Today kicks off Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW for short), a week devoted to recognizing the awesomeness of the book blogging community. More eloquently stated on the event’s website, BBAW was created “to recognize the hard work and contribution of book bloggers to the promotion and preservation of a literate culture actively engaged in discussing books, authors, and a lifestyle of reading.” It’s been going since 2008. It’s also the event I so fortuitously stumbled upon by accident last year, the one that gave me a glimpse of the amazing breadth and depth of the book blogging community and convinced me to take my first faltering steps into it. So, obviously, it is an event that is rather dear to me.
Each day of the week brings a new theme on which bloggers around the world write. Today’s centers on community, encouraging bloggers to “highlight a couple of bloggers who have made book blogging a unique experience for you.”
Now, book bloggers as a group are generally some of the most friendly, welcoming, and supportive people I have ever encountered, which makes it hard for me to highlight just a few individuals. So instead, I’m going to focus on something a little different: my Reading Buddies. (Not sure what that means? Check out the Reading Buddies page.)
Click for photo credit
I started Reading Buddies because I love to read books with other people. I like knowing there’s someone I can discuss, gush, or ponder with. I like being able to do more than just write reviews, to dig into the characters and talk about plot points that would spoil the book for those who had not read it. I also love the different perspectives each reader brings to a book, how the thing one person may not even notice is the very thing on which another reader’s experience focuses. I’ve found that reading a book with someone, even informally, allows me to learn a bit about them, to have a sort of conversation, however brief, that goes beyond reading one another’s blogs.
When Reading Buddies began, I was prepared for it to fall flat. There are so many fantastic readalongs and online book groups out there that I doubted there would be room for one more. Eight months later, though, I continue to read a Reading Buddies book each month…and people join me. I love it! I cannot thank you enough, all of you who have read with me or who plan to. Thank you for supporting Reading Buddies and for sharing a little bit of your precious reading time with me. Each of you has absolutely “made book blogging a unique experience” for me.
Any attempt by me to list all my Reading Buddies would result in someone getting left out, since no formal list of participants exists. However, if you’ve read a book with me, I’d love for you to say so in the comments.
So, what bloggers have made book blogging a unique experience for you?
© 2011, Erin Reads. All rights reserved.
Uh, can you delete the above comment? My browser was having hiccups all over the place.
I think your Blogging Buddies is an awesome feature. It’s sometimes surprising how what you don’t expect to be popular wins followers and vice versa. Enjoy BBAW!
Aths recently posted BBAW 2011: A toast to some favorite bloggers
Done! (Much earlier than this!) I hate browser/phone/etc. hiccups/freak-outs/etc. I’m finding it’s so hard to predict what will work and what won’t — you just have to try!
What a great idea your Blogging Buddies is.
have a great week
carol
carol recently posted It’s Monday, what are u reading? 12/9
Thanks, Carol!
The Reading Buddies program is awesome (even though I totally wimped out on a book there…). It is a great idea, and I hope you continue it.
Trisha recently posted BBAW: Community
Thanks, Trisha! I plan to continue. And you’re totally allowed to wimp out on books. That’s part of the point — it’s low stress, no commitment. Maybe in the future another co-read will work out better!
The reading buddies sounds very cool! Sometimes the tbr pile is so overwhelming it’s easy to get caught up in just catching up. Nice to have s/o to read & chat with!
bookspersonally recently posted Odds ‘n Ends
I’ve crossed some great books off my list thanks to the project! Definitely fun to do it with other people, too.
One of these days I’ll participate in Reading Buddies. I love what you do here, just haven’t been reading! Though it’s been fun participating in other readalongs with you.
Trish recently posted BBAW – Community (part the first)
Gosh, Trish, with all your free time, why haven’t you participated?? Ha, kidding!! I completely understand. No feeling bad about it, because that would completely defeat the purpose of Reading Buddies. I agree, you make for a fun readalong participant/leader!
I love your creation of the Reading Buddies program, and always find myself thinking that it’s a really great way to connect with others and maintain s strong sense of community in the blogging world. Kudos to you for creating it!
zibilee recently posted Love at Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks
Thank you! I am finding I really love reading with other people, especially in a low-pressure environment. For someone who doesn’t excel at things like Twitter and networking, it’s a nice way for me to get to know other readers.
I’ve enjoyed the few Reading Buddies reads we’ve done together. I think it is a great idea, and it forced me to finally read some books that I meant to read but kept putting off.
Jenners recently posted BBAW Daily Topic: Community
Me too, Jenners! I’ve read a bunch of books that’ve been languishing in TBR land as well. And I’ve found it’s much more fun to tackle the darned things with others than alone
I love the idea of read alongs and reading buddies. But I always fall behind the group
But I love your posts about it. I can live vicariously through you 
Linda recently posted BBAW 2011-Favorite Book Bloggers
Thanks, Linda. No need to worry if you fall behind the group! The point is that Reading Buddies is low stress, so you read and post when you can/if you want to. I’m even willing to discuss books after I’ve posted the final post. And on the Goodreads group, there really aren’t any time constraints to the discussion at all. But, I’m happy you enjoy the posts anyway!
There’s nothing better than reading a good book with friends! I’ll have to join in on a read sometime soon. I’m glad I started following you recently!
Kristen M. recently posted Book Blogger Appreciation Week Begins Today
I so agree! I’d love to have you along for a read sometime
Not heard of reading buddies, will investigate further, thanks
Parrish recently posted Snakes and Ladders (BBAW)
I hope you find it to your liking. Let me know if you have any questions!
Reading Buddies is a great idea!
Thanks!
I hadn’t heard of Reading Buddies. Seems like a wonderful idea. I’ll keep an eye on it!
Leeswammes (Judith) recently posted BBAW – Community Part I
Thanks, Judith! I have a lot of fun with it
The creation of the Reading Buddies was such a great idea! Though I have a big stack of books to be read on my shelves, it encourages me to read books I maybe wouldn’t have read (for instance, I discovered and really enjoyed Bill Bryson with his “Walk in the Woods” and Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Never Let me Go”). Plus, it improves my practise of english!
virginie recently posted Manuscrit zéro – Yôko Ogawa
It’s been such a pleasure reading books with you, Virginie! I’m so happy you read along so frequently. And I, too, have discovered some really great books through the project!
Your “Reading Buddies” is a wonderful project and I’m not at all surprised that it’s done so well. It’s nice that you keep it informal, ask everyone interested their opinions about what to read and you read a great variation of books!
This is a fantastic post, Erin!
I hope you have a great week!
Thanks, Amy, for your kind words. It’s a project I’m really loving and am happy that it found such enthusiastic support, both from those who participate and those who don’t! I hope you’re enjoying your week as well.
I love it! I’d never heard of your Reading Buddies program and it sounds fantastic! Thank goodness for BBAW bringing us even more together than we already were. I’ll definitely be checking into it!
The1stdaughter (Danielle) recently posted Book Dreaming: Over the River and Through the Wood by Matt Tavares
Thanks, Danielle! I’d love to have you along for a read sometime. One of my favorite parts of BBAW is all the connections that suddenly spring up. I find it absolutely delightful
I was a Reading Buddy for Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods — it was fun!
Book Review: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Joy Weese Moll recently posted Book Blogger Appreciation Week — Community
Yes, Joy, that’s right! That was a good one. Lots of giggling, but I learned some things, too.
Reading Buddies sounds like a great program. I hope you have continued success with it. Thanks for stopping by! Happy BBAW!
Robyn Book Reviews recently posted In My Mailbox ~ Sept 12
Thanks! I have a lot of fun with it and hope it can keep going. Happy BBAW to you as well!
I love the idea of Reading Buddies!
Chrisbookarama recently posted BBAW: A Shout Out to My Homies
Thanks! It’s been fun, and I look forward to continuing it.
This amazing book blogging community is one of the reasons I started blogging, too. I was fortunate enough to meet a bunch of book bloggers a few years ago, and I was just blown away by how friendly and wonderful they were!
Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier
Happy BBAW!
It’s amazing, isn’t it? I’ve never encountered a community quite like it and wouldn’t give it up for the world. Happy BBAW to you as well!
Reading Buddies sounds like fun. I may have to try it some time.
Alison recently posted Pottermore: Sorcerer’s Stone chapters 1-9
I have fun with it, and I hope others do too! I’d love to have you along for a read.
This is why this week is so great! I had never heard of Reading Buddies but I’m definitely going to check it out. Thanks for sharing and have a great week!
Samantha recently posted BBAW- Community
Agreed! I love meeting new bloggers and finding about new events and readalongs and projects. So wonderful!
I am going to have to bookmark your page! I really like the idea of Book Buddies!!
Cici recently posted BBAW 2011 Day 1
Thanks, maybe we can read together soon
I love the idea of Reading Buddies. Books are so much more enjoyable when read and discussed with others.
Michelle recently posted BBAW 2011 – Community
Exactly, Michelle, I completely agree. Plus, we’re all going to read anyway, so coordinating a bit is a fun way to get to know others.
I keep *meaning* to be a Reading Buddy, but I’m notoriously bad at follow-through on my good intentions. I *will* be a Buddy…someday!
Hope you’re having a fab BBAW so far!
Megan recently posted BBAW: Who Makes a Community
Haha, I can totally understand! Reading Buddies is supposed to be low stress, so whenever it works out, it works out. I’d love to read with you sometime, though!
How great that you get to read along with others like this! I’ve read quite a few group reads on GoodReads, but somehow I don’t think it’s quite the same.
My aunt has challenged me to read Gone With the Wind next year and offered to read along with me. I think I’ll take her up on it, for the very reasons that you described in your post. So now, instead of dreading starting that brick of a book, I’m looking forward to reading it with her.
It’s really fun, and quite unlike what I’ve experienced before. How fun that you’ll be reading Gone With the Wind with your aunt! That’s sure to be a great experience, especially when it’s a book you’re dreading a little. Having someone to tackle it with makes all the difference.
Hi
Visiting from BBAW. The Reading Buddies program is a great idea!
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
Shelleyrae recently posted BBAW 2011 Book Blogger Interview Swap: Judith from Leeswammes
Thanks, Shelleyrae, and thank you for stopping by! Have a great BBAW!
Reading Buddies sounds like a great idea. I’m sorry I had not heard of it until now.
Serena recently posted BBAW Interview Swap: Gautami of Everything Distils Into Reading
I’m happy BBAW could introduce you to it! It’s certainly a project that’s near and dear to my heart.
I love your Reading Buddies idea! Very cool.
Thanks! I have a lot of fun with it.