Ramblings of a Bibliophile

First off, I wanted to apologize for the hiatus I seem to have been on without warning. February was a really weird and busy month for me and it seems to have carried over into March. Work, life, and everything in between has put reading on the back burner, unfortunately. But it's time to get things going again and I hope to be back to full swing soon. Thanks for sticking with me awesome minions. ♥ :)

Secondly, the winner of The Maze Runner giveaway has been chosen! I announced it on twitter for those who follow me but I guess I should make it official by announcing it here. And the winner is...

Emily @ The Ninja Librarian!

Congrats girl! Your book has been sent out and I hope you enjoy it.

Now, even despite the lack of posts and reviews, some of you crazy kids have blessed me with a couple of awards. And I am here to pass them along!

Both Christina @ Confessions of a Book Addict and Amy @ Reversing The Monotony have awarded me the "Prolific Blogger Award"!

A Prolific Blogger is one who is intellectually productive... keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content.

1. Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread some love!
2. Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award.
3. Every Prolific Blogger must link back to this post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.
4. Every Prolific Blogger must visit this post and add his/her name in the Mr. Linky, so that we all can get to know the other winners. (Click here for the Mr. Linky page.)

Passing this on to...

Misty @ Book Rat
Sara @ The Hiding Spot
Jenny @ Wondrous Reads
Jenn @ Books at Midnight
Alyssa @ The Shady Glade
Carolyn @ Book Chick City
Angela @ Dark Faerie Tales
Rachel @ Parajunkee's View
Sherry @ Flipping Pages For All Ages
Reggie @ The Undercover Book Lover (not really)

Only one word to describe these gals: Awesome. And since I received this twice, I figured it was okay to look past the whole "seven bloggers" rule. Plus, it's the internet, does anyone really care? I'm spreading the loooove this fine Thursday!

I have two more awards to pass along so keep an eye out for those in the next few days. :)

Hey guys, the lovely Book Chick City has interviewed me for her weekly feature, "New Blogs on the Block". Stop by and check it out! Hopefully I didn't embarrass myself too much, haha. ;) Many copious thanks to Carolyn for having me on her wonderful blog today!

ALSO! In the interview I mentioned that in the very near future I planned on doing a graphic novel/comic book appreciation month...well, I've decided that it is definitely going to happen. The month is still undecided (I was thinking about either April or May) but I wanted to get the word out. And in doing so, I was wondering if any of you lovely bloggers would be interested in getting involved. Maybe posting about your favorite comics, answering some questions for an interview, and/or even sending me some comic news. The ideas are in motion and still in the beginning stages, but if you or anyone you know would like to be involved somehow, someway, please feel free to drop me a comment or an e-mail! (E-mail addy is in my sidebar) I have a few friends and fellow bloggers interested already, but I'd love to hear from you!

As much as I love technology, it can be a REAL pain sometimes. Especially when my computer is hanging on by its last breath. I've been computer/internetless since January 11th, therefore, my blog has remained idle for about a week. I wanted to extend my sincere apologies for not being able to log on before then. I know a few people have tried to reach me by e-mail and I'm sorry that I was not able to reach you guys before then.

BUT, it seems the long and tiresome effort actually paid off and my computer is back up and running. *dances on the spot!* Seriously, for awhile I thought that I would have to invest in a new one, but thank God I don't have to spend that kind of money.

Anyways, during my extended leave of absence from the web, I did get some good reading time in. So look out for a couple reviews in the next few days. :)

I still have quite a few things to do yet, but it's just good to be back! Looks like I got a lot of catching up to do.

2009 has been another crazy roller coaster ride, but thankfully one I quite enjoyed. Amidst all the turmoil in my personal life this year, the end has done rather well to redeem the suck that was the beginning of 2009. And I owe a lot of that to books and the blogging world.

I've only been among your ranks since October 13th (it feels like it's been much longer!), but I already feel like I found a place here. I've come to know so many wonderful people, whether it be through our blogs or twitter, and I can't even begin to tell you how awesome you all are! So thanks guys for helping me keep my sanity and welcoming me to a place where I can share my thoughts and express what I love (or sometimes didn't love) about the awesome books I read. ♥

NOW, time for some of my favorite things from 2009!

BOOKS(Note: not everything I mention was released and/or published this year, but rather, books that were newly read and impacted me in some way)









► Yeah, I may have gone a little overboard, haha. Let's just say that 2009 was my year for books. When I began the year I never even thought I'd pass 50 but, lo and behold, I ended up finishing with 118! Crazy! (My full list for 2009) - I can already tell that 2010 is going to be an excellent year for books and I cannot wait! :D

MOVIES




► So many movies that made my geeky heart soar with glee! I was totally lacking in the movie department this year (I think I went to the movies around 4 times) but I'm fairly happy with what I did see. Star Trek and Sherlock Holmes were among the best released movies this year, in my opinion, and they are definitely two of my favorites. Overall, a pretty sweet year for movies. (Grand total for movies seen in 2009: 113 - Of the 113, 63 were new, never seen before)

I was going to do a list for TV shows but this list has taken me long enough, haha. I never really do resolutions for my personal life because, well, life is too unpredictable. But for 2010, I will make an exception for reading.

In 2010 I hope to:

● Read more (and pass my 118 books read this year)
● Review more (around 2-3 a week)
● Maintain an active and engaging blog
● Host more author interviews and giveaways
● Comment, comment, comment!

Easy peasy, right? Haha. Anyway, I just wanted to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR and I hope 2010 brings you lovely bloggers everything you want and more. Happy reading! :)

P.S. Don't forget! There is still some time to sign up for my BONESHAKER giveaway! Ends tomorrow. :)

Just wanted to do a quick flyby post and wish all of you lovely followers/bloggers/cool folks who celebrate a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I will be on a bit of a hiatus posting-wise for the next few days (maybe week), but I do suspect I'll be making the commenting rounds when I can.

I hope you all have a wonderful time this Christmas and that your holidays are filled with lots of love and presents. :)

See you on the flipside!

I REACHED 100 FOLLOWERS!



So you know what this means? There are now FOUR WINNERS for my first ever giveaway!

NOW! Before I reveal the additional books I will be throwing in, I have an idea to ponder. I originally stated that I would add yet another winner when I hit 150...but in all honesty, I doubt I'll reach that incredible number by December 16th. So, what would you say to reducing the first prize winner to ONE book of their choice (instead of 2) and adding a FIFTH (and POSSIBLY a sixth) winner?

PLEASE NOTE: That this is for feedback purposes only at the moment. There is no guarantee that I will change anything. I just want to see what YOU, the entrants, have to say about it (of course if the vote is overwhelmingly in any favor, I think my decision will be obvious). I have a nifty little poll for you guys to help me decide:

Any insight you guys could provide would be very helpful. Feel free to leave a comment if you would like to expand on your answer!



P.S. I never expected to reach 100 followers (since being a follower is not required to enter) but we did it! Thank you so much to all those participating, promoting, and RT-ing on twitter. (And some extra special hugs to all those leaving me some lovin' via comments on a post and/or twitter.) Dean and I give you two thumbs up. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!

P.S. Comment HERE with a book you can't wait to get your hands on to be credited with TWO extra entries into my first ever giveaway.

To all my fellow US bloggers, I wish I could tell everyone individually but I hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving full of great food, good times, and lots of love! I know I have much to be thankful for this year, including the wonderful people I have met around the blogosphere because of books and reading. You guys are awesome. Stay safe, eat well, and I'll see you guys on the flipside. :)

♥

Aaah, the sweet comfort of laziness on a Thursday afternoon. Being that it is my day off and I have nothing to do (well, nothing I WANT to do), I decided to do a little book meme. I have no idea where this originated. I was tagged for it on Livejournal awhile back and I thought I'd do it here too.

01. What author do you own the most books by?
J.K. Rowling, Sarah Dessen, and J.R.R. Tolkien

02. What book do you own the most copies of?
I own 2 copies of Eragon because I lent mine out and wanted to re-read it at the time.

03. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Not really, no.

04. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Oh quite a few, I'll admit. Mr Henry De Tamble from The Time Traveler's Wife is definitely one of them. More recently I added Gale from The Hunger Games, Briggan from Fire, and Po from Graceling. (I sense a theme here, hmm)

05. What book have you read the most times in your life?
Probably Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (4 or 5 times)

06. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
The Nancy Drew books spring to mind.

07. What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
In 2008, Fangland by John Marks.

08. What is the best book you've read in the past year?
Well, including this year? The Book Thief, followed closely by The Hunger Games.

09. If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The book is genius, in my opinion.

10. Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
I...have no idea.

11. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Either The Book of Lost Things, Graceling, or Shiver. I think they'd all make great movies if they were done right.

12. What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Nothing comes to mind at the moment.

13. Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
After I finished with the Percy Jackson and The Olympian series, I remember dreaming that I was off on an adventure with Percy trying to find my Olympian parent, hahah.

14. What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
I plead the 5th.

15. What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
Hmm. I'd say The Enchantress of Florence. I couldn't finish it.

16. What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
I've never seen a Shakespeare play. Does watching a movie count?

17. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
Viva la France!

18. Roth or Updike?
I haven't read either.

19. David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
David Sedaris is on my to-read-list, so I'm going to choose him.

20. Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Shakespeare. Because out of the 3, I've actually read a lot of his work.

21. Austen or Eliot?
Hm. Jane Austen.

22. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Huh? As in what's the longest I've gone without reading? I don't know. The last few years I went months without reading anything. This year I've been a reading fiend.

23. What is your favorite novel?
Crap, don't make me choose!!

24. Play?
I'm going to go with Romeo & Juliet.

25. Poem?
Everything Beckons To Us
by Rainer Maria Rilke

Everything beckons to us to perceive it,
murmurs at every turn 'Remember Me!'
A day we passed, too busy to perceive it,
will yet unlock us all to its treasury.

Who shall compute our harvest? Who shall bar
us from the former years, the long-departed?
What have we learnt from living since we started,
except to find in others what we are?

Except to re-enkindle commonplace?
O house, O sloping field, O setting sun!
Your features form a face, you run,
you cling to us, returning your embrace!

One space spreads through all creatures equally -
inner-world-space. Birds quietly flying go
flying through us. Oh, I that want to grow,
the tree I look outside at grows in me!

Honorable Mentions: "The Road Not Taken" By Robert Frost & "To Music" by Rainer Maria Rilke

26. Essay?
I don't have one.

27. Short story?
Honestly, none really come to mind. I remember liking "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe when I read it in middle school.

28. Work of nonfiction?
Letters To A Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

29. Who is your favorite writer?
It is impossible for me to narrow it down to just one. Therefore, I will give you my top 10. J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Markus Zusak, Christopher Moore, Chuck Palahniuk, Sarah Dessen, Suzanne Collins, Maggie Stiefvater, Audrey Niffenegger, and Rainer Maria Rilke.

30. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Stephenie Meyer. Sorry folks.

31. What is your desert island book?
OH MAN. I'm going to cheat and do a top 5: Lord of the Rings (shut up, I count them as one!), Fight Club, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Hunger Games, The Book Thief.

32. And... what are you reading right now?
I'm currently burying my nose in Fluke by Christopher Moore. The man can do no wrong.

Feel free to steal. It's not mine so I can hold no claim on it. In other news, I'm working on my review for Fire so expect that in the next few days. I'm also thinking of posting some of my reviews from the beginning of the year to fill the lulls between books. What do you think, good idea or no?

Just picked this up from the library yesterday and I can't wait to get through it! The cover is just adorable.

I’ve always wanted to start a book blog and finally decided to kick my butt into gear. I love reading so much and I don’t have many people to turn to when it comes to book discussions so I figured “why not blog about them?”

I can’t help thinking I should have done this earlier, seeing as I’m already 100 books into the year and 2009 is on its way to a close, but better late than never.

The Bibliophile
My name is Nikki and I’m a twenty-something year old who tends to keep her nose in a book and her head in the clouds.

When I’m not reading I spend most of my free time indulging in life’s simple pleasures. I’m a music addict, sports fanatic, baker, lover of geeky things, and I make memories with photographs.

What I Read
My motto: I'll read anything once. But my favorite genres are: Comics, Contemporary (Fiction/Romace), Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance (Paranormal/Contemporary), Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Steampunk, and Young Adult. Although, I primarily dabble in Fantasy, Contemporary, Speculative Fiction, and Young Adult.

I’m always open to book discussions and recommendations! If you would like me to link to your blog, feel free to leave a comment. And you're more than welcome to follow if you'd like, I'm always looking to meet fellow book fiends. :)

If you're looking for my rating & review policy, please see HERE.

Other places to find me:
GetGlue
Goodreads
Last.fm
Shelfari (in the works)