Happy Blogday to me, happy blogday to me (etc, etc)

Well, kitties, today is my blogoversary.  Sort of.  I guess technically, it was sometime in June, which is when I started my blog.  One glorious, ramble-filled post of pointlessness, and then nothing for over a month.  When I started back up and stayed consistent with it, I erased that first post and now proclaim my second glorious, ramble-filled post of pointlessness as my first, and this, my blogoversary.

I had every intention of making a big hoopla of it, but that just didn't work out, so then I thought I'd just let it quietly pass -- but what's a blog without a little hoopla?

So here's a look back at my first year of blogging, with a little something something at the end.

Some of my favorite books I've blogged in this past year:

• Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
• all of the Mercedes Thompson books
• The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
• We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
• Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
• Soulless and Changeless by Gail Carriger
• Madapple by Christina Meldrum
• A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
• there were so many that I am going to make myself stop (The Hunger Games, Leviathan) here before I do too (How I Live Now, Savvy) many.

Some of the duds:

• Hush, Hush
• Belle and the Beau
• Betwixt
• The Luxe
• PPZ

Top 3 reviews I had the most fun with:

1. Hush, Hush.  Sometimes, it just feels so good to let it out.
2. Savvy.  The book was just a blast to read, so some of that came through in the review.  Plus, any review that has a list of cool words like 'catawampus' at the end makes me happy.
3. Soulless.  I had fun mimicking the tone of the book a bit in the break-down, and it was just plain fun to share with you.

Random good bits:

• This fun end of the year fill in the blank
• The first Helluva Halloween.  (Notice I said the first.  Numero 2 is a-comin'.)  The spotlights were probably the most fun part of that -- and according to Google Analytics, my Spotlight On: Haunted Houses is one of my most visited pages.  Still.  Not sure why, but people randomly love it. 
• All of the Banned Books Week posts I did last year.  I am a big BBW supporter, and I loved  getting a chance to talk about the most ridiculous bannings ever or my love of The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• Participating in the 12 Blogs of Christmas last year, and the Debut YA Book Battle this year.  It was a lot of fun to connect with other bloggers and be a part of something that helps generate blogger buzz and great book buzz.
• And obviously, Jane in June.  Though the work load was, um, yeah... the whole month was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to dive in again next year.  In fact, I had so much fun, I am even thinking of other things I like to do with you, including modeling this years Helluva Halloween after JnJ (ie, inviting your guest posts and general awesomeness, and having giveaways full of fantastic.)

Possibly one of the coolest things of this past year, though, is all of you.  I've had such a blast chatting books with you and getting to know you all.  I love seeing people be passionate about things (especially when those things are books), and I've gotten so many good recommendations that have helped swell my TBR Monster to the gargantuan beast it is.  So I blame you, but I thank you.
I've even got to meet a few of you.

So thanks for a great year!  Here's to many more!






























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