What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?
The URL (green mushroom) comes from the green mushroom on Mario that gives you extra lives, just like books do the same. The title of the blog itself, A Girl that Likes Books seemed like a perfect description of who I am, a person that really likes to read and share her thoughts about her reading
How long have you been blogging?
I posted my first post on June of 2011, but is was only in September of the same year that I started reviewing and posting regularly, so I guess we can say almost 3 years now.
Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
I am still working on making it unique, it is not easy with so many amazing blogs out there! But I do try to always have constructive critiques/reviews as much as possible, and recently I started working on a weekly item: This week in the news, where I try to talk about book related topics that I didn't already heard about on the blogs I follow and this includes news from Canada where I live and Colombia, my country of origin.
What genres do you write about most, and why?
I know I gravitate mostly around fantasy, because it takes me quite away from my "work" reading which are mostly scientific articles. But since I joined the Sword and Laser bookclub I've been more in contact with SciFi and I've made myself a challenge to read all the Alfaguara award winners, a prize for Hispanic literature since I didn't want to loose the habit of reading in Spanish.
Every blogger feels pressure at some point. What's something you feel pressured to do or not do on your blog? How do you deal with it?
I think the biggest pressure I've felt is how to make my reviews original because you don't want it to sound like a book report but you also want to make it attractive to your readers. What I decided to do was to write it as I would talk to with my friends and get the feeling that it has made the reviews more fluid and even more approachable. At least I sure hope so!
What's one book you think everyone should read?
Oh I would say Momo by Michael Ende. Most people know him for The Never-ending Story, which is also a great book, but Momo was possibly one of my favorite books as a child and when I re read it as an adult all the magic was still there. I think a recurring theme in these 2 books is not letting go of your child wonder and the power of imagination. I think is beautiful!
Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
I personally can't. I even did a post on that ^-^. One reason being that I use the library a lot, and so you can't really do that to books that are not your, right? Then in the books I own, I like to keep sentences or moments that I liked marked with sticky notes but I can't get myself to write on them.
http://greenmushroom1up.blogspot.com/2014/07/book-notes.html
What's your favorite place to read or blog?
During summer I really like a rocking chair I have on our terrace, but living in Canada, reading outside is not a year-long option sadly. I have 2 favorite spots around the house: 1. a papasan in our living room, that sometimes I have to compete with my cat for; 2. a red chair that is in our office. If you want, you can see both on my reviews, I usually have a picture taken on where I've been reading each book.
Is Amazon.com the evil empire? Discuss.
That's a hard question, particularly with the recent Hachette situation. I think they have a business model that obviously work for them. they have cheap prices, and they have the convenience of getting stuff delivered to your door. That said, they offer this to any product, not just books, and to all of the sudden take the speech of "oh we are here for the readers"...no, if you were you wouldn't block readers that might only have you as an option to get a book they are dying to read. You are there FOR YOU, is it evil? is it selfish? As most big corporations, it is. Right now, with the famous (infamous actually) letter they send out they are looking more ridiculous and greedy than evil. But hey, that's just my opinion.
Book shelfie time! Take a "shelfie" of your bookshelves and share it with us.
What have you learned from other bloggers or your readers?
I've learned that the best way to tackle a post is with full honesty. The community of bloggers and readers is so supportive that I don't feel bad saying: you know? I didn't like this books because X, Y and Z. We might disagree sometimes, but is has always been with the best of attitudes, and is such a nice thing to feel like comments and reviews are being fully honest :)
I've also learned that you should do your best to answer ALL comments, if they are reaching you should do the same. Sure, sometimes you loose track when you have a big day, but do your best to always answer.
Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?
None; while I am attracted to covers, it will be most of the time the synopsis that will convince me of giving it a try and as for their lover, since I strongly believe that a book is completely different to each person I can't judge the book by who liked it or who didn't.
One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?
The Book Girl (http://www.thebookgirlreads.com/) once reviewed and giveaway a copy of Jersey Angel. Her review made it seem like a very nice YA, non fantasy book. I was lucky enough to win a copy...and I was struck by how much I disliked the book. I can't even...
To DNF or not to DNF?
Most of the time I always finish my books, particularly library ones. I feel really bad when I DNF a book, but hey! sometimes we just don't click me and the book and I see no point on making us both miserable.
What's one book that intimidates you?
Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett. My bf read it but it took it over a year, is so dense! He said it was a very good book, but I look at them and I feel like I won't be able to read it.
If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
There is a lot that I want to see in the UK since a lot of books that I have loved have taken place there. Then there is Sweden due to all the noir novellas I've read recently that I loved!
How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
I cook, mostly bake. I was playing a lot of WoW too with the bf, but he is finishing his thesis now, so I am waiting for him to be done to start playing again.
What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?
LOTR, the movie version by Peter Jackson for favorite.
For least-favorite...I have to say that while visually I quite enjoy it, I have to go with The Hobbit by Peter Jackson...it just went so over the place with CGI and 3 movies...Sigh!
What are 3 favorite posts or reviews you've read by other book bloggers?
Why I’m Not Reviewing Self-Published Books at River City Reading
Personally: Amazing What a Haircut Can Do at Estella's Revenge
Grown-Ups and YA at Books Without any Pictures
What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)
The Involved Eclectic
Thank you for joining us today, Carolina!
Remember to check out Carolina's blog, A Girl That Likes Books, and leave a comment or question.
Thanks for stopping by for an interview!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments! I try to reply to all my comments on the blog, though sometimes it may take me a few days to do so. They had the courtesy to write a comment, I can do the same for them ... and sometimes more by swinging by their blog to do the same!
Oh it was my pleasure, I had a lot of fun answering the questions
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