Every week this year, I ask avid reader friends, family and their acquaintances to share their thoughts about their reading.
Who else could be my second guest than Infogenium, long-time friend, colleague, co-writer, romance reader and co-blogger who started Shallowreader with me back in 2010. I then became a megalomaniac and kicked her off the site and yet she still agreed to answer my questions. Ahhhh! Friendship!
Infogenium/@infogenium
Information Manager incognito
Can you describe yourself:
I love reading, family, coffee, fresh bread, modern technology and learning things.
What is your main reading medium (books, blogs, games, news, etc) and how much time do you spend reading a week?
Books, twitter, blogs.
What or who is your joyful reading (guilty or otherwise) pleasure?
Mills & Boon “Kitchen Sink” stories. Ie, anything that is completely OTT, I am looking at you Lynne Graham BUT my guilty pleasure is books that are rated DNF in reviews or people have very strong reactions to and not in a positive way – I willingly buy them to see why people loathed or were so bored by them that they couldn’t/didn’t/wouldn’t finish them.
Do you have a favourite storyline or plot? And do you have one you will not read?
Very liberal in my storylines – as long as they are well written I am happy to try them.
What I won’t read? Horror. It is way too predictable. And fanfiction.
Why do you/don’t you use a public library?
USE – Just love the environment and what the library represents to me,. Somewhere to escape and learn.
NOT USE – Not quick enough with titles.
Do you RUI*. If so, what?
If I do RUI, and I am not admitting to it, but it wouldn’t be actual reading but instead listening to audiobooks, as less strain on the senses and in that situation crime or mysteries.
Do you have a favourite reading spot?
The train or in bed.
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 _________
DON’T DO IT – HYGIENE OCD ISSUES
Romance fiction of the Happily Ever After (not the love tragedy) kind – are you a Lover or a Hater and why?
I like the HEA but don’t mind a well written bittersweet ending or one that suggests a HEA but isn’t a conclusion.
What would you give up reading for**?
Literally nothing unless a life of someone I love is at stake…maybe not even then…
Can a romance/crime/super/etc hero be the driver of a hatchback?
Sorry No.
*Reading Under the Influence
**I like stranded prepositions
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.
Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci
Shallowreader 