#24 Follow Friday with book bloggers: Kat's Books

2018-01-12 15:36

All book lovers know that cats and books go well together. Meet Kat, a true avid reader and a cat lover with an amazing book box library ;)

Follow Kat's Books blog on BookLikes: http://kamoorephoto.booklikes.com/

When did you discover you’re a book lover?

I've truly been a book lover all my life; I was the kind of child that loved going to the library, and got into trouble for bringing my book to the dinner table, and loved organizing my bookshelves. My parents were (and still are) avid book readers, so I'm sure that played a huge part in it. I even fell in love with a series of books about boarding school (by Enid Blyton) so much, that I got my wish to go to an English boarding school (we lived in Hong Kong at the time). Bonus points for looking up where I went: Battle Abbey.

How did your book blogging adventure start and how did it affect your (reading) life?

I started doing reviews, and then started receiving more ARCs, and discovered BookLikes. I enjoy posting reviews and organizing my books online, and hopefully others will read something I wrote and it will help them decide what to read or buy next. I guess it makes me more conscious of what I read next.

What are you reading right now?

I'm reading the ARC for a book called The Afterlives byThomas Pierce, which is a book that almost defies description. It's fascinating, and it's out January 9th, '18. I've also just taken on an epic 'buddy read' of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss , which is 752 pages long (what am I thinking?!). I hope at some point to just focus on that one though. (I've got it on audio too, though)

Do you read one book or several at a time?

I usually only read one at a time, and generally take 2-3 days to finish a book if I'm not too busy and if life isn't too crazy. I like being able to focus on one book, so I can really grasp the story and characters, and only sometimes take on another. I find it's easier to take on a second if it's a different genre, or it's in a different medium (ie audiobook/ebook).

You wish to read 100 books in 2018 - we keep our fingers crossed! How much time do you spend reading?

Well, I only really started tracking my book-reading last June, and I read 69 from June until the end of the year. I usually read several hours late at night (I kind of have an insomnia problem) when it's quiet, and when everyone else is in bed. But I also have MS, so sometimes when I'm not feeling good, and I'm having a good rest, I get in extra reading time. I think I can take on 100 this year!

Kat's Books - Reading Challenge page

What are your favorite book genres? Why are they special?

I like a lot of different genres and read a lot of different kinds of books: thriller, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, literary fiction, memoirs, YA or otherwise. The only genre that doesn't grab me is romance. Can't do it! Sometimes it feels more appropriate or special to do certain ones at different times of the year though.

You’re a cat lover and a photographer <3 Would love to see some pics ;)

I could actually show you my photos all day (see attached, for a few), and you can also find me here: http://kamoorephotography.com

All photos Copyrighted K.A.Moore Photography

In your short bio you write “I'm usually busy taking cat photos at a cat rescue” - tell us more about it.

I've been a volunteer photographer at the same cat rescue for about 7 years now, here in Seattle, and I take photos of cats who especially need photos that need that extra awesome photos from me to get them noticed, ie senior cats, special-needs kitties. I sometimes do private home sessions, families and events too, but I do photos at the rescue every week like clockwork, edit them and get them up on our site.

All photos Copyrighted K.A.Moore Photography

I also design our annual calendar (still for sale! http://bit.ly/CatCalendarKAMoore) I used to work in film production, on movies, and have a degree in film and video, so have always had a penchant for storytelling, but I went back to still photos after I found out I have MS and to slow down a bit.

Copyrighted K.A.Moore Photography

What are your three favorite book covers?

EVER?! That's so hard! There are so many book covers these days and who doesn't pick up a book because they love the cover?

- One of the ALL-TIME best is a children's book – Where The Wild Things Are; it was my son's favorite book when he was little and he was even Max for Halloween when he was 3 (I made his costume).

- My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix (Paperback): it's made to look like a VHS casing/cover, and it is genius. The design is actually by a comedian Doogie Horner and it caught my eye immediately. I also loved the book!

- This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada; I happen to love the book to death, and is one of my top books of 2017, but when you realize what the cover art represents, along with the vibrant simplicity of it, it is unbeatable as a cover design.

How do you pick your next book to read?

I usually set out a bunch for the month because I include ARCs I have (that may have review deadlines), plus I participate in some challenges on Litsy, so sometimes it depends on those two things, but I'm very much a mood reader when I'm picking my next book to read.

Which books are you most excited recommending to your followers in 2018?

- Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh (out next week! I actually also have been written into the sequel too, in a teeny part)

- My Plain Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows (I loved My Lady Jane so this is a must)

- The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson (sci-fi genius)

- The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager (who wrote 'Final Girls)

- The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke (a genderbent reimaging of Beowulf)

What’s your reading spot? We’d love to see the photos :)

My favorite place is actually in bed, or on my bed, with my cats, and dog. In winter it's snuggly and warm, and in the summer, it's where my fan is.

A paper book or an e-book?

I love paper books, both new and good-condition used books, but I also have a Kindle Fire, and I love being able to read on-the-go and I receive ARCs on there, have Amazom Prime, as well as borrow books from the library that way.

Three titles for a winter evening?

- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (everyone must read this! It will make you think)

- The Princess Bride by William Goldman (the one romance/comedy/adventure I truly love, and I can't believe I waited so long to read after loving the movie so much)

- Invictus by Ryan Graudin (time-traveling adventure that will take you to Roman times, to the Titanic, and beyond; you'll have so much fun reading this)

Favorite quote?

Actually, my favorite is an animal quote:

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.

~ Anatole France

If you could meet one literary character, who would it be?

I guess he's not really a 'literary' character but after reading and then 'hearing' Trevor Noah's Born A Crime (and if you haven't heard his audiobook yet, you must!), I so would love to meet him.

And Garfield.

Shelfie time! Please share your home library photos :)

Don't laugh! I had to give my big bookcase to my book-loving son when we moved into a smaller place, so now my books are in limbo, mostly in open subscription book boxes. Someone give me a wall bookshelf system!