Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Armchair BEA 2013: Introduction


Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

We're extremely excited to participate in this year's Armchair BEA! We're new to the event, and we're really looking forward to all of the fun this week!

A Little About Us:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

We're Ally and Lee, and we're (second) cousins. We've been blogging for a little over a year now, and we first got the idea to start a book blog while taking one of our after-dinner walks. We realized that every evening, from the time we left the house to the time we got back, we were discussing whatever we were reading at the moment. We also realized that no one else we knew shared our reading obsession, and we thought it'd be fun to connect with other readers who understood what a vital part of our lives books are (the rest of our family doesn't get it).

2. Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event?

This is our first year taking part in Armchair BEA. The blog was a little more than a month old this time last year, and there were so many things we didn't know then, like that this event existed. We found out about it too late, and we definitely didn't want to miss out this year because it sounded like so much fun and a great way to meet other bloggers!

3. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

Ally plays the flute and is a member of her school's marching and concert bands. Lee loves photography and is often seen with a camera, clicking away.

4. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

We're both obsessed with Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys, and we had to sort of compromise over which character to choose. Ally loves Ronan and Lee's more of a Gansey fan, but in the end we went with Ronan because we'd like to meet his raven, Chainsaw, too. Dinner conversation with Ronan would be very interesting because he's often not the most sociable of people. We'd have to ask him how the search for Glendower is going, and if he can possibly tell us anything about the next book, The Dream Thieves, which we are dying to read.

5. What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

Hogwarts! We'd get to do magic and have all kinds of adventures exploring the castle!

Please feel free to leave a link so we can drop by your intro post, too!

64 comments:

  1. That's so fun that you guys started the blog together. My cousin and I talk at least twice a week about what we're reading and share books. It's nice to have someone in real life to talk to about books! Also, everyone's saying Hogwarts is the place to visit so far and I totally agree. I still need to read Raven Boys. I hear it's awesome.
    -Melissa @ Harley Bear Book Blog

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    1. Yes, you definitely need to read The Raven Boys, it's simply life changing! I couldn't imagining ever blogging without Lee.

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  2. I definitely chose Hogwart's as well :) I feel like you'd be crazy not to! Great post and i'm glad I found your blog. I started The Raven Boys and just couldn't fully get into it at the time but I know I for sure want to pick it up again.

    My Intro Post

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    1. It would be beyond cool to visit Hogwarts and just go exploring! I found that only after I finished The Raven Boys did truly appreciate its awesomeness.

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  3. Hi Ally, from a fellow flutist!! :)
    Great intro post, both of you!

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    1. Huzzah! That's great that you play the flute, it's like the best instrument ever created!

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  4. I love how many people have started blog because they wanted more people to discuss books with--and it totally works because the book blogging community is so great!

    I haven't read RAVEN BOYS yet, but it sounds quite interesting!

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    1. Please read The Raven Boys! It is like the greatest book to ever grace the earth!

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  5. Hi just calling in to meet you. Love your blog and that cute background along the sides. I have read one of Maggie Stiefvater's -one about the water horses. But not Raven Boys.
    Kathryn @BookDate

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    1. The Raven Boys is so much better than The Scorpio Races! You should definitely read it!

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  6. I played the flute back when I was in school! Yay. And Hogwarts would be my choice as well.
    Cheers!

    mari

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    1. Man, I hope that I continue to play the flute for the rest of my life. It really has made me think differently and appreciate music.

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  7. Hello!

    It must be so much fun to run a blog with a family member!

    Looking forward to the rest of your posts!

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    1. It's the best to blog with your cousin! We can just sit side-by-side and rant about books to each other!

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  8. Hi Ally and Lee! This is my first Armchair BEA also. Love the graphics here on your blog :)

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    1. Thanks! We have loads of fun creating all of our graphics!

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  9. Hi Ally and Lee!

    There's nothing more fun than blogging and reading with a close family member! My sister-n-law and I are both book bloggers and we have a lot of fun discussing books together.

    Old follower via GFC.
    Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

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    1. We are really fortunate to be able to blog as a family. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable!

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  10. Hi Gals! So cool that you two are doing this together. You must have so much fun.

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  11. I've always wanted to play an instrument, but I never had the patience to learn! Haha I also love photography, but need to take some lessons so I know more about what I'm doing.

    I too chose Hogwarts (I have a feeling it will be a popular pick!); can you imagine exploring that school? It would take you years to uncover even half of it's secrets!

    Also, if you haven't seen it yet, Shelf Life posts a sneak peek of The Dream Thieves!

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    1. Picking up the flute is one of the best decisions I have ever made! I'll have to check out the excerpt, thanks.

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  12. Helloooo! My family also doesn't get that books are vital in my life. I keep hearing "is't it time you got rid of some of them"... Can you imagine it?! That's why finding other book addicts is fab. Enjoy BEA. This is my first time too!

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    1. Life would be totally empty without books! It's okay, I understand how important books are!

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  13. Great to meet you both!!! I have Raven Boys waiting for me on my Nook. It looks like I'd better step up my reading game and get to it already.

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    1. You should definitely read The Raven Boys soon! It's completely worth it.

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  14. Love that you're cousins AND blogging buddies! The only other person in my family that enjoys reading is my mom and we have totally different tastes! Also, yes for the flute! I played that in high school (many eons ago) and still get the urge to pull it out and see if I can still play scales! Hope you have fun with Armchair BEA; it's a blast!

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    1. Hopefully, I'll keep up with playing the flute long after school! It is a lot of fun to blog and read with Lee.

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  15. Hogwarts--YES! I'm slightly jealous that ya'll are family members who are able to blog together--I'm definitely the only bookish member of my family. Yay for photography & music--two of my interest as well!(but I played the clarinet, not the flute). And ya'll have inspired me to FINALLY get around to reading The Raven Boys. It's been on my kindle for months!

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    1. Good, The Raven Boys is a must read! Clarinet is pretty cool, it's kind of in the same family as the flute.

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  16. Hi, yeah have to agree with your literary location answer of Hogwarts, that would be my ultimate place to visit too.

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    1. Yes, Hogwarts is possibly the coolest literary place ever! I would love to visit it for a couple of hours!

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  17. I played the flute in high school! I definitely miss it! Great intros!

    Armchair BEA Intros & Classics

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    1. Yay! It makes me happy to know that there are so many flutists out there! I really hope I don't stop playing the flute after school.

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  18. I always wanted the Hogwart's letter, wish I could have gone their too! I like taking photos too Lee, though mostly unprofessionally, just for friends.
    Can't wait for Dream Thieves too! Let me join in on the Ronan dinner!
    Nice to meet you both!

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    1. Hey, you're more than welcome to join the Ronan dinner! The more the merrier!

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  19. Playing an instruments is awesome. I never go to learn to play one, but I've always wanted to play the piano (I do know some short tunes) It's fun that you guys can talk about books together. I know the feeling, nobody in my surroundings reads so it's great when you find someone who does.

      Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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    1. It's never too late to learn how to play an instrument! We are very lucky to have similar interests when it comes to reading.

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  20. I had never head of armchair BEA either until this post! Great intro!

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    1. We really wanted to make sure that we didn't miss out on all the fun this year!

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  21. Hi ladies! Nice to meet you! I also heard of Armchair BEA as it was ending, so I was determined to join this year :P Hogwarts is definitely high on one of my places to visit as well!

    ------
    Giselle @ Book Nerd Canada

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    1. Yeah, we made sure to join the Armchair BEA bandwagon this year, too!

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  22. Hi Ally and Lee! *waves* Nice to meet you! Great post and I would sooo pick Hogwarts too! :-)

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  23. I also started my blog because I didn't have anyone who shared my reading obsession. It's nice to be able to meet with people who are as obsessed with reading as I am! It's nice to meet you two, hope you enjoy Armchair BEA

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    1. It always makes me happy to see a person love a book as much as I did!

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  24. First off, welcome to Armchair BEA. Happy first year! I love seeing bloggers who decided to start blogging because they didn't have anyone to talk to about their reading obsessions. That sounds worse than I meant it. I mean I hate that other people in your lives don't really read. That sucks and they're missing out. But I love that you chose to do something about it and create a way to reach out to others who do read. Way to go! Good luck with the rest of Armchair BEA.

    New follower by the way!

    Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know

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    1. I tend to surround myself with obsessive readers like myself! Thanks for following!

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  25. Welcome to armchair bea! I hope you love it! I would love to go to hogwarts too, such a great pick. I also was into photogrhy for a long time, I hope you stick with it :)

    Steph @ cover2coverblog

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    1. We're having a great time so far and it has been great meeting so many new bloggers today!

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  26. I loved Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver but didn't know about The Raven boys. You just put another book on my shelf!

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    1. The Raven Boys is a must read! I'm sure you're going to love it!

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  27. Blogging with a cousin, that is so cool! :) I used to play flute...about a million years ago, lol.

    I hope you're enjoying ABEA! Have a great week!

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    1. The flute is such a popular instrument! It's great to connect with people through reading and music!

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  28. That is such a great reason to start a blog! And great that you have each other!

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    1. We are very lucky to have each other, as family, as reading buddies, and as bloggers!

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  29. Welcome to ABEA!! I definitely agree that its a great reason to start a blog. I tried to play the flute (I gave up Lol)

    http://lovesbooksreviews.blogspot.com/2013/05/armchair-bea-day-1-introductions.html

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    1. Ally tried to show me how to play once, and I was a total fail at it, lol.

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  30. My daughter played flute does that count? lol. I played clarinet many years ago. Nice to "meet you"!

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    1. Sure it does! Ally's sister plays the clarinet, and Ally knows how to play a little, too, though flute is her main instrument.

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  31. That's really awesome that you guys decided to do this together! Do you find that it's easier with two of you... I'm on my own with my blog and I feel I get overwhelmed! It's so nice to "meet" both of you!

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    1. It sometimes is easier when we're able to work on the blog together, but with Ally's busy schedule during the school year, there's a lot I have to do on my own. So I know what you mean about feeling overwhelmed sometimes. That's when I tell myself that it's OK if there's no post for a few days, otherwise I'll get burnt out.

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  32. Oh I love this feature and I'll be having a great time catching up!! A BIG YES to visiting Hogwarts and photography, which I love too! I can't wait to get my hands on Raven Boys - especially since I just got a hold of Dream Thieves! And I love how Rally the Readers came to be, what a great time I would have had walking around with a friend or cousin and talking books hehe Thanks for sharing ♥

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    1. Oooh- The Dream Thieves! Both Ally and I can't wait to read it, especially Ally because Ronan is on the cover. And she LOVES Ronan! He often ends up the topic of conversation when we go walking.

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