Way behind with the awards

But, come on, is that really surprising?

Once, again, the I Heart Your Blog Award, which I have been nominated for by Korianne Speaks (who is also behind with the awards stuff, I don't blame her!), Must and Lust for Books, and Books and Needlepoint. And once again, linking back to the original post from way back when.

I've also been nominated twice for the One Lovely Blog Award by Liyanaland! (who told me I was one of the first blogs she read, yay!) and Garden in My Pocket.

The Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3) Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Well, since I am a horrible book blogger, I haven't been keeping track of what other blogs are doing. And I feel really bad about that, because when I was just starting up, I think other bloggers were definitely more attentive to me than I am to newbies now. But I'll try to come up with as many as I can (um, most of them I've found from them nominating me...): Must and Lust for Books (which I must say is a very clever blog title), Books and Needlepoint, Korianne Speaks, Liyanaland!, Garden in My Pocket, and A Book Dork.

I got the Proximidade Award again from A Book Dork, which I posted about back here.

The Book Girl nominated me for the Sisterhood Award.

The Rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award.
5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

Um, I don't really get these rules (show great gratitude...), but I guess I'll nominate: Bookluver-Carol, Book Chic, Harmony Book Reviews, Presenting Lenore, and Reading Keeps You Sane.

Last but not least, the Friends Award from Reviewabook123.

I get to give this award to 8 people who you aim to be friends with. Can I please leave this one open ended? There are just so many new reviewers (and some that have been here for a while too) that I just don't know, so please, make yourself known to me. Consider yourself a recipient of this award if I have never had contact with you before. Email me or something :D

Several Awards

Sadly, I have been a very lazy book blogger of late, so I don’t feel I quite deserve these awards, but nonetheless, I have been nominated.

This one’s from Juiciliciousss Reviews and A Book Dork:

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award."

And I in turn nominate: Bookluver-Carol’s Reviews, Book Chic, Harmony’s Book Reviews, Liv’s Book Reviews, Reading Keeps You Sane, The Story Siren, Reviewer X, and The Book Vault. I’m pretty sure these fabulous bloggers are much more deserving than I.

Second is Premio Dardos (which is SPANISH!! not Italian) from Bites, which is awarded for “recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing” (ha, I stole that and the following rules from Bites).

The Rules:

1) Accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and a link to his/her blog.

2) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.

Ack, so many, and unfortunately, I haven’t been keeping up with reading other blogs (gasp! Sacrilege, I know), so I honestly don’t know who to award. Tragic and horrible of me (and sadly, this probably means I don’t deserve this award either). So can I just do a free for all sort of thing? Please? (Besides, if your blog deserves this award, then I’m sure you know it).

Also, Carol nominated me for some award which I do not know what it is called, but it has to do with fabulousness, so I'll leave it at that.

The Rules:

List five things you are obsessed with/addicted to and then nominate five other fabulous blogs to pass this award on to!

1) Books. Love ‘em to the max, everything about them, reading them, getting them in the mail (my birthday + all other holidays), just looking at them.

2) Email. This one is actually rather unfortunate, considering I have been having spotty internet access of late. But I can’t help it. I’m addicted.

3) Reading comments on my blog. Even if they’re the smallest little things, they always cheer me up, hearing from people who read my reviews.

4) Writing. I don’t actually get much time for this, but it’s definitely a big part of who I am. Stories, poetry, anything pretty much. Love it.

5) Sleeping. Strangely, I always feel like I need more sleep even when I get lots of it. Thus, I love sleeping. Absolutely love it.

For this award I nominate Book Chic, The Compulsive Reader, Hope's Bookshelf, The Story Siren, and Bookluver-Carol.

And last but not least, there have been even more rounds of the I Heart Your Blog Award. Whoopee (and I mean that in a totally nonsarcastical way). I've been nominated by Just Your Typical Book Blog and Book Junkie. And since I did a post on this like five months ago, I'll just link to it again, lazy as I am.

A Couple of Awards

It just so happens that I have been nominated for two awards, namely the Butterfly Award and the Lemonade Award. I’m starting to wonder where they all originate from, but I’m not going to kill the fun.

Starting with the insect-related one. Desert Rose Booklogue nominated me for this award. Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog.
   
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
   
3. Award up to ten other blogs.
   
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
   
5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blogs.

I know I should nominate 10 but really, I am just getting too lazy for my own good. So, very sorry if you didn’t make it on my list but should’ve (there’s a lot of you!):

Bookluver-Carol: Ah, Carolina, your blog makes my wishlist become obese. And your Blogger Trading Post (EDIT: this is actually YA Book Swap, sorry for the confusion!) makes my PO Box get stuffed, my bookshelves overflow, and my wallet empty from sending out books. But I still love it!! (BTW, I’m only half joking about all of that)

Reading Keeps You Sane: Oh, it does! And you, Kelsey, are also liable (is that the right word?) for the same offenses as above. But it’s okay. Good reviewers can do that to you.

Reviewer X: Steph is another awesome reviewer. Snarky. That’s about all I have to say.

Book Chic: Because who doesn’t love Book Chic? I know I do!!

The Page Flipper: Chelsea deserves this for being an inspiration, mine to be specific.

Liv’s Book Reviews: Liv always has a great selection of books reviewed, and I enjoy reading her reviews. Not the mention that green background (at least, it was that color the last time I checked).

The Compulsive Reader: Tirzah is definitely one of the greatest reviewers, no doubt about that. She’s always got such great and unusual books up on her blog, not to mention some great author interviews.

(I’m sure there’s loads more who deserve to be here, but since I have been a little spacey of late and not frequenting the blogosphere, I honestly don’t remember who).

And now onto the Lemonade Award (which reminds me, one day I will have to learn how to make fresh lemonade), which I was nominated for by Juiciliciousss Reviews. There are no specific rules for this one, and I’m just being way too lazy today, so if you see this post, consider yourself nominated.

Belated winner, memes, and other stuff/news

It’s been a while since I’ve been on a comp, so I know I need to get caught up with everything bookish :D

First and foremost, a winner for my Holiday contest, and that is Lauren from Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf. Congrats, Lauren, hope you enjoy the book!

Dominique from The Book Vault tagged me for the New Year’s Resolution meme, so I’ll have to share three New Year’s resolutions (all of which I’m coming up on the top of my head at this moment):

1. Study harder (especially in history class), so I won’t freak out when AP tests roll around
2. Not read when I should be doing homework
3. Get a haircut/take better care of my hair

Yeah, I know, shockingly thrilling. And I’ll tag: Carol of Bookluver Carol’s Reviews, Kelsey from Reading Keeps You Sane, and Liv from Liv’s Book Reviews. I hope that’s an appropriate number.

I did a post on the “I Heart Your Blog” award back in October, but since it’s still making its sweet way around the blogs again, I shall link back to my original post and list all those lovely peeps who have nominated me: Book Chic, Alea, The Book Girl, The Fox Reads, Just Listen Book Reviews, Bean Bag Books, Bookworm Readers, Book Nymph, Holly of Writer’s Block Reviews, Books Make Great Lovers, and Em from Em’s Bookshelf. Phew, that’s a lot, thanks guys!

I do not plan on joining any book challenges this year. Yes, I know that makes me sort of a killjoy, but everything has been so hectic lately that I decided to just take it easy, no stress. Plus, I only completed two out of the three challenges I joined last year, the 100+ Reading Challenge (see my sidebar), and the July Book Blowout Reading Challenge. The A-Z Reading Challenge was sadly incomplete.

And, I have over 100 followers!! Whoo hoo!

I feel so darn popular, thanks guys!!

I < 3 Your Blog!!

For some reason, I've been spazzing out or something lately, and I didn't remember to post this until now. Thanks to Book Chic and Alea for nominating me! (At least, those are the only ones I remember at the moment!)

EDIT: The I Heart Your Blog Award has been making lots more rounds, and I have been nominated again by The Book Girl, The Fox Reads, Just Listen Book Reviews, Bean Bag Books, Bookworm Readers, Book Nymph, Holly of Writer’s Block Reviews, Books Make Great Lovers, and Em from Em’s Bookshelf, Just Your Typical Book Blog, Book Junkie, Korianne Speaks, Must and Lust for Books, and Books and Needlepoint.

The Rules:
1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

Well it does say at least 7...

First and foremost, Chelsea, The Page Flipper, deserves mention for being a great reviewer and my inspiration to start book reviewing. She's a fun person to work with and gives great reviewing tips.

Secondly, Book Chic is a freakin' awesome reviewer (who was also my second inspiration to start book blogging). I love how his reviews are pretty short and concise, not to mention fun!

Kelsey of Reading Keeps You Sane is also, (big surprise) a fantastic reviewer. I love her reviews and especially love her beautiful layout (so creative, colorful, and gorgeous!).

Steph of Reviewer X is a very thorough reviewer, so I enjoy reading all her thoughts even if it makes the reviews very long at times. Plus, she and Kristi from The Story Siren have their awesome YA Connection thing going on, which I can bet is a LOT of hard work. Kristi is also a great reviewer (she seems tireless with the multitude of reviews she churns out!).

Carol from Bookluver-Carol's Reviews is another practically tireless reviewer. Besides writing very helpful reviews (for me at least!), she has new interviews up like every week.

Dominique of The Book Vault is a pro in my eyes (having been YABC's Teen Demi-Goddess in 2006). She also writes helpful reviews that like to fatten up my Amazon wishlist.

Tasha from And Another Book Read and I have been reviewing for about the same amount of time, so I guess I feel a sort of kinship to her. Or maybe that's just the effect of good reviews. Plus she also has Awesome Author Visits which I enjoy.

My oh my oh my!

Remember my post about Book Blogger Appreciation Week (the one where I was semi-wheedling for you to vote for me)? Well, apparently it paid off, because:

The Book Muncher is one of the finalists for Best YA Lit Blog!

I just wanted to say thanks to all those who nominated me then. It means a lot, especially because I made it this far. Also, a special thanks to Sherry who left a comment on another post to congratulate me—if you hadn’t done so, I probably wouldn’t’ve noticed I was a finalist!

So, if you happen to think The Book Muncher is the best YA Lit Blog in existence (or you just happen to like it), then go vote for me here! Even if you don’t think The Book Muncher is the best YA Lit Blog, you should cast a vote anyway (and honestly!); there are some other great YA book blogs nominated as well, such as The Page Flipper, Presenting Lenore, The Story Siren, and Bookshelves of Doom. So, if you don’t vote for me, I won’t be offended because I’ll know another great reviewer got your vote (and because I won’t know who votes for what). But if any of you do choose to vote for The Book Muncher, then many thanks in advance. Remember, voting is open until 9/12 at midnight and the Awards will be presented on 9/18.

In other news, I just hit the 25000 mark for hits on The Book Muncher about a week ago. Yay me! It’s so cool to actually realize that other people besides myself read my blog to the extent that I’ve gotten over 25000 hits in less than a year! I know the stat in my right sidebar says like 15000, but that’s individual visitors (I honestly don’t know how the program distinguishes the two, but it does). I am planning to hold a contest in celebration of my readers sometime soon, but I’ve already got some others lined up (like the current one for The Brothers Torres), so that will have to wait.

Also, strange but cool, I’ve had an anonymous commenter on my blog. Why this deserves special attention, I’m not exactly sure. I think it’s because I usually have a general idea of those who leave comments on my blog and for me, anonymous is like whoa! Sounds weird (and doesn’t really make sense), I know, but it’s cool to me.

And have you seen this new Blogger follower thing? How cool is that? Thanks also to all my “followers” (you can see them under “Follow the Muncher” in the left sidebar). I’ve got (as of 9/05/08), 4, count ‘em 4, followers. Trés cool, no? I will of course be updating the list of the blogs I follow sometime soon. And if you like The Book Muncher so much that you want to follow it too (in addition to voting for it in BBAW for which I will be eternally grateful!), then be my guest. I’d really love to know everyone who reads The Book Muncher, but I guess for now this will have to do!

What it basically comes down to is this: THANK YOU TO ALL MY READERS! Without you, The Book Muncher would be nothing.

Some Cool Award Nominations

I just found out that the lovely Melanie at Love to Read nominated me for an award. I also was nominated by The Story Siren.

I had no idea this thing existed until Melanie left a comment telling me that she had nominated me. Thanks! (BTW, she said lovely things about my blog *blushes*).

EDIT: I was also nominated by Book Chic, Kelsey at Reading Keeps You Sane (omigod, did you know I was apparently her inspiration for entering the blogging world!! Amazing!), Hope from Hope's Bookshelf, Kyle from Book Review Maniac (who likes how I tie many things on my blog to my blog name), Sophie from Mrs. Magoo Reads, and Dominique from The Book Vault (who thinks my site rocks!). Thanks guys, I really feel loved :D

The Rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

So now, my nominees:

The Page Flipper: Chelsea was my inspiration to get started on book reviewing, so of course, she deserves an award. Plus she's a fabulous reviewer!

Book Chic: My second inspiration! Also fabulous :D And very fun too!!

Reviewer X: Steph is one of the most genuine book reviewers out there. She's got a super-cool (and multi-tasking) blog. And she's pretty much guaranteed to have a review for a new book up almost like every day (maybe I'm exaggerating, but it sure seems that way sometimes!)

And Another Book Read: Another fabulous YA reviewer. Also has some totally awesome books that I don't have but should get.

Bookluver-Carol: Want to read a new review of a YA book practically every day? Go here. Seriously.

Plenty of Paper: These girls always have funny reviews. They're like really fun to read!

The Story Siren: I know Kristi's already been nominated (probably like a million times), but I just had to again, 'cause she's such an awesome reviewer. EDIT: I just found out that Kristi nominated me! Aw, thanks! Just returning the love here :D