Top Ten Things That Make My Life as a Reader/Book Blogger easier

With thanks to The Broke and the Bookish

1. The top thing that makes my life easier as both a reader and a book blogger is Goodreads. Most people already are aware of and make use of this resource, it's great for keeping track of books I've read, seeing several reviews of a particular book in one place, and getting information about upcoming releases from favorite authors.

2. Before I joined Goodreads I used a notebook my nephew gave me to keep track of all the books I read. I started it in 2009 and it's still good for jogging my memory:

3. My e-reader has made my life a lot easier. I received it as a gift and was initially resistant to using it as it signaled the death of print, independent bookstores, etc. etc. but I have become a convert. I've never been too sentimental about books as physical objects, mainly because growing up my mother hated any kind of clutter and would have me do a book purge annually. Now I have a whole library with me to carry wherever. Of course I still buy regular old books and use library books but the e-reader has saved my back by not having to carry quite so many heavy boxes when moving. It also cut down the chances of my family turning me in for a Hoarders intervention.

4. Bloglovin - This is my go to for compiling a feed of blogs to read.

5. A Turn to Learn - Resource for basic tips and blogging how-to's.

6. Blog Bulk - Basic tips for using Blogger.

7. The Strand - I love this bookstore, I've spent hours there. I especially love the basement level even though it's hot down there in the summer. It's not as crowded as the rest of the store can be so I can look through the shelves of literary criticism and the cheap paperback table without so many awkward squeeze-bys in the narrow lanes between shelves. Of course this only makes it easier to add to my TBR pile and deplete my cash, so I make these trips sparingly.

That's all for today, I'll probably discover more things as I get deeper into blogging :) This site's definitely still under construction.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013