How many times have you participated in CBR? Has it changed the way you read?
I think this is my 5th or 6th CBR. I’ve had varying degrees of success with participating. It’s definitely made me a more mindful reader because I have to think about how I’m going to talk about the book in a meaningful way without spoiling it.
How do you decide what to choose next from your TBR stack?
If I really have no idea which of the hundreds of books (between physical and Kindle books) I want to read next, I recently developed a system that involved going through my Goodreads list and tagging everything that I owned a physical copy of and everything I owned on kindle and then using google’s random number generator. It’s ridiculous and overly complicated and there’s no way I would have done it if I weren’t stuck at home. I didn’t come up with this all on my own. I heard about it on a podcast.
If you were, to get a book-related tattoo, what would it be? (Or if you already have one, what does it say?)
I have none yet. One that I have wanted forever is a quote from God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut. It goes “There’s only one rule I know of babies. God dammit you’ve got to be kind.” I’ve also found myself eyeing the tattoos of cats with a book and a coffee cup on pinterest but I’d definitely get the Vonnegut tattoo if I got anything.
I see you’re a fan of book podcasts. Any recommendations to share?
I listen to most of the Book Riot podcasts. They have a pretty diverse staff and so I’m always adding recommendations from them to my TBR pile. I also like Reading Glasses a lot. That’s where I got my idea for how to pick my next read from my TBR pile. Since quarantine I’ve also started listening to Sword and Laser which is strictly sci fi fantasy. Phoebe Reads a Mystery is exactly what it sounds like. She’s currently reading Jane Eyre which isn’t entirely a mystery but it’s a favorite of mine. I’m always looking for new book podcasts, or any podcasts really.
What book/series would you like to see turned into a movie/TV show?
It seems like EVERYTHING has been optioned for a movie or series but I recently finished The City We Became and I think that would be a great limited series. It would have to be filmed on location. That book is, among other things, a love letter to the city of New York. I would have also said Mexican Gothic but apparently Hulu is already on that one so I’m super excited.
What was the first concert you went to? (back when such things were allowed…)
I’m about to show my age here but it was New Kids on the Block and Busch Stadium. Now get off my lawn!
Anything else you’d like to share?
Uhhh. Read outside your comfort zone. Wear a mask when you go out. Support your local library.