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Reader's Paradise

The Literary Blog-o-Sphere

13 years ago

I've just found out in the last few weeks that there is this vast book-blogging landscape of which I have been completely oblivious.

As a librarian, I have been so trained to go to the traditional review sources for books (Library Journal, Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, etc.). I was stunned by the amount of really good reviews I'm finding by bloggers.

Here are some of my favorites so far:

A Striped Armchair

A Life in Books

Do any of you have book blogs that you visit? I know a few of you have mentioned blogs that you write. (I need to find those posts, as I'm now making a compendium of go-to book blogs for when my TBR pile needs fluffing up--ha ha, like that ever happens.) Any suggestions for further blog reading?

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Comments (15)

thyrkas
13 years ago
phaedosia - Thanks for the list of blogs about books! I will enjoy looking through them. The one book blog that comes to my RSS feed (which is similar to email) every day is Blogging for a Good Book. It is written by various contributors, most of whom are librarians at the Williamsburg Regional Library in Williamsburg, Virginia. Their selections span a very wide spectrum, so there are days when I don't take the time to read the blog entry, e.g., if they are reviewing books in the 'vampire' genre. But sometimes the books being written about sound very interesting. One that I 'starred' recently as being of interest was "Pictures at an Exhibition", by Sara Houghteling, a story of an art curator in Europe who secretly kept tabs on the works of art stolen by the Nazis during WWII. Here is an excerpt of the blog:

Rose ClÃ©ment (main character in the book) is based on Rose Valland, a curator at the Jeu de Paume museum who stayed on to supervise building maintenance when the Nazis took over the museum and turned it into a triage center for the sorting of looted art. No one suspected that she understood German or that she was keeping detailed notes on the paintings that came and went. During the war, her information alerted the Resistance and Allied Forces to spare certain boxcars from bombing; after the war, her notes helped return many stolen paintings to their rightful owners. (Someone really needs to translate her autobiography into English, please; until then, you can read a little more about her in Rescuing Da Vinci.)
I have been following this blog for a number of years, and have found it helpful amd enjoyable.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://bfgb.wordpress.com/
ccrdmrbks
13 years ago
Not a blog, but many many book reviews by readers can be found at the goodreads site. I also use it to keep track of my reading history, and you can "friend" people (Hi Siobhan) and get updates on their reading as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Goodreads
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vickitg
13 years ago
Doggone it, phaedosia. I've been living somewhat blissfully unaware of book blogs. But now, thanks to your list, I can't seem to get enough of them. I love reading about books and about what other people think about them. And, of course, once you discover one blog, that blogger alerts you to two or three more. Then it's like trying to eat just one potato chip.

So thanks ... I guess. :)
netla
13 years ago
As a book blogger, I am constantly discovering other book blogs, and if I read all the ones I find interesting, I wouldn't do anything else all day. All it takes is for another blogger to leave a comment on one of my posts and when I visit their blog to leave a return comment I take a look at their favourite literary blogs, which lead me to other lit blogs, and so on. I have found that the best thing is to keep them in a feed, so I can see at a glance which one have new posts.

Here are some of the ones I visit:

Dear Author Romance novels, reviews and news.

Smart Xitches who love trashy books Another romance lit blog with general discussions about reading, news, reviews, competitions and other goodies. Replace the 'X' with a 'B' to read the title correctly - I ran afoul of the profanity filter when I tried to post the real title.

Paperback Writer Author blog - one of my favourites. Sometimes runs competitions.

Crime Watch Crime lit blog. Special attention to crome writers from New Zealand. News and reviews.

Pages Turned General reading blog with reviews.

Rose City Reader Reading blog with reviews and teasers.

DJs Krimiblog Crime literature blog. Reviews, interviews, guest bloggers, essays, original writing. Both in English and Danish.

Pop Sensation Reviews of old pulp paperback cover art. Very funny at times.
lemonhead101
13 years ago
I really enjoy going to this one:

It's written by an English student at Oxford who is getting his Ph.D. and is really interested in books.

Plus he has loads of other book-related blogs linked to his.

This could keep you happy for quite a while. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Stuck in a Book
pagesturned
13 years ago
Thanks for the link, Netla!

Following links in the sidebar of a blog you enjoy is truly the best way to find others you'll like as well. Unfortunately, these days quite a few blogs are doing away with their blog rolls. :(

There will be a new directory of book bloggers published during Book Blogger Appreciation Week in September. I'm looking forward to making additional discoveries then.

Here is a link that might be useful: Book Blogger Appreciation Week
lauramarie_gardener
13 years ago
Lemonhead101 -

I've just spent 10 fascinating minutes at stuck in a book (.co.uk), and almost got stuck, myself! ... It looks really intriguing. Has so many facets -- lots of "cubicles" to go into. After just a few seconds I "bookmarked" it.

Thanks!
phaedosia
Original Author
13 years ago
Sarah-Canary--you make me laugh! Glad you enjoyed. Thanks everyone for the additional links. I've been bookmarking like crazy.

I recently ran across another one--more highbrow than I usually read--entitled American Fiction Notes. It's by Mark Athitakis who writes for the New York Times Book Review and other publications. Interesting stuff.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Fiction Notes
phaedosia
Original Author
13 years ago
Oh, and just for a laugh, here is a blog about what NOT to read!

Here is a link that might be useful: Awful Library Books
vickitg
13 years ago
Those are pretty awful. It's funny though, "Home Maid Spanish" was actually written by my former brother-in-law's mother. The family received some minuscule royalties from the frequently republished book for several years after she died.
Chris_in_the_Valley
13 years ago
Instapundit linked today to
Readers Stereotyped by Favorite Authors that might amuse. It's an old post, but worth the visit.

Most of my list is from blogs I've come across and liked well enough to bookmark, but not necessarily regularly reads.

One of the most intelligent literary blogs on my list is Maud Newton. I remembered her as an editor at a publisher, but it's nowhere on her bio. Still and all, with the current economy....

Nathan Bransford bills himself as a literary agent.

Stainless Steel Droppings, subtitled Eclectic Musings of a Renaissance Geek

pages turned, subtitled a reading journal and commonplace book

While I love Neil Gaiman I'm not crazy about his blog. YMMV

A Work in Progress

Bookslut is probably the first book blog I read.

At Home With Books
phaedosia
Original Author
13 years ago
netla--if you're still out there--would you post the link to your book blog??
netla
13 years ago
Phaedosia,

Sure - here's the link

Here is a link that might be useful: Reading in Reykjavik
phaedosia
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks--I love it! Great video for Ireland Library Week, too. I made my co-workers gather around and watch it. :)
lauramarie_gardener
13 years ago
Am still enjoying lemonhead's suggested site by an English PhD student - Oxford University:

stuck-in-a-book.blogspot.com

He keeps an on-site diary of his reading, and there are anecdotes and photos while he's traveling around England. It's a lot of fun.

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