happy to help out, so instead of rambling here about some random topic, would you so kind as to check out my rambling over there? The topic is "To Review or Not to Review?" and I talk about the reasons I started reviewing books (they might surprise you!) and what book blogging means if you're a writing trying to break into the business. Please, come say hi, read the post, check out D&S's excellent blog, and swing back here for the rest of the usual goodies. :)
To Review or Not to Review?FAVOR!! When I review a book you've read and reviewed yourself, would you kindly provide a link to your review in the comments of mine? I love seeing what others think, and sometimes I see those reviews but don't read them as I don't want to spoil myself on something I know I'll read in the future. The problem, then, is I often forget to go back and read the reviews I missed! So please, if you've reviewed something I'm reviewing, shoot a link my way. :)
New Layout! There's a new layout at calico_reaction, and while some of you are loving it already, I'd love to hear what works and what doesn't work for you! Just click here and take a peak!
Book Club Selections
June: Sunshine by Robin McKinley
July: Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff
August: Theme: 2010 Hugo Nominees, VOTE HERE Deadline: June 10th
Robin's Guest Blog: Read it here, especially once you finish reading Sunshine! It's a lot of fun, and don't worry, there's no spoilers. :)
Book Sale: In order to buy new books, I have to sell old ones. Help me out? :) Details are here.
Follow me on Facebook, and find me on Paperback Swap!
Giveaways & Challenges
@ calico_reaction: Watch a video, win a free book. Okay, so it's not as simple as that, but Sandra McDonald has put together a WONDERFUL video celebrating 75 years of fabulous women writers in the SF/F genre as a way of promoting her short story collection Diana Comet and Other Improbable Stories, and it's worth watching. Also, there's a giveaway for US mailing addys, so click here, watch the video, and enter to win! Deadline 6/16.
@ Jawas Read, Too!, the "Summer of Series" reading challenge is going strong! May is over, and now it's time for June's series: Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea. Am I participating? Hell yeah! For more details on how to sign up, or to see what series are coming your way in the future, click here.
Got a giveaway or reading challenge you'd like to promote? Please comment.
Upcoming Reviews: The Man Who Turned Into Himself by David Ambrose and Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev
Currently Reading: The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
2010 Reading Total: 50 out of 75 (once I hit 75, I'll move that number up to 100).
2010 Comics Total: 179 out of 365. #180 will be tonight! Poll Time!
To tag or not to tag? That's actually not the question. The question is WHICH TAGS to use. I don't know how many of you read this blog outside of an LJ friend's page, but if you do, then you know there's a LONG LIST of tags down the side, and it's kind of crazy and overwhelming. Which makes me wonder: do any of you use my tagging system to navigate this blog, and if so, which ones are most helpful?
For any book, you get author's name (and pen name where applicable), genre/sub-genre, rating, the word "reviews", and sometimes the publisher. I also add awards when applicable. But my question to you, are any of these any good? Would you prefer a different method of tagging? Vote below and let me know, and as always, you're welcome to comment. :) Thanks for your help!
Poll Tagging