Crooked Still, Star Wars, and Insecurity
This week's Anonymous Teen Reader is Echo! Sorry it's a day late, but I'm on the road right now with Jessica Verday, author of The Hollow, and it's always hard to update my site when I'm not at home.
We're uploading pictures of the Ghosts and Graves Tour as we speak. I'll try to post a little tour update with some of the pics tomorrow!
I've known this particular Anonymous Teen Reader for some time. She's one of my favorites, and I know you're going to love getting to know her.
JUST THE FACTS
Interview Code Name (you choose!); Echo
Current country of residence; United States
Male or female? Female
Age; 19 (not sure how I feel about leaving my teenage years behind) (aw, it gets better hon, I promise!)
ABOUT THE BOOKS
How many books, on average, do you read a month? 10+, depending on my workload.
Favorite kind of book and why; I love a good fantasy because it has the ability to completely transport and surround you in the impossible.
Name the single most important factor in your decision to purchase a book; The plot summary. If it doesn't seem interesting the rest of the book probably won't be either. (scary, since most authors don't have a hand in writing their own summary!)
What makes you feel like you're reading or have read a truly amazing book? If when I put it down I'm still thinking about it. I read The Left Hand of Darkness this summer and couldn't stop turning it over in my head for the next week or two.
How important is a friend's recommendation in your decision to purchase a book? It depends which friend. I have some who know my preferences and have amazing taste themselves whose recommendations I take seriously. Others… not so much.
Thing you'd like to see more or less of in the YA genre; Less of the repetitive derivative paranormal romance. Please!
What's your biggest pet peeve in a book? When the lead female character is a complete doormat with no identity of her own. I have a special soapbox reserved for rants about that topic.
Paperback or hardcover? Whatever I can get my hands on :)
Series or stand-alone? Both
ALL ABOUT YOU
What music do you most often listen to? A very strange combination of Josh Groban, singer-songwriter (Missy Higgins rocks my world), and progressive neo-bluegrass.
Name your favorite band; Right now I'm loving Crooked Still
Best movie of all time? I adore The Jane Austen Book Club, but Star Wars (the originals) holds a special place in my heart. (yes! We're big Star Wars geeks in our house!)
Without naming names, tell us a little about your group of friends; They are the most amazing, intelligent and driven people who let me geek out and join in. They're the type of people who would come without a second of hesitation if I needed them at 4 am.
What's your biggest concern about the world right now and/or the people in it? That we are too caught up in our own prejudices to see others for the beautiful humans they are. In a country that prides itself on a foundation of equality and rights, why do we still have citizens who are denied basic human rights?
Someone gives you a million dollars, no strings attached. What do you do with it? First, I would make sure I have enough to cover college and graduate school. Then I would set some aside to start preparing for the future/real world, to perhaps use for retirement or as a downpayment on a home. I would also take a few trips somewhere, perhaps to South America. The rest I would divide between charities, one of which being my public library at home so they could buy some desperately needed new books.
You can live for one year in any place in the world. Where do you go and why? I would live in Finland and finally learn the language. My grandmother was born there and I have so much family that still lives in the country. One of biggest regrets is never learning to speak Finnish. Besides, the country is absolutely beautiful.
Have you ever "Hidden" someone on your Facebook feed? If so, why? No, but I've thought about it.
Do you get along with your family? Either way, tell us why. I do get along with them, most of the time ;) I'm an only child and have just always been very close with my parents; we generally talk every day. I'm totally a daddy's girl and love him to death. I tell my mom everything, in fact sometimes I think that I overshare…
What is one thing most people don't know about you? I am profoundly insecure, despite knowing I shouldn't be.
Name your biggest secret fear. Failure and not living up to my potential
Name something you like about yourself. I love that I speak up for what I believe in.
What one thing would you like to know about other teens? Why the need to label everyone?
