Saturday, October 20, 2012

Rosy from The Review Diaries (Celebrating British Bloggers)

It's that time again! Another interview with a British Book Blogger and this week I have the absolute pleasure of introducing you to the lovely Rosy from The Review Diaries!

I met Rosy at an event with Random House and she is a joy to speak with. On the basis of that conversation, I went out and immediately bought a copy of The Night Circus! And Rosy's blog is filled with thoughtful reviews and I really trust her judgement. If you don't follow The Review Diaries, I urge you to do so now.


Follow Rosy:



 First, can you tell me something about yourself and your blog?


My blog is an eclectic mix of all sorts. It's mostly young adult books reviewed on there, but it's a forum for me to talk about whatever I'm excited about, so there are a lot of tv show reviews and a film review and a soundtrack review thrown in for good measure. Which I guess sums up me as well in a way. I love reading, I love watching (and inevitably getting addicted to) TV shows, and you can guarantee that I will end up obsessively talking about them to/at other people.


How did you begin being a book blogger?


I was working a soul destroying job at an estate agency and was desperate to try and incorporate something more creative into life outside work. I read so many books and then want to talk about them incessantly to other people, so the idea of book reviewing fitted in pretty perfectly with that. I applied to be a book reviewer on another site, and was turned down, at which point my reflex 'fine I'll do it myself' kicked in... But  I'm so glad they did turn me down, I've met so many wonderful people and been involved in so many awesome things that I never would have access to if I hadn't started reviewing this way!


When you're not reading or blogging, what do you do with yourself?


At the moment not a lot else... I'm confined to my bed at the moment so reading, reviewing, writing and watching tv shows pretty much sum it up. Also full time cat pillow should probably be added to my list of talents these days.


What was the first book you reviewed on your blog?


That would be 'Matched' by Ally Condie. I enjoyed the book, but my reviewing skills weren't up to much... I really hope I've improved since then...


What has been the best experience of being a book blogger so far?


Can I pick two moments? The first was when I had my first ARC come through the door, because that was something I never expected at all. I started blogging because I love reading and like talking and sharing opinions of books with others, so for someone to send me a book to read and review was just so incredible and unexpected and I feel so incredibly lucky any time I'm sent a book to review.

The second would be the first Random House book blogger brunch I went to last January. That completely blew me away. It was so great to meet other UK book bloggers and to be talked through some of their upcoming releases, I kept pinching myself because again, that was something I never could have hoped for or anticipated when I started blogging.


You can do it, what is your absolute favourite book?


Oh, oh it hurts, don't make me pick one! There are just too many... Can I do two? I can just about get it down to two at a push...
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Are you sure I can't just take a picture of my book shelves and say 'That one?'


If you could be best friends with any fictional character, who would you choose?


I'm having a bit of an 'Unspoken' fest at the moment, so I'm going to go with Kami from 'Unspoken' by Sarah Rees Brennan. She's intrepid, sarcastic, incredibly funny, and all round awesome.


Name your top 5 UK book bloggers!


Definitely Fluttering Butterflies!
I also love Carly from Writing from the Tub
Sarah from Feeling Fictional
and Viv from Serendipity Reviews


If you could meet your favourite author, who would you like to meet?


I'd love to meet Sarah Rees Brennan. Technically I've met her already at a signing, but she's such a fantastically funny and interesting person I could quite happily site and talk to her for hours. (Or watch TV. Given her tweets, I imagine the live and more than 140 character versions of The Vampire Diaries, Revenge and Teen Wolf would be even more entertaining.)


What would you like to see more of or less of in YA?


If we could have fewer love triangles I would be a very happy bunny. You can't seem to read anything without tripping over one these days and it does get a little bit wearing. If it's done well I love it - take The Infernal Devices, Jem and Will and Tessa is done brilliantly and I love reading it. But then you get others that aren't as good, or it feels like they've just been thrown in there because every books *has* to have one. Less is more guys.


And finally, who is your ultimate book crush? 


I can't seem to read a book these days without finding someone to crush on... Notable mentions would have to go to Jared Lynburn from Unspoken, Nicholas Brisbane from The Lady Julia Grey series, Valek from Poison Study and Sean from The Scorpio Races. But if it came down to a fight it would have to be between Jem from The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare and Brigan from Fire by Kristin Cashore. Although that doesn't seem entirely fair because Jem is sickly and Brigan is bad ass with a sword... But still, one of those two!


Oh, Rosy, I actually burst out laughing reading that final paragraph!  I haven't read Fire, but I still reckon Jem could hold his own in a fight...

Thank you so much, Rosy, for answering these questions so wonderfully!  I do hope everyone comes along to visit you at The Review Diaries!  But for now...

Let Rosy know what you thought of her answers!  Do you agree with her book crushes?  Do you want to see less love triangles in YA? Do you have problems choosing your favourite book? Discuss in comments!

7 comments:

  1. Great post!! It made me think about one of the best things about being a book blogger: the community!!

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  2. This is a new to me blog! Must go check it out! :)

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  3. Great interview :) I agree with you about less love triangles - bor-ing!

    I'm off to follow your blog now :D

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  4. Rosy sounds lovely! I'm going straight over to check out her blog :)

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  5. I love your blog too Rosy :o) It really is impossible to chose just one favourite book though isn't it! I really liked Scorpio Races and Night Circus so they're good picks but I don't think I could narrow down to even two faves LOL

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    1. Thank you! :) Two was a huge push! I really wanted to just take a picture of my shelves...

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  6. Lovely to have you, Rosy :)

    I really should pick up my copy of The Night Circus and read it. Sooner rather than later! I'm on a hunt for Unspoken now as well. I've been reading mixed reviews, but I think I shall definitely give it a chance now. I've only read one book by Sarah Rees Brennan before this but I really loved it.

    I have to say, I'm quite glad that you didn't get that guest reviewer thing either! Love reading your blog :)

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HI! Thank you for leaving a comment, you've just become my new best friend :)