Blogs To Talk About (6)

[[ Anyways, for those of you who don't know what BTTA is, here's the lowdown: It's short for Blogs To Talk About. For whoever is interested can e-mail me at littleredreads@gmail.com and in the subject put BTTA or Blogs To Talk About, and in the message put your name and a link to your blog for me to check it out. Then I will contact you and send you a list of questions and when you respond I will set up a post. So, if you are interested in it, send me an e-mail! For past BTTAs go HERE ]]

Name: Jana

Age: 24

Blog Name: That Artsy Reader Girl

What’s the story behind the blog name?

Well… It’s not the most exciting story! Haha. The blog title is basically a description of myself. I’m an artsy girl (my degree is in graphic design and art history) who adores reading!

Why did you start to book blog and how long have you been book blogging?

I started blogging with The Broke and the Bookish back when we started the blog together, 2 years ago. J I created That Artsy Reader Girl last November, about the time I joined netgalley, so I could post reviews more often and gain more opportunities in the book world.

Where is your favorite place to read?

I went on a transatlantic cruise to Rome in April, and my cabin had a balcony. My favorite place in the world is right there in my chair, with my feet up, listening to the waves, feeling the sea breeze, and sunning myself by the water!

E-book or Hardcopy?

Ahh… the ultimate question every book lover struggles with! I have a Kindle, and I love it, because I’m running out of room on my shelves. However, I really love the feel of an actual book in my hands! The smell, the pages, the shiny covers. I’ll always love books. J

Favorite book of all-time and why?

Oh wow. That is super hard. My favorite book changes all the time! I think I’d have to say, though, that it’s Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. I really connected with that book because I love travelling, and I’m a little quirky and very artsy like Bria. I just got home from 6 weeks of traveling through Europe, and I connect with the book even more now because I learned so much about myself on my trip.

Do you have any blogs/bloggers that you look up to or that inspire you (feel free to name-drop)?

I look up to Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner) because she is the one who introduced me to the blogging world! The best decision I made was starting up The Broke and the Bookish with her.  When I branched off to form my own blog, she was very helpful and supportive. And then there’s Magan and Estelle from Rather be Reading. Those ladies have it going on, and I adore them both! Alexa at Alexa Loves Books also helped me when I was a newbie, and had supported me and my blog ever since!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Well, I read a lot! Haha! Obviously, right? I also really love shopping a lot. Way too much, actually. And I design things for my clients, or myself. I enjoy building up my design portfolio, plus I’m a lover of digi-scrapbooking. I design and make jewelry, which is amazingly fun. I’m also a singer. I love listening to music… Plus, I’m a major movie buff. Oh, and I travel a lot. I love visiting new places.

Name a dessert, a color, a drink?

Warm chocolate chip cookies, magenta, Diet Dr. Pepper (which I’m addicted to, but don’t drink anymore because it gives me kidney stones! Lame!).

Favorite Coffee Shop?

Haha. I actually don’t drink coffee or tea. I do love the hot chocolate at Starbucks, though, so I guess I’d pick that one!

If you could be one character, who would you be and why?

Ho boy! That’s a hard one too!  I want Anna’s (Anna and the French Kiss) life. I mean, to go off to Paris (I LOVE PARIS) and fall in love with a cute French guy? Yes please! I’d also love to be Emma (Of Poseidon) because of the whole mermaid love story. Plus, she can communicate with sea life! I’d love to be able to do that. And I’ll be really cliché now, and say Elizabeth Bennett, because I really want Mr. Darcy.

How many books (on average) do you read a month?

It depends on the time of year, but I’d say about 7-9. I really wish I could read faster! I have SO many books just screaming at me!

What are some of your book blogging secrets?

I think my secrets are the same as most people’s. In the beginning, I was totally high strung. I had to have followers, I had to read every book everyone asked me to read, I had to post a review a day, I had to schedule out a few weeks of posts in advance, I had to comment on every blog I could find, etc. I stressed myself out! You can’t do that. You will never enjoy blogging if you turn it into a huge job. I did not want to dread reading or blogging. Once I realized I was doing this for myself, I began to have a lot more fun. Never, ever do more than you want to do. And if you hate a book, quit reading it. Life’s too short to read books not worth finishing. J

What are your favorite book-to-movie adaptations? Why?

I actually haven’t seen many movies from books… I did really enjoy The Hunger Games, though. I felt like it was true to the story, not too gory or upsetting, and just intense enough to send me flying out of my chair, grabbing on to my sister at the end. 

Do you have any book boyfriends? If so, name them and explain why?

Hmmm… I can’t say I really have any book boyfriends. I read a lot of YA, so most of the boys in those books are 16-18 years old. Too young for me. Haha. I do love what a lot of these boys represent, though. Take Sam in Incarnate. He’s pretty perfect. He’s smart, talented, caring, and considerate. Plus he’s way romantic. And Edward wrote a song for Bella! I want a man to do that for me! I really worry that reading all these amazing books has given me really unrealistic expectations of men. :P

Name 5 books that everyone should at least read once:

Well…. I’m not going to go and recommend the classics, or give huge philosophical answers. Haha. I read to escape and enjoy myself, so my 5 books are favorites that I really enjoyed.

1- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg  - It’s the ultimate example of running away and being adventurous! Plus, it made me want to visit The Met in NYC. I’m quite partial to art museums!

2 - On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves – It’s an amazing example of love conquering all, not to mention survival and beating the odds. Plus, the writing is amazing.

3 – The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – It was probably the first book I read that made me think about the future of the World. I mean… could we be heading towards something like this? You never know!

4 – Delirium by Lauren Oliver – Come on! It’s Lauren Oliver! You need no further information, I’m sure.

5 – Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard – It’s my favorite book of all time. J  

What is your dream job?

Well, I’m a graphic designer and I’m a reader. It has always been a dream of mine to combine those two things and design book covers! I’ve done a few album covers, but book covers are my favorite. I mean… it drives me crazy when a cover tells you nothing about the story. Like, when you can automatically tell that nobody took the time to think about it and just slapped on a pretty girl in a pretty dress and was finished. To be able to symbolically reflect a book’s awesomness in its cover would be a total dream!

What’s the best book you’ve read this year?

Wow. I feel like I have had the best luck with books this year. I actually found most of my favorites this year! Authors are really bringing it to the table and it’s hard to pick just one. Plus, there are so many criteria I judge a book on! If we’re talking a book that made me laugh, I’d pick I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella. If we’re talking about a book that took me somewhere amazing, I’d say Of Poseidon by Anna Banks. If it’s introspection, I’d say Wanderlove. Plus, I absolutely adored The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland because it made me incredibly happy! So… haha! I think I cheated with this answer. J

Jana, it was a pleasure interviewing you! So nice getting to know you more!!

Go check out her page and leave her love!

xo Stephanie

Books mentioned in this post:

• Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
• Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
• The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
• From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
• On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver
• I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
• The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland