Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Armchair BEA - Introductions

It's that time of year again, the time of year when bloggers who aren't going to NYC to visit with publishers, meet authors, and get a sneak peek at all of the upcoming books (not to mention, shipping home boxes of them) are just a bit jealous. Fear not, the folks in charge of Armchair BEA have a way to keep those of us unable to attend feeling happier about being at home. First up, it's time for introductions. The organizers have ask we answer five questions about ourselves from a list. Here are the questions I picked and my answers:

1. Who are you?  I played around with this answer for a bit, trying to come up with something clever and different. I've been blogging for four years and after that long, it kind of feels like you all already know everything there is to know about me! For those that don't, I'm Lisa (you'll also see me as Mama Shepp); I'm a wife (30 years with my college sweetheart) and a mother to three young adults I'm very proud of.

2. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. When I was growing up, my family used to take three-week vacations all over the country and into Canada...camping. We've seen oceans, waterfalls, mountains, great lakes, cities, battlefields, museums and national monuments. Looking back, I'm astonished by my parents' willingness to put up with three kids fighting in the backseat, long days of driving, stormy nights in a camper, and all of that planning.

TD Ameritrade Ball Park - Home of the College World Series
3. Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. I'm blogging from Omaha, Nebraska, home of the College World Series,  Henry Doorly Zoo (ranked the #2 zoo in the country), and the most restaurants per capita in the U.S. You want it, we've got it!

4. What is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013? My favorite book so far this year is City of Women by David Gillham, which I highly recommend on audio. It's very dark and very graphic so I don't necessarily recommend it for everyone.

Jane Austen

5. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why? Assuming said author could come back from the dead, I would pick Jane Austen. I'd love to learn more about what inspired her stories and bask in her amazing wit. If I have to stick to a living author, that would be Thrity Umrigar. My lunch "with" Ms.Umrigar just piqued my interest in her. I'd love to learn more about how she blends what she's learned from living with the United States with her upbringing in India.

How about you - where are you reading from? What's your favorite book so far this year?

 

10 comments:

  1. These posts are fun as I haven't been reading blogs for much more than a year and still discovering new ones. Just finished a Penguin book, The Pink and the Brown by Hugh Atkinson, an Australian writer from the not too distant past and I am in Hobart , Tasmania, Australia

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  2. It's great that you've been blogging for so long. That's quite an accomplishment. I'm a newbie with less than a year under my belt.

    Kudos to your parents! I don't know if I could do that, lol.

    It was nice to learn more about you :) Happy BEA!

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  3. One of these years, I'm going to BEA--sounds like such a kick!

    I've never been Omaha (isn't that the home of the Great and Wonderful Oz?), but your fun facts have sold me!

    We took family camping vacations too, but stuck mostly to the southwest, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, Santa Fe, and the like. It's a great way to see the country.

    Thanks to your blog, I have a Thrity Umrigar book on my TBR shelf for later this year!

    Enjoy your armchair and BEA :)

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  4. Ooh, thanks for the heads up, I was sure I signed up... guess not.

    http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

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  5. Thanks for sharing your intro Lisa! I would never have pegged Omaha as having so many restaurants...good to know ;)

    In answer to your questions, I'm reading from Upstate NY and I think my fave book this year has been Indiscretion by Charles Dubow...though it's so hard to choose just one!!

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  6. I actually am really excited to read City of Women, and might go for the audio, even though I already have the book. It's nice to get a solid recommendation on an audio production. Sorry I've been away so long. I am working to get back on track!

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  7. I am definitely jealous of everyone in NYC! Shipping home boxes of books? Just what I need! :)

    Thanks for mentioning City of Women. I added it to my list and can't wait to buy it. I have been trying to add my contemporary literature to my reading diet. I've rather enjoyed the ones I've tried so far.

    Good choice on a dinner companion! You definitely want to pick someone you think will be a great conversationalist.

    Have a good week!

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  8. Jane Austen. That would make for an interesting dinner. Good Choice. :)

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  9. I signed up for Armchair this week - big deal for me these days! Let's see how much I can really participate :)

    I haven't read a fabulous, shout from the rooftops book this year so I blogged about a book I can't wait to read.

    Austin or someone dressed up like Austin :)... Linda can meet your needs if a stand in will do.

    Happy Monday!

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  10. I can't remember if I posted a comment yet. I saw this and immediately wanted to participate and got going on that...so if I posted already, sorry. I love your answers! I chose Charlotte Bronte as my author. I am also jealous you got to travel so much with your family as a kid! What an amazing experience.

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