For my third guest, I am going with one of my favourite borrowers-turned-friend, Sarah Henderson. As a librarian, I meet many people every day but only a handful of them have become good friends. Many years ago, when I was the team leader at one of the city libraries, my staff would tell me about Sarah the Mills & Boon borrower. Every week they would say “you missed her! She borrowed huge piles again”. Then one day, I was called out to the desk to meet the elusive Sarah. Within minutes we were chatting like we had been friends forever. There is a special connection that a shared love for Mills & Boon can give you.
Sarah Henderson
Public Servant
Can you describe yourself?
Sarah has returned to the country from the inner west a year ago and is greatly enjoying her environs. Sarah reads romance for the most part although does love a good book on death culture. Last year Sarah read a bunch of ‘classics’ and was bored out of her brain.
What is your main reading medium (books, blogs, games, news, etc) and how much time do you spend reading a week?
Books (often via the kindle app). I read upwards of 28 hours a week at the moment.
What or who is your joyful reading (guilty or otherwise) pleasure?
My joyful reading picks usually come from the romance genre. Lisa Kleypas, Victoria Dahl, Alisha Rai and Jennifer Ashley are my go to picks right now.
Do you have a favourite storyline or plot? And do you have one you will not read?
I like a good second chancer, especially if its hot. I avoid sweet and medical romances.
Why do you/don’t you use a public library?
I do use a public library. My local public library is tiny and its important to make good use of it so that it can continue to operate.
Do you RUI*. If so, what?
I don’t drink so If I’m under the influence it is most likely when I’m deep in my feels. Usually I’ll reread a section of a book I’ve loved or I’ll pick up a sexy mills and boon.
Do you have a favourite reading spot?
Sitting on my bed.
7. Toilet reading:
a) Never do it
b) Only my own books/phone/tablet/ereader
c) Anything goes – library books, friends books, cornflake packets.
d) I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.
e) Other _________
a) Never do it.
Romance fiction of the Happily Ever After (not the love tragedy) kind – are you a Lover or a Hater and why?
Lover. I don’t like romances without a HEA.
What would you give up reading for**?
I’m sure there is something I would give it up for but as someone who struggled to learn to read in the first place it’d take a lot to give it up.
Can a romance/crime/super/etc hero be the driver of a hatchback?
Sure, why not? it isn’t convenient for sexy times though so a romance hero might be at a disadvantage.
*Reading Under the Influence
**I like stranded prepositions
Infogenium/
Fantastic Man: men of great style and substance
Boyfriend by Christmas
I’ve been listening to Connie Brockway’s Highlander Undone for over 2 months and I have only just hit the half way point. This is indicative of how little time I spend in the car on my own. I will only listen to a chapter if I know that I can hear a whole chapter in a drive.
As for Connie Brockway’s Highlander Undone, I’m really enjoying Napoleon Ryan’s narration of this story. This is my first Brockway and so far I am not disappointed by the story or by the storytelling.
Favourite Novel 2016
The Winter Bride
These were such delightful stories despite the 4 sisters harrowing circumstance that brought them together and having them choose to present themselves as sisters. There is lots to be said about class, women’s lack of agency and worries for their future both within society as well as their interpersonal relationships. It also throws a strong light upon the bonds we make not only with our blood sisters but the women we befriend. My only complaint was the lack of continuity in Freddy’s story (Winter Bride) from the first book to his story.
Pirahnas don’t eat Bananas and Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey – How can I go past a book that has a child belly laughing over and over and over again (thank you lovely nephew of mine). Nothing like the word “Bum” in a story. And also Thelma who is pink and sparkly and famous. Everyone should meet Thelma. I had to read this book to my niece four times back-to-back because that is what Thelma does to all of us. Pink Sparkle dust to all of us.
My Dead Bunny by Sigi Cohen – Zombie pet rabbits terrorising a family all said in verse. I cannot describe how I felt on first reading this book. Kudos to the publisher for taking a risk on this book. It was just something else and I love it.
The Good Greek Girl by Maria Katsonis – I cried and cringed and related to so much and then didn’t relate but certainly empathised to all the rest. I try to avoid caught-between-two-cultures stories as this theme was constantly thrown at me when I was at school (ugghh! Teachers othering you and that awful patronising “let’s help you deal with the weirdness of your culture” Bull Shit) so I kinda take a big step backward from those stories. But this one grabbed me, was candid and I read it in 12 straight hours no sleep just crying. Exhausting and excellent.
The Sicilian’s Stolen Son by Lynne Graham
All these events have drained me. This year was tinged with sadness to begin with as my favourite uncle died in July. There have been a number of other world and family events that have deeply impacted me and left me with a cumulative sadness that I would never had anticipated at the beginning of this year. I would not call my sadness depression – it is just downheartedness. I’m feeling the losses of this year.
