Thanks so much to Becky and Kayla at A Couple of B’s for nominating me for The Liebster Award. I’m finding that the book blogging world is a very supportive community, unlike my previous blogging experience in a different genre which was pretty cutthroat and competitive. It’s nice to be received into a welcoming community.

Rules

• Thank the blogger who nominated you
• Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you
• Nominate 11 bloggers
• Ask your nominees 11 questions

Questions for Me:

1. If you could swap places with any character, who would you pick? Jo March from Little Women or Laura Ingalls Wilder. Growing up, I always wanted to live during the 1870’s from reading those books. I was lucky enough to have a mother and grandmother who taught me a lot of “homesteading” ways like sewing and gardening and canning and preserving and cooking from scratch, doing the things in the books that seem so foreign to many modern readers.
2. On average, how many books do you read and review a month? I don’t know about monthly, but my Goodreads total so far this year is 145 books completed. I’d say about 20-25 including audiobooks. I generally post a review every weekday and have scheduled posts far in advance, but that may slow down as I work more this holiday season. Lucky for me I have several weeks worth of books already reviewed and scheduled for posting.
3. What advice would you give to a new book reviewer? Don’t read something just because everyone else is; you do you, read what you want. Your like-minded readers will find you. Follow other book bloggers to see what’s out there, including styles of reviewing, blog hopping opportunities, and to support other book lovers who are trying to do the same thing as you. It is not a competition, you should be doing it because you like to do it, not because you HAVE to do it.
4. What is a book you own but you hate the cover of? Nancy Drew #48, The Crooked Banister (Amazon) (AbeBooks). Just one of those crazy early 1970’s cover with neon colors, a robot, almost a take off of Lost in Space or something.
5. What is one book you will always recommend? Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (Amazon) (AbeBooks) I read it in fifth grade and stuck with me. Whenever I suffer a loss I revisit it. Or now, watch the movie (Amazon) (AbeBooks) Although, now, during the pandemic, I’d probably recommend The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Amazon) (AbeBooks) The family was stuck in one place, the railroad master’s station, from October to April because of endless blizzards. And running out of food, and fuel to keep them warm, constantly tending the fire so it wouldn’t go out. Laura suffered real hardship. Makes me grateful that all that’s asked of me today is to wear a mask, wash my hands, practice social distancing, and limit visits to stores and the like. I can do that no sweat.
6. What are the last two books you gave a 5 star rating and why? JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century (read my review here) and The Lake Wobegon Virus (review to be found here). I always find biographies of presidents that try to be fair and balanced and without agenda a hit, and visiting the mythical town I grew up reading and listening about was a balm during this pandemic.
7. Who is your favorite author? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for fiction and David McCullough for history.
8. Kayla has issues with Y.A. literature. What book would you recommend to make her change her mind about the genre? I don’t read YA often, but found The Royal We series (click here for reviews) was enjoyable to me, as was the American Royals series. I’m not looking for dystopian YA, which is what I mostly see being recommended, and those series are most certainly not. Even though they are mostly romances, the teenage women have brains, who still make mistakes, and don’t become boring once hooked up with a guy.
9. What is your favorite book series? I can’t pick just one! Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody Emerson book series (Abebooks), which sadly ended when the author died a few years ago. I love the books, but I adore Barbara Rosenblat’s narration of them even more and have them all on Audio. The humor, the Egyptology, Victorian era, and murder mysteries all in one are perfect in my view. Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books (read my review for the latest release here). And the ones that started it all for me, Nancy Drew Mysteries, of course!
10. How do you get out of a reading slump? There are times that I don’t feel like reading, so I binge-watch something off Netflix or Amazon Prime or watch a Green Bay Packers game. Since I find that I have to do something while watching TV and these old eyes can’t cross stitch anymore, I skim books until I find one that interests me. Right now I’m watching The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross on Amazon Prime and skimming books looking for my next read.
11. Be honest, what is one book you purchased just because of the cover? The Inheritance Games (Amazon) (AbeBooks) Gorgeous cover, mixed feelings on the book itself.

My Questions:

1. What brought you to blogging and when did you start?
2. Do you have a day job? If so, do you mind sharing what it is? If you’re out of work or Stay-At-Home Mom, trust me, I’ve been there. Being a mom is a full-time job that I did for 14 years. And when I was ready to return to work, it took four YEARS to find a job that would fit with my family’s schedule. My husband recently took early retirement because he’d been out of work since January. No shame in that during this crazy time we live in.
3. Name the last book that you DNF?
4. How many books are on your TBR pile and what are you most looking forward to reading?
5. What are your hobbies besides reading and writing about books?
6. What’s your favorite TV Series (modern or old school, or both)
7. What was your favorite book growing up?
8. What are you currently reading?
9. How many books do you read in a year (on average)?
10. What’s your favorite genre and why?
11. Do you do any writing besides blogs? (Are you an author/aspiring author?)

I Nominate:

1. The Belgian Reviewer
2. JAScribbles at Advance Reading Copy
3. Sam at Books for the Beach
4. Mani’s Book Corner
5. Soph at Soph’s Book World
6. Jessica at The Bookworm Chronicles
7. Julie Anna’s Books
8. SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews
9. Stephanie’s Book Reviews
10. Silver Button Books
11. The Secret Library Book Blog

If you answer this post, please give me a pingback so that I can read your answers. I can’t wait to see what you have to say!

For my reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

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