Tuesday, September 13, 2011

BBAW: Interviewing Eva from A Striped Armchair!



It's day two of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, and that means the time-honored tradition of book blogger interview swap day. On my third time out for BBAW book blogger interviews, I've finally gotten an interview partner whose blog isn't new to me. In fact, I've been reading Eva's blog, A Striped Armchair for at least as long as I've been blogging myself. As the years have gone on, I've become more and more of a huge fan of Eva's fantastic blog where I can always find a book recommendation to feed my hunger for anything from world lit to popular science. I'd be lost without Eva in my feed reader, so it's a particular joy and privilege to be interviewing her for BBAW today. So, without further ado...



How did you get started book blogging?

Over Christmas break of my senior year of college, I was surfing the
web and came across Iliana's book blog. I knew about blogs before as personal journals (I kept one for friends & family when I studied abroad), but I hadn't realised there were book blogs! I checked out her blogroll and was delighted to see that there were all these wonderful people on the internet who were happily nerding out about books together. Pretty soon, I decided I had to join in the fun, so I waited until January 1, 2007 and then started my own blog. I couldn't think of a good title, but I was too impatient to wait until perfect inspiration struck, so I just named my blog after my then-favourite chair.

You've been book blogging for quite a while now - longer than me and I feel like I've been book blogging for quite a while! I know there are times when it's been tough to keep at it, so what drives you to *keep* book blogging even when the going gets tough?

Not that much longer than you! :) But yes, it'll be five years come next January, which is insane to me: I'm not usually known for my follow through. What makes me stick with it are the friendships I've made with other book bloggers: they're such an important part of my life. They celebrate my triumphs and share my setbacks and in between fill up my wish list with the most wonderful sounding books. I also love having a more examined reading life, but really it's the people and sense of community that I can't live without.

What's the biggest change you've seen in the book blogosphere since you started blogging? What's the most the same?

Ohhh: so much has changed! Publishers and review copies are a much bigger deal, memes have become weekly events instead of one-time survey/questionnaire things, challenges have gone from shorter time periods to mainly annual and now seem to be going back to shorter 'events', feed readers are ubiquitous, read-a-longs have supplanted challenges in popularity, and of course the blogosphere has grown exponentially, which has led to more 'subgroups' of bloggers. But the love of books and reading is still what drives us: that combination of unabashed nerdiness and passionate bibliophilia still defines the book blogosphere to me.

What's one super-excellent book you probably would not have read if not for a book blogger (or few)?

If I think about this too hard, I'll be here all day, so I'm just going to say the first one that sprung to mind: The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. I'd never heard of Jansson before other bloggers mentioned her (in fact, I thought she was a man for the longest time), and I just loved that book! Definitely one I'll be rereading often in the future whenever I'm in need of some comforting.

Is there one book that you believe everyone should read? Which one and why?

Oh dear…too many possibilities, especially for someone as interested in social justice as myself! Too bad I can't think of one book that includes feminism, antiracism, environmentalism, and global awareness, hehe. See: I let myself think about this one, and now I'm just paralysed with indecision. But I'm going to go with Food Matters by Mark Bittman: it's a book that lays out the health and environmental reasons for cutting back on the animal products in your diet without mentioning the horrors of how animals are treated (Bittman assumes you already know that), and lays out smart ways of doing just that. Bittman himself eats vegan before 6pm, then whatever he wants for dinner and dessert. I often feel frustrated that vegetarian and vegan diets are seen as an either/or issue, and Bittman neatly solves that problem. He also includes a number of delicious recipes, and the book is just very inspiring! I think if everyone read it, we'd see a huge change in eating habits that could help solve the nastier aspects of factory farming. Or at least, a more rational discussion of the issues.

Lastly, what's the best piece of blogging advice you've ever given or been given?

Blogging is a hobby, "an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure": keep it guilt free! :D

Thanks, Eva!

19 comments:

  1. I have been reading Eva for a couple of years now. She is one of my favorite book bloggers. Her reviews are so thoughtful. Great interview!

    -jehara

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  2. Eva's blog is one of my favourite blogs. This interview is great.

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  3. Great interview! I love her best blogging advice. It's so true.

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  4. Keeping the guilt out of book blogging is crucial -- Eva is so right! It's hard to remember that sometimes, but it's true.

    I can definitely see the progression of book blogging that Eva mentioned -- especially regarding the challenges!

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  5. So great to hear more about Eva, one of my favorite bloggers! Also, I did the same thing, starting my blog on Jan 1st ;)

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  6. thanks for the reminder, Eva that blogging should be guilt free. That's something I need to remember often.

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  7. Eva is one amazing blogger, and it's great to see her featured in an interview!

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  8. I have Food Matters on my tbr list but haven't gotten to it yet. I love the idea of being vegan before 6pm.

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  9. Thanks for all the comments guys! I think we need to start a Guilt Free Blogging Support Group: it's so easy to get stressed out/sucked into random, self-imposed obligations. hehe

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  10. I love Eva's blog! I think most of us can agree that community is what keeps us blogging and what makes it most enjoyable.

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  11. Great interview!

    I don't know if it was my recommendation which led Eva to The Summer Book or if someone else went on about it as much as I did, but it is brilliant!
    Simon

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  12. Eva's a wonderful blogger, and I enjoyed getting to know a bit more about her! I found it especially interesting to hear how the book blogging community has changed over the nearly five years she's been blogging (wow!). And I think I need to write that advice out and tack it up somewhere prominent!

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  13. Simon, you were one of the chorus! I feel like there were 4-5 bloggers who all had nothing but praise for it within a couple months of each other. :)

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  14. Eva is indeed a special blogger. I love the questions you asked and Eva's insights to the changes in blogging over the years.

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  15. Eva is a fabulous blogger - love the interview Megan!

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  16. And another wonderful interview, ladies! Eva is definitely one of the most deadly bloggers when it comes to my bank account. But I have to forgive her because I just adore her so much! :)

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  17. Wise closing words from an excellent blogger!

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  18. I really enjoyed reading this review you conducted with Eva, and I mean it. You asked wonderful, pertinent questions, the answers to which I was truly interested to know. As a blogger who began in 2006, I really see the changes in the book blogging community, and it 'comforted' me that I'm not imagining such a new world. The whole interview was great, down to the very last bit about not feeling guilty...now I just need a few lessons in that department!

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