This month’s featured book blogger is Jennifer who writes thoughtful, intelligent reviews at Blogful of Books. I asked Jennifer a few questions about herself, her blog, and reading tastes.
First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m eighteen years old, a homeschool graduate, and college freshman. I’m majoring in nursing and have big dreams of serving less fortunate who might not have ready access to good healthcare. I’ve always been and always will be a book addict.
When and why did you start your blog, Blogful of Books?
I started Blogful of Books in January 2010. (Wow, I didn’t even realize that until I looked it up for this interview.) I had already begun a personal blog, but on a whim I decided that I needed a books only blog. I’m still growing and changing when and how I review books, but it has definitely been a lot of fun!
What types of books do you commonly review?
I mostly review books that fall under a Christian heading: Christian fiction, Christian historical fiction, Christian nonfiction, Christian biographies. Occasionally I’ll write about classics or current books that aren’t found in Christian bookstores. I like to read a wide variety, so the type of books I review depend on my reading mood.
How does your faith impact how you blog and what you blog about?
My Christian faith impacts me greatly in how I blog. Too often I read great reviews of books, only to find out while I’m at page 238 that there are a few not-so-good or questionable things that I would rather do without. Each reader must come up with his or her own set of standards for what or what not to read. Mine is simply this: I don’t settle; or, at least, I try not to. Certainly I’ve read books that haven’t met up to my expectations, but isn’t that the point of book blogs? The savvy reader will glance at a couple of blogs before choosing a book because, as the saying goes, there are just so many books and so little time! Why waste precious reading time with a less than average book?
What’s your favorite season and why?
I enjoy every season, but fall is probably my favorite. I love seeing the trees change colors, the leaves falling, and everything settling in for the coming winter.
Name two famous people, living or dead, you would most like to meet and why.
It’s hard to choose! I would love to meet Jane Austen. I’ve read nearly all of her completed novels, and I’ve enjoyed each one. Though I know some of her biography, it would be an interesting experience to see what she was really like. On a totally different subject, I would love to meet Mary, mother of Jesus, because I’ve always wanted to know her feelings about having God’s Son. I can’t imagine being chosen for such a task; I’m sure she would have stories to tell.
If you had to choose three books you think everyone should read, what would they be and why?
Besides the Bible, these are three books that either impacted me greatly or left me with much to think about. It’s so hard to pick only three!
Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The story of how a group of school boys end up alone on an island, Lord of the Flies explores many interesting scenarios that I think most could benefit from. It’s an exciting and intriguing book to read.
Night by Elie Wiesel. Night is an autobiography about life in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. It is an incredibly powerful story, and, like other Holocaust stories (The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, for example), it can help us to remember history in the hopes that it is not repeated.
Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. When Mike wondered what it would be like to live homeless, him and a friend named Sam decided to travel to six different American cities to experience homeless living. This is an intriguing story, and, since reading it, I’ve never looked at a homeless man or woman the same.
Be sure to check out Blogful of Books and leave a comment!
Great interview! I’m going to check out Jennifer’s blog.