Iwona is Sharing the Shallows

February 25, 2017shallowreader 2 Comments

Most people who know me also know that I adore my reading group (to call us a book group would really be a stretch). We have been going for 16 years, we are a theme based group so as to cater to everyone’s reading proclivities and we all have a genuine affection for each other and all our different reading quirks. Iwona is the first of the reading group to share my shallows. Of all our group, I think Iwona and I are possibly the most diametrically opposite in our reading choices . But as with all of us, these differences fade into obscurity as the main thing is, that as bookish friends, we meet for the opportunity to talk about our reading…and our lives…and to break bread….

Iwona

Occupation:

Applied Sciences

Can You Describe Yourself?

50+ Inner West resident

Easter European background

Liberal in believes (not Liberal the party!!!!!!!) and no religion

Post graduate education in applied sciences

Married
1 son

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

Ebooks – 10hrs per week, blogs/online news etc – 4hrs per week

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

Ambitious, intelligent fiction

Do you have a favourite storyline or plot?

And do you have one you will not read?

Romance/sci fi/ violent sex

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

Don’t need it for my needs. Everything is online or on my phone.

Do you RUI*. If so, what?

No.

Do you have a favourite reading spot?

Lounge room

Toilet reading:

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?

The truest of haters. Plots predictable. Bent to create ‘sexy’ stereotypes of smart/irresistible/heart larger than life/ gorgeous women and macho heros, maybe misguided but fixed right by the heroine. Hate stupidity with which heroines fall into a heap at a sight of some macho man

What would you give up reading for**?

For an instance? Many things like going to the movies, out to eat, to catch up with friends… For good? Nothing

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

Only a crime hero…

MerrianOW is Sharing the Shallows

February 18, 2017February 18, 2017shallowreader 5 Comments

I first met @MerrianOW over on Twitter as part of the always amazing Romancelandia book tweep discussion circle many years ago. I have been fortunate enough to meet her in person in Canberra, Sydney and in Melbourne and her thoughtful online conversations are matched equally in person. We share a love for E J Oxenham and her Abbey Girl series and she is expert in finding those hard-to-find retro romances for me. This is her second guest post in my shallows having written about romance genre captivity narratives and Australia many years ago.

@MerrianOW

Occupation: Dreams and hobbies

Can You Describe Yourself?

I’ve read all my life finding solace and comfort and affirmation and new ways of thinking through my books. The online world of readers is a gift of connection and laughter that is a continuing gift from books. I was an Army Officer for nearly a decade and then a Social Worker, all the time dealing with increasing ill health and disability, including surviving two brushes with cancer. I have spent many years volunteering as a health consumer advocate and working to improve the care of people with chronic illness. I love living in the inner west with all the people out and about to chat to on the bus. I spend my time in op shops looking for things to craft and books to read and vintage clothes to wear. Every day deserves an outfit and a new book and a cuppa with a friend.

What is main reading & time spent reading?

Books, especially indy ebook published romance stories, science fiction and fantasy. I read lots of long form non-fiction online at blogs and I am adventuring into podcast listening. I often find things to read via links on Twitter. There are at least two newspapers a day in the mix too. My reading these days is pretty much all online and I use laptop, tablet, and phone interchangeably. Books from the library tend to be non-fiction. When I’m well I probably read around 6-8 hours a day, unwell it will be a couple of hours only but I read everyday, rain, hail or shine. Continue reading →

Kat Mayo is Sharing the Shallows

February 11, 2017February 13, 2017shallowreader 3 Comments

As I am posting this on the day of my 21st anniversary, I chose to share my shallows with the only person other than my husband with whom I go on date nights – Kat Mayo. Kat Mayo changed my world around. She was my borrower (and now my friend) but like no other. We first met when she was borrowing picture books but we bonded over romance fiction. She pushed me to join the online book conversations in forums, on Twitter, on Goodreads. She pushed me to attend romance readers conventions and she pushed me to write a blog. She calls me a prude as I blanche at some of the conversations I end up having with her, and we plan excellent date nights where we sit talking and talking all night about our favourite books. Despite not yet being on one of her podcasts, she is one of my favourite readerly people.

Kat Mayo @Bookthingo

Occupation: I could tell you but….you know the rest.

Can you describe yourself:

Kat and Vassiliki met across a room of crowded library shelves, bonded over Thomas the Tank Engine books, and discovered a shared love for Jennifer Crusie’s books. Kat reviews books at Book Thingo, and hosts a podcast exploring romance books and their place in literary culture. She loves to kill fairies.

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

Books, emails, tweets, stuff for the day job, and the Google vortex. At least 60 hours, but if we’re talking about reading purely for pleasure, I’d say around 15 hours a week. It will vary depending on how busy life is. That said, if I happen to pick up a fantabulous book, the world just has to work around my need to read.

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

I rarely feel guilt while reading, and I have too many favourites to answer this properly! My favourite rereads are Melina Marchetta’s young adult books. Her writing just gets into my bones. I have a cherished collection of books by Laura Kinsale, Kelly Hunter and Kathleen O’Reilly. One of the hidden gems on my shelf is an anthology called Out of This World Lover, because it has a funny erotic paranormal romance short story by Shannon Stacey, featuring an intergalactic ambassador who calls an electrician because she thinks they provide sexual services.

Last year, I discovered Wattpad and binged on teen romances — something that traditional publishing is very stingy with.

Oh, and I’ve built a list of books with vomit scenes. It now has so many titles that I’ve branched out to keeping lists that track other bodily fluids mentioned in books.

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

I love friends to lovers, grumpy/tortured heroes, Titian-haired heroines (yes, I do!), childhood sweethearts, brother’s best friend/best friend’s sister. I also love the reverse harem …. In other words, I love romance tropes. 😀

I probably won’t pick up motorcycle club books, or where the h/h are involved in organised crime. I don’t like incest, although I can tolerate it if the writing is very good. I don’t like infidelity and will probably not read a plot with adultery — and if I do, I would almost certainly read it backwards (from the ending, back to the beginning). (Consensual, happy, non-monogamous couples are exempted. I love the tension of a well-written threesome.) I can’t stand Catholic priests as romance heroes; I find this plot worse than adultery. I’m not a fan of the stripper/prostitute heroine — it’s rarely done well, and frankly, Brooke Magnanti set a very high bar for writing in this space.

I love aristocratic ennui, but not any other kind. Spare me the bajillionaire with boredom issues. No one wants to marry a guy like that.

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

My usual MO is that I use the library religiously until I forget to return books and accrue a fortune in fines, and then I can never go back there again. I’m terrible. That said, now that I’ve been book blogging for a few years, advance copies and Amazon one-click keep me well-stocked with books.

Do you RUI*. If so, what?

I’ll read anytime, anywhere, when I get the opportunity.

Do you have a favourite reading spot?

Not really. I can read anywhere — and I do!

Toilet reading:

b) Only my own books/phone/tablet/ereader

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

Lover. Life’s too short to put up with shitty endings.

What would you give up reading for**?

My family. World peace.

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

Of course. It’s a travesty that there aren’t more hatchback driver heroes in romance. Especially in new adult. How else will you bring home your IKEA furniture?

Sarah Henderson is Sharing the Shallows

January 28, 2017January 28, 2017shallowreader 1 Comment

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

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 is Sharing the Shallows

January 21, 2017January 21, 2017shallowreader 4 Comments

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

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