On April 4, 2011, the very first post on Reading Reality went live. That was back when the blog was called “Escape Reality, Read Fiction” after a saying I found on a t-shirt. At the time I started the blog, the country was still reeling from the “Great Recession” and a book blog was a way to keep my hand in the book world – and give myself something to occupy me intellectually, during a period when we had just moved cities (AGAIN!) and jobs were hard to come by. And doesn’t it seem like the more things change, the more they remain the same?
Nine years and three cross-country moves later, the blog is still going strong!
My birthday happens to be April 5, hence the term Blogo-Birthday was born. I celebrate these anniversaries by giving stuff away – as a way of thanking all of my readers and followers who have found Reading Reality over the years and stuck around to see what happens next.
What happens this week will be a series of giveaways. Today I have two giveaways, one for a $25 Amazon Gift Card and one for $25 in books from either the Book Depository or, for those in the U.S. $25 in books delivered from the book store of your choice. If you have a local bookstore that’s doing mail order, I’ll have the books or a gift certificate sent to you from them. If you don’t have a local of your own, then you can choose from one of the big regional bookstores like Tattered Cover or Powell’s, or get your books from the Book Depository. But books you will get!
I love to read or bake.
I read, or watch TV.
I have been trying new recipes with stuff that is in my cabinets.
Happy early birthday and blog birthday! I’ve been dealing with things by reading more and watching more digital content. If I were to win, I’d love to have print copies of the Murder Bot Series by Martha Wells.
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Watching tv while cleaning
I would get my daughters some books
Reading and watching a series or movie.
I like to watch old tv shows and remember better times.
With the extra free time I have been taking some walks with my husband and have been reading a lot more.
Reading of course but finally got into purging closets and making piles of clothing & household items for the CVS (Vietnam Veterans Association).
As for what books I’d want if I win I have to take a long look at my wish list.
Sorry, it should say the VVA
My reality escape is the same as always: reading. But I’ve been a lot pickier than usual about what I settle on.
Happy Blogo-Birthday, Marlene. May there be many more of both.
I read, watch movies and series, bake and play games with the family
I play video games to keep my mind occupied.
Happy Blogoversary! Thanks for the giveaway. I usually read or reorganize something. A book a might like to have would be Dragonfly in Amber or Wires and Nerves Vol. 2; I can’t decide. 🙂 Cheers to more blogging years.
I would buy some books from Nicholas Sparks.
I’m definitely escaping into netflix
To temporarily forget about the outside world, I’ve signed up for online exercise classes and have completed them each day for a week now.
I would choose Spellhacker and How to Make Friends with the Sea.
Happy happy Blogo-Birthday!! These days my “go-to” escape is either books or Netflix. Thanks for the chance to win this generous prize.
Reading for sure, Christine Feehan, Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Jennifer Estep are some of my favorites!
Reading and playing with my cat.
I don’t know which book I’d pick. It would most likely be different than the one I’d pick today.
I read or play video games. And at this particular time, I avoid the news as much as possible. I check once in the morning to see if there is anything new I need to know about the situation and then I leave it alone for the rest of the day…hearing the same thing repeated over and over all day only increases anxiety and provides no essential information.
No particular books in mind but I’m a pretty eclectic reader so I’m sure I would have no trouble finding something
I have been escaping my watching movies and reading.
watching movies, cooking and napping.
Happy Blogo-Birthday!
What’s your “go-to” thing to help you escape from today’s reality for a bit? My go to is TV watching, paint by number set, gardening, and reading.
As for books on what I’d pick for that giveaway. Umm maybe Eli’s Triumph: A Reapers MC Novella & The Darkest Assassin: A Lords of the Underworld Novella.
I like to watch a comedy on TV
I read a good book or watch a favorite TV show.
My ‘go to’ is outside running which I always do year round. it’s my time to relax and have some needed ‘me’ time.
I love Reading sitting out in the sun with a nice cup of tea
reading – I concentrate & forget what’s going on in the world
I send some to my great-nephews – they are stuck at home & even the library is closed!
My Go To is board games with my family and my pups
Been entering more cool giveaways like these. Also listening to music. I’d choose a manga– promised no neverland.
Thank you so much for the awesome giveaways 🙂 My answers:
– I’m escaping from reality by reading lots of books and rewatching my favourite TV shows 🙂
– If I was lucky enough to win, I think I’d pick Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao 🙂
My go to is journaling, videoing read a-louds for my students and reading.
If I won, I would buy a couple children books for my classroom.
I’ve been watching tv shows, baking and taking walks while listening to audio books.
I’d probably choose some books from my favorite authors, like David Baldacci, Michael Connelly and Steve Berry.
My go to would have to be reading!
I would pick The Dilemma by B.A. Paris!
I always turn to reading.
I have been wanting to get Nicola Cornick’s The Woman in the Golden Dress.
I read.
Happy BLOGO-BIRTHDAY! 🙂
I’ve been reading, cooking, embroidering… anything to keep me distracted, otherwise I tend to freak out a bit
I’m not sure which books I would pick… I’ve been meaning to read Robin Hobb 🙂
Happy Blogversary! My days aren’t that much different than before – I read, read, then read some more. As for books, Crush the King by Jennifer Estep and the last 2 books in the Mercy Thompson series, Storm Cursed and Smoke Bitten, are at the top of my list.
Happy Blog-o-birthday! I’m not sure what I’d choose, maybe something by an author entirely new to me.
I would buy Amy Harmon’s new book coming out and probably find a few new authors. Thank you
Reading.
My go to is reading and watching tv. I’d probably pick something by Melissa Foster or something in the cozy mystery genre. Thank you for the chance to win!!
Happy blogoversary! Reading, not sure yet
I watch TV.
Marbles on stream and giveaways!
Thanks for sharing this giveaway with us!
I would get the Jude Deveraux books that I haven’t read!
Thanks again and congrats on your blog anniversary!
Happy Blogoversary, and Happy Birthday!!
1. I’m trying to read more, get outside when I can, watch shows that make me happy like Schitt’s Creek (I’d never watched it before).
2. As for what books I’d choose, I don’t know! Maybe Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab…or something newer?
-Lauren
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Happy blogiversary!
Reading and watching (funny) movies.
I would pick Cilka’s Journey and wWherever You Are by Krista & Becca Ritchie.
Probably Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell! And reading, of course 🙂
Reading, baking and binging on shows.
Happy blogoversary and happiest of birthdays!! 🙂
Congrats! My go-to’s are music, reading & swimming. Not sure of any specific books now.
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My Kindle!
The book that I would choose would be Am I The Only One by E.K. Blair
I escape reality by watching movies.
I would buy some autobiographies.
I read but I’ve also stepped up my workouts during this time.
I would buy some young adult books for my tween niece.
How interesting that you started this blog in the midst of needing to take a break from reality and now here we are … back to needing that again. I find that reading fast-paced books has helped a little, but it’s hard to keep our minds off of everything, right?
Happy birthday and blogoversary!!! And thanks so much for the chance to win your giveaway—if I won, I might choose Internment by Samira Ahmed and maybe A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat.
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I’ve been reading, reading, reading with a nap thrown in.
Thanks for the contest.
I’ll buy some books that are in a series that the first one was in Kindle Unlimited and got me wanting more.
Thanks for the contest.
I play on the internet or watch TV
Reading has always been my way to escape reality and feel better.
I’ve been playing Animal Crossing. 🙂
watch a movie
My escape right now is reading, taking walks, and cooking.
I would probably allow my kids to pick a new book if I won. They’re missing the libraries being open.
I escape into a book, of course!
I definitely enjoy escaping either into the tv or into a book! I recently read The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkens and could NOT put that book down – read it all in like 3 days. I have added a ton of her other books into my wish lists so I would get a couple of her books!
my go to is crafting or reading.
i have an amazon list a mile long but off the top of my head i have been wanting to get No Exit by Taylor Adams.
A good book always helps me escape.
I’d pick the latest Evanovitch.
I love to read a book! Helps me escape from reality for a while.
I would get some sweet romance books.
I enjoy YouTube’s relaxing music during those times.
I exercise, clean or read a book.
On the top of my list is Untamed by Glennon Doyle.
Reading helps me out. I like romance with suspense books.