Featured Book Blogger: Carrie

For this month’s Featured Book Blogger post, I’d like to introduce you to Carrie, the purveyor of Reading to Know and Reading My Library. I asked Carrie a few questions about herself, her blog, and her reading tastes . . .

First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Carrie and I am a stay-at-home mom to three children (ages 0, 2, and 4.) I have been married to my husband, Jonathan, for six years. Book blogging has become my “outlet” and I enjoy thinking through and discussing books with others.

When and why did you start your blog, Reading to Know?

I started Reading to Know in 2006 as a way to remember the books that I was reading. I have a very poor memory and I discovered that I remembered things more clearly if I wrote about them. The blog was started for myself and continues for myself, although the audience it has gained as shaped the way I write and process what I read about.

What types of books do you most commonly review?

I probably review more nonfiction than anything else. I enjoy a good work of fiction, but I do spend a lot of time discussing my faith (Christianity) and my beliefs definitely dictate my reading habits and practices.

Name two famous people, living or dead, you would most like to meet and why.

C. S. Lewis and Lucy Maud Montgomery. They are my top two favorite authors. Each January I host a Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge and in July (coming right up!) I host the Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge.

I would like to meet C.S. Lewis because he was brilliant and I’d like to just listen to him talking. Nothing else. Just listen to him talk and get a feel for him and his personality. He seems so brainy and intellectual but those types are usually quite fun to be around when they are relaxed and just enjoying good company.

How does your faith impact how you blog and what you blog about?

believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died for my sins, satisfying His need for holiness and allowing me to enter into His presence. With that in mind, I consider it a lifelong purpose and goal to know Him better and to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling. That said, I do spend quite a bit of time, as I said, in the nonfiction realm trying to learn more of who God is and what He desires of me. That not only effects the way that I blog but the way that I live out my entire life in the “real world.” It can and does and should effect every aspect of my life––book blogging included.

Coffee or tea… and what flavor?

Hmm. I don’t like coffee, per se. But I do love coffee FLAVORED things. I’m not a big fan of tea, unless it’s chai. I’m more of a Dr. Pepper gal, who gave up Dr. Pepper when I got married because my husband is generally not a fan of caffeine and so I have learned to pass by such things. (Although I do enjoy them from time to time.)

If you had to choose three books you think everyone should read, what would they be and why?

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart because I think it is an awesome allegory of the Christian life (although the author did not intend it that way by any means!)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis because I think it gives us a good picture of the Christian life as well while fueling the imagination. It also spurs the reader onto adventurous and noble thoughts.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery because she loved beauty and imagination and I think without those two things life would be very dull indeed!

Be sure to check out Reading to Know and leave a comment!