{Blog Hop} Book Blogger Hop

 

Welcome to the September 18th - 24th Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This week's post prompt, submitted by Elizabeth at Silver's Reviews, is:

"What draws you in more: the book's title, the book's cover, or the summary on the back cover?"

I'm not going to lie. I'm a total cover whore. I'm very quick to pick up a book and read its summary if the cover catches my eye. It's very rare that I'll give a book with a boring cover a chance ... not saying it NEVER happens, but it is rare.

What about you? Are you a cover whore like me or are you more of a title and/or summary person?

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition

The 31 Days of Halloween event is nearing its end. This will be the final Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition for this month, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

What is your favorite horror novel and why?

Mandy's Response:

I know I keep bringing this novel up, but it's only because it's my favorite: It by Stephen King. This is the perfect horror novel. The scary character is a clown, one of the biggest childhood fears (and the fear of many adults). What I really loved about this novel, aside from Pennywise the clown, was the bond that formed between the seven friends. Their dynamics were perfectly portrayed. I was, and maybe still am slightly, jealous of their closeness and wished I could have had friends like them when I was younger. Each one had a strength that the others didn't. The emotional roller coaster the reader goes through while reading It is exceptional. I love It.

Kathy's Response:

I'm going to say Christine by Stephen King because it was the first horror novel I read, and the first Stephen King as well. He is the master!

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition

We're now more than halfway thru October and the 31 Days of Halloween event. Let's keep it going with another question for the Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

Norman Bates VS Hannibal Lecter: Which one of these famous book murderers is scarier?

Optional Question:

Who is your favorite book villain?

Mandy's Response:

I'm going to respond to the first question. I find Hannibal Lecter to be the scarier famous book murderer. It's his intellectualism and the way he gets into a person's mind that's the scary part. Norman Bates just murdered people. Sure he heard his dead mother's voice, but Hannibal Lecter is manipulative and charismatic, a dangerous combination.

Kathy's Response:

Hannibal Lecter for sure. Norman just had mommy issues ... Hannibal was a true psychopath.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition

Well, we're two weeks in to the 31 Days of Halloween event and it's time for another Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition question, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

What scary book would you like turned into a feature film?

Mandy's Response:

My favoritest scary book, It by Stephen King, has already been turned into a television movie ... which sucked, so I would love to see what the CGI experts of today could do with this story. I've heard rumors that this movie is currently being worked on and that it will be in two parts, with movie one being when the group of friends are younger and the second movie being when the group of friends are adults. I hope this is true. I would love to see it/them.

The other book I'd be interested to see turned into a feature film is The Shadow Man by Mark Murphy. I reviewed this book last October and I still love the story. It was one of the best thrilling and suspenseful books I've read that wasn't written by a New York Times bestselling author (yet!).

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition

Welcome to the first question of the Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer!

This week's question:

What book gave you goosebumps?

Mandy's Response:

There have been a few books that have given me goosebumps. One of those is Pet Sematary by Stephen King. Just the idea that you can bury a dead animal (and human) and have them come back to life is an interesting idea. To have them come back as an evil version of themselves is an idea worthy of goosebumps. I adored it.

Kathy's Response:

Stephen King's It. I read it when I was about 13-14 years old and it was the most horrifying thing I had ever read. It has fostered a lifelong fear of clowns.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop: Weekly Memes

It's the final Book Blogger Hop post for September! This meme was kept alive by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

What weekly memes do you follow on a regular basis?

Kathy's Response:

I like "It's Monday, What Are You Reading?" It's a good way to discover new books.

Mandy's Response:

The only meme I really follow is this one. My life's a tad busy right now for me to follow too many, but I would eventually like to expand our range of memes hosted on this blog.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop: Favorite Genre

Welcome to another weekly edition of the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

What is your favorite genre? List two of your favorite books in that genre.

Kathy's Response:

I love literary fiction. Two that spring to mind that I enjoyed recently are Gone Girl and Life of Pi.

Mandy's Response:

I love thrillers, mystery and horror equally. Two of my favorites are classics by the fear-master himself, Stephen King. They are It and Misery.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Hello bookish peeps! We hope your week has been wonderful and that you have awesome plans for the weekend! To get this weekend started we're participating in the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

Are you in a book club? How does your book club choose books? How far in advance do you choose?

Kathy's Response:

My book club meets about every six weeks, and we choose our next book while we are discussing the current book. Lately though, the book club has been less about books and more about wine. =)

Mandy's Response:

I would love to be a member of a book club, but my city does not have one that I'm aware of. I would consider starting one but am not sure how to go about it. Any suggestions?

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Oh my goodness! Can you believe it's already September?!!! Christmas will be here before you know it! So, anyway, welcome to the first installment of September's Book Blogger Hop, kept alive by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

What got you started as a blogger? Everyone has a story/reason, what's yours?

Kathy's Response:

I felt that blogging was a perfect way to share my writing style with a large amount of people. I had majored in journalism in college, but did not pursue a career in that field. I missed having an outlet to write, and blogging filled that gap perfectly.

Mandy's Response:

I don't have a story like Kathy's. I started blogging because I wanted a place to write down my thoughts that didn't require pen and paper. Then, when that didn't pan out, I started a new blog. A blog about books. The rest, as they say, is history.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the final August 2013 Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This meme helps you to know how your favorite (or not-so-favorite) book blogger thinks.

This week's question:

Have you ever ended up reading a book with its last or last few pages missing? What book was it? And how did you manage to get to the end?

Kathy's Response:

Never. I don't think I could. I would be devastated if it was a really good book and this happened to me. I'd probably run out and get another copy immediately so I could read the ending.

Mandy's Response:

No, THANK GOD! I think I am OCD enough that I'd have a conniption fit if the last few pages of my novel were missing. After I was done freaking out, I'd go to the store and find the book and read the last few pages right there ... forget buying it!


I hope this has never happened to you all, but if it has let us hear your story!

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to another weekly edition of the Book Blogger Hop, graciously kept alive by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

Book blogging is more than just reading. Who helped you set up or run your blog? Or did you do it all yourself?

Mandy's Response:

I set up and, pretty much, run the blog myself. I have the help of some wonderful ladies with reviews (thank goodness!), but the typing of the posts and blog decoration, layout, etc are all me. There are days when I wish I had some help with the running of the blog, but I don't know that I'd want to give up control. I'm a bit of a Type A personality. There are things I see on other blogs that I wish we had on here, but I've not had the time to learn how to do them or where to acquire the knowledge. I suppose those things will come with time.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the weekly edition of the Book Blogger Hop, kept alive by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

Were you a born bookworm or did somebody get you in the habit of reading?

Kathy's Response:

Natural born bookworm! I think I was reading by the time I was 5, and have been going strong ever since! I was a voracious reader all through school - digesting piles of paperbacks at a time. And I continue to love to read today!

Mandy's Response:

I come from a family of book-lovers and writers, so I am a natural born bookworm. I would sneak those forbidden books from my grandmother's and mother's shelves around the age of 9 or 10 and read them incessantly. I would always take out too many books from the library knowing I wouldn't be able to read them all before they were due back. It was only natural that I'd wind up as a book reviewer with an overflowing TBR pile!


How did you turn into a bookie?

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop is a meme kept alive by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer - thanks, Billy!

This week's question:

If you don't like a book that you said you would review, do you graciously turn it down and explain why or do you struggle through it and hopefully come up with a half decent review?

Kathy's Response:

I think I'm pretty honest in my reviews. I can usually tell from the review request if it's going to be something that I absolutely will not like, so I'll turn those down. But anything I read, I will give my honest opinion. Sometimes I do try and sugarcoat the really negative things I have to say but I don't hold back. I don't think it's fair to an author to just hear the good. In order to grow as a writer you should be open to criticism.

Mandy's Response:

Some of you may not like me after this, but I will let you in on a little secret ... First, though, let me tell you that I agree with Kathy. I can also tell from the review request if it's going to be something that I absolutely will not like and I will turn those down. There are those books, however, that I'm unsure about and if I feel adventurous I will give them a shot. Sometimes that bites me in the butt.

Generally, I will struggle through the book and try to come up with a half-decent review while explaining what I didn't like about the book. Then there's the others ... and this is where my secret comes in at ... that are just so horrible I cannot continue reading it. What?! You don't finish reading the book?!! It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. When I just can't read any more, I will write an extremely negative review. Maybe that's not polite or socially accepting, but that's how I roll. You opened yourself up to my criticism when you requested I review your work, so you're going to get my thoughts with both barrels blazing. Some people respect that. Some people curse me. All I can say is ... you asked for it.


Let us hear your thoughts ... =)

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Hey there blogger buddies! Welcome to another weekly edition of the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This Week's Question:

How do you turn down a review request?

Kathy's Response:

I let Mandy handle this. ;-)

Mandy's Response:

Yes, I am the "bad guy" of Literary R&R. I am generally the one reading through all of your review requests. I used to respond to every single email. With the amount of emails we get each week, though, it got to be too much. Now, I mostly delete the rejected request without responding. Every now and then I will respond to the author or publisher we're rejecting. It's nothing personal, but often times our TBR piles are so extensive it would really be unfair if we accepted your work for review.


Let us know how you handle rejecting review requests ...

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the last Book Blogger Hop for July! Thanks goes to Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer for keeping this meme alive and kicking.

This week's question:

How do you organize your books to be read?

Kathy's Response:

I have SO many books at home to read that I have multiple areas where they're stored. Some are in my nightstand next to my bed. These books are the ones I plan on reading "soon" ... whether this means in the next few weeks or next few months. I have some in the basement. These are the remnants of the major bonanza of shopping I did when the Borders bookstore chain was closing. I made multiple trips there and basically lugged boxes and boxes of books home for maybe $40. It was a book lovers fantasy. In my attic I have my book sale books. These are in grocery bags. When I am between my more priority reads, I'll go reach into the bag and grab a book sale book. Sometimes they're good, sometimes not.

Mandy's Response:

Where to begin ... the books that I get in the mail sit on top of my computer desk or on the edge of one of my bookshelves so I know it still needs to be read. The books I'm currently reading are on the floor by my bed since I read a lot before I go to sleep at night. I usually keep one in my pocketbook, too, to read during my lunch break at work. Sometimes I have one started in the Kindle app on my iPhone and I'll have one or two started in my Kindle Fire HD.

I wasn't fortunate enough to have a Borders in my area for me to rack up at when they closed, but I do sometimes go shopping at the Clearance sections in my local Books-A-Million. Those books usually wind up on a separate bookshelf than the ones I get in the mail so that I know they need to be read, but not necessarily for review.

Yes ... I am ALWAYS reading something ... often, more than one something at a time.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Hey good peeps! I hope everyone has had a great week so far. Thanks for stopping by our post for this week's Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

What is your favorite classic novel?

Kathy's Response:

I guess this depends on what your definition of "classic" is, but I am going to say The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I read it when I was a junior or senior in high school, and I was just beginning to find my own voice as a writer. That book spoke to me in a way that few books had been able to before. I underlined so many passages and wrote so many notes in the margins, reading certain passages over and over again. Beautifully written.

Mandy's Response:

Mine would have to be Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I grew up loving to read thanks to my mother always taking me to the library, but when I read this novel in the 8th grade it gave me a new appreciation for the written word. As I read it, I imagined what it would be like if our government really did ban all of our books. Since then, I've been on a mission to read as much as I can ... and maybe to add a few to my bookshelves on occasion.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the hop made of the blogger, by the blogger, and for the blogger. Thanks go to Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer for keeping this hop going!

This week's question:

How long have you been blogging?

Kathy's Response:

I've been blogging since 2003, with various blogs and topics. Right now I have 3 blogs and contribute to one (Literary R&R). In addition to writing book reviews, I blog about being a type two diabetic, and I also have a blog for creative writing. Wow. I just went back to some of my 2003 blog posts and they made me smile.

Mandy's Response:

Lord, I feel like I've been blogging for forever. I'm not sure when I started, but when I did it was a personal blog basically about my life, blah blah blah ... Tried that for a blog or two and nothing stuck. Then, in April 2010, an idea struck me. I began a blog reviewing books for the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009. I never expected it to take off, but it did. People began asking me to review their books. That's when I decided that perhaps the title of my blog didn't fit any more ... thus Literary R&R was born on September 9, 2010. Aren't you glad? =)

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Are you a book blogger? Do you like hopping from blog to blog? Do you like to answer questions pertaining to books, blogging, or a combination of the two? Then this hop, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer, is just for you!

This week's question:

Do you like or dislike Rafflecopter and why?

Kathy's Response:

I've only used Rafflecopter to enter raffles so I guess I like it, even though I've never won anything. =( It seems pretty easy to enter.

Mandy's Response:

I love the ease of Rafflecopter when hosting a giveaway! I used to use a Google form for our giveaways and randomly selected a winner on my own. It was a little hectic and time-consuming. With Rafflecopter all I have to do is hit a button to select a winner. So much easier and stress-free. I love it.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Time for another weekly edition of the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

Would you read a book just because of the hype?

Kathy's Response:

Sometimes hype is how I hear about some of the best books I've read. I heard about Hunger Games because of the hype. I heard about Gone Girl because of the hype. And I'm glad I read those books!

Mandy's Response:

I don't like giving in to the hype. So, usually, I'll wait until all (or most) of the hype has died down before I'll read a book. For example, when Harry Potter exploded onto the scene, I got so tired of hearing all the hype I didn't touch the book for two to three years. I was ecstatic when I finally did.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

It's time for the weekly edition of the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question:

When you are writing your reviews, do you write them as you are reading or wait until you are completely done with the book?

Kathy's Response:

I usually jot down a few sentences while I'm reading the book if there's something I don't want to forget, or if there's a quote from the book I want to copy down. Then, at the end, I'll revise anything I've written so far and finish the review.

Mandy's Response:

Normally, I'll wait until the end to write my review. I think I'm going to change that up, though, because sometimes I forget something I want to say until after my post goes live.