Saturday, December 31, 2011

Getting Started

OK, so I think I've set up the new layout here now and we'll see how it goes once I start with the book reviews.  :)  Suggestions are welcome if I've left out a useful gadget or the layout gets over-crowded or confusing.

If I understand things correctly, it will be OK for me to start my CBR4 reviews in January (tomorrow!  Eeek!) with books I've read/listened to recently.  I listen to more books than I read to give my hands a rest from holding a book or e-reader, so I will specify which I am reviewing and comment on the quality as an audio book too, when appropriate.  The voice actors can really make or break a book sometimes, so YMMV if you encounter the book in a different format.  

This will be my first time actually writing book reviews -  I don't think we even did them in school!  And perversely, since I'm doing this, I don't really like reading reviews before I read a book. lol  I don't like spoilers.  So, I will probably be a little more vague on the plot vs some other reviewers and leave it for you to discover. But if you prefer more, please let me know.

The one thing I do like to know about books is their level of sexual violence and torture.  I have a very low tolerance for that kind of thing - probably because I get so into the books and seem to live them for awhile after they are finished.  I want my books to be an escape, not cause psychological trauma!  In short, I wish books had ratings like movies right on their covers.  Since they don't, I generally stick to young adult titles, especially in the fantasy and historical fiction genres, to avoid nasty surprises.  But, I'm not missing out.  There are a lot of great young adult authors, and I'm constantly discovering more. :)

I also enjoy autobiographies and some other types of non-fiction, so hope to review a little bit more of a variety than young adult fantasy and historical fiction - but those are still my favourites. 

Happy New Year and Happy reading to everyone in 2012!


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Cannonball Read IV

I figured it was about time to use this blog for something.  :)  So, I just signed up for Cannonball Read IV  (CBR4) - where you read (or listen to) books and post reviews.  I signed up for the half-goal of 26 books in 2012.  I normally read or listen to more than that in a year, but I'm not sure how tough it is going to be to write reviews - and the full goal of 52 seems like a lot!  (I really do need to be working more on my Zazzle products too! lol) 

Anyways, for now, this will be mainly the home of my book reviews for 2012.  I've never really written a book review before, but figured it was about time I try!  My BF gets tired of me going on and on about a book that really excited me - so you guys can now have that joy instead.  :)

So, right now, I'm still waiting for the e-mails after I signed up and hopefully they will include a more details on the rules  - like if I can use the books I listened to this week and get started right away or if I have to wait until books finished after Jan 1.

Oh, and you can also follow Cannonball Read info. on FB: https://www.facebook.com/cannonballread