June 4, 2012

Armchair BEA: Introductions First

This post is part of my week-long participation in Armchair BEA 2012.

Introductions First

Hi everyone! This is my second year of doing Armchair BEA, and I'm very excited about it! Last year I had a lot of fun visiting all kind of new-to-me blogs, and I'm sure that this year will be just as great.

That being said, here are my answers to the questions:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Hi everyone! I'm Ashley and I'm a 25 year old YA book blogger from Ontario, Canada. I have a degree in Library and Information Science, but as the job market has not been very friendly to me I'm currently working as a receptionist/admin assistant at a non-profit organization that works with both youth at risk and developmentally challenged youth and adults.

I've been blogging on Book Labyrinth since August of 2010 and writing reviews on Goodreads since January of 2010. I started Book Labyrinth because I wanted a place where I could have bookish discussions with other people who enjoyed the same books as I did. What has kept me blogging is that connection with other book bloggers, because let's face it: no one else understands our book obsessions the way other bloggers do.

2. Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?

I'm going to cheat and mention a few. You should check out my Word on the Street Toronto Recap & my recap of the Rochester Teen Book Festival because they were both amazing events, and the posts show how much fun going to book events can be.

I'm also really proud of my post A Book I'm Thankful For, because even though the post was written as part of a contest the content comes from the heart, talking about my absolute favourite book ever, Jellicoe Road.

3. What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

Can I say Hogwarts? That's so cliche, but like everyone else on the planet I would have *loved* to attend Hogwarts. I'm going to Universal Orlando in September, so I'm hoping that will help with my Potter obsession.

Besides that I'd love to experience the Seven Realms from Cinda Williams Chima's books, Colby from Sarah Dessen's books, and probably a ton of other places.

However, I've actually been to one "real life" book location. I visited the World of Beatrix Potter museum in Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria (England), and I spent a lot of time in the Lake District where her Peter Rabbit books are set. Gorgeous!


4. What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?

I think my favourite part of the book blogging community is what I mentioned above. I love knowing other readers who have the same tastes as me, and whose recommendations I can trust. I love how other book bloggers understand how obsessive I can get about books. I also love the connections that can develop outside of book related subjects.

What I'd most like to see change is less drama, which... I know is pretty much an impossible wish, but hey, I like being a dreamer.

5. Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

I actually feel like they have changed a lot. Prior to blogging I read contemporary YA almost exclusively. I also read a lot of those rom com type of books... like the more cheesy ones. Now I will read a lot more serious and/or sad books that I wouldn't have before. I also read a lot more genres. I was always interested in dystopian/science fiction type movies, but I hadn't read a lot of books of that genre. I also started reading paranormal YA, which I had a lot of notions about because of some poorly written books that I had read. Paranormal still isn't my favourite, but I do have some favourites in that genre now. I'm also far more likely to quit reading a book if I don't like it, where as before I always tried to stick it out. Now I feel like there are too many awesome books out there to suffer through one I'm not enjoying.

I had a lot of fun answering those questions, and I can't wait to see what everyone else has to say. Thanks for stopping by Book Labyrinth!

38 comments:

  1. Never managed to get to the Beatrix Potter place, despite being in the same country and not that far away! Good choices on where to visit though!
    Chelle

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    1. It was my friend's choice to go there, but it was really cute and the village is gorgeoussss.

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  2. Isn't it a wonderful world to dwell in, this book blogging place? I love how it's enriched my life, too.

    My mother is Canadian, and this summer we're attending a special event sponsored by Classical Pursuits in Toronto. I'd so love to live there!

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    1. Very cool! Toronto can be a lot of fun. I'm glad I live close enough to visit there.

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  3. Colby is a great choice! And Hogwarts, which I can't believe I didn't think of. My reading has kind of gone in the opposite direction of yours, but then my kid count has raised too.

    My intro post is here: http://bookslistslife.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-introduction-lisa-books.html

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  4. I would love to go to the Beatrix Potter museum! That would be so amazing. Hogwarts may be "cliche" but I think you would be hard pressed to find many book bloggers that wouldn't jump at the chance to go :)


    'Jellicoe' is heartbreaking and hopeful. It's simple and complex. It's confusing at times, but ultimately rewarding. Gorgeous, breathtaking, disjointed, poetic. It will make you laugh and make you cry.

    This was beautiful! What a great post :)

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    1. Aw, thanks! I love that book SO MUCH if it wasn't obvious from my post. ;)

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  5. Nice to meet you Ashley! hahaha, Hogwarts would be my #1 too even thought it is cliched; it's all good though! Oooo, Colby would be AMAZING to visit. I love Sarah Dessen and Colby sounds like an amazing place!


    ~Kailia

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  6. I happen to have loved your post on The Rochester Teen Book Festival! Side note: I just so happened to head over to the website this morning and saw a few authors attending next year have already been named! I flailed all over when I saw Lauren DeStefano's name!

    I am so jealous about Orlando! I would love to go down there soon! :)

    My intro!

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    1. I'm super excited about Marissa Meyer! I definitely hope to be able to go next year as well, but we'll see. =)

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  7. Nice to see you at Armchair BEA, Ashley! :D

    haha I said Hogwarts, too! Don't worry, it's not to cliche! ;) At least, I don't think it is. Awe, I hope you love visiting the Hogwarts they've created in Orlando...pictures please once you go! :D

    I agree that less drama around book blogging would be fantastic, but the community is always amazing. :)

    Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself, Ashley! :)
    Ambur
    My Armchair BEA Introductions Post

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    1. I will definitely take tonnnnns of pics at Disney and Universal. =D

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  8. Hey Ashley!

    Good to see you again! Did you know I'm gonna be in Toronto July 4th - 9th? Just saying, could meet up sometime!

    Anyway, love your intro, I wish Hogwartz was a real place too. And I totally get you on the growing DNF pile, I have that going on too. :(

    Hope to talk to you soon!

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    1. Nooo I didn't know you'll be in Toronto. We'll have to see if I can make it there, unless you wanted to head London way. =b

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  9. You can absolutely say Hogwarts. It's cliche for a reason. One place I want to go more than anywhere is the Magical World of Harry Potter - it's the next best thing other than actually being at Hogwarts =)
    So great to meet you Ashley! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  10. The photo is beautiful! That area of England is vaguely on my travel wish list. Have fun in Orlando! I haven't been since that part opened, but I'm sure I'll get there in the next couple of years!

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  11. YAY that blogging has sort of broadened your book horizons! And yes, I feel you - DOWN WITH DRAMA. :D I prefer to stay far away from it.

    Thanks so much for stopping by the blog, Ashley!

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  12. You're going to LOVE the Wizarding World in Orlando! My husband and I went at Christmas and it was so amazing ... I could probably have spent the entire trip going through all the shops and going on all the rides! Make sure you have a butter beer because it's delicious!

    I agree with you ... LESS DRAMA! That would be nice, but I think there will ALWAYS be drama, no matter where you go. :(

    Thanks for visiting my blog! It's nice to meet another Canadian. :)

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  13. Ohhh, the Lake District — very nice! It looks very scenic. That's where Pemberley's located too, so I guess you kind of got to see 2 literary locations at once? ;)

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    1. It's true, there are definitely more than a few books set there. And I can see why... so gorgeous!

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  14. Lovely post dear! and the Lake District sounds so awesome!! :D
    Also, you know, I think my tastes in books have changed but at the same time I got more impatient with books, like I know what I like and what I don't like now.

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  15. YAY, another fellow Canadian !! LOL. Glad you want to go to Hogwarts too AHAH. The one at Universal Studios is awesome, YOU HAVE TO TRY BUTTERBEER, best drink EVER.

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    1. I am totally psyched for butterbeer, I gotta say. And I'm totally buying a wand as well. =b

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  16. It's totally true: nobody understands our book love like fellow book bloggers :) It is the best part to this community. And the Lake District looks absolutely beautiful!

    Happy Armchair BEA, and lovely to meet you!
    My Armchair BEA Intro

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  17. Thanks for your interesting post- it made good reading! Where do you think Hogwarts would be in real life?

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    1. Good question! I think most people would say Scotland or something like that, and I would tend to agree.

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  18. It's so awesome that so many of our reading tastes have changed since we began blogging!

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  19. Hi Ashley,

    You are so right, The Lake District is stunning. I visit family down in England every year and always go and the scenery never gets old (although i will admit there is only so many times you can do the museum itself before you can speak along with the video they show you lol)

    Did you go to Beatrix Potters house while you where there? It is brilliant fun seeing the furniture etc in real life that was in the books :)

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    1. We didn't go to her house, actually... but I bet that would have been cool!

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  20. I'm with you on Hogwarts but the Lake District looks amazing as well. I've never been to Europe but every time I see a picture like that it makes me want to go even more.

    I'm also with you on less drama in the book blogging world. I just pretend that it isn't happening and try not to pay attention.

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  21. LOL I want to go to Hogwarts, too :) Maybe I went there once but was kicked out because of bad behaviour and they had my memories erased...?
    Less drama in the book blogging world would be nice, but actually I must admit that I also kind of love all drama... Yeah, call me crazy, but it keeps everything a little more interesting. Happy Armchair BEA :)
    xo Mar

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  22. Ugh, I know what you mean about the job market not being the best for librarians. I've been trying for ages now and always the "not enough experience" spiel. Thanks for stopping by my post!

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  23. I have never even heard of the World of Beatrix Potter museum, wonder if my owls escaped from there? LOL

    So nice to "meet" you and thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Have been in such a blogging slump lately that I was just tickled to meet someone new:)

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    1. Haha... well they are so adorable, they totally could have escaped from there. =b

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  24. Hogwarts is one of those places we all want to go to. Pern is another. And the Starship Enterprise. And the TARDIS.
    Imagination takes us places, and they're lovely. Sometimes terrible too, but lovely and mind-expanding and eye-opening and challenging and that's why we read.

    Thanks so much for visiting my Armchair BEA intro at Reading Reality!

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  25. Are you going to Word On The Street this fall too? I really want to, but it's the weekend before my wedding so not sure I can swing it. *sigh* But it might be something I decide at the last minute. As funny as it is, I'd rather go to WOTS than have a bachelorette party. LOL

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment; I appreciate each one!

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