New to the ShelfishlyAddicted Book Blog, #ShelfieSunday is a fun Sunday morning feature where you will be introduced to a fellow book lover. These posts will feature a brief bio, some Q&A about bookish things, and best of all, pictures of the featured book lover's home library or favorite book shelf.
While I find people in general to be endlessly fascinating, I am not always interested in seeing selfie after selfie on social media. I want to know what makes you click! I want to see where you grow, where you relax, where you create, where you feel whole. For many of you in the book lover's community, that place is most often (warning: spoiler) among books. Speaking personally, my office library is my haven; my retreat from harsh realities. Sometimes, I go inside just to look at the books on the shelves and that helps me feel more grounded.
It seems apt, then, to be the one to kick off #ShelfieSunday by interviewing myself so you can get an idea of what it's all about - and hopefully be inspired to participate, too!
Quick, give us a Twitter-style bio!
Book Blogger. Quixotic. Reader. Writer. Permanent Student. Nature Girl. Flori-Texan. Animal Rescuer. Coffee Lover. Concert-Goer. Full of Contradictions.
What is your favorite book?
That is the toughest question you can ask someone who loves books. I have favorite books from different genres, including The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, and Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami - BUT! My favorite book of all time is The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle.
What is your most treasured book and why?
I have a signed and numbered limited edition of The Last Unicorn: The Lost Version. It's the draft that Peter wrote before cleaning everything up and publishing the polished final version. Mine is #864/1,000. I treasure it because, aside from being rare, it gave me real insight into the writing process and how much a draft can change over time. Also, there's a powerful yet unassuming scene where a two-headed demon talks about hell and what that concept means, and that scene has always stuck with me.
Where do you feel most comfortable while reading?
I can read just about anywhere (the treadmill, the car, laying on the floor) but my favorite place is curled up in my favorite green reading chair from IKEA, surrounded by my books, while my shelf clock goes tick-tock in the background.
Why is reading important to you?
I was a fairly lonely kid. I had my parents and two older brothers, but with my parents being deaf and my brothers being significantly older than me, I often felt like an only child. I had to find ways to entertain myself, and since my parents had been telling me stories since I was a baby, it was natural to gravitate toward books. Within the pages of books, I found bosom friends, mortal enemies, and some of the grandest lessons of my life. Books made me who I am today, and they continue to shape my outlook on life as time goes by.
I believe that people who read books gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the world and people around them. Reading about different people, lifestyles, cultures, and even different worlds, causes one who reads to be more sympathetic and empathetic towards others, which are important qualities our society needs if ever has a chance of overcoming the racism, bigotry, and hate that seems to fill our newsfeeds.
In short, reading is important to me because it makes me want to be a better person.
Would you mind sharing a picture of your favorite reading spot?
My beloved reading chair, complete with pillows, a comfy blanket, and my favorite teddy bear (from Hamley's in London!) The picture above my chair has my name and the title "Bookworm," so I suppose it's official!
How about a shelfie?!
This is a close-up peek at the bookshelves of my writing desk. My most favorite and cherished books are here, as well as certain mementos and pictures, like the photo of my Nana and Papa (maternal grandparents) when they first met. Do you see any books you have?
This is a zoom-out view of my home office library. There's an interesting story behind how I acquired my writing desk, which I will share in a post in the near future. How's that for a shelfie?
To talk about all things books (and otherwise) please stop by and say "Hi!" on ShelfishlyAddicted's Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
If you're interested in being featured during #ShelfieSunday, please contact me, Katie, via the contact form on the right side of the main blog page. I'd love to get to know you better, and to help you share your passion for books and reading with other book lovers.
If you have ideas on how to make this feature more interesting, or questions you'd like to see in the Q&A session, I welcome your comments below.
Thanks for stopping by, dear reader! Hope to see you here again, soon.