Each week, The Broke and Bookish host a Top Ten Tuesday based on a certain bookish topic. Other bloggers are able to participate and post their own top ten list based on the topic.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is a Top Ten Things That Make Your Life As A Reader/Book Blogger Easier.
So here’s my list in no particular order:
1. Goodreads
Oh my goodness, I absolutely love Goodreads. Without it, I would not survive as a reader and a book blogger. Goodreads keeps track of all the books I read, the ratings I give them, the books I need to read, the books I need to check out, how long it took me to read a book, the number of books I’ve read so far this year, the ratings of books people read; I can go on and on about this all day.
2. Photoshop
Ever since I’ve started blogging, I had to be quite familiar with Photoshop for blog design purposes. Without Photoshop, this blog will look so much different than it is now.
3. W3schools
What on Earth is W3schools you might ask? Well, while I was in high school, I was in the computer science major and W3schools was the ultimate resource for us while we were learning HTML, CSS, and Javascript. I need to brush up on my CSS for my blog design nowadays (how did you think I got the awesome blockquotes design?) and W3schools is what I use.
4. Strandbooks
Ever since I started book blogging, I have tons of books with awesome premises on my to-buy list. Thank goodness I discovered Strandbooks; most books sold in Strand has a 50% discount. Yes, that’s right, that means that hardcovers are $9 and paperbacks are sold for $5. Strandbooks basically saved my wallet.
5. NYPL Library
You know the books with all the hype surrounding it? Yeah, well I usually end up disliking them. Yeah, I know. Thank goodness I borrow all those books from the library instead of buying them, if you know what I mean.
Okay, I know this isn’t a list of ten things that make my life as a reader/book blogger easier, but man, these are all I can think of. And now, I want to know, what are your top ten things that make your life as a reader/book blogger easier?
Great article! Goodreads is a must and actually what got me into reading, reviewing and the whole book blogging thing. I wish we had Strandbooks internationally, but book depository is awesome enough for me. Hmmm, I think things that make my life easier would be scheduling posts in advance and keeping track of blog tours, reviews due in my calender!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop – August 2013
I need to start using a calendar labeling writing what reviews when. It sounds like it can really help! (:
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
Fantastic list! Goodreads has definitely saved my life, too, it’s also is great for networking your blog! :) I went to The Strand earlier this week and it is so a book lover’s heaven! I mean, seriously, aside from the few books that are list price, everything is half off basically and you can get some books earlier O_O Photoshop has also saved my life, too, even though I’m not very good at it lol :P
Fantastic post, Kelly! <33
Eileen @ ***Singing and Reading in the Rain*** recently posted…Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
I need to network my blog more on Goodreads. I’m just to lazy to copy & paste my reviews from my blog to Goodreads nowadays.
Strandbooks is a book lovers dream Eileen! Once I got Everbound 3 weeks early AND for half price. I was celebrating for DAYS.
Ha ha, book blogging forced me to be good at Photoshop. :P
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
I love that Goodreads is a staple thing to use for a book blogger! I love using it :) Great list!
Chrissi Reads recently posted…Top Ten Things That Make Your Life As A Reader/Book Blogger Easier
Thank goodness Goodreads was invented or else I wouldn’t survive as a book blogger!
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
I can’t believe I forgot Photoshop on my list. I use it for all my graphics.
Strand is one of my favorite places on Earth. I just wish I lived in NYC so I could get there more frequently. :)
kimberlyfaye recently posted…Top Ten Things That Make My Life As a Reader & Book Blogger Easier
Photoshop does wonders!
I try to go to Strand at least once a week during the school year. I just can’t resist!
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
Great list! I love Goodreads!
I need to get into Photoshop for my blog design!
My TTT:
http://qaisracetusbookblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/top-ten-tuesday-82013.html
Saru recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday 8/20/13
Photoshop definitely helps A LOT.
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
I don’t use Photoshop for my graphics because I’m just too lazy to figure it out. For now, I use online alternatives (might I add FREE?) that are working really well too! Obviously, not as great as Photoshop but I don’t need great looking graphics…for now.
Annie recently posted…Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
I would definitely be using free alternatives like you if I don’t have Photoshop. Why is Photoshop so expensive?!
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
I wish I could use Photoshop. I have it on my work computer, but I can just about put two images together to form a collage. Luckily there’s plenty of free tools out there that enable me to do the same thing without having to do the hard work myself!
Here’s my TTT.
Sarah @ Girl!Reporter recently posted…Elmore Leonard’s 10 rules of writing
Youtube is my savior when I use Photoshop. So many amazing tutorials!
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
Totally agree about Goodreads. I’d be lost without it! And I shamefully admit that when it comes to design, CSS, photoshop etc. I am totally clueless. I guess I’ll check out that W3schools thingy though. Oh and can I say how jealous I am about Strandbooks and your access to a great library stocking YA books in English?
My TTT
Carmen B. recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: things that make life as a reader/blogger easier
Oops, wrong link. It’s this one.
Carmen B. recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: things that make life as a reader/blogger easier
W3schools definitely helps a lot Carmen! It has all the HEX decimal color numbers, HTML and CSS guides, etc.
It’s sad that your libraries don’t have much YA books in English. D:
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
Yes. Yes. And yes! I use and love everything on your list except Strandbooks (which is new to me). But oh Thank You for giving me yet one more outlet to purchase books from. :-) Currently I use ThriftBooks (which are used books) and BookCloseouts.com (which are both new and used, sometimes even autographed).
Great list Kelli!
Meagan @ Reviewing Wonderland recently posted…CRASH (Visions book 1) by Lisa McMann {5* Review}
I don’t know if Strandbooks is cheaper than ThriftBooks or BookCloseouts, but it’s the place I go to in NYC. It’s just SO cheap there!
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
Goodreads, Netgalley and Overdrive (for library audiobooks) top my list.
I mainly use Gimp for graphics, which is the free opensource version of Photoshop. I love it, although my husband prefers the “real” Photoshop.
Sarah recently posted…Darker Still
I absolutely love Goodreads, I barely use NetGalley, and I don’t really like audiobooks.
I’ve never heard of Gimp before. I’ll have to check that one out. o:
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
Goodreads!! Seriously, not sure how I lived without it! I don’t have photoshop unfortunately. =( But I WISH I could love it.
Wendy recently posted…Blog Tour: The Apollo Academy by Kimberly P. Chase Interview & Giveaway
I know! Without Goodreads, my blog will be a MESS.
Photoshop is so good! :D<3
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]