Off to a great 2009!  I ended up reading a lot of Middle Grade fiction this month.  Short and quick is obviously all I could handle this month.  I also decided instead of saying “books read in January” it will be “books reviewed in January.”  I know, I know.  I get hung up on the slightest little language.   But I DO review every single book I read, but I stress at trying to get them all reviewed by the end of the month.  I still have three outstanding reviews and I hate to list them without linking them.  It looks like I didn’t read much “adult” stuff but all three of those reviews are.  And unless I have a huge outrage, I won’t be recommending or ranking them anymore either. Or do you want that?  If you do, then I’ll change back.  I’d be more than happy.  Just testing the waters to see.

Wow, that was liberating.  Here’s a recap of what happened this past month here at the Maw Books Blog:

Books Reviewed in January

Fiction

• Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West

Young Adult Fiction

• The Lightening Thief by Rich Riordan
• Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka

Middle Readers

• Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
• The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
• Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
• On My Honor by Joan Bauer
• Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
• The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
• Alvin Ho, Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look
• Shooting the Moon by Frances O’Roark Dowell
• Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman
• Savvy by Ingrid Law

Picture Books

• Snow by Cythnia Rylant, illustrated by Lauren Stringer

Author Interviews

• Michael Lee West, author of Mermaids in the Basement
• Lisa McMann, author of Wake and Fade

Reader Spotlights

• Becky of Becky’s Book Reviews
• Jenn M.

Video Chats

• Talking books stacks and blogger/indie bookstore relations
• Talking my 30th birthday, bookshelves and the Utah Book Bloggers Bash!

Book Lists

• ALA 2009 Youth Media Awards Including Newbery, Caldecott, Printz
• New York Times Bestsellers – January 25th
• New York Times Bestsellers – January 18th
• New York Times Bestsellers – January 11th
• New York Times Bestsellers – January 4th

More Posts During January

• Thank You to My January Visitors – Let’s Spotlight a Few!
• January Search Terms – What Brought You Here This Time?
• Book Organization – How Do You Do It and What Does it Say About You?
• What Happens When Your Kids’ Favorite Librarian Calls in Sick
• The Utah Book Bloggers Bash!
• Shannon Hales’ Yummy Zucchini Soup
• Looking Ahead to 2009 – Blogging Resolutions
• Looking Ahead to 2009 – Reading Challenges

Challenge Updates

None completed this month but all the books I read this month can be applied to a challenge.  A special thank you to all of those leading these challenges.  Such great work this year!

Challenges I’m participating in are (click to be taken to my list and then to be taken to challenge blog):

• A-Z Author & Title Challenge
• Dewey’s Books Reading Challenge
• Jewish Literature Challenge
• New Author Challenge
• Read Your Own Books Challenge
• Support Your Local Library Challenge
• Themed Reading Challenge
• War Through the Generations Challenge

February 1-14 is Books for the Heart Challenge hosted by Michelle at 1 More Chapter.  Fifteen years ago, Michelle’s father died at the age of 44 while waiting for a heart transplant. In his honor and for other people who have died or suffered from a heart-related illness, Michelle is hosting a special event for the week of Valentine’s Day.This purpose of the reading event Books for the Heart is to raise money for the American Heart Association and/or to honor a loved one.  There are many ways to participate. You can sponsor yourself and donate a certain amount of money for every book you read or every page you read during February 1-14. You can ask for sponsors. You can donate a set amount. You can donate in a loved one’s name. Michelle asks that by participating you commit to donating a minimum of $5 to the American Heart Association. Other than that, you decide on how you’ll participate.

I am going to participate by donating a set amount for every page I read during Feb. 1-14th.  If you’d like to participate,  visit the post about the event.

Awards

What a way to start of the year!  Thank you ladies for bestowing upon the Maw Books Blog so many awards!  I am baffled and humbled.

• The Dardos Award is in appreciation of the merits – culturally, literary and individually- of every blogger who expresses him/herself on his/her blog.  Thank you to Chris at Book-Rama, Rebecca at Rebecca Reads, Suey at It’s All About Books, Dar at Peeking Between the Pages, Anna at Diary of an Eccentric and Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit. 
  

• The Inspiration Award from Myrthe at Armenian Odar Reads.

• The Lemonade Award for blogs with great attitude from Kim at I Smell Books.

• The Butterfly Award (I refuse to post the button on this one) from Suey at It’s All About Books, Alyce at At Home With Books.
  

• The Kreative Blogger Award from Softdrink at Fizzy Thoughts.

• I’ve been Tink Approved by Jen (aka Ladytink_534) from the Movieholic and Bibliophile’s Blog.

• While not awards, Steph at Reviewer X and Heather at Book Addiction, and Suey at It’s All About Books all said awesome things about me in their Weekly Geeks posts.  You ladies are so nice!

I’m a rule breaker and the thought of passing these one, honestly intimidates me.  So if you’ve commented on my blog this past month considered yourself bestowed.

Other Items of Note

• I’ve implemented a lot of great new features this past month and thank you so much for your enthusiasm.  I’m excited to take this blog to big places this year!  If you are wondering how I’m choosing my reader spotlights, I am first going to spotlight my top ten commenters.  After that it will be completely random.  Also, I would love some ideas of what you’d like to see in the video chats.  Anything goes!  Tour of the house, garden, kids, bookish ramblings, etc?

• Lots of great stuff happening over at the Blogging Tips group and the Utah Bloggers group at Book Blogs Ning.  Lot’s of great advice to help you blog and as a community we’ve helped out at least 13 bloggers improve the layout of their blogs.  I’d love to have you join us.

• While I have made a few small changes regarding layout, etc. around here, I have a lot of great changes up my sleeves.  So be on the lookout and ignore me if things happen to go a little funny.

• February is looking to be a great month!  I’ll have some books reviewed for Black History Month, lots of new releases coming out, Cybils are going to be announced, and at least half a dozen author interviews/guest posts.

• If you aren’t subscribed to the Maw Books Blog why not?  Receive updates via email or through your favorite reader. I’d love to go over the 200 subscribers mark.  Can’t get enough?  Follow me on Twitter.

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