An Interview with VB's own book lover, Rachel!

There are readers and then there are book lovers. Rachel falls into the latter category. When you need a good fantasy recommendation, seek out Rachel. This girl knows her stuff! And now she's heading up our Fantasy Book Group, which meets the 3rd Saturday of each month at noon, and our Young Adult Book Group, which meets the 2nd Saturday of every month at noon. These groups are open to anyone, so we'd love to see you!

You can also check out Rachel's book reviews by visiting her blog.

Our book group coordinator, Cindi, took some time to ask Rachel some questions. Enjoy!

1. Why did you want to start, not one, but two book groups at VB?

I actually mentioned my desire to start both a Young Adult and a Fantasy book group during my job interview. As a customer, I loved Village Books, but the store struck me as out of the loop in the fantasy scene. I have talked to a lot of other people who feel the same way, and shop elsewhere for this reason. The Young Adult section seems much more up to date, but still we don't have a large young adult demographic. The book groups are just one of the ways I would like to work on improving our perception in both those areas. In general, though, these genres have a lot more in common than is immediately apparent: they are both underappreciated, often labelled trite, and considered easier to write. Book groups are the perfect opportunity for those who love these genres to meet others with the same passion, and discuss not only specific books, but why some of these stereotypes about young adult and fantasy exist, and how the actual books disprove them.

2. How long have you been a fan of fantasy and why?

I was converted into a fantasy fan when I read Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness quartet in eighth grade. From there, it didn't take much reading in the fantasy genre to notice a clear trend: women in fantasy are often tougher, smarter, and cooler than those in other books (or at least that's how it struck me in junior high). I couldn't get enough of these women who seemed more powerful, and less inhibited than women in other works. I believe that fantasy was able to help lead the way into writing stronger women, because people were more agreeable to reading about an opinionated woman in an unrealistic setting, so they could justify her strength as fantasy. Of course, all fantasy stems from and spills back into reality. Still I never actually prefered fantasy over other genres until I started writing. When I realized that most of what I was writing was fantasy, it became a necessity to ensure I read plenty in the field I want to publish in. Now I'd say about 75% of what I read is fantasy.

3. Some have said that Young Adult (YA) literature is more exciting in today's market than adult fiction, what do you think?

I agree! I do not say this to be insulting to adult fiction. Rather YA literature deals with discovering who you are. Most adult fiction deals with REdiscovering who you are. Both are important journeys, but I've always been most drawn to that period when you're finding your place in the world for the first time.

4. Have you been in book groups before?

No, I haven't, and the reason why is very relevant here. I tried a few times, but it never worked out. Every book group I attended looked down on fantasy (and sometimes on young adult), and would say, "we want to read REAL books here." I read all kinds of books, but I feel strongly that fantasy and young adult deserve as much respect as any other genre and they don't always get it. I would be perfectly comfortable in a book group that didn't read fantasy exclusively, but I don't feel welcome in one that spits on the genre.

5. Describe your reading taste.

I will read anything, but, of course, I have favorites. Currently, I primarily read fantasy, though I also read a lot of young adult as well. The foremost reason for this is because I'm trying to publish my own fantasy works and it's important to know what's current in the genre you're working in. Honestly, though, I just enjoy a good story. The best way to really know someone's taste is by specific books, so here are some books I loved (you will see a lot of fantasy and young adult, but then others pop up in there!): Love, Inc. by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout (YA), The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, The Black Jewels by Anne Bishop(F), The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison(YA, F), Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (YA, F), The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella, Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (YA), A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (YA, F), Sabriel by Garth Nix(YA, F), Looking for Alaska by John Green (YA), His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (YA, F), Shogun by James Clavell, Graceling by Kristin Cashore (YA, F), The Other Boleyn Girl by Philipa Greggory, Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson (YA), Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA), Blood and Chocolate by Annete Curtis Klause(YA, F), Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (F), Aurelia by Anne Osterlund (YA), Druids by Barbara Galler-Smith and Josh Langston (F), Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan (F), Secrets of Jin-Shei by Alma Alexander (F)

6. Tell us something about yourself that is unique to you and might surprise us...

I do not re-read books. This is a shocker to a lot of book lovers, but my reasoning is that there are so many amazing books out there that I haven't read yet that I cannot bring myself to spend (I won't say waste) my precious time re-reading things. I have re-read books in the past, usually by necessity, and I have never found a book that I enjoyed reading as much as the first time.

Comments

[Thom Chambliss]

Great interview, Rachel! And a wonderful perspective.

[Lindsey]

Thanks, Thom! We've passed along your comment to Rachel.