BookLikes

On Tuesday we presented the first part of new BookLikes series Book Blog Talks. Our first talker is Sabrina from Happy Books. It's time now to reveal second part of our Q & A section (read first part here: Book Blog Talks: Happy Books, Part One). Happy reading!

I came across information that you usually start adventure with books from the very last page. That’s quite surprising, readers usually don’t want to know the ending before they start reading a given book. Is it different for you?

I love all kinds of spoilers because they don't spoil things for me. Knowing what will happen at the end of a book makes me more relaxed and able to get into a book. Otherwise I'm a very anxious reader and I constantly worry about what will happen at the end, so reading the ending of a book at first takes that pressure off me and makes it more probable that I will be able to open myself up to the story. My mum does the same, so I'm sure that loving spoilers and reading the end of a book at first or at least after the first several chapters is a hereditary thing. ;)

In your opinion, what does a book need to have to be a good book?

As long as a book manages to touch my heart, to make me feel deeply and allows me to connect with the main characters, it's a good book for me.

You read a lot. How do you pick books to read? Book covers, other reviews, family recommendations?

I discover a lot if interesting books online. Of course here on BookLikes, but also in Videos, in blog posts, at online bookstores and of course in real bookstores. Good, interesting covers are always a draw, but I also often listen to recommendations by other people who have a similar taste in books. And of course I love browsing through bookstores, I could spent hours there.

You read and talk about books. How book blogging (if at all) is different from book vlogging? Any hints for beginners?

I started book blogging in 2008 when the community was pretty small and I'm happy about that, because nowadays I think the scene can be a bit intimidating and cliquey. Running my book channel on Youtube feels a bit more relaxed to me, there are less norms people try to fit you in and so far I have experienced less drama on Youtube than I have in the book blogger world, but of course there are also cliques and things that certain people think are a must. I generally don't care what the "cool" people do or say, I just do my own thing and that has worked for me both on my blog and on my channel. For me it's all about having fun, meeting other readers and discussing good books.

Do you have books that totally won your heart

and you would recommend them without any hesitation?

 

The whole Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts, Angel's Fall by Nora Roberts, the J.D. Robb books, Franny & Zooey by J.D. Salinger, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Anna and the French kiss & Lola and the boy next door by Stephanie Perkins, Eon & Eona by Alison Goodman, Unsticky & You don't have to say you love me by Sarra Manning, The good luck girl (aka Leaving Unknown) by Kerry Reichs, If I stay by Gayle Forman, Persuasion & Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and The language of flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh to name only a few.

 

I could go on with this list for a very long time. :)

 

 

Paper books or e-books? Why?

 

I love my paper books, I own an ereader but never use it. Sometimes I read on my smartphone but normally only when I have an eARC (advanced readers copy), other than that I prefer paper books. I love the smell and feeling of a paper book, I love the weight of it and the option to just browse through the pages. I love books with great designs and I love adding good books to my home library, so paper books are my true love.

 

Favorite reading place?

 

At home in my comfy seat, at night in bed or on the train, I get so much reading done when I'm on the train!

 

Any favorite quotes?

 

Sadly I'm horrible at remembering quotes, there is one German quote that I can remember because it made me very thoughtful - "Würde ist Sein im Konjuktiv", but this quote only works in German. The quote is from the play "Die sexuellen Neurosen unserer Eltern" by Lukas Bärfuss and as soon as I heard this little sentence I couldn't forget it. 

 

There is another quote I can remember and that love, it's part of a longer sentence and it's from "Kiss and Tell" by Linda Howard, it's "... but if his eyes saw any imperfections, his heart didn't care."

 

 

P.S. The BookLikes Team would also like to say warm and loud "Thank you!" to Sabrina for her help and support in German translations on BookLikes. You rock, Girl! :)