I read blogs because it is fun and addictive. I like reading a variety of perspectives. If I've read the book, I like to hear what others have to say about it. If I haven't read the book they're reviewing, then I like to read them in order to get an idea of whether or not I want to read the book. I love adding books to my already monstrously large tbr pile. What makes them so fun, for me, is seeing other people's personalities and quirkiness, their enthusiasm and passion for reading.

Great to see you over hear, Jac! I suppose that I read blogs because I'm so pleased to have found other adults who share my interest in children's books and raising readers. I always felt a bit odd, wandering around the children's section of the library without any kids, and such, and it's such a relief to me to find other people who are equally obsessed with the genre. And they are such great people! It's a joy to talk with them. I enjoy the discussion, the give and take, getting book recommendations from people, and so on. I'm also something of an addict as far as synthesizing information goes, so I like to read a lot of blogs, and glean a few things that I think other people will find useful, and pass those along. I feel like I can make difference that way. So, that and pretty much everything Becky said above.

Ok, the sidebar? Totally had me laughing out loud on the desk. I HATE that -- use a Kleenex already, right people?! It's not that hard!

In terms of why I read the blogs I do, it's because I like the people who write them and I'm interested in what they have to say. Take Sarah Dessen. I don't miss a day. I think her writing is amazing, and I'm always anxiously awaiting to read whatever happens to be on her mind that day.

Reading a blog anonymously is like attending a public lecture and sitting in the back. You go to hear what is being said because you like who is speaking, but making a question or comment at the end can seem futile in the light of how many people are attending and how easily it might be to be drowned out.

I go to several blogs because they are experts in their field, but most of them are not. I blog, but I speak about nothing on which I'm an expert. So your question is just: why go to a lecture by a non-expert? I think the answer is entirely for social reasons. We don't pick our friends based on who is an expert at something in which we are interested; we have friends because they are our peers and simply are interested in the same things we are. And if your friend was giving a lecture on a topic you enjoyed, even if he or she was not an expert, you would go, and you would probably make a comment at the end, just because you know that they appreciate the support.

I read blogs because they are really informal, give-and-take discussions on topics I'm interested in. So, yeah, pretty much what Jen said :)

I have the attention span of a 2 year old, so I need short blogs or magazine articles for good reading entertainment. Since magazines aren't as easy to access and are somewhat bad for the environment, I will stick with the blogs. Yes, I know I am missing out on so much more, but I am so amused by blogs, because the lack of editing and fun information. The bloggers are real people writing about information that means something to them. There is an honesty and a lot of times a passion behind the writing. Also, some of the best humor comes from bloggers, kind of like someone's sidebar.

Oh, and by the way, your Mom is not around so tell the dude to drop his snot bomb in some tissue before you blow chunks in his direction. That usually works, or so I am told.

I guess that I'm still curious as to how we choose the blogs we follow - on conversely, why we DON'T follow some blogs. Especially in the Kidlitosphere - most of the time the book one person is talking about will be covered by someone else. Is that repetition just part of it - if three people blog about it, it must be noteworthy in some aspect, being good or bad?

I think I'm trying to pack a whole sociology into blog reading, which isn't fair, but I can't help wonder.

I primarily read them for the book recommendations. I love it when a blogger has personal epiphanies to share, too, but bring on the books books books!

Congratulations, Jackie!

You mentioned one of my favorite things: enthusiasm. Whatever the case may be, a blog about books, a conversation about music or film, an audition for something, I give (and look for a return of) true enthusiasm.

Information. Communication. Opinion. Curiosity. Intelligence.

As far as why people don't follow particular blogs, some of the pleasure in blogging is the interactivity, the being able to comment and be replied to, to discuss. Some of what I miss from school is that interaction - that intelligent discussion - and I get that from blogging and reading the blogs of others. I'll mostly comment when nobody else has taken the time to do so - so that the writer of the blog will know that somebody is out there reading. I also tend to tire of blogs which have immense clouds of groupies, immense numbers of gushing comments, and those are the ones which get left by the wayside.

Great question, Jac!
I prefer reading people's thoughts to talking, because I know I'm not that gifted with conversing intelligently in person, but I can READ. Occasionally I give up lurking and respond, having had the time to think and analyze information from a host of intelligent people and come up with my own point of view. It's like becoming part of the intellectual conversation that takes place after a lecture -- some experts chiming in, but mainly the listeners taking part in the intellectual community and making it their own.

That sounds weirdly academic, and definitely not all blogs are quite so serious! But looking at how I choose blogs to read, this still applies. Reading multiple blogs gives me all manner of pieces of the puzzle of this thing we call children's literature. "Fuse#8" and "A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy" cover the Official bits, like Newberry, Caldecott, SLJ and ALA stuff. The "Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast" duo are picture book and illustrator mad, which has taught me a lot about art and exposed me to tons of great illustrators. I could go on in specifics (and yes, I started reading "Bookshelves of Doom" for the Dr. Who bits, but stayed because Leila's just hilariously shoot-from-the-hip fearless in her myriad opinions), but you get the idea -- every blog I choose gives me some small piece of this very big genre, and makes me that much more conversant in the ideology, hopefully making me both a better reader and a better writer.

Okay, yeah. A whole sociology packed into simple blog reading. You got me. :)

PS -- And I have to admit that I am **NOT** above handing random people tissues if they're sniff-snorting is riding my nerves. Just -- no words needed, simply -- take one out, hand it over. And stare. Meaningfully.

Your Mom canNOT fault you for that.

Of course, I'm initially sampling all kinds of kid lit blogs for the books, books, books...but why do some blogs rate a bookmark and return visits, and others are never seen again? Sadly, it's not for the interesting and intriguing topics that are presented, the level of stimuating discussions that ensue, or the chance to explore my chosen field with others equally passionate and committed.

No, it's the humor. Make me laugh, and I'll come back over and over. Even if I don't always agree with the blogger.

Hello Jackie!
This is a wonderful topic! For me, blogs are appealing because the person writing them is generally not being paid, and is actually sharing their thoughts out of pure love for the subject at hand. It creates a kind of 'passionate casualness' that can be very entertaining and even suprising at times. Plus, blogs allow readers to interact with the writer through comments, a feature that is personally rewarding as it creates a social environment. Bloggers who blog about kid's books always inflect some of their personality into their posts (more so than print reviews), so you come away feeling as though you've just been talking to a friend.

I love reading blogs when I can get a true sense of the personality of the writer. I read blogs to stay part of the conversation, to learn by hearing other opinions, and to laugh (Love your sidebar, Jackie!!).

Hey Jackie!

I'd say it's the tidbits that bring me back. I like the little oddities and notes on life that you find mixed into a good blog. There's a rawness and familiarity that's refreshing. A connection to a real person and moment. Like your note on the person sitting behind you. :~)

Lorie Ann Grover ~readergirlz diva/author

Oh, I LOVE that term, Robyn! "Passionate Casualness" That's great - and really true.

I'm with you on the Humor, Pat.

"...and stare. Meaningfully." Oh, that is good, Tad...I also totally understand what you are saying about not being incredibly comfortable with live conversation - but really shinning when it comes to communicating through the written word. Honestly, I think that's why the Internet thrives.

DaviMack - bloggers appreciate EVERY comment. At least I do. There's something hollow about speaking into the interwebs and not getting any reply at all. Comments are a big part of what keeps me bloging. The more comments I get, the more I WANT to blog - rather than feeling like I HAVE to blog. Also, no one likes a sycophant.

I've now tried typing at least four different versions of a response to your post. It's seemingly such a simple question: why do I follow the blogs I follow? Each time I start typing, though, I find that my simple responses are inadequate.

Kudos to you for posing such a thought provoking question! Here are a few points of which I am certain....

1) When it comes to fanblogs I choose based on the dignity of the blog. I don't want to read a blog that violates the privacy of the be-fanned (fan-ees?). And I want to read interesting posts and comments that go beyond the standard variants of OMG THAT WAS AWESOME X IS SOOO HAWT.

2) Aesthetics matter. All content being equal, I will choose a blog that appeals to me visually by being less cluttered (or more cluttered, if the clutter serves the blog well), or more aesthetically intriguing.

3) Unfortunately, perhaps, for the blogger, a highly maintained blog will retain my readership more than one that is maintained by someone with a healthy non-blogospheric social life. Firstly, it's easier to lose interest in a blog that is infrequently updated. Secondly, I like to feel that any comments I make to a post will be read by the person to whom I'm responding. Lastly, I appreciate moderators exercising a little judgment when permitting comments. If a comment doesn't suit the goal of your blog, consider deleting it. I know, I know...censorship is icky.... I guess what I'm saying is that, say you've got a political blog that reviews the latest book by Ann Coulter or Michael Moore. If your blog's mission is to provide a forum for thoughtful discussion, 146 comments stating that MOORE or COULTER SUUXXXX really don't belong there. However, if your blog's mission is to provide a space where people can blow off steam about political-ish authors who cheese them off, by all means encourage said 146 comments. The blogosphere is vast enough that there are plenty of blogs out there to suit every audience...if commenters you censor in this way disagree with this point, they are free themselves to fill the void by starting their own blog. Hooray for the Internets!

4) A blogger's voice is important. Just like with people's personalities, some repel you and some draw you in. YOU, obviously, draw me in. ;)

Whoa. It's time to stop typing now. Thanks, Jackie!

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