Book Blogger Hop (32)

 

It's Book Blogger Hop time! I haven't participated in forever but I am back at it this week! This awesome meme is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "Share your favorite post from the last month and tell us why it’s close to your heart!"

Hmm...well, I'm really pleased that I finally completed the discussion of my survey results, in this post: Personality & Genre Survey: The Results, Part 2 (aka The Bar Graphs). Making all those graphs was pretty intense!

And I was also happy with how my Don't Stop Now review turned out (although it could use some comment love if anyone wants to drop by!)

Recent posts on the blog:

Kiss, Marry, Kill? - Professor Quirrell, Professor Lockhart, and Wormtail...what do you choose and why? I love this game :D

Waiting on Wednesday: The Right & the Real and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

YA Through the Ages: the 21st Century (so far) - yes, my series looking at the journey of YA from its earliest roots to the present day has finally come to a close! You can find links to each of the posts here.

Armchair BEA: Pitches from a Blogger's Perspective

Time for hopping!

Book Blogger Hop (31)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "If you could physically put yourself into a book or series…which one would it be and why?" 

Oh, good question! As much as I love fantasy, I think honestly I'd be terrified if I got plunked down into a world like Tamora Pierce's Tortall. I don't think I could swing a sword to save my life. And I am a huge fan of historical novels set in the Regency period, but actually living it? With all those hygiene issues and lack of medical knowledge? (Not to mention the corsets...) Not so sure about that.

So I think I'll go with a fun contemporary YA novel like Anna and the French Kiss (how can you go wrong with a boarding school in Paris?) or one of Jaclyn Moriarty's Ashbury-Brookfield books (I'd love to meet her characters, they're so fabulous!) 

Recent posts on the blog:


A Cornucopia of Dystopia ARC Giveaway (Canada) – giveaway of Bumped, Possession and Wither ARCs for my Canadian readers! 


Waiting on Wednesday: The Girl of Fire and Thorns & Switch
 
 Talk is "Cheep"! – Join the discussion on talking animals in books. Yea or "neigh"?

 Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Pet Peeves


In My Mailbox (20)

A Cornucopia of Dystopia Giveaway Schedule

YA Through The Ages: 1900-1950 - this is the 2nd post in my "YA Through The Ages" series. What were teens reading in the early 1900s? And what book is considered by some to be the very first "YA" novel? Read it to find out!

Book Blogger Hop (30)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "Do you read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?" 

Hm, it depends. I find it easier to finish a book if I'm just reading one at a time, but sometimes I'll start one, and then another one will come in at the library that I'm dying to read so I'll read that one through and then pick up the first one again. But generally I like to just get sucked into the story and it's jarring if I keep switching between books.

Recent posts on the blog:


Forget-Me-Nots: Winter of Fire


Waiting on Wednesday: A Long, Long Sleep and Still Waters


YA Through The Ages: the 1800s - this is a new series I've started looking at the progression of YA fiction from its start in the 1800s to the present!


In My Mailbox (19)

And just a head's-up: A Cornucopia of Dystopia kicks off this coming Monday! If you like dystopian fiction you won't want to miss all of the reviews, interviews and giveaways that are going to be happening :)

Book Blogger Hop (29)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "If I gave you £50 (or $80) and sent you into a bookshop right now, what would be in your basket when you finally staggered to the till?" 


Hmmm, let's see... probably Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Please Don't Be True by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian, maybe Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe or Choker by Elizabeth Woods or Unearthly by Cynthia Hand...a lot of those are hardcover so I think I have used up my $80 by now. Probably over budget, actually :D


Recent posts on the blog:

Must've Done Something Good: In A Nutshell

Questions for Sara Grant? - In preparation for "A Cornucopia of Dystopia" I'm collecting questions from my readers for Sara Grant, author of Dark Parties. Anything you'd like to know about her dystopian story, her writing in general, or herself? Ask away! 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Opposite of Amber and Mercy Lily

Delirium: Review 

Personality and Genre Survey: The Results, Part 1 (aka The Pie Charts)

Book Blogger Hop (28)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?"

Yeah, sometimes...but I've never really come up with another name that I thought would work better. Sometimes people forget there's an "A" and just call it "Tapestry of Words," and in alphabetical lists it can end up as "Tapestry of Words, A" which looks kind of odd. I also think that having your blogger name/alibi in the name of your blog helps people make the connection between you and your blog, so perhaps I should have had "Danya" in there somewhere!

There really isn't a story behind why I named it "A Tapestry of Words"...I was just thinking about how books are words woven together, and I also like creative writing so I thought it worked on a couple levels.

Recent posts on the blog:
 
Sunshine: Review

Waiting on Wednesday: Instructions for a Broken Heart and The Girl in the Steel Corset

Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Movies 
 
A Cornucopia of Dystopia! —If you like dystopian YA, you should keep your eyes peeled for the blog event Casey from The Bookish Type and I are co-hosting in March and April. There will be reviews, interviews and giveaways of several 2011 dystopian releases!!


Find the Gap: Concepts — What's missing in YA in terms of concepts/premises? Join the discussion!



Predicting Personality from Genre: Take the quiz! —I've designed a little quiz based on the results of my Is Personality Related to Genre? survey, attempting to predict personality based on your top 2 favourite YA genres. I'd love to know if it's accurate for you!
  

Book Blogger Hop (27)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "What book(s) would you like to see turned into a movie?"

Great question! I've always thought some of Tamora Pierce's books (especially the Alanna series) would be fun to watch as movies, but they'd have to be very careful of how they handled the fantasy aspect. I wouldn't want to watch anything that looked too fake or cheesy in that respect. Another that comes to mind is Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith — it has a wonderful blend of adventure, court intrigue, magic and romance that I think could transfer to the screen quite well.

Recent posts on the blog:


Waiting on Wednesday: The Girl Behind the Glass and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 
Find the Gap: Breaking Stereotypes
In My Mailbox (17)

Also, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has filled out my Is Personality Related to Genre? survey. I have surpassed 100 responses (yay!!) and have now been going through the results. So keep your eyes peeled for a couple of posts related to that in the near future!

Book Blogger Hop (26)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books and this Friday she's asking us to share a blog post from this week.

So, I'll share my Find the Gap: Characters post! I've been running a little discussion series on what's missing in various aspects of YA. This week was characters and I got some great responses! I'd love it if you'd drop on by and join in the discussion :)


In other news... I am just a few people away from reaching 100 responses on my Is Personality Related to Genre? survey! I am excited to share the results with everyone once I do. If you are a YA reader who has not yet filled out this survey and can spare a minute of your time to answer a few multiple choice questions, that would be awesome. Just click on the link above to get to the survey.

And, just wanted to alert everyone to the Fairy Tale Fortnight event that's being hosted by Ashley from Books From Bleh to Basically Amazing and Misty from The Book Rat in April. I'm participating and it looks like it's going to be a whole lot of fun! For all the details go here.

Recent posts on the blog:

Forget-Me-Nots: Ordinary Jack
Waiting on Wednesday: The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills
Top Ten Tuesday: Characters You Would Name Your Kids After
Find the Gap: Characters
Mistwood: In A Nutshell


I was also interviewed this week by Tiger at All Consuming Books! If you'd like to see my answers to some great bookish questions, then check out my "Better Know a Blogger" interview.


Now let's hop!

Book Blogger Hop (25)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "What are you reading now and why are you reading it?"

Well, I'm partway through Mindi Scott's Freefall which I have been reading on and off for several days now, although I keep getting distracted by other books out from the library (*cough*Nightshade*cough*). I'm reading it as part of my Read Outside Your Comfort Zone Challenge, since it is narrated by a guy and I tend to prefer novels featuring female protagonists. Would still love some more people to join me in this challenge (these don't have to be books you actively dislike, just ones that aren't your typical read!) — there will be a giveaway at the end... :D

In other news...

I am less than 20 responses away from 100 for my Is Personality Related to Genre? survey, and once I reach 100 I think I'll have enough people to start analyzing the trends and posting the results! If you are a YA reader who has not yet filled out this survey and can spare a minute of your time to answer a few multiple choice questions, that would be awesome. Just click on the link above to get to the survey.

Recent posts:


Amy & Roger's Epic Detour: Review
Waiting on Wednesday: The Goddess Test and Sirenz

Find the Gap: Setting - this is a series I'm running this month, looking at the gaps in different aspects of YA lit. This week was settings - drop by and join in the discussion!

Sunday Confessions: Bookshelves
In My Mailbox (15)
Rapunzel's Revenge: Review

Book Blogger Hop (24)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?"
    
I have to pick just one? Impossible. Divergent by Veronica Roth because it looks like such an exciting dystopian read, The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab because I've been anticipating it for quite a while now and because it sounds really different from anything else I've read, and Abandon by Meg Cabot because, well, it's Meg Cabot, and it's a retelling of the myth of Persephone. 

Recent posts on the blog:

 - Is Personality Related to Genre? Help Me Find Out! 

Ever wondered if the type of books you read is linked to your personality? I am trying to figure it out! I'm running a survey on genre preference and personality in YA readers, so if you could take a moment to just answer a few questions I would be eternally grateful! :D I'm trying to get to 100 responses so I have a decent sample size to work with. Just click on the link above to go to the questionnaire.

- Outside Your Comfort Zone Challenge: Ideas for a Prize?
- Waiting on Wednesday: A Girl Called Tennyson and Sean Griswold's Head
- Forget-Me-Nots: Nobodies and Somebodies
- In My Mailbox (14)

Hopping time!

Book Blogger Hop (23)

 

Yes, that's right...time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "Why do you read the genre that you do?  What draws you to it?"

Within YA (which I don't consider a genre so much as a category), my tastes are pretty eclectic. I read some contemporary fiction (especially ones with some kind of intriguing angle outside of the typical 'high school' book), lots of fantasy, dystopian and fairytale retellings, some historical, and even a few mysteries from time to time (particularly ones with some kind of psychological element). And I also read ones that fall into more than one of these genres, like historical mysteries or contemp with a fantastical aspect.

So it might be easier for me to answer the question, "Why do you steer clear of certain genres?" My top two of those would probably be horror and sci-fi, horror because I get queasy at violence and gore and I scare easily (though occasionally I may read a book that's something of a "psychological thriller"), and sci-fi because I have never been that interested in outer space/aliens/robots/what-have-you (the exception to this is books involving time travel, because that is awesome and also falls into the historical genre). Otherwise, I'm drawn to books that sound like they tell an interesting story, and I read so many genres because I find a lot of different types of stories interesting, I guess!

Recent posts on the blog:

Read Outside Your Comfort Zone Challenge: Recommendations?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Double Life of Cora Parry

Talk to Me Tuesday: Series or Stand-alone?

Forget-Me-Nots: Please Remove Your Elbow From My Ear

In My Mailbox (12)

Re-reads and Ratings



Time to hop!
 

Book Blogger Hop (22)

 

Yes, that's right...the Book Blogger Hop is back from the holidays! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "What book influenced/changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

Well, I remember very clearly the series that broadened the type of book I read. When I was a kid I read mostly realistic middle-grade novels, and the few fantasy I tried I couldn't really get into or connect with (sorry C.S. Lewis fans, but for some reason The Chronicles of Narnia didn't cut it for me). Then when I was about 10 years old, while on a trip, I think I'd finished all the books I'd brought and wanted something new to read. My sister offered up her copy of Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. I was probably a bit skeptical but I started reading, and as soon as I was done I eagerly asked for and devoured book 2. And from then on, I was more inclined to give fantasy a try — and I'm so glad I did, because I've found so many books to enjoy in this genre!

This was the cover of the copy we had. Yep, pretty old!

Recent posts on the blog:

Jasmyn: In A Nutshell

Waiting on Wednesday: Future Imperfect

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Resolve to Read in 2011

"Read Outside Your Comfort Zone" Challenge — I've started a challenge for reading books you might ordinarily pass by. Any and all genres count, the point is just to stretch your reading limits a little bit! I'd love to have some other bloggers join me, so just click on the link for more details and the form :)

Forget-Me-Nots: The Perilous Gard

Bloggish Hopes for 2011

Now for hopping!

Book Blogger Hop (21)

 

It's time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?"

Good question! Well, usually it takes a bit for the plot to get going in a book. But I'm with the characters right from the start, and if I can't relate to or dislike those...I'm going to be tempted not to even bother continuing on to find out if the plot is a good one. 

That said, I may last longer if the characters are phenomenal - but if there is absolutely nothing happening, I could end up putting the book down and later forgetting I was ever reading it. 


I guess my answer ends up being that I need solid characterization to entice me from the beginning, but a well-written plot to keep me interested in the characters' journeys. But if I had to pick one, I think I'd go with characters.


Recent posts on the blog:


Matched: In A Nutshell


All I Want for Christmas Is... (10) - Getting into the holiday spirit? Share a book from your Christmas wishlist each week in my "All I Want For Christmas Is..." meme! Link your post up for this week here. This is the last post of this meme before Christmas, but after I'll be posting a "What I Got For Christmas Was..." and seeing how many books on my list made it under the tree! I'd love to see what everyone else got too :)
 
Waiting on Wednesday: Forgotten 

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books of 2011
 
Enchanted Ivy: Review


Hopping time!

Book Blogger Hop (20)

 

It's time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, 

"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs? Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"

Well-written reviews are one of my favorite things about book blogs. I also enjoy discussion posts that focus on certain aspects of books/reading...and who doesn't love a giveaway? LOL. Oh, and how could I forget memes? Waiting on Wednesday always gives me new books to put on my tbr list, and I enjoy seeing everyone's picks for their Top Ten Tuesday lists.

Recent posts on the blog:

All I Want For Christmas Is... (9) - Getting into the holiday spirit? Share a book from your Christmas wishlist each week in my "All I Want For Christmas Is..." meme! Link your post up for this week here.

Waiting on Wednesday: Dark Mirror and Vicious Little Darlings  

Fall into Fantasy Flashback: Kiersten White Answers Our Questions

YA Historical Fiction Challenge 

Forget-Me-Nots: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles 

In My Mailbox (10) 

Busting the Newbie Blues


 

Book Blogger Hop (19)

 

It's time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

Unfortunately, there were a few this year that disappointed for me. I thought that Beautiful Creatures (review here), Firelight (review here), and The Maze Runner (review here) all didn't stand up to the buzz surrounding them. I'm always a little nervous when posting a review that goes against what most other bloggers have said, but I try to discuss the positive aspects of a book (usually there's something positive you can find) as well as explain why it didn't work for me.


On the other hand, there were also several hyped books that did meet expectations, so I guess it evens out! :)

Recent posts:

All I Want For Christmas Is... (8) - Getting into the holiday spirit? Share a book from your Christmas wishlist each week in my "All I Want For Christmas Is..." meme! Link your post up for this week here.

Waiting on Wednesday: In the Shadow of the Lamp and Between the Sea & Sky

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters You Want To Be Best Friends With

Nevermore: In A Nutshell


Now, time to hop! :)

Book Blogger Hop (18)

 

It's time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is,"What is your favourite book cover?"

Hmmmm...okay, I just can't choose a favourite. There are too many gorgeous covers out there. But here are a few recent ones that I have oohed over:

 

- I am currently having a giveaway for Kiersten White's Paranormalcy, ending in just a few days (11/30). I really enjoyed this one, and you can read my review and enter the giveaway here (you don't even need to be a follower, though if you'd like to, please do!) 


- Getting into the holiday spirit? Share a book from your Christmas wishlist each week in my "All I Want For Christmas Is..." meme! Link your post up for this week here :)


Other recent posts:

Waiting on Wednesday: Little Women & Me and Honalee
Once Dead, Twice Shy & Early to Death, Early to Rise: Review
Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Reads

Book Blogger Hop (17)

 

It's time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is,"Since Thanksgiving is coming up next week, let's use this week's Hop to share what we are most thankful for and what our holiday traditions are!"

Well, I'm Canadian so we celebrated Thanksgiving back in October. But I'll play along anyway :) I'm always thankful for the support of my family, for books and the fun I have interacting with the book blogger community, and of course for chocolate.


As for Thanksgiving traditions...well, we're vegetarian, so there is never any turkey happening at our house. We always have a really fabulous dinner though, and delicious pumpkin pie, which I LOVE.

New-ish items on the blog:


- I am currently having a giveaway for Kiersten White's Paranormalcy. I really enjoyed this one, and you can read my review and enter the giveaway here (you don't even need to be a follower, though if you'd like to, please do!) 


- Getting into the holiday spirit? Share a book from your Christmas wishlist each week in my "All I Want For Christmas Is..." meme! Link your post up for this week here :)


Other recent posts:


Waiting on Wednesday: Waterfall and Ashes, Ashes
Top Ten Tuesday: Villains, Criminals and Other Nasties
The Maze Runner: In A Nutshell 



Happy Thanksgiving in advance to all my American book blogger friends!

Book Blogger Hop (16)

 

It's time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?"

Hmmm...well, no one likes losing followers. It is bound to happen, though, because you can't please everyone. I started this blog to connect with other people who enjoy reading and to share my thoughts on books, not to gain X amount of followers, and I try to remind myself of that if I start thinking about my followers and how they will respond to a blog post.

If I have ever stopped following a blog it has been very rare...maybe once? *racks brain* That said, I am a little more selective in the blogs I do follow, because I don't want a huge number of blogs popping up on my Google Reader that I have no interest in.

Recent posts on the blog:

All I Want For Christmas Is... (4) — Join up with the books you'd like for Christmas!
Waiting on Wednesday: Bumped and Die For Me
Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Made You Cry
YA Love Triangle Week: Team David!

Now let's hop!
 

Book Blogger Hop (15)

 

It's time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is, "What is the one bookish thing you would love to have, no matter the cost?"

Ooooh tough question... I'd love a large library devoted to books, containing all the necessary amenities — comfortable sofas and cushy chairs, a curtained windowseat, and a bell to ring for maid service. I could stay in there all day, and that would suit me just fine :D

 

Recent posts on the blog:

The Tension of Opposites: Review
All I Want For Christmas Is... (3) — Join up with books you'd like for Christmas!
YA Love Triangle Week Reminder
Waiting on Wednesday: Abandon and Lost Voices
Top Ten Tuesday: Creepy Books

Now it's hopping time!
 

Book Blogger Hop (14)

 

It's time again for the Book Blogger Hop! This awesome meme is hosted by Crazy-For-Books and this week's question is,"Where is your favorite place to read? Curled up on the sofa, in bed, in the garden?"

 

Personally I almost always read in bed, it's comfiest there! And there are the least amount of distractions in my bedroom so I can really fall into the story if it's a gripping one. One place I can't read is in any moving vehicle – five minutes of reading and I start feeling queasy... :(

And a head's-up for recent posts on the blog:

All I Want For Christmas Is... (2): This is a new meme I've started where we pick a book each week that we'd like to be given for Christmas! I post my pick on Thursdays but the link option will stay open all week, so feel free to drop on by and link up :) It's been fun seeing what everyone else is hoping to get!

 

The Body at the Tower: In A Nutshell

Waiting on Wednesday: Divergent and Delirium

Top Ten Tuesday: Fictional Crushes

Plain Kate: In A Nutshell

Now let's hop! :)