Friday, February 19, 2016

2016 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon: The Questionnaire



As a pretty new member of the book blog world, I've been looking for ways to make connections with the other book bloggers out there, whose work I read and enjoy and admire. So when I found out about the 2016 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon, I knew I really wanted to be a part of it. And the first thing to do is a questionnaire to help you get to know me a little better. If you've ever been curious about the lady behind 500 Books, here are some answers!

  1. What’s your name: Gabby
  2. Where in the world are you blogging from: Reno, Nevada
  3. How did you get into blogging in the first place: When setting some goals for my 30s, I decided I wanted to read 500 books. But half the fun is being able to talk about them, and so to give myself a space to do that and to keep myself on track with my reading goals, I started the blog!
  4. How did you come up with your blog name: Like I said above, I set my goal at 500 books. Since my pace has been about 50 books per year the last few years, multiply that by ten years and you have...500 Books!
  5. What genre do you read and review the most on your blog: So far, it looks like literary fiction and non-fiction are big winners. But I think my reading as of late is a little non-fiction heavier than my normal reading pattern. I'd say we're most likely to end up with adult fiction as my most-read genre.
  6. What other types of posts do you do on your blog, apart from reviews: I've done some lists (of favorites and not-favorites), and I've got posts planned about My Reading Life (local bookstores, how I get my books, etc) and a Dreamcasting series I really want to do (I love watching movies).
  7. Best blogging experience so far: Seeing people that I wouldn't have expected to have any interest in my reading liking and commenting on my posts on facebook...it's silly, but it's really neat to have another way to connect with people I might not have seen or heard from in a while. 
  8. Favorite thing about the blogging community: I really enjoy getting to see how and what other people read and picking up recommendations of books I might not have considered without prompting.
  9. Name the 5 books you’re most excited for this 2016: The Queen of the Night is already out, but I haven't read it yet and it released in 2016, so it counts. I'm also looking forward to The Girls, The Gilded Years, Sweetbitter, and Private Citizens.
  10. Name the 5 books you want to read this 2016 that you didn’t get to in previous years: So many! My TBR pile is a problem. But I'm looking forward especially (and am on schedule to read): American Gods, Yes Please, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Devil In The White City, and The Group
  11. What’s an underrated book or series that you think everyone should read? Middlesex gets all the love, but The Virgin Suicides is my favorite book of all time. My autographed copy is my most prized possession (besides my engagement ring)
  12. Which book boy or girl would be your book BFF? Vianne Rocher from Chocolat makes good chocolate, which would make her a compelling choice even without the rest of how great she is.
  13. Which book boy or girl would be your book boyfriend/girlfriend? I fell a little bit in love with Tristran from Stardust when I read it, even more when adorable Charlie Cox played him in the movie adaptation. 
  14. Who would you recruit for your apocalypse squad (5 characters max): Katniss Everdeen because she'd save my life with her skillz, Daenerys Targaryen because dragons, Harry Potter because magic, Aragorn because general badassery, Sabriel because she'd be able to come find me in Death if I ever died. 
  15. Apart from reading, what are your other hobbies or interests: I really like watching movies, hanging out with my fiance and dog, and pole dancing!
  16. Apart from book shopping, what else do you like shopping for? Dresses! I have spent an ungodly sum of money at Modcloth on pretty dresses and it's all well-spent. 
  17. At a party, the DJ suddenly changes the song – and it’s your song. What song would be playing? This seems like it calls for a party song, so I'm going to go with "Got To Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye. Otherwise, the Ryan Adams cover of "Wonderwall" hits me right in the feels.
  18. Pick out either a book you want turned into a film/TV show, or a film/TV show you want turned into a book. I'd love to read The Jinx in the hands of a talented true crime author. That show haunted me.
  19. What would your dream library look like? I grew up in the Disney classic era, so the library that Belle gets from the Beast is pretty much the end all be all. 
  20. Author you want to meet and sit down to tea with? Going for the cheesy, obvious choice, but JK Rowling. I just love her and feel like she would be a wonderful person to chat with for an hour or so. Most of which would be taken up with me thanking her for writing Harry Potter.

12 comments:

  1. Wow! So, you'll stop blogging after 10 years??? But that's quite the goal right there. I should set that up or at least something like it. It'd be super interesting :)

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    1. Hi Jayvee! I actually don't know that I'll call it quits entirely once I'm "done"...I imagine if I'm still really enjoying it I'll keep it up, but a ten-year commitment seems like a good start at least :)

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  2. I want to read Yes Please too! Amy Poehler is literally so hilarious. I loved her in Parks & Recreation and the movie Sisters. It's nice to meet you Gabby! :)
    Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

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    1. Leslie Knope is pretty much my role model...I bought the book when it came out and I haven't had the chance to read it yet, so I'm really looking forward to it! Nice to meet you too Krystianna!

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  3. Why did I not think to include Aragorn for the Lord of the Rings in my Apocalypse Squad? He truly is a total badass. Actually, now that I think of it, even though I was a huge fan of the movies, I did not like the books, so I think it may have been cheating if I chose him. I'm trying to change that this year. I read LOTR when I was in middle school and much more impatient. I've actually picked up the series for a re-read (still on book one though), and I'm liking it much better the second time around.

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    1. I love both the books and the movies...except The Hobbit, which I didn't like in either form (although I think the movie could have been really good if it had just been ONE movie)

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  4. I honestly think that JK Rowling would be a fascinating person to spend some time with, particularly if you love what she's written! You could ask her all sorts of questions and hear the story of how things came to be in her stories right from the source. Such a fun idea, isn't it? Also, my TBR is constantly growing and that's definitely a problem. A good one though! ;)

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    1. She's had such an interesting life, and her Twitter presence definitely makes me think she'd be someone fun to chat with. My physical and digital TBRs are both well over 200, and I can't stop buying (I buy mostly secondhand, or I wouldn't have a roof over my head much longer)

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  5. American Gods is such a great book, definitely get to that one soon :)

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    1. I've heard such amazing things about it! I have a very definite schedule laid out for what I read when, so I'm really psyched that I should be getting to this one in the next month or so!

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  6. Hey Gabby! I hope you won't stop reading after 500 books. ;)

    I want to get to American Gods, especially because there's going to be a show on it! Harry Potter + Aragorn are such an unlikely team, but I dig it!

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    1. Oh I definitely wouldn't stop reading, but I feel like a 10-year commitment is a good starting place :) I would definitely be the weak link on my apocalypse team, and both Harry and Aragorn (and everyone else) are proven survivors...between two nature survivalists, a lady with three dragons, a young wizard, and someone who can travel in and out of death, I feel like I might be able to make it!

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