BBAW Interview Swap - Meet Kathrin!

It's day two of the Book Blogger Appreciation Week, and you know what that means...it's time for the interview swap! This is my first Book Blogger Appreciation Week, and I'm so excited to be a part of such a wonderful community of like-minded individuals. It's so much fun to see what each and every one of you thinks about books and literature every day. Enough about me though...the interview swap was designed to connect bloggers who might not otherwise meet one another, and I was lucky enough to be paired with Kathrin from Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic. So, without further ado...the interview:

1. What made you decide to start a book blog?

I first started my book blog to have a place where I can keep track of everything that I read. I usually read over 100 books a year, so I eventually forget what I read and what I thought about the book after a while. I considered a notebook or aomething like that, but after a while my handwriting gets a bit messy and I absolutely hate it when it's not properly written and not all neat and clean, so that clearly was not an option. (Yes, I'm afraid I'm a bit of a neat freak where writing is concerned.

2. You're from a family of avid readers. Do you remember how old you were when you first started reading? What inspired you?

Oh, the first time I read a book on my own? In Germany we don't learn reading until 1st or 2nd grade - at least back when I started school it was like that - so I guess I read my first book at the age of 6. I was simply fed up with having to wait until someone had the time to sit down with me for an hour or longer to read to me ;-) And from then on out, my entire family never complained when asked to go book shopping several times a month to always have a new book around.

3. You began blogging back in 2004 (wow!). What drives you to continue book blogging?

Oh, thank you! But really, I took quite few month-long breaks in the mean time. Sometime life just takes over or I'm just not in the mood to sit down and actually figure out where the book was especially good or where it lacked a bit...
In the end, though, I keep on blogging because my notes help me focus on the book I read and analyze it. And also, I remember a whole lot more about a book when I actually wrote a review than I would otherwise.

4. A fellow Harry Potter nut! Which character are you most like, and why?

I guess I'm most like Ron. He's slightly goofy and accident-prone, but still a loyal friend.

5. You're going to be stranded on an island and are allowed to take just one book with you....what would you choose and why?

I just talked to my cousin about this question and we figured I might as well say I'd bring the Us Magazine with Ali & Roberto... To pick just one book is sooooo difficult. I am at my cousin's for a visit and for the 14.5 hours at two airports and two airplanes I already packed four books. So how could I ever dwindle it down to just one book for being stranded on an island??? If you insist, though, I guess I'd pick the Old Testament, because that is my favorite...

6. What process do you use when deciding what books to read and review?

First I look at genre and the story in particular. Is it something I would be interested in anyway? The last thing I look at before I write back is the date it's supposed to be reviewed by. I will only put in a request when I feel that I can make it by that date. Usually, this is an easier task for me because I live in Germany and not all publishers are willing to ship there.

7. If you could be any supernatural creature, what would you pick, and why?

I would like to be able to travel into the future, if that's an option? I just want to know things work out for the best.

8. What is your favourite series of all-time, and what is your favourite stand-alone book?

My all/time favorite series has to be Lee Harris' Christine Bennett series. I just love the character of Christine Bennett - how often do you get an ex-nun turned PI? And my all-time favorite stand-alone is definitely Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird! I can't get enough of that one. Atticus Finch is my hero and I just love Scout and Boo Radley :D

9. What does the world of literature mean to you, or for you, if you will?

Literature to me is both way to escape from everything and a way to look at life from a different point of view. I can do time travels, experience different lifestyles & even do things that simply are not possible in real life. What else could be better???

10. Describe yourself and your blog in just five words...ready...go!

eclectic, goofy, German, young-ish, spicy(???)

-------------------------------------------

Thank you so much for the awesome answers, Kathrin! She has the cutest blog, and I love reading her reviews. I invite you all to check out her blog, Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic (my interview is up there now, too!), and to check out the other interview swaps floating around the blogosphere today! A full list is available here.