International Events in the Blogosphere

International Book Blogger Mentor Program
at Presenting Lenore
It can be tough to keep up with the book blogging community when you don’t live in the US or Canada. Publishers won’t send you books, most contests aren’t for you, and it can be next to impossible to find certain titles in your home country. Lenore would like to continue supporting international book bloggers and has decided to start the International Book Blogger Mentor Program. Any book blogger who blogs in English about books and lives outside the US and Canada can apply. Each month Lenore will pick one blogger to send 2-3 of my most recent review copies to. Upon request, she will also look over the reviews you write for the books and suggest improvements. Once you post your first review, you and your blog will be featured on Presenting Lenore.

Book Bloggers Abroad
at Leeswammes's Blog
An international event in the same vein as Book Blogging Around the World : What’s it like to be a book blogger in a far away country? Do you have access to the books you want to read? Do you have electricity failure or internet disruptions? Do you have limited time for blogging because you’re working full-time? Or do you have a housekeeper and plenty of free time? And where do you read? Is it warm enough to sit in the garden under a tree, or is it much too warm or cold for that? Where’s your favorite book store? What’s your favorite national author? Each week, Leeswammes is going to ask one guest blogger to answer these questions. It’s a great way to tell us about yourself, your country, and to get new people find their way to your blog.

The Book Read 'Round The World
at A Little Bookish
Carin sends a book around the world and have people report back to it by doing guest posts on her blog (and post on their blog about the experience as well).

Packabook
at Packabook
At packabook we believe travel is enriched by reading great novels set in the places you are visiting. We invite you to explore this site to find books that give you extra insight into your destination, allowing you to experience the stories and history of any place through its fiction. And even if you're not traveling anywhere, we can all dream! Take this opportunity to immerse yourself in some wonderful travel novels and imagine that you are exploring the backstreets of Barcelona, or breathing in the tropical air of Peru...

Book Blogging Around The World (21) : Terengganu, Malaysia

Name : Darlyn

Blog : dArLyN & bOoKs

City / Country : Terengganu, Malaysia

Welcome Darlyn!

Tell us a little bit about you.

Hi. My name is Darlyn and it’s not my real name. It’s just the abbreviation of my full name because it is so long. I’m 24 years old and currently I’m doing my Master’s Degree in Aquatic Biology (Plant Ecology and Diversity) in a local university in Malaysia. And I love books!

Tell us a little bit about your blog.
My blog is where I review books I’ve read. It started quite recently in December 2009.I read a lot of different types of genre, YA, contemporary fiction, paranormal, thriller, mystery and anything I could think and grab my hands on. I’m not really selective only that I try to be honest with my review, pointing out any pros and cons in each books. I participate in a few memes and giveaways too just to try my luck. I meet a lot of book bloggers online and I feel excited to know them and also share opinions, recommendations of good books.. =0.

Have you ever lived anywhere else in the world?

Apparently no. But I wish I could live in Rome.

At Lata Kijang Waterfall, Perak

What countries have you visited?

Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, China, Thailand.

What countries would you like to visit?

UK, US, Egypt, Denmark, Rome and France.

According to you, what are the positive and negative aspects of being a book blogger in Malaysia?
Negative = There’s not so many bookish bloggers in Malaysia. I could name a few even though I browsed so many times searching for them so that at least we could share something similar. But almost most of them read more Malay fictions than English. So that’s a bit hard to do book swaps, sharing or recommendations. Other than that, it’s a bit disappointing when I can’t participate in most giveaways/contest which requires US or Canada address. *LOL*. But I’m grateful because there’s also lots of book bloggers that considers their international follower like me =)
Positve = This is hard. Very. That’s why I gave the negative first. Maybe the positive aspect of being a book blogger is that lots of my Malaysian’s friend asks my opinions/ recommendations of which English book is good to buy/read. It seems that book blog is not a trend in Malaysia, yet. I hope in future there will be more.

Tasik Puteri/ Princess Lake, Terengganu (5 min from my house)

What Malaysian authors and books would you recommend?

Ramlee Awang Murshid! I love all his books. But of course they’re written in Malay Language. There is one of his novels translated in English recently entitled Personal Justice or Aku Darah Anak Malaysia (A.D.A.M). The book is the best ever and I really really like all his other books.

How many languages do you speak?

Malay, English, Arabic and a bit of Japanese.

Do you read more in English or in Malay?
Haha. Now I feel bad to my own country. I read more English than Malay =)

Where do you usually buy your books?

At MPH or POPULAR Bookstore. However, there are a lot of used books at my local area or even online trough Mudah.com. I’ve never buy for BookDepository or Amazon.com. Not really familiar/compatible with me I guess.

Similajau National Park, Sarawak

Is getting your hands on foreign books tricky or easy (not mentioning online stores)?

I don’t think it’s hard. But sometimes it is if I am craving for new release books because we have to wait for quite some time like a few weeks or maybe months later after the actual worldwide book release.

Every country has its clichés. What cliché about Malaysia do you consider disproportionate?
Wow, this is hard because I always love Malaysia. We have multi-races citizens like Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibanese, Kadazans and the list could go on. But the one and only thing that I think I would be really annoyed is the political propaganda of a few politician parties that hate the idea of coexisting together (that maybe my own point of views). I don’t know which if either the government or the opposition parties is right. What I know for sure, some people are taking advantages of this and projected a lot of speculations which creates prejudices. Really hate that.

A view from Kota Kinabalu Waterfront, Sabah

I’ve read a lot about Malaysia’s extraordinary flora and fauna. Do you feel close to nature or are you more of a city girl?
I am both. But maybe I’m closer to nature. There’s so many beautiful and unique species of floras and faunas in Malaysia. Terengganu is popular with a few species of turtles and islands. Since I’m studying and doing my research in Sarawak which is located in Borneo, it’s even more mesmerising! In fact, Borneo is known as endemic species reservoir. We have orang utan, tapir, hornbills, Rafflesia (the biggest flower in the world). We have so many National Parks and gazetted as Malaysian heritages. I’m a taxonomist in the making, so I’m a little excited and overwhelmed to talk on this. Sorry =)

Quick Q&A :
Favorite thing about Malaysia : Multiple races
Least favorite thing about Malaysia : Hot
Favorite typically Malaysian food : Satay
Favorite place in Terengganu : Princess Lake
Favorite bookshop: MPH
Favorite Malaysian author: Ramlee Awang Mursyid
Favorite Malaysian singer/band: BUNKFACE
Favorite book to read while travelling: Anything that my hand can grab.
Plane or train: Both
Boat or bus: : Either
Bike or feet: Bike
Traditions are cultures.
I love the beach.

Thank you Darlyn! It was a pleasure having you up on the hill!

Next week we'll be traveling to Sweden!

 
If you'd like to be featured, this post is for you.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2010

This year's Book Blogger Appreciation Week has been announced!
I created The Book on the Hill on september 2009. BBAW had just ended, and at the time I felt like I had missed a huge celebration. So I'm quite excited right now.

Book Blogger Appreciation was started by Amy Riley of My Friend Amy in an effort to recognize the hard work and contribution of book bloggers to the promotion and preservation of a literate culture actively engaged in discussing books, authors, and a lifestyle of reading. The first Book Blogger Appreciation was observed in the fall of 2008 and occurs every September. The week spotlights and celebrates the work of active book bloggers through guest posts, awards, giveaways, and community activities. Book Bloggers are encouraged to register their participation for inclusion in a database of book bloggers.

This year, the nomination process has changed: bloggers are to self-register instead of being nominated by others. Each blogger has to provide 5 posts in order to be considered for an award (you can register for a Niche and a Featured Category). After much thinking, I decided to register The Book on the Hill.

I am registering my blog in the niche Best Eclectic Book Blog.
Here are the five posts for consideration.

Review: The Vampire is Just Not That Into You - Vlad Mezrich
Review: The Great Death - John Smelcer
Review: The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Post: And Then She Finished The Twilight Saga...
Post: Punctuation Epiphany

I am also registering for the Featured Category Best New Book Blog.
Here are the five posts for consideration.

Review: The Vampire is Just Not That Into You - Vlad Mezrich
Review: The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Interview: Interview With The Illustrator
Post: French Friday (20)
Post: Book Blogging Around The World (8) : The Netherlands

The Petrifying Problem With Princess Petronella (by L.M. Moriarty)

THE PETRIFYING PROBLEM WITH PRINCESS PETRONELLA

by L.M. Moriarty

Release date : January 2009

The Space Brigade and the Petrifying Problem with Princess Petronella is a fun and fantastic inter-galactic adventure... Nicola Berry loves eating All Day Lasagne, is great at writing stories, uses the word 'preposterous' frequently, and longs to escape Mrs Pumpkin's incredibly boring Geography lesson. When Georgio Gorgiosko from Planet Globagaskar visits her class, Nicola gets the opportunity... The King and Queen of Planet Globagaskar have gone on holiday and left their spoilt daughter, Princess Petronella in charge. The sulky princess wants to turn earth into a rubbish dump. Georgio Gorgiosko must find an Earthling Ambassador to convince the princess otherwise and save earth. Nicola is up for the challenge, but what can she do to change the princess's mind? Even with a new outfit from the wardrobewhizonic ladies, it's going to be impossible to do on her own. She'll need the help of her friends in the Space Brigade. Be whisked away to Planet Globagaskar, where there's freeze grenades to freeze someone for ten minutes, a telepathy chef where you can think of something you'd like to eat and it will appear in front of you, and you can go swimming in the clouds. (taken from Egmont)

MY THOUGHTS : Fun and exciting! The world in which we're thrown in makes our imagination work all the time. The events are cleverly linked together, and I really wanted to learn more about these magical planets. Children can easily find themselves in the heroine, who is completely human (with her qualities and mistakes) and with her very 'Earthling' way of thinking. The relationship between  the Earthlings and the Globagaskarians is interesting and often brings the story to themes that we face every day (political relations between countries, environmental protection). The writing is really accessible to children.

The whole book is fun and, although the ending is predictable, the twists are surprising. I think the title is awesome too, even if long! The construction is quite usual but the atmosphere is unique. I adored the scene in which they jump in the clouds, such a dreamy thing! A very colorful story, well described, just enough to leave room for dreams. A morality based on friendship, respect and confidence. I really wanted to discover more of Nicola's adventures!

French Friday (30)

Hello everyone, and welcome to this 30th French Friday!

French covers, anyone? :)

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
French title : Le Ciel est Partout (which means the same thing)

Feather Boy by Nicky Singer
French title : Poids Plume (Featherweight)

Mirror Dreams by Catherine Webb

French title : La Guerre des Rêves (The Dream War) 

My favorites:

I'd say the original ones of The Sky is Everywhere and Feather Boy, and the French one of Mirror Dreams...

What do you think?

Mansfield Park Murder Mystery

Mansfield Park Murder Mystery

virtual dinner party

hosted by Edmund Bertram

June 24-27, 2010

A wonderful event hosted by Velvet at vvb32reads.
What are you waiting for? :)

I also have a few guest posts sheduled :
Lady Charlotte
Mansfield Pak Menu
...

Enjoy!

Book Blogging Around The World (20) : Essex, England

Name : Carolyn

Blog : Book Chick City

City / Country : Essex, England, UK

Welcome Carolyn!

Tell us a little bit about you.

Well, I'm a Brit chick and I live in Essex with my hubby. I'm totally obsessed with books; I love reading them, buying them and collecting them. Book Chick City is my outlet for my unhealthy book addiction.
I also love to go to the gym, cycle, run, play golf, hike, (especially in the gorgeous Lake District) and generally having a good time with my friends and hubby. As well as reading I also love watching movies, mainly horror and big blockbuster disaster flicks but I'm also a sucker for a good rom-com as well.

Tell us a little bit about your blog.
Book Chick City is mainly a review blog focusing on ‘Speculative Fiction’ (horror, urban fantasy etc), ‘Mystery’, and now ‘Romance’, a new addition to the blog. I didn’t read ‘Romance’ AT ALL, but now I can’t stop! LOL. You can read about my discovery of the ‘Romance’ genre in a post I wrote: Genre Misconceptions: Have you ever been wrong? I also have author interviews and guest posts from time to time, as well as regular features such as 'Where Stories Are Made', 'Cover Crush', 'On My Wishlist', 'The Blogger's Bookshelf' and 'Books We Love' among others.

Have you ever lived anywhere else in the world?

Nope. I was born and raised in Essex. Although there have been times when a move to the US has been on the cards, but it's never come to anything... yet.

What countries have you visited?

I've visited quite a few places over the years: France (Paris, Chamonix), USA (New York, Florida, Las Vegas, San Francisco), Thailand, Kauai (Hawaiian Islands), Austria, Belgium, Sicily, Italy (Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Molveno), Bermuda, St Lucia (Caribbean) and Wales.

What countries would you like to visit?

Oh wow. There are so many places I want to visit. I *love* America, it's one of my favourite places, everyone is just so nice, so I would love to visit a few more states there. I'd also love to visit China for the culture and the Great Wall, as well as the glorious mountains and amazing views. The Maldives for the gorgeous beaches, crystal clear waters and warm, sunny days - you don't get many of those in England *sigh*

At a local book signing event with horror writer Conrad Williams


According to you, what are the positive and negative aspects of being a book blogger in England?
I don't really see any negatives or positives being an English book blogger. I just love what I do. Being on the internet means I can chat to anyone at anytime, so I don't really feel there's a divide between bloggers and that's what makes it so amazing and diverse.
With regards to books, I have a few contacts in the states so getting certain books isn't really a problem. And to be honest if I see a book I really want I'm happy to wait for it to be released in the UK and if it's not released here then I just head on over to the Book Depository ;)

What English authors and books would you recommend?

There are many English authors that I love: For classics it's obviously the Bronte sisters - Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights are two of my favourite books. Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte is fantastic as well, just not as well known. Also Jane Austen, along with Charles Dickens *loved* Great Expectations. Another book that is one of my favourite books of all time is Dracula by Bram Stoker, so he has to be on the list.

Horror writers:  James Herbert and Brian Lumley, Paul Magrs who writes the fantastic Brenda & Effie paranormal mystery series, chick-lit author Sophie Kinsella for her Shopaholic series. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill, which is a really creepy ghost story and it's just so good, she's a fantastic writer. Malorie Blackman for the amazing Noughts & Crosses series (If you haven't read this series then do, it's a *must* read) and of course the adorable Agatha Christie. I could go on and on...

 How many languages do you speak?

Sadly I only speak English, but I did study German for a year while I was training to be a classical singer, as I sang in German a lot. Then I moved and didn't find another tutor. I would love to take it up again as I really enjoyed it. Probably forgotten it all now though LOL

Where do you usually buy your books?

Usually via Amazon UK and Waterstones, but to be honest I will buy from anywhere I can get my hands on books! I love buying new books, but I also buy second hand and I have a great little charity shop in my village, it's mainly older books but I can still pick up some real bargains.

Is getting your hands on foreign books tricky or easy (not mentioning online stores)?

If I have a definite title in mind then yes, it can be difficult. But if I'm just browsing then I do find a few Urban Fantasy, PNR and Sci-Fi titles in our bookstores, but I do have to look hard.

Every country has its clichés. What cliché about England do you consider disproportionate?
Well, I will mention the clichés from my part of England, which is Essex. Essex girls have had a bad rap since the eighties and have been called many, not so nice, things. But I would like to put the record straight and say that not all Essex girls wear white stilettos, dance around their handbag, wear fake tan or have peroxide blonde hair... although I am blonde.. ahem ;)

running for a local charity in a 10k race

I read that St Peters’ Chapel in Essex is the oldest church in all England (built in 654) : do you feel close to your country’s history ?
Absolutely. I love the fact that England, and the UK as a whole, is rich in history. In fact a town called Colchester in north Essex is one of the oldest towns ever recorded, which is pretty cool. Wherever you go in the UK you will find historical buildings and ancient artifacts. I'm very proud of our culture and history. And I love our Royal Family!

Quick Q&A :
Favorite thing about England : Countryside
Least favorite thing about England : Cold
Favorite typically English food : Roast
Favorite place in Essex : Dedham
Favorite bookshop: Waterstones
Favorite English author: Bronte's (can't choose one!)
Favorite English singer/band: Emma Kirkby
Favorite book to read while travelling: Cosy Mystery
Plane or train: Train
Boat or bus: : Bus
Bike or feet: Feet
I heart scones.
I’d rather eat chocolate than makeout with Colin Firth.

Thank you Carolyn! It was a pleasure having you up on the hill!

Next week we'll be traveling to Malaysia!

 
If you'd like to be featured, this post is for you.

French Friday (29)

Hello everyone, and welcome to this week's French Friday!

How about a little round of French covers? ;)

11 o' clock Chocolate Cake by Caroline Pitcher
French title : Le Gâteau au Chocolat de 11 heures du soir (means the same thing)

The Loser's Guide to Life and Love by A.E. Cannon
French title : L'Amour pour les Héros (Love for Heroes)

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

French title : Avalon High

My favorites?

I'd say the French ones of 11 o' clock Chocolate Cake and Avalon High,
and the original one of The Loser's Guide to Life and Love...

What do you think?

Book Blogging Around The World (19) : Copenhagen, Denmark

Name : Louise

Blog : Lous_Pages

City / Country : Copenhagen, Denmark

Welcome Louise!

Tell us a little bit about you.

I am an Egyptologist, and used to work in a museum in Copenhagen in their Egyptian Dept. (The museum is called New Carlsberg Glyptotek). About a year and a half ago I stopped working at the museum and now work with editing, marketing, writing and copy writing in the tourism-business. I read many different genres such as mysteries, thrillers, contemporary fiction and YA. Due to my work I get to travel a fair bit, at least in periods, and I enjoy that a lot.

Tell us a little bit about your blog.
I began blogging in 2006, setting up two completely identical blogs, one in Danish and one in English. For a while I posted the exact same things on both of them at the same time (in different languages), but I never got around to comment on any other blogs, only a few in Danish. For a while I skipped my English blog completely, until Autumn 2008, where I had grown seriously tired with Danish book bloggers. They never replied to comments and were just plain lazy I thought. So I began blogging more in English and became more involved in the English speaking book blogging community, and have continued to blog mostly in English. I haven’t given up on my Danish blog at all, and blog there regularly, plus I’ve met a handful of fabulous Danish book bloggers who I enjoy visiting. My blog(s) consist mainly of reviews of the books I’ve read, but sometimes I participate in memes, read-a-thons and other happenings which are not review-related. I try to keep both blogs as book and literature related as possible.

Have you ever lived anywhere else in the world?

Yes. I have lived in Washington DC and in Cairo, Egypt.

What countries have you visited?

A few. :) Let’s see: Sweden, Finland, Germany, Belgium, England, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and USA.

What countries would you like to visit?

I always go back to Egypt and USA. I’ve been to Egypt close to 30 times in 15 years, and to USA 5 times (including the time I lived there), but I still feel that I am far from finished with those two places. :) I would, however, also like to go to Australia, Canada, Micronesia, Ireland and many other places. I love travelling.

According to you, what are the positive and negative aspects of being a book blogger in Denmark?
Well, I always think it is positive to talk/write about books and literature, but book blogging is not overly big in Denmark yet. There are some very good Danish book blogs out there, but there are many more food blogs, political/current events or general diary-style blogs. A negative thing is that we are so few and that we are not that good at visiting each other to get that community feeling going.

What Danish authors and books would you recommend?

The Fishermen by Hans Kirk, which is a piece of social realism written around 1930. An outstanding classic in Danish literature. There is also, of course HC Andersen’s fairy tales or the philosophical writings of Soeren Kierkegaard, but I was never a big fan of HC Andersen and I haven’t really read Kierkegaard.

How many languages do you speak?

Danish and English and a fair bit of German and a little bit of French. I understand both Swedish and Norwegian.

In which language do you read the most ?

Definitely in English.

Where do you usually buy your books?

Online.

Is getting your hands on foreign books tricky or easy (not mentioning online stores)?

It’s relatively easy. I live in Denmark’s capital city, and we have some large book stores carrying a lot of the new titles, also in English. The thing is, though, that we have a special tax in Denmark, making store bought books kinda expensive, also paperbacks.

Every country has its clichés. What cliché about Denmark do you consider disproportionate?
That all Danish girls are blond and willing.

I read that the national flag of Denmark, the Dannebrog, is the oldest country flag in the world still in use. If you could choose a new flag for your country, what would it look like ?
I can’t imagine the Danish flag looking like anything else. :)

Quick Q&A :
Favorite thing about Denmark : Long and bright summer nights and the smell of them. Absolute freedom of speech.
Least favorite thing about Denmark : That extreme right wing politics grows stronger every day. Misuse of our absolute freedom of speech. Dark winters with such short days it sometimes feels like it was never really daytime at all.Favorite typically Danish food : Fried meatballs with potatoes and gravy
Favorite place in Copenhagen : New Carlsberg Glyptotek
Favorite bookshop: Politikens Boghal
Favorite Danish author: Hans Kirk
Favorite Danish singer/band: Nephew (band)
Favorite book to read while travelling: Nothing too heavy (both weight-wise and content-wise)
Plane or train: Plane
Boat or bus: : Boat
Bike or feet: Bike
The Little Mermaid is completely overrated and also, the original story about her (written by HC Andersen) is nothing at all like the Disney version.
Nature is not that abundant in Copenhagen, but I grew up on the country side and have gotten enough nature to last a life time.

Thank you Louise! It was a pleasure having you up on the hill!

Next week we'll be traveling to England!

 
If you'd like to be featured, this post is for you.

The Last Words of Will Wolfkin (by Steven Knight)

THE LAST WORDS OF WILL WOLFKIN
by Steven Knight
Release date : May 2010

 It's funny. If you're born a certain way, you don't really understand how it is to be any other way.So it has been for Toby Walsgrove—paralyzed since birth, unable to move or talk, with no known family, he has spent his entire life at a Carmelite convent in London. That is, until the day that his cat, Shipley, starts talking to him. Shipley has been watching over Toby his whole life and tells him they must go to Langjoskull, a city of exiles buried deep below the surface of Iceland. Because Toby is no ordinary boy—he's a descendant of the great king Will Wolfkin, and his kingdom needs him. Toby has never wielded a sword that can stop time. He has never shifted into his kin creature. He has never even walked on his own two legs before. Ready or not, though, he has a destiny, a responsibility, even a family—and not all of them are happy to meet him...

MY THOUGHTS : The beginning was kind of slow and a bit unrealistic for my taste : Toby can suddenly use his body and his voice after a lifetime of immobility and mutism, and I thought he ajusted to the change very quickly... Also, the boat trip to Iceland lacked desciptions and clarity. But from the moment when Toby enters Langjoskull, the plot grows and you find yourself sucked into a story that is both fantastic, committed, colorful and quite imaginative. The following scenes go from thrilling to, well, a bit less thrilling, perhaps because of a slight balance problem, but they managed to maintain my attention.

The characters are endearing (even if Emma 'bumps her fists' a little too often!). The themes (mainly the absurdity of war and the power of the mind) are subtly and cleverly handled. I found the dialogues sometimes too 'dramatic', but it's an intermittent thing. The atmosphere and the fantasy elements are not very original, but I really enjoyed it anyway. One scene in particular works extremely well (and oddly it's one of the most realistic one) in which Emma and Toby find themselves in a field of landmines, and where the suspense is amazing.

The ending is unexpected, I was really surprised. I won't give away any spoilers, but I can say that it gives a higher and thought provoking dimension to a story that could have been that of any fantasy book.

I haven't see this book around the blogosphere, I really recommend it. It's a touching and fast-paced story that deserves to be read. :)

French Friday (28)

Welcome to this week's French Friday!

The three last French Fridays were quite exciting: I was thrilled to have my friend Laure on my blog for a special series of interviews concerning her different jobs in the publishing world (if you missed it, you can read it here, here and here). When I was preparing the questions for her interview about what it's like to be a professional reader, I realized that I had never asked myself these questions. And I thought it might be interesting to answer them and see if we're different or if we feel the same way towards our job as readers. And then of course I thought, well, why not put it in this week's French Friday?

So, basically, this is an auto-interview. Wondering if I'm a megalomaniac or slightly skizophrenic? I assure you that I'm not. I just thought it would be fun. Please bare with me. :)

To those of you who are not aware of what being a reader is: I read English-written books (either already released or still in drafts). I then submit a full summary and a review (in French) that will give my point of view on why or why not they should make an offer to buy the rights and publish the book in France. I have worked for Hachette Jeunesse for almost three years now, and I love it!

Now, to the questions!

What do I like the most as a reader?
I've always loved reading. As a child, teenager and adult, I've always been a bookworm. So, of course, being paid to read is like a fairytale come true. And for me, this job is a life saver: as you all know, I'm an actress. Being an actress does not make one rich, except when famous, which is not the case and which, most of all, is not my goal. I've always lived with just enough money to pay the rent, going from one small job to another in order to make ends meet. But having a job means having fixed hours, and since I work almost full days for my theatre company, this was always a problem. I'm not only an actress, I spend most of my time selling our plays, managing the website and promoting our company. And I'm not paid for all that, I'm just paid when I'm performing. As a reader, not only can I earn a small income, but most of all I get to work whenever I want and wherever I want (which is a big plus when I'm touring for example). So, yes, perfect job! And as I said earlier, I love reading, and honestly I would still be a reader even if I didn't need the money. I also love discovering how the publishing world works. It's fascinating. And having a role in it is fantastic. When I gave a very enthusiastic review of a book and get to see it published by Hachette a few months or years later, it's the most exciting thing ever. I feel useful and happy. Being a reader also broadened my horizon when it comes to genres : I would never have read vampire or zombie books if I wasn't a reader!

What is my biggest difficulty?
Staying organized! I tend to do many things at the same time, and I litteraly have to fix myself a reading schedule. Which, of course, I never stick to. Also, there are periods when I read too much, and when it happens I start judging book too harshly. It's hard to stay objective when you read almost the same books one after the other (may it be vampires or too predictable chick-lit books). Sometimes I need to slown down my reading rythm in order to stay fresh in my appreciation of books, as Laure said. There are times when I need to take a step back and think about what the future readers would think, and not what I think. It's all about honesty but also technical elements, so I have to keep the balance. Which is very interesting and makes my mind work a lot too!

Of all the books that I’ve read for work, which ones make my top-list?
I read around 100 books by year. The books that I really loved and that made an impression on me are still fresh in my memory. I will not mention the ones that are not yet published, although there are some that I adored and that definitely should make the list. I'll review them on my blog as soon as they come out. :) Here's the list!

I hope you weren't too bored by my ramblings!

And you can read Laure's answers to the same questions here!