BBAW 2012: Highlight Of The Week
Posted 14th September 2012
Category: Book Blogger Appreciation Week Genres: N/A
18 Comments
As clichéd and cheesy and, I suppose, convenient, as this sounds, the highlight of BBAW this year for me was discovering new people and enjoying the community we have all created. Because each and every single blogger who talks of books, whether they subscribe to the title “book blogger” or not, has surely helped in keeping our community alive and vibrant.
This year there seemed a shift in the way everyone approached the daily posts. I know we didn’t have the awards and lots of people are happy at that, but there was also this sort of unspoken agreement wherein everyone put an individual spin on the topics so that there was perhaps more heart and soul in what was written than anything in the past. I found myself wanting to tweet most posts I read because they were just so wonderful and I hoped many people would read them. I didn’t because I think that would have annoyed instead, but it’s the fact that these posts caused that reaction in me – commenting on them wasn’t enough.
And whenever you reckon you’ve found the complete group of bloggers to suit your tastes there is always another that comes along. I think it’s a testament to our community that there are few completely defined lines between those who like different sorts of books, for example perhaps you don’t read YA but you come across a blogger whose writing style takes your breath away and suddenly the YA doesn’t matter, or you never thought you’d read non-fiction but so-and-so makes it sound irresistible. I suppose that describes the essence of book blogging, sharing our passion with others and hoping they’ll be intrigued to read a book we’ve loved.
Like everyone else I’ve added many blogs to my reader and I can already tell that a lot of them are going to be blogs I won’t be able to “live without”.
The interaction, the discovery, the way it made it easy to find people you might never have heard of otherwise, and the ability to introduce a good number of people at once to a blogger they may not have heard of.
I look forward to new friendships, new reads, and the year to come.
September 14, 2012, 8:15 am
I love it when you tweet links to good posts! It certainly improves my dull day and I always enjoy what you’ve shared.
September 14, 2012, 12:27 pm
This was my first year participating and this event rocked! I came across so many new to me bloggers who share my passion which made the week even better.
September 14, 2012, 3:44 pm
What a great post, Charlie! So glad I “found” you this week. I think you’re going to be one I “can’t live without” too!
September 14, 2012, 4:15 pm
Absolutely. BBAW this year was a huge success… and, it always is, but this year the success did seem to come about in a different way.
I’m one of those who actually misses the awards, because there’s a special something that comes with we book bloggers taking the time and making the effort to recognize publicly others in our community.
That being said, I LOVED the personality that shone through this year. As you said, everyone seemed to get on board with a collective decision to make this year’s BBAW a true community experience… and it was fantastic.
I’m very eager for next year!
September 14, 2012, 4:44 pm
You put it so eloquently. I felt similarly about the atmosphere of BBAW this year. It seemed more personal this year–like it was meant to be in the beginning, I think.
September 14, 2012, 5:57 pm
Yes! I love that when you think you’ve found all the blogs you need, there comes along another. Yeah for the ever-widening circle :)
September 14, 2012, 8:55 pm
I have to agree with everything you’ve said — this was my second experience with BBAW and I really so enjoyed the very personal experience I had with folks who participated — it felt very communal, collegial — and I am actually glad they got rid of awards. (Having been nominated for one last year, it made me feel odd to participate, like I was campaigning, and I’m glad I participated without any pressure, real or imagined.)
September 14, 2012, 9:16 pm
Well, exactly: you think you’ve seen all blogs of interest by now and then a whole load show up at BBAW that you haven’t seen before. Funny how that happens!
September 14, 2012, 10:43 pm
I agree…once you thought you had them all, then another fabulous blog comes along. It is fabulous…Love It.
I found so many great blogs and more wonderful books. This was my first time participating.
It is has been a fabulous week. I loved it all.
Stop by my blog if you like to see my Day 3, 4, and 5 responses if you like.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
http://silversolara.blogspot.com
September 15, 2012, 1:42 am
I thought I had been keeping up with the BBAW posts, but I somehow missed seeing your blog until Day #5! It was great to see everyone’s twists on the daily topics so that you never felt like you were reading the same things over and over.
September 16, 2012, 5:00 am
This is my first year to really participate, but I agree that all the posts I read were really heartfelt. It was a great chance to peer into the community.
September 20, 2012, 1:02 pm
aw, I’m sad I’ve missed it this year. I really need to go back and read all these great posts. I’m so “out of it” in terms of the book blogging community this year….
September 28, 2012, 9:00 am
Suzi: Thanks!
Melody: Thank you!
Alice: I will do in future, then :) I suppose I just thought the number of posts I wanted to tweet was a lot. Adam’s had to be tweeted though, it was just, well, awesome.
Tanya: I’m glad you participated because it allowed me to find you! Yes, there is a lot of passion in our community.
Marg: Thanks!
Heather: Thanks! Likewise, you’re in my reader now.
Adam: Yes, it was different. And it wasn’t an obvious easy-to-define difference either. There is that, I like it when awards highlight a blog and it’s less known so everyone wonders why they won the award and the fact helps us all. There was a great deal of personality and individuality, which is so awesome when we were all writing about the same things. Bring on next year!
Gautami: Thanks!
Literary Feline: Thank you! I like that thought – if this is the beginning then there is a lot to look forward to.
Melissa: Yes, there is always another, and far from being a negative “oh no not another one”, it is a really good thing because there is a place for everyone.
Audra: Interesting to hear your feelings as a nominee, I can’t say I’ve the experience you had, but I can see and understand what you’ve said. I’ve done three years now, but this year, yes, there was just something else, something really amazing.
Judith: I remain surprised at how there can be all these blogs that it seems no one has heard of yet everyone knows about BBAW. Our knowledge, no matter how many blogs we follow, is still so limited!
Elizabeth: A never-ending collection. I’m not Amy, so I hope it’s ok to say this, glad you enjoyed the week!
Laurie: The eternal “issue” of BBAW, so many posts. You’ve said it exactly – you never felt you were reading the same posts. That is exactly why it all felt so fresh and awesome.
Amy: Then I am likewise happy. Thank you for such an awesome event!
Liviania: I’d say this week provided a brilliant look at the good side of book blogging (which gets lost with drama) so in that way you participated at the right time :)
Rebecca: You’ll get back to it, we all have times when we have to dip out for a while :)
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SuziQoregon
September 14, 2012, 5:04 am
I love this post and heartily agree with everything you’ve said!!