Today please welcome Joy Weese Moll,
who blogs at Joy's Book Blog.
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You will not believe how hard I worked to come up with a name for my blog. Multiple brainstorming lists, requests for input from as many people as I could get to help, and checks to see that the names weren’t already being used. Of course, the best ones were being used and I got conflicting advice from my peeps about the best names from my brainstorm. So, in the end, I decided to go with what I thought search engines might like, the oh-so-basic “Joy’s Book Blog.”
How long have you been blogging?
My book blog just turned 3. Before that, I had a library blog for a few years starting in 2005.
Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
As a librarian, I follow the tenets of librarianship including “Every book its reader” and “Every reader his or her book” (See The 5 Laws of Library Science). Rather than rate books that I review, I think about the appeal of the book for different types of readers.
What genres do you write about most, and why?
Nonfiction. I read more novels, but I don’t always have that much to say about them, so I often cover them in a Sunday Salon or Monday reading post. With nonfiction, I enjoy pulling out things that may make a difference in how I approach life or the world.
What's your earliest memory of reading?
I found a photo of myself “reading” as a toddler. According to my mother, I came home from school one day early in first grade and said, “Mother, you said I would love learning to read and I really, really, do!”
What was the first book you read over and over, or the book you've reread the most?
Going on Sixteen by Betty Cavanna. For several years running, it was the book I checked out of the library on the first day of school because it eased the transition from summer to school year for me.
Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
I’m a librarian. Need I say more?
What's your favorite place to read?
Bathtub
Do you have any reading accessories you can't do without?
I may have the world’s largest collection of bookmarks.
Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...
…at the library. Isn’t it nice of them to store all my books for me?
My TBR pile is...
…all over the house.
What's a book that's changed your life?
The End of Overeating by David A. Kessler started me on a successful journey to read 70 healthy lifestyle books and lose 70 pounds.
One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?
I like books by authors like Mary Jo Putney and Sharon Shinn where I can really sink into the world of the story and stay there for a long time. Other readers describe these as “slow.”
To DNF or not to DNF?
I follow the 50-page rule by Nancy Pearl, the librarian’s librarian, because there are too many books and not enough time. Now that I’m over 50, I’m also following her corollary to subtract a year (because there are too many books and even less time). So, this year at age 51, I only have to read 49 pages before I decide if I’ll finish a book. When I’m one hundred years old, I will have earned the right to judge a book by its cover!
What's one book that intimidates you?
All those long Russian novels, even though I suspect I would like them.
If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
London. I hope, this fall.
How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
Gardening, cooking, traveling, photography, exercising
What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?
Right now, I'm loving the series that is a modern adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories: Sherlock. London, itself, is practically a character.
What are 3 of your must-read blogs?
The Steadfast Reader
Estella's Revenge
Girlxoxo.com
What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)
The Eclectic Reader
You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors. (Yep! That describes me well!)
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Thank you for joining us today, Joy!
Remember to check out Joy's blog, Joy's Book Blog,
and leave a comment or question.
London is my favorite place in the world... they're doing a short run of a stage play of Orwell's 1984, I may need you to see that and report back to me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm still kicking around the idea of going back to school for that MLS, one day I'm going to email you and pick your brain about it.
Also delighted (and honored) I made your must read blogs list. :)
I loved library school -- more than working in libraries, as it turns out....
DeleteJoy's Book Blog
Thanks for stopping by today for a little interview!
ReplyDeleteI am a huge Sherlock fan, especially after reading my first Doyle work a few months ago. BBC does a fabulous job of staying true to Doyle's work.
I love that you included a picture of you reading as a child. That is awesome!!
Thanks, Tif! This was fun -- great questions!
DeleteJoy's Book Blog
Awesome interview.
ReplyDeleteAs I turn 50 this year, I think I will adopt that strategy of how many pages to read before I determine if I should finish the book or not. When I purchase the book, I sometimes feel compelled to finish it, even if it is painful.
Your favorite place to read is my favorite place to read - accompanied by something cool to drink because I like the tub steamy hot, and something to eat because I will be there until I turn into a prune.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your book blogging self!
The 50-page rule works well for me -- time is such a scarce asset!
DeleteLove this interview! Such a cute picture of you reading as a little girl. Would love to see your bookmark collection!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Many of them are homemade -- including my newest by Antona's daughters!
DeleteJoy's Book Blog is one of my must-read-blogs and it is awesome to see her profiled here. I agree that "at the library" is the best place to store all your books.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary! My favorite part about using the library for my book collection is that they keep it so well organized.
ReplyDeleteI loved learning more about you and your blog, Joy! This made me LOL with joy (ha!): “Mother, you said I would love learning to read and I really, really, do!”
ReplyDeleteThank you for including me in your must-read list!
When I was a little older, of course, she often described me (with exasperation) as always having my nose in a book!
DeleteThose three blogs are all good ones...as I read them regularly too.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo...
I work as a library assistant and I'm with you on the no writing in books too. I don't think I've ever written in a book, not even in college.
I like the 50-page rule too. I've wasted far too much on books I "shouldn't have" read to begin with.
Thanks! Writing in books seems to be a big dividing line among readers. Besides the obvious defacement problem, I would likely never see those notes again. I'm much more in the habit of getting my notes into a computer somewhere so I can search for them.
DeleteGreat interview! I also love non-fiction, Sherlock, and the library. I hope you are able to make it London this fall and have a ton of fun visiting literary places :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm having such fun planning this trip. I'm starting to feel quite comfortable with the map of central London now.
DeleteHi Joy :D I adore that photo of you, how cute!!
ReplyDeleteI love the Nancy Pearl rules for knowing when to give up on a book. There are many books and many less minutes. There's no time to be wasted!
I love the photo! Adorable! Great interview!
ReplyDelete