How many times have you participated in CBR? Has it changed the way you read?
This is my 7th CBR. I started on a whim in CBR3, just to see if I could actually read 52 in a year. And as we all know, the reading is easy, it’s the writing that’s hard!
And absolutely, it has changed the way I read. Now I read books that I never would have even considered pre-Cannonball (especially YA and Romance), and I take note of certain passages or paragraphs that I want to use in my reviews. I take a lot of pictures on my phone when I’m reading these days, so I don’t forget the important parts.
How do you decide what to tackle next from your To Be Read list/stack?
For my TBR pile, I usually go with something that someone else has recently given a great review to. I trust my fellow cannonballers completely, and I know that there are certain reviewers who have very similar taste to mine. If they like something, it gets bumped up the list. But the list is never ending!
What’s the first book that made you cry?
First book that made me cry was either Cold Mountain (the details of which I can’t remember), Persuasion (#teamwentworth), or A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. My ex-boss gave the Eggers book to me right after my mom had passed away. At first I thought she was a lunatic, but after a while, I really appreciated the cleansing it gave me.
Which do you find easier to write, the 5 star or 1 star reviews?
To be honest, I don’t find any reviews all that easy to write. I struggle to find the time (especially now that I’m back at work for the first time in 13 years!), but I guess if I had to choose, I’d say the one star reviews. There’s just something therapeutic about hating something so much that you need to share it with others.
Can you tell us an adorable book-related story about the kids you’re working with at your book-related job?
Yes, I have lots of adorable stories about my new job with Scholastic Signature Book Fairs! Just today, I went to a new school to set up their book fair, and walked in to the building with a few Scholastic boxes and my badge…a little boy saw me and ran up and hugged my leg, telling me that he LOVES THE BOOK FAIR and asking if I was bringing him his book fair! I love to see how excited these kids get about books!
Do you reread favorite books, or think life’s too short and there are too many new books out there?
Oh my god, I reread books all the time. This year I’ve done so many rereads! There’s just something so comfortable about falling back into a favorite book! I just reread Attachments for the first time in years, and it was SO GOOD. And of course, I can’t seem to ever stop reading the Dark Tower books. I might have a problem.
Breakfast food: sweet or savory? Pancakes/waffles or hashes/benedicts?
Hmmm. I don’t know what to say about breakfast. Just give me some coffee and whatever we have around the house. But definitely coffee. So much coffee.
Little boy asking you if you are bringing him his book fair — I am dying! That is adorable! Sounds like a great job.
It was totally adorable. I’m like a book superhero when I walk into these schools!
Attachments! Book Fair! Coffee!
These continue to be delightful little glimpses into our fellow Cannonballers. :)
I know, right? I had such a hard time deciding who to pick for the next q&a because I wanted to choose everyone.
YOU WORK FOR THE BOOK FAIR??? Heart eyes emoji.
I have such fond memories of the book fair from my childhood. Sigh.
The book fair is the best. I go to 2 or 3 every day and I still always see something new that I need to have.
This is important: DO YOU GET A DISCOUNT.
Oh, yes indeed. The book warehouse is a dangerous place for my wallet.
I wanna work for the book fair. I wanna bring joy little kids’ faces…instead I’m a mean English teacher (not really, but I feel that way today).
THE BOOK FAIR WOULD NEVER EVEN EXIST WITHOUT ENGLISH TEACHERS.
I didn’t mean for that to be all caps, but now I’m kinda glad it was. English teachers rock.
You work for the book fair! That must be such an amazing job. Of course, we don’t really have those here. I spend the three years of secondary school trying to get most of my kids to read more. It would make them much better at writing too, and I wouldn’t have to feel so mean when I grade them (I don’t always feel mean, frequently I feel frustrated, and ever so often I get to feel proud and rejoice that some kid has finally got it and is improving).
This is why we like to get input from teachers…how do we get kids to choose the books that will make them fall in love with reading, which will make them better readers, which will make them better writers, which will make them better students all around?
That one magical book for each kid is out there, and it’s my job to get it in their hands.
And again, teachers are the best and we love and worship you.
It has been said a dozen times already but: OH MY GOD YOU WORK FOR THE BOOK FAIR. People work for the book fair? I just sort of assumed it appeared in schools like magic. Like Santa or the Easter Bunny
I have a company issued magic wand and I wave it around the library…and then poof…Book Fair appears!
Actually, it’s a very labor intensive and exhausting process. Books are heavy and my arms hurt. But book fair is the best, so it’s worth it.
The book fair is my favorite thing ever. The smell, the cases, the fun pencils up by the cash register. It was like playing store and library all wrapped up in to one thing.
I think you have my dream job.
A job at a book fair!!! That might be the best thing I’ve ever heard of!!!