Armchair BEA 2013 - Genre Discussion - Non Fiction

I have to say that I am a big Non Fiction fan. Mainly because I love to read books now and then about certain interests and hobbies I have such as Gardening and Blogging, and I also love to get an insiders view of some celebrities or other famous figures by reading their biographies or memoirs.

Fiction is definitely a great genre to read if you want to escape for a while, but the fascination with Non Fiction is because of the fact that it is based on real life facts which in some instances can be even stranger than fiction!

One of the best Non Fiction books I think I have read has to be . For some reason this book has been one I have thought about again and again since reading it years ago as it absolutely fascinated me in some sections of the book. Seriously, this man should not still be alive but is somehow still going strong. That's what I mean about Non Fiction sometimes being stranger than Fiction. When you read about someone's real life and think 'Wow, how on earth did they live like that?'

I'd love to know what Non Fiction books have stayed with everyone else years after reading them?

Michelle

Armchair BEA 2013 - Genre Discussion - Classics

Well I'll be straight with you all and admit that I really am not a fan of the classics.

It's not for a lack of trying either, I've attempted to read some Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, George Orwell (who did actually surprise me), plus all the usual classic titles they make you read at school (especially since I did related English, classic literature was ALL we focused on).

Unfortunately, classic literature just isn't me. I lose focus on the language used and usually just get plain bored with the slow storylines.

I don't know. Maybe I just haven't found the right 'Classic' book to really make me sit up a take notice. The problem is that there are just too many new books released all the time I want to read instead, as well as the huge backlog of older books I also already have, that I guess in a selfish way I don't want to waste my time going back and reading such old books.

I'm probably going to sound awful after this post but I wanted to be truthful. After all, discussions would never get anywhere really if everyone agreed all the time right??

What do you think about classic books? Is there that one 'Classic' that you think would change my mind??

Michelle

Armchair BEA 2013 - Introductions

Wow, I can't believe it has been a year already since the last Armchair BEA. Seriously, where does the time go?

Anyway, I'm going to make a huge effort to try and get a bit more involved in it this year and for starters is the usual introduction post so we can all get to know each other a little bit better.


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

I blog from our humble three bedroom brick home on the NSW Central Coast, Australia. Usually I am sitting on our lounge in front of the TV blogging once our two year old goes to bed late at night.

2) Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event? 

I participated (albeit very sparingly) for the first time last year. I came back this year because I wanted to try and be a bit more of an active participant this time around. Also, I want to live vicariously through this event due to us never really having anything on a remotely similar scale to BEA here in Oz.

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

I am currently reading three books at the moment as I've been a bit restless and have been enjoying chopping and changing from one to the other. These three books are:
and

4) Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

I also run a beauty blog. When I had our son two years ago I went a little crazy at home while on maternity leave as I wasn't used to having nothing constructive to do. I started reading a lot of different blogs and always had a bit of a passion for beauty so decided to start my own beauty blog to pass some of the extra hours I suddenly had in a day. I didn't work up the nerve to start my book blog until almost a year later!

5) What is your favourite part about the book blogging community?

Easily the passion everyone just seems to have for books and reading and their willingness to talk forever on the subject. I have been a huge bookworm since as early as I can remember as I was an only child so spent a lot of time at home alone when I was younger with nothing to amuse me except my books. I don't have any friends or family who share the same passion for books that I have and got sick of my hubby getting a blank look on his face whenever I tried to tell him about a great book I was reading.  

Armchair BEA 2012 - Beyond Your Blog

Today we are asked the following question:

Has blogging opened up opportunities for you beyond getting free, advance copies of new books? Has it helped you get offers to write or review elsewhere (maybe even for pay)? Have you gotten invites to special events or places you might not have been to otherwise?

Well, my response to this question is a short and sweet one: I wish!!!

I'd love to get offers to write elsewhere or get special invites to events such as author signings or other bookish things.

Unfortunately, there just isn't the demand for that sort of thing where I live as far as I can tell. My local library is fairly basic and I've seen about one author visit in the whole 4 years I've lived near it. I must admit I don't frequent it a often as I probably should due to the fact that I am a bit obsessive compulsive where I feel the need to buy any book I want rather than borrow it, but I constantly peruse the noticeboard just in case there is something of interest, but alas, there never is.

Another issue is that there aren't many independent bookstores near where I live. There is a small Dymocks and a QBD and that's about it! There used to be a Borders but we all know what happened to them......

Also, my location is not really in the midst of anywhere significant. I live on the Central Coast of NSW and am around 1 and a 1/2 hours drive from Sydney where the majority of events most likely happen all the time. Unfortunately, with working part time and having a young toddler, getting the time to try and organise a visit to anything in Sydney just isn't a possibility most of the time, especially since hubby commutes to work there and doesn't get home until quite late.

In saying these things though, I am happy with what I do for the moment and with the fact that I am privileged enough to get free books to review and personal contact with authors. One day I'd love to meet up with other bloggers if it ever becomes a possibility and I'd also love to go to an author event or signing if one ever comes my way.

Has blogging opened up any interesting doors for you? I'd love to know how.

Armchair BEA 2012 - Introductions!

 

Today is all about getting to know our fellow Armchair BEA participants. We all have to answer 5 questions about ourselves then visit some other participating bloggers to learn more about them.

 

This is my first year participating in Armchair BEA and I am quite excited about it!

 

So, here are the answers to my questions:

 

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

My name is Michelle and I am a self-confessed book nerd. I am an only child and grew up with books and our pets being my best friends! We moved around a lot when I was young so they were the only friends I could keep without getting upset when we moved again :-( I am happily married and my day job is as an Accountant two days a week at the moment while I stay home and mind our almost 15 month old bub the rest of the week.
I have been blogging since mid last year on another blog I also maintain (a beauty blog called My Little Space) but have only maintained my book blog for a couple of months now.
I had been stalking other book blogs for a very long time and decided that it was a subject that I was very passionate about and so decided to start my own book blog! None of my friends or my husband are very big readers so I think this is the perfect outlet for me to discuss what I love with other like-minded people.

2. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

I am a fully qualified Accountant but had a 'gap year (or two)' where I became a partly qualified Vet Nurse after losing interest in accounting. Financially, accounting is better for us at the moment while I can only work part-time while bub is young but Vet Nursing is something that will always be in my heart for when I can live my dream again. I am a huge animal lover and my pets are like my children!

3. What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?

I love hosting author interviews. It amazes me that starting this blog has given me access to these 'elite' individuals and interviewing them and having their personal words appear on my site really gives me a high.

4. Where do you see your blog in five years?

Hopefully taking over the world! (Hahaha). No, really I'd just love to be doing exactly what I'm doing now. If I could only find a way to make this my new career I'd be a happy woman!

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

Stephen King. I have read almost every single one of his books and I also own almost all of them too. He's a classic author who I don't think anyone has really come close to topping yet.

Please remember to leave your link below if you visit me so I can read your answers too!

Michelle