Tuesday, 28 May 2013

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one - George R R Martin

New York! New York! Somewhere I’ve never been. And would like to visit. Particularly this week.  Fellow book bloggers are gathered together for the Book Expo America (BEA), a few days looking at the joys of blogging. And how to improve the joy. Which can only benefit us all.

And while I would prefer to be there in person, of course, modern technology – and a jolly nifty group of bloggers – have made it possible to have a cyber presence. The Armchair BEA. How cool is that?

In the spirit of community and hospitality, I have questions to answer for my fellow cyber participants – hello one and all – so here we go:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

I’m a life-long book lover, blogging for just over a year now. I'd been meaning to blog for a while. But being a professional procrastinator, it wasn't happening. Until I was housebound by a (very silly) accident last year. To stave off boredom and insanity, I launched myself into the blogging arena. And I’m loving it. I love reading. I love writing. And I love musing about the books I read, the words I see.  I love it that someone somewhere is sharing these thoughts and musings. I am delighted when someone shares their thoughts and musings through comments. When page hits become human interaction.

2.  Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures.

From Strasbourg, France. Best known for storks, knacks (sausages), sauerkraut, beer, wine (of course), the Christmas market, and the European Court of Human Rights. (For the curious, here are some photos: http://www.moonflowersnserendipity.com/Cities/Strasbourg/21175273_N6XP3j#!i=1684987381&k=tZt2r2b)

3.  What are you currently reading, or what is your favourite book you have read so far in 2013?

At the moment, I'm trying to get through Milan Kundera's essays, Les Testaments Trahis. Quite heavy going. But interesting and stimulating. Giving me the excuse (if ever I needed one) to counter with the lighter works of Roald Dahl. Something for every mood, as it were...

I'm doing the Classics Challenge this year (through to 2017) and am loving discovering new authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Goethe, Dickens. Dahl. I'm even enjoying discovering authors I don't particularly appreciate, such as Virginia Woolf.
 
4.  Which is your favourite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?

http://www.abarmybookwormsittingontheshelf.blogspot.fr/2013/01/always-read-something-that-will-make.html

http://www.abarmybookwormsittingontheshelf.blogspot.fr/2013/01/its-not-that-i-dont-like-people-its.html

5.  If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

Milan Kundera. Love his books, love his vision. He has an incredible mind. Has lived an amazing life. Seems to have a good sense of humour. What more could you ask for?

But also Edith Wharton, Jane Austen, Marilyn French. Such cool ladies. Big minds, huge intellects. A major headache for my little brain. But an experience to cherish. Forever. Can I have more than one? Like a huge big dinner party of the coolest people ever…

And so back to NY. I’m off to see what’s happening and will tell you all about it. Spreading the news, as it were…
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38 comments:

  1. Anonymous28 May 2013 at 17:04

    Roald Dahl writes some amazingly creepy stuff! Enjoy Armchair BEA.

    http://mwgerard.com/armchair-bea-introduction-and-classics/

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 21:50

      It's bizarre how vast his imagination is. But always entertainiing, eh? Thanks for stopping by :0)

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  2. Wendy28 May 2013 at 17:37

    Oh, I would love to visit France one day! You live in an amazing area! I'm so glad you're enjoying blogging - the book bloggers are a great community and it I agree ... it is so fun to be part of it all. I hope you'll get to visit New York "in person" someday - it is one of those cities everyone should see at least once!

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 21:51

      I soooo agree! Can't believe I haven't been to NY yet...

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  3. Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms28 May 2013 at 17:41

    Well, at least we have Armchair BEA to keep us company this week, so we won't be too sad about being so far away from the real thing!

    Is it well paid to be a professional procrastinator? :P

    Thanks for stopping by at BEA intro post earlier :)

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 21:52

      Professional procrastination always pays. Just not always in a good way! Don't recommend it. Just DO IT!! :0)

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  4. Faith Hope and Cherrytea28 May 2013 at 18:39

    Lovely to meet you ~ TY for stopping to chat at FHC !
    my kids were in France last year, so that' s my closest personal connection [other than reading!] ;)
    Would love to be at your dinner party with JA , Edith, etc.. That would be one fantastic evening!

    Enjoy BEA ~

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 21:56

      You really must come on over. It's a fascinating country. No cherry tea, although there're plenty of other thirst quenchers to make up for that... :0)

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  5. Michelle @ In Libris Veritas28 May 2013 at 18:59

    Strasbourg looks beautiful in those pictures! I'm definitely happy to have Amrchair BEA this year because I was sooo close to getting to go this year, and it stings a little :P I hope you enjoy this week!

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 21:57

      Really sorry you didn't get there this year. But look - if you'd gone, we'd have never met!! Thanks for stopping by...

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  6. Mari28 May 2013 at 19:09

    I have never been to France. Maybe one day. :)

    I think I may need to join the Classics Challenge next year. Haven't read one in awhile.

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 22:02

      The Classics Club challenge rocks! U really should do it :0)

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  7. Anonymous28 May 2013 at 20:24

    Hi from Holland! Here's me thinking Strasbourg is in Luxembourg, maybe because of the bourgs. :-)

    I also started blogging with no particular intention but here I am, three years down the line, with 2 blogs and many, many posts.

    Have a great ArmchairBEA!

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 22:03

      Don't worry - nobody ever knows where Strasbourg is!

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  8. @MelissaJoLynn_28 May 2013 at 20:27

    I almost visited France a few years ago when I was in Europe, but wasn't able to fit it into the trip. But someday I'll get there! What's your favorite classic?

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 22:04

      U really should come on over. With time to spare. It's a fascinating country to visit. And thanks for the question: just posted on classics. The list is long...

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  9. Hollie28 May 2013 at 20:29

    I love Roald Dahl's work! He was such a fantastic author. Strasbourg looks like a lovely city, I would love to visit its Christmas market! Seeing Goethe reminds me of a project I had to do on his life a couple of years ago...I never did get round to reading his work.

    Thanks for stopping by my post! :)

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 22:05

      Goethe is a HUGE name, but just a fab writer. Put him high on your reading list :0)

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  10. The HoneyNerds28 May 2013 at 21:09

    So not jealous you live in France, nope not at all! (I'm very jealous.) Great choice of authors to have dinner with, it would be so stimulating to talk to them!

    Thanks for stopping by my BEA post!
    Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 22:06

      The grass is always greener, my dear... Love living here, but am soooo jealous of everyone living elsewhere :0)

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  11. Sam (Tiny Library)28 May 2013 at 21:21

    Thanks for stopping by my blog, I am a new follower of yours :)
    I am planning to try Virginia Woolf soon (Orlando), but I definitely find her intimidating.

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    1. a barmy bookworm28 May 2013 at 23:10

      Haven't had a happy experience with VW, but would be interested to hear what you think. Will be looking out for your review :0)

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  12. Jana29 May 2013 at 01:26

    Hello!! I LOVE France. :) I was just in Paris and Toulon last spring, and you have the most amazing bakeries. It's not nearly as fun eating pastries here in America anymore. Our blogging stories are quite similar, actually. I decided to open my solo blog in the middle of recovering from my tonsillectomy. It's amazing the ideas we come up with when we're bored! It's an unfortunate story that brought you to the blogging community, but I'm glad you're here and that you're enjoying it! I love it too. :) So nice to meet you!

    - Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl

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    1. a barmy bookworm29 May 2013 at 13:58

      Thanks, Jana! So pleased to be part of it all. Good things certainly can come out of adversity. As for the bakeries, they're good but v dangerous to the waistline. Constant temptation...!

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  13. Lee @ Rally the Readers29 May 2013 at 06:54

    I love that GRRM quote! Definitely one of my favorites from the books. I wish that I could chat with Jane Austen, even if it was just for a few minutes. So much genius in her novels.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  14. Ashley G.29 May 2013 at 07:39

    The quote you have at the top is a favorite of mine and so true! Readers get to live so many lives through books! Best of luck on your classics challenge! I would love to read more classics but I have found that it's hard for them to keep my attention!

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    1. a barmy bookworm29 May 2013 at 14:01

      The Classics Challenge is great because you really do get to read books you think will be a bore and delight to discover actually aren't at all! I can only encourage you in the right direction - my experience has only been good :0)

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  15. Anonymous29 May 2013 at 15:14

    I read Kundera decades ago in French, I guess when it was very fashionable to do so, lol, and I really loved it. please invite me for that dinner, lol!

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    1. a barmy bookworm29 May 2013 at 16:11

      After uni (many moons ago) I lived 2 metro stops from Kundera in Paris. I'd tell everyone who'd listen that he was "just up the road". I was reading all his books for the first time then, and hoped (and hoped) I'd bump into him while reading them. Needless to say it never happened... :0(

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  16. The Relentless Reader29 May 2013 at 15:22

    We're both book bloggers AND professional procrastinators, yay! ;) I've been blogging for just under a year. It's one of the best decisions I ever made.

    I hope you're enjoying the ABEA! Have a great week :)

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    1. a barmy bookworm29 May 2013 at 16:12

      Two of a kind, huh? Good to know I'm not the only one. If for that alone it was worth being part of this BEA!! :0)

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  17. Unknown29 May 2013 at 22:14

    How are you? :D

    Hooray for procrastination!haha
    I love George R.R Martin!the songs of ice and fire is definitely one of those series I'm glad I got into.I'd like to visit France some time and thanks for sharing those beautiful photos.

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    1. a barmy bookworm29 May 2013 at 22:20

      Hey there, Kim. Thanks for stopping by. Glad u liked the photos. I love photography, but sometimes fall short. Quite pleased with those though. And you really must get to France. It's an amazing country. Where are you at?

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  18. Christine30 May 2013 at 00:12

    Have you recovered from your accident? I made my blog when I was tired of boredom, as well. France?! My top 3 places to visit before I die. Do you live in the city or on the outskirts? I love the photos you took! You are reading a lot of the works/authors I had to read in high school. I was in the International Baccalaureate program, so there was a heavy influence of world-wide classic authors. I probably would've enjoyed them more if we didn't have to analyze every single sentence haha!

    Hope you have a great week and enjoy Armchair BEA!

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    1. a barmy bookworm30 May 2013 at 20:49

      The recovery continues, but I'm almost there. Thanks for asking. I'm in the suburbs of Strasbourg, not far from the city centre (it's not a big city). Very pretty. As for high school reading lists, one of my beefs is that some of the reading is way too heavy for youngsters, and instead of stimulating them to read, puts them off forever. I hated some of the books we did in school. But re-reading them now, I love them!

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  19. Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf30 May 2013 at 01:23

    I have a silly question... do they speak French and German in Strasbourg? I was just thinking, with it being so close to the border and all... ? :)

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    1. a barmy bookworm30 May 2013 at 20:52

      Not at all a silly question, Monika. The official language is French, but many people here speak Alsatian, which is an odd combination of the two, although more germanic. And lots of people here speak German too. It's bizarre being so close to the border. I do my shopping in Germany!!

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