My Book Blog/Love-a-Thon Reflection

Sooo...It has been a long day and I haven't even stayed up for the entire Love-a-Thon. I just feel like I've done so much! Never in the life of my book blog have I posted so many times in a day! It feels amazing and I am so happy I participated. And even though, I didn't stay up for the entire thing, I caught up on all the Mini Challenges and I was able to comment and discover some awesome blogs. 

This is why the Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is officially at the top of my "Best Blogging Moments". I've met so many new people and I've found blogs I wouldn't have discovered had it not been for this Love-a-Thon. Thank you, Alexa and Kate, for making this event so much fun to participate in! I really wish I were able to stay up for the entire 24 hours, but I am so tired. I'm not even sure if what I'm writing now makes sense.

I'm pretty new at the blogging game and I can't think of many exciting moments during the six months I've been here. I remember being excited when I released my first post, my first meme, my first discussion, my first feature. I remember being so happy when two wonderful people decided to follow me and when I got teamed up with a blogger I have admired for a very long time for the Love-a-Thon. I've read some pretty awesome blogs and am still finding more. I am so grateful for the chance to be here and to be able to blog. I truly expected it to be harder to settle down, but it wasn't at all. This is why I love book blogging. Because of the people (well, yeah, and the books). The people are so amazingly nice and wonderful and hilarious and so kind. Without them, book blogging would be a bore. So thank you! Thank you for making my experience so wonderful. 

Love, Annie

:)

Dear Future Annie, Present Annie Has Some Suggestions For You

Dear Future Annie,

You might be surprised to receive this letter but Present Annie has participated in something called "Book Blogger Love-a-Thon" where you love book bloggers and their blogs. Mini Challenge #4 was to write a letter to yourself, and since I thought it'd be more fun to write a letter to you, instead of Past Annie, here I am typing this all out.

I'm sure you'll be an intelligent, wiser teenager a year from now and I'm sure you'll use that to your benefit when improving your blog. For example, perhaps you could learn how to HTML? So you can make your own awesome blog background? And also, maybe you should rethink the names of some of your features and make some graphics for them as well? While you're making things, why don't I just add BLOG BUTTON to that list? It would be nice and handy to have.

You could refine your reviews a bit. I think Present Annie uses "definitely", "awesome", and "amazing" too often. Think outside of the box, and be more creative! Fun! And write more. At least, thrice a week. Maybe think of starting a blogging schedule? So you can juggle memes and discussions and reviews? Also, perhaps you should link up twitter with your blog? And go back to Pinterest, it's better for you. Ditch Wanelo, you're not going to have money to buy anything on there anyway.

Comment more. Comments are what make the blog-o-sphere go round! Without it, everyone would just be a sad mess. Face it, that's the truth. I love comments, and I bet you do too. Never commit to something you can't do. For instance, 150 books in a year. Do I not have a life? Yes, I love books but not THAT much. You shouldn't make reading your first priority. Social life, school, family, and a healthy lifestyle always come first.

Be happy, meditate and be considerate. Be considerate of your words, of your life, of your body, of the world, of the people around you. Stay true to yourself and don't hide who you truly are. It'll do you good in the long run. And stop bugging people about books they'll never read. A habit you have to break.

Anyway, you are AWESOME and I am excited to see how things go for you.

Love, Present Annie xxx

Annie's Infinite Playlist

I love music. I sing and listen to my many awesome playlists every day. However, I suck at creating a good mixtape. I've never tried but I know. I suck. I don't know what's good together, and until a how-to manual is written on this, don't expect one from me. Mixtapes and playlists, I find, go hand in hand. Which means I'm no good at playlists either. I just curate a bunch of my favourite songs and throw them together. Not much thought goes into it. My point is, that these playlists are most likely going to suck. Really. But I can guarantee you (unless you don't like the same music I do) that the songs are great. Well, most of them.

Having said that, I introduce to you my infinite playlist. (The title is taken from Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, in case anyone is looking to sue me, here's creds). Some of them are playlists for genres, moods, some for certain books. Enjoy!

I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

I'll Be There - Jackson 5 

Coming Home - John Legend

Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz

The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert

Come Back...Be Here - Taylor Swift

You Found Me - The Fray

How To Save A Life - The Fray

If I Die Young - The Band Perry

Blowing In The Wind - Bob Dylan

Books That Are Ridiculously Hilarious

i.e. Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, any Sophia Kinsella book, Magic in Manhattan series

Up - Shania Twain

Everybody Talks - Neon Trees

Gonna Get Over You - Sara Bareilles

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift

You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift

Hey Stephen - Taylor Swift 

Ready Or Not - Bridgit Mendler

22 - Taylor Swift

Crocodile Rock - Elton John

Yellow Submarine - The Beatles

Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat

I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston

You and I - Ingrid Michaelson

Animal - Neon Trees

Gangnam Style - PSY

I Want It That Way - The Backstreet Boys

Everything At Once - Lenka

Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles

Dystopia Books

Because they usually include a fight

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

I'll Make A Man Out Of You - Mulan

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

Change - Taylor Swift

Dog Days Are Over - Florence and the Machine

Sing - My Chemical Romance

It's Time - Imagine Dragons

The Lonely - Christina Perri

Bulletproof - La Roux

Eyes Open - Taylor Swift

Stop And Stare - OneRepublic

And some other songs I love:

Can't Say No - Conor Maynard*

Lisztomania - Phoenix

Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men

Anna Sun - Walk The Moon

If I Lose Myself - OneRepublic

'81 - Joanna Newsom

Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

Pure Imagination - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Reflection - Mulan 

I Won't Say I'm In Love - Hercules

I Wanna Be Like You - The Jungle Book

The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide - Panic! At The Disco

Miss Murder - AFI

You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse

Rehab - Amy Winehouse

She's So High - Tal Bachman

Stars - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

She's Alright - Stereophonics

Ho Hey - The Lumineers

Bright Lights, Big City - Cee Lo Green

That's All - Genesis

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Sorry guys! I totally didn't anticipate this would be so long! Argh, this is the problem with me! I just start listing songs that I love instead of doing the activity at hand. Anyway, I hope this is okay...

* As a girl, I am terribly disappointed by this song...and most of his other songs. I find the lyrics insulting but I can't help but sing along to this song whenever it comes on. It's so catchy. 

Book Spine Poetry

It's time for Mini Challenge #2! For this challenge, we were asked to make poems out of book titles. I don't own many books that would work well for this challenge, so instead I used the titles of books I had read previously. Enjoy and feel free to comment me your own poems! I've seen some great ones already!

Just Listen 

If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late 

Beneath The Glitter 

Things Fall Apart 

Dear John 

When You Reach Me 

I’ll Be There

The Books Used:

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Stay tuned for Mini Challenge #3!

The Best Of The Book Blogs

Since I did not do this at the slotted time, I will be doing this now. As part of the Book Blogger Love-a-Thon, we were given the option to do Mini Challenges. The first Mini Challenge was to construct a short(ish) list of three to five book bloggers that fit well in four different "Best..." themes.

Here are my picks!

Best Reviews: 

Frenetic Reader 

I love Khy's reviews because they're detailed and specific. And clear! After reading her reviews, I have an idea on if I should read ___ book. When I'm in reading trouble, I can always look to Khy for help!

The Perpetual Page-Turner 

The reason why I love Jamie's reviews so much is the layout! I love the way she groups her reviews and I can choose whether or not I want to read the whole thing, or just the Review On A Post-It, which is, by the way, a great idea! Especially for me, someone who doesn't like reading the entire review all the time.

Hello Chelly

Hello Chelly is a blog I have only found recently but have fell in love with. Rachel, like Jamie, also groups her reviews, though in a different way. The plus side of this is always that I can choose what to read. The reviews are simple and sweet. 

Best Discussion Posts: 

Perpetual Page Turner 

I think we can all agree that Jamie has awesome discussion posts. I love her wacky topics, like, remember that time she talked about her butt? But I totally understand her and I look forward to when she posts a discussion.

The Broke and the Bookish 

Well, The Broke and the Bookish do not do discussion posts often. However, I loved their A Cocktail and a Conversation feature and I wish they did more of them! They were so much fun to read through! 

Makeshift Bookmark 

Anything that is not a review counts as a discussion and boy, does Makeshift Bookmark have some good discussions! Jen and Carla make me actually LOL time and time again. I love them!

Best Layout: 

The Story Siren

I love the greys and blues and the layout is so easy to use! I can find exactly what I am looking for in a matter of seconds! And I love the mermaid!

Hello Chelly 

The color theme is gorgeous. I mean, turquoise and pink? LOVE. I love the way it looks against a white background. The fact that I know that everything is on the right makes for easy sailing on my part.

Rather Be Reading 

Since their makeover, Estelle and Magan's whole blog is a gorgeous, green wonderland. (I want Alex to redo my blog, too!)  It's so organized and I cannot remember a time where I was at a lost of where to find anything.

Best Theme: 

Clear Eyes, Full Shelves 

Friday Night Lights. And even though I have no idea what Friday Night Lights is about nor have I ever watched a single episode (was John Travolta in it?), this blog makes me want to, just so I can get in on all the  jokes and fun!

Novel Sounds 

Music. If ever I'm searching for new music to listen to, or music to listen to while reading a certain book, I know I can look to Elena for help. Her blog is also absolutely gorgeous.

Rather Be Reading

 Well, their blog doesn't really have a theme, but their background...Oh! The tree, the green, the stripes! Everything is gorgeous! I love it!

Lisa Is Busy Nerding 

Board games and TV shows are a staple at Lisa Is Busy Nerding. I love the way she is able to juggle so many themes and I admire her for it.

Interview: Lisa from Lisa Is Busy Nerding

I am so excited to introduce to you, Lisa from Lisa Is Busy Nerding! One of my favourite book bloggers, I love the way she incorporates books, games, and TV into one awesome blog! I had the great honor to be paired with her for an interview as part of the Book Blogger Love-a-thon which stretches all day and night tomorrow, so check out Alexa's blog or Kate's blog to check out some of the participating blogs and the fun mini-challenges! 

Due to exhaustion from an overload of schoolwork, I will be posting this now because there is no way I will be up at 12:00. Expect an absence of Annie until 8:00AM the next morning. If you would like to see the interview Lisa conducted with me, please visit her blog, Lisa Is Busy Nerding. And without further ado, here is Lisa!

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If you could make a movie out of any book, what would it be?

This one is REALLY HARD for me because I often feel like books to movies don't turn out nearly as awesome as I expect them to. So I'd have to say I would remake the Percy Jackson movie into something that is worthy of the awesomeness of Percy instead of the disaster I heard it was. That's right - I haven't even seen it because I don't want it ruined for me! Yeah, I'm particular.

Do you prefer buying books or borrowing books?

Oh for sure buying books is what I prefer - but don't tell my husband! :P I feel like when I buy then I can read them on my own time. When I borrow, I feel an obligation to read them RIGHT NOW and that's not always easy for me. I'm trying to read what I want, when I want, and when I borrow books that's a little more complicated.

Where's your favourite place to read?

My favorite place to read is anywhere that's quiet and without people. People distract me as I am a huge people watcher (read: CREEPER) and can't stay focused reading in coffee shops or places of the like.

If you had a chance to meet any fictional character of your choosing, who would it be?

Oh my stars, what an awesome question. I'm choosing two because I can't pick just one! My first choice would be Lizzy Bennet from Pride and Prejudice because she is the business and I'd love to just chat with her and giggle about things and it would be so wonderful (as long as I kept my Darcy envy in check). The second choice would be Todd Hewitt from the Chaos Walking trilogy. Although I'd probably just ramble incoherently about how amazing his journey was and what a moral inspiration he is to me and end up sobbing and making a fool out of myself. 

Which board game do you never tire of playing?
BOARD GAMES! There are two, actually, I could play for the rest of my days happily. One is Castles of Burgandy (which is a worker placement game where you have your own player board) and the other is Shadows over Camelot which is a cooperative game with an Arthurian legend theme and at least 1 (or more!) peeps is a secret traitor. It's so cool. 

Which movie adaptation of a book do you enjoy the most?
My favorite movie adaptation of a book (since I've already revealed myself to be a huge snob!) is the 2005 Pride & Prejudice remake with Keira Knightly and Matthew McFayden. They cut out some things (like the letters from Charlotte etc) but I thought they captured the Bennet family SO WELL and of course Keira and Matthew were amazing as Lizzie and Darcy. And the music and the scenery and Dame Judy Dench! SO MANY THINGS! <3
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Thank you so much Lisa for being so awesome to talk to! Check out her blog for her interview with me and for more interviews, either Alexa or Kate's blog!

Happy reading!

PS If you are participating in the Love-a-thon, I wish you all the luck! It'll be hard not falling asleep! :) See you in the morning!