Real Name: Katy Alice
Favorite Books: Moby-Dick,
American Gods and The Night Circus
Explain the Blog’s Name: Well, as I mentioned in my first post I
took the ‘Garret’ idea from Jo March’s attic hideaway in Little Women. As for why I chose the ‘Girl’ part when I am more of
the age to be called a “woman”… well it’s because it’s alliterative and rolls
off the tongue better. Also, I have no problem with the word girl. I know that
makes me controversial in some of the feminist circles I run in, but you see, I
don’t see anything inherently pejorative or wrong with being a girl and therefor I don’t see anything wrong with calling myself a girl regardless of my
age.
And Now… The Newbie Book Blogger Tag!
While I’m not exactly a fresh
hand at the old book blogging game, this is my first real attempt at running
one on my own. So, I figured I’d give the tag a try. Without any further ado,
let’s get to it!
Why
did you start this blog?
Because my
blogging home of two years is closing at the end of May, and I’ve grown
accustomed to having a voice in the online book community. Also, I don’t have
many people in my immediately social circle with whom I can chat about books,
and I like having an outlet for my ramblings.
What
are some fun and unique things you can bring to book blogging?
Well, I tend to
bring a slightly more academic feminist read to popular fiction than the casual
blogger based on my education background. And I am not shy about sharing my
honest opinions of books in reviews even if they are not flattering.
But if I’m being
REALLY honest the only truly unique thing I bring to book blogging is me, my
perspective and particular love of books and the bookish community.
What are you most excited for about this new blog?
I’m excited
about my upcoming #YApril project (more on that next week) and just getting to
be the primary voice on this blog. While I loved blogging for The Bookish Blog,
I was part of a staff and that meant keeping with a certain tone. I was never
told to keep my politics and beliefs to myself, I felt compelled to because the
tone of the site in general was pretty light, and I didn’t want to ruffle any
feathers. But THIS is my blog and I’m the only one I have to answer to… so that’s
pretty exciting.
Why do you love reading?
Geez… that’s a
loaded question. What’s not to love about reading? I guess I first loved
reading because I learned how to very early and was always praised for it, so
it became kind of my thing. I was the bookworm of my family/neighborhood/friend
group. I was Belle and Jo and Matilda and Hermione and that identity meant and
means a great deal to me. I continue to love reading because I’m a touch
socially awkward and overly cautious in the real world, but in my books I can
be absolutely anyone, go anywhere and do anything. Reading takes me away from
me, but it also teaches me about myself in surprising ways. It’s just my very
favorite thing.
What
book or series got you into reading?
My mom read Little Women with me when I was five (she
read it to me when I was home sick for two weeks with scarlatina aka Scarlet
Fever which isn’t a genius idea if you’re familiar with that particular novel,
but that’s another story for another time), but I probably really fell in love
with reading when I read Otherwise Known
as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume, Matilda
by Roald Dahl, and Harriet the Spy by
Louise Fitzhugh. I liked books about bold girls because I wasn’t and I learned
how be brave from them… I sometimes think I should go back to those books and
relearn some of those lessons.
What
questions would you ask your favorite authors?
How do you do
it? How do you focus the ideas and make them come out story shaped? Do you ever
lose your voice? How do you find it again? And I guess I’d asked them how they
would write me as a character.
What
challenges do you think starting a blog will be the hardest to overcome?
Keeping up with
it when I get busy or blocked. It’s the same thing that has plagued me every
time I’ve tried to blog in the past. But in the past I’ve done kind of general lifestyle/personal
blog things, so I think the specific book focus should help with that… that and
I’ve got a backlog of old reviews/posts I can reshare when I’m feeling stuck.
When
did you start reading?
I learned to
read when I was three (little things and picture books, I didn’t get into
chapter books/novels until I was five or six) and it became part of my daily
routine around that time.
Where
do you read?
Anywhere,
everywhere. I keep a book with me at all times. But I guess my favorite reading
spots are in my bed and in the corner of my couch… I prefer quiet places.
What
kind of books do you like to read?
I prefer fiction of
most stripes… I don’t really dig fantasy or Science Fiction. I also go through
phases where all I want to read is Nonfiction. Soooooo I guess I read all kinds
of books.
Well there you have it, a little
bit about me! I’d love to learn about you, feel free to answer any of these
questions in the comments!
