Fiona and Bert Burless are Sharing the Shallows – a She Reads/He Reads special edition!

January 13, 2018January 14, 2018shallowreader Leave a comment

Fiona and Bert Burless are my in-laws. I first met them in 1994 when I started dating my husband, John. My first impression of them was that John was in a share-house with his sister and her husband at a time when most people were moving out and away from their families. What was instantly evident was John’s deep affection for them. This continues to endure and has always been extended to me, too. Fi and Bert live in wine country on a farm with their son. They are involved in their community theatre, in their community school, they regularly drive long distances and aren’t afraid of snakes (they are both amused at my careful scanning of my surroundings when we go to the farm in my active avoidance of snakes. One slithered over my legs while I was sleeping back in 1998!!!!). Our sons get on really well, with my younger son for years spending a good part of most of his school holidays up at their farm – because Fi and Bert are so fabulous and welcoming to all that way! And yet, despite our distance (over 2 hours away), out of all our collective 7 siblings, we see Fiona the most (which is saying a lot as I live in the same ‘burb as one of my sisters and just another ‘burb over from another and I see them a lot too). Fi and Bert share with John and me a similar sense of humour, we are all total sticklers for fact-checking with a very low tolerance for crackpot “science” and, not surprisingly, both of them are really big readers.

Fiona and Bert Burless

Bert Burless is a propmaker for the film bizniss. Theatre and TV and Ads included.

Fifi: I am short for my weight: I am young for my age; I enjoy being a mother…mostly; I enjoy being a wife…moistly; I stick my nose into other people’s business; I stick my business into other people’s noses; I am sometimes very passionate about the things I like; I am very passionate about sometimes disliking things. I am known as Fiona, Fi, Fifi, Fifi La Boom, Lucy, Darling and Muuuuuum! Continue reading →

Rain Merton is Sharing the Shallows

November 11, 2017November 11, 2017shallowreader 1 Comment

Earlier this year, I had the absolute good fortune of having travelled to Montreal, Canada for a readers’ meet-up. There were many people I had already met online over the years at this meet-up but there were some I had never crossed paths with – and I need to ask…how on earth had I never met Rain!? We met on our first day walking around Montreal and spent the weekend having conversations on everything – education, plagiarism detecting software (and the detrimental effect on student outputs), Eastern Europe, women’s issues, politics, food, and, of course, romance fiction. I am so glad that I got to meet Rain.

Rain Merton

@RainMerton

Can you describe yourself?

Rain Merton has moved halfway across the world thirteen years ago and never regretted it once. In those past thirteen years, to keep with the pattern, Rain has moved across Canada twice, acquired two post-graduate degrees, two children, and, most recently, two kittens. Rain writes queer romance when not teaching college students, and prefers the personal pronoun “they.” Find them on Twitter (https://twitter.com/RainMerton), instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rainmerton/) or—very sporadically—FB (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012107086345).

What is your main reading medium (books, blogs, games, news, etc) and how much time do you spend reading a week?

Blame it on too much time in grad school, but I am a greedy and fickle reader when it comes to reading for pleasure. I usually have anywhere between five and ten books and audiobooks going at the same time, because I like to read in a variety of genres. There’s always at least a couple of romances in there, because they are my constant soothing companions. I read non-fiction, too; sometimes it’s life writing, other times narrative nonfiction for topical research, other times still it’s theory (aka my grad-school love).

I used to be a big news junkie, especially in grad school, as my research area is contemporary literature and cultural studies, but these days the news are overwhelming, so I filter them through social media. Continue reading →

Kit only from Bookgroup is Sharing the Shallows

October 14, 2017shallowreader Leave a comment

It is the second Saturday of the month, and once again, a member of my bookgroup is sharing today’s shallows. I met Kit when our bookgroup started over 16 years ago. Always funny, always foodie and always insightful. Like me she is the only other bookgroup member who would bring her son along to our meetings from a young age. Our bookgroup topic today was “crafty” and Kit won the most-tenuous-link-to-the-topic award with her book on the gut. A-ha. That’s the way she rolls.

Kit

I am a mother, a carer and sometime banker, originally from Melbourne, but diehard inner westie (Sydney). I live a very vanilla life with lots of irregular influences.

What is your main reading medium (books, blogs, games, news, etc) and how much time do you spend reading a week?

I’m ashamed to say facebook but with links to loads of good news sites and a really interesting friends group who post articles and thoughts I would never see otherwise. I also have several books next to my bed that get read sporadically.

What or who is your joyful reading (guilty or otherwise) pleasure

Kerry Greenwood – Corinna not that 20s bird or Kurt Vonnegut

Do you have a favourite storyline or plot? And do you have one you will not read?

Unhappy endings or not the way you think its going to go. Pretty much happy to read anything but am using the patented Vassiliki method of reading the first chapter and if it hasn’t grabbed me, give up. I do struggle with “the classics” but keep revisiting them in case I’ve got grown up enough to enjoy them.

Why do you/don’t you use a public library?

We used to go when Ben was little but I think I was trying to be a “good” mum. Once I went back to work that pretty much went by the wayside. I think we were fortunate to be able to buy loads of books so did that instead.

Do you RUI*. If so, what?

Not really, my only vice really is alcohol and then my eyes get too fuzzy.

Do you have a favourite reading spot?

My new wiz bang office chair with all the levers or bed, occasional weekend magazine in the bath slightly soused (the magazine not me, keep up people!)

Toilet reading:

Yep, but usually only magazines or Sudoku, occasionally phone. I don’t really see why this is an issue, long got over the bodily functions hysteria.

Romance fiction of the Happily Ever After (not the love tragedy) kind – are you a Lover or a Hater and why?

Sorry Vassiliki but ew, I guess I was lucky enough to have this IRL so made me want to puke in books, also couldn’t stand the predictability – will they, won’t they, well of course they will.

What would you give up reading for**?

Oh geez, daughter of a book editor and publisher, don’t think I could – new ideas, hilarious jokes, bits of the world you would never see, how could you give that up. Even if I was blind I’d get talky books.

Can a romance/crime/super/etc hero be the driver of a hatchback?

Sure as long as they don’t wear white socks with dark pants

*Reading Under the Influence

**I like stranded prepositions

DrScrabblette and DrFriendless are Sharing the Shallows – He Reads/She Reads Special Edition!

July 15, 2017September 30, 2017shallowreader 2 Comments

DrScrabblette is such a phenomenal woman. She is the first academic I taught for at university and she has since become a dear, dear friend. We talk about everything from reading and culture and information and life and il/literacies and her dog whispering skills and just her incredible ability to connect with every one she meets. Her students love her, and I have to say that this love is highly deserved as she knocks herself out for them. Through DrScrabblette, I have met DrFriendless a few times, and he too is an open and giving person who, despite his chosen pseudonym, is very friendly and always interesting.

DrScrabblette and DrFriendless

University academic and computer wizard, sharing a celebrity dog named Samantha.

Dog leaning on paper and pen

Can you describe yourself?

We started sharing bookshelves in 2006. She didn’t know how to read at all until she was ten. Homeschooled until ten on her Indian grandmother’s fantastic stories, myths, and legends, she has a lifelong obsession with fairytales and retellings. Once she learned to read, she consumed a lot of beautifully illustrated Russian Fairy Tales from Soviet bookstores, Tinkle magazine, Archie comics, Amar Chitra Katha stories, and Mad magazine, alongside tons of pulp fiction and cartoons in Tamil magazines. After completely skipping several phases of reading “chapter books” and YA fiction etc., she read Future Shock at fifteen, and has never stopped reading since.

He misspent his youth reading Enid Blyton, then heroic fantasy, then classics and literary fiction. Then he learnt French and read French classics and “polars” – noir detective stories. He read “The Hobbit” and the first couple of volumes of Harry Potter to his son when he was young, and the son grew up to read Chuck Palahniuk. These days he just reads computer texts, but has aspirations to write when he grows up.

She introduced him to Robert Coover, Indian mythology, and Luigi Cavalli-Sforza, and the son to Ryu Murakami. Both are avid players of tabletop board games, and he loves reading the rules diligently whereas she just likes breaking them. Continue reading →

Sandra Antonelli is Sharing the Shallows

March 18, 2017March 18, 2017shallowreader Leave a comment

I first met Sandra Antonelli on Twitter in 2009 where we were both taking part in the #badsongFriday posts. We bonded over our mutual love for glitter, glam and a sprinkle of kitsch. We then discovered that we had sooooo much more in common. We both loved romance fiction. We both love Mike Brady. We think poop and fart jokes are funny. And we are both married to men called John. And we both have a love for mini-foxies with Sandra influencing me to buy one through her fabulous loving tales of the late Budman. We live in cities far far away from each other so it is a total treat when we get to catch up in person. Sandra is one of my favouritest people ever. However, we will never agree on the topic of hatchback cars. We have been debating their sexiness (or lack thereof) online for many years and her answer today signifies that the debate will continue. Feel free to join in the argument! And yes – Question 10 in my Sharing the Shallows was put there for Sandra’s benefit.

Sandra Antonelli head shot

Sandra Antonelli

Author

Can you describe yourself?

Reader, writer, movie-lover, coffee drinker, Dr. Sandra Antonelli is passionate about the portrayals of older women in the media and fiction. Her masters and doctoral work focused on the viability of mature aged-women as protagonists in romance fiction. Her research includes creative writing, popular culture representations of older women in the media, representations of age, and age marginalization in fiction publishing. She engages in public discourse on her scholarly and fictional work on a variety of social media platforms. Sandra likes fart humour and poop jokes, and is basically a 12-year-old boy trapped in a middle-aged woman’s body. She is the author of A Basic Renovation, For Your Eyes Only, Driving in Neutral and Next to You, romance novels that all position women over 40 as romance heroines. She is currently writing the In Service series, a romantic thriller-comedy featuring a middle-aged female butler and the spy who loves her. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter: @SandrAntonelli, and sandraantonelli.com. Continue reading →

Valancy is Sharing the Shallows

March 11, 2017shallowreader 6 Comments

It would be well over a year ago that I noticed a blog called Blue Castle Considerations begin to follow Shallowreader. I clicked over to the site and discovered the absolutely hilarious Valancy writing on all things romance and Anne of Green Gables and retro Mills & Boon with flare and gif savvy. I have since been fortunate enough to meet Valancy in person (even though she lives far far far far away in a far far far away land). She is funny and sweet and ever so insightful when it comes to reading and related things.

Not so much a selfie, but rather the things that make reading perfect: Bed. Cat. Kindle. (That is Tansy, one of the cat overlords. She rules with a benevolent but draconian paw.)

Valancy

Can You Describe Yourself?

In search of sleep, sanity, & The Shire. Here to serve the cat overlords.

Co-creater of bolognese soup. It’s true. Even if Google doesn’t acknowledge it.

Lover of all HEAs.

Secret Disney Princess devotee.

Heyer aficionado.

What is your main reading medium (books, blogs, games, news, etc) and how much time do you spend reading a week?

Books and blogs. I spend FAR too many hours on both. It means less work, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.

What or who is your joyful reading (guilty or otherwise) pleasure?

I cannot ever go past a fairytale retelling. Regardless of whether it is good, bad or indifferent. I will buy it. I will read it. You had me at Once Upon a Time.

6 Georgette Heyer book covers

Variety of Betty Neels covers Go-to comfort reads: Georgette Heyer & Betty Neels.

Secret Reading Addiction: Vintage Harlequin and Mills & Boon from the 60s, 70s & 80s. Alpha-hole males, punishing kisses, hateful face slaps and women who end up being married to anti-hero-turned-hero in a far flung country with nothing but jersey dress and fringed leather jacket to their name. So Bad. So Good. I will read them all.

Do you have a favourite storyline or plot? And do you have one you will not read?

Did you know that Mozambique National Demining Institute has trained African Giant Pouch Rats to sniff out explosives?? Apparently they are cheap, small, efficient and tireless in their search.

Oh, sorry, my point? It’s a long bow, but that is pretty much me in my indefatigable search for any kind of book that has a romance in it. My favourite plot is anything, as long as it is leavened by an affaire de coeur.

Yep. I am that easy. 🙂

Why do you/don’t you use a public library?

Always.

Online libraries for ebooks and physical libraries for the smell of dust and sandwich wrappers mixed with that soupçon of frowsty damp. (or maybe that’s just my public library…?) Plus I love finding super old relic books that haven’t been cracked open in years.

Case in point: A 1986 compilation of the year’s cutting edge technology: featuring Walkmans, animated Etch-a-Sketch, Discmans and Nintendo NES… I die.

Do you RUI*. If so, what?

I have a super fine knife edge balance of 3 glasses of wine and imminent slumber;

I am a fall-asleep-er under the influence.

Do you have a favourite reading spot?

See pic.

And Bed. Because beds are awesome. If everyone worked from beds, instead of offices, I feel that world peace would not be just something Miss Universe cited, but an actual, tangible possibility.

Think about.

You can’t get cranky in bed. Or throw a temper tantrum; it is always welcoming and never rejects you. Things that make you snap rage would hold no water against an ergonomic mattress and memory foam pillows. Bonus: super short commute.

Toilet reading:

No. Just No.

That is 23 shades of wrong.

POO germs people, they are a THING.

And that has suddenly made me want to completely rethink my public library usage.

So um…thanks.

Romance fiction of the Happily Ever After (not the love tragedy) kind – are you a Lover or a Hater and why?

HEA. Always.

I can manage a HFN too, but only because I do this while no-one is looking:

https://bluecastleconsiderations.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/unicorn-guy.gif

I cite previous Disney Princess & fairytale references. Life sucks too much already, I don’t need that kind of realism in my one legal form of escapism.

What would you give up reading for**?

Um. Nothing. Don’t tell my cats…but I really don’t think I could, not even for them.

Can a romance/crime/super/etc hero be the driver of a hatchback?

Being a driver of said hatchback, I do have a slight bias towards them; so YES, but with a caveat: Only if it has four doors.

NO self respecting hero can ever be knight errant with only two doors. Trust me on this. It is physically impossible. Not only does it make for the MOST UNGRACEFUL exit known to humankind; the doors are heavy and have a tendency to make sweepingly graceful closures on one’s behind. Or hand. Or foot. Or head.

Just saying y’all.

🙂

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