Good morning and welcome to Armchair BEA!
This is my first year participating with Armchair BEA and I’m really excited to get to meet the new bloggers and connect with “old bloggers” who also could not make it to the BEA conference this year.
My name is Jennifer. Here are some pertinent and not so pertinent random facts about me:
- I’m in my late 30s (until October anyway).
- You can also call me Jen, but never Jenny.
- Although I’ve lived in Virginia for 15 years now, I was born and raised in Michigan and am damn proud of it.
- I’ve carried on a love affair with Henry VIII since 2007. I admit to getting lazy, but since I’ve not cheated, I think I’ll be okay. There is the pesky fact that I’ve not had a male child, though…
- I live in Roanoke, Virginia with my husband Danny and our daughters (Emma, 8, & Allison, 6). During the day, I work as a business systems analyst for a dental insurance web department. Although I do get in some Twitter time throughout the day (@lithousewife), I don’t get much blog reading done until after the girls are in bed for the night. I’m looking forward to exploring all of your posts tonight.
- I seriously doubt I could survive long without Diet Coke.
- I’ve loved to read since the second grade. As summer is approaching and my daughters are approaching their summer vacation, I remember my childhood summers with longing. Library reading challenges. Endless days where I was free to read whatever I wanted whenever I wanted…
- I started The Literate Housewife Review as part of my New Year’s Resolution in 2007 – to read 52 books. At that point in my life, I needed something for myself that had nothing to do with my job or my roles as wife and mother. I started a blog as a means for being accountable to that resolution, never dreaming that there was a broader book blogging community out there or what this blog would become.
- I am becoming a bigger audiobook geek by the minute. If there ever were to be an ideal job for me, it would somehow involve audiobooks and perhaps garage sales. Audiobook narrators are like rock stars to me. Just as much as I wish I could be in NYC for BEA this year, I wish I could be at the APAC and attend Tuesday night’s Audie Awards.
- My favorite color is green.
- Lisbeth Salander and Scarlett O’Hara are my literary heroines.
- I’m always off and on some diet or another, hoping I’ll hit upon the right combination. Haven’t found it yet, but I’ll keep trying.
- My favorite novel of all time is Gone With the Wind.
- I have read a lot of historical fiction since beginning my blog, but over the past year my tastes have been returning to mainstream fiction, Gothic fiction, and literary fiction. I also read some chick lit for brain candy.
- I have not and will never read Nicolas Sparks.
- I do want to give Peter Bognanni a hug.
- You might even catch me building a shrine to David Mitchell.
- I got my undergraduate degree in teaching only to discover how much I hated it.
- I got my Master’s Degree at Hollins University. That degree is how I got where I am today.
- I love humor tainted with a little snark and sarcasm.
- I adore The Decemberists.
- I got my hair cut Friday and am extremely excited about it. Just like a good book, a new haircut can work wonders.
- I don’t do it often, but I still like looking up words in my physical dictionary and thesaurus.
This week I’m going to be participating from my comfy, cozy suede-ish (not really sure if it’s authentic or not…) chaise lounge/sectional sofa. I have a lamp to my right on the end table. That end table also provides easy access to my Kindle. This week I hope to learn about some wonderful upcoming books, new authors and spend some time with all of you. This is going to be a great week. We may not get to meet Simon Vance or stop by the Algonquin, Harper Perennial, Simon and Schuster, Penguin (I could keep going but I won’t) booths at the Javits Center, but we’ve got each other and I couldn’t be happier.
I am with you on the nicholas sparks.
Me too: Green, two daughters (and a son), Kindle, a little sarcasm, undergrad-teaching-hate, haha. Have a great week!
I just love you. I can hear you saying all of this stuff. I’m fully drunk on the Audiobook Koolaid as well. They give me a tremendous amount of pleasure, because if I could only read print, then I’d read about 20 books a year.
I don’t know about hugging Peter Bognanni, but I’m willing to have his children (a honor I bestow on very few authors, but also includes Tana French and Sarah Waters). I can’t wait to write THAT review. It rocked my world.
So sad I’m not at BEA, and I’m too frantic to participate in Armchair because I’m leaving in 9 days. I’ve got shit to do! I’ve decided I’ll be able to go in 2018. Want to join me?
Mary, I had no interest in Sparked to begin with, but when I saw him speak at the National Book Festival a couple of years ago, I began to abhor him. Yuck!
Sandy, I love you, too! BEA 2018, here we come! Good luck packing. I know that must be a feat in and of itself. Have a great trip. BTW, not to split hairs, but how would you have Peter Bognanni’s baby without hugging him in some fashion? LOL!
This is my first time participating with Armchair BEA. I with you on the snark. I love it. Look forward to reading your posts!
I mentioned Nicholas Sparks in my intro post too!
My intent was to study teaching (ESL) in college so I started out with a Spanish major, intending to either transfer for the education major or do it as a masters. But I quickly discovered it wasn’t my passion. The best decision I made was to change my major to something I enjoyed more.
I do believe we are twins separated at birth.
“I’ve carried on a love affair with Henry VIII since 2007.” – Check, even joined the SCA with the daughter to wear pretty Tudor era clothes.
“I live in Roanoke, Virginia with my husband Danny and our daughters (Emma, 8, & Allison, 6).” – Check, two daughters also.
“I seriously doubt I could survive long without Diet Coke.” – I tried, gave it up for 6 months and was miserable.
“I started The Literate Housewife Review as part of my New Year’s Resolution in 2007 – to read 52 books.” – Check, I started in 2005/2006 for many of the same reasons.
“I’m always off and on some diet or another, hoping I’ll hit upon the right combination. Haven’t found it yet, but I’ll keep trying.” – Check, Weight Watchers this month.
“I love humor tainted with a little snark and sarcasm.” – Check and Check
“I adore The Decemberists.” – I am plotting to get me and my 11 year old to their tour this summer. One of my prouder moments was her asking to go.
Anyway, stopped by from ArmchairBEA, looking forward to your posts.
I love your intro post. I am a fellow snark sister, but I don’t think it comes through on my blog sometimes. I got my hair cut on Friday too and you are right. A haircut can do wonders!
Awesome. I too adore The Decemberists.
Hi Jen
I’m not very familiar with Henry VIII but may have to make his acquaintance soon! Scarlett O’Hara is great and I love Lisbeth Salander.
Ugh Nicholas Sparks but David Mitchell is on my tbr list although I have not yet had the pleasure. I’ll always credit you and your blog with introducing me to the wonders of Neil Gaiman, too!
I think it’s great you take time to blog after a full day of work and spending the evening with your family. You must be exhausted by the time you get to the computer, although it’s probably a great outlet.
It’s nice visiting again, I hope to more often!
Have a fun week!
APAC? That’s one of the book blogging acronyms I’ve missed. I know of course BEA, but APAC? Is that some kind of book blogging political action committee?
i’m not new to your blog, but wanted to say hi anyways. i love these little tidbits of information that we are able to learn during events like Armchair Bea.
i’m a big Lisbeth Salander fan, too. and don’t care much for the Sparks guy.
have a great week!
Great intro post! I used to read Nicholas Sparks in high school and eventually came to see the light… no more! I love diet coke. And it sounds like we have similar reading tastes. Glad to ‘meet’ you!
Hi! It’s nice to meet you! I look forward to getting to know you during the interview. I just have to say that I too LOVE audiobooks, my fav color is green, Lisbeth Salander ROCKS, and haircuts make me feel like a new woman
. Here’s my introduction post! ~ Jen @ A Book and a Latte
I am an old friend but I love this post – it’s so you.
Especially that bit about the love affair with Henry VIII – you wouldn’t want to cheat on him! 
I remember my summer reading days with longing too! It just doesn’t happen when you get older, even in college.
I loved your post. I could relate to finding blogging a chance to do something for yourself. I’m at home with my 4.5yr old daughter and 2.5 yr old son and started blogging this year as something to do for me. I can’t believe what an amazing community of book bloggers there are out there. I had no idea what I was getting into!
Lisa@Cold Moon Violet Books: About Me Post
I’m with you on Nicholas Sparks too! I stopped by because I have been in dire need of synching all of the cool people I talk to on Twitter with the blogs I read. So, I’m adding you to the reader and I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts!
How did I not know that GWTW was your favorite book? Scarlett O’Hara is my heroine too! I love, love, love how she doesn’t take any crap from anyone!!
I find myself becoming more of an audiobook addict by the minute. I finally “came out” to my boss that I was listening to books at work. She laughed, so at least it is sanctioned, right?
On behalf of the Armchair BEA organizers, we hope you have a blast this week!
Hi Jen, Longtime reader, first-time poster!
Upper or Lower Michigan? I’m a wanna-be Yooper myself.
I agree about Sparks – he reminds me of Danielle Steele.
I love your blog – its one on my list I try to check daily. I have an aspiration to start my own but afraid there are already sooooooo many out there. Its mostly to clear my own thoughts since I can’t get a book club started. Anyone that knows me, knows if they talk books with me, I’ll never shut up!