Tuesday, September 15, 2009

BBAW Interview with Eva from A Striped Armchair

This being my first year blogging, I was thrilled with the idea of an interview swap. There is still so much that I feel I need to learn, so having a seasoned veteran like Eva from A Striped Armchair as my interview partner has been great. To check out the other side of the interview (my answers) click here.

Without any further ado, I present Eva:

You say you read as often as possible, how many hours per week do you think would be the average?

Let's see...my reading is cyclical. When I get really sick, I can't read at all, and I watch a ton of TV and movies. Then when I'm feeling a little better, I got on a total reading binge because I've missed it so much, reading 8-10 hours a day. Then I'll settle back to normal, which is probably 3-5 hours a day. So that's what, 21-35 hours a week? Probably closer to the 35! (This is just book-reading,not internet-reading!)


After all the places you've lived in or visited, where would you chose to stay , if given the choice (money, etc, are no object)?

I'm a Texan at heart, but my number one life goal is to live all around the world (I want to live on each continent but Antarctica at least once). So I'm not sure if I'd pick one place to stay forever,but there are three cities I'd go back to in a heartbeat to live a few years: Edinburgh, Cairo, and St. Petersburg.

Was there a specific person/blogger that helped to get you started on your own blogging adventures?

Right at the end of 2006, I somehow stumbled across Iliana's bookblog, Bookgirl's Nightstand (
www.bookgirlnet). I immediately wanted a book blog for myself. :) But I didn't have a mentor.

Are you fluent in Russian and/or French?

I don't like the word 'fluent,' lol. But I'm very comfortable with Russian in all aspects, verbal and written. As far as French, I'm much better at reading and writing, since I didn't study abroad there. I took Latin in high school, which makes the French vocab a bit easier too. :)

Is there a particular book or series of books that you tend to read over and over?

Any time I'm feeling really down, I turn to a Jane Austen book. This year, I'm rereading Laurie King's Mary Russell detective series, which has been great! And if I need a lift, I prefer childhood favourites like Anne of Green Gables. I used to reread books all of the time,but since getting into book blogging I've sort of stopped doing that.:/ I want to get back into it though!

Until you have your perfect reading nook set up, where do you do most of your reading?

I have four main reading spots in my house: the couch in the living room, which is great because I can lay on it or turn the end into an easy chair (it has foot rest) and it's right near an outlet. Since I have to use a heating pad to help my muscles a lot, the couch is my fave right now. Then there's the backyard porch. I have a gorgeous backyard that turns into foothills of the Rockies, with deer often stopping by. We have great patio furniture with super-padded chairs,and during great weather I'm out there a lot. Then there's the bathtub-soaking in super hot water is a good way to help fibro, so my tub is tricked out. I have a padded bathmat in there, as well as the perfect inflatable terrycloth pillow. And an awesome pumpkin spice candle I can easily spend two hours in the bath! Finally there's my bed, which I don't use that frequently since it doesn't provide as much neck support. But I might read there right before I fall asleep. And it's where I lay when I'm too sick to read and thus listening to audiobooks.

Have you ever tried writing anything (other than what's required at school)?

Nope. Well, back when I was in elementary school I wrote a book series set in Australia with characters like Peter the Platypus and Katie the Kangaroo. But I have no real interest in writing fiction!I have started keeping a journal again recently, and I kept one when Iowas studying abroad in Russia. Nothing for publication, though,outside of academic stuff!
Are you connected with any other online book related site (like LibraryThing or Goodreads)?
I used Shelfari for maybe two weeks. lol But no-book blogs keep me busy enough as it is! If I spent any more time online, I'd never get any books read.


You are very honest on your blog about your condition. Have you ever read a fictional book where there's a character that has fibromyalgia?

I haven't, and I'm not sure that I'd want to. (I have read nonfic stuff about fibro; my favourite is A Delicate Balance: Living Successfully with Chronic Illness.) Unless the author actually had fibro, I'm sure that a fictional character would just annoy me. There are so many misconceptions and prejudices out there about fibro; when they started advertising that prescription med for it, I hated it.Now, when I tell new people I have fibro, half the time I get a response similar to "Oh, like those whiny old women in the commercials?" But I've veered off onto a whole different issue!

13 comments:

Krista said...

Great interview! it's always nice to learn more about fellow bloggers!

Jackie said...

Thanks, Krista. It's so true and there are so many book bloggers out there!

Amanda said...

Wonderful interview! I loved getting to know Eva better. :)

Unknown said...

I loved this interview! It's nice to get to know more about Eva since I enjoy her blog.

Thank you!

Jeanne said...

I can't believe Eva doesn't have a real striped armchair...it was fun learning more about her. And visiting your blog, too. Hello!

Jackie said...

Thanks everyone for stopping by. I am so looking forward to next year's event now. This was a blast.

And, yes, Jeanne, it is a shame Eva doesn't have her armchair...then again, neither do I. All book fans/bloggers should have a comfy place to read! Maybe soon ;-)

ibeeeg said...

I am really liking the Interview swaps as it is fun getting to know other book bloggers.
Thanks for the review Jackie.

Memory said...

What a great interview! I'm not surprised Eva gets through as many books as she does, given those 8-10 hour reading binges!

Anonymous said...

Great job! Eva is one of my favorite bloggers...I'm insanely jealous of her reading skillz. :-D

Eva said...

Hi Jackie-there are lots of comments for you over at my blog if you want to reply! :D

Jeanne, I had a striped armchair when I began blogging (my senior year of college)! We had it in our apartment's living room, and it was pretty much 'my' chair. People would get disoriented if they saw me anywhere else. ;)

And Memory, the binges are only when I haven't been able to read for awhile!

Kerri said...

Great interview questions. I enjoyed Eva's honesty about her condition as you refered to it. I'm off to read the counter interview.

Hazra said...

Wonderful interview. I loved your questions, and it explains a lot about how Eva manages to be such a prolific book reviewer.

Maw Books said...

My sister has fibro, so I see how hard it is. It was great to get to know you more Eva. I've been enjoying these interviews.

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