Say hi to Shanon!
And now I get to call her an official contributor to my blog! She'll be adding her awesome reviews, maybe taking on a meme or two...it'll be a ton of fun, I promise :) For now, how about a little interview to get to know her better? Make sure you leave a comment to welcome her, and help me marvel in what fabulous bookish taste she has!
Let’s start with the usual: briefly introduce yourself!I’m an eternal student. I love to learn about new things and usually at random. That makes for great reading and an advisory plan that will never get me out of college. Books are my sanctuary and I’m probably a born librarian in the wrong field…should probably correct that. ..
Tell us something surprising about yourself.
Mokrah! (If you get it, you know…if you don’t…google it. ;) [Ashley's note: I had to google it...]
What’s your earliest bookish memory?
Reading Dr. Seuss during an asthma breathing treatment in my parent’s old recliner. Couldn’t have been more than three.
What’s your favourite bookish memory?
Reading in the grocery store while my mom would shop. I’m terrible at grocery shopping; actually, I’m not leisurely strolling while I shop. My mom used to page me at the checkout with the cutest cashier she could find. That only started being funny now…10 to 12 years later. She knew where I was!
What type of books do you mainly read? (YA, sci fi, classics, Middle Grade, anything!)
I read a lot of sci-fi, fantasy and a fair amount of YA. Not so much into MG but I am an unashamed historical romance junkie…bring on the wooing!
Why do you read YA books?
Because they are honest and memory is fickle. Everything you felt at that age was magnified and on an extreme. Sarah kissed someone?! World-changing. Tommy was a jerk? You’ll hate that guy until you’re thirty. Those are the most real experiences I think we have and I think they can be undervalued in the rush to grow up. (Growing up includes things such as: car payments, student loan bills and jury duty…what were we in a hurry for again?)
Describe to (or show!) us your usual reading spot!
My office! Two desktop monitors, a HUGE tea cup that says “Keep Calm and Drink More Tea”, an unfinished baby blanket, a usually ringing phone…and three tall cabinets…mostly filled with books.
Have you ever met any authors? Do you have a favourite encounter?I haven’t! It’s shameful to me now that I lived in San Diego and NEVER WENT to CC. *shame!* However…while working for A Certain Coffee Company, I did get to make coffee for Sheryl Crow and meet Alan Tudyk (again, if you don’t know…ASK SOMEBODY)!
What are your feelings on e-readers vs. print books?
I used to be a print book snob. Hands down e-readers were for philistines. You missed out on sweet, glorious book smell…and who would trade in for that? Apparently I would, partially. My boyfriend bought me a Nook Color for my birthday a couple of years back…and my heart, life and paycheck were substantially altered. Holy Wombats Batman! Instant gratification with books! So now, I’m usually wandering about armed with a Nook and a few purse books. And my doctor said my shoulders should be recovering from book bend quite nicely.
How do you feel about insta-love in books? Hate it? Love it? Neutral?
I believe in insta-like. Insta-love is too immediate to be so real. That deep, abiding “I will not be like that heifer Rose and I will move over on the door the size of Montana so you can LIVE” love? That takes time to develop.
Thoughts on book-to-movie adaptations?
So torn. The books are always better, the movies can be close adaptations and when done with faithful casting and endings (I’m looking at you My Sister’s Keeper…WTF) can be enjoyable. An example: I’m thrilled for Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series being optioned for TV. I am horrified to think that with some serious miscasting and editing for TV…this could be a gigantic mess and that would be devastating.
We have to know…50 Shades of Grey. Did you go there?
Yeah. I did. In the original…yes, I know. I know! I was thoroughly amused (never shocked, oddly enough) by the story and appalled by the amount of red pen it would take for me to edit it properly. Dear Ms. James- get a damn thesaurus!
What’s one book you thought you’d love, but didn’t in the end? What about one you weren’t too keen on, but ended up loving?
> I thought I would love Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. The premise was interesting and my boyfriend, not much of a reader, recommended it. I figured it had to be awesome for him to be so interested in books that increased a la Harry Potter. HOWEVER. I’ve slogged my way through seven books and got to the last paragraph. I read it…blinked…read it again and heaved it across the room.
> I picked up Code Name: Verity under a bout of coverlust. It was so intriguing that I had to buy it. (Yes, I am one of those people). I wasn’t sure I would like it and initially the format of the story took me a few pages to wrap my head around. That book changed the way I think about friendship and that’s really all I can tell you without spoiling too much.
What’s one book you’re ashamed to say you haven’t read yet?
I haven’t read The Book Thief. STOP THROWING THINGS AT ME! *ducks and weaves* [Ashley's note: don't worry Shanon, I haven't either! Maybe I shouldn't admit that, people will shun the blog...]
What’s your reading pet peeves?
There is a difference between what they’re doing and what their punishment will be.
Though we know nothing in life is better than reading (haha…not joking.), what are some of your other non-bookish interests?
Writing and playing music. Camping. Singing loudly in my car. Dancing around my house. Movie marathons, road trips and eye makeup.
Favourite genre? fantasy
Favourite recent read? Entwined
Favourite childhood book? Anne of Green Gables
Favourite word? Ameliorate
Favourite YA series? Jessica Darling!
Current book boyfriend? Marcus Flutie, always. (Seriously, my girlfriend and I tallied it up and aside from their first…encounter…I’m pretty much dating MF.)
Current read? Croak by Gina DaMico
Next read? Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Book you always recommend? The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Go-To Comfort Read? The Wise Man’s Fear by Rothfuss. It’s like sliding into a bath that’s slightly too hot. By the time you’re all the way in…you couldn’t imagine anything better. And that paper…it’s like reading on silk.
Favourite book cover? Entwined by Heather Dixon is so gorgeous.
Least favourite book cover? Storm by Brigid Kemmerer…I was entertained by the story…but the cover looks like a bad boy band album…
Favourite secondary character? Bramble from Entwined. How can you not love someone with these words to her credit? “‘Down with tyranny!’ Bramble cried. ‘Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!’”
And lastly…your favourite quote from a book:
“It’s like being in love, discovering your best friend.” Code Name: Verity p.55
Oh right, I mentioned a giveaway, didn't I? Well, I'm so damn excited to have Shanon here, I thought I'd celebrate by giving away a book she's mentioned!
And it's international!
If The Book Depository ships to you, you are free to enter! (Not sure if it does? Check here!)
The winner can choose ONE (1) of the following books:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty (or any of the others in the Jessica Darling series)
Code Name: Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
This'll be a quick one, as it ends on October 7!
If the winner is US, the book will ship from Amazon, BN, or TBD, depending on what's cheapest (hey, I'm excited but I'm still broke!); and if it's an International winner, it will come from TBD.
Please read my giveaway policy before entering, and as always
may the odds be ever in your favour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I love those flash questions/answers! :D they are so fun. <3 Also agree about faovirte cover being Entwined. It is so perfect. <3 Sigh. Adore that book :D Thank you both for this amazing post :D Shannon seems awesome ;) Welcome :D
ReplyDeleteI would choose Code Name Verity. <3
Love, Carina
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome interview and now that I've read it, I completely agree with you that Shanon is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI especially love her answer to Why do you read YA books? It's always so interesting to hear what YA means to other readers, especially those who have tried Adult and ventured back to the world of YA. And her response to insta-love in books? YES. YES. YES. I believe in insta-like, too! *hi5*
Don't worry, I haven't read The Book Thief either (and I'm Aussie) but I want to very badly! We really must get round to it soon ;D
It’s like being in love, discovering your best friend. - Oh my, this quote is gorgeous. I haven't read Code Name Verity yet but I won it in a giveaway so hopefully it should be arriving soon.
Wow...and a giveaway to wrap up this amazing post/interview? We sure are spoilt! I would LOVE to win The Book Thief; it's been on my mind a lot recently, it's by an Australian author, it sounds amazing and I've only heard amazing things about it? YES PLEASE.
*waves* Nice to meet you Shanon! Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging :D
Agreed with a lot of what Shanon had to say, especially in regards to book-to-movie adaptations and the whole insta-love situation. Great interview! So great of you to have a giveaway, especially with such awesome books! I would have a hard time choosing between The Book Thief, which I hear is a great book and Sloppy Firsts, which I read quite a while back and absolutely loved it, especially Jessica's quick wit and sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteSorry, just noticed I posted under Anonymous. My bad.
DeleteRima
Hello Sharon :) I'm also torn about book-to-film adaptations. I've seen several and, for the most part, they can't compare with the book. Although difficult, I've since learned to enjoy the film on its own merit.
ReplyDeleteBook-to-movie I liked:
. The Deep End of the Ocean
. The Bridges of Madison County
. The Namesake
I would love to win Sloppy Firsts.
Thanks Ashley :)
Id love to win entwined!! N awesome answers. I have never read thief as well. Heard good things about it though. Also entwined does have a beautiful cover. ^_^
ReplyDeleteUmmmm I love her. So, yah. Seriously, though. She served coffee to Alan Tudyk (Pain! Lots of Pain!), and she loved "Code Name Verity" and loved it, and she hasn't read "The Book Thief" (me either! Let's be outcasts together!), and she loved "Entwined" (one of my favorites!), and, well, she just sounds fantastically awesome. Plus, if Ashley loves her, I love her. SO.
ReplyDeleteWELCOME SHANON!! :D so excited to read your reviews and memes and such!! :D And thanks for the aweeeesome giveaway! :D I'd choose either "Storm" or "Code Name Verity". But we'll see... ;)
Sierra @ Yearning to Read
I'm not a big fan of the book to film either. The books are ALWAYS better. I'd love to win Entwined. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDelete[email protected]
I tried to read The Book Thief. I'm ashamed to admit that I just couldn't get into it. It ended up being a DNF for me. I know a lot of people who love it; I seem to be in the minority!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely choose Sloppy Firsts. I have been hearing great things about the series and have had it on my list of books to buy for a while! Thanks for the giveaway!
Well a big welcome to Shanon to begin with. Way to keep your secret for literally weeks, tough job that. For a book, I'd pick Code Name Verity unless I change my mind, then, maybe I should read The Book Thief. Then at least somebody will have. Ha!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Shanon! I am so excited to read your posts. I also adore Anne of Green Gables. "There's so much scope for the imagination" is one of my favorite lines. I haven't finished the series yet and this interview has reminded me that I need to get going on it!
ReplyDeleteIf I win, I will select The Book Thief. By the way, Ashley, "hey, I'm excited but I'm still broke!" made me laugh out loud.
Welcome welcome! Thank you for contributing! I love it when a new person enters the blogosphere :)
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for being a grammar geek like me - the whol "they're", "their", and "there" thing kills me every time.
Welcome again and thank you for the giveaway!
OH, and Entwined lol. LOVE that book.
Delete