Very Inspiring Blogger Award

I admit I don’t often take part in these kinds of things that frequently appear all over the blogosphere – but this time I have been inspired to do so. Celebrating the many wonderful book blogs that are out there is something I am happy to do.

Nancy at Ipsofactodotme
Claire at Word by Word
Karen at Kaggsy’s bookish ramblings;
have all nominated me for The Very Inspiring Book Blogger award. Thank you all, I was very chuffed – and always enjoy interacting with you all on my own blog and yours. I naturally would nominate you all back : ) – but I presume I’m not allowed to do that.

The award has the following rules:
• Thank and link to the person who nominated you.
• List the rules and display the award.
• Share seven facts about yourself.
• Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.
• Optional: display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.

A small confession before I go on – my blog reading the last few weeks has been a bit hit and miss – so I am probably re-nominating people who have already been nominated – but I am sure it doesn’t matter.

Here are my fifteen, there were lots more I could have chosen though.

1 Stuck in a book – Simon is definitely an inspiration – his blog must surely be on the top of many readers and bloggers best of lists
2. Fleur in her World – Jane a friend from the Librarything Virago Group, whose reviews always so bring the books she loves to life, was one of the first blogs I began reading when I moved my blog to WordPress and tried to start blogging more seriously.
3. Thinking in Fragments – Alex’s brilliant thoughtful reviews covers a mix of crime fiction and literary fiction who came to blogging after working in the academic world.
4. Past Offences – I love these reviews of vintage crime fiction, finding out about many authors I have never heard of.
5 Winston’s Dad –Stu writes about translated fiction, I enjoy discovering things I have never heard about before.
6 The writes of Women – Naomi writes brilliantly about women writers, reviewing both contemporary fiction and non-fiction, and frequently prompting me to read more new things.
7. Brona’s books – an Aussie and fellow classic clubber who reviews a mix of interesting contemporary fiction and Classic books.
8. The Captive Reader – Claire, a Canadian reader and blogger who often writes about just the kind of things I love.
9. Booker Talk – Karen reviews literary fiction and is a big fan of Booker winning novels.
10 Lizzy’s Literary Life – A blog that has introduced me to a lot of German literature.
11 Adventures in reading, writing and working from home – Liz is a good friend who I have known about 8eight years. An editor and proof-reader she undertook the challenge of working full time for herself a couple of years ago – and also blogs about many of the kinds of books I love as well as introducing me to other things – particularly non-fiction which I am so bad at reading.

12 My Book strings – a blog I only discovered quite recently – reviews of a variety of books including literary and historical fiction and classics.
13 Jacquiwine’s journal – another blog I only recently discovered, a brilliant mix of wine and books – and we all know how well they go together.
14 A Penguin a week – I have to be careful with this blog – I often think I would like to collect all these old penguins – but that would be crazy – I know. Karyn reviews of lots of wonderful old vintage books, lots of obscure titles too.
15 Beauty is a Sleeping Cat – Another blog I only recently discovered. Lots of great reviews – recently Beauty is a Sleeping Cat has introduced me to some books I hadn’t heard of – always dangerous!

 

If you don’t already know these blogs – please check them out.

So then seven things about me, not wanting to get too serious or say too much about my very ordinary life will keep it simple, seven things I love.
1. The English seaside
2. Tea
3. Thomas Hardy
4. The Theatre
5. Weight watches chocolate mini rolls
6. Women Writers especially pre 1960
7. Canals and railways