2015 Book Blogger Love-a-Thon: Kick-off Questionnaire

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The Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is an event hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books, taking place on 21 and 22 February, 9am-9pm EST on both days. It's time dedicated to exploring the blogging community, leaving a comment or two, meeting new friends and fostering positivity among the bloggers of the community.

Here's a bit about me!

1. What’s your name?

Cynthia!

2. Where in the world are you blogging from?

Oxford, England. :D I go to university here, but I live in Hong Kong and I go back there when I can, so sometimes I am also blogging from there.

3. How did you get into blogging in the first place?

I started in March last year with a different book blog. I wanted to blog because I used to really love reading but I've just been so busy these past few years that I'd barely read any books, and I thought blogging would really help me get back into reading again. And it has!

4. How did you come up with your blog name?

Er, I'm actually not sure? I wanted something simple and short, something that wasn't just to do with books but was still related to writing in some way, because I wanted to feel more free with this blog to write about whatever I liked and not just books all the time, so I wanted the name to match that feeling. I think perhaps I was subconsciously inspired by the title of Scott Westerfeld's Afterworlds, which I still haven't actually read, but I'm planning to read it soon!

5. What genre do you read and review the most on your blog?

YA. Within YA, I read mostly either contemporary or fantasy, with the occasional dystopian novel. I read a lot of LGBTQ YA. Outside of YA, I review fantasy mainly.

6. What other types of posts do you do on your blog, apart from reviews?

The ubiquitous Top Ten Tuesday, some discussion posts, and also my original feature, Keep It Queer, posted every other Monday, where I talk about being queer and reading LGBTQ books and all that sort of stuff.

7. Best blogging experience so far?

Actually, I think it was probably when I'd just started blogging last year and I stumbled upon LGBT April hosted by Cayce @ Niji Feels and Laura @ Laura Plus Books and I decided to join. It was my first blogging event and I didn't really know anyone in the blogging community yet and it was just AWESOME. I met so many new people and it was so much fun!

8. Favorite thing about the blogging community?

I just love that we can all talk about the books we love together and all the people I've met have been so friendly and supportive. I also just love that moment when you find a new blog and start talking to a blogger you've never met before and you just instantly connect! That's always amazing.

9. Name the 5 books you’re most excited for this 2015!
  1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
  2. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
  3. Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
  4. Court of Fives by Kate Elliott
  5. The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
10. What’s an underrated book or series that you think everyone should read?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ THE SKYSCRAPER THRONE TRILOGY BY TOM POLLOCK. I BEG YOU. Also, the Micah Grey trilogy by Laura Lam! The third book is coming out this yeaaar.

11. Which book boy or girl would be your book BFF?

Okay, so Hannah Moskowitz has a book coming out in March, Not Otherwise Specified, which I was very lucky to read an ARC of. The MC in that is called Etta and she's bisexual and black, and I could relate to her so much as a bisexual Chinese girl, and I just wanted to be best friends with her forever. I would totally have her back.

12. Apart from reading, what are your other hobbies or interests?

Watching anime, still crying about Avatar: The Last Airbender years later, watching the occasional TV show (it's Agent Carter, Elementary, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine at the moment).

13. Apart from book shopping, what else do you like shopping for?

CLOTHES. Ugh, someone get me off the Forever 21 website, I can never stop compulsively ordering like EVERYTHING from there. What else. Food. Stickers (I'M OBSESSED WITH CUTE STICKERS).

14. At a party, the DJ suddenly changes the song – and it’s your song. What song would be playing?

Currently the whole of Taylor Swift's 1989 album is my song. THE WHOLE ALBUM. I love Taylor Swift a lot. Also, the whole of Lana Del Rey's Born to Die album. I don't really have songs, I just have albums that I fall in love with and can never name a favourite song from them.

15. Pick out either a book you want turned into a film/TV show, or a film/TV show you want turned into a book.

Hmm. I really hope the Daughter of Smoke and Bone movie does get made! I know one is supposed to be in the works... I LOVE THAT SERIES SO MUCH. ;_____;

Thank you for stopping by! If you leave a comment I'll be sure to check out your blog too!

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43 thoughts on “2015 Book Blogger Love-a-Thon: Kick-off Questionnaire”

    1. Post author

      1989 is the coolest! :D :D I'm glad you love her too!

      Thanks! :D

      YES IT WOULD BE SO MESMERISING. I wanna see Karou and her blue hair on the big screen already! ): ): I hope we don't end up having to wait forever for this movie to get made.

      Reply

    1. Post author

      I've always been addicted to Tswift, I don't know why but her music is just so addictive to me!

      Yeah, there was an article about it last year, but I don't know whether it will actually end up happening? I always hear about books that might get turned into movies and then they fizzle out and nothing seems to ever actually happen.

      Reply

  4. First, can I just tell you that your header is GORGEOUS? I'm seriously mesmerized. Ahem. Anyway, I love Taylor Swift too (Swifties unite!). And Agent Carter is one of my favorite TV shows of the moment! I'm also FINALLY watching Avatar: The Last Airbender and I totally get why so many people love it. I think it's awesome that you go back and forth between England and HK! I've been to HK, but not England yet, though I hope to go one day.

    Thanks for participating in the Love-a-Thon!
    Alexa S. recently posted Book Blogger Love-a-Thon 2015 || Getting To Know Me

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    1. Post author

      Thank you! :D :D

      Ahhhh, Taylor Swift is just the best. YAY YOU'RE WATCHING A:TLA!! It's so gooood omg. I rewatched it recently and it gave me more feels than ever and it was even better than I remembered. All the characters are just so wonderful and ALL THE FRIENDSHIPS. HK is my forever favourite city, but I'm totally biased. :P Did you like HK? I hope you get to go to England one day too! :D

      Thank you so much for hosting! <3

      Reply

    1. Post author

      OMG A:TLA GIVES ME SO MANY FEELS FOREVER. And I know, we both have great taste. ;D CHARLOTTE WHY IS ELEMENTARY SO GOOOOOD.

      Yay! 1989 is so addictive. :D

      Reply

  8. I love your blog name! I'm with you on most of my 2015 books you're excited for(except Shadow Scale, because I haven't read Seraphina). A Darker Shade of Magic is so close & I'm anxiously awaiting that book. Daughter of Smoke & Bone would make an excellent movie--Laini Taylor's writing is so easy to imagine so I can just *see* it on the screen already.
    Stormy recently posted Book Blogger Love-a-Thon 2015 Introduction Post!

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    1. Post author

      Thank you! READ SERAPHINA OMG IT WAS A TOTAL FIVE-STAR READ FOR ME. ADSOM!!!!! I can actually buy the Kindle edition right now and read it since I'm the UK and it's out early here but I don't have tiiiime to read it yet. *whines* Daughter of Smoke and Bone would the best movie!! God, Laini Taylor's writing. It's just exquisite. I can't wait for whatever she writes next.

      Reply

  10. The idea behind your site name (and the name itself) is PERFECTION! I'm so happy seeing so many people looking forward to ADSOM coming out like me! I just can't control how excited I am! AND YES TO TAYTAY! -Currently Jamming to 1989 on repeat while i read everyone's posts at 1.50AM in the morning haha! I need sleep! ZzzzzZZzzzzZZzzzzzz

    Reply

    1. Post author

      Haha, thank you! <3

      YES SO EXCITED FOR ADSOM. *screams* Following Victoria Schwab on Twitter makes it impossible not to be ridiculously excited. And yay, another person who loves Taylor Swift! It's like a Taylor Swift fan gathering on this post, haha. <3 GO TO BEEED. We'll all still be here in the morning haha.

      Reply

  12. I'm so excited for A Darker Shade of Magic and The Girl at Midnight!

    I am addicted to buying clothes. I actually just cleaned my apartment today and my husband brought me a handful of tags and was like "do you need any of these?" oops. I really need to get my shopping under control.

    I'm also obsessed with Taylor Swift's new album and I LOVE Lana del Rey. I'm also a bit obsessed with Florence + The Machine right now. I just love the almost mournful sound of their music.
    Rebecca @ The Library Canary recently posted Love-a-Thon 2015 Mini Challenge #1: Book Spine Poetry

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    1. Post author

      YES. :D :D I preordered the Kindle edition of The Girl at Midnight the other day! IT WAS SO CHEAP (on Amazon UK, at least).

      Hahaha, I totally need to get my shopping under control as well. But I just can't stop myself! Online shopping is too easy.

      Yay, you love Lana Del Rey too! :D :D

      Reply

  13. I really looooveeee your blog name. It's so awesome!

    I CAN'T BELIEVE A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC IS GONNA COME OUT IN A FEW DAYS. (I know it's probably out in the UK, but ajsdlajsda;sdasodua;soudaosudsau.

    Like I said on Twitter, you have flawless taste in shows. ;) I just love Sherlock + Joan's relationship as well as Sherlock's relationship with everybody in his life.
    Cee recently posted 2015 Book Blogger Love-a-Thon | Spine Poetry!

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    1. Post author

      Thank you, Cee! <3

      It's so frustrating that I probably won't get round to reading ADSOM until April, at least! I have too much on my plate for March. But yeah, I just can't wait to read it.

      WE BOTH HAVE FLAWLESS TASTE. Why are Sherlock and Joan so great? AND I WANT KITTY BACK.

      Reply

    1. Post author

      Yeah, I do! :D Oooh, that's cool!

      Yep, I love LGBTQ fiction! And yeah I'm really looking forward to None of the Above! Glad to hear you liked the ARC!

      Reply

  16. We both got Taylor Swift's album for our answers! I've been checking out your Keep it Queer features, cause I've been meaning to read more LGBTQ books - I'll be writing the down the recommendations from this post as well!
    I also need to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and see what all the fuss is about!
    Bruna recently posted Mini-challenge #3: One Can Only Quote

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    1. Post author

      Yay! :D I'm so glad you're trying to read more LGBTQ books. I'm full of recommendations so if you have any specific things that you wanna look for in LGBTQ just hit me up!

      You should definitely read it! I loved it so much

      Reply

    1. Post author

      YES! I haven't read any Kate Elliott yet but I really should, but her first foray into YA sounds to me like a perfect place to start with her books!

      Reply

    1. Post author

      I know, I keep losing stickers because I'm really messy and can't keep track of where I put stuff, and it's so sad. ): Daughter of Smoke and Bone is so good! Hope you can get round to reading it soon!

      Reply

  20. Oh, cool! Oxford! I've never been to England, but that's awesome that you are studying there!

    And one of my best friends was from Hong Kong. We went to junior high and high school together, and then he moved back to Hong Kong. The last I heard, he was apparently a famous fashion designer.

    TAYLOR SWIFT! I love her too!

    Nice to meet you! :)
    Erin @ The Hardcover Lover recently posted ARC Review: The Other Side of the Wall

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  21. OH MY GOSH TAYLOR SWIFT <333333

    I've heard a bunch about Not Otherwise Specified and I think it's a real eye opener. I've discovered that my poor heart cannot take anything remotely feelsy. I BROKE DOWN at Lies We Tell Ourselves. but I'm so glad that you're able to connect with the character! I hope I will too :)
    Nova @ Out of Time recently posted #LoveAThon 2015

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    1. Post author

      TAYLOR SWIFT IS THE BEST <3

      I don't think Not Otherwise Specified is the kind of book that will make you break down! It's very different to books like Lies We Tell Ourselves – it's much more optimistic in tone and there's nothing very emotionally difficult about it. Lies We Tell Ourselves was VERY emotionally difficult. I remember the beginning was especially hard for me to get through because it was just so brutal to read about. But so worth it though.

      Reply
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