Lenore has an awesome post up (originally discussed by Marie!) about the “extra story” connecting books and readers — namely, how it is we come to find books in our hands, read them and review them.

If I have a cute or fun story about how and why I read a novel, I try to incorporate that into my reviews — mostly because, as a blog reader, I like knowing the background of a blogger’s perspective. I enjoy knowing why they would or would not have normally selected a particular title to read, and I think it’s fun to see if their perceptions changed if they were “forced” to read a book — say, for school, or at the order of a friend or significant other — and how they felt about the experience of reading something different and out of their comfort zone.

Of course, not all my background stories are interesting. (Just look at this long introduction, eh?)

So, following in Lenore and Marie’s footsteps, here’s the “extra story” of how and why I read and reviewed the last 20 books posted on write meg!:

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani — Mooched on BookMooch; saw reviews popping up around the blogosphere and loved the cover

Rude Awakenings Of A Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler — Purchased new by me (in hardcover, no less!) at Borders; I read and loved the first of Rigler’s Austen novels

Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot — Purchased new by me at Borders; I’m just a huge Cabot fan, and couldn’t believe I’d yet to start this series

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer — Review copy sent to me by publisher; I was thrilled to have a chance to read Heyer for the first time, and heard that The Grand Sophy is one of her best works (and I would have to agree!)

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson — Purchased new by me on Amazon; influenced to buy based on positive LibraryThing reviews

Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen — Purchased new by me at Borders; I’m totally devoted to Dessen, and couldn’t wait to grab this one!

Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty — Purchased new by me on Amazon; I became totally addicted to all of McCafferty’s books after reading a post by Nat on Book, Line and Sinker

The Embers by Hyatt Bass — Review copy sent to me through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program; the family drama sounded appealing!

The Penny Pinchers Club — Review copy sent to me by publisher; loved the cover!

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen — Purchased new by me at Borders; fell in love with Garden Spells and waited for it to come out in paperback!

Fitness 9 to 5 by Shirley Archer — Purchased as a bargain book at HomeGoods; I’m still trying to get in shape, and the guide was practical and entertaining!

Me And Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter — Mooched on BookMooch; I’m innately interested in all Austen fiction, and I thought the cover was gorgeous!

Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty — Purchased new by me on Amazon; I became totally addicted to all of McCafferty’s books after reading a post by Nat on Book, Line and Sinker

Frenemies by Megan Crane — Purchased as a bargain book at Borders; enjoyed other works by Crane, so thought I’d give this one a whirl

The 30 Second Commute by Stephanie Dickison — Review copy sent by author; sounded really appealing and fun

Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty — Purchased new by me at Borders; I became totally addicted to all of McCafferty’s books after reading a post by Nat on Book, Line and Sinker

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty — Purchased new by me at Borders; I became totally addicted to all of McCafferty’s books after reading a post by Nat on Book, Line and Sinker

Best Intentions by Emily Listfield — Review copy sent by publisher; I was attracted by the mystery/chick lit vibe of it all

Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton — Review copy sent by author; my inner Anglophile yelped with delight at the thought of reading a uniquely British work of contemporary fiction! Plus, hey, it’s pink

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson — Purchased new by me on Amazon; read a review on Presenting Lenore and wanted to read about this European adventure before I took my own trip to London in May

So, of the last 20 books I’ve read and reviewed:

• Two were Mooched on BookMooch;
• Six were review copies sent to me by authors, publishers or networking sites;
• Ten were purchased new by me at regular price (or close to it);
• Two were purchased new by me as bargain books

I’d say that’s a pretty healthy glimpse at my reading life! As I type this, I have four review books on my TBR shelf — and about 100 others that I’ve picked up in my travels (and online exploits). You’ll notice the lack of any “borrowed” books or loans from the library… probably because my local resources are lacking. If it’s not mine to peruse, I feel nervous about reading it — and soiling it, though I try to keep my books in great shape!

If I was no longer offered review copies or stopped accepting them, I don’t think write meg! would change dramatically — mostly because I have enough unread novels on my shelves to sustain me for the next year or so! But I do love the opportunity to pick up new releases as advance reading copies and snag books I wouldn’t normally read because I don’t have the fear of paying full price for something I might not enjoy — especially if I’m venturing outside my genre. Still, I continue to buy books new myself and can’t imagine giving that up anytime soon… it would be painful for me! Buying a new book is a total thrill, and I can’t wait to crack the spine and see who I’m going to meet and where I’m going to travel.

Check out more posts on this topic at Presenting Lenore and The Boston Bibliophile!