Getting To Know…Caroline
Caroline is the proud mum of two gorgeous preschoolers, Ava(5) and Seth(3). She is in the fortunate position of being able to spend most of the week with her children and work part time as an NHS Midwife, a job she adores.
Caroline’s natural habitat is snuggled up on the sofa immersed in a good book, usually Young Adult, or watching the latest American TV drama. Caroline’s favourite book is Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, which she insists on re reading every couple of years, closely followed by The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. Caroline is currently recuperating from a broken heart after completing Cassandra Claire’s Infernal Devices trilogy. Her treatment includes large volumes of chocolate and The Lizzie Bennett Diaries (watch it here). Her prognosis is good.
What have you enjoyed the most about blogging over the past year?
For me, hands down, the best thing about book blogging is the community. Try as they might, my “Normal” friends just don’t understand my ability to discuss books for hours (and hours) on end.
I have been very fortunate that many of my “blogging/twitter” friends have become friends “in real life”.
What was your favorite read of the last 12 months?
I have been lucky enough to read some fabulous books over the last twelve months. Normally narrowing my answer down to just one answer would be problematic, but this year a book comes immediately to mind; Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare.
Oh my goodness! I still get teary thinking about it now.
What makes the perfect beach/holiday read?
For me it’s all about pure escapism that is heavy on the romance.
What book are you most anticipating reading over the summer?
I’m really looking forward to taking part in the NA read-a-thon (learn more about the read-a-thon here) which starts next week and lasts for seven days. I’ve been stockpiling New adult books in preparation
The YA summer releases I’m most looking forward to reading are:
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill (publication date 1st August ) and Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols (publication date 16th July)
Strictly speaking the following titles are due in September, but I will probably spend the summer pinning for them:
The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Describe your bookshelf/TBR pile.
My bookshelf is a work in progress.
I am currently in the process of redecorating my upstairs hall way and turning it in to my library. I’ve stripped wallpaper, filled, sanded and painted the walls. I’ve picked and ordered the carpet. Next on the agenda is a large flat pack bookcase and then all I have to do is decide how I am going to organise my shelves. I love the idea of an alphabetizing my collection by author surname, but I’m also toying with arranging by genre.
How do you make time to read?
Well firstly I do most of my shopping on line, my house is very untidy and I never iron!
I’m quite partial to audiobooks and will multi task by listening to audiobooks while walking the dog, decorating, and yes on occasion doing the housework.
I don’t watch very much television. What I do watch tends to be series like Game of Thrones, Gray’s Anatomy and Walking Dead which I ‘ve recorded using series link. I will go through phases where I watch no TV and then will sit and watch a whole series over a few nights.
I always have reading material with me, usually eBooks on my smart phone and so I will read if I have a few minutes here and there spare. But I have to admit that the main way I fit in my reading is by forgoing sleep.
Where is your Favorite place to read?
My favorite place to read is in bed, but in an attempt to spend some time with my husband I usually read curled up on the sofa net to him while he watches sports.
How do you encourage the love of reading and books in your children?
My children are still quite small so only time will tell if we have managed to inspire a love of reading.
For our family the bedtime story is an essential part of our bedtime routine. We introduced it when our eldest was six months old and so it is just something we have always done.
Both of my children have their own bookcases from which they choose their nightly story. Sometimes of mummy and daddy this means reading the same story for a week or two! We also make a big deal about going to the bookshop and allowing them to select new books.
And of course they see Mummy enjoying her own books!
What is your favorite book you have shared with your child(ren) in the last 12 months?
It’s no secret that I adore the work of Oliver Jeffers and given the choice I will always select one of his. His Huey stories are particularly good for preschoolers.
My children are especially fond of any stories that require Mummy to put on silly voices and “act out” the characters.
A favorite blog/forum/website you would like to recommend to our readers?
I’d love to be able to recommend some amazingly informative non book orientated site to you all. Alas, my life really does revolve around books and blogging, so the sites I am going to recommend you checking out are www.twitter.com and www.goodreads.com
I spend far too much time on twitter but I have met some amazing friends through the site and I have to admit I am a bit of an addict.
Goodreads is a fantastic resource. I am always on the site checking out release dates and author bio’s. Not to mention adding to my already extensive wishlist from all of the informative reviews.
And because we ask our visiting authors- Just For Fun
Tea or Coffee? Coffee
Slippers or barefoot? Barefoot
Shower or Bath? Bath ( mainly because our shower is broken)
Marmite: Love it? Hate it? MMMMMMLove it! Particularly mixed with peanut butter!
Email or postcard? Email, text message, tweets- I’m permanently attached to my smart phone.
Post by Caroline
