Design byAmber of Shelf Notes
Excited in taking part in my 3rd, I think, Armchair BEA!
Today, it’s about Introductions. We can choose 5 out of 10 questions, so here you go:
1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Where in the world are you blogging from?
My name is Emma from Illinois, I’m French and have been living in the US for over 13 years. I’m a French tutor, an English-French translator, and a rock painter
I have been seriously blogging at Words And Peace for almost 4 years, since September 2010.
Since last year, I also organize virtual book tours for books set in France at France Book Tours
I started blogging because I realized I was forgetting too quickly about books, so I have to write about what I read to remember better, plus I wanted to share my love of books, and thanks to Devourer of Books [not as active now], I discovered the awesome community of book bloggers!
2. Describe your blog in just one sentence. Then, list your social details — Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. — so we can connect more online.
A place to share my book reviews and discover great books to read, often with a French touch!
I am on Twitter [@wordsandpeace], Facebook, Goodreads, Google +, Pinterest.
3.What genre do you read the most? I love to read because ___________________ .
The genre I read most right now is historical fiction.
I love to read because I love learning new things and discovering new places.
4.What was your favorite book read last year? What’s your favorite book so far this year?
Wow, that’s a tough one: I use 14 categories for best of every year. I’m going to say The Consolations of the Forest, by Sylvain Tesson as my favorite book read in 2013.
In 2014, I have read 37 books so far. My favorite is probably Citadel, by Kate Mosse.
5. Spread the love by naming your favorite blogs/bloggers (doesn’t necessarily have to be book blogs/bloggers).
Right now, I enjoy a lot:
I’m limiting myself here to 5 book blogs, but if you can see here the whole list of the blogs I follow.
NOW YOUR TURN:
What’s your favorite book so far this year?
***
And the theme of the day is:
Literature
What do you think of when you think of literature? Classics, contemporary, genre, or something else entirely? We are leaving this one up to you to come up with and share the literature that you want to chat about the most. Feel free to share a list of your favorites, break down your favorite genre, feature your favorite authors, and be creative about all things literature in general.
Right now, when I think literature, I think classics [I am in the process of reading the whole In Search of Lost Time by Proust, in French] and literary fiction. Recently those I have read are mostly books in translation or even read in a foreign language.
Here are a few recent favorites – click on the book covers to see what it’s about:
May 26, 2014
WordsAndPeace
28 responses to “Armchair BEA 2014: Introductions and Literature”
tanya (52 books or bust)
May 26th, 2014 at 08:25
I never knew you were french, i just thought you had a thing for France. See? You learn something new every year at ABEA.
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WordsAndPeace
May 26th, 2014 at 10:15
that’s funny, but I do have a thing for France, lol, at least some of its literature. Enjoy this fun week!
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Brona
May 26th, 2014 at 08:34
Thanks for popping by Emma. I’m impressed with your personal Proust challenge – I have the first book on my Classics Club list…for one day 🙂
Happy Armchair BEA!
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WordsAndPeace
May 26th, 2014 at 10:12
well, I’m not too impressed myself: I had planned to read it all last year, along with the Goodreads group, for the anniversary. and in year 2, I’m still in Sodome et Gomorrhe… Thanks for following me now. Enjoy this fun week
https://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?comment_status=moderated#comments-form
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Lianne @ caffeinatedlife.net
May 26th, 2014 at 08:55
Yay for historical fiction! 🙂 Historical fiction is definitely up there as the genre I read from the most as well right now.
Favourite book read so far this year…it’s a toss up between Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites and Robin Oliveira’s I Always Loved You. I think you might enjoy the latter, it’s set in Paris during the Belle Epoque and featuring many artists from the period, especially Degas 🙂
Day 1 @ on my blog
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WordsAndPeace
May 26th, 2014 at 10:02
so funny that you mention Oliveira’s book. did you check my Mailbox Monday for today?: https://wordsandpeace.com/2014/05/26/mailbox-monday-may-26/
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Lianne @ caffeinatedlife.net
May 26th, 2014 at 10:04
lol! I must’ve missed that post, awesome that you won a copy–hope you enjoy the book! 😀
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WordsAndPeace
May 26th, 2014 at 13:43
can’t wait to begin it, hopefully next week
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laurelrainsnow
May 26th, 2014 at 10:21
It is great to learn a little about the person behind the blog….thanks for sharing! Here’s MY ARMCHAIR BEA POST
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WordsAndPeace
May 26th, 2014 at 13:42
wow impressed by your number of blogs!
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bookishthings13
May 26th, 2014 at 11:24
Rock painting looks so cool. I need to read the classics but I have to be in the mood to do it. My favorite book so far this year has been Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
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WordsAndPeace
May 26th, 2014 at 13:40
thanks for stopping by. I like painting on rocks, because you can create things depending on the shape of the rocks. But recently, I mostly paint whatever my clients order, just finished a frog, and am currently working on redoing one like the 2nd on this page: http://www.rocksbyemmanuelle.com/icons like this one:
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Laurie C
May 26th, 2014 at 12:15
I’m so touched at your mention of my blog in your post! Thank you! You’ve absolutely made my day! Literary fiction is my favorite.I also try to read at least one classic a year, but it’s hard to keep up with both the new and the old!
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WordsAndPeace
May 26th, 2014 at 13:31
You are welcome, your blog deserved to be better known. Yes, so hard indeed to keep reading from the TBR and read what’s new every week. I have the tendency to read the new books way after everyone else. with a few rare exceptions: I should have the next Murakami the day it’s out, in August, can’t wait!
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AH@Badassbookreviews.com
May 26th, 2014 at 12:37
Welcome to Armchair BEA. It’s so nice to see so many different reviewers out there. My favorite book so far this year has been Red Rising by Pierce Brown.
AH@badassbookreviews.com
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WordsAndPeace
May 26th, 2014 at 13:29
it’s at least my 4th Armchair BEA, I enjo this week a lot
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D.G. @ Badass Book Reviews
May 26th, 2014 at 17:54
I started reviewing for exactly the same reason, Emma. Because I would always forget what I like or didn’t like about the book!
Like Laurie said, I also try to read a classic per year but it’s so difficult with all the shiny new books always dropping on my lap! I have Blindness on my TBR…I should definitely move it up!
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WordsAndPeace
May 27th, 2014 at 12:01
Blindness is quite depressing, but the writing style is definitely something to experience. tried to leave a comment on your post, didn’t say that it will show after moderation though
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Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader
May 26th, 2014 at 20:13
Add me to the list of folks that didn’t realize you were French! I just thought you really dug the country 😀 Cool!
I started my blog because no one in my real life would let me drone on and on about books, lol. Blogging is definitely a great way to keep track of your reads as well. I wish I had started when I was around 12, ha!
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WordsAndPeace
May 27th, 2014 at 11:59
yes, I wish I had started it way earlier than that. Plus I used to have a notebook log where I listed all the books I read, but destroyed it at one point, how stupid!!
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Alisha (@MyNeedToRead)
May 26th, 2014 at 20:26
Rock Painting, yes! Saw a pic of bookends and #itisawesome. 🙂
“My Wish List” looks like a really interesting read. Thank you for sharing it as a fave!
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WordsAndPeace
May 27th, 2014 at 11:52
yes, that’s a neat short novel to get acquainted with contemporary French literary fiction
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DoingDewey
May 26th, 2014 at 20:51
I feel silly for not knowing this, but even though I knew you liked books about France, I didn’t know you were originally from France. I’m glad that blogging events like this give me a chance to get to know other bloggers better 🙂 Thank you for including me on your list of bloggers!
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WordsAndPeace
May 27th, 2014 at 10:05
funny, you are already the 2nd one mentioning that, I thought my Frenchness was all over the place, lol. Well, at least this tells me my English is acceptable if I can fake it as first language, lol
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Leslie
May 27th, 2014 at 01:45
When I think of literature I think of contemporary. The classics always make me think of assigned reading back in my high school and college days.
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WordsAndPeace
May 27th, 2014 at 09:57
Interesting, as too many readers I think forget that contemporary writing can be real literature! For me it’s both, I mostly enjoyed the books assigned to us for reading, but I’m French, lol, so who is not to love Hugo, Balzac, Zola… lol
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fredamans
May 28th, 2014 at 19:51
Great getting to know more about you. I follow on bloglovin’ now.
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WordsAndPeace
May 28th, 2014 at 20:00
thanks!
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2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks
Armchair BEA 2014: wrap-up | Words And Peace May 31st, 2014 at 14:08
[…] Day 1: Introduction and Literature […]
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Armchair BEA 2015: my 5 Introduction questions | Words And Peace May 27th, 2015 at 07:00
[…] Today, it’s about Introductions. We can choose 5 out of 10 questions, so here you go – if you don’t know me yet, you might want to read how I presented myself at Armchair BEA 2014 […]
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