Armchair BEA Day 2: Blogger Development and Genre Fiction

Blogger Development

 When I originally started blogging I didn't think I would be as involved in the community as I am.  I didn't think I'd have a twitter account, participate in read-a-thons or read-alongs, host giveaways, or probably ever meet other bloggers.  I figured I'd just write my reviews and that would be it.  But now I'm doing all of the above and more.  I'm still kind of private (I think my face has appeared on my blog only once) and I don't have a whole lot of time to get out to events and such but I am starting to branch out into the community.  It's funny that I'm so outgoing in person but when it comes to my online personality, I'm kind of introverted.  But I like how things are going so for the foreseeable future I plan to keep things the way they are.  Maybe I'll break out of my shell a little bit, if you force me out of it.

Genre Fiction

 I'm a pretty eclectic reader here, there are some genres that I won't touch with a ten foot pole but for the most part I'm open to trying different genres.  But at the end of the day I'll always be drawn back to 3 - Can Lit, Literary Fiction, and British Chick Lit.

As a very proud Canadian, how can I not like Can Lit?  As a people we are unique, have an interesting sense of humour, and are a jumble of cultures and that is very apparent in our literature.  If you're looking for something quintessentially Canadian I would recommend Terry Fallis, Will Ferguson, Lawrence Hill, Austin Clarke, and one of my all time favourite books, In the Skin of the Lion by Michael Ondaatje.

If you're looking for something of the moment I highly recommend Cathy Marie Buchanan's The Painted Girls and Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being.

Literary Fiction is something I'm becoming drawn to more and more.  I enjoy following the awards season and finding the best of fiction from around the world.  Some of the ones that have I've really loved lately have been Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi and The Dinner by Herman Koch.

And British Chick Lit…where do I begin?  Probably with the one who started it all, Miss Bridget Jones.  From Helen Fielding, I discovered Sophie Kinsella, then Gemma Townley, Carmen Reid, Lucy Diamond, and my newest favourite, Chrissie Manby, among many others.  Maybe it's because my secret fantasy is to pick up and move to England, maybe it's because my grandmother instilled in me a love for all things British, but to me the best chick lit comes out of England.  When I'm feeling down, I reach for it.  When I've been reading heavy stuff, I follow that up with it. When I'm on vacation, it's what I bring with me.  If it weren't for British chick lit, I wouldn't have read anything but textbooks all through university!

My vacation reading pile, all British chick lit.  Summer can't come soon enough!

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 29, 2013 at 6:53 AM

    I'm like you: I had no idea what the blogging community had to offer, or even that there was one! I love taking part in our events and meeting new people along the way.

    I'm also into British Chick Lit. I don't know about Canadian literature, I mean, I don't think about it but I do sometimes notice that an author that I thought was from the US, turns out to be Canadian.

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    Replies
    1. ShanMay 29, 2013 at 6:26 PM

      I sometimes find myself thinking someone is American and they turn out to be Canadian when I'm reading their book. A lot of fantastic writers set their books outside of Canada, so you really don't realize it's Canadian until you read the author bio. I think a lot of people expect Canadian writers to set their books in Canada.

      Delete
  2. Sam (Tiny Library)May 29, 2013 at 9:46 AM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday, I'm a new follower of yours :)
    I've slowly become more involved in the community too, it took me almost two years to get a twitter but I'm loving being more involved now.

    And I didn't know that British Chick Lit was a genre, I thought chick lit was chick lit wherever it was. Learn something new every day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ShanMay 29, 2013 at 6:27 PM

      I don't know if it's a specific genre, but for me, I tend to like the British stuff better than the American (or elsewhere). There is just something about the setting, plus I find the lighter, funnier stuff tends to be British.

      Delete
  3. Laurel-Rain SnowMay 29, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    I am quite fond of British Chick Lit, and just this week, read an Australian Women's Lit book...and I have a favorite Canadian author...Margaret Atwood.

    Enjoy your blogging! I like the idea of blogging quietly, and slowly and gradually reaching out.

    Here's MY ARMCHAIR BEA POST


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    Replies
    1. ShanMay 29, 2013 at 6:29 PM

      Australian literature is something I really need to give a read, I don't think I've read anything set there!

      Delete
  4. LindseyMay 29, 2013 at 4:56 PM

    Great recs. I'm probably the only British-lit fan that hasn't read Bridget Jones. Maybe I'll get around to it someday, but there are several others that come first. Great post.

    My Genre @ Lindsey Gray

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ShanMay 29, 2013 at 6:30 PM

      With the third Bridget Jones book coming out soon, now would be a good time to give it a read! Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  5. KristinMay 29, 2013 at 6:17 PM

    I'm another one that had no idea what I was in for when it came to book blogging. I still remember the first time I got a review request - I was stunned!!!

    I am a big Sophie Kinsella fan - her books are so funny!!!

    My Blogger Development
    My Genre Fiction post

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    Replies
    1. ShanMay 29, 2013 at 6:31 PM

      I can always count on a Sophie Kinsella book making me laugh, even when it's not her best, it's still good.

      Delete
  6. Monika @ Lovely BookshelfMay 29, 2013 at 6:47 PM

    British chick lit is something I don't read terribly often, but ALWAYS enjoy when I do! Love the photo of your vacation reading pile. :)

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  7. AnonymousMay 29, 2013 at 9:56 PM

    I have to check out more British chick lit now! I've read some Sarra Manning and a few others I can't recall right now but I need to check out more! Great post!

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  8. The Relentless ReaderMay 30, 2013 at 9:50 AM

    I demand to see your face! Ha ha ;)

    I loved the Ozeki too and I'd really like to read The Painted Girls as well!

    ReplyDelete
  9. ShailiMay 30, 2013 at 12:01 PM

    I am interested in Literary fiction too. I haven't really had the opportunity to read any Canada fiction, seeing as I am from India where the genre is not really available. Your blog seems quite interesting. Please do check out mine too sometime. Since I am just starting out, I'd love some tips from a veteran blogger like you. :-)

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  10. Leanne YangMay 30, 2013 at 8:31 PM

    It's awesome branching out into the community, it's definitely bigger than I though it would be when I first started blogging.

    ReplyDelete

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