You can never judge a book by its cover, nor can you read the entire thing while loitering in the bookstore. It is frowned upon in most stores, and liable to get you ejected from some. However, ill-chosen books are likely to become nothing more than a door stop before being relegated to a box in the next available yard sale. So what’s a bookworm to do? Well, you can start by following these 30 excellent book blogs to find reviews.
Children’s Books
The books you read to your children will actively shape their view of the world. There is an entire world of mystery, imagination and inquiry awaiting your little ones, so choose wisely. The children’s book industry is huge, grinding out thousands of titles a day. To help you introduce your kids to the world of literature, follow these five blogs.
- Our Favorite Reads from 2010 & Happy New Year!
- Anarchy of the Imagination: Why I Love Children’s Books
- Hannah Cummings presents five favourite picture books
- The Princess and the Peas – a classic retelling
- It’s Not Fair by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Horror and Fantasy
If you’re someone who likes a good scare, the dark underbelly of horror fiction is calling you home. From Stephen King to H.P. Lovecraft, horror and fantasy authors have been giving readers nightmares for centuries. Horror writing is a craft, so don’t expect to find the greatest titles without recommendations from these five ghoulish bloggers.
- Thomas Tryon Born Today, 1926
- July, 2013 Reviews
- Read an Excerpt from Mike Robinson’s ‘Negative Space’
- “Black Swan Rising: Black Swan Rising #1″ by Lee Carroll (Reviewed by Cindy Hannikman)
- Review of Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
Biographies and Autobiographies
For those of you who are intrigued with the lives, loves and losses of celebrities and famous figures, there is no better read than an in-depth autobiography. You can journey side by side with your favorite actors, musicians and politicians as they face life’s challenges through a well-written biography or autobiography. Don’t get too caught up in the fantasy, though, as you vicariously live the lives of your idols with these five biographical blogs.
- The Old Rectory: Escape to a Country Kitchen by Julia Helen Ibbotson
- King of the Mild Frontier by Chris Crutcher
- Stephen King’s On Writing
- My Booky Wook – Book Review
- Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury by Lesley-Ann Jones, Queen: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics
Historical and Cultural
Until the invention of time-travel, there is only one way to see through the eyes of those who have long since passed – historical and cultural texts. History buffs, it is said, enjoy a long read with plenty of dates, place references and events of significance. For these readers, the story lies in the details. These five reviewers are experts in finding the greatest historical and cultural tomes, so you can enjoy a literary picture of the past.
- Wednesday’s Book Review: “Born on a Mountaintop”
- Love at any Cost By Julie Lessman
- Q&A with Blaine Pardoe: Murder in Battle Creek (The Mysterious Death of Daisy Zick)
- Advice to Young Men by William Cobbett
- Brief Biography of Mark Twain
General Fiction
The fiction genre covers a lot of ground, so it’s difficult to break it down into specific categories. Some readers enjoy spy novels, whereas others prefer to cozy up with a nice romantic novel. With so much variety in fiction novels, it is safe to say that there is something for everyone. Regardless of your personal reading tastes, these five bloggers are on hand to lend plenty of suggestions with some truly excellent reviews.
- Book Review for Bend Me, Shape Me by Debra R. Borys
- Three Chapters of A Bridge of Treachery
- Book Spotlight: Origin of the Sphinx by Raye Wagner
- “Seeds of Evidence”: The Power of Perseverance
- Guest post: CAPACITY FOR MURDER by Bernadette Pajer
Factual and Science
In recent years, writers of factual and scientific titles have started edging their way onto the bestsellers lists. Scientists such as Stephen Hawking, Richard Dawkins and Neil Degrasse Tyson have become household names. With this newfound appreciation for science, there is an increased need for qualified reviewers. These five bloggers have a tough task ahead of them, as they attempt to delve into some of the greatest minds in the history of science.