A huge thank you to Brontë’s page turners for finding this blog interesting enough to nominate among so many great book blogs. Your blog is so beautifully written and the series of reviews for International Women’s Day was inspiring and left my TBR list bulging.
I love that these nominations allow us to let other bloggers know how enjoyable their posts are – there is something so exciting about stumbling across someone reading a book I adored or have only just put down – and the questions allow us to find out a little more about the person behind the screen; reading around, there have been some interesting questions and hilarious responses!
Book blogs seem to form the best bookclub in the world; one where you get to choose the books, read them at your own pace and discuss them with people whose opinions often resonate, reflect your own or encourage you to rethink – without the struggle of finding a mutually available Thursday or having to reread Middlemarch when you’d really rather not. The whole process of reading is much more enjoyable when it doesn’t end when the book is finished – so here’s cheers to everyone who has read and indulged me in my musings and to everyone who shares their love of books and their thoughts on them online.
RULES
1. Thank and link the blogger that nominated you.
2. Answer the 7 questions that the nomination has provided you.
3. Create 7 questions for your nominees.
4. Nominate 7 other bloggers.
QUESTIONS:
1. How many books are on your TBR list? Be honest now
It’s actually a whole bookcase. It used to be a TBR shelf, but then I was left unsupervised in a charity book shop and things got out of hand. This, combined with the new 20 book limit at our local library, means that I’m adding to the TBR list faster than I’m ticking them off. I’ve never compiled one long list as that makes it all feel a bit of a chore, and I love picking a book off the shelf based entirely on the cover or the name of the author and discovering a new favourite.
2. What is your greatest bibliophile skill (mine is walking and reading)?
Walking and reading is impressive – my complete lack of coordination and multitasking skills means I can’t walk and anything. I think my literary super power is always having reading material on hand, and being able to switch between reading 2 or 3 books simultaneously depending on which one is closest. There are ‘back up books’ in the car and every bag I own. I love finding books small enough to fit in the pockets of my walking coat so that you’re fully prepared when you encounter a bench with the perfect view. The habit of reading multiple books at a time probably comes from hiding books around the bathroom as a child so that I could sneak in and read past my bedtime – as they got found out and confiscated I just used to pick up another book and start over!
3. What is your finest bibliophile dream (mine is to have a house big enough to house all of my books adequately, rather than them being split between my flat and my parents’ home, but I suspect that that is unlikely in Cameron’s Britain)
I agree completely with this dream. Having all my books under one roof and stamped with some beautiful personalised book plate would be fantastic but would probably require floor to ceiling and wall to wall bookcases. I’d also be forever reorganising them as I tend to file them by vague categories and impressions rather than anything as logical as the alphabet. Some friends have colour-coordinated their books which looks fantastic but I feel like I would never be able to find anything and would probably be reluctant to remove anything from the shelf incase it messed up the asthetics.
4. What is your worst bibliophile nightmare (mine is someone giving my books away and I find them in my local charity shop and no one will listen to my woe)
That sounds very much like the dilemma of whether to lend a favourite book or not, which I find pretty nightmarish. There is something so special about being recommended a book that someone loved and being granted loan of their well thumbed copy that it would be a shame to never share, but there is always the fear of it being damaged or lost – whether you are the lender or borrower. I’ve lost a few gems that way but hope they were enjoyed on their way into the void. I’d like to think I’m not very materielistic but a lot of my books hold more than just ink and tea stains; they are full of the memories of where I read them and how the words and new worlds made me feel.
5. If you could thank one person for turning you on to the joys of reading, who would it be?
Having devoured books from a small age, I think my parents did a fantastic job of presenting reading as a real treat. We had the most beautiful children’s books and there were always adults willing to read with you. In terms of authors, Tamora Pierce created fascinating worlds to go hide in and such strong-willed and liberated female characters that I feel influenced me more than I ever realised.
6. If your partner is a fellow bibliophile, do you merge book collections i.e. get rid of duplicate copies of books you both have? Or is this too much to expect, even in a long-term relationship? Am I worrying about this too much?!!
I grew up in a house with 3 copies of 1984 and about 2 and a half complete series of Jane Austen (which, on reflection, might all have belonged to my mother) so I don’t really see multiple copies as a burden. As I said before, my books are often mixed up with my memories and to whittle them down would feel like I was losing a bit of my identity, which is never a good sign in any relationship.
7. Paste and copy a picture of the most beautiful book you own.
This is a great question! yet frustrating as most of my books are in storage at present. This is probably the least glamorous shot ever taken of ‘Falling cloudberries’ but I took it when saying goodbye (commonly known as packing). This recipe book was bought from the village bookshop with vouchers I won from a literature prize at school over a decade ago. It was the first cookbook I bought, well before I had my own kitchen, and I remember turning the pages in awe. Tessa Kiros has such an international background and her range of recipes reflect this rich family history; from the little backstories to the serene photography, this book is beautiful inside and out.
My Questions for you:
1. Where is your favourite book nook? This can be a regular haunt or that one time you managed to get in a hammock without immediately falling out the other side.
2. Are there any books that are a secret love? Perhaps something trashy, cheesy or just a little weird. Essentially, any favourites you wouldn’t want to be seen reading?
3. Any books you love to hate? or, controversially, anything that made you put a book down before the end?
4. How do you organise your bookshelves?
5. Where do you stand on the great kindle question?
6. What is the most interesting thing you have found in a book? I’m thinking more of inscriptions and postcards rather than religion or a higher calling but feel free to interpret this as you wish!
7. Do you ever judge a book by its cover? and have you ever been suprised?
(Bonus points if you include a photo of a book with a particularly eyecatching spine)
The Select Seven
Picking only seven from the wealth of great writing on good reading was tricky, but a wonderful exuse to spend time revisiting favourite posts. These blogs are entertaining, inspiring and worth checking out. Nominating:
Muggins Here 
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