BBAW Interview with Fall In Love With Books

The awesome Book Blogger Appreciation Week is going on right now and like last year, I signed up to do the BBAW interview swap. I was paired up with a wonderful book blogger.  I have Kimm from Fall In Love With Books. You should all go visit her wonderful blog! 

What is your favorite classic novel?

I'm flightly about this...favorites change depending on my mood.  At this moment: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. This book gives me chills!

Who is a character from a book that you admire?

Anne from Jane Austen's Persuasion. She's a woman who learns her own mind in the end and doesn't cave in to pressure. I think we are all searching for a little strength in our lives. She gives me inspiration.

Do you prefer stand alone books or book series?

I don't have a preference either way, although I just finished a series by Richelle Mead and am sitting here having an anxiety attack because the final book isn't going to be released until next year!

What is your favorite zoo animal?

I love Beluga whales the most. There is a zoo in Washington that has an underground viewing room to see their Beluga's. They come right up to you and stare into your eyes. It's a surreal experience! I   Penguins are almost tied, just because they crack me up with their antics. Oh, I cannot forget one that's really unusual to me:  an Okapi.  So hard to explain that one!

Where is one place you would like to travel to?

Top on my wishlist is to take a cruise in the Mediterranean that will allow me to go to Turkey & Egypt. Seeing the Pyramids is a must!

What is your favorite place to read at?

I like to read in bed for the most part. There's something relaxing about getting bundled under the covers and losing myself in a great story.

Do you prefer Borders or Barnes & Noble? 

I only have a little Borders store where I live (which is still called Waldenbooks for some reason)...so going to Barnes & Noble is a big treat for me. I guess that makes B&N my favorite. I'll probably break down and buy one of their Nooks before the year is over.  :-)

What is your favorite historical fiction book?

For all time: Not sure. For this year:  Romancing Miss Bronte by Juliet Gael or The Last Queen by CW Gortner.  Both books are phenomenal!

Do you dog ear or use a bookmark?

Bookmarks only!!  Cannot even contemplate mutilating my books!!

What is your favorite color?

Green...like an emerald

What is a subject you do a lot about?

As in read a lot?  I read a lot of historical romances. I always fall back on them when I'm not sure what to read next. I love Regency Romances.

[Sorry! I butchered this question.]

How many books are in your 'to be read' pile right now?

Oooh....I'm going to say, 50 or 60?  I lose track and unfortunately don't have them catalogued anywhere.  I just know it won't stop growing as long as I keep buying books!!

What is the last young adult book you read?

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.  LOVED IT!!!

Stephen King or Nicholas Sparks?

I haven't read Sparks at all and the only King book I've read is The Stand. But, I guess I do like Sparks' movies better than Kings.

Okay, most importantly, snicker-doodle cookies or peanut butter cookies?

Yes, this is extremely important. lol  Sugar Cookies still rule!!! I guess Snicker-doodles are close to that.

I want to go to Turkey and Egypt, too and emerald green is one of my favorite colors. And YUM! Sugar cookies are just awesome! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Registering for Book Blogger Appreciation Week

This year, the third annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week is being held from September 13th-17h. BBAW is a way to celebrate all the wonderful bloggers and their blogs! You can registered your blog by choosing a niche category and/or featured category and creating a blog post and linking your best blog posts! Here are my three book reviews and two other posts for to be considered in Best Young Adult Book Blog: Review of Night by Elie Wiesel Review of Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty Review of Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers Interview with Cheryl Renee Herbsman Book Talk: Books That I Want to Read More Of

Book Blogger Appreciation Week: An INTERVIEW with Celia of Cecelia Bedelia + Giveaway!

Due to the wonderful Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I got the chance to interview a blogger that was new to me! It was incredibly awesome getting to know Celia! Thank you Nat, for pairing us up! You couldn't have picked a better partner for me! :) Enjoy the interview! 

What is the best book you've read in the letter or diary format?  

I'm having a tough time thinking of a book that's written completely in diary or letter forma

t.  The Screwtape Letters is amazing, though.  Funny and intuitive, all written in gorgeous prose by C.S. Lewis (of Narnia fame).

I love your name! (why, thank you!)  What is an interesting/unique character's name you've seen in a book?

Angharad - or Harry, for short, the heroine in Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword.  Alwa

ys been secretly tempted to name a future child that, but I don't want to deal with the repercussions... :)

I noticed that one thing you enjoy doing - aside from blogging and reading - is baking. What's your favorite thing to bake?

I really like baking just about anything.  A lot of the fun is trying a new recipe and seeing if it's as good as they say.  But I really love making bread, which I did from scratch for the first time only last year.  Such a sense of accomplishment when the dough rises, and then again when it comes out of the oven fluffy and warm.  I really don't think you can beat butter or jam spread on freshly baked bread.

What is something that people would be surprised to find out about you?

I've been down gold mines on two continents - in California (North America), and in Ouro Preto, Brazil (South America).

What is your favorite debut author's book of 2009?

I've just been looking through the debut authors of '09 - so many great books!  I have MANY of them in my to-read pile, and the rest are on reserve at the library.  But the best one I've actually read is Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix.  I loved the imagery, the mythical Asian setting, and the adventure and especially the wonderful creatures and characters that populated the novel.

Name a couple of books on your wish list right now.

Oh, there are so many!  But a couple I really want in my possession, like, YESTERDAY, are: Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines, Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh and Baked: New Frontiers in Baking by Matt Lewis, et. al.

If you could design your room any way you wanted (no expenses) what would it look like? (Color, layout, theme, etc.?)

I like color, and right now my room is painted pink, green and white.  But if I was going to do it over now I might go for a warm cream and a neutral gray on the walls, and bright pops of color in the accents and accessories.  I'd have enough closet space for 3 people, and a big architect's desk in front of a multi-paned window.  Lots of lamps or hanging lights, and some greenery, too.  Oh, and bookcases, of course.  Maybe a whole wall...with dark walnut shelves, like an old-fashioned library.  And if there are going to be books, I demand a comfortable chair.  And armchair, maybe, where I could throw my legs over one side and feel very cosy.  

Which section of a bookstore do you go to first? What are your favorite genres to read?

I usually go to bookstores with a purpose these days...lots of my shopping is done online.  But if I am really and truly browsing, I --peruse the fiction best-sellers, then head to sci-fi/fantasy.  On rare occasion I'll detour to history or romance first.  My favorite genres?  There are many!  I'm going to cheat and copy and paste what Goodreads has for me: Biography, Chick-lit, Childrens, Classics,Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical fiction,History, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Philosophy,Poetry, Religion, Romance, Science fiction,Spirituality, Travel, and Young-adult.  Who knew?

What genre will you not read?

Psychology or self-help.  Just...NO.  Ha!

What's the last song you listened to?

Honey Bee, by Zee Avi.  I love Zee!  She's so retro-awesome.  In fact, if you want, I'll offer to giveaway an iTunes or Amazon mp3 download of her album to someone who comments on this interview post!

What movie based on a book do you like best?

A lot of my favorite books have been made into movies.  I thought that the Lord of the Rings films were exceptional - those are probably the best.  Or maybe it's just that they're the only ones I can remember right now?

Recommend one novel, one author, and one blog I have to check out! 

Novel: If you haven't read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, check it out.  It is phenomenal, heart-wrenching, make-you-think kind of stuff.  Author: Neil Gaiman.  The man is a freaking genius.  He's written so many different things, in all different genres.  He's smart, he's funny, and it really comes across in his writing.  I don't think they make them like that any more. Blog: The Clothes Horse (http://theclothes.blogspot.com).  Fun and affordable street fashion modeled by a pixie-like college grad in amazing settings. Great tips and quotes and contests, too.  I check her photos every day for my fill of beauty and style.

Thanks for having me - these were awesome questions!  As I answered them I learned a little bit about myself, which is always really cool.  Happy BBAW!

GIVEAWAY:

Celia is offering one (1) iTunes download of Zee Avi's debut album, Zee Avi, to a random person who comments on this interview post by 12AM CST on September 22.  Please leave an email address in your comment, which will be used to contact you and to award the music if you should win.  You can check out a music video of Zee singing her tune Bitter Heart here - http://www.zeeavi.com/.  Please note that neither Bianca nor Celia are responsible for the musical content or prize retrieval of Zee Avi's album.  Good luck!

For extra entry: Follow Celia's blog. *click here*

A BBAW Meme!!

For those of you who don't know, Book Blogger Appreciation Week is around the corner. Remember that nominations close on the 15th and everything will be a flurry of activity after that! To register your blog and nominate other blogs be sure to go to BBRW.

One of the things on the site is a meme that participants of last years BBRW or newbies can fill out. Here's mine.

1)  What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

I would definitely say the fact that I've found people who share my interest in books. Before I found out about the book blogging world, I didn't know a lot of people who I could talk to people about books with. Now, I have found people that can relate to the books I read and I'm able to connect with a lot of people though my blog. I also find out news about books that haven't hit the shelves yet and get to know authors better!

2)  What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

Around the time I first started my book blog, I joined FiveAwesomeYAFans and Genevieve immediately messaged me and gave me lots of tips and answered all the questions I had about book blogging. She was the first person who actually helped me with my blog! Korianne is another person that has helped me with my blog. She is incredibly nice and she made my blog header for me. :)

3)  What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

I would absolutely love to get involved and help out any way I can. I'm not too sure on how to go about that..