Book Blogger Appreciation Week, 2nd Edition - Day 2

Today is devoted to interview exchanges between bookbloggers who likely did not know of each other before this year's BBAW event.

Apprentice Writer was twinned with Raidergirl, blogging out of the beauteous Prince Edward Island, and this was our first introduction to each other!

Here's what Raidergirl had to say in response to AW's
questions:

1. How did the name Raidergirl come about?
I liked how people online had a handle, so when I started at livejournal, I wanted a name to represent me. The high school I teach at, and graduated from, has the nickname 'raiders' so since I am a raidergirl through and through - the only high school I've been at ever, it seemed perfect. That reminds me, tomorrow is Raider Day at school - I must dress in red and white.
Explained like that, the name makes total sense. I had had visions of Lara Croft, Tomb Raider, and suchlike.....

2. What type of genres to you read/review?
I always enjoy mystery series, and general fiction - from around the world and from home (Canada.) I also like the prize winners, but that may be my love of lists as much as anything. I won't turn down chick lit, but I don't read it all the time. What ever books fit in the RIP Challenge are my favorite - mystery, suspense, horror, spooky.
Another RIP participant! Just got started with the gothic novel 'Seduced by a Stranger' which is seriously creepy (in a good way) and looking forward to dark fantasy 'Corambis', Book 4 in the Doctrine of Labyrinths series.


3. Which genres do you read more/less of compared to five years ago?
I never used to read classics, but I'll try them a bit more often; translated books is a whole new area; and it may not be a genre, but I read a lot more newly released books compared to five years ago. I never used to buy books at all.
Ref: Translated books - if you like reading challenges, there's another lovely one wherein readers tackle Japanese literature.

4. What are your five favorite books of all?
1. Anne of Green Gables
2. Bridget Jones
3. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
4. I Want to Go Home by Gordon Korman
5. Evening Class by Maeve Binchy
Hmm. Suspect that PEI dwellers who don't list 'Anne of Green Gables' as their #1 choice might be taken to a remote location, far away from Lucy Maud Montgomery memorabilia stores, and shot!

5. Ever read a book in a language other than your mother tongue? Which language? No, the only language I know any bit about is French, and 9 years of French in school certainly didn't make me able to read a book. Maybe a menu.
Haha!

6. Apart from your own country, is there another part of the world that you especially enjoy reading about?
It would have to be Great Britain and Ireland, from many different eras - Victorian, wartimes, modern day. I guess I'm a bit of an Anglophile.
Agreed! Of course it helps that there is such an incredibly rich literary body out of the UK. Maybe something to do with all that rain, and having to find ways to occupy oneself.

7. Which literary character do you wish you could be yourself? Do you wish could be your love? Do you wish could be your business partner?



8. A book you loved most other people hated, and vice versa?
I loved The Bone People but I understand how other people might not like it - it must have been perfect time, perfect place for me.
Two books that I did not finish: On the Road by Jack Kerouac and There Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Huston, both of which are classics and have lots of fans.
That point about perfect time, perfect place for any given reader is a good one. Probably applies even more so to movies - you have to in the right mood for certain kinds of movies or it doesn't work even a little bit.

9. Favorite book-turned-into-a-movie? Favorite movie?
Favorite movies: Braveheart, Dead Poet's Society, Mary Poppins

Favorite book turned into a movie - Bridget Jones' Diary, Harry Potter movies, and while I've only seen it once a few months ago, Fight Club might make the list in a few years. It takes time to make it onto my favorites' list.

10. How many blogs/grogs do you visit regularly? What are your three favorites?
I have a little over 100 blogs in my google reader. Three favorites? That's tough. I'm thinking if everyone updated, the first three I'd look at, even though I'd read them all eventually would be, at the risk of offending everyone, ...nope can't pick three. I could maybe pick 10.
100 regularly visited blogs ! o'O

The thing is, as I thought about this, is that my favorite blogs are more about the people, the friendships that I've made. I like getting a little update from pals, regardless of what they write. The friends you don't need to talk to every day but still fall into a conversation so easily.
Well said, Raidergirl

11. The blogosphere seems to thrive on brouhahas (I love that word). What's your philosphy: "Leap in and share your views", "Don't comment personally but lurk to see what happens", "Can't be bothered with that kind of silliness" ?
How timely! I mostly can't be bothered with that kind of silliness, but I do lurk occasionally, after the fact, and see what happened. (I can be a bit nosy.) The little area of the blogosphere I tend to inhabit is pretty drama free and I like that.

12. Do you have an IRL book club in addition to blogging? Why or why not?
Just our little Ramona book club - me, my daughter and my mother. There's a profile of us here.
I'd like to be in a book club, but it's not something I've found in real life. In some ways, blogging is easier, because it is on your own time, and you don't have to meet at the same time. Much more convenient for everyone to add their opinion when it is convenient.
Last year, a group of us friends from high school tried to have a book club, but it was so hard to meet regularly, and it evolved into dinner out and exchanging books to read, which was a pretty good book club all in all.
An intergenerational book club - what a lovely idea! And dinner plus book exchange could work well, too - especially if the discussion takes place later online.

13. Ever met another blogger?
I did! Two summers ago, Booklogged was planning a trip to the Maritimes, and I sent her some ideas of places to visit. We met and had a lovely meal before she and her husband went to watach Anne of Green Gables the Musical.I was a little nervous, but she was wonderful, and we have a great connection. I hope she'll come back to visit PEI someday.
I have not yet cybermet Booklogged, and will do so as part of the BBAW celebrations.

14. Best thing about blogging?
Making friends with like minded people, sharing good books and getting recommendations, thinking more about my reading,
Agreed!

15. Most anticipated upcoming book?
There are so many books around to read, that I hardly notice books that are coming out. I'd look forward to a new Maeve Binchy if she was writing a new book, or Sophie Kinsella. I did order Catching Fire as soon as it was released, but that was a much for my son as for me.

Thanks for stopping by, Raidergirl!

Gentle Readers - you can visit Raidergirl at
http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/