Friday 13 June 2008

My first year of blogging!


Today last year I posted my first review here. Little I knew about the blogging world, I hardly knew what a blog was. I just wanted a place where to write my thoughts about my reading and possible share them with other book lovers...And that's exactly what I've done, although I would have never guessed I would sign up to reading challenges, giveways, blog carnivals, blog tours, etc... A new world has opened up for me! Now I barely visit websites anymore, and I rather jump from blog to blog to see what other people are saying everyday. I would have never thought to fall behind with my reviews either. At first I would just write my review right after finishing the book, but now life always come in between me and my reviews and I seriously need to catch up :P

I really love blogging and reviewing, and buying books for friends, and that's why I want to celebrate my first blogaversary with a fabulous giveway!
Since this is about me and my reviews, I've decided to give away 3 BOOKS THAT I'VE REVIEWED, to 3 lucky people, anywhere in the world. You just need to leave a comment and if your name is drawn you can pick any book from my list of reviewed books. Or you can choose it straight away in your comment, it doesn't matter.
To help me spread the word you can post about in your blog, and I'll throw in your name twice:)

You can see the list of reviews on my side bar, including the picture book reviews.
For last year's list look here. Only those with a link were reviewed, obviously :D
You have one week to play, the deadline is Friday June 13th at Midnight GMT +1 (Uk and Ireland Time). I will draw the winners the next day.

49 comments:

Sondra said...

Great blog! I'd love a copy of The Declaration by Gemma Malley.

Jeane said...

Happy blogversary! (is that how you spell it?) I don't want to enter, thanks, just wanted to say congrats!

Ana S. said...

Happy blogiversary, dear Valentina! I am very glad you joined the blogging community :D

I'll spread the word about your giveaway in my next post. If I win, I'd like a copy of War of the Oaks (surprise, surprise :P)

Alessandra said...

Happy Blogiversary, Valentina!
I'd like to win a copy of "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman.
And I blogged about your little contest here:
http://alessandrasplace.blogspot.com/2008/06/new-giveaway.html

Anonymous said...

Happy Blogivesary and many happy returns! I LOVE your reviews of the picture books - if I win, I'd love a copy of one of your favorites...

raidergirl3 said...

Congratulations! Has it only been one year? I just started down the list and realized you've read some great books already this year. Too bad the Camilleri is in Italian!
I can't decide right now.

Happy reading!

Dewey said...

Happy blogiversary! I didn't realize you were blogging for less than a year, because your blog already seemed so experienced when I discovered it.

I'd love to have my name entered in the contest. :) And I'll go spread the word.

Becky said...

congrats on your blogiversary!

As to what book I might like if I win...I can't choose at the moment :)

chrisa511 said...

Happy blogiversary Valentina!!! You have such a great blog and it seems like you've been around even longer than a year! Hope you stick around for many more :)

raych said...

Count me in! And may you have many more cosy years bloggin bout books.

Marg said...

Happy Blogiversary!

I enjoy coming here and reading your reviews! Keep up the great work.

Anonymous said...

Have a great blogiversary. May you have many many more.

Please do enter me too!

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

Oh please enter me! I'd love to win Persopolis or The Book of 1000 Days. Thanks for the great contest!

Michelle said...

Happy blog-anniversary! It is always very exciting... Well, I can't even remember when I started blogging, but I've only been book-blogging for three years and I can't believe how rewarding it has been!

If I happen to win something, I'd really like it to be The God of small things by Arundhati Roy.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to be entered! Although I can't decide which book I'd choose...

Bunny B said...

Happy blogoversary Valentina!!! :)
Woohoo!

xxx

Anonymous said...

Happy blogiversary! May there be many more!

Anonymous said...

Happy blogiversary! May there be many more!

I'm like Heather; it's hard to choose! ;)

Bunny B said...

Hi Valentina. I blogged HERE to spread the word :)

bunnybox9 at gmail . com

robynl said...

Happy Blogiversary!!
I'd like to win Posey by Linda Newbery and Catherine Rayner.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

mariel said...

Happy Blogaversary Valentina! Yours is definitely one of my favourites! I'd love to enter your giveaway, and I'll go spread the word! Don't forget to make a wish when you blow out the candle!

valentina said...

sondra, thank you! good choice for the book ;)

jeane, I've no idea how you spell it, but it seems that blogiversary is the most used and accepted so I think I will go with that... and thank you:)

Nymeth, I'm really glad too:)
eh eh I'd be honored to send you War for the oaks, so good luck!

alessandra, thank you for spreading the word, Stardust is great!

Ken, thanks so much, ok if you win I'll have to think about it very carefully :P

Raidergirl, I know, it seems so much more than a year, because it has changed so much in my life...
Have you read all the Camilleri's? cause it think that post kind of counts for all of them ;)

Dewey, wow, thank you! I never thought of myself as experienced, on the contrary, I feel like there's so much to learn from bloggers like you...I'm only starting:P thanks for spreading the word!

Becky, thanks! and no worries, there's no rush, you can choose later if you win!

Chris, thank you!!! I hope so too! I've no intentioned of stopping right now:)
So, I'll enter you for the contest right?

raych, you're in! and thank you!

marg, thanks! and please, keep coming here visiting:D
Will I enter you as well?

Guatami, thank you so much, you're in!

Heather, great choices, I loved Persepolis so much, I can't wait to review it!!

Michelle, wow you can't remember? Must be a long time then:P three years seem a lot to me already but I hope I can celebrate my third blogiversary here with another giveaway!

Heatherlo, that's ok! no rush, I'll enter you name and we'll see ;)

bunny b thank you! and thanks for spreading the word:)

wordlily,no problem, you just need to enter, good luck!

Robynl, thank you and great choice, I love Posy so much!

mariel, yours is one of my favourite too:) thanks for spreading the word!

Sprite, thank you!!

Clare - The Super Mommy Club said...

Happy Blogiversary!

I'm new here so I'm going to pull up a chair and visit awhile :)

Marg said...

Enter me for sure! Not sure what book I would choose, but I'm sure I will be able to figure it out if necessary1 LOL!

The Bookworm said...

Happy Blogversary! Youve got a great blog :o)

http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Happy blogaversary!

If I win, I'd like a copy of The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

What a great idea, how fun! Happy blogiversary!

Anonymous said...

What a great idea!! Happy Blogiversary!!

I'll spread the word about your contest at my blog next update!

Rebecca Reid said...

I'd love to read Shannon Hale's Book of a Thousand Days!

tinylittlelibrarian said...

Happy Blogiversary! Like other commenters, though, I'm surprised it's only been a year! I'm so glad you've found such pleasure in the book blogosphere - I can relate, I have, too!

(If I'm lucky, I'd love to get The Declaration.)

I've mentioned you here.

tanabata said...

Happy blogiversary! What a fun idea for a giveaway. I'd love to be included in the draw and I'll mention it in my next post.

Melody said...

Happy Blogiversary, Valentina! I always enjoy reading your reviews, especially the picture books! ;)

dd said...

Whoa! Happy bloggiversary/blogaversary! =D CONGRATS! This contest sounds sooooo awesome! =) I never win anything anyway but I might as well take a stab at it, lol!
Thanks
~Lucy D =)

(Btw, I think your blog looks FANTASTIC! The colours and everything work really well together! I tried to go blogskin shopping but I couldn't find anything!)

valentina said...

mrs s, welcome, I hope you enjoyed my blog!

Naida, thank you:)!!

Shana, great choice, I think everybody should read that book;)

michelle, thanks you very much:) I'm glad you like my idea!

Monica,that's great, thank you!

rebecca, yes, that's a great one too:)

Tinylittlelibrarian, in a way I'm suprised too,because I almost can't remember how my life was before blogging lol!
thanks for mentioning it!

tanabata, glad you're in! and thanks for spreading the word:)

melody,thanks! and I enjoy writing about them:)

softindierocker, thank you!!! it's always good to try, you never know;)
I've used a blogger's template, and then played around with colours. the name is Minima black. I'm happy you like it!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! and Happy Blogiversary!

Janet said...

Happy Bloggiversary! What a generous person you are :-)

Anonymous said...

Hmm, I'll have to spend some time browsing, as it looks like you've reviewed tons of great stuff. Thank you for running the contest!

chrisa511 said...

Valentina, Yes, please enter me...sorry, just came back and saw your question...I've been such a stranger in blogland lately, it's horrible :/

Anonymous said...

Happy blogiversary :).

Please count me in for your giveaway. If I were to win I would like to read Neil Gaiman's Stardust.

Archana
archuprabhu[at]hotmail[dot]com

Amanda said...

Happy Blogiversary. I love reading your reviews and you have a great site. If you can part with it, The Book Thief, but if not just pick for me...you obviously have good taste :)

Lenore Appelhans said...

Congrats! I would really like a copy of Finding Violet Park - great review!

Carl V. Anderson said...

What a great way to celebrate your blog's birthday! Happy 1st year!!! It is indeed very fun to be a blogger and the community is marvelous.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Happy Blogiversary! Mine is coming up in a week or so--like you I had no idea what to expect. In so many ways--for many of the reasons you expressed--blogging has been such a great experience.

I'd love to enter, but I don't have a book choice yet. :)

Harry Markov said...

Happy Blog aniversary! I am quite new to your blog and found the giveaway through other links. I would love to enter and have the chance to win The Book Thief!

penryn said...

I'd love to be entered into your contest and congratulations on a great year!

Serena said...

What a great idea. Happy Blogiversary! Mine is today, actually.

If I can enter still, The Bell Jar is one of my favorites, but my copy has been lost.

I will post my contest this weekend, so feel free to enter that on Savvy Verse & Wit.

valentina said...

teamirc,thanks you:) thanks for stopping by:)

janet, thanks! nahh I don't feel generous, I just like buying books and any excuse it's good:P

devourogbooks, hope you had a nice time browsing the blog!

chris, don't worry! it was just me, wanting to be 100% sure, cause other people said they didn't want to take part in the contest!
Hope you'll have more time for blogging in the future, best wishes for everything!!

Archana, you're in! good luck:)

Amanda, I won't part with my copy, oh no! I''d get you a new one!

Lenore, thanks! good choice!!

carl, it is indeed, I hope I will have many more blogiversaries:D

trish, happy blogiversary to you too! I didn't know you were a "newbie" like me:D

daydream, welcome! the book thief is a popular choice, and for good reasons!!

jessica, thanks for visiting! you'r e in!

serena, wow so many blogiversaries in june! summer must inspire blogging:p
I'd be happy to enter your contest!

Stephanie said...

Happy Anniversary!! Time really flies when you are having fun, doesn't it??

Zhian said...

Happy blogiversary!!!
Love your blog...