March 17th was my five year blog anniversary! I never remember to celebrate the blog anniversary on the right date, if I remember to celebrate it at all, so it’s no surprise to me that I’m a few days late. But I did want to acknowledge the date this time around because five years seems … like a ridiculously long time. Have I really been blogging that long? It hardly feels like it. It seems like it was only yesterday that I started the blog as a way to fill the huge void left by a finished dissertation. Actually, at the time it didn’t feel like I began blogging for that reason — I thought I was beginning to blog because I loved what I saw other bloggers doing (particularly Stefanie, although I quickly fell in love with tons of other blogs). But looking back on it, it feels like too much of a coincidence to have finished the formal academic writing that a dissertation requires and to have started much more informal writing about books at precisely the same time. I remember thinking, oh, this will be so much fun — I can write anything! I don’t have to be formal! I can talk about myself! I don’t have to carefully back up my claims unless I feel like it! Wonderful!
And it has been great fun. I’ve written many times before about how blogging has changed my reading habits and changed my life — lots of new books, lots of new friends, a whole new way of being a bookish person — so I won’t get into all that again. I’m not sure I have anything new to say about how wonderful blogging has been, except that I mean it very much when I say I’m very glad I began blogging and I’m extremely grateful to all my readers and blog friends. Without you, five years of blogging — think of all those words! — wouldn’t be worth it. Thank you!
Of Books and Bicycles 
Congrats, Dorothy. You’ve reminded me not to forget my own blog’s birthday, which is on the same day. Isn’t it amazing that we’re still here, still blogging, still connecting and still having fun?
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And my fifth anniversary can’t be far off then. Isn’t it wonderful that you and Charlotte and Emily and Stefanie and I are all still blogging? I’d be so sorry to lose any of our relationships – it’s like checking into the coffee house in Friends and finding the cast all still there, being witty and quirky and wise.
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Congrats! Five years is indeed impressive.
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Happy anniversary, Dorothy! I’m so glad you’re still here.
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So glad you started blogging and are still blogging (and I feel so flattered!) Congrats on five years. I hope there are many more years to come. You’ve been an inspiration and I can attribute a good many of my TBR books to you.
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Congratulations! Five years is a big accomplishment and I’m sure everyone’s TBR lists have grown exponentially with all the great books shared.
What did you do your dissertation on, if I might ask?
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Thank goodness you started and even more thank goodness you’re still there. As you can see finishing academic writing freed me to forget about grammar!
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Happy Anniversary!!!
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Congratulations!
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Happy anniversary. I do not comment for I don’t know what to add to the conversation. Yet, I wanted to take this occasion to say how much I enjoy reading about your reads. I found you through Charlottte.
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Happy, happy anniversary, and here’s to many more years! My fourth is just coming up next week – I can’t believe how quickly time has passed.
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Congratulations on five years of blogging! I always enjoy your posts – long may they continue.
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Congratulations! My blog is a couple months younger than yours, but it IS amazing that we’re all still here, still reading each other. Just think, if it weren’t for blogs, the mystery book club wouldn’t exist, and there’d be no “Dorr” chapter in my TBR tome (oh, and Dorr Mountain wotld be just another mountain).
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Charlotte — yes, it IS amazing! I wouldn’t have guessed it back then. It was just a crazy experiment at the time. I’m so glad you’re still out there too!
Litlove — yes, I’m SO glad you all are still out there blogging! I like your Friends image — it’s just perfect! I suppose it can’t last forever, but I’m glad it’s lasted this long and hope it lasts for a long time to come.
Teresa — thank you!
Susan — thanks! I’m so glad you’re still there blogging too. (and tweeting!)
Stefanie — same to you about the TBR pile! 🙂 I agree with you about wanting many years to come; blogging has been too good to lose!
Debby — thank you! And if I’ve made other people’s TBR piles grow, they have only done exactly the same to me! About the dissertation, I’ll tell you when I see you next. But … it’s not that interesting …
Annie — here’s to leaving academic writing AND grammar behind! 🙂 I’m so glad you’re out there blogging too.
Lilian and Bardiac — thanks to both of you!
Lilalia — thank you so much for stopping by! I love all kinds of readers, whether they comment or not 🙂
Nymeth — doesn’t the time fly? Congrats on your upcoming anniversary. Many more years to you as well!
Margaret — thank you! And same to you! I’m hoping for many more posts from your great blog.
Emily B. — you’re so right about the importance of the blog! My life would be quite different without having gotten to know you and the book group people. And I’m so fond of Dorr Mountain! 🙂
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Happy belated blogiversary! It seems like forever I’ve been reading your blog (I found you through now nearly defunct Kate’s Bookblog). I take this opportunity to thank you for all these posts that made me discover lots of new books and authors.
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Another happy belated anniversary over here. I haven’t been around the book-blogosphere nearly five years, but yours was one of the first that impressed me upon discovery. Here’s to five more!
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Congrats Dorothy. Five years really is a long time. I’ve very much enjoyed your posts and am looking forward to the next five years! 🙂
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I’m so late to the party but happy, happy bloggiversary! 5 years is a big accomplishment. I look forward to reading many more of your blog posts and sharing the book love 🙂
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If I were still blogging as Yogamum it would be five years for me too! And I think I found you through Charlotte as well. Have always enjoyed your posts and I will be reading for as long as you’re writing!
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Congratulations. We love your blog!
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Happy Belated! It’s been a great five years!
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Thank goodness you began blogging! I love the casualness of your blogs and the fact that everyone can easily grasp what you are trying to share. I’m glad you decided to start blogging and it gives me incentive to also blog. Blogging is new to me and I love when I find an inspiring site. Five years is a long time! Keep it up!
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Smithereens — well, thank you so much for reading! I really appreciate it. By the way, Kate has a new blog, on law and literature: http://lawartscult.osgoode.yorku.ca/
Emily — why thank you! And let me say, I find your blog very, very impressive. I’m glad I came across it!
Danielle — I’m so glad I found your blog, and yes, I’m hoping for another good five years!
Iliana — thank you! I look forward to learning more about books from you!
Kristi — thank you! And thanks so much for stopping by!
Nicola — thank you SO much!
Mike B. — it has been a lot of fun for me; thanks for reading and being part of my blogging world.
Breeana — thank you so much for the encouragement! I really appreciate it 🙂
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