Monday, September 14, 2009

BBAW Adoration


In honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite bloggers. I usually hate this type of singling out of people, especially because I follow several blogs and have made several blogging friends and connections, but this handful has become truly special to me and I wanted to shower them with appreciation. Thanks you guys for simply being who you are.

Thoughts of Joy – Joy has a really special place in my blogging heart. She was one of the first blogs I grabbed onto when I first started, and even though she won’t agree, I pestered the heck out of her about this and that. She was patient and friendly and supportive and I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor turned friend. And what’s funny is I think Joy knows my taste in books better than I do!

Melody’s Reading Corner – I met Melody about a year ago, and I really wish I could remember how exactly. She was one of those who I immediately felt comfortable around and have since shared stories and reviews with one another. She's always leaves such wonderful comments here and in response to comments she receives on her blog and I always look forward to what she's going to say.

Peeking Between the Pages – One of my favorite things about hosting challenges is the great people I’ve met in the process. I met Dar last year during the Classics challenge and if I’m not mistaken she has just started blogging. She rapidly found a comfortable place in the blogosphere and has become a quite popular gal, but she hasn’t lost the personal friendships along the way. Dar has the sweetest disposition and I always look forward to her thoughtful posts or her wonderful comments. Plus, that Buddy is so adorable!

Books.Lists.Life. – Lisa Lisa Lisa. I have a special bond with Lisa and has just kind of evolved over time. We started emailing a few summers ago when we were both reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. She re-introduced me to the term “freezer book,” and that little bond has grown over the years. She was my best cheerleader during my first read-a-thon and I cajoled her into joining me for the last one. She’s also the first blogger I’ve met and we’re still talking so I guess that went well. :P I can always count on Lisa to give me a pick-me-up or laugh when I need it.

Musings of a Bookish Kitty – I don’t want to put in a whole bunch of hoopla about who was short-listed and who wasn’t, but I was pretty disappointed that Wendy wasn’t nominated for Best Literary Review Blog this year. Wendy writes such wonderful reviews and has added a number of books to my TBR list. In addition to her fabulous writing, she also is such a warm and welcoming blogger. I remember feeling rather intimidated by Wendy when I first started blogging, but she couldn’t be a more accepting person.

Dolce Bellezza – Is there a blogger with a bigger heart than Bellezza? Well, she’s got a lot of strong contenders, but I’ve always been drawn to her warmth. Bellezza, like Wendy, intimidated me a bit when I first started blogging. She is always able to find such beauty in the books that she reads and the way that she conveys her feelings just tugs at your heart. Besides all of that, she’s helped introduce me to Japanese Literature, which I’ll always be grateful.

My Year of Reading Seriously – I’ve talked a lot over the past few years about CJ and how cool I found her reading project to be. When CJ first started blogging she decided she would dedicate her year of reading to her mother who had passed away. I loved this idea, especially as I have a special reading bond with my own mother. Once her year of reading “seriously” ended, I was thrilled that she continued to blog away about this and that—love her Sifting Thoughts. I also secretly think that our cats are soul-kitties. Hers, Maddie, and mine, Maggie, do look curiously alike (in a cattish way).

Nothing of Importance – Debi. What can be said about Debi that hasn’t already been said. Everyone loves Debi. And if you don’t know who I’m talking about—put her on your list! Debi is one of those bloggers who I secretly wanted to get to know but just didn’t know how to go about it. She was a frequent commenter on some of my favorite blogs, so when Dewey did one of her first Weekly Geeks—meet other bloggers—I headed straight over to Debi’s. The awesome thing? Debi found me that week, too.

Also, quickly I know we're supposed to be talking about blogs who weren't short-listed this year, but I couldn't help mentioning Amanda and Nymeth who have been such wonderful blogging friends. And of course their blogs are "must check out" blogs.

What bloggers have you met that have gone above and beyond being just a blogger to being a friend?

Happy BBAW Week!


28 comments:

Bellezza said...

Trish, I hardly feel I deserve a place here on your post of recognition; you are so generous in your descriptions. I appreciate you for being a faithful commenter, for hosting the Classics Challenge, for always being an encouragement even when things are a bit tough for you.
Thank you for even joining the JLC, if it hadn't been for you and Chris at Stuff As Dreams...I never would have ventured on the first one! You, my friend, are an adored by me blogger.

Ana S. said...

I love your list, Trish! And thank you so much for the mention. I still remember how happy I was when I saw you and Debi posting about each other during that first WG. I knew you'd become good friends.

CJ said...

Trish -

Wow, how sweet. Seriously. Saying something like that always sounds trite to me but I truly mean it. I appreciate your kind words more than I can say.

And, btw, I agree with you about the others, but especially Bellezza. She's truly a sweetheart!

cjh

Amanda said...

Like I said on Ana's post, I'm so glad I follow some of these bloggers already because you're one of the bloggers whose tastes I trust the most. I'm about to go pick up my kids from school, so I'm going to have to check out the ones I don't yet know after I get home, but I wanted to stop by and say hi and thanks for the shoutout. :D

Louise said...

What a great post!

Megan said...

Great post! It's always hard singling people out (and for me, always missing somebody I should have mentioned), but it's great to be able to give a little extra love to the bloggers that mean a lot to you. Actually, yours and my lists have a few great folks in common! =)

bermudaonion said...

What a great list! I just met one of those bloggers when I found out she was my interview partner.

Susan said...

What a sweet post, Trish! Most of your bloggers I know (and agree with you), a few are new to me, so I'll be checking them out.

Serena said...

Great list. I read a lot of these blogs already. Have a great week with BBAW

Melody said...

I can't remember how we met either, Trish (yeah, my short memory and all, LOL!), but I know I always look forward to your visit and comments because they are always so insightful and thoughtful. You're another blogger friend I'd like to meet in person, besides Debi, Nymeth, Wendy and Iliana! :P

Thank you for the mention, Trish! I really appreciate our friendship!!

Debi said...

Oh my goodness, Trish...you are far too nice to me, girl! I can't believe this awesome list of people you put me with...that alone is a tremendous compliment.
That is yet another thing I will be eternally grateful to Dewey for! I just wish I'd "found" you so much sooner!
It was so hard narrowing down who to talk about today (I ended up going with totally "random" from my favorites folder). I have to admit that I was so grateful some of my most very favorite peoples were already shortlisted...you and Ana and Chris and Eva and Amanda and Carl and... Sheesh, otherwise I just never could done it.

J.T. Oldfield said...

Great list, Trish!

claire said...

Wow, a number of these blogs I haven't visited yet! BBAW is such a wonderful event! I love Dolce Bellezza too! And of course Nymeth and AManda!

Brooke from The Bluestocking Guide said...

Hi Trish! Nice list. here is mine

3m.michelle said...

Great list, Trish, I love and read all of these!

Amy said...

Great post, Trish.! It can be hard to single people out but I also think it's good for us..we all need affirmation. ;)

You spotlighted some truly special people.

Color Online said...

I second your sentiments about Bellezza. I don't get by often but she is very kind, very warm. Makes you feel good when you're in her company. Enjoyed your post.

Literary Feline said...

You made me tear up, Trish! Thanks so much for your kind words. I still can't believe I intimidated you. You kind of intimidated me too--you have such a way with words and you bring up so many great discussion topics.

I am a big fan of the other blogs you've listed as well: Lisa, CJ, Debi, Dar, Melody, Joy and Bellezza (who I confess still intimidates me--she's so amazing).

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

I am familiar with almost all of these blogs and they are fabulous. Thanks for sharing your list and weighing down my reader!

Booklogged said...

I'm so enjoying reading all these fav lists today. There are so many more book bloggers today than when I started and I have such a time wanting to visit all the new ones. I actually know some of the ones you mention - Joy, Dar, Wendy, Bellezza and Nymeth. I think the world of each one of them and love to visit their blogs. Wouldn't it be fun if we could meet all these neat people?

I'm off to visit the other blogs you listed. Thanks, for the links, Trish.

Sheila (bookjourney) said...

Great picks! More blogs for me to check out!

joanna said...

Thanks Trish for some new blog ideas - like my reader really needs more subscriptions but hey! :-) I love this part of blogger appreciation week!

Lisa said...

Thanks Trish for the love! I keep trying to tel you that you need to live HERE so we can see each other more. How about I give you my very own snowboots to help with the cold?

I've add a couple of your others to my Reader as well, unlike popular opinion, you don't have to have thousands of followers to be great. (Since this is your blog, I'll stop here.)

I can't WAIT to bug you all night for the next read a thon.

Veens said...

I share your love for Melody and Dar... You are so right.. it s so easy to feel so comfy around Melody :) :)

S. Krishna said...

I've only read a few of these, so I'll have to check the rest out! Thanks for sharing!

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

*Everyone - Thanks so much for stopping by during BBAW week. It was great to see some old friends and to make some new ones, too. Hope you were able to find some new friends from the list on this post--they're all such great book bloggers.

Thoughts of Joy said...

Seriously, Trish, you have warmed my heart beyond words. I know that that may sound silly, but when life brings about tough times it is such a joy and uplifting experience to read that someone appreciates you or just includes you on a list. This is such a great example of how the little things in life really matter. Your friendship means a lot to me. Thank you, Trish.

Darlene said...

Awwwwww, thank you so much! I'm so sorry I'm so late in coming to thank you but you know how things have been lately. Trish, I am so glad to have met you and formed a friendship with you. You're a truly terrific person! Thanks for making my day then and now my friend.