Today is the LUCKY 13th anniversary of the very first post on Reading Reality, then called “Escape Reality, Read Fiction.” I think the t-shirt that inspired that name is still hanging in the back of my closet.
I’ve been referring to this as the “Lucky 13th” anniversary because I do feel lucky to have lit on the idea of a blog thirteen years ago, and even though blogs are not the force that they were back then, I still feel very lucky every day to have meaningful work to do – even if I had to invent the job myself!
I feel especially lucky this year to be a recipient of the ALA RUSA CODES Louis Shores Award for “excellence in book reviewing”. The award is in recognition of my work here at Reading Reality, my contributions to Library Journal, and my service on several of the Reference and User Services Division’s adult book awards committees over the past 11 years and counting.
And I always feel lucky, that all of you who read my reviews and comment on my posts – and participate in the giveaways! – are out there making this whole thing worthwhile. I appreciate all of you more than I can say.
Which is why Reading Reality’s blogoversary, my own birthday tomorrow, and this whole entire week, are Hobbit birthdays. Meaning that I’m giving away presents every single day as part of the celebration.
Without further ado, in thanks and appreciation to all of you, on this fourth day of my Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week I have a giveaway, just as I have every day this week and will tomorrow. Today’s giveaway is for a $25 (US) Gift Card for Amazon or to a bookstore of your choice if you have a local that sells gift cards over the interwebs. (If you live outside the US and have a local Amazon, the gift card will be the equivalent of $25 US from your country’s Amazon.)
I also have FOUR $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Cards to give away as well. These are physical cards that I’ll mail to the lucky recipients. They are a lucky find from one of my desk drawers, but they are unused and don’t expire so several people will get the benefit of them this year.
As always, from the bottom of my bookish and cat-loving heart, my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who has been part of this journey. There’s more to come!
I love the reviews of the books.
Congrats on 13 years! I don’t usually comment but I love your reviews. My 13th is later this year, so we’re sort of buddies in that way😁
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted..THE GATHERING by C.J. Tudor – Review
It’s been 13 years? I know I have been subscribed to your newsletter for some time. Congratulations! I enjoy your reviews and I always have such fun with the giveaways.
The wonderful reviews, the giveaways and all of the great features. Congratulations on 13 years!
So many congratulations! I’m so glad you started this blog!
I like the reviews and also stacking the shelves, both let me know what new books are out there. Congratulations on your anniversary!
I also enjoy your reviews but I must admit I’m addicted to the giveaways too. Congratulations on 13 years, I think I’ve been in the loop for 10 or 11 of them. Have a great day!!
I love the book reviews.
Happy 13 years! I remember way back when you first started! Been a follower for a long time! I enjoy your reviews and blog tours! Wishing you many, many more years to come!
I love your weekend updates. It has everything there and kitty fun too.
YAYYY! Happy blogiversary 🙂 My fave feature is your weekend updates 🙂
Happy Blogo-Birthday! I so love your blog and come to it every single day. I love learning about new books and I love the giveaways. Thank you so much for all you do and God Bless.
Happy blogiversary! Animal pics
Happy blog-iversary !!! It is a really amazing achievement, especially after the past few years where everything went topsy turvy! My favorite part is the reviews – I always enjoy getting new recommendations
My favorite feature is the reviews. Some of the books you write about are ones I have never heard of, it’s nice to get some recs that way.
Happy Birthday!
I enjoy the giveaways and reviews!
Stacking the shelves is a wonderful feature.
I love the reviews & giveaways. Congratulations !! 💜
Book reviews. I love reading but have such a hard time wading through the thousands of books out there, I really appreciate when people give honest reviews!
I like the book reviews. Happy blogoversary!
Congrats. My favorite feature is the contests and giveaways.
I really can’t choose just one book, I’ve found so many great ones through you ! I’d love more mystery reviews and thrillers
I love the reviews so I can learn about more books I want to add to my TBR pile.
Stacking the Shelves & giveaways!
The book excerpts are wonderful!
The giveaways and reviews
I always trust your reviews. Thanks for all you do. Happy Happy Joy Joy
I enjoy reading your book reviews.
I love learning about new books.
I love learning about new authors and books!
The book reviews of course! I’m always looking for new books
I like the reviews.
I love learning about the new book releases through the reviews.
Happy 13 Year Blogiversary!! I really enjoy the look of your blog and the review’s.
Angela (Angel’s Book Nook) recently posted..Audiobook Review: Archangel’s Sun (Guild Hunter #13) by Nalini Singh (Narrator: Justine Eyre)
Congrats on the 13 years! Hope more sweeps
I love the book reviews.
I always like reviews and I also like the library connection. I’m a huge library fan.
I enjoy the giveaways and reviews!
I love the different reviews!
Happy 13 Year Blogiversary! I like the reviews and giveaways!
The book reviews are my favorite.
Happy blogoversary and wishing you many more amazing to come!!
I love stacking the shelves and reading reviews.
Happy Blogo-Birthday!! I really appreciate and look forward to your reviews..and the neat giveaways! Thanks so much for the opportunity. 🙂
Book reviews.
I love the giveaways and reviews!
I love your reviews. I have a list of books from the reviews that I am going through, some from the library and on KU. Happy 13!
I love the book reviews! Congratulations!
Happy Blogo-Birthday! I enjoy the reviews and the giveaways.
Woohoo Happy Bday
I love the reviews especially when you feature an author that is new to me. There are so many good writers and I know I will never find all of them but I keep trying.
Happy Blogo-Birthday!
I like the reviews.
I love reading reviews with excerpts.