These are the unsung heroes who are constantly on the look out for new and exciting books
and who give so generously of their time ,energy and expertise.
I am delighted to welcome
Leah
from
Reflections of a Reader
Leah
from
Reflections of a Reader
What
makes you want to blog about books?
It all started really when I used to post
reviews across varying websites. I was eager to have a place to store all my
reviews and make it my own. There are so many great bloggers out there and I
mainly buy my books through word of mouth, other bloggers reviews and
recommendations from friends. I love to blog in the hope that someone also goes
on to love a book as much as I did.
What
type of book makes you happy?
There is not one particular type of book
that makes me happy. What makes me happy is beautiful prose and well drawn
characters. I also love unreliable narratives, characters that you actually
really don’t like. Perversely, I think these types of characters are more
memorable and can be developed further.
Which
book have you recommended the most?
I would have to say The Reluctant
Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid. I was also lucky enough to have been able to
give this away on a previous World Book Night. It is a short book that packs
such a punch. The writing is beautiful and the story takes place across the
course of an evening in a café in Lahore
I also recommend Miss Pettigrew Lives for a
Day by Winifred Watson on a regular basis.
Which is the best book you received as a gift?
I don’t actually remember receiving that
many books as gifts which is surprising really. I guess I would say the
childhood ones, some of which I still have to this day, Nancy Drew and Enid
Blyton, particularly The Magic Faraway Tree series.
Which
book has sent a shiver down your spine?
The genre that is most likely to send a
shiver down my spine is crime and psychological thrillers. Most recently I had
the biggest shiver whilst reading Vendetta by Dreda Say Mitchell. It was an
excellent thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and built and built at a
hurtling pace and had an ending that I never would have guessed in all of my
days.
How
many books do you have, as yet unread, on your book shelves?
Gosh, I really can’t be sure. The last time
I checked, around about 600. Probably nearer 800 – 1000 now. It can be a bit
tricky, I refuse to use an e-reader and I live in a flat where storage is at a
premium. I love it though, the more the merrier as far as I am concerned.
Tell
me about a book you’ve read more than three times?
Do you know I never read a book more than
once; I haven’t done so since I was a child. I am just of the opinion that
there are so many wonderful books left to be discovered; I would rather read
those than reread something that I already know the outcome of.
What’s
your idea of book heaven or book hell?
Book heaven is having a block of
uninterrupted reading time, which is rarer for me than you would think. I am a
simple creature really. Book hell is something that has only ever happened to
me once and that is when you are reading a book and the last page is missing
and you don’t realise until you get there – now that is annoying!
Where
is your favourite reading place?
In my very comfy armchair, with a big cup
of tea on the side. Just under the window with the sun shining in.
What
has been your favourite book of the year...so far?
This is a tough question, I have been very
lucky so far and have read some wonderful books. If I was pushed I would
mention two, The A to Z of You and Me by James Hannah, and A Man Called Ove by
Fredrick Backman. If I can only have one, James Hannah slightly edges ahead. Both
of the writing styles appealed to me for different reasons and both tackle
difficult subjects in a unique and engaging way. Bravo to both authors.
Thanks Josie and Jaffa
Huge thanks to Leah for giving so generously of her time.
Jaffa and I love visiting your blog
Long may it continue.
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