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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

One Year!



One year ago today I shared my first blog post!

I always wanted to do more of two things. First, express my opinions more thoroughly to those who were interested in bookish ideas. Second, to have more conversation and interaction with other people about books. To those ends, I declare that my efforts here have been a smashing success!

To be sure, the time spent on blogging and related interactions have slowed my reading a little. However, the overall experience has made me a much better reader. Though I always expended mental effort thinking about themes, characters, connections with other works and trends, etc., blogging has forced me to organize my thoughts on these matters in serious ways. In addition, my commenters provide me with new and alternative ideas, as well as insightful and intelligent disagreements. Finally, the world of book blogs has led me to experience and explore the writing and thoughts of numerous other bloggers. On the sites of my fellow bloggers, I have discovered thought provoking and entertaining commentary on various books, some that I have read and some that I have not read. In turn, I hope that I have prompted their thinking through my interactions on their sites. All in all, if only for self - improvement related reasons, the additional time spent online has been well worth it. However, it turns out that there is another enormous fringe benefit to blogging.

When I began this, I had no idea that there was such a dynamic, intelligent, supportive and warm community of book bloggers out there! I have established really wonderful connections with a host of people from all over the world who share my interest in books and important ideas. The community has been welcoming and supportive. My fellow bloggers are such a smart and nice group of people!

This experience is akin to belonging to an international book club that I have access to 24 hours a day! The Internet has its supporters and detractors and those like myself who tend to see the good and the bad, but this interconnectedness that I have discovered can only be characterized as very good. More about this will be included in an upcoming post.

So thank you to all of my readers and commenters. Also, I want to add a special thanks to my wife Catherine whose editing assistance has been key in keeping these posts readable.

Hopefully, this is the first year of many during which I will be sharing my thoughts and ramblings. It has been a blast so far!


34 comments:

Caroline said...

Congratulations, Brian.
I couldn't imagine the blog world without your blog anymore. is it really only one year.
I'd also like to thank you for your contributions and insightful comments over the year.
I have been blogging for a bit over 2 years now and must admit I feel a bit tired. I will most probabaly step back and blog far less and concentrate more on reading and writing other things but I will still try and visit as often as possible.
I agree, it is a wonderful community. And there is something for everyone here.
I like your blog becasue you review so much more than just novels. It is very inspiring.

Delia (Postcards from Asia) said...

Happy blog anniversary, Brian, and to many more years of the same!
Now, where's my slice of cake? :)

Amateur Reader (Tom) said...

24 hour international book club - yeah, that's about right. It's a little bit hard to believe, put that way, but it's true. How lucky we are to be part of it.

Congratulations on the anniversary! Many more, many more.

joyce said...

Congratulations Brian! You have been an inspiration to many of the bloggers out there. Your thoughtfulness and writing talent has inspired so many of us.

I know you like history, so when you have a minute, check out the review of Killing Kennedy on my blog. My non-fiction reviewer, another history buff, writes an interesting and revealing post about the Camelot days. Have you read Killing Kennedy? If so please share your thoughts.Again Happy Blogaversary!

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Congrats! Here's to many more years of blogging for you.

Guy Savage said...

Any reading goals for the year, Brian?

Anonymous said...

Félicitations!

You read books I'd never pick so it's always interesting to read about something you wouldn't go for.

I like the 24 hours book club idea. That's how it feels and I agree about interacting with friendly bookaddicts. Even if it slows our reading, sharing and exchanging is so rewarding that it's worth the time.

Emma

Anonymous said...

PS : this cake is SO American or perhaps I should say not-French.

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Caroline - Thank you so much! Your blog is so fantastic I love commenting on it! Sorry to hear about the slow down but as per my comments I so understand. Life is so busy. Too bad that there is not more time to blog!

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Delia - Thank you!

Too bad that I cannot share that cake with everyone!

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Tom - Thank you!

I am still amazed at the worldwide reach of this blogging thing!

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Joyce - Thank you!

I have not read Killing Kenedy. But I will stop by your blof to take a look!

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Guy - Thanks for stopping by!

I really have never been one for goals or New years resolutions.

I am planning to bread the books piked in the Bah Humbook exchange early on. I actually have started one already.

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Emma - thanks for the good word! Just to say it again, this has been a lot of fun!

As you know I love French food and my wife makes a fair share of it. But gooey American things are terrific too!

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Michelle - Thank you so very much!

May you keep blogging a long, long time too!

Unknown said...

Well happy blogging birthday. :)

I've had my blog active for a little more than half a year now, and I've really loved the experience too. It's so fun to meet new people, and to better my own reading/writing skills. I also get the same enjoyment out of LibraryThing.

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Rachel - Thanks so much!

I have been looking around your blog and it is awesome! I really like a lot of things about it. One thing that I like is the Borg Motiff!

seraillon said...

Brian - I can't quite top what Anonymous posted above (at least in loquacity and obscurity), but I can offer congratulations. So, congratulations. I look forward to reading year two of Babblingbooks.

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Seraillon - Thanks for the good word. This year will be fun!

These spambots have been very active indeed and a few have gotten through the filter. They seem to be getting more and more sophisticated with some of the comments stringing together semi coherent sentences.

The Relentless Reader said...

Congrats on your one year blogversary Brian! :D

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Jennifer -

Your blog is an actually a big inspiration to me as it shows that you have fun while reading!

Andrew Blackman said...

Happy blog-birthday, Brian! I've enjoyed reading your posts and exchanging comments about books. I started blogging for much the same reasons as you, and identified with what you said about the benefits - becoming a better reader, and discovering a worldwide community of book-lovers. Look forward to reading more of your thoughts in 2013!

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Andrew - Thanks!

I really love reading and interacting on your blog to0. 2013 should be a great year for this!

Unknown said...

:) I'm glad someone appreciates the Borg Motif!

Tom Cunliffe said...

Congratulations Brian. You have done very well in your first year and I am pleased that you have enjoyed developing a community of fellow-bloggers around you. I am sure you will now go from strength to strength!

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Tom - Thanks for the good word.

Your superb blog is an inspiration to many of us!

Ryan said...

Happy blog birthday. I really enjoy your take on literature. It's rare that someone takes the time to say more than simply: "I liked it." or "I didn't like it." Keep it up and I'll keep reading and commenting.

You have an editor? Lucky you.

Brian Joseph said...

Hello Ryan,

Thanks for the kind words. Indeed my wife is kind enough to assist me in cleaning up my writing. I am otherwise very sloppy.

Anonymous said...

Totally missed this post a week ago! My apologies. 1 year of consistent blogging is nothing to sneeze at. I've enjoyed your posts even though I cannot meet your intellectual wit in any way. Your comments at my blog have been most welcome. I look forward to seeing your around the 'sphere much more. Belle

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Belle - Thanks for the good word. You are much too kind. Everyone has their own style. Your blog is awesome and I love participating in your comment area!

Lucy said...

Congratulations! I always find your posts so interesting to read, so thank you for providing them. I began my blog about six months ago, and you're right about other bloggers being supportive and welcoming.

I look forward to seeing what you read this year :)

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Lucy - Thank you so much. This is a great community.

Your Blog is fantastic and I really enjoy your insightful and interesting content!

LMR said...

I'm very happy for you, Brian, I've been following your blog this past year and I like reading your thoughts about books.

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Miguel Thanks for your kind words.

I love your extremely intelligent and well thought out blog too!