A Witchie Wonderflly Wicked Read-A-Thon this Weekend!

So, I'm once again over-reaching in my reading to join this fabulous weekend read-a-thon. I needed a boost in the bokie to get through some of the best books I've chosen to read for Halloween, anyway, and this is the perfect way to get me going.

Such a great group of blogging friends listed on the "linky" with this Wonderfully Wicked reading extravaganza. So, you may want to go there and find some new bloggers to visit at My Shelf Confessions , as well as finding all the information about joining the Read-a-thon.

So, here's my list of books for starters today:

Let the games begin! I'm working against myself so I better get crackin'...literally! By the way, I have a little companion helping me today: the darling doll of the living dead Miss Claret. I have to be careful, she loves to bite necks. :]



Friends and Followers~Quick Note from the Dame

I'm so freakin' frustrated because many times I visit your blogs and try to comment only to be infuriated because my comments won't go through.  I can't seem to get them to post with Google or any other way!!  Urrr...  I try and get so mad. My computer is just screwd up, and I can't figure out how!!

This is just to tell you so you won't think I don't try to get back to you.   Today, I tried to leave messages with Capricious Reader, Sabrina at Thinking About Loud, and Bermudaonion. 

I tried but I'm not sure I posted my new followers:  Bri Clark of The Belle of Boise, and Darlene's Peeking Between the Pages , as well as Alison's Can Read.com


New followers:
Thank you for following me and letting me know you care. 

And, oldie and goodie bloggish reveiwers, I am really stopping by...I just can't post!!

I'm thinking I may just have to give recognition in this format, and it may be for the best, anyway.

Thanks for listening.  

Hugs to all,

Deborah/Your Infuriated, but still Bookish Dame 

The Oftimes Difficult Task of Reviewing Books

It's a sometimes treacherous walk we take when we offer ourselves as book reviewers.  It actually puts us in a place of having to become certain critics, certain experts or certain knowledge ables about books.  There's a serious responsibility to reviewing books.  It's not a thing to become cavalier about.  Nothing to toss around lightly.

In this time of technological genius and fast-moving words and blurbs, we may tend to forget that reviewing a book is quite a responsibility, actually.  With a false word, a flippant slip, a dismiss of something important or a misunderstanding of text, a reviewer can set in motion a small wave that could cause a book to be remembered as; "I heard something strange about that book, but I can't remember where..I don't think it got good reviews."  The slip that sank a ship.

Just as we're required to read and structure our reviews in an honest and just manner to the best of our abilities, I truly believe that also means we cannot always give 5 stars to books and authors.  To do that would diminish the standard we use to evaluate books altogether.

To me, 5 stars means I want to keep the book in my library forever. I love it so much and found so much literary merit in it. I want to see it again. 
4 stars means it was so fabulous I want everyone else to get one, too!  I recommend it to everyone.
3 stars means it was a good read, I liked it, but I probably won't keep a copy. You'll have to choose to read it for yourself after evaluating my review.
2 stars means; good try but I couldn't finish it and can't recommend it.
1 star is something I can't even give a book!!

I take my role as a review writer so seriously that I study the art of writing.  I have taken time to learn grammar and spelling.  I read other reviewers' work so that I can learn from the best of them.  My searches include finding books, new and classical that continue to educate my mind and, hopefully, keep me from becoming intellectually stagnant.  I consider myself well-red, well-educated, a good writer and a conscientious person who takes my book reviewing role seriously.  Books are very important to me.  I'm interested in being a part of the big wheel that keeps them alive and well in our world.

Sometimes we won't please an author with our review.  We won't mesh with them, or we won't understand what they've tried to convey, or we won't appreciate their craft in the manner they've employed it.  I hope my readers know that in such cases I look very hard to pull out the gold from books and that I don't knowingly mislead anyone.  I see my role as a scout--going ahead to let my readers know what to expect.  Some will want to follow...some will not.  Some writers will want to hear the response to their writing, some really will not unless it fits their own perceptions. 

It seems to me, as well, that the role of a reviewer is also to convey something to the author about how their book may be perceived.  I recall a professor once saying that when Faulkner (or some such great author) was asked if he meant to say thus and so symbolically in his story...he answered, "If you say so.  I never know what I meant to say until you tell me."   It's this idea that once that word is written down in the way it is, once it leaves the pen of the writer and becomes a page in a book that's sent out to readers...it becomes the property of the readers to define and to evaluate.  No matter how the book was conceived of and birthed onto the page from the mind of the author; ultimately, it will evolve into the product of the minds of its readers.  Of course there's room for debate here, but Faulkner isn't here anymore to debate that issue, and, yet we still find and dismiss all sorts of things in his novels!

All in all, what I'm going on about here can be summed up this way:
We have a responsibility to authors, publishers, readers and the book world on a whole to be the best we can be at our craft.
We have a responsibility to be honest in the delivery of our reviews regardless of how the writer may like or dislike the message.
We have a responsibility to our readers to actually read and think and take time to give a review that will lead them to make an intelligent decision about the purchase of a book.
Books are important.  We have a responsibility to keep them around.

All this being said, I'd like to most gratefully acknowledge the wonderful publishers who make my book reviewing possible:
Hachette Publishing Group: Little, Brown & Co., LBYA, Mulholland Books, Grand Central, and others; Simon & Schuster, St. Martin's Press, Bloomsbury, Random House, Overlook Press, Penguin, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, Poison Pen Publishing, Crown, Harper Collins and others.

Thank you so much, my very special publicity friends who make things happen for me, kind and caring authors, faithful readers and visitors.  You make it all work together for good for me.  I'm so appreciative. 

Deborah/TheBookishDame

What Are You Reading This Week? Monday Morning Mystery...

Isn't this a great way to let each other know what we're reading for the week?
I love it!  If you go to the link above, you can see the whole concept on Book Journey.  She's a great blogger with some interesting giveaways, too.

My reads for the week are going to be, and they aren't encased in stone, you understand...  :]

"The Giver"  by Lois Lowry
"Truth"
"The Sherlockian"
and one more which I can't remember and which I can't get to because I'm in my bed with the shades pulled just getting over a migraine...

Why am I blogging with a sensitive head and eyes, you wonder?  Because I'm stubborn and I can't inagine a day without reading or writing.  I'm simply an "eye" person.  Yesterday, when the migraine started, I was just frozen (those of you who get them understand)...but this time, I was so frustrated that I couldn't see and, so, I couldn't write.

Does blogging makes us better writers?  I hadn't thought of that before.  Perhaps it does.  We don't often express ourselves in this manner anymore in our culture.  There are too many other tempting, faster, instant gratification means; i.e., texting, cell phones and the like.  It's wonderfull that there are so many of us who are continuing to write on a daily or at least a weekly basis in our blogs.  Recording herstory...keeping a record of who women were in our century.

Anyway, I'm without eyes much again today, so must go.  Please leave me a list of your books this week.  I would love to know what you're reading.

Hugs,
Deborah/YourBookishDame

Stop By and Join In Our "Follow Friday" Fun Time!

http://parajunkee.blogspot.com/

<center><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/search/label/FF" target="_blank" ><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4710921228_bf32d46f6d_o.png" /></a></center>


Oh, so caught by a book's cover, I had to tell the truth on Parajunkee's Follow Friday's current question from her guest today.  I've always been drawn in by an intriguing or beautiful cover.  As an artist, myself, I can't help "reading" the nuances of the covers...so much of the book is given away that way!  I love to look at them as I'm reading.

This doesn't preclude the fact that I'm also a true reader, so I do read the summaries and flip around in the book before I lay my money down, however.  But, (sigh) truth be told, I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover!

Please leave a comment about how covers affect you!  And, go by Parajunkee's site to get involved in our "Follow Friday" to find some new friends and book blogs.

Deb/TheBookishDame

Virtual Book Tours Coming Up!

Please be on the look-out for two new virtual book tours.

Coming up this month~ April 14th:  "The Mpire" by TL James

and in June: "The Katyn Order," by Douglas W. Jacobson


These are two books that I've chosen are published by small publishing houses and are little known authors, though you may find them on Amazon.com.

Over the last couple of years, I've found several of my favorite books of the year through small publishing houses or even through self-publishing.  It's just amazing what authors are doing out there today!

This does not preclude, of course, our big publishing houses by any stretch.  They continue to chose the finest of literature, having had to be very selective in strained economic times.

As a book reviewer whose goal is to bring the best of both worlds to my readers, I strive to keep you informed and, hopefully, involved in your choices of reading material.

I always look for literature of the highest quality, and do not want to represent anything of a lesser value to you.  Additionally, you will always find me crossing all genre trying to please all readers, and introducing you to different possibilites you might have thought you might not like.  I'm very selective, though!

Please take a moment to join me on April 14th to see and hear from this new author, TL James and her series "The Mpire..."  It's an interesting twist on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Deborah/TheBookishDame

Freaky Friday~~Things You Might Never Have Known Day

WoooHooot!  I have to say that Friday has always been a happy day for me and now still is although I only work at home and feel released from the chains that once bound me.  That's why I'm going to love this new meme started by Parajunkee at http://parajunkee.com/ .  If you haven't been over to see her, yet, you have a treat in store.  She's a very precocious 17 year old reader extraordinaire of YA books...with a following that's killer!

At any rate, I'm a novice at this thing, and Para's going to come over and tutor me, but I think I'm just to answer her question of the week and there may be other things, but they have to come later...

I know there's a way you can sign up for this meme as well...but you'll have to go see her, yourself.   And, please follow me, too,  because I'm a new blog and need your support, please!!!

The Question is:

What do you do when you aren't reading/reviewing, for a hobby?

I love to be on my computer researching and emailing with friends from bookish sites and networks.  I like checking in on other bookish blogs and ebook sites and with publishing houses.  I love finding new books to read and review.  And, I make jewelry for my jewelry business:  Talis Bijoux.  You can see my fledgling site with some pictures at:  http://talisbijoux.com/

So that's my entry for my first Friday.  I hope you're going to leave me a "hello," or a small comment so I'll know you're there!

Have a great weekend of reading and relaxing.

Your Bookish Dame/Deb

Versatile Blogger Award ~~ A First For My New Blog!!!

I was so stunned and delighted to have received this awesome award from two of my new blogging friends!  The first was from  LJ of Reader Recommended , and the latest is from Crystal, of Crystal's Reading Corner.   Please go over and say "hello" to them.  They have beautiful blogs with great book reviews and gadgets to admire.


The conditions of this award are as follows:

1. Thank and link back to the person that gave this award
2. Write 7 things about yourself
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked to let them know they've received the award.

Seven things about me:

1)     I'm a recluse.  I love to stay home reading, reviewing books, working on my blogs and doing artwork.
2)     I have Gwen Stafani colored hair and I love it!!
3)     My dogs are named Clara and Larry....they are a Yorkie and a Toy Poodle.
4)     I don't paint my nails...I hate sitting that long at the salon!!!
5)     My husband is an author.
6)     I'm considering writing children's books with my daughter.
7)     I need an illustrator for my children's books!!!


Passing the Versatile Blogger Award along to:


1)     Crystal's Reading Corner
2)     Sniffly Kitty
3)     LJ's Reader Recommended
4)     From the TBR Pile
5)     The Literary Lioness
6)     Booklover's Hideaway
7)     Readin' and Dreamin'
8)     Reading Mama
9)     Escape In A Book
10)   Aobibliosphere
11)   The Children's War of WWII
12)   Bermuda Onion
13)   Forever To Nowhere
14)   Mary (BookHounds)
15)   Once Upon A Bookcase

To Song or Not to Song

Here I am expressing my inner "Blythe," (please see copyright above for credit)....  It's my vampirish/rockstar Blythe look.  You will note that I'm looking askance and I contemplate my Bookish Libraria face choices.

I need a poll, please.   What do you make of the Amazon gadget for the Top Music Choices???   I'm a bit frightened of it~~   Do you think it's worthwhile keeping?

Personally, I can't bear the widgets for music chosen by blog owners that are foisted upon reading friends. I simply like to read in silence for the most part, or to choose movie theme recordings or classical music.  In cases where the music automatically comes on and stays on while I try to enjoy a great blog, I find myself loving the blogger and hating the music, so to speak.

Let me know whether I should keep my widget.  It's only here for quick listening chosen by each of you or quick ordering if you want to.

Very truly yours,

A Blythe and Bookish Dame