Lights, Camera, Blog Action!

Announcement: Next week, and for all weeks following, Lights Camera Blog Action will be posted on a Thursday, rather than a Friday. I have a wonderful blog lined up, so make sure you check in next Thursday.

This is a special feature dedicated to spreading the word about the other great blogs that are out there! I have found a lot of great blogs through such features and I want to be able to share some book blog joy too!

Today I am featuring Susi from The Book Affair. her blog is very new and so it would be wonderful if people could head over and give her some support.

1. Tell us something about yourself

My name is Susi and I'm a twenty-something University graduate from Germany. I've got degrees in English, American and French Studies (with emphasis on Literature) and I really hope to be working in publishing one day. I'm an avid reader and thanks to my studies, I was able to concentrate on my hobby full time.

2. What was your favourite book as a child or young adult, and why?

I remember receiving Frances Hogson Burnett's 'The Secret Garden' when I was about 8 or 9. I read it so many times that I could recite whole passages. Then I did a class on Children's Literature last year and I had to read 'The Secret Garden' for it again and it brought back so many pleasant memories.

3. Why do you love to read?

For me, reading is a way to escape the world and to be a part of a different one. If I'm in serious need of cheering up, I just take some time for myself with my favourite books and I'm sure to be on top of the world again soon.

4. How do you choose your books?

Blogging and reading blogs has definitely influenced my reading habits - Mount TBR is as high as ever. I also love browsing through book shops and have a look at what is new and if I like the blurb, then I'll get it. Then, thanks to my studies, I had to read many authors which were new to me and are not among my favourites.

5. If you had to narrow it down - who would be your 3 favourite authors and what would be your 3 favourite books?

Wow, that's really difficult. My three favourite authors would probably be Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Sarah Waters. The first two are inspired by my studies, I've had to read so many classics and I only have fond memories of reading the first two. The last one, Waters, came to me by surprise, but her work inspired my MA thesis and I now count her among my favourites.

My three favourite books:

Helen Walsh - Once Upon a Time in England (you can find a review on my blog, read it for my thoughts) --> The book is just so full of raw emotions that my heart broke reading it. And when a book can move me that much, it must be amazing.

Jhumpa Lahiri - Interpreter of Maladies --> This is a collection of short stories, but Lahiri's language is so imaginative and her stories are so wonderful that I can't but re-read them again and again.

Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner --> I have to admit I only bought this book because it was on the bestselling lists. But I was so surprised by how great it was, I couldn't put it down.

6. When and why did you start your blog?

I only started my blog (The Book Affair) last week, so I really am an absolute newcomer. I've been lurking in the blogging community for so long now though that at some point I just decided that it was time to come out of the woodwork and take part actively. My blog is still really young and doesn't contain that many posts, so it's hardly representative of my reading habits, but if you'll give it a chance, we - my blog and I - will try to prove ourselves.

7. How did you decide upon the name of your blog?

It really wasn't easy to decide upon a name. I had a look at my books to see of one of them could inspire me and I my eyes rested on Jasper Fforde's 'The Eyre Affair'. I then thought 'The Book Affair' would be an appropriate title - the blog is about my love affair with books.

8. What do you love about book blogging?

I haven't been a blogger for that long, but I most definitely love the community. I've had such a warm welcome, I was completely overwhelmed by how nice everyone was. Then I love that I can discover so many new and great books that I have never heard of before. Just by lurking and reading posts I have found so many great authors and books that I would have never discovered without book blogs.

9. What tips do you have to offer to other book bloggers?

I really can't offer any tips, seeing as I'm so new. But I can repeat the most important advice I've gotten last week - have fun, never forget to have fun!

I loved The Secret Garden as a child as well. I always used to imagine that I had my own secret garden with a key. Thanks for participating!

If anyone else is interested in participating in Lights Camera Blog Action, please send me an email to pageturnersbooks@gmail.com and I will send you the questions.