Being A Book Blogger | Interview with Jackie aka Bookworm Mom

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Being A Book Blogger | Interview with Jackie aka Bookworm Mom

It's been a little while since our last Being A Book Blogger post but the series is back today to introduce you to Jackie who blogs over at Bookworm Mom!

BB: Hi Jackie! Could you tell us a little bit more about you and your blog 'Bookworm Mom'?

Hello! So, about me. I'm 31 years old and live in North Carolina with my husband Eric and our two sons, Chris and Logan. We are a house full of bookworms! My husband doesn't get much time to read with his crazy work schedule, but my sons are starting to devour books faster than I do. I love it! I work part time in childcare at my church. When I'm not reading or blogging, I love spending time with family and friends and catching up on my favorite TV shows. As for my blog, I started Bookworm Mom about a year and a half ago. I post book reviews and promo posts for my favorite authors like cover reveals, release blitzes, and things like that. There are also some weekly features I participate in sometimes and am going to start writing some discussion posts as well.


BB: How did you get into book reviewing and what is your favourite thing about being a book blogger?

When I first started my blog, I wanted a place to be able to promote my favorite authors. I started with the cover reveals and things like that. Not long after that I started to discover posts from authors saying they needed reviewers for their upcoming release, so I started signing up for ARC's and it just took off from there.

My favorite thing about being a book blogger by far is discovering new authors. I've found so many new authors that I've come to love that I probably wouldn't have discovered without being a member of this community. I also love making new book friends.

BB: Which books have been your favourite reads of the year so far? Are there any upcoming releases you can't wait to read?

My favorite books that I've read so far this year are A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole (this one absolutely wrecked me!), Trucker by Jamie Schlosser, and Switch by Adriana Locke.

There are so many books coming out this year that I'm looking forward to. Out of the Ashes and Blue Balls by R.C Boldt are at the top of my list. Also on my list are Swear by Adriana Locke, Dropout by Jamie Schlosser, Edge of Brotherhood by Molly E. Lee, and Rebel by Rebecca Yarros. There are just so many! <3>
<3>


BB: On your blog you mention that your two sons are also fans of reading. Do they have any favourite children's books or series?

My sons are 11 and 9 and pretty much have the same taste in books. Logan, my 9 year old, reads the books that his older brother used to read. Logan enjoys the Magic Tree House series, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, the I Survived... books, the Geronimo Stilton series, and books along those lines. Chris, my 11 year old, read all of those books also but he has started to expand on what he reads. He loves the Goosebumps books while Logan finds them scary and creepy. Chris also enjoys reading the Harry Potter books, the Percy Jackson series, and the middle school series by James Patterson, and has recently started reading the Eragon books.

BB: Just for fun, if you could invite five fictional characters to a dinner party who would you choose?

Oh wow, that would be fun. Let's see. I would invite Lawson Briggs (Laws of Attraction, RC Boldt) for entertainment for sure. He is hilarious and would be a blast to have as company. Layken (Slammed, Colleen Hoover) would also make good company and I'm sure we'd have a lot to talk about. Lincoln (Swing, Adriana Locke) would make the list as well. He is very charismatic and goofy. It'd be really interesting to have him and Lawson in the same room. Rimmel (#Nerd, Cambria Hebert) would also be invited. She and I have so much in common. It would be a lot of fun to get to know her and talk books together. Josh (Full Measures, Rebecca Yarros) would be invited, too.

<3>BB: Finally, we would love some recommendations, which book blogs are your favourites to read?

Book Reviews by Di
Bookworm Brandee
Lisa K's Book Reviews 
Because Reading
Bookmark Lit
Lola's Reviews

Where To Find Jackie Online: Blog | Bloglovin' | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

We'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Jackie for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview with Kate aka Parchment Girl

Monday, 15 August 2016

Being A Book Blogger | Interview with Kate aka Parchment Girl

Welcome to another edition of Being A Book blogger! Today I'm chatting to the lovely Kate who blogs over at Parchment Girl! Here's what she had to say about book blogging, personality typing & Harry Potter meets Lord Of The Rings...



BB: For those who aren't already followers of Parchment Girl could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thanks inviting me over, Erin! I’ve been blogging about books at Parchment Girl for six years now. I’m also a Book Riot contributor. I’ve been doing that for about 3½ years. I have a particular interest in medical and environmental science, and I devote a lot of time to reading books on those two topics.

BB: What made you decide to start a book blog? And what has been your favourite part of blogging so far?

I love reading (duh) and before I started blogging I didn’t really have an outlet to discuss that. I was drawn to the idea of having a community of book lovers with which to share my literary passion and I was also interested in the technical side of blogging, which didn’t hurt. It’s hard to pick just one thing I love about blogging because I love [almost] all of it! The community is definitely at the core of why I love blogging, but I also get a rush when I see a post go viral or I receive a comment that one of my posts influenced someone’s reading choices in some way. That’s always exciting. I love seeing my blog grow and evolve over time and I love that the Internet is a constantly changing landscape that continues to challenge me!



BB: We love a good recommendation, if you had to pick your top reads of the year so far which books would make the cut?

I really love The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (out in September), which is a reimagining of the Underground Railroad as a literal railroad running through tunnels all over the country. I just finished Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner, which was a Book of the Month July selection. It’s a mystery set in Oxford (holding me over until the new season of Inspector Lewis airs!). Another recent favorite is Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky, a gorgeous illustrated compendium of short biographies of brilliant women in the STEM field. Along those same lines, Lab Girl by Hope Jahren was amazing. Last one (promise!): If you’re into hard-hitting nonfiction, Frackopoly by environmental activist Wenonah Hauter is probably the single most important book I’ve read this year. If you’re not already spitting mad about the oil and gas industry’s destructive extraction practices, you will be after reading this book.

BB: As well as books, you're a fan of personality typing. Who are your favourite fictional characters that share your personality type?

Oh, great question! Now, I know the typing of a couple of these characters is controversial, but I would have to say my top three are Gandalf, Sherlock (the BBC incarnation), and Severus Snape. I type these guys as INTJs (from the Myers-Briggs system). Gandalf is definitely my #1.

BB: For our next group post we're discussing which books we wish had a sequel or prequel. Are there any favourite worlds you wish you could delve further into? Or any characters you'd love to follow into the future (or past!)?

It’s funny because I was just thinking about this very topic a couple of weeks ago. Middle-earth and Hogwarts are my two favorite fictional worlds, but I’ve never been the sort of person to delve too deeply into fanfiction or even J.K. Rowling’s recent additions to the world of Harry Potter. I tend to go all in for the core canon and then jump ship. If I’m not completely crazy about a series, I might even abandon it before reading all of the core books. So, if I were the type of person that really enjoyed prequels and sequels, I would definitely want more Rowling and Tolkien, but as it is, I’m pretty satisfied with the canon we have.



BB: Just for fun, which two fictional characters from different books/series would you like to see appear together in a new story and why?

Definitely Harry Potter and LOTR! There's a hilarious video called “Lord of the Potter” which highlights all of the parallels between the two stories (maybe that’s why I love them so much!). I think it would be amazing if Gandalf met Dumbledore and Harry met Frodo. I can just picture Gimli at Hogwarts swatting away ghosts. Priceless.

BB: Finally, which booktubers/bloggers (other than yourself of course!) would you recommend our readers go and subscribe to?

I will try to keep this list contained…here we go:

• River City Reading 
• Fourth Street Review 
• Bookwi.se 
• The Book Satchel - Her photography is gorgeous! 
• Modern Mrs. Darcy - Her Summer Reading Guide is amazing! 
• Jen Campbell - She regularly features indie press and poetry books that I probably wouldn’t hear about any other way. She’s also the author of The Bookshop Book. 
• Books and Quills 

That’s just a sampling of my favorites.

Where To Find Kate Online: Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Kate for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Rapunzel aka Rapunzel The Blogger

Saturday, 14 November 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Rapunzel aka Rapunzel The Blogger

Welcome to another edition of Being A Book blogger! Today I'm chatting to the lovely Rapunzel who blogs about books and shares her own writing over on her blog. Here's what she had to say about inspirations, favourite reads and advice on writing...


BB: Hi Rapunzel, welcome to Blogger's Bookshelf! Could you tell us a little bit more about the girl behind the blog?

Hi, I’m Rapunzel - a girl with a love for books, music and … physics. A bit of an odd mix, but you would be surprised at how well they go together. You never know when you might write a story about an astronaut who also plays the double bass! I think it’s a great thing to be able to write your own world to escape into and for others to share in that joy by reading about it.

BB: What made you decide to start a book blog? And what has been your favourite part of blogging so far?

I first started my book blog when I was stuck at home, feeling poorly with nothing to do. So of course, instead of resting, I designed a blog and posted my first short story. In the beginning, I don’t think anyone was reading it apart from my granddad! Yet slowly but surely, I gained a few readers at a time and now I am able to share my book reviews and creative ramblings with people I wouldn’t have otherwise met. That is my favourite thing; anyone from anywhere in the world can comment on my blog and it really makes my day.

BB: As well as posting reviews you also share your own short stories, monologues and poetry. How long have you been writing? Do you have any advice for any of our readers who might want to write their own original stories/poems?

I have been writing ever since I was able to, really, but I only started to make it a hobby when I was about twelve years old. At secondary school, they introduced us to the concept of monologues and I really liked the form of expressing a character’s deepest emotions, so I started trying to do it myself. If you want to write your own original poem or story, I would advise you to write from the heart about something which you are thinking about or feeling now and it will probably flow easier. Sometimes though, you just have to go for it and enjoy it. Who cares if it isn't perfect?


BB: Which authors would you say have been the biggest inspiration to you as a writer?

Ooh, that’s a tough one. Louise Rennison writes really funny books for teenage girls and I would like to be able to make people laugh in my writing too. Roald Dahl was also a fantastic writer and his books were probably the first ones I fell in love with as a little girl.

BB: We love a good recommendation, if you had to pick your top reads of the year so far which books would make the cut?

I would have to say The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend because it made me laugh so much, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee because it’s such an amazing novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon which I have reviewed on my blog and the book I am currently reading, which is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak; it’s so good.

BB: Just for fun, if you had the power to bring one fictional character to life who would you choose and why?

There are loads of characters I would love to meet, but I think Paddington Bear from the books by Michael Bond would be a lot of fun. He’s always getting into mischief, but you could never be annoyed for too long because he’s so funny.


BB: Finally, we're always looking for new book blogs to read, do you have any favourites?

The top three blogs I read regularly (apart from this one of course!) are: Monthly Marker, Journal of a Bookworm & In the Life of Anna. The first two both contain book reviews and the last one is a lifestyle blog.
 
Where To Find Rapunzel Online: Blog | Bloglovin' | Google+

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Rapunzel for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Rapunzel

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Bethany aka In The Clouds

Saturday, 3 October 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Bethany aka In The Clouds

It's interview time again! Today I'm chatting to the lovely Bethany who blogs about books and more  over at In The Clouds. Here's what she had to say about being a bookworm, the sequel she'd love to read and seeing her own name in print...


BB: Hi Bethany! For anyone who hasn't yet discovered In The Clouds could you tell us a little bit more about the girl behind the blog?

I first starting blogging in February 2014 after I came across a few blogs and was intrigued by what I saw. The idea of writing about pretty much anything I wanted and people actually tuning in to read it sounded like a dream to me, after years of writing things down in notebooks and keeping them hidden from the world. I blog about my life, loves and the struggles of being a teenage bookworm (joking it's not a struggle at all!)

BB: Where does your passion for reading come from? And what made you want to start blogging about books?

When I was younger my parents used to read to me each night before bed and even now those comforting words from all of the stories are still swimming around in my brain. From then I progressed to more complex and longer books and I guess my love for reading just grew from there. Now I couldn't imagine a life without a book permanently glued to my hand. Its just in my blood, I guess. So with this burning passion inside me, how could I not want some part of In The Clouds to be about books? I just love being able to share the books that I enjoy with other people and it's a great conversation starter as well!

BB: If you had to list your favourite reads of the year so far which books would make the cut?

Ah that's a hard one- I love them all! But if I did have to pick I would say that Lisa Lynch's The C Word was a very powerful and eye opening read (I actually reviewed it here) as was Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner and Malorie Blackma's Noughts and Crosses. All well worth the read!

BB: We really enjoyed reading your thoughts on Go Set A Watchman. Are there any other standalone novels you would absolutely love to read sequels to?

One of the books I always said that I would really love to read a sequel to was The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Now I know both the main characters will have realistically passed away by then but I would love to know what happens to their friend Issac and also Hazel's parents. It would be a interesting to read a portrayal of how a child's death can affect a family- will they or won't they stay together?


BB: We also noticed that last year you had a short story published, could you tell us a little bit more about the experience and how it felt to see your name in print?

That's right! I entered a Short Story Writing Competition that I fell upon on the Born Free Foundation website, an international wildlife charity that works tirelessly to help animals in need. The competition needed people to write about what it means for an animal to be truly free and bring to the attention of the public some of the horrific dangers they face. So I quickly wrote up a story about a Polar Bear, submitted it and thought nothing of it. And then a few months after, I got email telling me I had come runner up in my age category and that my story would be PUBLISHED in a book, with the royalties going to the Born Free Foundation!

Obviously I was over the moon as for as long as I could remember my dream had been to publish a book and this was just a small step closer to being a real published author. Seeing my name in print here was amazing!

BB: Just for fun, if you had the power to bring one fictional character to life who would you choose and why?

Without a doubt it would have be Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird because I just love how despite what everyone else in the town says she point blank refuses to conform to being a lady and would much rather be rolling around in the mud with her brother Jem!

BB: Finally, we're always looking for new book blogs to read, do you have any favourites?

My fav book blogs at the moment are: Gingerly Pale, VivaTramp, Ali Caitrin

Where To Find Bethany Online: Bloglovin' | Instagram | Twitter

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Bethany for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Bethany

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Being A Book Blogger/BookTuber | Interview With Emma aka The Beauty Of Literature

Saturday, 19 September 2015

Being A Book Blogger/BookTuber | Interview With Emma aka The Beauty Of Literature

Welcome to another interview post where today I'm talking to Emma, the lovely lady behind the blog The Beauty Of Literature and YouTube channel of the same name. Here's what she had to say about growing up around books, reading the classics and a dysfunctional dinner party...


BB: Hi Emma! For anyone who hasn't discovered The Beauty Of Literature yet could you tell us a little bit more about the girl behind the blog & vlog?

Of course! My name is Emma, a Belgian girl who moved to London in January of 2014. I’m obsessed with books, reality TV and chai lattes from Costa.

BB: Where does your passion for reading come from and what made you decide to start a blog & YouTube channel?

My passion for books comes mostly from my parents. I grew up in a house filled with books with the motto “you can never have too many books” (though I feel my parents might regret that right now). I decided to start my blog last summer, because I was down with a knee injury. I couldn’t walk at all, so I read a lot and decided to share my love for the books I was reading with other people. I was looking for a great blog with long, in-depth, reviews of not just YA books, but also classics and couldn’t find that many - so I decided to start my own! I decided to Youtube, because I saw everyone else do it. I secretly always wanted to do it but was too scared to be in front of a camera - thankfully I lost that fear completely now.


BB: We noticed that you are taking part in a 2015 Classics Challenge. Which classic read has been your favourite so far?

This is slightly cheating, because it is my July/August classic, but Gone with the Wind. I absolutely adore it so far (I’m “only” 200 pages in) and I can’t imagine finding another classic I’ll fall in love with so much.

BB: We also really enjoyed your vlog from Stoke Newington Literary Festival. What was your favourite part of the festival?

Thank you! My favourite part of the festival was seeing the whole community of Stoke Newington coming together and loving books. I honestly met so many wonderful people that were incredibly helpful and eager to share their love for books.

BB: We're always looking for book recommendations to share, which book or series do you think our readers should know about?

This is hard! As mentioned before, definitely Gone with the Wind. I also adore the Percy Jackson series, which should be way more popular in the UK! If you want your heart broken by a book, I would suggest Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill or/and We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. I haven’t been able to forget both those books ever since I’ve read them!

BB: Just for fun, if you could host a dinner party for 5 fictional characters who would you invite?

(I took way too long to answer this question and realise I’ll have a crazy dysfunctional evening!)
Scarlett O’Hara
Daisy Buchanan
Holden Caulfield
Percy Jackson
Peter Pan


BB: Finally, we're always looking for new book blogs and YouTube channels to follow, do you have any favourites?

I have loads! I particularly love booksandquills on YouTube, but it’s safe to assume everyone already follows her. I’m not good at finding new people on Youtube, so I’d love some suggestions.
Other bloggers I like include (twitter names) @Lucythereader, @yayeahyeah, @book_magpie, @Chelleytoy,… I could go on and on!

Where to find Emma online: Blog | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Emma for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Emma

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Being A Book Blogger/Booktuber | Interview with Emily aka Lady Of Letters

Saturday, 5 September 2015

Being A Book Blogger/Booktuber | Interview with Emily aka Lady Of Letters

It's interview time again! This week we're talking to the lovely Emily who runs both a blog and YouTube channel under the name Lady of Letters. Here's what she had to say about Historical Romance, following in the steps of web series such as The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and being queen for a day...


BB: Hi Emily, welcome to Blogger's Bookshelf! Could you tell us a little bit more about yourself and how you got started as a book blogger?

I'd always enjoyed reading book reviews and articles, but I was apprehensive about starting a book blog. Other bloggers I know read over 100 books a year, whereas I manage an average of 30 or 40. I feel like there's currently a real lack of reviewers out on the blogsphere writing about the sort of books I usually read, so I thought I might actually contribute to the book blogging scene rather than just repeat what other people were already writing.

BB: As well as sharing your love for books through your blog Lady Of Letters you also have a YouTube channel. What made you want to start making videos?

My path into YouTubing is a slightly strange one. I first got into YouTube as a place of original content (rather than just looking up, say, cat videos) through literary web series like The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and The Autobiography of Jane Eyre. I decided to make my own, inspired by Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility (called Elinor and Marianne Take Barton), and whilst I was writing that, I watched other YouTube vloggers to help me get the style right. I then sort of stumbled upon BookTube and realised that these were my sort of people, and that I wanted to join in the conversation!


BB: In a recent video you mentioned how much you love Historical Romance novels. Which 5 books or series would you recommend to anyone new to this genre?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This is a dazzling romantic fantasy about the creation of a travelling circus, and a competition between two rival magicians (Celia and Marco) who end up falling in love. Morgenstern has the most unbelievable imagination, and the world of this enchanted Victorian circus is one that I never get tired of revisiting!

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Mary (sister of the infamous Anne Boleyn) is a naïve and unworldly girl when she arrives at court and catches the eye of Henry VIII. Soon she is competing with her sister for the ultimate prize of the king's heart, and his throne. The characters in this book are utterly compelling, and  you can't help but get swept up in the story. To me, this book is one of the best historical novels because although you know what's going to happen (it's history we're all taught in schools, after all), the novel makes you see it from a fresh perspective.

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
Downtrodden Valancy Stirling's romantic fantasies about living in a castle are her only escape from her cruel family. When she is diagnosed with a fatal heart condition with only a few months to live, she sets out for a fresh start, and meets an enigmatic man with a host of secrets. Written by the author of Anne of Green Gables, this is a sweet and funny proto-feminist story about the power of imagination and defying convention to find happiness.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
This is a fascinating novel which pulls back the curtain to give us glimpse of the mysterious world of the Japanese geisha. Chico is sold into servitude as an apprentice geisha and, even though it is forbidden, falls in love with a powerful business man. This novel transports the reader into a world that you very rarely see in books, with so much detail it's hard not to believe that it's a real story.

A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
Harriet flees her dreary existence in Cambridge to join an eccentric ballet company on tour to the Amazon, where she meets a wealthy British expatriate. This is a very old-fashioned story, and it's a bit dated in places (particularly the heroine, who is very much the naïve damsel in distress), but it's also charming and beautifully written. I always fall in love with the story's optimism, which is something we need in our cynical times.

BB: You also talk film and TV; which book that has not yet been adapted would you love to be brought to life on screen? Who would you love to see in the main role/s?

I'd love to see an adaptation of Angela Carter's beautifully macabre short story, The Bloody Chamber. A poor pianist catches the eye of a wealthy French aristocrat, and he sweeps her off to his remote gothic mansion. He gives her a key to his private apartments with the instructions never to go in there. Naturally, she does, and discovers that her husband has concealed a rather awful secret about his previous marriages.

The Bloody Chamber would make a fantastic film because Carter creates immensely vivid images when she writes, which would translate beautifully to screen. It's the perfect antidote to the Fifty Shades of Grey-style romance novel about the innocent girl caught up with the wealthy but troubled older man. The Bloody Chamber unflinchingly explores the reality of being dependant on a man with dark addictions which you can't fully understand.

I'd cast Alicia Vikander as the heroine, because I was really impressed by her performances in Testament of Youth and A Royal Affair, and she has the acting chops to make the part really stand out. For her aristocratic husband, I think Toby Stephens could bring the dark, brooding Byronic hero which he was so good as with Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre. There's also a young, blind servant who falls hopelessly in love with the heroine, and I think Josh Hutcherson would be adorable in that part.


BB: If you had to pick your top reads of the year so far which books would make the cut?

I had a pretty dry and disappointing start to this year's reading, but over the summer I've been really lucky, and I've just kept picking up fantastic book after fantastic book (clearly I'm doing something right!)

My first favourite of the year was actually a book I was re-reading for one of my university modules, Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. Hedda is bored by her stultifying bourgeoisie marriage, so she tries to manipulate everyone around her for her own goals. This is my favourite play, and I've unfortunately never been able to see a production of it (though I did act in one once - I was Hedda, obviously), so reading it is the next best thing. Hedda has been described as 'the female Hamlet' and it's easy to see why. She's a fascinating character; by turns defiant, destructive, passionate and frightened.

As I've just graduated this summer, I decided to read The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan. This is a collection of short stories and non-fiction essays published after Marina Keegan's death (she was killed in a car accident five days after graduating from Yale). It's a feisty, inspirational collection which really makes you want to get out there and change the world.

The Paris Wife by Paula McClain is a novel that I've been intending to read for ages, and finally got the chance after I finished exams. It's the story of Hadley, who falls passionately in love with the writer Ernest Hemmingway. I'm a sucker for stories about tortured artists and doomed love stories, and I can never resist a novel set in the Roaring Twenties or glamourous European cities.

BB: Just for fun, if you could swap lives for the day with any fictional character who would it be and why?

This is a hard one, because I think most of the time fictional characters actually lead pretty miserable existences which are much more fun to read about than to experience first-hand. I would love to be Daenerys Targarean (from A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin) so that I could try out being queen. Only for a day, though, or I think the power would go to my head.

BB: Finally, we're always looking for new book blogs to read and YouTube channels to watch, do you have any favourites?

I do! One of the first BookTubers I discovered is still one of my favourites -  Sanne at Books and Quills. She's so creative with her videos, and I love how she incorporates travel and interviews into her channel. I also really like Lauren at Reads and Daydreams. We have pretty similar taste in books, so whenever I watch her monthly wrap-ups, I end up adding about 10 books to my To Be Read pile.

I also love reading Khahn's reviews at The Book Nookery because she has the most hilarious, snarky style. She's very critical and I don't always agree with her opinions but they're always entertaining to read.

Where to find Emily online: Blog | YouTube | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads | Letterboxd | Instagram

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Emily for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Emily

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Isha From Two Sisters Bloggin'

Saturday, 22 August 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Isha From Two Sisters Bloggin'

It's interview time again! Today I'm chatting to the lovely Isha who blogs about books and more alongside her sister over at Two Sisters Bloggin'. Here's what she had to say about blogging as a team, her favourite reads of the year so far and being Magnus Bane for a day...


BB: Hi Isha, welcome to Blogger's Bookshelf! For anyone who hasn't yet discovered Two Sisters Bloggin' could you tell us a little bit more about yourself?

Hey! I only started blogging recently so none of you probably know us yet. I'm Isha and I blog at Two Sisters Bloggin', which is literary & lifestyle blog. I'm from a little country called Ireland. I'm 18. A big sister. I love reading books with strong heroines and I love cooking and baking for people.

BB: Your blog is a collaboration between yourself & your younger sister. What made you want to start a blog together and what do you think are the benefits of working on it as a team?

My younger sister and I have a really close relationship. We fight a lot but we're basically best friends (even if we don't admit it) and we do most things together. We both wanted to start a blog, so we decided why not collaborate so we could make the experience even more fun? The benefits of working as a team is that we never run out of ideas. I have stuff I'm passionate that I could blog about and she can blog about the things she loves.

BB: If you had to list your favourite reads of the year so far which books would make the cut?

Why must you make choose favourites? That's cruel! But if I have to choose it would be Simon & the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. This was my first LGBT book so it'll hold a special place in my heart and The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh because her writing was just incredible and it was nice to get a taste of the Arabian culture. I definitely recommend both books if you haven't read them yet.


BB: On your blog's About page you mention that you love binge-watching TV shows (we do too!). Do you have any favourite shows that are based on books? 

Yes, I watch too many TV shows it's surreal! Some shows that I watch that are based on books (not necessarily following the plot!) would be Grey's Anatomy, the 100, Pretty Little Liars and The Carrie Diaries.

BB: Just for fun, if you could swap lives for the day with any fictional character who would it be and why?

If I could swap lives with a fictional character for a day it would be Magnus Bane. He's sassy, funny, fabulous and loves glitter! He's basically what I aspire to be in life. Plus he's had so many adventures and known all these amazing people. He was friends with the amazing characters I love from The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments.

BB: Finally, we're always looking for new book blogs to read, do you have any favourites? 

My favourite book blogs are: reign of reignofbooks.tumblr.com, alexandra of twirlingpages.com and hazel of staybookish.net. Reign is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. She is a precious cinnamon roll plus she also make book edits. Alexandra's blog is so kawaii and her instagram is aesthetics. Hazel is so nice and helpful, as a new blogger I'm not yet familiar with codes and html and she's always patient with me when I'm asking questions.

Where To Find Isha Online: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Isha for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Isha

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Rebecca aka Shihtzu Book Reviews

Saturday, 8 August 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Rebecca aka Shihtzu Book Reviews

It's interview time again! Today we're chatting to the lovely Rebecca of Shihtzu Book Reviews who you may remember as the girl behind the Harry Potter Emoji Tag guest post we shared back in May. Here's what she had to say about perfect casting, the pets behind the blog name and correcting a teacher at nursery!...




BB: Hi Rebecca! For anyone who hasn't yet discovered Shihtzu Book Reviews could you tell us a little bit more about yourself?

I'm pretty much Queen of the nerds - my time is usually spent either writing fanfiction for the many fandoms I am a part of (Harry Potter, Carmilla etcetera and so forth), reading anything I can get my hands on, or watching shows like Game of Thrones, Supernatural, Star Trek - TRIBBLE INVASION!! Hahaha!

BB: Where does your passion for reading come from? And what made you want to start a book blog?

I've been a bookworm ever since I can remember. My mum says that when I was in nursery, I corrected the teacher when she was reading us a story. I just have to laugh at that particular anecdote. As for my little book blog, I somehow stumbled onto this blog, and it led me to a load of other book blogs. It looked really interesting, so I figured I'd give it a go - starting off with just reviews, and then my fancast posts came to life, and it's just sort of grown from there. The name actually comes from my four gorgeous Shih Tzus - as you can see in the pictures.



BB: Of all your reviews so far which are you most proud of?

I had a lot of fun reviewing The Carrie Diaries actually - it was a fun review to write, and I feel like it really encapsulates my blogging voice (which is still developing, but getting there).

BB: If you had to list your favourite reads of 2015 so far which books would make the cut?

I don't usually read recent releases, usually because I don't hear about them until they've been out for like a year, but I'm definitely looking forward to reading Cassandra Clare's new Shadowhunter series 'The Dark Artifices', and also Ransom Riggs' new Miss Peregrine book when it comes out in the autumn. Those are definitely on my to-read list when they are released.

BB: On Wednesdays you share Fancast posts for some of your favourite reads, but which existing adaptations do you think have been perfectly cast?

The Youtube channel GeekAndSundry did an amazeballs webseries adaptation of the Morganville Vampires series last year, and the casting for that was just so on point, I was so impressed. There's also the casting for next year's The Mortal Instruments tv adaptation that is literally the most perfect thing in the world. I can't wait to see Harry Shum Jr. and Matthew Daddario getting it on as one of my all time favourite LGBT book couples, Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. Bring on next year already!



BB: Just for fun, if you had the power to bring one fictional character to life who would you choose and why?

Ooh, that's a hard one..... Hmm, I guess I'd probably bring Hermione Granger to life, because she's one of the most badass female characters in modern literature, and imagine how cool it would be to hang out with Hermione? Dream come true - well, at least for me.

BB: Finally, we're always looking for new book blogs to read, do you have any favourites?

This blog, obviously because it's the one that started me off and gets me interested din new book-related stuff.

BasicallyBooks - https://basicallybooksblog.wordpress.com
JackCroxall - http://jackcroxall.co.uk
ADateWithABook - http://datesbooks.blogspot.co.uk

Where to find Rebecca online: Blog | Tumblr | Goodreads | Instagram

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Rebecca for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Rebecca

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Gabi aka BooksABlog

Saturday, 25 July 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Gabi aka BooksABlog

It's time for another Being A Book Blogger post! Today we're talking to the lovely Gabi who blogs over at BooksABlog. Read on to find out what Gabi's had to say about blogging as part of a team, her top book recommendations and her favourite ship...

BB: Hi Gabi! For anyone who hasn't read BooksABlog yet could you tell us a little bit more about the girl behind the reviews?

Helloooo, I'm Gabi and I am the girl that owns BooksABlog. I'm a fangirl from the Sunshine State (but originally from Brazil) that likes chocolate, Herondales, Perseus Jackson, TV, French fries and LOVES to read. I would describe my reviews more as rants because I have a lot to say when it comes to books



BB: Just like BB, BooksABlog is a collaborative project. How did this come about, and what do you think are the biggest advantages of blogging as a team?

Well when I first started off with BooksABlog I had no idea that we could even have partners. By one day I decided that I needed someone other than me to be a part of BooksABlog and Eli was the first one to climb aboard this train. Then a couple months later one of my bestest friends (who also LOVES books) asked me if she could also be a part of it and I gladly accepted. It's just so much fun having someone you can talk to about these stuff and I know one day I might even add a few more people to this family :)

BB: Of all the reviews you've written so far which one are you most proud of?

Probably my latest ones likes My Heart and Other Black Holes or The Wrath and Dawn. I just put a lot more effort into those reviews and the whole layout of it. And I liked both of those books so I had a lot say about them.

BB: As well as books your blog also includes some TV posts. Are there any particular books or book series you would love to see come to life on the small screen?

I would love to see any of Jennifer L. Armentrouts books come to life. (Mostly Lux Series) in fact any type of alien book I would love to see in film. *caugh Alienated *caugh Lux *caugh Gravity


BB: We're always looking for book recommendations to share, which book or series do you think our readers should know about?

Lux series and Alienated are always my go to recommendation, but other books that I would recommend would be the Fallen Trilogy and the Residue Series both by Laury Falter.

BB: Just for fun, if you could host a dinner party for 5 fictional characters who would you invite?

Firstly WILLIAM FREAKING HERONDALE AND THE PERFECTION THAT IS TESSA GREY! If you can't tell I'm a Wessa girl ;) Warner from Shatter Me because I love him. Cassie from 5th Wave because she is kickass. And finally.....Magnus Bane because the party wouldn't be complete without him and his glitter.



BB: Finally, we're always looking for new book blogs to read, do you have any favourites?

Oohhh I love BookAddictsGuide, ReadWriteLove, QuietConcert, and sooo many more! Plus some Booktubers like PolandBananasBooks, Katytastic, JesseTheReader, Tashapolis, TheBookOwl, and ABookUtopia!

Where to find Gabi online:

- Blog: BooksABlog

- Twitter: @booksablog
- Instagram: @booksablog and @gabimohrer
- Wattpad: @gmohrer (I have ALOT of recommendations for you there)

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Gabi for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Gabi

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Rebekka aka Forever Rebekka

Saturday, 11 July 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Rebekka aka Forever Rebekka

It's interview time again! Today I'm chatting to the lovely Rebekka who blogs books and more over at Forever Rebekka. Here's what she had to say about her favourite reads of the year so far, visiting Pemberley and a Divergent/Hunger Games crossover...


BB: Hi Rebekka! For any of our readers who haven't yet discovered Forever Rebekka could you tell us a little bit more about the girl behind the blog?

I’ve always had this passion for writing. From such a young age I wrote poetry, I wrote stories, and I was always writing – or reading. At the time of starting my blog, I wasn’t going through the best time, and through my blog I was able to reinvent the person behind it, and as a result reinvent myself. Although my blog may not have a huge following, it’s given me so much confidence and so much certainty that writing is what I want to do. 

BB: Where does your love of reading come from, and what made you decide to start blogging about books?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t read excessive amounts of books if I’m honest. My Nanna and Grandad used to take me shopping at the weekends and would always buy me a book. I used to read lots of Jacqueline Wilson, The Faraway Tree Stories, and there was this book about ballet which I loved but have no idea what it was called! I started blogging about books only recently because I found myself loving reading other book blogs, I have such a passion for reading and writing that I needed to talk about the book I’d just read, and my blog seemed like the best place to do that. Plus, how can I possibly keep those pretty spines to myself?


BB: We're always looking for recommendations! What has been your favourite read of the year so far?

I’m proud to admit that I’ve read 19 books this year. It may not be a lot to some but in the entirety of 2014 I only read 22 books so it’s quite the achievement for me. I think my favourite book of the year has got to be The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, it’s such a brilliant story that deserves much more hype than it receives. I’ve also loved Just One Day by Gayle Forman, Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, and Paper Towns by John Green. 

BB: You recently shared some beautiful photos from a visit to the place used as Pemberley in the latest adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. Do you have any other favourite adaptations you think our readers would enjoy?

I absolutely love Pride and Prejudice so I’m intrigued by the settings and history of these 18th century authors. There are so many books that are being made into amazing movies nowadays that I’ve found it difficult to decipher which are better. I know, how shocking! I love PS I love you, although it is very different from the book. I’ve also loved Love Rosie, Divergent, The Fault In Our Stars, and of course The Time Traveller’s Wife.


BB: Just for fun, which two fictional characters from different books or series would you like to see appear together in a new story?

Hmmm, good question. I think Four and Katniss would make a good book, especially since I find Tris and Peeta incredibly annoying. Alternatively I’d love to put a modern day character inside a book of the past. I think we depend on technology and materialistic things too much these days, so I’d love to be able to time travel back to then and forget about all the social media, and experience the simplicity of their lives. And why not live that through the characters of a book, I’m not sure which modern day character I’d place but I’d definitely mingle them with Mr Darcy, because why not. 

BB: Finally, we're always looking for new blogs to read, which book blogs are your favourites?

Being more of a lifestyle and book blogger, I read so many lifestyle blogs as a result. Although some of these mentioned aren’t exactly book blogs, their posts are equally as good and I find myself constantly looking back for new posts. So instead of featuring my favourite book blogs, I’ll feature my favourite blogs of all time, and I suggest you take a look.

-       http://www.thequietpeople.com
-       http://www.thebookjournal.com
-       http://hannahdelacour.blogspot.co.uk


Where to find Rebekka online: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Bloglovin'

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Rebekka for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Rebekka

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Ruby aka Feed Me Books Now

Saturday, 27 June 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Ruby aka Feed Me Books Now

Welcome to another Being A Book Blogger interview! Today I'm talking to the lovely Ruby of the fab blog Feed Me Books Now. Here's what she had to say about everything books from her love of Harry Potter to the series we should all read...



BB: Hi Ruby! For any of our readers who aren't yet subscribed to Feed Me Books Now could you tell us a little bit more about the girl behind the blog?

Hi, thank you for letting me stop by! I'm Ruby, a 16-year-old idealist, introvert and word lover. (I'm also a proud Ravenclaw, in case you were wondering.) My little area of the internet – Feed Me Books Now – is essentially a blog-shaped bundle of loose thoughts, ideas, opinions and ramblings about books. I'm obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer & I own a typewriter named Sylvia.

BB: Where does your passion for reading come from and how did you get into reviewing?

It's a cliché, but I honestly can't remember a time when I wasn't completely bewitched by words. I've always been an introverted person & I've always enjoyed spending time with just myself and a book – for me, that always seemed like the natural way to spend my time. I mean, all children love adventures, and every child has their own way of connecting their mind to the adventures. For me, it seemed incredibly natural for words to be the bridge between reality and fantasy. I guess, when I first began the Harry Potter series (aged 6 or 7), that's when I realised there would never be a time in my life when reading wouldn't be important to me. In terms of how I got into reviewing, I was around 13 when I started blogging. I'd never even seen a book blog before, but I wanted a space where I could simply talk books and – voila! – my little blog stumbled rather clumsily into existence.



BB: We love your discussion pieces which feature some very interesting topics. Which has been your favourite to write so far?

Thank you – that's lovely to hear! I think my favourite is possibly "Taking Refuge In Secondhand Dreams". It's not strictly-speaking a discussion as such, but it's definitely food for thought. It's only a short post, and it was actually a page from my journal initially.

BB: We're always looking for recommendations! Do you have any favourite series you think our readers should pick up?

The first series (other than Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings) to jump to mind is Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I read this series last year, and it was honestly the most exhilarating diversion from reality. Similarly, I've really enjoyed the first two books in The Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon.



BB: Just for fun, if you could be best friends with any fictional character who would you choose and why?

Ahhh, this is tough. Possibly Luna Lovegood? I just feel as if her presence would be the most wonderfully odd reassurance there could possibly be.

BB: Finally, we would love to know which book blogs are your favourites to read?

Tiny, weeny bit bias here (seeing as this blogger is my pen pal), but I adore It Was Lovely Reading You. I also love reading The Book Journal and Paperback Castles.

Where To Find Ruby Online: Blog | Twitter 

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Ruby for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Ruby

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Joy aka Burn Or Buy That Book

Sunday, 21 June 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Joy aka Burn Or Buy That Book

It's time for another Being A Book Blogger post where we chat to the writer behind one of our favourite blogs! Today we're talking to the lovely Joy who blogs over at Burn Or Buy That Book. Here's what she had to say about all things books, including why she started a blog and her love of Historical Fiction...



BB: Hi Joy! Let's start with introductions, for anyone who hasn't come across Burn Or Buy That Book yet could you tell us a little bit about the girl behind the blog?

Hello everyone! My name is Joy and I'm a 21 year old bookblogger from Belgium, that's the little country  stuck between France and Germany, famous for its beer and chocolate. I graduated as a journalist in June 2014, but as there's little hope of finding a job atm, I decided to study History-English to become a teacher, so I can spread my love of history!

BB: How did you get into book blogging and what is your favourite thing about it?

It started out as a school project. We had to blog about a certain topic, mine was the Royal British family, and by the time the project was over, I had fallen in love with blogging. It took me a while to decide what I could blog about, though. I'm not really into make-up and lifestyle.  So I decided to blog about books. 
What I love about being a bookblogger is that I can change people's mind about reading. Most people I know don't like reading. They don't want to commit to a book, it takes up to much time they say.  But then I blog about a book and they read it and they fall in love with reading again. It's my mission to make people enjoy reading again.



BB: Of all your reviews so far which are you most proud of, and which did you find the most difficult to write?

Hmm, I was really surprised that I liked Looking for Alaska, I'm not really into young adult. So I found it fun to write the review. I kind of started the book with a negative mindset, but the book changed my view of young adult novels.
So I think that is one of my favorite reviews. Although I like the others as well.

BB: We're always looking for new books to read! Which three books are at the top of your TBR list right now?

I'm eagerly awaiting the new Philippa Gregory novel. It'll be about Katherine Parr, Henry VIII last wife. I am a huge Tudor fan, so I can't wait to read it!.
There also a novel about William the conqueror on my TBR list that I really want tot dive into. The last book I'm looking forward to is the new Karin Slaughter. But I'm waiting for the Dutch translation, as I have all her books in Dutch, it would look odd to have one English book among the Dutch ones. Petty it always take ages to translate a book into Dutch. I should do it myself really.

BB: If you had to choose just one genre to read for the rest of your life which one would it be and why?

Historical Fiction definitely. I absolutely love this genre, and most books I own are HF. I've always loved history as a kid. No fairytales for me, but stories of the world wars. In highschool, it kind of withered away, but then in my last year of Highschool, I read The White Queen by Philippa Gregory and I fell in love with history again. It's one of the reasons why I study history at the moment. I love learning about the past, but in a narrative way. Especially learning about history through the eyes of women. But here I am, rambling about history again....

BB: Just for fun, if you could live in any fictional world which one would you choose?

That it a really hard question. I would like to live at the court of Edward IV. He had one of the most splendid courts of medieval courts in Europe. Although being a woman during the middle ages is not something I would like though.



BB: Finally, we would love some recommendations, which book blogs are your favourites to read?

I like to read the review of The Beauty of Literature, especially her bookshop reviews.
Another one I like is Imogen's typewriter.

Where to find Joy online: Website | Bloglovin' | Twitter

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Joy for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Joy

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Char aka Basically Books Blog

Saturday, 13 June 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Char aka Basically Books Blog

Today we're back with another book blogger interview, talking to the lovely Char from Basically Books Blog! Here's what she had to say about joining the book blogging community, her 2015 reading list and being in The Maze Runner for a day...



BB: Hi Char! For any of our readers who aren't yet subscribed to Basically BookS Blog could you tell us a little bit more about you and the blog?

I'm pretty boring to be honest. I go to work, and read on my journeys to and from there. Then I watch TV when I get home and plan my blog. Probably not what most 19 year olds do with their time, although I do enjoy quiz night at my local pub (I am master of trivia!). I've always loved books, and I found I had a lot of spare time last year so I decided I'd write a book blog. The blog expanded a little into some TV and music, but I'm still writing mostly book reviews and book news, I'm not always the most efficient though. BasicallyBooksBlog is still quite young, and although I put a lot of work into it, it's still got to grow a lot more, so I'm always trying to think of new things to do, and I know my reading tastes are a little singular so I've had friends talk about their favourite books too. My blogs all about having fun with books, and getting lost in the stories.

BB: Which has been your favourite review to write so far?

That's really tough, but I think my favourite review so far was 'Wild' By Cheryl Strayed. It was a really special book, and it was so inspiring that when I got to writing the review, my thoughts just spilled out into the post. I've never been so passionate about a book before, and that was a really special thing for me to experience. I hope my review for that book does it justice but it was great fun writing it.

BB: We're always looking for books to add to our TBR lists. What books are you planning to read this month?

I've got a series of posts on my blog, where I've listed the books I'd like to read this year. For this month I'm planning on reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbotsky, Beautiful Redemption by Jamie McGuire, and I'm midway through reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold which I'm really enjoying.

BB: We love that you also talk TV! Aside from the great adaptations that are already out there are there any other books or series you'd love to see come to life on the small screen?

The Too Far series by Abbi Glines would be better as a film series, but I think it'd still be a great TV show. There's so much drama, and it'd be so easy to fall in love with the characters if they were on TV. I think I'd also really like to see E.M. Tippetts' Someone Elses Fairytale, because it's a little bit of romance, then lots of detective drama, that would be something to grip you into watching the next episode.




BB: Just for fun, if you could swap lives for the day with any fictional character who would you choose and why?

This sounds really weird but I'd swap with Thomas from The Maze Runner for a day. I know he lives in this horrible world and is in fear a lot, but I think it'd be exciting to be the hero for a day, and it would make a change from my boring life. Can you imagine being so awesome that you manage to get everyone out of the maze? Plus, I could live dangerously for one day then by the next day 'd be back home in my normal life without a scratch.

BB: Finally, we would love some recommendations, which book blogs are your favourites to read?

I read mostly Buzzfeed books and Guardian books, But I also recently got into reading Chouett.com's blog and Katie's Book Blog. They're quite different from my blog, but in a good way. it's nice to get ideas and inspiration from something different. That's how you evolve.

Where To Find Char Online: Blog | Facebook | Twitter


I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Char for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Char

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Beth aka The Quiet People

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Beth aka The Quiet People

Welcome to another Being A Book Blogger post! Today I'm talking to the lovely Beth who runs The Quiet People. Here's what she had to say about becoming a blogger, switching lives with a popular Rainbow Rowell character and her love of classics...



BB: Hi Beth! For any of our readers who aren't yet subscribed to The Quiet People could you tell us a little bit more about the girl behind the blog?

I’m just your average, super-genius, pyjama wearing bookworm. Really, that’s it! (except for the super-genius part. I might have exaggerated a teeny-tiny bit there…) Oh, and I’m not really a big fan of people. That sounds terrible, doesn’t it? I mean, I like people fine, just as long as they don’t talk to me or interact with me or acknowledge my presence in any way! (With the exception of online. You can be my interwebz friend any time you like!!)

BB: Where does your passion for reading come from, and how did you get into reviewing?

I’ve always been passionate about reading. At age six I was reading classics (The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, if you must know!) and from then on there was barely a time when I didn’t have my nose in a book! Reviewing is much more recent for me though – when I started The Quiet People in January I had no idea what to write about, and I just sort of stumbled into book blogging. The rest is history!



BB: Which has been your favourite review to write so far?

Definitely Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. It came at a time when I was actually really bored of writing reviews, and I was pretty stuck. I mean, the book itself was amazing, but I just could not formulate any words that would do justice to the intricacies of the plot. So essentially I gave up, and just wrote a list of my thought processes as I read the novel. Turns out, lists are fun write, and to read, so that was all kinds of lovely. Now list reviews are my favourite types to write!

BB: You've just started a clever series called 'Classics For Cheats', could you tell us a little bit more about how you came up with this idea and what we can expect from future instalments?

At the moment I read ALL the young adult books, but for years I read only classic literature. I’ve always liked classics – most people think they’re pretty dull, but most of them are jam-packed with things going on! For instance, did you know that there’s a buried alive scene in Les Miserables? Evidently that was too tricky to turn into a song! Weirdly though, despite people finding classics boring, for some reason they’re really rather prestigious. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who say that they’d like to read them, but just don’t have the time. From that, classics for cheats was born – a series where I paraphrase huge great long classics into just a few hundred words. I do the hard work for you!

BB: We're always looking for book recommendations, which 3 novels should our readers go out and pick up ASAP?

You’ve probably heard enough of me going on about classics now, but I believe EVERYONE should read the Count of Monte Cristo. Yes, it’s twelve hundred pages long, but it’s an incredible exploration of revenge, justice, love, hate and murder set in a background of post-revolution France. It’s beautiful and mesmerising and wonderful. For readers with more modern tastes, I’d definitely recommend Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park, or Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I’ve actually just finished the latter and loved it so much more than I’d expected to, so I think everyone should try it.



BB: Just for fun, if you could swap lives for the day with any fictional character who would you choose and why?

Without a doubt, Cath from Fangirl. The thing about being a quiet person is that you’re never the main character. Cath shares my introversion, but she’s still interesting and adorable enough that people around the world can identify with her. Plus reading Fangirl really made me miss my university – I’d love to go back and study a creative writing degree this time!

BB: Finally, we would love some recommendations, which book blogs are your favourites to read?

Cait at Paperfury is incredible. Everything she writes is hilarious, and she’s so sweet too!

Where to find Beth online: Blog | Instagram | Twitter

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Beth for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Beth

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Brittany aka The Book Addicts Guide

Saturday, 16 May 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Brittany aka The Book Addicts Guide

Welcome to another instalment of Being A Book Blogger! Today I'm talking to Brittany, the lovely lady behind The Book Addicts Guide. Here's what she had to say about all things book blogging from getting into YA to blogging pals become real life besties...



BB: Hi Brittany! For any of our readers who haven't yet discovered The Book Addicts Guide could you tell us a little bit more about the girl behind the blog?

Yes, of course! Well, I am a 20-something now-married lady (just tied the knot in November!) living in the outer suburbs of Chicago. I started blogging back in 2012 when I really got back into reading and sort of kick-started my book addition with a used book store in my neighborhood. Outside of reading and blogging, my husband and I love to travel, camp, homebrew our own beer!

BB: What is your favourite thing about book blogging? And what has been the biggest challenge so far?

My favorite thing has to be the people I've met. I met some of my BEST friends through this community and over our love of books. We started off just commenting on each other's blogs and my two best friends were bridesmaids in my wedding! It's amazing how reading helped us form such strong friendships.



Hmmmm the biggest challenge, I think, is balance. I have a tendency to take on too many things because it's all so exciting and I love being a part of all of the amazing things this community and my fellow bloggers have to offer! I've been blogging for three years and although I'm STILL figuring things out, I'm really starting to get in the groove of being okay with NOT being a part of everything. It was too stressful to have so many things going on at once and that defeated the purpose of having a hobby!

BB: Like our team you review a lot of YA titles. If you had to create a 'YA Starter Kit' for someone looking to try out the genre which 5 books would you include?

Oooh I love this question! I'd definitely include some different genres. For contemporary I'd have to say If I Stay by Gayle Forman. The movie is out now so it's got even more buzz around it but that was one of MY first contemporary YA books so it really means a lot to me, plus Gayle is one of my favorite authors. For science-fiction, it's The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer all the way! It's one of my favorite series (Cinder is the first book for those who aren't familiar) and it has a little bit of everything. Fantasy fans should start with The Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone is the first book) by Leigh Bardugo (also one of my 1st fantasy series). I'd recommend Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas for mystery fans (it was SO good) and Grave Mercy, the first in the His Fair Assassin trilogy for historical fiction.

Also (shamless plug coming up!), I created a "guide" to crossover books a while back... I shared some of my favorite young adult books I thought would be good for adults trying YA for the first time and also adult books that YA fans could enjoy :D



BB: I loved reading your 'Young Adult Meets Friends' post! Could you tell our readers a little more about it and how you came up with this clever idea?

Oh thank you!!! It actually started with my Young Adult Meets Disney post. I was trying to brainstorm new post ideas and I was spending waaaaay too much time pinning Disney Princess things on my Pinterest boards instead of blogging so I thought, what if I combined the two? I had SO much fun with that post that I wanted to keep doing mash-ups of YA + other favorite fandoms/movies/TV shows and Friends is another HUGE favorite of mine!

BB: Just for fun, if you could live in any fictional world which one would you choose?

HAS to be Hogwarts. I know that's not super unique but come on. It's THE DREAM.

BB: Finally, we would love some recommendations, which book blogs are your favourites to read?

Oh yay! I love recommending! I'm very close with Amy from Tripping Over Books and Alyssa from Books Take You Places so I must plug their blogs! Also love the people and blogs from Estelle + Magan at Rather Be Reading, Andi at Andi's ABCs, and Lauren at Bookmark Lit. Oh, there are just so many wonderful blogs and blogging friends that I want to share that I could literally be here all day so I'll just leave you with the link to my blog roll in case you want more ;)

Brittany's Social Media links: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Brittany for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Brittany

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Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Jenny aka Jenny In Neverland

Friday, 1 May 2015

Being A Book Blogger | Interview With Jenny aka Jenny In Neverland

It's interview time again! This week we're talking to Jenny the girl behind the brilliant blog Jenny In Neverland. Here's what she had to say about growing up as a bookworm, the tough side of review writing & switching lives with a John Green character...


BB: Hi Jenny! For those who haven't heard of Jenny In Neverland could you tell us a little bit more about you and your blog?

Hello! Thank you so much for having me on your blog! Well, I'm Jenny, in case you hadn't worked that one out! I'm a 22 year-old blogger, Disney fanatic, obsessive cleaner, book lover and excessive takeaway eater from London. I love reading, obviously. It's always been my most passionate hobby. Jenny in Neverland was born around March 2013 and is where I post book reviews, film reviews, lifestyle posts (such as travel, food and days out) plus miscellaneous posts like discussions about blog/book related topics. I thrive from reading and my blog and I absolute adore every aspect of blogging!

BB: Where does your love of books come from and how did you get into reviewing?

My love of books come solidly from my mum; she is just as big of a bookworm as I am and ever since I can remember, she was reading me books, surrounding me with books and encouraging me to read. I remember when I was a kid, she would read me the Harry Potter and Narnia books in bed at night. She would also take me to the library regularly and sign me up for the summer library reading challenges, which I loved! I loved seeing my name on the wall of the library under the amount of books I'd read!

I got into reviewing simply from finding another bloggers blog. I was Googling reviews for the book I was reading at the time and found this review on this blog; I started looking around and realised that this person was a book blogger and I couldn't believe it, book blogging was a THING? So I emailed the blogger and she very kindly helped me set up my own blog and it went from there! I started just by reviewing books I had read and books on my shelf and wasn't overly dedicated to it, but over the two years, I've met so many other book bloggers – a whole community of them – and my blog and my posts grew from there!


BB: Which of your reviews are you most proud of? Which was the hardest to write?

Oh heavens, I think all reviews are quite hard to write. It's difficult to do justice to a book that is literally too good to put into words and it's also quite hard to successfully explain why you disliked certain elements of a book without coming across as rude or insensitive!

A book review I wrote this year for The Dead Wife's Handbook by Hannah Beckerman I'm proud of because I managed to get across just how that book made me feel. The author also contacted me on Twitter the day I posted it and said it made her well-up which is a great feeling to know your review has had that impact on an author (you can find that review here: https://jennyinneverland.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/2015-reading-challenge-a-book-that-made-me-cry/)

The Boat by Clara Salaman is another of my favourite reviews too (you can find that review here: https://jennyinneverland.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/the-boat-clara-salaman/)

The hardest review I had to write was for The Book Thief because it's my all-time favourite book and I literally didn't know what to say to do it justice. It ended up being probably my longest review because I didn't want to miss anything out and no matter what I wrote I would just think, “Ugh, this book is better than that”. I finally managed to get my thoughts down about it but even now, I wouldn't know what to say that accurately describes how I feel about that book! (You can find my review of The Book Thief here: https://jennyinneverland.wordpress.com/2014/07/02/book-review-the-book-thief-by-markus-zusak/)

BB: You also post movie reviews on your blog. If you could choose one book that hasn’t yet been adapted to be turned into a movie which one would it be?

Ooh this is a great question! There are so many books that would make great movies! I would have originally chosen my two favourite John Green books for this question; Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns but obviously both of these are being made into movies now! (Which I am sooo excited about!)

I think The List by Joanna Bolouri would make an incredibly funny film! This book is such a success and the main character, Phoebe, would be amazing on screen. I also recently read The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths which would adapt fantastically to the big screen!

Sorry – was only meant to chose one!

BB: We're always looking for recommendations. What have been your top reads of 2015 so far?

2015 has been such an incredible book year so far; we're only in March and I've already read some amazing books! Previously mentioned above, The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths has been my favourite read so far. Magic and crime; the perfect combination! The Ice Twins by S.K Tremayne (which you've probably heard of!) was also a incredibly chilling read! The Dead Wife's Handbook by Hannah Beckerman, although released last year and I've only just got around to reading it, I would also highly recommend and it'd be up there in my top reads of 2015. Also, 1 more, By My Side by Alice Peterson. Beautiful novel!


BB: Just for fun, if you could swap lives for the day with any fictional character who would it be and why?

Nooo! This is too hard there are so many characters! Margo from Paper Towns would be incredibly intriguing. I loved her character and the mystery about her and I loved how despite the fact she wasn't even present for over half the book, the story still revolved around her.

BB: Finally, we would love some recommendations, which book blogs are your favourites to read?

Oh there are just so many incredible book bloggers out there! Here's a few;
Becca's Books - http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/
Sky's Book Corner - http://skysbookcorner.blogspot.ch/
A Book And Tea - https://abookandtea.wordpress.com/
Laura's Little Book Blog - http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Books, Biscuits, And Tea - http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/
Bookboddle - http://bookboodle.co.uk/

Where To Find Jenny Online: Blog | Twitter | Facebook


I'd like to say a huge thank you from all of us here at BB to Jenny for taking part in this interview. If you are a booktuber or book blogger and would like to be featured in a similar post we'd love to hear from you - just email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com for information!

Images c/o Jenny

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