The Sunshine Blogger Award

I was nominated for The Sunshine Blogger Award by Judy at Keep The Wisdom earlier this month.

The Sunshine Blogger Award is an award given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.

Thank you, Judy, for the nomination. Your book blog is

most definitely a ray of sunshine. I love reading your insightful book reviews and often find myself

adding new book titles to my ever growing reading wishlist.

1. How did you get started blogging? 

I'd wanted to start a blog for a while, but didn't want it to be a random hodge podge of topics... So after much thought, I decided to create a blog devoted to my love for reading books. 

I wanted my blog to be more than just book reviews, so have focused my posts on basically anything book related from bookish related quotes, book memes, author spotlights, library and book news, literary awards as well as the author events I attend, indie bookstores I visit, Little Free Libraries I discover and so much more.

2. What do you enjoy most about being a book blogger?

I enjoy connecting with other readers/bloggers the most. Additionally, I enjoy the creative outlet of writing reviews, sharing other bookish activities (like author signings, book festivals, Little Free Libraries, and independent bookstores I visit, etc.) with readers.

3. How long have you kept your blog going?

I started blogging on January 1, 2012. So the end of this year marks 8 years of blogging for me.

4. Would you say you have a philosophy behind your blog? If yes, please say what it is.

Can't say as I have a philosophy behind my book blog. 

5. What genres do you enjoy reading the most?

That's a tough question to answer as I like so many different genres.

Historical Fiction, Nonfiction, and Mysteries/Thrillers. 

6. Who are your top 3 favorite authors?

Gasp, I can only pick three favorite authors??? Geraldine Brooks, John Steinbeck, and Diana Gabaldon... Robin LaFevers gets honorable mention.

7. Do you also attend reading groups? If yes, how many?

I do not attend any reading groups.

8. If you could invite a few authors over for dinner who would they be-even if you had to resurrect some from the dead?

Margaret Atwood, Diana Gabaldon, Joan Didion (despite the fact I have yet to read any of her books!!), Maya Angelou, Geraldine Brooks, and Roxane Gay. 

9. How do you find the books you want to read?

I select books in various ways... Books written by authors who's writing I've enjoyed reading in the past. Books from favorite genres that have intriguing plots/storylines. Themed book reads... Like reading banned books during Banned Books Week, etc. Books featured in Buzzfeed articles or other online websites that sound like wonderful books to read. And, of course, books I discover through reading reviews written by book bloggers and also from Bookcrossers.

10. Do you think authors today are as good as those from earlier years? Better? Worse? Why?

Interesting question!! One that I've never really thought about before until now. 

I actually think authors are the same across each generation. You'll have great authors and bad authors... and some authors that fall somewhere in between. The truly great writers are those that can withstand the test of time. Each generation produces authors that fall into the greatness category. Popular/bestselling writers in each generation may not withstand the test of time though. 

I often wonder if popular writers of today like David Baldacci, John Grisham, James Patterson, Dan Brown, Danielle Steele and so on will even be a household name in 100 years. Probably not is my guess.

11. Name a few of the best books you have read this year.

I've read over 115 books so far this year and counting! Here are a few that I've given a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Click on the links below to read my review for each book.

1. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
2. Suggestible You: A Remarkable Journey Into the Brain's Ability to Deceive, Transform, and Heal by Erik Vance

3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
4. The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony

5. I Hear You by Michael S. Sorensen

6. Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman

7. Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm
8. Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright

I've Been Nominated For The Beautiful Blogger Award

I've been nominated for the Beautiful Blogger Award.by Kayla at The Review Court. Thank you so much for the nomination, Kayla, I so appreciate the gesture! Like Kayla, I think blogger awards are a nice way to network with other bloggers out there and spread the love of book blogs and reading.

Here are the rules for the Beautiful Blogger Award:

Link to the blogger who has nominated you.
List 7 random facts about you.
Nominate 7 creative, beautiful bloggers and let them know about about the nomination.

Here are 7 random facts about me:

1. I've loved reading books for as long as I can remember... My love for reading books began as a toddler when my mom use to read Babar the Elephant books to me and other children's books. I thank my mom for my love of reading!

2. I'm happily married to the love of life. We've been married for 13 years now.

3. I'm also an only child and have no children of my own.

4. My most exotic vacation to date was one I took with my husband in 2012 for our 10 year wedding anniversary. We sailed through the Panama Canal and had a blast visiting cities in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.

5. I've been an active member of Bookcrossing since 2008 and actively participate in the Bookcrossing forums. I've enjoyed exchanging books with readers around the world.

6. I collect postcards from places I visit. In fact, I started collecting postcards as a kid 30+ years ago! I currently have so many postcards, that I've lost count as to how many I actually have in my collection. :-) 

7. My other favorite hobbies aside from reading, blogging, and Bookcrossing include knitting (I'm still a newbie), geocaching (a hobby I've enjoyed doing with my hubby since 2005) and visiting new places.

The following is my list of wonderful bloggers who
 I'm nominating for the Beautiful Blogger Award:

1. Michelle @ Michelle's Minions

2. Ellen @ Glam Book Lounge

3. Marianne @ Let's Read

4. Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books

5. Angela @ Angela's Anxious Life

6. Carole @ Carole's Chatter

7. Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews

Blogger Recognition Award!!

I was recently nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award by Laura W. at Blue Eye Books. Thank you so much for the nomination, Laura W.!! It's always wonderful to be recognized by my fellow bloggers.

Here are the rules for the Blogger Recognition Award:

1. Thank whoever nominated you, and provide a link to their blog. 

2. Write a post to show off your award! Give a brief story of how your blog got started, and give a piece or two of advice to new bloggers.

3. Select 15 other blogs you want to give the Blogger Recognition Award to and let each blogger know you've nominated them for this award.

How I Started My Blog:

I had always wanted to start a blog of my own. So, in the Fall of 2011, I started thinking more seriously about the topic of blogging and what kind of blog I wanted to write/keep. I knew that I didn't want to keep a random blog about everything and anything... It had to be about a specific topic. I love to read books, but didn't want my blog to be solely about the books I'd read and reviewed. So, I expanded the idea to all thinks 'book related', which I define in many ways to include the following and then some:

Book reviews of the books I've read
Book/Reading Quotes
Reviews of the Indie Bookstores I visit
Author signings/Book festivals I attend
Read-A-Thons/Reading Challenges
World Book Night
Author Spotlights
Book Award Winners
Newsworthy items pertaining to authors, books, libraries, etc.
Book Memes
Basically anything to do with reading, books, authors, libraries, etc.

Coming up with a blog name was an entirely more difficult task because all the blog names I initially wanted to use were already taken!! Thank goodness, Captivated Reader, wasn't taken! 'Captivated Reader' suits me just perfectly as I love being captivated by a well written and absorbing book.

So, once I decided a topic for my blog and a blog name, I made my first blog post January 1, 2012! The rest is history as they say.

Blog Advice:

I don't really have any hard and fast rules about blogging. 

I'd recommend choosing to blog about something you are passionate about and/or know a lot about already. And try sticking to a specific theme for your blog, so that your readers know what your blog is about.

Keep blogging fun for you. Don't feel like you have to post daily if that isn't something you want to do or don't have time to do.

Don't expect overnight success with your blog. I've been blogging for almost 3.5 years now and it took awhile for followers to join.

Interact with other bloggers, especially if these bloggers write about the same topic as you.

Here Are My Nominees:

Cynthia @ Bingeing on Books
Ellen @ Glam Book Lounge
Ashley @ Wholly Books
Megan @ Lost My Muchness, Have I?
Ashley @ A Socially Awkward Bookworm
Mozette @ My Reading List

Rachel @ Reading Rachel
Jay Riv @ Vailia'a Page Turner
Brooke @ I Blog 4 Books
Sue G @ Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews
Meredith @ Unopened Letter to the World
Baggins @ Pinker Than Fiction Reviews
Christine @ Buckling Bookshelves
Amanda @ The Zen Leaf
Noemie @ Noemie's Book Blog


So, what advice do you have to offer bloggers?

I've Been Nominated For The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!

Thank you, Laura from Blue Eye Books for the nomination! I really appreciation the nomination as a way to promote other blogs... So, with that in mind, I'm here to not only promote my own book blog, but to promote other book blogs as well!

Here are the rules for the The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award:

1. Thank the blogger that nominated you, and link back to their site.
2. Post the award's logo onto your blog.
3. Answer the 10 questions you've been asked.
4. Nominate 10 other bloggers and ask them 10 questions.

So here goes... 

The following are my answers to the questions Laura at Blue Eye Books asked her nominees.

1. Have you ever thrown a book against a wall?

No, I've never thrown a book against the wall... I don't believe in harming books, only reading them!

2. What is your favorite reading spot like?

Currently, my favorite place to read is in a wing back chair in my living room... But during the summer months, it can be on our balcony sitting on a bistro chair or on a park bench... Or even at the beach while sitting on a beach chair. :-)

3. If you could have the opportunity to smack one character in the face, who would it be?

There isn't a character that I would want to smack in the face.

4. What is your favorite magazine?

Lol, I am so consumed with books that I can't even tell you the last time I even browsed through a magazine... Besides, I kinda of get all my latest information online these days instead of through magazines. So, I don't have a favorite magazine at the moment.

5. Favorite food?

Lol, I have to pick one food?!?! I have so many favorite foods I like that I can't imagine picking a single favorite. The crazy part is that right now I am eating a really limited diet due to some health issues... So, I'm having some major food cravings...

I love dark chocolate.
I love Sushi, although I am very picky about sushi quality.
Pumpkin Curry with Chicken
Pineapple Fried Rice
Vietnamese Pho
Macarons
Cappuccinos
Organic Tea Jasmine Green Tea (hot, not iced and sweetened with stevia)
Italian food
Good pastries.... 
And more!

6. What is the best part of blogging?

There are quite a few things I enjoy about blogging. Some of the things I enjoy about blogging include:

1. Connecting with other readers and book bloggers.
2. Participating in read-a-thons, reading challenges, and book memes.
3. Being creative and trying to write blog posts that aren't always book reviews, but other book related topics such as author related news, libraries, etc.

7. What is the shortest book you've ever read (not counting picture books from when you were 5)?

Oy, this is a tough question to answer as I don't keep track of the length of the books I read... A novella would probably be the shortest book I've ever read that isn't a picture book from when I was five years old. I went through the mental list of the novellas I can recall reading and l think that The Forty Fathom Bank by Les Galloway is the shortest book I've ever read... It was also a really good read.

8. The longest book?

Again this is a tough question to answer for the same reason mentioned in the previous question... I'm guessing that reading one of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander novels would be the longest book I've ever read... Gotta love the Outlander series!!

9. What is the spiciest food you've ever eaten? Anything terrible happen?

The spiciest food I've ever eaten is probably some sort of Thai dish like spicy fried rice or a spicy curry dish... Nothing extremely horrible happened. My mouth felt like it was on fire and my eyes and nose watered, but that's about all... I just made sure not to eat anything that spicy again. Thank goodness, restaurants can usually adjust the spiciness in Thai dishes.

10. What is your opinion on chocolate covered Nutella?

I've never tried chocolate covered Nutella... I think chocolate covered Nutella would be too sweet tasting to my taste buds.

My Nominees... Drumroll, please!

1. Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books
2. Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews
3. Diana @ Little Miss Drama Queen
4. Michelle @ Michelle's Minions
5. Christine @ Buckling Bookshelves
6. Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books
7. Cleo @ Cleopatra Loves Books
8. Vonnie @ Vonnie's Reading Corner
9. Loupe @ Hot Listens
10. Deb @ Readerbuzz
11. Casey @ Story Notions
12. Stacy @ Lazy Day Literature 

I know we were only suppose to pick 10 people, but I have a lot of book blogs that I like.

The Questions My Nominees:

1. What book series have you read or are currently reading that you would recommend to other readers? 
2. Do you listen to audiobooks? If so, which one would you highly recommend?
3. What are you reading (or listening to) now?
4. What's your favorite comfort food and/or beverage to enjoy while reading/listening to a book?
5. What do you most enjoy about blogging?
6. Which author would you most like to meet?
7. What's your least favorite genre to read?
8. Where would you go on your dream vacation?
9. Do you like novels with predictable and/or happy endings?
10. What's your favorite color?

Thank you so much for reading this post... If I've nominated you for The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award, I look forward to reading your answers. Take care and happy reading!!

I've been nominated for a Liebster Award!

To my sheer delight I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Casey at Story Notions. Thank you so much, Casey for nominating my blog, Captivated Reader, for a Liebster Award!! I feel honored that another book blogging peer liked my blog enough to nominate it for this award! 

Quite frankly, I'd never even heard of the Liebster Award before. So, I did a little research of my own and discovered varying information about the Leibster Award, the origins of the Liebster Award & its rules.

The Basic Rules of the Leibster Award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their blog in your blog post. 

2. Display an image of the Liebster Award in your blog post.

2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer 11 questions provided to you by the person who nominated you.

4. Nominate 5-11 blogs that you feel deserve the award and have less than 300 followers.

5. Create a new list of 11 questions for the bloggers you've nominated to answer.

6. Let the bloggers you've nominated know you've nominated them.

7. List the rules for the Leibster Award in your post.


11 Facts About Me:

1. My love for reading books began as a toddler when my mom use to read Babar the Elephant stories to me and other children's books. I thank my mom for my love of reading!
2. I was born, raised and have lived most of my life in California.
3. I have a BA in Russian from the University of Iowa.
4. I've been an active member of Bookcrossing since 2008 and actively participate in the Bookcrossing forums. I've enjoyed exchanging books with readers around the world.
5. I've been a World Book Night Giver the past three years in a row and have enjoyed passing out books to other people in my local community.
6. I'm happily married to the love of life and we have been married for 12 years now.
7. I'm an only child and have no children of my own. I'm close to my family.
8. My most exotic vacation was one I took with my husband in 2012 for our 10 year wedding anniversary. We sailed through the Panama Canal and had a blast visiting cities in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.
9. My husband & I started geocaching together in May 2005 and it's a hobby we enjoy doing together.
10. I've lived near the Pacific Ocean most of my life.
11. I enjoy visiting zoos, aquariums, museums, historical sites, botanical gardens, parks, beaches and cultural/theatrical events (like plays, musical events, symphony performances, ballet performances, etc.)


Casey's Questions For Me:


1. When did you start blogging? And why did you start?

I began my book blog on January 1, 2012! 

I've been a life long lover of reading books and wanted to share my passion for books and reading with the world at large. But I didn't want my blog to be solely filled with book reviews of the books I've read. So, I have included posts about the independent bookstores I visit, author signing events I've attend, book related quotes, book memes, and anything book related I came across from literary awards, book news, etc. 

Another reason I started my book blog was to connect with other readers and bloggers... Little did I know how much fun it would be to interact with other readers and bloggers around the world. I've really enjoyed discovering new book blogs as well as participating in book memes, read-a-thons, reading challenges and so on! 


2. What's the last book you reread? And why did you reread it? 

Well, I recently listened to the audio version of a short story written by Guy De Maupassant titled 'The Necklace' that I had originally read in high school for an English class. I had decided to listen to the audio version as I had remembered liking this short story when I'd first read it all those years ago.... Too many years ago to count!

3. Favorite TV/movie? (that isn't based on a book)

I like lot of different movies and television shows, but my recent favorite television show is 'Breaking Bad'. I've seen the entire series and loved watching it!! Too bad it's over as it was a fabulous series!!

4. Book/series that changed/influenced your life the most.

A tough question, but a good one at that... Which book has changed or influenced my life the most??? There are so many books that I've read over the years that have changed or influenced my life and my thinking for the better in some way, large or small.

However, I'd have to say that Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself by Lissa Rankin MD, has made the most impact on my life recently. I listened to the unabridged audio version of 'Mind Over Medicine' late last year and it became one of my favorite books of 2013. I've been having some health related issues for almost a year now and it has been one scary, daunting journey for me to deal with my symptoms. Overcoming the stress, fear, and anxiety that come along with dealing with a health issue and how to move forward in a positive direction has been a big issue for me personally.

After reading 'Mind Over Medicine' by Lissa Rankin MD, I felt empowered and have a new perspective of the healing process/journey. Now moving forward doesn't seem quite so scary or overwhelming. I'm currently taking small, baby steps to move forward towards optimal health. Life is good!!

5. Fandoms you're apart of and your 'favorite'.

Sure, I'm a fan of certain genres, authors, books and many other things aside from reading.... But I am not part if any fan clubs if that is what you mean. 

6. Hogwarts house.

Gryffindor!!

7. Weird reading habits or needs to be able to read?

No weird reading habits for me. I just like to be sitting in a comfortable place/position with adequate lighting and have the temperature be just right... Not too hot or too cold. So, reading at home in bed, sitting on the sofa, on a bench at the park or beach... Or even a coffee/tea house all work for me. 

In the past, I've enjoyed drinking hot tea (preferably organic jasmine green tea sweetened with stevia) or coffee with sweetened hazelnut creamer.... These days, however, I simply focus on my reading and skip the beverages!

8. Favorite book that was, at some point, 'required reading' for any reason.

'A Hero of Our Time' by Mikhail Lermontov. I had to read this novel for a Russian Literature class in college and it is now one of my favorite books of all time... I've read it 3 or 4 times now.

9. What is your OTP (couple you most like/want together)? And what is your NOTP (two characters you should never be together romantically, in your opinion)?

Not sure about this question... I couldn't come up with an answer for it.

10. Do you like ebooks? How often do you read one? Do you have an ereader?

Yes, I like eBooks! I've owned and used a Kindle quite regularly since 2008 and have upgraded to newer Kindles as time has gone by over the years. I vary my Kindle use though as I still read physical books and also still listen to books on compact disc... I'm also beginning to listen to more books from Audible.com this year as well. 

As a side note, I've become quite addicted to audio books the past few years and have actually listened to more books this year than read books.

11. What author, whose alive, do you most wish to meet and why?

Oh, that's a difficult question to answer! Let's see, there are three authors I'd really like to meet that come to mind immediately --- Diana Gabaldon, Maya Angelou, and Sherman Alexie. 

I've read many of Diana Gabaldon's novels and have enjoyed them very much. I think she'd be a neat person to meet. 

I love Maya Angelou's poetry and memoirs. I've heard Maya Angelou speak before a live audience twice in my life and enjoyed hearing her speak. She's filled with so much wisdom and knowledge that I'd love to meet her in person.

I loved reading Sherman Alexie's novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and fell in love with his writing. I'd love to met the person behind the writing.

I Nominate the Following Book Blogs for the Liebster Award:

Bookish Realm
Cold Tea & Crumbs
Geeky Chiquitas
Literature Martini
My Reading List


Here are my 11 questions for you:

When did your love for reading books begin?

Where's your favorite place to read? Do you have any favorite foods/snacks or beverages that you eat or drink while reading?? Or do you solely focus on the book you're reading?

Nostalgic question for you! What was your favorite book growing up?

Do you have an all time favorite book & why is it special to you?

Name the last book you reread!

Do you like attending literary events (book signings/book festivals, etc.)? If so, share with us a favorite literary event you've attended!

If you were to host a dinner party and could invite any author(s) to attend your dinner party, from the past or present, who would you invite and why?

Which fictional character (from a novel) would you most like to meet in real life?

What has been the best experience you've had as a book blogger?

Do you participate in weekly book memes, online read-a-thons, reading challenges, etc? If so, which one is your favorite one to participate in?

What do you enjoy doing for fun when you aren't blogging and reading?

Good luck and have fun with the Liebster Award!! I look forward to reading your comments below!