The good news is that we're going out with a BANG. Today I've got an awesome interview for you from a fellow book blogger: Kathy from Read This Instead! I learned from this interview that Kathy also dislikes folding down pages of books (hear hear!) and also wishes people wouldn't dismiss chicklit books because of the title "chicklit." Seriously, she is so right! Kathy, I also feel like I should warn you that I might kidnap you and not release you until you've watched Star Wars and at least one of the Indiana Jones films. Read on for further (and less threatening) insights:
1. What prompted you to start blogging?
I started reading a lot after I had my first kiddo and I wanted a way to connect with other bookish people. I don't remember how I stumbled on some local book bloggers but I started going to events at the library and everyone was so welcoming. The social aspect was really important to me, and I've made some great friends this way. I don't have as much time to devote to blogging as I used to, but I still try really hard to keep up with the people. :)
2. Describe your ideal book in three words.
Funny, swoony, character growth (let's just pretend like character growth is one word)
3. What authors have earned your trust and are automatically on your to-read list?
Sara Zarr (a Utah author!), Stephanie Perkins, Maggie Stiefvater, Jandy Nelson
4. Do you have any reading quirks?
I hate when people dog ear the pages of books! Hate it, hate it! Seriously, use an old receipt or something to mark your place. :)
5. What book(s) would you like to give a different ending to than the author intended and why?
Maybe Mockingjay. Not so much the ending but much of the middle. That was just a depressing, slow book.
6. Han Solo or Indiana Jones?
This is a sad, true story. I haven't seen movies with either of these guys. Guess I'm not a big Harrison Ford fan.
7. What would you change about YA fiction?
I wish people didn't think it was beneath them, or a bunch of fluff chick lit. Of course not all of it is good, but I wish the whole genre wasn't dismissed because of it.
8. What is one of your goals in life?
I wrote a story for NaNoWriMo last year and I would love to fix it up enough that I'm happy with it. I don't know if I'd ever try to query it or anything, but I'd like to spiff it up. Even if it's just for me.
9. Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?
Chocolate covered strawberry! But if I could only have one it'd be chocolate.
10. What is the grossest thing you have ever eaten?
In college I spent a semester in Bolivia and ate all kinds of weird things: kidney, some kind of blue egg... thing. I'm still not sure what it was.
11. What book(s) changed your life?
The Harry Potter series is what got me reading as an adult. I wasn't much of a reader after elementary school because I wasn't reading books that interested me. Harry Potter let me think it was ok to read just for fun.
12. What is one of your non-bookish hobbies?
I really like doing family history. There are all kinds of people in my family tree and I've had a lot of fun learning about them.
13. What bookish tropes do you wish would die a thousand deaths?
Love triangles. It's always so obvious who will end up together and I hate how it usually gets dragged out over two or three books.
Also, plots where it turns out one of the characters has been dead the whole time. I can usually spot those before the big reveal, too. So they're not so fun to read.
Also, plots where it turns out one of the characters has been dead the whole time. I can usually spot those before the big reveal, too. So they're not so fun to read.
14. What book do you love that no one else has heard of?
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr is usually my go to answer, but I just read Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan. It's funny and has some interesting sibling relationships. I just really like obscure contemporary YA.
Thanks Kathy! It was a pleasure having you here at the BDrag! :)
Kathy is one of my favs! I HATE dog eared pages too!! Grrrr! You haven't seen Star Wars or Indiana Jones!?!? We have to fix that! Han Solo for the win!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! Han Solo is just classic.
DeleteMelissa thanks so much for interviewing me! You ask the best questions and I had so much fun thinking about them. :) And I know, my lack of movie watching really is shameful. I'll have to get on that.
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure, Kathy! Thanks for agreeing to the interview! :)
Delete