Today I am pleased to welcome the lovely Juhina and Farah, the lovey blogging sisters from Maji Bookshelf!
Hey guys, and welcome to The Non Reluctant Reader, to start off, would you mind introducing yourself's?
Juhina: Hey everyone! So my name is Juhina (pronounced Joo-Hi-Na), I’m 21 years old (a bit on the old side), and I love reading and blogging!! I’m a fourth year chemical engineer and blogging has been a breath of fresh air for me! It keeps me sane during the semester. I love to travel and I am fascinated with the asian culture! And I tweet constantly!
Farah: Ello! My name is Farah, and I’m 15 years and 10 months old. Currently in 10th grade, and surviving. Want to sum up my life? I start off my day with either pop tarts or cereal. Watching and drawing anime is my passion, and buying electronics is my addiction. Books are what make my life much more interesting.
You started blogging in October of last year, how has your book blogging experience been?
Juhina: Well very exciting to say the least! There are so many amazing new authors and books that we would have never heard of if we didn’t start blogging, plus we met some amazing blogger friends that actually understand our book addictions *wink* and it has been and is still an unbelievable journey! Also the blog took up so much of my time that I was afraid it might affect my grades but I’m glad to say that didn’t happen and I just can’t imagine myself without the blog anymore
Farah: I will definitely say that as I started the blog, I read much more than I used to. I got introduced to many new lovely titles and authors. I had the chance to meet amazing book bloggers as well! Let me just say that, I don’t know what I did in my days without the blog. Even though it might be a bit stressing on fixing and editing and etc, it’s definitely an amazing experience.
How is it being international bloggers?
Juhina: It has been tough. Non-international bloggers have so many perks! From participating in blog tours, to going to book expos, to actually meeting some of their favorite authors and actually getting the books on release today. Over her all this is nonexistent. Sometimes I need to wait for two weeks to get the new release, and I always get jealous of people meeting the authors and even getting ARCs of books I am dying to read! So sometimes I feel discouraged, but I go back to the whole reason I started blogging, and that was because of my love of reading. Also NetGalley and The Book Depository have made it easier for us to catch up to all those other bloggers!
Farah: Well, first of all, it made me a jealous person. Haha. Here, books are pretty expensive to buy “as soon as they come out” because they kind of like ripping people off. Here, we don’t have book expos and all that cool stuff either. Here, we don’t get a chance to meet any cool authors because they never come here. Living in the states or Canada, you get a chance to get ARC’s and get to go to ALA and meet authors and stuff. So I thank NetGalley for giving a huge chance for international bloggers.
What's one thing that surprised you about book blogging?
Juhina: The kindness and just generosity of bloggers! I also didn’t think I would become friends of such awesome bloggers! They have honestly expanded and delighted my reading and blogging experience! Also the enormity of the book blogging world awed me. How bloggers actually influence the readers, and how one day I might be able to influence people to read and buy books! I actually got many of my friends hooked on some amazing books that I loved through reading our blog, which always garners up happy feelings! Sorry that I couldn’t find just ONE thing, there are too many!
Farah: It was fun! Actually what surprised me is that there was something called “Advanced Reader’s Copies”! I just thought books were published, and people read them. I was also surprised to see that authors actually interact with bloggers and have interview and etc. A huge thing that surprised me is how many people are so kind and generous by hosting giveaways, and always helping other bloggers. I just think of the blogging “community” as such a cozy place for me to stay in. Sorry I didn’t just have one thing, I was too surprised ;)
Who are some of your favorite bloggers?
Juhina: You of course! there is also Sam at Realm of Fiction (www.realmoffiction.blogspot.
Farah: That’s a hard question.. A lot of bloggers are amazing. I really enjoy reading Giselle from Xpresso Reads reviews, the lovely Benji at The Non Reluctant Reader, Story Siren, A cup and a Latte, and Pages of Forbidden Love. Of course I have a lot more, I just cant mention them all!
If you got to invite one author to be your house guest for a week, who would you invite and what would you do with them?
Juhina: oh! J. K. Rowling without a doubt! I didn’t even need time to think about that. The Harry Potter series were the first English books I picked up. As you know, English isn’t my first language and when I moved to Canada everything was foreign to me! I picked up the first books of Harry Potter and fell in love. I was 10 years old, and ever since I never stopped reading. Harry Potter is a big part of my life, and the loss of it still hurts, I would invite her and just TALK about Harry Potter, just divulge in everything related to Harry Potter and see the genius behind this phenomenal series.
Farah: M-E-G Cabot. Haha. That woman is amazing. Meg Cabot’s books were definitely the first Young Adult books I read. Her books are what got me into reading. I grew up reading her books, and I still do! Meg and I would probably just chill with tea and cookies. Talk about boys and how she gets to describe such cute boy protagonists! I would probably go to a carnival with her. Have a crazy photo shoot. Let her sign all my books and my tummy :3
Describe your sister in three words. GO!
Juhina: Farah is Loud, Crazy, and the opposite of shy!
Farah: Juhina is a perfectionist, smart, and caring.
Favorites:
Juhina:
All Time Favorite Read: Harry Potter
Favorite New Release: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Favorite candy: I don’t like candy, I’m more of a chips girl
Favorite Publisher: HarperTeen!!
Favorite Movie: Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Favorite Place to Read: On my bed! Under the blanket :D
Farah:
All Time Favorite Read: Anna & The French Kiss
Favorite New Release: Fracture
Favorite Candy: Poptarts?
Favorite Publisher: Harper Teen
Favorite Movie: A Walk to Remember
Favorite Place to Read: On the table while eating my cereal.
And now- just because I love you guys so much, and I know that a lot of giveaways aren't opened to international followers, I'm giving you EACH one book of your choice from The Book Depository! What's your pick?
Wow! Thank you Benji! That is so generous of you!! Thank you so much!
Juhina: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Farah: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler (THANK YOU)
Check them out, I promise the don't bite:
OMG! This interview is so awesome! I was actually on Twitter when you asked them for the interview. And I've also been a follower of theirs for quite some time. I agree with Farah(That's also my name :D). I actually never knew there was an ARC until I started blogging. But NetGalley made that all work out:D
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome, awesome interview! Both girls seem so lovely!
ReplyDeleteI’m 21 years old (a bit on the old side)
ahaha! Oh gee thanks. /almost 24.
Great interview - I love Maji Bookshelf's blog and especially their IMM videos - always crack me up!
ReplyDeleteI can totally sympathise with the "International" syndrome, but I notice lots of international giveaways now which is GREAT!
Thanks benji so much for interviewing us and the books! you are the definition of awesome :D
ReplyDelete- juhina & Farah
Great interview Benji! Maji Bookshelf is one of my new fav blog and I totally understand the International bloggers dilemma coz I'm one of them. :)
ReplyDeletegre intview and njoy those books girls
ReplyDelete