Armchair BEA: Wrap-Up!

This was my first year doing Armchair BEA. I had a GREAT time! Here's what my week was like here on Dee's Reads: 

Monday (Day 1) Introduction
Tuesday (Day 2) Classics & Dust off Your Classics Reading Challenge Update
Wednesday (Day 3) Blogger Development
Thursday (Day 4) Literary Fiction
Saturday (Day 6) Children's Literature
Sunday (Day 7) Today's Wrap-Up Post

Instagram Challenges: 

My Armchair (yea, it's a love seat)

& reading buddy :kitten

Did you enjoy the week of fun that was Armchair BEA? what was your favorite part? It was my first year so I didn't really know what to expect! I was very pleasantly surprised; ABEA exceeded my expectations! I have no suggestions for improvement. I will be doing this next year-- and clearing my schedule more. I didnt realize how much time it takes. Totally worth it! I'll also be more organized and would like my giveaway to coincide with ABeA next year (instead of how it worked out with my giveaway starting tomorrow). I really enjoyed meeting all of you, too! Here are some new blogs I'm following that you should totally check out! I really enjoyed talking/meeting these ladies! 

Lorelei @ Tattooed Books

Kelly @ Radiant Shadows

Nina @ Death Books & Tea

Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader

Ah it's almost midnight and I have to put up this post!
Hope you all had a great week!
 :D

Armchair BEA Genre Post- Children's Lit {YA}

I <3 nbsp="" p="" ya.="">

I love Children's Literature SO much. Words can't describe the solace that middle-grade and YA books give me. So I guess I won't try too hard? What are the reasons I love it so much? I am not exactly sure. I always have. I remember even in high school reading middle-grade books and getting weird looks from my peers. I didn't care. I half expected I'd grow out of it, but never did. I'm so glad I never did! I love how YA has grown so much, too. It's gotten the attention it deserves and I love the new talent that's out there. Here are some of my favorites I've read (mostly this year, some I just had to include). 

Percy Jackson & the Olympians Series

Sally Lockhart Series

The Lunar Chronicles 

Gravity Series by Abigail Boyd

[ I'm almost done with this one-- 

It's really good I highly recommend! ]

What are your thoughts on Children's Literature? Link up your posts below! ^_^ 

Armchair BEA Genre Post: Literary Fiction

What authors/novels would you recommend to someone new to the genre?

 


I don't read much literary fiction. I do read tons of historical fiction, though. I notice many times the lines between these genres blur. So my list of books I recommend it very short, but I didn't want to include all historical fiction ;)

Are you a lover of literary fiction? Have you read any on this list? 

Armchair BEA- Blogger Development

Hi all. It's been a super hectic day so I'm posting really late. Sorry 'bout that. I just wanted to say a few words (literally) about blogger development which is today's topic.  I'm so excited I won the first day of giveaways! ^_^ this is proving to be a magnificent  Armchair BEA thus far! I even did the Instagram challenge today. (Click on the Instagram circle in the upper right sidebar if you're curious) Sorry, I'm half asleep or I'd just embed it. Ok, now to business. 

"The purpose of the conference is to foster "blogger development"--and clearly, that development can go in a variety of directions! Today, we're inviting you to talk about your approach. Have you branched out into your community? Do you partner with other bloggers? Have you gone "pro" or tried generating some income through your blog? If you're a long-term blogger, how has your online personality developed over the years?"

 All right, if you've read my Intro post & Classic post you've learned pretty much most of what I'd want to tell you. I'll elaborate a little bit. I blog solo, and that's not gonna change. I love participating with other bloggers by commenting regularly on their posts and supporting their blogging (and personal) endeavors. I think that's important. As a community, book bloggers are a force. I love the feeling of camaraderie and easy way of discussing things. I find myself eerily similar to, like, most of you guys. :$

I have considered becoming an Amazon Affiliate. I know I could use the money for giveaways and to attend author events and get stuff signed and then give them to my followers! I know since I live in Los Angeles I have a unique opportunity to attend more events than some other book bloggers. The reason I haven't yet become an affiliate has boiled down to me wondering if it's worth it? It's actually a perfect time to ask you guys: what is your opinion? How much do you really make being an affiliate? Is the annoyance of the ads outweigh the amount of $$ (& in turn giveaways and other perks for followers). I kinda just want what's best for my followers, you know? I don't have much blog traffic, although I'm hoping to change that.

I'm not a long term blogger. I've only been blogging since dec '12 /Jan '13. I had a rocky start and didn't really post much until this year. It was a confidence issue. I still have that issue (I feel as though my reviews stink compared to what I want them to be). Only difference is, I don't mind. I love having a blog because you can just be like "screw it, this is mine I'm doing what I want!" :mj

Ok. Man, am I long-winded or what? "A few words (literally)" --- MY A$$!!! hahaha
You can tell it's late here. And I'm exhausted. I'll chat with you guys tomorrow during twitter! Add me @diamondcronen if you wanna <3 nbsp="" p="">
Feel free to link your Armchair BEA posts (most recent or this one, w/e) so I can check you out! I'm loving all the new blogs to follow! 

Armchair BEA: Classics & Dust off Your Classics RC update

" Today, tell us all the reasons why you love classic literature. What are your favorite classics? If you could give a list of classics to someone who claims to hate them to make them change their mind, what would be on it? How would you convince them to give classics a try? And why do you keep coming back to those old favorites? "

I know many of you dislike classics or just don't "get" their appeal. But, you should give them another chance. There are some really great, funny --like LOL funny-- classics out there! You just need to find the classic that is right for you! Don't worry. I'm here to help ya. :h 
Do you like horror movies? The Macabre? If so, go with Edgar Allen Poe's stories--The Pit and the Pendulum / The Tell-Tale Heart / The Black Cat...better yet, try The Complete works of Edgar Allen Poe and skim the table of contents for a story that intrigues you! That's exactly what I did. Then I went on Netflix and watched Vincent Price's reenactment of  Poe's stories. I love Poe's stories; they're short and bone chilling. Do you prefer a great love story? Try Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë! It will sweep you off your feet It will make your heart swell! Perhaps you prefer something light hearted and funny? Then read Emma by Jane Austen! It had me laughing out loud :r numerous times. Does history hold your fascination? Read I, Claudius by Robert Graves.  You will end up feeling like Emperor Claudius of Rome is your bff. :L I'm serious.  Do you love Dystopian books (Hunger Games, anyone?) Read one of the original dystopian novels-- 1984 by George Orwell. Perhaps you're like me and dig Fantasy? If so, you'll enjoy She by Rider H. Haggard and of course-- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. These are just some of my favorites. I recommend these if you want to read something good, hilarious, relatable (yes, classics are relatable!) It's weird but many times I finish a classic and go, "wow...I can't believe this was written 100 years ago!?" But then again-- there's a reason they call them classics! ^_^ They've stood the test of time and there is always something that made them stand that harsh test. 

Dust Off Your Classics Update:

I love classics. As many of you know I love classics so much but have a difficult time reading them when other reads on my TBR seem more urgent or exciting.  In fact, I love reading Classics so much that I started a reading challenge with Trish @ Between The Lines called Dust Off Your Classics. Our goal is to read one classic every other month. Well, I picked The Woman in White for my first book and DNF. It wasn't the best idea to pick a 600 page book for my first classic. After talking to Trish, we decided to read a classic together and use discussion questions to fuel conversation and make the book more exciting to read. We picked Jane Eyre to be the classic that we will read together. I think I read it (at least part of it ) a long time ago but I completely blanked it out-- if I did read it! So, I started it and haven't made much progress yet. Are you interested in reading some classics this year? Join our little reading challenge and pick any # of classics you'd like to read this year (even 1!) it's great fun and we will be hosting a giveaway if we get more participants! Head over HERE to the Dust off Your Classics Page.

Feel free to grab our button! 

Armchair BEA 2013: Introduction

• Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?  

Hi *waves* I'm Diamond, or Dee, as my friends like to call me. Yes, Diamond is my real name (I've got the birth certificate and drivers license to prove it). ;) I started my blog in late November of 2012. However, I think that's misleading because I didn't really start "blogging" until January 2013. I basically started because I needed an outlet for my obsession/love/addiction to books. 3 of my best friends (also book lovers) had moved within a few months of each other and I found myself lonely and without anyone to discuss books with. I was miserable! I didn't know how to blog (like, at all) so I googled everything and it's been a trial-and-error type of thang. I love it! It's a lot of work, and a full time hobby...but it's so worth it! ^_^ 

• Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures. 

I am blogging from Southern California! Specifically, I live in Los Angeles County. Hmmm random fact? I live two minutes from Chatsworth, CA-- the porn capital of the United States. :brow I really don't want to share pictures related to that (lol) but here's a picture I Instagram'd awhile ago...around my neighborhood. 

• What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013? 

I'm currently reading The  Last Olympian by Rick Riordan and really loving it. I've been making it a goal of mine for this year to catchup with a lot of YA series I hadn't finished; and to start several series as well. So far it's going well! My favorite book I've read this year is Daughter of Exile by Isabel Glass. Excellent fantasy novel that I randomly came across in the library. You can see my review HERE

• Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. 

I love cats. Specifically, my cat Sasha. She's my baby girl. :kitten

• What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? 

I love the bloggers! It's just really cool to be able to talk about my favorite thing (all things books!) with others who share my passion! I love that friendships grow so quickly and it's so cool to support each others' blogs and just really bond over our love of books. I also love that others buy as many books as I do and don't judge me like I'm a crazy person (unlike all my friends and family). >.<

-Are YOU doing Armchair BEA this week? Leave a comment below, I'd love to meet you & check out your intro post! I can't wait to meet and follow all you amazing book bloggers! ^_^

BTW--Ill be on twitter this week @DeesReads / @DiamondCronen and I will be doing the Instagram picture thing at some point. I am looking forward to my first ever Armchair BEA!