Are you aware that you can vote on books other readers have submitted?  This allows you to voice your opinion on a book without having to leave a comment.

First Log In and then click on the Browse Books tab.  At the bottom of each reviewed book there is a set of stars.  Move your cursor over the stars of a book you have read and would like to rank.  If the stars turn green, you have not yet voted on that book.  If the stars remain yellow, you have already ranked that book in a previous session.  Your votes are automatically tabulated.  Top vote getters can be viewed on my side bar under Highest Rated.

November 2007 I welcomed the world to my new Bookbound website and blog.  Unfortunately, I failed to do what everyone who acquires a new domain name should do.  That is, check to make sure that your clever, well chosen name is not already trademarked.

This past March, I was contacted by Bookbound Publishing and made aware that I was in violation of trademark infringement.  To their credit, they were willing to allow me to keep using the name, but under certain conditions.  In the end, for a number of reasons, I felt it better to move away from their trademarked name.

I want to thank all the friends who helped me brainstorm on possible new dot com names.  Some of my favorites were Book, Fine and Stinker; Bookalooka (already taken); The Great Booksby (aka The Great Gatsby); Book Hooker (sorry Joan, this one was never really was in the running); Helen Says (already taken) and finally, because this site is my view of what’s good to read Helen’s Reads (thanks Bonnie!).

So, I invite everyone to sign up and tell me what you’re reading and loving, rate books that others have recommended, leave thoughtful comments, subscribe to my blog and above all… keep reading!

1. Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback?  Definitely trade paperback.  Cheaper and bag stuff able.

2. Barnes & Noble or Borders?  Neither.  Around here (Seattle/Bellevue)  there are too many good independents.   If I had to choose between the two, then definitely B&N.

3. Bookmark or dog-ear? Dog-ear since I’m always losing the book mark the store throws in.

4. Amazon or brick and mortar?  Brick and mortar for aimlessly browsing.  Amazon if I know what I want and the book is a little obscure.

5. Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?  Group by genre.

6. Keep, throw away, or sell? Keep and donate.

7. Keep dust jacket or toss it? Keep.

8. Read with dust jacket or remove it? Read with the dust jacket.

9. Short story or novel? Novels for sure.

10. Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? Neither. (ditto)

11. Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?  When tired.

12. “It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?  “It was a dark and stormy night.” Nothing like a good psychological thriller to keep me reading.

13. Buy or borrow?   Buy. When I want to read it…I want to read it.

14. New or used? Mostly new, unless I know someone that is reading or has just read a book I want to read that I can borrow.

15. Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?   Recommendations first, book reviews second, browsing almost never.

16. Tidy ending or cliffhanger?  Tidy ending.

17. Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading? Morning reading.  I’m alert with my cup of coffee to keep me company.

18. Stand-alone or series? Stand-alone.  Stand-alone.  I might get on a certain author kick, but I hardly ever read a series.

19. Favorite series? Is two a series?  The Sparrow and Children of God by Mary Doria Russell

20. Favorite children’s book?   Three By The Sea by Edward Marshall.  This was the book I always picked to read to my kids when I got to choose.

21. Favorite YA book?  Anything by Meg Cabot  (Princess Diaries).  Meg has a wonderful way of writing that connects to young teen girls.  She’s infectious.

22. Favorite book of which nobody else has heard? Yoga, Youth and Reincarnation by Jess Stern.  This book introduced me to all things metaphysical when I was in my twenties.

23. Favorite books read last year? Loving Frank, Nancy Horan; Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson;  People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks; Trail of Crumbs, Kim Sunee

24. Favorite books of all time?  I am going to preface this by saying these are some of my all time favorites: Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell; Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand; The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell;  Rosie, Anne Lamont;  The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood

25. What are you reading right now?  I just finished Abraham Verghese’s Cutting For Stone (two thumbs up).  Before that I read In The Woods by Tana French (excellent whodunit).

26. What are you reading next?  Not sure…maybe Edgar Sawtelle.

27. Favorite book to recommend to an eleven-year-old?   I would send them to Island Books.  They have the best children’s book section.

28. Favorite book to reread?   I never reread.

29. Do you ever smell books?   Only the scratch and sniff  kind.

30. Do you ever read Primary source documents? Like, diaries or letters?  Only if it’s a book club pick.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (signed) - BookBound (nothing like a little self promotion)

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski -  Book Kitten

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips  – Booking Mama

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell (3 audio books) – A Bookworm’s World

The Rose of Sebastopol by Katherine McMahon (Alchemist’s Daughter) – BookroomReviews

Fire Fly Lane by Kristin Hannah – On My Bookshelf

Visit www.bookroomreviews.com to see the entire list of giveaways.  Good Luck!

I hope it isn’t the word ‘review’.  Websters defines ‘a review’ as an essay or article that gives a critical evaluation (as of a book or play).  This is not what is needed here.  There are so many other sources on the web for that type of information.  The book reviews for this site are meant to be short statements (pro or con) as if you were talking about a book with a friend.  “Give this book a chance.  After the first 100 pages, I swear you will be hooked.” is an example of a great book review.  Click the ‘Preview’ button to review and then click ‘Send’.  Don’t forget to return to ‘Browse Books’ to give your book a star rating (1to 5) after you submit.

Big Green Purse A book dedicated to putting your money where your environmental mouth is.

Elastic Waist In a nut shell…body image issues

Simply Recipes Great recipes, beautiful pictures, what more do you need to start dinner?

Cooking With Amy All things food. Ranked “best of the Blogs” by Forbes.com

Bipolar Lawyer Cook Mental health, legal resources and food. Now there’s a combo!

Real Self Inside health & beauty scoop on everything from teeth whitening to plastic surgery.