Dear Readers,

I must admit that I have been rather remiss when it comes to spreading recommendations and/or blogger love to those blogs which I really enjoy and think should be shared.  Is this because I’m a big fat jerk?  No, it’s just because I’m kind of lazy with anything but book blogging.  In any event, I thought I would flex some new muscles today and post a few recognitions via this “award” system that is going around.  I could not get to everyone I wanted – I follow a lot of blogs; I love a lot of blogs.  I appreciate all my readers and I would sit here for hours expressing the positives of each blog I follow, if I could.  Please do not be offended if you’re not on this list – I don’t hate you, I promise.

I’m not doing this because I have to (because I don’t have to do anything, regardless of what your little rules say).  I’m doing this because I really do enjoy these blogs and I want others to know about them.  So, without further ado, I give you my “Versatile Blogger” awards!

1.  The Naughty Book Kitties – Brent from the Naughty Book Kitties is one talented due.  He reads a lot of YA, but I can’t hold that against him because, well, he’s a young adult!  The guy is hilarious – he posts bookish stuff, music stuff, and other fun life stuff, all with a sense of wit that would make Shakespeare blush. He’s interviewing authors, writing for GLBT publishing groups, and being recognized via news reports and such. If you want to put the “fun” back into that old adage (Reading is Fundamental”), visit Brent.

2. Dead White Guys – Bringing the wit and the funk back to literature reviews!  Ms. Anonymous at Dead White Guys is one of the most entertaining literature bloggers you will find out there.  I have said literature twice (three times now) because she reads and reviews mainly “the good stuff,” which I greatly appreciate in this book blog world, mainly run by YA and Romance readers (don’t argue – you know it’s true!).  I’m not bashing other bloggers by any means because, as you’ll see, many of the bloggers I follow here and on Twitter are YA/Romance/Gen. Fiction bloggers, and I read these genres as well (not really romance, I guess).  I’m just saying, it’s great to have a fellow literature and classics lover book blogger out there – I run to her reviews whenever their posted, even if she doesn’t quite share my obsession with the mighty Salinger.

3. Girls Just Reading – Jenn has a great collection of books.  I always enjoy a blog that is truly versatile, not just in the types of posts, but in the types of reading that the blogger engages in.  I try to be rather eclectic as well, to keep my horizons expanded (though, yes, I do stick mainly with classics and literature) – so I definitely appreciate it when I see it elsewhere.  Girls Just Reading also has a fantastic, easy to read layout, which I do appreciate.  She’s a LibraryThing Early Reviewer, which I participate in as well and which YOU should investigate if you like first shots at free books.

4. The Bookish Type – Casey is probably the first book blogger I started following on Twitter and so, naturally, The Bookish Type is the first book blog I followed as well.  It has not been a disappointment!  Casey’s prowess at blogging and her functional, funky template (as well as her great interaction with her followers) were what convinced me to move my blog from the private domain I was using previously, to the wonderful blogger-sphere, where I’ve met this big, happy, dysfunctional – I mean, super duper family of book lovers. She’s a smart, classy reviewer with a great selection to follow.

5. English Major’s Junk Food – As a fellow (former) English major, I can’t help but love and appreciate Ash’s blog about the turbulent life of those unfortunate few who study English in college.  One of the great things about this blog is that, though the writer is studying English, she hasn’t been sucked into the “snobbish” world of the literati.  It is possible for English majors to appreciate, enjoy, and understand general fiction as well as literature – and it’s also important! Read her “About Me” section to gain some insight on these points, which I happen to agree with fully.

6. Forgotten Bookmarks – Of course, I love this blog because its moderator has my dream job – working in a rare bookstore!  She gets to muse through all the greatest, smelliest, wonderful-est books all day long, and she gets paid to do it!  Also, the blog is extremely generous – there are giveaways of great books all the time.  The blog is devoted to the giveaways and to the general story-telling of one who works in a bookshop & sells books for a living – the good, the bad, the funny, the ugly, and the whatever.  Definitely a blog to get acquainted with!

7. Tif Talks Books – Another great blog if you’re looking for diversity. Tif reads quite a range of “stuff” – which is great for me because I’m always looking to engage in reading options which I have not yet experienced; it’s great following blogs which always talk about the books I love, like the classics, but I enjoy Tif Talks Books because there is such a great range!  She’s also got a great, clean layout which is wonderful to navigate and to look at. There’s nothing worse than going to a blog and immediately wanting to gouge my eyes out rather than look at the mess that it is any longer. She’s also a big supporter of local and independent authors – which is a huge plus. Her recent giveaway of these amazing Gothic-pop art inspired Alice in Wonderland tote bags sent her blog over the top.

8. Smash Attack Reads  – “Smash” reads pretty much everything I don’t (except we both have a love for dystopian fiction).  Despite our nearly polar-opposite tastes, I always enjoy her blogs!  She’s very engaging in dialogue, which is necessary for any “good” blog, and her layout and design are a great bonus.  Despite being engaged in her Master’s degree program, she is still finding time to keep up with her posts, and also to engage in other blogs as well; this shows real dedication and inspires me every day to carry on, even when I’m the only one reading the nonsense that I write.  Also, a great Tweeter (which sounds dirty, now that I read it out loud).

I hope you all take the time to visit one or some or all of these great blogs.  There’s something different to be gained from each one – all of the blogs are run by great, engaging, hard-working people with awesome talent. I consider myself lucky to have stumbled across their work – and I know you’ll be equally pleased.