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Tuesday 26 May 2015

A Reader's Q & A

By Rel Mollet

There have been a lot of great writerly posts here at ACW in the past weeks, so I thought I'd change things up a little by doing a reader Q & A. I'm sure it is easy as a writer to get caught up in the pressures of putting pen to paper and losing sight, on occasion, of the joy of reading. Hope I don't bore you with my responses! 

I'd love for you to pick a question you fancy and answer it for yourself in the comments.

1. Favourite childhood book?

A Little Bush Maid by Mary Grant Bruce. Terribly politically incorrect these days, but I adored the entire series. They had everything - adventure, danger, WWI, horses, the bush,
misunderstandings, sacrifice, and what was probably my first introduction to a romance! Norah and Wally...swoon!

2. What are you reading right now?

I've just finished Jody Hedlund's Hearts Made Whole ~ a lovely story of hope and forgiveness set in the aftermath of the Civil War dealing with alcoholism, opium dependence, and a woman's right to work!

3. Bad book habit?

Hmmm...probably reading every book I pick up to the end. Even the bad ones! I live in hope that things will improve :)

4. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

Nothing! I rarely visit our local library - I have my own 'library' at home and I'm not making enough headway as it is ;-)

5. Do you have an e-reader?

I do! A sworn hard copy devotee, I was gifted a Kindle and I love it. I take it with me everywhere. While I adore books on my shelves (and as I loan my books out - see library mention above!), now I've become so comfortable with the e-reader, I prefer it! Shh...don't tell anyone.

6. Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?

One book at a time for me. Although, I will listen to a different audiobook when I'm out and about in the car.

7. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

Yes, reading for my own pleasure rarely happens. My reviewing commitments keep me busy reading with a more critical eye. That's not to say I don't enjoy review reading - I do - it is just different.


8. Favourite book you've read so far this year?

This is too hard! Here's a few I've really loved - Ronie Kendig's FALCON, Tamara Leigh's LADY OF CONQUEST, and a few unpublished manuscripts. Can't say anything more than that I can't wait for them to be published!

9. How often do you read outside your reading comfort zone?

Rarely. Having to read the occasional Amish novel or one too many of the same genre for my blog would be where it's stretched the most.

10. Can you read in the car?

Yep. Don't often get the chance, though. My husband is a communicator so apparently car trips are for talking!

11. Favourite place to read?

Anywhere I can!

12. What is your policy on book lending?

I do have a policy. And software to record the borrowings. Seriously. I like to keep track of where my books have gone (for obvious reasons!), but I also maintain records so I can choose the right books for those who borrow from me.



13. Do you ever dog-ear books?

I do not understand that question ;-) NEVER. EVER.

14. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

Not since University textbooks.

15. What is your favourite language to read in?

One I can understand. And that means one - English!

16. What makes you love a book?

Characters that engage my emotions.

17. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

Characters that engage my emotions! And knowing a reader's likes and dislikes, I'll tailor my recommendations to their tastes.

18. Favourite genre? 

Romantic suspense. Heavy on the suspense, and a deft, natural feel to the romance.

19. Genre you rarely read but wish you did?

Biographies, but I don't have the time.

20. Favourite biography?

Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom

21. Have you ever read a self-help book?

Umm...if I have I've never finished it!

22. Favourite cookbook?

The internet :)

*******

Rel Mollet founded her book-reviewing blog www.RelzReviewz.com in 2006, which is dedicated to showcasing Christian Fiction and its writers by way of reviews, author interviews, character spotlights, and more. 

Rel is a contributing writer at NovelCrossing.com and FamilyFiction.com, and an Advisory Board member of the INSPY Awards.  A book club co-ordinator for over a decade, Rel resides in Melbourne with her family.

31 comments:

  1. Fun post, Rel! Thanks for visiting us, today.

    Reading in the car!!
    Did it most of my childhood, even on a Sunday night after church, in the dark. May be the reason I need glasses AND contact lenses today, but SO worth it.

    Talking in the car....? Who does that? ;)

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    1. Apparently we do, Dotti!!

      In the dark? That's where Kindles are wonderful - they come with their own lighting :)

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  2. Mum gave me the first of the Billabong books when I was 15 I think. I didn't read them all only about 6 or 7 of them. I loved them too. Mum loved them when she was younger also.
    My favourite children's books were some Enid Bylton books. I loved the Magic Faraway series.

    I love my kindle also. I have read a self help book a couple but they are pain books, Understanding your pain and also a couple others to help to deal with living with chronic pain.

    I don't understand anyone writing in margins of fiction books seems so wrong. Also dogearring books well as a child I did but not as an adult its the same as bending a paper back when reading, You know bending one side of it and rolling it. I actually had a go at someone who was borrowing books at the church library for doing that and breaking the spine of books.

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    1. Hey Jenny - how could you not finish them?!?! Two of my Billabong books are my mum's copies from her childhood. Another reason to cherish them!

      My daughters well know book care is a high priority around our house :)

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    2. Oh Jenny, I so agree with Rel. My grandmother gave me the first Billabong book, A Little Bush Maid. I still have all 14. The last one I thought not as great but love them all. Captain Jim is still my favourite as could be seen by it being the only one now missing the paper cover. A while back I read it again as a writer to try and see just what Mary Grant Bruce did, how she wrote it to make me enjoy it so much.

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    3. After posting above thought to check if any of her books are e-books. Found three, including Captain Jim!

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  3. Annnnd, it ate my comment!
    Here we go again....
    Good morning, Rel and ACW!
    I love Tamara Leigh and Ronie Kendig, and I'd dearly love 5 minutes alone with Rel's book collection!

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    1. Five minutes would never be enough, Jennifer! You would have to stay at least a week at my place to ensure you had checked out all the tomes :)

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    2. Sounds like an invitation to me! Muahaha! Just think of the trouble we could get in to...

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    3. Of course, it's an invitation :) Trouble? You and me? With Dotti supervising we'd be the epitome of decorum and manners!

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  4. I think you two will need my supervision! :)

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    1. Most definitely! How much fun would that be, eh Dottie?
      I do have a feeling we 3 could get into an excellent amount of fun.

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    2. Well, I know you and Rel. You're BIG trouble makers when put side by side. ;)

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    3. Add you in to the mix, Dotti, and well, there would be fireworks!!

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  5. Fun post, Rel. Funny, I was thinking of doing something similar for tomorrow's post. I actually think we should all do one of these - good way to get know each other more.

    Hey what app do you use? I started using one recently, "iBookshelf" but it's a bit clunky.

    I'm curious as to what the questions were for the missing numbers … hehe.

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  6. Hey Ian - good catch! I didn't even check that the numbers hadn't rejigged themselves ;-) Maybe I'll keep those ones to myself ;-)

    As far as my 'library' goes, I use Collectorz.com - you can choose from a range of apps - books, music, dvds, etc. I found it works well for the most part.

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  7. Rel, great post! Thanks for sharing your love of reading with us :) I wish I could read in the car for more than about five minutes. Motion sickness strikes if I read for too long, although I'm okay reading for longer stretches on buses, trains, boats and planes. I'm not sure why cars are different? Yay for the invention of audio books :)

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    1. It's funny how those things work, isn't it? Maybe you just need to plan more trips on public transport ;-)

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    2. True! I also get a lot of writing done on planes and in airports :)

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  8. Naughty gals! Rel, it's so comforting to know even though we come from different backgrounds we are united in our love of reading. Um, I used to read by the light of the moon till my mum caught me out. She compromised by allowing me an extra 30 mins reading time before bed.
    I'm reading nonfiction now written about the early days in the beyond of the Outback (NT) from a real young girl's POV. I love Grisham stories and try to read widely and not solely romance... which I l-o-v-e-.Like Narelle I write great wads in my travels. Once I've read our Aussie authors books I donte them to our church library where I don't feel pipped at a no-return borrower.

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  9. As a former lawyer, Rita, I love Joh Grisham's novels, too :) Thanks for sharing!

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    1. What's this former lawyer biz, Rel? You're just not practicing at present and, maybe never again, but the legal eagle in you will always remain. Yes, it may dim as time passes but ...

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    2. And my typing skills need some work! That would be JOHN Grisham :)

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  10. Lovely post, Rel! I'm with Jennifer, I'd love to browse through your library! I have a bit of a library myself (but nothing compared to yours, I'm sure). I wish I had known about reviewer programs before I started writing for publication! Now I can only review a handful of books a year because of writing deadline, etc., but before I started writing I was reading one or two books a week. My very favorite children's books are the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. They are set in a fictional town called Deep Valley, Minnesota around the turn of the twentieth century. A bit reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie, but in a different era. So fun to be here today. :)

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    1. Thanks for dropping by Gabrielle, that is really lovely of you :) Come on over and browse anytime! What's a few thousand miles and a plane fare??!

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  11. What an interesting post! We share many common answers, Rel. I'll answer one - favourite book this year is courtesy of your top ten, so thank you.
    Sway, by Amy Matayo kept me up so late I'm ashamed to say how late (bad reading habit)

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    1. Wow - that's very cool, Catherine! It's so great when someone loves a book I've recommended!

      As for reading late, I'm pretty sure we could share notes!!!

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  12. Loved your post Rel - great to find out more about your reading loves and hates.

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  13. FANTASTIC interview! Thank you, ladies!

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