Well, I've known about this for about a week now, but since it's been officially announced, I'm happy to share that I've once again been chosen to participate in the Cybils Awards.
If you're new to the blog, then you may have never heard of the Cybils before. It's the Children's and Young Adult Literary Blogger Awards. It's a grassroots award that started back in 2006, in an attempt to balance book awards for kids and teens book between the literary merit of the Newberry and Printz awards to a popularity contest award. Thus, this is the first award that considers winners based on both literary accomplishment and "kid appeal".
I'll be back to joining the graphic novel committee this year, and I'm glad to see some new and familiar faces. I wasn't sure I would be able to participate this year due to an anticipated fuzzy schedule around the holidays this year, but I'm glad that things have settled down enough that I can participate.
The fun for the Cybils starts October 1st, and you can find out more about them by visiting their website.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Tuesday, September 09, 2014
Introducing a New Rating System
In light of my 8th anniversary earlier this week, I've decided to implement a new feature I've been kicking around for awhile: a new rating system.
At the time I set up my blog, my out of 10 rating system was one that made the most sense to me, since I really don't like giving half stars on the 5 star scale that is common on Amazon and Goodreads reviews. I was mostly trying to give an objective view of the book's merit overall, not necessarily how I felt about it.
Now I find my perspective about how I focus on the books I read is changing, and I really look first at how much I enjoyed the book, and then on how much merit it has.
Therefore, I am introducing a new system to how I rate reviews: the Leaf System. Details about the ratings will be shown below and added to the About Ratings page of the blog. Reviews completed before this date will still be show in the old style, so I don't expect to convert old reviews to the new system.
So here's the details on the new system. Books will be given a rating from 1 to 5 leaves:
These books are books that I would easily recommend to others and/or think about often.
These are books that are good, recommended, and worth reading, but have something missing that make them not worthy of 5 leaves. These books are good, but probably not re-reads.
These are books that are just okay, and have both good and bad qualities to them. I don't regret reading these books, but am not necessarily excited about them.
These are books that that I did not enjoy, but you as a reader might like them more than I did. This is the rating that I reserve for books where I can see the merit of a book, and how it might be enjoyable to a certain type of reader, but it just wasn't my thing.
I expect these reviews will not show up here very often, just because if I didn't enjoy the book that much, I usually won't take the time to write a review for it. But in the case that I do write a review for these books, that's what the 1 leaf rating is reserved for. These are books that I do not recommend in any way.
In addition to a leaf rating, there are 3 additional "awards" a book can earn based on the following criteria:
These are books that are rated 5 leaves and have something else about them that just makes them super spectacular, the best of the best. A gold leaf award is similar to the old 10/10 rating. These are books that probably will end up being on my Favorites list for awhile to come.
Sprinkles remind me of cupcakes, and like many cupcakes, these books are all sugar and fluff. Not much substance there, but it was fun to consume it anyway. The sprinkle award is granted to books that are not necessarily literary substantial or great, but more for pure entertainment purposes.
This award is given to books that are what I like to call "compulsively readable"; those books you tear through, edge-of-your-seat suspense, can't put down, etc. In the end, books with this award may only get a 3 leaf rating, but they definitely kept me going all night while I was in the middle of them.
So there you have it, a (hopefully) simplified version of the rating system. Or it seems simplified to me at least, so that's why I'm going to try it out for awhile.
At the time I set up my blog, my out of 10 rating system was one that made the most sense to me, since I really don't like giving half stars on the 5 star scale that is common on Amazon and Goodreads reviews. I was mostly trying to give an objective view of the book's merit overall, not necessarily how I felt about it.
Now I find my perspective about how I focus on the books I read is changing, and I really look first at how much I enjoyed the book, and then on how much merit it has.
Therefore, I am introducing a new system to how I rate reviews: the Leaf System. Details about the ratings will be shown below and added to the About Ratings page of the blog. Reviews completed before this date will still be show in the old style, so I don't expect to convert old reviews to the new system.
So here's the details on the new system. Books will be given a rating from 1 to 5 leaves:
5 leaves: I Really Enjoyed It
These books are books that I would easily recommend to others and/or think about often.
4 leaves: I Liked It
These are books that are good, recommended, and worth reading, but have something missing that make them not worthy of 5 leaves. These books are good, but probably not re-reads.
3 leaves: It Was Okay
These are books that are just okay, and have both good and bad qualities to them. I don't regret reading these books, but am not necessarily excited about them.
2 leaves: I Didn't Like It, But You Might
These are books that that I did not enjoy, but you as a reader might like them more than I did. This is the rating that I reserve for books where I can see the merit of a book, and how it might be enjoyable to a certain type of reader, but it just wasn't my thing.
1 leaf: Not Recommended
I expect these reviews will not show up here very often, just because if I didn't enjoy the book that much, I usually won't take the time to write a review for it. But in the case that I do write a review for these books, that's what the 1 leaf rating is reserved for. These are books that I do not recommend in any way.
In addition to a leaf rating, there are 3 additional "awards" a book can earn based on the following criteria:
The Gold Leaf Award
These are books that are rated 5 leaves and have something else about them that just makes them super spectacular, the best of the best. A gold leaf award is similar to the old 10/10 rating. These are books that probably will end up being on my Favorites list for awhile to come.
The Sprinkle Award
Sprinkles remind me of cupcakes, and like many cupcakes, these books are all sugar and fluff. Not much substance there, but it was fun to consume it anyway. The sprinkle award is granted to books that are not necessarily literary substantial or great, but more for pure entertainment purposes.
The Up All Night Award
This award is given to books that are what I like to call "compulsively readable"; those books you tear through, edge-of-your-seat suspense, can't put down, etc. In the end, books with this award may only get a 3 leaf rating, but they definitely kept me going all night while I was in the middle of them.
So there you have it, a (hopefully) simplified version of the rating system. Or it seems simplified to me at least, so that's why I'm going to try it out for awhile.
Wednesday, September 03, 2014
Waiting on Wednesday: Oh Yeah, Audrey!
This week's pick is something a little bit different for me, but for some reason I find it very intriguing:
Oh Yeah, Audrey! by Tucker Shaw
I'll admit it, I've never actually seen Breakfast at Tiffany's, although I've wanted to for a long time. Hmmm, maybe it's time to get around to doing that finally. But I love the idea of this book, and it looks like a cute and fun read. Straight up romance YA usually isn't my thing at all, but for some reason I am drawn to this one.
Oh Yeah, Audrey! will be released on October 14, 2014.
Currently available at Amazon.com in Hardcover
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Check availability on Paperbackswap.com
About the Book (copy from Goodreads.com): "It’s 5:00 a.m. on Fifth Avenue, and 16-year-old Gemma Beasley is standing in front of Tiffany and Co. wearing the perfect black dress with her coffee in hand—just like Holly Golightly. As the cofounder of a successful Tumblr blog—Oh Yeah Audrey!—devoted to all things Audrey Hepburn, Gemma has traveled to New York in order to meet up with her fellow bloggers for the first time. She has meticulously planned out a 24-hour adventure in homage to Breakfast at Tiffany’s; however, her plans are derailed when a glamorous boy sweeps in and offers her the New York experience she’s always dreamed of. Gemma soon learns who her true friends are and that, sometimes, no matter where you go, you just end up finding yourself.
Filled with hip and sparkling prose, Oh Yeah, Audrey! is as much a story of friendship as it is a love letter to New York, Audrey Hepburn, and the character she made famous: Holly Golightly."
I'll admit it, I've never actually seen Breakfast at Tiffany's, although I've wanted to for a long time. Hmmm, maybe it's time to get around to doing that finally. But I love the idea of this book, and it looks like a cute and fun read. Straight up romance YA usually isn't my thing at all, but for some reason I am drawn to this one.
Oh Yeah, Audrey! will be released on October 14, 2014.
Currently available at Amazon.com in Hardcover
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Check availability on Paperbackswap.com
Monday, September 01, 2014
The Shady Glade Turns 8
Amazing how time passes sometimes.
8 years ago, I decided that doing a blog about the books I read might be a fun thing to do. I had just gotten into the habit of writing reviews on Amazon, and I thought, hey, why not share it in other places too? And thus this little project of mine was born.
There's been a lot of ups and downs with this over the years, especially the last few years with escalating health problems and things like jobs and moving getting in the way of blogging more than I wanted them to. But I am trying to believe in looking towards the positive future from now, so I know I'll get through and continue this little hobby of mine. :)
Here's to another 8 years! Thanks for sharing it with me.
8 years ago, I decided that doing a blog about the books I read might be a fun thing to do. I had just gotten into the habit of writing reviews on Amazon, and I thought, hey, why not share it in other places too? And thus this little project of mine was born.
There's been a lot of ups and downs with this over the years, especially the last few years with escalating health problems and things like jobs and moving getting in the way of blogging more than I wanted them to. But I am trying to believe in looking towards the positive future from now, so I know I'll get through and continue this little hobby of mine. :)
Here's to another 8 years! Thanks for sharing it with me.
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