Armchair BEA 2012: Introductions First!

This year, I'm participating in Armchair BEA 2012! Here's a small interview with myself to kick off this year's activities with.

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! I'm Ashleigh, a fan of books, cats, scented candles, and parenthetical asides (I like to think they're my unique little touch). I've been blogging for roughly a year and a half now, having started in September 2010, and I admit, I started blogging because I saw all the lovely books other bloggers were getting and wanted a piece of that. Shortly thereafter, I came to care less about the ARCs (though I appreciate them when I get them) and more about the freedom to share my thoughts on books with other people. No one in my life except for my two best friends read the same kind of books I do and finally being able to discuss them has made me that much more intelligent.

2. What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?

I'm divided between four books I'm reading right now:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas; I'm a little wary of it after reading the three available novellas, but I planned a month-long event for the novellas/novel and I'm going to stick with it. I really hope I like it just so the money I spend on the hardcover of Throne of Glass I'm giving away during the event won't make me feel icky.

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter; The events of the first book are a little fuzzy in my head because I read it well over a year ago, but I've gotten about forty pages into the second and I'm liking it so far. Here's hoping the romance doesn't take over. I loved that the first book was about the mermaid dynamic, not romance.

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth; I'm reading it solely on a recommendation from one of my friends. Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have picked it up, though the idea of a lightning addict and two religious cults who want her sounds interesting enough. Fingers crossed!

Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel; I admit, I'm reading this solely for Pamela. She is one badass girl! Not looking forward to the six points of view, though. The first novel couldn't use five well and I doubt this one can use six well.

3. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

On June 1, I graduated magna cum laude from high school with a GPA of 4.18. When I go to college in August, I'm attending on a full-ride academic scholarship.

9. 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 love that the book blogging community is drama-free--in a manner of speaking, of course. Most of us know how it's been lately with all the author/reviewer fights and Kristi the Story Siren's plagiarism (now that was an implosion) and that definitely isn't the kind of drama-free I mean. Maybe I don't get out enough, but I don't see one book blogger fighting and creating drama with another book blogger for no reason. When I jump online, I don't hear about So-and-So from This Blog spamming and threatening This Person all the time.

In the next few years, I would like to see authors, publishers, and book bloggers alike come to a better understanding of one another so that all the drama stops. In addition, I'd like everyone to be more aware of the intricacies of plagiarism so nothing like the Story Siren implosion happens again. The response to that made me happy in some ways (yay! Everyone knows more about plagiarism now and what to do about it!) and disappointed in others (who the fuck thought it was a good idea to email threats to the plagiarism victims?!).

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


My God, how they have changed. By reading so many books both great and terrible, my tastes have become more refined. I'm difficult to impress and I know exactly what kind of book I want to read. I've become more socially minded in the past few years. Reading with a feminist eye has become second nature to me and when a book is blatantly anti-feminist (see When You Were Mine, Starcrossed, and Nightshade), I go on the warpath. Abusive relationships (and not just physically abusive), slut shaming, and homophobia turn me off to a book; books that celebrate the diversity of people in gender, orientation, and ability make me swoon. Code Name Verity in particular was one I swooned over because of how it showed men weren't the only ones fighting hard for their freedom; women were fighting just as hard.

In addition, I've gotten a little bit masochistic with my reading. I get a little fascinated with how terrible a book is said to be. Hey, nothing makes you appreciate a fantastic book the way a horrible book does. I only pick up those kinds of books from time to time, though. Ninety percent of the time, I read a book honestly hoping I will love it.