TGIF: Giving Thanks

Friday, November 18, 2011









TGIF is a new(ish) feature at one of my absolute favourite blogs, GReads!, hosted by the lovely Ginger. It's a way to celebrate the impending weekend, and answer fun questions. Most of all though, you get to know a wee bit more about all those awesome bloggers you meet. So, what are you waiting for? Do your own post and head on over to link up!

Which books are you most thankful for receiving from other bloggers, friends, family members, or publishers?

This is one of those answers that I could ramble on repeatedly hour after hour, simply because of the sheer generosity of publishers, authors and other book bloggers. It's truly a wonderful community that shares and gives back to one another in a spirit of kindness and a genuine love of the written word. Rather than ramble on forever and ever though, I wanted to point out the two books that I received this year that utterly blew my mind in every way, shape and form.

I remember when I first highlighted this way back when as a WoW, and was miraculously entered into the incredible Michelle Hodkin's spontaneous giveaway to give back. Well, I won, and I received an art print and the first two chapters, which killed me.

Then, her incredible publicist was kind enough to send me my very own ARC, and the book was arguably the most incredible I've read this year. I'm so incredibly thankful and grateful for having received The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer through this blog for review not only because it's an amazing book, but it's given me a chance to get to know Michelle, who is an amazing, amazing person!

I've never had a thing for contemporary fiction at all. It's never been for me, and I've always found it a bit too girly-girlish for my taste. I kept hearing from various bloggers that this one was one of the best though, so when the opportunity arose for me to participate in a blog tour and read Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar, naturally, I was sold.

Well, consider me blown away. This is one of those books that creeps up on you and steals your heart before you have time to flinch away. It's utterly captivating, and it breathed new life into my take on contemps. I'm so thankful for other bloggers opening my eyes to new books like this gem.




Plus, I would like to take this moment to thank all publishers, authors and incredible book bloggers for helping spread the love for books to all of us. Thank you all for your immense generosity, and thank you for being a part of this book blogging community!

22 comments:

  1. I know it's unbelievable, but I haven't read Mara Dyer yet. I went to the tour. I spoke to Michelle Hodkin, she even signed my son's cast (broken foot). But I'm savoring it for a time when I need a fantastic read. And when I can take my time. I'm thinking between Chrimstmas and New Years and you YOU are the one that has had me chomping at the bit to read this one ever since you put it on the radar a million days ago!

    And yes, Raw Blue, well, what can you say about that one. It stands alone among contemporaries. Thanks to Bibliophile Brouhaha for loaning me her copy.

    And thanks for all your recommendations. My bookshelves are overflowing with books like Darksong and Rules for Survival from suggestions from you. Thanks!

    Heather

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  2. New follower from Follow Friday! Great blog you have here!

    Alexandra~
    http://www.wordsoftheworlds.blogspot.com

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  3. I really want Mara Dyer sounds really good, new follower, here's mine http://headstuckinabook.blogspot.com/2011/11/feature-and-follow-friday-5.html

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  4. Hopping through. I still need to read Raw Blue. It's so sad that I haven't gotten to it.
    My Hop

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  6. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer sounds AMAZING. I so want to read it, and I've only heard good things. Lucky you!

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  7. i'm so nervous about mara dyer. i've read such mixed reviews about it, and normally that drives me to pick up a book, but for some reason i'm petrified of disliking this one. this has never happened to me before, and i don't know what my problem is! shame on me! i just think all of the post-bea twitter hype got to me and made me so fearful. i just read a review a couple of days ago where the reader didn't think it was all that great and so now i'm like WHAT ON EARTH??? my library doesn't have a copy, but the reviews are so mixed that i don't really want to spend the money on it either. which is so sad because i really WANT to love this book. i'm just scared to take the leap. eeek this is so unlike me. :-/

    knowing you love it makes me feel better. it really does.

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  8. That's a great question, though the answer seems to change each time I get a new book in the mail. But I'm most thankful to the wonderful person who donated a box of books to my classroom library. I would never have entered--or known about--that contest if it wasn't for bloggers.

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  9. I wish I could get a copy of Raw Blue! I may have to put that on my Christmas list this year. It sounds amazing.

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  10. Right on :) Cool ones I need to read :)

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  11. I don't need to tell you how I feel about both of these because I think you know. EPIC! I would sleep with both of these under my pillow if the hard corners wouldn't keep me up at night, and both Kirsty and Michelle are such amazing people. Happy Friday Melissa:)

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  12. I agree - as a newbie I can already say the book blogging community is so awesome!

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  13. Happy Friday! just blogging by.

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-blogger-hop-ff_18.html

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  14. Mara Dyer was hands down the best book I read all year!!! Michelle Hodkin is amazing, and I can't wait for the next one!!!

    Anna @ Literary Exploration

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  15. I'm completely with you on Mara Dyer. That book was just incredible! I'm thankful to have snagged a copy at BEA. :)
    As for Raw Blue... if only it weren't so difficult to obtain Aussie books!

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  16. I agree! It amazes me sometimes how incredibly generous everyone in the book blogging community is. I feel quite privileged to be a part of it :)

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  17. You are so right about the spirit of the book blogosphere. I've heard about so many wonderful books that I never would have known about, and enjoyed countless postings about reading and the publishing world.

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  18. Okay, I admit it. I bought Mara Dyer literally the day it came out. But I haven't read it. I'm just scared it will suck. Which is retarded since I did the same when Divergent came out and it so didn't suck. So I'll be reading this one soon. Hopefully.

    Thanks for the heads up on Raw Blue. I like some contemporary books, not all, but I'm pretty sure I'll like this one.

    Have a great weekend :)
    ♥ Trish
    Just a YA Girl

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  19. Never read Raw Blue but The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was awesome!

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  20. Hey Melissa! I agree Raw Blue is amazing! if I could I would buy several copies and spread the love!

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  21. Excellent picks, although I still haven't read Raw Blue. I know, I deserved to be slapped. o_o I really need to pick it up! I've heard so many good things about it.

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