Meet the Bookworm: Elfie

At the beginning of 2020 I sent a couple of bookish questions to some bloggers and bookstagrammers who have been crazy enough to fill them out. In this series you’ll get to read their answers, admire their favourite reads and share their favourite stories. If you want to join the series just drop a comment below!

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Name
Elfie

Blog
Ballet and Books

Twitter Handle
@ElfieRiverdell

Instagram Handle
Balletandbooks_

What sort of things do you like to read? Any favourite books?
I usually read fantasy, but I’ve recently tried to read more contemporary as there are a lot of important topics being introduced to YA at the moment. My favourite books are The Hobbit, Sky in the Deep and Turtles All The Way Down (At the moment)

Would you like to share any happy/funny reading related memories or stories?
So. I had a huge crush on Richard Hammond (yes, the Top Gear presenter) when I was at high school. I used to check his autobiographies out of the school library and tell the librarian it was for a project because I was embarrassed!

If you could write yourself into any story, which one would it be? Would you change anything about yourself or have any magical powers?
I would say I’d write myself into A Song of Ice and Fire as a whole series. Maybe I would be a wildling. I always liked the wildlings.

What got you interested in books? Any particular books or people?
I always loved Jacqueline Wilson as a child, and I remember I had a book by her full of writing tips. I think she definitely influenced my obsession with reading!!

Do you enjoy writing as well as reading? What sort of things do you write? Do the novels you read inspire you?
Yes! I write mainly Middle Grade and YA fantasy! My debut novel The Forest of Fallen Stars was released June [2019]!

Was there ever a point where you found yourself reading less? Why? Do you have any tips for getting out of a reading slump?
Only really when I’m overly busy or stressed in my life generally. I try to reread past favourites or pick up shorter books to get out of a reading slump!

What made you decide to engage with other bookworms on the internet? Are your internet bookworm friends different to your real life bookworm friends?
I don’t really have any real life bookish friends, so I think that’s the main reason I joined the online book community!

Do you have any reading routines? What about blogging or bookstagramming routines?
I try to stick to themes on my blog and Instagram. The colour theme is usually inspired by the season but I like to change it up every now and then!

Has interacting with bookworms online changed your reading at all? Do you think it’s for the better?
I think it’s definitely taught me a lot about different things. I like to ask for recommendations based on people’s life experiences. For example, if I’m looking for a book that has a transgender main character, I will ask the bookish community for books with good and realistic representation. I think asking for recommendations from lots of different people is always a good thing.

If you blog or bookstagram what do you find most challenging? Any 2020 reading/blogging/bookstagramming goals?
Probably the pressure of numbers. Instagram taking away the number of likes on a post has been really helpful, but it still bothers me a little. I’d like to write more reviews next year, and post more frequently. Maybe I will even create some sort of regular schedule, haha!

Would you want to work in the wonderful world of books? Why/why not? Do you have a dream job in the book world?
Yes! I would love to work for a publisher alongside writing my own novels. I’m currently drafting my second book, but I’m also really interested in going into publishing or becoming an agent!

What advice would you give your younger self? Do you have any advice for budding bookworms out there?
Don’t feel pressured to read something, just because everyone else is! Don’t feel bad for liking something others have a problem with, and don’t let anyone judge you for being a dyslexia book nerd!

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Thanks Elfie for filling out the questions and joining my blog! Are you a fan of fantasy too? Which character would you be from Game of Thrones?

Another bookworm will be featuring on my blog so stay tuned for that, otherwise we have the usual Top Ten Tuesday coming up next week. You can check out all the other lovely bookworms I’ve met here. If you fancy joining the series let me know in the comments and I’d love to feature you!

Meet the Bookworm: Alex

At the start of 2020 I sent a couple of bookish questions to some bloggers and bookstagrammers who have been crazy enough to fill them out. In this series you’ll get to read their answers, admire their favourite reads and share their favourite stories. If you want to join the series just drop a comment below!

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Name
Alex

Blog
Spells and Spaceships

Twitter Handle
@blogspells

What sort of things do you like to read? Any favourite books?
I review SFF, which stands for Science Fiction & Fantasy. I like the adventure and escape that these genres provide, aswell as being a bit of a secret geek myself, these genres appeal to that side of me! One of my all time all time favourites is classic in the fantasy genre, The Lord of The Rings. Over the last couple of months I’ve read a couple of brilliant self published books, Kingshold by D. P. Woolliscroft and The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson.

What got you interested in books? Any particular books or people?
I always loved books as a kid, my parents probably starting off that love by reading to me as a child. The first time I can remember being in love with a book or series though was Harry Potter. I was I think 7 yrs old when the first book was released, and after reading the first couple, I dropped everything and read each new release constantly from the day of release until I’d finished it. I have a lot of love for these books!

Was there ever a point where you found yourself reading less? Why? Do you have any tips for getting out of a reading slump?
Yeah, most definitely. I used to read a lot of history books as well as fantasy (and more recently science fiction) – I went to University and the hobby I used to love became a full time part of my education where I couldn’t simply sit back and enjoy a book; I had to take notes, analyse the information, compare to other books and race to take them out of the library or buy them permanently myself. Reading the books as a researcher rather than as a hobby and an interest really knocked away that enjoyment for a while afterwards. I’m a definite mood reader and being forced to read a lot of books and in a way that I didn’t enjoy just put me off for a while. I started reading more fantasy again, and went for less serious or in depth books to rediscover that ‘reading for fun’ feeling. My advice if in a slump would be to read a different genre to the one you have been doing. Sometimes I mix it up with a general non fiction such as the brilliant Sapiens and Homo Deus books.

Has interacting with bookworms online changed your reading at all? Do you think it’s for the better?
Yes definitely. I’m exposed to and recommended loads more books than I’d find myself just through looking at Amazon and Goodreads. Some of these have been self published with only a small number of reviews (or in some cases none) that have came highly recommended from other bookworms. This is essential both for helping new authors and for finding hidden gems! It’s changed my reading in that I feel I read more and am spurred on to finish a book so I can talk about it with others, and to try the next intriguing read. Without this community I’d probably read less.

What advice would you give your younger self? Do you have any advice for budding bookworms out there?
It would be not to wait til I’m almost 30 to redevelop a reading passion! I read around a book every week to two weeks now, and it sort of feels like a journey of discovery, there are so many amazing books I greedily want to read as many as I can. There’s still so many I’m desperate to read on my TBR. My advice would be not to read too many short or long books; mix it up a bit. Try and read different styles of story or sub genre. If you’re unsure about starting a big series you can always read the first book and come back to the series at a later time.

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Thanks Alex for filling out the questions and joining my blog! Are you are Lord of the Rings fan too? If you did a humanities subject at university, did you find it difficult to read for fun and study books at the same time?

Another bookworm will be featuring on my blog so stay tuned for that, otherwise we have the usual Top Ten Tuesday coming up next week. You can check out all the other lovely bookworms I’ve met here. If you fancy joining the series let me know in the comments and I’d love to feature you!

Meet the Bookworm: Linda Tiliagren

I’ve sent a couple of bookish questions to some bloggers and bookstagrammers who have been crazy enough to fill them out. In this series you’ll get to read their answers, admire their favourite reads and share their favourite stories. If you want to join the series just drop a comment below!

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Name
Linda Tiliagren

Blog
Unconventional Bookworms

Twitter Handle
@mclexxie

Instagram Handle
@mclexxie

Goodreads

What sort of things do you like to read? Any favourite books?
I read anything fiction – with a slight preference for romance. My favorite 2019 read was Regretting You by Colleen Hoover.

Would you like to share any happy/funny reading related memories or stories?
Book conventions! They are truly the best. Not only do we get to meet authors we have read and admire – and in front of whom we can be blubbering messes! – but we meet SO many fellow readers. And that’s just amazing. Meeting up with people I have chatted with through my blog, on Twitter, or on Facebook is the best!

If you could write yourself into any story, which one would it be? Would you change anything about yourself or have any magical powers?
I’m gonna be corny and say that the story I’m living is good enough for me. I don’t think I would want to be in any of the stories I’ve read – partly also because in some of the more paranormal or dystopian worlds, I’d probably be the one to die in the beginning 😉

What got you interested in books? Any particular books or people?
I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been reading, except when my children were really small and I was sleep deprived, so I really don’t know. I know I had an aunt who always brought boxes of books to our summer vacations, though.

Do you enjoy writing as well as reading? What sort of things do you write? Do the novels you read inspire you?
Nope, no writing for me.

Was there ever a point where you found yourself reading less? Why? Do you have any tips for getting out of a reading slump?
I’ve had some times in my life where I’ve been reading less. When I had small children, and sometimes just because real life was so stressful I didn’t let myself wind down with a book.
I haven’t had a true reading slump per se, but I’ve had shorter periods when I didn’t feel like reading. Switching up genres helped me the most in that situation.

What made you decide to engage with other bookworms on the internet? Are your internet bookworm friends different to your real life bookworm friends?
This is a funny story. I read Twilight way back when because my daughter wanted to read it and I thought we’d have something to chat about. After I finished the last book I felt so empty. So I went to my friend google and asked her if she could help me find other Twilight fans who were ‘mature’. And google came through for me. I now have a group of seven friends – living in Europe and the US, and we chat every week still. I don’t have many people in my real life who are bookworms – the one I have here in Geneva, I met thanks to author KA Tucker!

Do you have any reading routines? What about blogging or bookstagramming routines?
I read any time I have a little break, my kindle is always with me. I have been slacking a lot with both blogging and bookstagramming these past six months, as I’m in my last year of finishing my degree, and also working, so life is busy. I felt like I needed to read more than I needed to blog or bookstagram.

Has your reading changed much over the last decade? Do you have a reading journey?
My reading has changed a lot! I used to read mostly women’s fiction and lighter romances. Now, I read in genres that I didn’t even know existed a decade ago. There are so many sub-genres in romance, and I love that. Plus, I’ve discovered so many fantastic authors that I would have never heard of if I hadn’t known about Goodreads, book blogs and bookish twitter.

Has interacting with bookworms online changed your reading at all? Do you think it’s for the better?
Yes, interacting with bookworms online is awesome! Even if there is sometimes drama in our community, it’s a tight-knit place to hang out. And I love seeing how we can read the same book and have completely different opinions about it. It’s all about perspective. And yeah, I think this has been great for me.

Have you ever found yourself in a novel? If you had to pick one character you really relate to, who would it be and why?
I think the main character in I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman spoke to me. Because she was so overwhelmed with real life for a while she just had to get away from everything to find herself, and to learn to breathe again. Thankfully, I didn’t feel like I needed to ‘be’ her, but her story touched me very deeply anyway.

What do you find most challenging about blogging and bookstagramming? Any 2020 reading/blogging/bookstagramming goals?
I find it hard to keep up to date with my reviews! And sometimes, it’s also difficult to find the time to visit all the fantastic blogs I love so much and leave them comments to cheer them up and let them know I read and loved their posts. My goal for 2020 is to be more present – after June when I won’t have Uni anymore.

Would you want to work in the wonderful world of books? Why/why not? Do you have a dream job in the book world?
I don’t think I would like to work in the wonderful world of books. I’m an English foreign language teacher in Switzerland, and I read novels with my students. So I kind of have the bookish part covered with that. I love it when my students share something that made them love or hate a book and they help me see things from a different perspective.

What advice would you give your younger self? Do you have any advice for budding bookworms out there?
I would tell my younger self to learn how to say ‘no’ earlier than I did. The world did not fall apart just because I said no to go out, do a favor for someone, or just in order to stay by myself and read…
Budding bookworms should not be afraid to interact with other bookworms online – 99% of us are truly awesome 😀

Is there anything else you’d like to share but doesn’t fit into any of these questions?
Not really – apart from the fact that I can’t wait to read everyone’s answers to this! Such a great way to get to know our fellow bookworms better. Thanks for having me!

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Thanks Linda for filling out the questions and joining my blog! It’s great the you can interact with your students about books and amazing that you still talk to your Twighlight friends! Anyone else have a community like that? United by one book? I joined a small online community of Skulduggery Pleasant fans when I was a kid but didn’t really stay in touch sadly.

Another bookworm will be featuring on my blog next Friday so stay tuned for that, and let me know in the comments if you want to get involved!

Meet the Bookworm: Olivia-Savannah

I’ve sent a couple of bookish questions to some bloggers and bookstagrammers who have been crazy enough to fill them out. In this series you’ll get to read their answers, admire their favourite reads and share their favourite stories. If you want to join the series just drop a comment below!

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Name
Olivia-Savannah

Blog
Olivia’s Catastrophe

Instagram Handle
@writing4joy2

Twitter Handle
@oliviascatastrophe

Booktube
Olivia Roach

What sort of things do you like to read? Any favourite books?
I love to read pretty much all genres and all types of books! Some favourites are The Raven Cycle, Shakespeare plays in general, Dracula and the Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman.

Would you like to share any happy/funny reading related memories or stories?
There was a time when I read Where Europe Ends by Yoko Tawada and was very confused about the narrative… How the character experienced so many different things and abruptly jumped from country to country. Only to be told when discussing it in a university seminar and explaining my confusion that it’s a short story collection and not a novel. Oops!

If you could write yourself into any story, which one would it be? Would you change anything about yourself or have any magical powers?
I would totally write myself into A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer so that I could fall in love with my current book boyfriend (Grey). I would have the power to teleport too, of course.

What got you interested in books? Any particular books or people?
I was always read to by my parents and then when I went to primary school I had a brilliant librarian. We still email and recommend books to each other now! She let me help with filing and other librarian things and I’d stay for hours after school to either read, chat books with her or help out.

Do you enjoy writing as well as reading? What sort of things do you write? Do the novels you read inspire you?
I love to write! I’m a poet and write poetry, mostly. But my current WIP is a horror novel with all black characters. 😉

Was there ever a point where you found yourself reading less? Why? Do you have any tips for getting out of a reading slump?
At the end of every year my reading tends to dwindle as I prepare for Christmas and the New Year. I usually take 2 weeks off from reading at the end of December to focus on other things and feel ready and excited to read again in the New Year!

What made you decide to engage with other bookworms on the internet? Are your internet bookworm friends different to your real life bookworm friends?
I mostly started a blog before I knew book blogs existed. My blog was originally just life updates – but when a book blogger commented I visited their blog and suddenly found the entire bookish online world. I wanted in! I actually have quite a few reading friends in real life. I just like to talk books with as many people as possible 🙂

Do you have any reading routines? What about blogging or bookstagramming routines?
Routines? Not for me. I mostly squeeze in reading, blogging, bookstagramming and booktubing whenever I have time. A lot to balance but I enjoy it so that’s what I keep doing!

Has your reading changed much over the last decade? Do you have a reading journey?
The main thing is that my reading has grown exponentially. I read almost double the amount of books now than I used to, even though I have less time for reading. I’ve started to read quicker. But I’ve also started to read more genres and underrated books too, which makes me happy!

Has interacting with bookworms online changed your reading at all? Do you think it’s for the better?
It’s probably helped my reading become more diverse and spread out, which is only for the better. That way I can learn what life is like for more people, and hopefully help move the world to being a more inclusive place for all.

Have you ever found yourself in a novel? If you had to pick one character you really relate to, who would it be and why?
Oh, many times and actually mostly in new adult romance? Probably because I’m the new adult age. It was quite scary to see myself in so many if Roan Parrish’s novels. Especially in her novel called Rend!
When I was 12 I related to Fanny from Mansfield Park. I was incredibly shy and outspoken. I don’t relate to her anymore at all and that makes me feel proud. I’ve come a long way since then.

What do you find most challenging about blogging and bookstagramming? Any 2020 reading/blogging/bookstagramming goals?
I find keeping constantly active the hardest. It takes a lot to make one photo or blog post and it’s hard for me to share often while also living life. My main goal for 2020 is to be a bit more consistent and make more friends too 💜

Would you want to work in the wonderful world of books? Why/why not? Do you have a dream job in the book world?
I originally wanted to go into publishing but now I want to teach… But as a poet and novelist I would still be involved in the author side of the book world hopefully 😋

What advice would you give your younger self? Do you have any advice for budding bookworms out there?
Keep reading what you love. Look for yourself in characters and see how they develop. Because that’s the way you’re going to develop too.

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Thanks Olivia-Savannah for filling out the questions and joining my blog! I love your idea of taking a reading break before the new year so you’re excited to start again in January! Sadly I think rushing to get my Goodreads challenge done may interfere with that one. Do you have any reading breaks in your year? is Grey your current book boyfriend? Let me know in the comments!

Another bookworm will be featuring on my blog next Friday so stay tuned for that, and tell me in the comments if you want to get involved.

Meet the Bookworm: Noelle

I’ve sent a couple of bookish questions to some bloggers and bookstagrammers who have been crazy enough to fill them out. In this series you’ll get to read their answers, admire their favourite reads and share their favourite stories. If you want to join the series just drop a comment below!

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Name
Noelle

Blog
Genie in a Novel

Twitter Handle
@genieinanovel

Instagram Handle
genieinanovel

What sort of things do you like to read? Any favourite books?
I like to read contemporary stories. Those are the easiest to relate to, though I do enjoy a good fantasy once in a while to take me away from earth! Some of my favorite books are Love & Gelato, Lola and the Boy Next Door, The Gallagher Girls series, Time Bomb, The Land of Stories series, and (obviously) the Harry Potter series.

What got you interested in books? Any particular books or people?
My mom was a big reader when I was growing up, so I think she had a lot of influence on my love for reading. I remember reading through Hardy Boys books, as well as Judy Blume books (Fudge, Double Fudge, Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret, etc.). So it’s just always been something I’ve done. I was that kid who loved silent reading time at school and was more likely to get in trouble for reading late at night.

Do you enjoy writing as well as reading? What sort of things do you write? Do the novels you read inspire you?
I do! I write mainly contemporary stories, and fanfiction. I would say the novels I read definitely inspire me. I find that once in a while I get the urge to try my hand at fantasy, but I’ve never actually done it… yet.

Was there ever a point where you found yourself reading less? Why? Do you have any tips for getting out of a reading slump?
Yeah. For a while when I first started college I wasn’t reading as much, like for a few years. I started picking back up a little maybe five years ago? I think it was just the stress from school that really made me too tired to want to read. Though I still go through the occasional reading slump, typically in March/April. No idea why. For getting out of a reading slump, my usual tip is to reread a favorite. It kind of rekindles the love of reading. Another one is to just not worry about it and let it be a reading break. Reading is supposed to be enjoyable, so trying to force it will make it worse. I actually wrote a post about this on my blog a while ago after I’d been in a slump.

What made you decide to engage with other bookworms on the internet? Are your internet bookworm friends different to your real life bookworm friends?
I think Goodreads and starting a blog was a main part of it. I saw how everyone interacted with each other and it just looked like a great community to be a part of – a community that loves reading and supports each other. I can’t say for sure if they’re different or not. I’m still kind of new to the community, so I haven’t gotten very close to anyone yet. I’d definitely love to though!

Do you have any reading routines? What about blogging or bookstagramming routines?
Kind of? I usually read when I go to the gym in the mornings, while I’m on the treadmill. And I like to get a few chapters in before bed. As for blogging, it’s when I can write or am inspired to do a post… or when I have to write a review. Then for bookstagram I take a Monday (my weekday off) every few weeks/once a month, to take a batch of photos and keep them ready to post.

Has interacting with bookworms online changed your reading at all? Do you think it’s for the better?
It’s definitely given me a lot more books to read! Haha! I have also learned from other bookworms how it’s better to just DNF a book that you’re not enjoying. I did that for the first time this year for a few books and it’s definitely great advice. Don’t waste time on something that you’re not enjoying.

Have you ever found yourself in a novel? If you had to pick one character you really relate to, who would it be and why?
I would say Cath from Fangirl. I acted just like her in college and had to brought out somewhat by friends to actually interact outside of class. And did I mention earlier that I write fanfiction?

If you blog or bookstagram what do you find most challenging? Any 2020 reading/blogging/bookstagramming goals?
Keeping up with a regular schedule for my blog. Sometimes I lose track and either do too many posts all at once or forget to post for a few weeks. My 2020 goals for my blog is to make some kind of schedule. My reading goals are to just keep reading books I enjoy, while maybe branching out more to other formats/genres. My best friend is really into manga and there are some interesting ones that I want to check out (by her recommendations).

Would you want to work in the wonderful world of books? Why/why not? Do you have a dream job in the book world?
I do, actually! I work as a librarian in my hometown library. I’ve been there for nearly four years, and I was a volunteer before that. I even graduated with my Masters in Library Science last spring, so I’m looking forward to what doors that will open for me in the field.

What advice would you give your younger self? Do you have any advice for budding bookworms out there?
I would tell my younger self to start a reading log/journal so I’d be able to look back on all the books I’ve read and what I thought about them at the time. Sometimes you don’t feel the same things when you reread because you know the story, but you catch things you missed before.

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Thanks Noelle for filling out the questions and joining my blog! I’ve heard a lot of book worms relate to Cath. Do you agree with her on any of these points? Do you get the March/April reading slump too?

Another bookworm will be featuring on my blog next Friday so stay tuned for that, otherwise we have the usual Top Ten Tuesday up next week!

Meet the Bookworm: Elizabeth Tabler

Hello and welcome to a new series I’m doing on my blog. I’ve sent a couple of bookish questions to some bloggers and bookstagrammers who have been crazy enough to fill them out. In this series you’ll get to read their answers, admire their favourite reads and share their favourite stories. If you want to join the series just drop a comment below!

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Name
Elizabeth Tabler

Blog
Before We Go Blog

Twitter Handle
@bethtabler

Instagram Handle
elizabethtabler

What sort of things do you like to read? Any favourite books?
I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy. Favorite, ohh that is so hard. I like Fahrenheit 451 a lot.

What got you interested in books? Any particular books or people?
I have been bookish from a very early age. As soon as I learned to read, I plowed through books.

Do you enjoy writing as well as reading? What sort of things do you write? Do the novels you read inspire you?
I do! I am currently shopping around my first short story. Right now just science fiction, but we shall see.

Was there ever a point where you found yourself reading less? Why? Do you have any tips for getting out of a reading slump?
I go through reading slumps. If I get depressed or overwhelmed, I tend to read less.

What made you decide to engage with other bookworms on the internet? Are your internet bookworm friends different to your real life bookworm friends?
I have always followed book twitter, but as I started doing more blogging I got more and more involved.

Do you have any reading routines? What about blogging or bookstagramming routines?
I try to blog everyday, but a reading routine is probably a good idea.

Has your reading changed much over the last decade? Do you have a reading journey?
Not particularly, although I have read slightly more this year than in previous years.

Has interacting with bookworms online changed your reading at all? Do you think it’s for the better?
It’s wonderful! I learn about so many new books from the reading community.

Have you ever found yourself in a novel? If you had to pick one character you really relate to, who would it be and why?
I always loved the sass of Eowyn. I wish I was more like her. She is who I would love to be.

If you blog or bookstagram what do you find most challenging? Any 2020 reading/blogging/bookstagramming goals?
Just my normal list of books. I would like to try and get through either King’s library or Neil Gaiman’s library. I haven’t decided yet.

Would you want to work in the wonderful world of books? Why/why not? Do you have a dream job in the book world?
I would love to work with aspiring authors. I think that would be a dream job.

What advice would you give your younger self? Do you have any advice for budding bookworms out there?
Don’t stress yourself out about how many books you have read. Just enjoy the reading.

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Thanks Beth for filling out the questions and joining my blog! Do you agree with her on any of these points? Are you a fan of sassy Eowyn too? Or even know which books she’s from, because I’m not entirely sure… Also if you fancy joining the series let me know in the comments and I’d love to feature you!

Another bookworm will be featuring on my blog so stay tuned for that, otherwise we have the usual posts