Interview of a blogger- Iris

So many times do authors get interviewed. I decided to change things up. It is time for the interviewer to be the interviewee. The first blogger I have interviews is Iris. She lives in the Netherlands and I have really connected with her over the last month or so. Enjoy!

Did you like to read growing up? Why or why not?

Yes I did! My mom always tried to stimulate for me and my younger sister to read. We had a weekly trip to the library (which was much needed because at the end of the week I had finished all of them) and she used to read to us every single night. I grew up with reading and while I grew older that continued. At school we had to read, and most of my classmates hated it, we got this bookmark and every time we finished one you would get a sticker as prize. I always had tons of bookmarks at the end of the year! (I wonder if I still have those somewhere…).

What was your favorite childhood book?

I have two actually, one is a Dutch one that you probably haven’t heard about.

It is written by Annie M.G. Schmidt. She is a Dutch writer and although she wrote a variety of poems, songs, books, plays, musicals, and radio- en television drama, she is best known for her Children’s Literature. The book is Called “Pluk van de Petteflet” and there is really no translation for that title. I loved this book for its wonderful adventures, the silly, outrageous, but lovable characters, and the colourful illustrations. It was one of the books my mom read to me and my younger sister and she did a great job, making funny voices and all. I loved it and still have a well-read copy of the book.

The second book is well known to any reader: Harry Potter. My mom read the first book to me when I was old enough to not have nightmares and as I got older I started saving up money to buy the other books as well. Money I got from my grandparents or money I found. It was totally cute if I think back on how little me went to the store with collected money to buy books.

What is your favorite genre?

I don’t really know actually, but if I look at my blog and all the genres there, most books I’ve read are YA dystopian. I do love that genre, though I read mostly anything. I also have a weak spot for Classics (Jane Austen is my favorite writer!).

What book can you read over and over?

Pride and Prejudice, I love that novel! I love Jane Austen and I can read her novels again and again, but Pride and Prejudice is my favorite. And believe me I have read it over and over again!

Best book you ever read? Worst?

The best book! I have a list haha. Of course Jane Austen! I love her wit, her sarcasm and not to forget the characters! Aside from my favorite novel (cause really who can win from Jane Austen) my current favorites are definitely Divergent and Shatter Me. Divergent is just Divergent and Shatter Me has this amazingly unique prose (Tahereh Mafi has a way with words)!

The worst book I´ve ever read… I can´t really remember a worst book (probably because I banned them from my mind and all) but I can name one book that I still haven’t managed to finish… Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. I never did manage to finish it because I just can’t! I honestly can’t… and I know the story (who doesn’t) and I do like it! But the book, sooo frustrating! Since I just can’t seem to get through.

What is your favorite thing to blog about?

Books! Anything book related really, I am currently working on some new features for my blogs. I just love thinking about new things to write and post on my blog. I love the process that leads to a review. The reading, the taking notes, the thinking about a book and then of course the writing itself.

What made you want to start blogging?

My blog existed a while because the book blog IrisjeXx did. I started blogging because I wanted my family to have a way to see what I was up to when I went on one of my travel adventures (first time was when I went to California all on my own) and when I got back home I didn’t really use my blog any more. Until I wrote a post about Jane Austen and her novel Pride and Prejudice. That’s when I caught the virus. I started reviewing all the books I read and here we are today I have my one year blog anniversary coming up!

Who is the audience you go for when you blog?

All readers, and non readers as well. I try to inspire people to read a book I thought was awesome. One example of the non-reader is a friend of mine who never read, she hated it. So when her birthday came up, I (and another friend of mine) gave her a book that was being made into a movie. We told her that if she read the book, we would take her to the theatre to see the movie as well. She started reading and finished the same weekend. When the movie came out we took her to see it and when the summer holiday came up she told me that she bought 5 books to take with her (she caught the virus as well, because we managed to inspire her to read). I love that. When I get a message from somebody (even those that I don’t know at all) about how they love a review and how it made them want to read a book, it literally makes my day!

If you are not blogging, what would you be doing?

Doing lots of reading and studying. Just minus the blogging part. If I hadn’t had my blog I just would have had to wait longer to read the books I’m reading now haha. I’ve always been the girl that reads… Blogging hasn’t really changed it, though I read way more now (and I have a planner so I won’t forget when to finish what and when to post what).

Most viewed website?

EpicReads! I love TeaTime. Both girls are hilarious and the bookish news is a great way to stay updated on what is happing in the world of books.

Favorite place to read?

On the couch with some tea and a blanket! Or in my bed!

If you had a whole day of nothing to do, what would you fill it with?

I’d stay in my PJ’s all day and do whatever! Some drawing, I’d probably cook for my family (it’s the least I can do when I have the day off) and of course I’d throw in some reading for good measure!

I’d probably go running as well… Otherwise I have all this pent up energy and really I love to exercise. Running gives me the ability to clear my mind and think. Yeah, running would probably be in a whole day of nothing as well. There goes my idea of walking around in my PJ’s all day (though I would change back into them when I got back -and showered-).

If you could interview any author, who would it be?

J.K. Rowling! Her books are the first thing I think of when I think back to my youth! Or Tolkien, because the Lord of the Rings books are just epic! Never mind… I can’t choose (Because Veronica Roth, Tahereh Mafi and Susan Dennard are some of the other names that pop into my mind as well).

Want more from her? Check out her blog: irisjexx.com

Have a wonderful day!

Tiffini Hunt