BBAW Interview: Jennifer from Literate Housewife

Hello Everybody…

Please welcome Jennifer from Literate Housewife to my blog today as part of BBAW. Jennifer’s blog was one of the first book blogs I discovered and subscribed to. I’m sure you all already know her but if you don’t please go visit her blog and say “Hello”. I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please tell us a little about yourself Jennifer
I am a 30-something wife and mother of two.  By day I am a Senior Business Systems Analyst.  By lunch break and evening, I am the Literate Housewife.

Did you read when you were a kid? Which is your favorite book from your childhood?
I read a lot when I was a kid. It was my favorite thing to do. I have very vivid memories of first grade. Mrs. Stone had an apple tree. You got your apple on the tree by memorizing sight words like in, on, an, etc. I was the very last student to get my apple up on the tree and the next day she took it down. I was sad that I barely got to see my apple, but it made me want to be at the front of the reading pack from then on – and I was.

Which is your favorite book from Childhood?
My favorite book from childhood is Little Women. It’s a novel I can still read and love today and not just because of the fond memories. It’s such a beautiful book.

Which is your favorite classic?
Tough question! I would have to say The Great Gatsby. It was the first adult classic I remember reading and it really got me interested in exploring more than just a novel’s story.

How do you manage your time with all the blogging and reading and family?
I don’t. LOL! I struggle with this all of the time. There is so much that I want to do with my blog that I just don’t ever get around to because I actually want to spend time with my family or I simply want to read. It’s so hard to find the right balance. It’s one of my goals for next year to be more balanced – especially with my family. I’m hoping that it won’t be too long before I can read books like Little House and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to my girls so that some of my reading time will be family time as well.

Do your family and friends know about your blog?
Yes. I have spread the word. I haven’t had any trouble sharing about it because there isn’t anything I have to say about books or reading that I would censor around anyone. My mom has taken me to task for my use of language (always *#! out, but she doesn’t care), but I figure at least she’s read bits and pieces of it. Friends are more likely to visit than family and I’ve been able to connect with some friends from high school through my blog after finding each other again on Facebook.

What are your hobbies other than reading?
Before I had children, I loved to cross-stitch. I loved making the huge beautiful pieces by Mirabilia. It used to take me 3 months or so to complete one of those projects. It would take me 3 years now, so I’ve lost my interest. I have a feeling that will come back once the girls are older. I also like to stamp. It’s a great creative outlet for me to make bookmarks and other things using my stamps and paper. I don’t do it as often as I would like, but I’m always happy when I do. My Bookmark It club forces me in a good way to spend some time with it every month.

Knowing your love for historical novels, which time period are you most interested in?
Initially, I was most interested in the American Civil War. Gone With the Wind made sure of that. Most recently, Tudor England has caught my fancy. Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl really awakened a love for Henry VIII and his people for almost two years now. I’m branching out a little, but there’s something about the Tudor era that has captured my imagination.

I’ve always loved rapid fire questions. So here are a few.
What is your favorite color? Green
What is your favorite season? Fall
Who is your favorite author?Just one? Ack! Margaret Mitchell.
Who is you favorite actor? Anthony Hopkins

Finally, when and why did you start book blogging?
I started blogging in January of 2007. My New Year’s Resolution was to read 52 books that year and I created a blog just to keep myself honest. It’s has grown and expanded since then, but it really was a turning point in my life. I was so depressed after my youngest was born and I needed to do something that was just about me – not my family or my job. I’ve really started to feel much more like myself since then.

And here is Jennifer with her beautiful kids 🙂

Thank you so much Jennifer for such great answers. Being your BBAW Interview partner was a lot of fun.