I started wondering a few weeks ago if there was a website or database where I could find out which book bloggers had reviewed a book (or at least posted something about a given title, not necessarily a complete or “formal” review). Since I don’t tend to read what “everyone else” is reading, unless it’s a couple years after “everyone else” has already finished it, I thought it would be a good way to see who else has read some of the same things I’ve read — or conversely, to finally admit that I really AM the only person who loves, for example, The Injured Party by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer. (Some time ago, there were five copies of that novel cataloged on LibraryThing. Two of the five are mine: one hardcover, one paperback.)
Some days after thinking that I wanted some kind of book review index for book blogs, I found a Google Custom Search Engine developed (and maintained, as time allows) by a book blogger called Fyrefly. I recognized the user name Fyrefly from LibraryThing, and anyone who’s active on LT, I’m ready to support pretty much any of their book-related activities. I’m also familiar with Google’s Custom Search Engines because some of my fellow transportation librarians have developed them to search specific types of transportation websites: only state DOTs, only university transportation centers, that kind of thing. Because you’re ONLY searching sites and domains that are entered by the search engine creator(s), you get the familiar Google search, but usually with more relevant, targeted, and reliable results.
I’ve added a widget for the Book Blogs Search Engine to the side of my blog. If you’re curious to see the sites that are currently included in the search engine, check this page at Fyrefly’s blog — it’s a huge list! That blog page was last updated in late September, and the search engine’s page says it was last updated on October 8. It seems there are always new book bloggers popping up, and even some blogs that have been around a while might be “under the radar,” so it’s basically impossible to include them all, especially when the search engine is a one-person operation. It’s really an amazing resource. 🙂
So, fellow readers, give the search engine a try, and if you like what you find, stop by Fyrefly’s blog and let her know.
Wow, thank you for the super-nice post! It's true that it's been a while since I've updated the search – that whole pesky real-life thing keeps getting in the way – but I'm planning a big update sometime during Thanksgiving week.
Wow back at you — how did you know I posted this, like less than 12 hours after it went up? Are you some kind of technical internet magician?!?!
But seriously, I'm so glad you had the idea to create this engine, and that you're willing to maintain it as time allows — it's NOT an easy job, I'm sure, and you deserve all the kudos you get! THANK YOU!!!
And thanks for stopping by! I hope you get some R&R during the holiday week. 🙂
Heh, no, not an internet magician, sadly. 🙂 WordPress's stats page gathers incoming links – which I guess is pretty magical.
I hope your Thanksgiving is awesome as well!