Top Ten Books Every 'Dabbler' Should Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Considering how I had little clue what to do for this list when I first saw it, I am super happy with what I came up with. And really excited to share all these with you. You see, instead of making a list of one specific type of book, I've decided to suggest books for those new to the genre - or maybe people that haven't read a lot in the genre. Ergo 'dabbler' in that we dabble in various genres. Really excited for this and I hope I can get you some suggestions!

Six Blogging Tips

I'm hardly an expert on this, but I do have a few tips and advice for those starting out or in need of assistance. These are, obviously, only my opinion. There is no 'right' way to blog - nor is there a 'wrong' way. Besides, you put ten different bloggers in a room and ask for advice, you'll get fifteen different opinions. ;)

Be Yourself: This may sound like advice your parents would give you, but I think that genuine people are just so much better to hang around. It might take you awhile to find who you are when you blog (it took me over a year) but don't try to be someone else. You are you and you have a unique way of looking at the world. Don't try to stifle it to be more like someone else.

Leave Links: Personally, I don't spend much time at blogs that refuse to leave links to the book they're talking about. Yeah, it's a little more work, but I grantee there will be readers out there that appreciate an easy way to find the book you're talking about.

Be Careful With Your Colors: I have vision problems and there is nothing worse than trying to read white letters on a dark background. Bright colors will also cause problems for some people. I'd also suggest avoiding colors that clash or just too much color in general - but the latter is more personal preference.

Develop A Schedule: It's okay to deviate from it, but if you have a way that you can keep track of what you want to post and what you've already posted, there's a good chance you'll find it easier to post what you want when you want. Also, don't be afraid of 'stockpiling' posts. If you feel really creative today, go ahead and work on a post you won't have to post for weeks and save it.

Use Templates: I have a post titled 'Mis' that I have saved on my blogger that I will never post. On it I have the url to all those little banners you see at the top of my posts, as well as the header for my Top Ten Tuesday posts and a template for my book reviews that just has to be filled in with the information specific to that book. Because I now have everything in one place, it has made getting posts together a lot easier.

Interact: I'm much more likely to be a repeat visitor to your blog if you reply to comments. (It's also great when you take the time to visit the commenters blog!) I started blogging both to talk about books and to interact. I love getting to talk to people and make new friends and have conversations about books. I really think this is something good to encourage more people to visit you - and I personally find it rewarding. Of course, I totally understand how sometimes you just don't want to or have the energy for it. But if you make the effort, I almost guarantee you'll get more commenters/readers. (Also, consider using something like intensedebate or disquis if you don't already, so that you're comments aren't just floating around in cyber-space but actually get to the commenter.)


So, there we have six tips that I personally have found useful. Of course, everyone has their own opinion as to what makes a good blog, so whether you follow all of these, some of them, or none, I hope you have fun blogging!

Demographic?

This year I've been keeping track of what I'm reading by using a spreadsheet. I didn't make it myself, but found a really awesome one from another book blogger. Honestly, I love it. But I've developed a bit of a problem.

There's a section for demographic that has a dropdown menu for Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult and Adult. But, you see, I'm having a terrible time deciding which books are which.

Sure, I think MG books are pretty self explanatory. For me, pretty much any book with a thirteen year old or younger is MG. That seems clear enough. But the others have so much overlap that, more often than not, I'm left confused.

For one thing, there's this huge crossover appeal between YA and Adult. But, also, so many of the fantasy books I read have characters that are between 17 and 19 years-old - even if they are directed towards adults - but that's usually the age of YA or NA characters.

So then I get to thinking that, maybe, I shouldn't base it on age, but on the struggles that the characters are going through. Things like finding your place in the world is usually more of a YA or NA plot, for example. But…that doesn't always work, either.

For instance, the book that inspired this post, The Girls at the Kingfisher Club is about finding your place in the world and being independent for the first time - and the bond of sisters. This and the Goodreads 'genre's it was listed under, all made me think it would be a YA book. However, the main character is twenty-seven during a good part of the book.

Definitely older than YA. And, even older than what I usually hear called NA. But the plot and themes didn't feel like an Adult story, either. (I eventually shelved it as NA and am mostly happy.)

Then there's the absolutely awesome Air Awakens which I loved and adored - but was going to shelve as Adult. See, even though the main character is only seventeen, she's not experiencing freedom from her family for the first time. She's already mostly found her place in the world (at least, at first). And, I'll admit, the characters act like adults. However, when reading about the author at the back of the book, it said that this is her first young adult fantasy series.

So, I reshelved it to YA, though I still feel it's really a Adult fantasy series.

Before this spreadsheet, I'd never really given much thought to demographic. If the book sounded interesting, I'd just read it. It didn't matter to me if it was directed to someone half my age - or twice as old as me.

Have you ever experienced not knowing what demographic to call a book? Or, do you not ever need to and pretty much ignore the demographic? Or something else entirely? I'd love to know how you deal with it!

Take Five: Series I Want To Finish This Year

As some of you might know, one of my big goals this year is to finally clear up a few of those series that I've read a couple of books from and...kind of have been ignoring the rest. I decided what better time than now, when the newness of the challenge has worn off, but while I still have plenty of time to complete my goals, to make a list of five series I want to finish this year?

Series: Feyland
Book/s I Need to Read:
The Twilight Kingdom
Author: Anthea Sharp

Series: Rogues of the Republic

Book/s I Need To Read:

The Prophecy Con

& The Paladin Caper

Author: Patrick Weeks

Series: Starbound
Book/s I Need To Read:
This Shattered World
& Their Fractured Light
Authors: Kaufman & Spooner

Series:The Legend of Eli Monpress

Book/s I Need to Read:

The Spirit Eater &

The Spirit War &

The Spirit's End

Author: Rachel Aaron

Series: The Mandrake Company
Book/s I Need To Read:
The Ruins of Karzelek
& Mercenary Courage
& The Captain's Daughter (Novella)
Author: Ruby Lionsdrake

Review: The Dreamer's Curse by Honor Raconteur

The Dreamer's Curse by Honor Raconteur

Series: The Artifactor #2
Genre: Fantasy
Add on Goodreads
My review of The Child Prince - book #1

With an un-cursed prince and king back on the throne, Sevana goes back to her usual routine without worry. But her peaceful days don’t last for long. A hunter from a small northern village comes to her, pleading for help. The people in his village are disappearing during the night, transported great distances in their sleep, and they don’t know why. 

Transportation magic such as this hasn’t been seen since the days of great magic, hundreds of years past. On top of that, the power levels that Sevana sees are insanely high—far higher than any modern magic can reach. Sevana drops everything, racing toward the small village of Chastain, praying that she can find the source for all of this and stop it. 

Otherwise, the magical backlash might destroy Windamere.

Top Ten Author Websites I Love

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

I originally wasn't even going to make a list for today's topic because...well, I'm not very social with authors. I have many reasons for this, but I don't really interact with them and I don't follow any on twitter. However, there are a few authors whose blogs I do love visiting now and then. So, I thought I'd list them up here. Of course, there's quite a bit fewer than ten, but these are the blogs that I do love.

April TBR

I honestly don't know what I want to read. Seriously, it's like maybe if I pick enough books, I'll have something there that catches my attention. Maybe?

Fire Falling by Elise Kova

The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes

I know most of these books are sequels, but they are the ones that I really want to read. And the lower three are all from my spring TBR, so if I manage to get them read, it'll be looking good.

What are you reading this month? Any TBR plans, or even just that one book that you HAVE to read?