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Friday, February 1, 2013

Beautiful Blogger Award




In previous posts I have expressed how marvelous the blogging community is. I must now confess that I been remiss. I have received several awards from my fellow bloggers over the past couple of months and have yet to post a thank you, nor have I passed the awards on.

Though no there is no real excuse for my malfeasance I feel the need to explain my belatedness. First, it is so difficult to choose which blogs to recognize. I visit and read so many extraordinary sites of all styles and kinds!

Second, I feel that by handing these awards to blogs that in some way I am imposing upon their owners. I really do want anyone to feel obligated and pressured to put up a reciprocal post. I certainly understand why someone would not wish to do this. There exist time and energy constraints, it may not be everyone’s style to post something like this, it is difficult to choose whom else to recognize, etc. 

To the award winners, please under no circumstances feel obligated to post or pass along. This is supposed to be fun! Heck, I almost did not do it myself for the above reasons.

With that said, over the next couple of weeks I will be putting up several entries passing along my recent awards. While I considered wrapping it all up into one giant post, I do not want to short change either the very kind folks who awarded me these honors, or the recipients. Plus every award deserves its own post!

First up, Vibina from Books for Me was kind enough to bestow the Beautiful Blogger Award upon Babbling Books. Thanks Vibina! Please check out her blog, it is outstanding.

The rules for of this award for those who wish to continue it are as follows:

  1. Copy the Beautiful Blogger Award logo and place it in your post.
  2. Thank the person who nominated you and create a link back to their blog.
  3. Tell 7 things random facts about yourself.
  4. Nominate 7 other bloggers for their own Beautiful Blogger Award.

Random Facts about me!

1.   I love Craft Beer

2.  I love artisanal cheese (The fact that 1 and 2 are of a similar pattern make this list seem not so random)

3.  I often run several miles before dawn.

4.  I am a CPCU.

5. I have an odd fascination with the chemistry, specifications, performance and issues surrounding various brands and grades of motor oils (This was so strange that I found it difficult to confess).

6. I worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant for several years during my youth.

7. I love animals, especially cats.


Without further ado, the winners of my Beautiful Blogger award are:

The Argumentative Old GitHimadri is a true connoisseur and expert commentator of the classics. He likes to throw a little bit of controversy into the mix from time to time.

Beauty is a Sleeping Cat – Caroline’s world famous blog is truly beloved by thousands of readers all over the Earth. Her commentary gets to the tenor and atmosphere of a book better then any other reviewer I know.

Book Around the Corner – Emma usually really digs deep into books and characters. At the same time she keeps her writing entertaining and dynamic.


A Common Reader – Tom’s blog offers commentary on an eclectic mix of books. His website is also distinguished by distinctive and outstanding writing.

His Futile Preoccupations – Guy’s Blog also offers diverse mix of books. He is particularly fond of darker psychological crime fiction. His reviews are captivating.

Reading in Taiwan – One of the many marvelous things about Ryan’s Blog is that he mixes serious and intelligent commentary with hilarious humor.


Still Life With Books – Anyone who has visited Violet’s blog knows that her writing is almost poetic. Yet she is not afraid to express her opinion and delve into a little controversy from time to time.


I urge all the winners to bask in the glory of their achievements! Anyone one not familiar with these blogs should check them out. It will likely be a rewarding experience.

More awards to follow in the coming weeks!


20 comments:

@parridhlantern said...

A great list of Bloggers here, all who I'm familiar with apart the Reading in Taiwan, who I will have to check out.

Caroline said...

Congratuöations, Brian and thank you so much for the kind words.
Like you I have been a bit of a slacker in passing on my awards for the same reason you have. I don't want to force people to pass them on or some such thing. Still, it is nice to get award.
I second Parrish, I'll have to check out Reading in Taiwan. The others I know of course.

Caroline said...

I just checked and the link to Readng in Taiwan doesn't work. Not sure if it's me...

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Parish - Ryan's blog is fantastic and if you like the others I think that you would like his.

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Caroline - I just fixed the link to Ryan's blog. thanks for letting me know.

As I am trying to group the awards into patterns as least as they exist in my mind I realized that it was interesting this group mostly knew each other.

It really is nice to receive these awards!

Everyone should also check out Vibina's blog as it is also excellent!

Anonymous said...

Hi Brian,

Congratulations on you award!You always write interesting reviews. As I mentioned it before, I don't always leave comment but I read most of your entries.

Thank you for adding Book Around The Corner in your list and thanks for the nice words.

Thank you also for reading my billets so often and leaving interesting comments.

Emma

PS: I didn't know what a CPCU was. Useful link.

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Emma - Thank you for your kind words.

Your blog is well worth reading and commenting on too!

I believe that The Chartered Insurance Institute Professional Designations are roughly the European equivalent to the CPCU designation.

stujallen said...

some gre4ta choices so of my favourite blogs there ,all the best stu

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Stu - I do indeed consider this list "The Classics".

Guy Savage said...

I have to ask. How did the motor oil thing get started?

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Guy - You had to ask....

I have always been moderate interested in cars and automotive repair. I think that it began a few years like a million other things begin with me, I was curious as to which was the best oil to use for my car. I stumbled upon this forum:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm


Tons of discussion on all types of automotive fluids (Gear oil, brake fluids, antifreeze , etc.) Serious stuff from very knowledge folks. It is all very complex and interesting. I slowly became hooked. Did some reading over the years and began to follow the industry. It is difficult to understand even for me :)

There are a few people over there who actually sniff and analyze the aroma of an oil they pour out of the bottle as one would do with wine or beer....

vb said...

congratulations brian..you are one of my fav bloggers whom I shamelessly stalk..But I have been too away from it..I love yuour selection of books and the away you dissect them..good luck and Im gonna read all your posts that I missed...cheers

Brian Joseph said...

Hi VB! - As you know that I love your blog too!

I totally understand how busy life gets. Some of my posts are on the long side too so it is difficult to get to them all!

Ryan said...

Aw, jeez. I wish my blog had lost a couple of pounds before you sent people over looking! I'll try and wear something slimming.

Thanks for the award. If I was in the award giving business I'd be doling out massive praise for this blog. It's one of vary few blogs I check on a daily basis. Keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

Hello Brian, and thanks for the mention. I don't know about being an expert or a connoisseur (I can barely even spell the word!) but yes, I do, I guess, like a bit of controversy from time to time.

The book-blogging community ipicture as a sort of literary cyber-cafe, where one can always drop in and see what others are up to, and maybe get into a conversation or discussion. Or, as in my case, an argument!

Cheers for now, Himadri

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Ryan - Thanks for the good word!

I would not say that your blog needed to slim down, it is just big boned :)

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Himadri - You are too modest!

I really like the cyber cafe analogy. Now a little controversy is certainly good thing. In

Guy Savage said...

well at least they don't take a swig.

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Guy - They actually joke about doing that!

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