BBAW Post #2: Interview Swap with Sherry of Semicolon

For Day #2 of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, participating book bloggers were paired up and interviewed the other halves of their pairs. This was a fun way to learn about another blog and blogger. My interviewee was Sherry of the Semicolon blog, and her interview of me is posted on her blog today. I was struck by how busy Sherry must be (homeschooling mom of 8? wow) and how diverse and substantive her blog is. Semicolon was also shortlisted for BBAW in the category of Best Spiritual/Inspirational or Religious Book Review Blog.

Here is the interview with Sherry:

1. Describe your blog in 140 characters.

Semicolon is the blog home of a 50-something homeschooling mom of eight. I read, do laundry, read, teach math, read, wash dishes, read —and sometimes I sleep. Then, I wake up and blog about it all.

2. When do you do your blogging? How much time do you spend on blogging every day?

I blog whenever I can get my children off my computer. I spend and hour or two a day blogging and reading blogs.

3. What is the best book you've read this year?

Only one? I can't do it.
The Chosen by Chaim Potok.
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis.
John Adams by David McCullough.
(OK, I'll stop.)

4. What are your passions outside of reading?

I like singing hymns, teaching history, and playing word games (Scrabble). I don't do physical activity unless forced to do so.

5. Where do you learn about new books?

I read blogs, or I go to the bookstore and take notes. I'm the little old grey-haired lady with the notepad in Barnes and Noble, frantically scribbling down titles so that I can later request them from the library.

6. How did you start blogging, and why do you blog? Why about books?

I started blogging by accident when I discovered that I could actually write stuff and post it on the internet. That was in 2004, and I never thought anyone would read what I wrote outside my family. Then, someone I didn't know left me my first comment, and I was hooked. It's all her fault.

I blog about books because when I'm not blogging, I'm usually reading —or doing something boring like vacuuming the carpet. (see question #1). Who blogs about vacuuming?

7. What has blogging done for you, and how do you try to serve your readers? What should a reader expect to get out of a visit to Semicolon?

Blogging is wonderful for me because I get to tell everyone who will read what I think about anything I want to write about. I love it. I hope I'm giving something back by sharing what's important to me and what I believe to be the truth about the world we live in and the God who made it.

If you come to Semicolon, you'll read bookish thoughts from a Christian perspective about all kinds of books, from children's fiction to fantasy to classics to contemporary nonfiction. I write about what I read, and I say what I think needs to be said. And I don't mind a civil discussion.