Today’s Book Blogger Appreciation Week prompt is: What have you read and loved because of a fellow blogger?
As a book pusher myself (I have been known to buy my friends books I love that they express interest in, to help increase the likelihood that they will actually read them), I’m all about discovering books through book bloggers who help spread awareness and buzz for the books they love.
Shannon at River City Reading was the driving force behind many of the great new-to-me fiction authors I picked up last year, such as The Shore by Sara Taylor, Dietland by Sarai Walker, and The Beautiful Bureaucrat by Helen Phillips. I like to discover new fiction authors through trusted recommendations, and Shannon has never disappointed.
My reading tastes align quite closely to Kerry at Entomology of a Bookworm, and I love her recommendations. I’m so glad she made me aware of The Dead Ladies Project by Jessa Crispin, a incredible travelog / guide to living more fully that was one of my favorite non-fiction books of 2015.
Lauren at Malcolm Avenue Review is one of my favorite people that I’ve never met (in person), and she writes incredibly thoughtful reviews. She was another source of one of my favorite non-fiction books of 2015, The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell.
I read and loved The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin thanks to buzz from the wonderful bloggers Vasilly and Julie from Smiling Shelves.
I read a delightful novella (The House of Paper by Carlos María Domínguez) that never would have hit my radar if not for a great post by Wordman.
I’ve also picked up (and enjoyed) so many popular books that I was on the fence about due to encouragement & enthusiasm from all across the book blogging world. In the past year these books have included Missoula by Jon Krakauer, Rising Strong by Brené Brown, The Martian by Andy Weir, Citizen by Claudia Rankine, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
This list mainly focuses on books I’ve discovered within the past year, and even with that limited scope I’m sure I’m forgetting sources of books I’ve read and loved. Not to mention sources of a million books added to my TBR piles. The moral of the story is: the book blogging community is incredible, and I’m so happy to be connected to so many wonderful people who obsess about the same things I do. </gushing>
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Main image background is Bookstore Cat by texasgurl on flickr. (CC BY-NC 2.0)
This is the first I have been aware of BBAW and what fun it seems to be. Next year I hope to be settled enough to participate. I have to say, this is a great way to appreciate our fellow bloggers and it totally makes my day to have recommended something I know someone has read and enjoyed because of a review. That’s the dream, right? I’m so happy you loved Juan Salvado as much as I did. I owe you many a recommendation because I’ve found so many wonderful things because of you!
It IS wonderful to have so many people gush over the books they’ve read. Especially for someone like me, who only has one lonely reader-friend in real life…
And the superlative for Best Use of Gif goes to EMILY!
Perfect gif is perfect!
This is a great list — and I found some new-to-me bloggers in the process! I’m SO glad you loved The Dead Ladies Project (I seriously will not stop talking about that book, I know, but it’s so good!).
These posts are so fun to read! And seriously, I think Shannon might grow my list the most of any blogger!
That IS the moral of the story and indeed the moral of this whole week! Thank you for articulating it so perfectly!
Book pushers unite! I totally agree on the endless number of books I’ve read because of other bloggers – an embarrassment of riches!
Heh, book pushers for sure! I’d say nearly all of my reading is because of book pushers. I sometimes manage a few discoveries of my own but most of the time I heard about it on someone’s blog first. :)
I couldn’t agree with your last paragraph more. That the best part! And I never knew I was a ‘book pusher’, but I am for sure.
I adore the photo of the cat and books. So cute! I love our book blogging community. I am glad to be a part of it.
Your list here is adding to me TBR! LOL
This week has lead to new blogs and new books added on the TBR!
Yup to all of this. I’ve never heard of Vasilly, Julie, or Wordman so visiting their sites now! Thanks!