Blog Name: Bookish Blather
Blog URL: http://bookishblather.blogspot.com
Twitter Name: @angelacraft
Goodreads (and/or others): I’m boring and not really active anywhere else!
When did you start your blog and why?
I started my blog in December of 2008. I had moved to New York City just a few months before and was under-employed, working at a Banana Republic rather than in publishing like I wanted. I was reading tons and tons of books at the time, too, thanks to having a branch of the library in my neighborhood, a long subway commute, and more time on my hands at home than I knew what to do with. The blog served three purposes for me: 1) I had a place to record my thoughts about all of these books I was reading 2) it gave me something to *do* rather than sit at home feeling sorry for myself 3) I figured I could use it as a sort of professional portfolio to show when I did start getting publishing industry interviews that I have stayed up to date with what’s being published in YA lit.
My blog focuses on reviews of young adult lit, with the occasional middle grade and adult books thrown in for variety. While I will read pretty much anything, my reviews often take on a feminist tone, simply because feminism is such a huge part of my worldview that I couldn’t turn it off while reading even if I wanted to!
Tell us a little about yourself outside of your interest in books.
I’m an internet fiend. If I’m not reading, I’m probably online, reading blogs (lots of political and feminist blogs, as well as a slew of book bloggers), playing games or writing my own blog posts. I work for a bargain book wholesaler, but still looking for the perfect job in the editorial or marketing department of a young adult publishing imprint.
Your favorite book from your youth and the story behind it.
I don’t remember not being a reader, but I can tell you the first books that opened me up to a larger community of readers: the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate (co-written with her husband, Michael Grant of the Gone series). I received my first book (#2 – pictured above) in my Easter basket in sixth grade, and read the subsequent books whenever I could pick one up at the bookstore, but it never really clicked with me that new books were coming out every month. Then in the fall my family got its first computer and hooked it up to the internet. One day when I was hanging out in a science fiction chatroom, someone entered with the handle “Elfangor” – an instrumental character in the first book of the series. It was like a revelation – I could use this internet to search for more information about the series, find out when new books were coming out and, most importantly, connect with other people who loved these books as much as I did! Animorphs is totally responsible for making me the internet junkie I am today. Oh, and that “Elfangor” I met way back in the day? We recently re-connected on Facebook! And three of my bridesmaids in my wedding last year became my friends after bonding over Animorphs books. For a humble science fiction series about teenagers fighting an alien invasion, it has had a huge impact on my life.
“Angela is living proof that books can change your world. Not just as an influence in your daily thoughts and actions, but those with whom you associate as well. It’s amazing to see how her love of Applegate’s beloved series influenced her love of book related things from the internet all the way to her wedding.
“Her love of books is evident in every review she writes and every book event she attends. Allowing so much of the book world influence her everyday life, even down to her choice of profession. She’s a brilliant addition to the book blogging community and I’m so glad to have had her on today. Thank you so much Angela!”
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with IndieBound.
What a cool story!
Definitely!
No, thank you for hosting this feature! It was fun to write up.
You are so welcome!
I read about half the series, and have the entire thing down in my garage somewhere. I was out of college when they came out, and I loved them. Heck, some of the scenes gave me nightmares, that’s how good they were.
I did read the last book, and I wasn’t happy with how it ended, so I’m not sure if I ever will go back to the series. It’s a shame because I thought the books were great.
That’s too bad that the last left a bad note, but great to hear they were good otherwise. They have a pretty big following it seems like.
Another great post and a glimpse at the blogger behind the blog….thanks for sharing Angela! ..and thank you, Danielle, for the great post! Happy reading….
You are so welcome and happy reading to you as well!