BBAW: An Interview with a fellow Blogger

It's Book Blogger Appreciation Week again! The Estella Society took over this event and revived it this year, so I'm joining in to say thank you to all the wonderful book bloggers who have made my life richer over my last 10 years of blogging.

This year I signed up to do an interview with another blogger, and I've discovered someone new to me, through strangely enough we have a ton in common....or perhaps not so strangely, as we both spend our time reading and talking about books.... even if she's in Texas and I'm in Ontario, Canada! 

Anyway, let me introduce you to the lovely Kay of Kay's Reading Life.

kay's reading life

"She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live." Annie Dillard

1.       I notice you’ve been blogging for a long time – how did you originally get into the blogging world and what was different about it then as opposed to now?

I first had a blog in about 2008.  It was called My Random Acts Of Reading.  I had it for several years and enjoyed it mostly.  However, this was at the beginning of the book blogging trend and also at the beginning of the ‘expectations’ that started for book bloggers.  Everyone was so excited about the ARCs and review copies because they were FREE!  Then it became sort of overwhelming.  There were fusses and squabbles among the blogging world as a whole.  Somehow, I began to feel like the blogging was not very fun.  I had some family illnesses and deaths.  We sold our house, built a new one, and moved.  Life took over and I decided that blogging was not important to me.  I stepped away and eventually deleted that blog.  

A few years later, last year in fact, I knew that I had missed sharing about books.  I missed the friends I had made and missed the conversations.  So, I began my current blog ‘kay’s reading life’.  I have tried to be much more relaxed about blogging this time around.  I’ve taken breaks when I felt like it.  I’ve read what I wanted.  I’ve posted when I felt like it.  I’ll continue in this manner – taking breaks, reading books that aren’t the newest always, but mostly having a good time chatting about my favorite pursuit – reading.

2.       We’ve both worked in libraries – what is your favorite part of being a librarian?

I miss working in a library – more some days than others.  I am still involved as a volunteer and hope to continue that role for a long, long time.  My favorite parts of library work were probably (1) processing the new books – loved seeing all the brand new materials, (2) reader advisory – finding just the right book for a patron and suggesting other books they might like, (3) managing and moderating the two book groups – one read fiction/non-fiction and the other was devoted to mysteries.  I’m still the moderator of the mystery group as a volunteer and I took a break from the other group, but am now back attending it again.

3.       What is the one book that you’d put into every patron’s hands if you could?  Or several books?

This answer would probably change, depending on the day or week or month.  Right now, I’d suggest Atul Gawande’s book, BEING MORTAL, as a non-fiction selection.  Such a wonderful book about mortality and choices.  As for fiction, I’d suggest Louise Penny’s mystery series, set in Canada, that begins with STILL LIFE.  The most recent book in the series is THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.  This is my favorite fiction series, mystery or otherwise.  I think Louise Penny is an incredibly gifted author.

4.       I love reading books that have vivid settings, almost like another character.  What setting from a book would you visit if you could and tell us the book it’s connected with.

I’ll answer by mentioning two locations (I don’t do very well with singular answers about books!).  I loved Peter May’s trilogy of mysteries set in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland – a very bleak and stark location, but one that is such a part of those books.  That trilogy begins with THE BLACKHOUSE and it’s set on Lewis Island.  The other location I’ll mention is British Columbia.  Canadian author Vicki Delany writes a mystery series set in the fictional town of Trafalger, BC.  I love her descriptions of the mountains and surrounding area.  Just beautiful.  And so you know, that series begins with IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLACIER.  

5.       What do you do when you’re not working or blogging?  Other hobbies or interests?

Honestly, reading and activities related to my reading are really my main pursuits.  However, especially in the last year, I’ve been working on getting more healthy, losing some weight, and being consistently active.  I enjoy listening to audiobooks and I love walking at my local rec center on their indoor track.  So, I guess you could say that I love walking and listening.  I also do strength training there and take a fitness class now and then.  My doctor is pleased and I feel much better as well.

6.       Lastly, and I think this should be part of every set of questions, what’s your favorite ice cream flavor?  Describe vividly.  LOL

My favorite ice cream flavor is Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia!  I love that ice cream.  And I was so pleased when they started producing it in ½ cup portions – those little tiny cups.  I can eat one of those on Friday nights (our dessert night) and not feel at all guilty.  Little chunks of dark chocolate stirred into cherry ice cream with bits of cherries.  It’s wonderful.  Yum!


To find out my own answers to these intriguing questions, pop on over to Kay's blog, right here, to see her interviewing me!