Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge is where Tara @ 25 Hour Books and I shamelessly plug each other, share the fantastic posts, giveaways, or whatever else we’ve found and loved by other awesome bloggers (or authors!) during the week, and talk about the books we plan on reading in the coming week.
On a Book Bender Recap
- Review: Heartsick by Chelsea Cain (7) — More focus on characters than mystery.
- Top Off Tuesday — Ensnaring man nips, welcoming vaginas, and peen inspectors round out this week’s comments.
- Kelly Reviews: Firelight by Kristen Callihan (9) — A dark, dangerous, sexy paranormal historical
- Who Am I Stalking? — Kristilyn @ Reading In Winter
Amanda Around the Blogosphere
- Business blog: Grammar Tricks — Four easy grammar tricks that you can use to improve your grammar!
- Reading In Winter: Guest Post: Who Am I Stalking? (Amanda @ On a Book Bender) — Seriously. If you have ever wanted to see me answer my own questions, now is your chance.
- Reading in Winter (After Dark): I haven’t posted anything here (YET), but I have signed up to be a contributor. Watch for me! And the rest of the shenanigans that I’m sure will happen.
- Reading the Paranormal: Amanda and Kelly review: Fifty Shades of Oz by Jessie Z. Hatcher – There are no words for this. Just read it.
- Reading the Paranormal: Amanda and Kelly review: Rose and the Alien by Nikki Palmer — This is a winner.
Meanwhile, in Amanda’s World
- The boyfriend and I were out of town last weekend to watch our friends get married. It was a GREAT ceremony and reception! We even got a rare photo of us together. (It’s more fun to take pictures of the boyfriend’s dog.)
- I have new respect for people who do most of their tweeting and blog commenting on their phones. I attempted to do this while out of town and it was NOT fun. At all.
- Sarah got me and Kelly started on Buscemi eyes–(O)_(O)–and shared THIS TUMBLR with us. And then Sarah DID THIS.
- Sarah also introduced me to the peni-corn. (Penis unicorn, in case it wasn’t clear.) Can I just say? Sarah is awesome. I love her.
- My reading slump continues, but I actually finished a full-length novel this week, so I guess that counts for something. I’m hoping something will click with me soon, because I miss ALL THE READING!
Around the Book Blogging Community
- For all of you who are addicted to read-a-thons, Alexa and the rest of Pages of Forbidden Love are hosting a week long read-a-thon starting tomorrow.
- Chelsea (Vampire Book Club) introduces a new feature: The Keeper Shelf where she spotlights a book that has made it onto her keeper shelf (and why).
- Rachel (Fiktshun) wrote a great post on Blogger’s Corner about success (and how it’s not instantaneous and requires a lot of hard work). And, honestly, there are three ways I think best create success: 1. be an active member in the community, 2. participate in/host blogging events, and 3. establish yourself (i.e., withstand the test of time; the longer you’re around, the more people are going to notice).
- This week, many authors participated in the Authors Against Bullying blog hop. Out of all those posts (all of the ones I saw and read were great), I want to share Jaye Wells’s story. Not only does she talk about what happened to her, she talks about how to deal with bullies.
- Kristilyn (Reading In Winter) discusses how we deal with our book blog and real life. I even SAY THINGS! I mean, things beyond what I said in the comments. I said things in the post, too.
- This wasn’t book blogging specific, but there are parallels to marketing yourself on social media. Very good and applicable rules to using social media. And it’s an infographic!
Search Terms
“boxers or briefs” interview “tighty” — Heh.
kissing scenes in insurgent — There were those. *nods* I liked them.
what happens in the end of karin slaughter’s faint cold fear — THINGS!
another word for “you slay me” — Murder.
cocks for women — I think you might be looking for Kelly’s Tumblr.
Goodreads Stats
Read in 2012 (146)
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (7)
- I liked it, but I think everyone’s excessive praise worked against me. Review will be up 10/31
- Okay, I’ll admit. I got books this week. But I’m too lazy to enter them into Goodreads right now. Maybe next week.
- Black Gold by Vivian Arend
- Kelly’s fault.
- Just One Day by Gayle Forman
- Saw someone add this on Goodreads. MUST HAVE FOR MYSELF. (Release: 1/8/2013)
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 21, 2012 at 12:37 am
*MY* fault? Whaaa? Why? Oh, okay. I accept all the blame.
I am so braindead from all the archiving I’ve done today. I’m attempting to mine for some wit but it’s just not there.
Let’s go, 2011! Whooooooo!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 10:14 am
Ha. Yes. I think I may have intended to elaborate. But I didn’t. Oops?
YOU CAN DO IT! *pets your new review archive*
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) October 21, 2012 at 10:34 am
What? I would never expect shenanigans from you. NEVER.
The link for your peni-corn didn’t work for me. I think it’s still a myth!
YOU NEED TO READ THE BOOKS!
I need to read Neverwhere. It’s been on my shelf for about 12 years now and I still haven’t gotten around to it. I’m also realizing how old that makes me seem to say that I’ve had an unread book on my shelf for 12 years. An unread NEIL GAIMAN book, at that.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 10:39 am
Huh. It works for me. How about this link?
I do need to read the books. Maybe this week will be better.
Smash Attack October 21, 2012 at 12:05 pm
I want to know who else praised Neverwhere! I don’t find many people who have read it, much less like it. I hate that you tend to dislike books the more ppl praise them. SAD FACE. I try my best to remain non book bully-ish around you lately. Or anyone, for that matter.
I look forward to your shenanigans on Kristilyn’s new blog! And thanks for the Social Media Infographic! Buscemi eyes…eeeep!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 12:12 pm
“I hate that you tend to dislike books the more ppl praise them.”
It’s an expectation thing. The more people praise a book or author, the more I expect to be blown away by it. Then, when I’m not blown away, I’m disappointed by the book not living up to my expectations. I’m to the point now where I would rather hide what I’m reading than announce it on Goodreads, Twitter, or Facebook. If you read a book or an author that everyone else loves (and tells you so), it creates a certain amount of pressure to read and enjoy the book (or author) as well. I’d rather NOT feel pressure to enjoy a book when I read it. I just want to read it and enjoy it on its own merits.
Smash Attack October 21, 2012 at 12:34 pm
I just have never had that issue. Not sure why, but if I don’t like a book, oh fraking well, says me. It stinks and happens to a lot of readers. :)
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 4:40 pm
*buttinski*
*nods*
I TOTALLY have that problem, and even to a smaller degree. The longer I blog, the worse it gets, but, I interestingly enough, it hasn’t been a problem with the ‘big’ books, like Divergent?
Someone tweeted about Beautiful Disaster RIGHT before I started reading it (like, 15 minutes before), and said how much they liked the writing. So I went into it expecting to be blown away by this amazing prose, and … I couldn’t make it past the third chapter. I honestly think if I hadn’t read that, and the buzz, I could have enjoyed it for what it was.
Throne of Glass was another big one for me. My problems with the book perhaps weren’t as much to do with the book as they were to do with dissapointment when it wasn’t a Magnificent Epic-Fanyasy Masterpiece.
I think it’s just the way different people read, and perhaps another one of those things about how people find books. You know, kind of recommendations/browsing/etc.
Andrea @ The Bookish Babe October 21, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I love the amount of peen talk that happens on your blog and on twitter. I’m off to meet this famed Peen-icorn.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 2:06 pm
I like all the peen talk. It amuses me. (And, as Sarah pointed out on Twitter, the peen-icorn has a peen in its peen spot, too. So much PEEN!)
Alexa October 21, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Aw I feel so special being featured in your post this week! Thanks a bunch for mentioning the read-a-thon. :)
Sorry I’ve been MIA on the commenting lately I had a bunch of projects, midterms, and a final at school in the past 2 weeks so I’m a bit off schedule.
Great picture of you and the boyfriend though, glad you had a good time.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 4:20 pm
No problem. Best of luck with the read-a-thon!
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Ooooooh, it’s funny you should mention tweeting and commenting on a phone, as I’m doing it right now :D
I think I tend to be a little less capslocky and ASDFGHJKLJDGS because, I mean, IT’S REALLY HARD TO KEYBOARD MASH ON A TOUCHSCREEN PHONE (O)_(o)
XD
I was going to say I’m possibly a little more terse, but I think I’m currently proving myself wrong *grins*
I *DO* think I’m possibly a little more likely to express myself more clearly, because o can type faster than I can think on a phone, like I can on a keyboard.
ANYWAY. BORING. SORRY. *shuts up*
You’re reading Cinder? I really hope you like it! It’s one of those books I was kind of ‘eh’ about; then I actually *read* it, and I was like ‘WHY did I wait so long to read it?’ I’m SUPER. Curious to see what you think!
Also, Kelly’s Tumblr? O____O
It links through to so many… Uh… ‘interesting’ and disturbing places :O
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 5:40 pm
I tried commenting, but my phone would get to a point where it would crap out and not let me go back and change anything and I got frustrated and gave up. *shakes fist at phone*
I *am* reading Cinder. I even picked it up today after not reading anything for a while. I am seriously intrigued by the book. I like it. I want to see where it goes. (But to be honest, I probably would not have even picked it up. I only did because the author was at a signing Kelly went to and I decided it *might* be a book I’d be interested in reading. Ha. So far, I am VERY glad I did.)
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Oh, seriously, and commenting on Blogger blogs that use the mobile template? It’s a BITCH. It works differently to the comment form on the normal template and UGH. Twitter’s not so bad, with the app, but still super slow.
Hehe! I wouldn’t have picked up Cinder if it weren’t for friend recommendations (seriously, I love sci-fi but the cover. Ugh. It’s pretty, but I just looked at it and thought ‘noooooooooooo.’)
Silly thing? After reading it, I LURVE it.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Oh, that reminds me. I couldn’t figure out a way to respond to comments with the mobile theme I have on this site. Huh. I should look into it.
It’s the cyborg thing. I’m all, “Cyborgs? Yeah, not my thing.” CYBORGS ARE TOTALLY MY THING. Apparently.
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 9:40 pm
I’ve commented using the mobile theme on your site, I think. Worked OK? Mmmm…
And Cyborg? TOTALLY MY THING. It’s why it’s even more bizarre I was’t GIMME GIMME GIMME when it came out :S
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Maybe I’m just technologically challenged. It happens, right? (Or I was too focused on the peen. Being the Peen Queen isn’t easy, you know.)
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 9:46 pm
*nods* You have to constantly be looking out for your subjects and whatnot.
It’s HARD.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:47 pm
It is HARD, Sarah. But you know I’m dedicated to the task of taking care of my subjects and making sure that their swelling (it’s a common ailment) is properly addressed.
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Yes. And it’s important they not grow accustomed to being soft all the time. Someties they have to be told to harden up.
I don’t know how you manage to keep up with it all.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:51 pm
I do occasionally outsource my work to Peen Princess Kelly.
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Peen Princess Kelly seems to be most vigilant in her… supervisorial position. I hear she keeps a detailed visual record of their activities…
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:52 pm
It is important that we document as much peen activity as possible. To understand our subjects, we must study our subjects.
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Rigorous testing is also helpful, I hear.
Especially with alchol.
*is craving peachy schnappy cocktaily thing*
Wanna go drinking? :”D
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:55 pm
I have an apple pie drink (apple cider, vodka, goldschlager, butterscotch schnapps) in the fridge.
LET’S DO THIS.
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 9:56 pm
O____O
I only have rum and gin. I like your thingy more :O
*books airfare*
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:57 pm
I have almost an entire vodka bottle full of it. I’m willing to share. *readies the guest bedroom*
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 9:58 pm
I kind of love you.
If you ever want to come to Australia, I’ll take you to a Schnapps distillery. Two words: Free. Tasting.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:59 pm
FREE TASTING!? Deal. IT’S A DEAL!
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 10:00 pm
They make an amazing buttescotch, but they have this apple/chilli one and :O
omnomnomnom.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 10:01 pm
I pretty much like all schnapps. Sometimes I’ll even drink it straight. You know. On the rocks.
Now I really do want more to drink….
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Or shots? *salivates*
My cousin was trying to make me try flaming Sambuca shots, but I kind of freak out having open flame that close to my eyebrows :S
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 10:03 pm
I LOVE SHOTS! But I don’t think I’d want flaming shots.
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 10:04 pm
THEY’RE TERRIFING.
I couldn’t do it.
mmmm… let me guess your favorite shot. Anything to do with a cowboy? :P
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 10:05 pm
HA! Usually I just take shots of flavored vodka.
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 10:08 pm
:D
We tend to have more Schnapps lying around.
BUT OH MY WORD. I recently discovered how to make Mojitos. I got drunk… for… uh… the first time since I was… 13? O__o
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 10:09 pm
I have a low tolerance for alcohol. That means I can get tipsy/drunk pretty quickly without trying. Oops?
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Hurray for cheap drunkeness! That’s a GIFT.
Also good when you’re on a budget :D
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 10:12 pm
I am a cheap date, that is for sure.
Sarah (saz101) October 21, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Hehehe! I don’t drink much, so I can kind of FEEL my head starting to spin after a single drink :D
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 22, 2012 at 11:28 am
That is the way to do it. :)
Amy @ bookgoonie October 21, 2012 at 5:23 pm
You are going to have me hopping all over the blogosphere. Thanks for the grammar tricks. Who needs them? ME!
Give Succubus Blues a whirl in your slump, especially since you own it.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 5:41 pm
*finger guns* I do like to make you hop all over the place, Amy. ;)
Anne October 21, 2012 at 6:45 pm
I’m sorry you didn’t like Neverwhere that well, but I will say it’s definitely not for everyone. It’s one of those rare books that I will recommend EVEN IF I worry that the person I’m recommending it to might not like it, because you have to read it for yourself and see. Trying to explain it always ends up way convoluted and daunting.
The peni-corn had me lol-ing all over the place. Some people just have NO IDEA what they’re doing! Or they do and they’re just trolling the rest of us. Can’t decide which.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 21, 2012 at 9:39 pm
I liked Neverwhere, don’t get me wrong. I think it was just a matter of expectations–so many people talked up Neil Gaiman that was like, “Yeah! This is going to blow me away!” And it didn’t. It was good, but it wasn’t a blow me away kind of book. The world was definitely my favorite part of Neverwhere.
Just enjoy the peni-corn for the awesomeness that it is. :)