Carrie is a high school English teacher, owner to a pug named Spencer, and an avid reader. I had a moment to chat with Carrie and learn more about her as a reader.
Would you call yourself a book worm?
Carrie - Absolutely - I grew up with a mother who taught 1st grade. She knew all about reading and how to teach me how to read. When I was only 3 years old I was always being taken to the library. When my birthday or Christmas came around, I would receive books as gifts. Soon, it came to be that I would look forward to receiving books.
You’ve read more than 2000 books. How did that happen?
Carrie - I am always reading. I always have a book with me. I have one in my purse, one in the car, one on the coffee table… As soon as I have a spare minute, I pick up a book and read.
You gave a 1 star rating to everybody poops - why?
Carrie - Because poop is gross. Writing a book about pooping is weird.
You gave a 2 star rating to Don Quixote - why?
Carrie - I had no emotional reaction. It was probably the professor that taught me the book.
You have a pug, Spencer, do you read aloud to Spencer, or does he just curl up with you while you read?
Carrie - He always curls up with me when I read. Sometimes he gets jealous and will slap the book down with his paw. I have read aloud to him before.
Do you think that schools do enough to explain the importance of reading?
Carrie - I think that schools explain the importance of reading to get through school. What I don’t think is explained is why it is good to be a reader. There is a difference in reading enough to get by and people reading beyond that. Students need to be opened up to different authors and types of books. If they enjoyed reading more they would enjoy school more and would be better educated.
What do you do to make reading fun for your students?
Carrie - I like to introduce them to novels that they might get into. The secret life of bees for example - everyone likes it. It takes effort to figure out what interests each child - so I will look into what a child likes and I will give him a book that hits an interest that he has. Fridays in my classroom are Drop Everything And Read days.
There is a big debate on the internet how we mislabel “football”. Do you think we should call it “Hand Egg” instead of football because it look as if you’re holding an egg in your hands more than hitting a ball with your foot?
Carrie - I love it - it should be hand-egg. It is much more interesting than football and it makes more sense and may make more people pay attention.
What is your favorite childrens book?
Carrie - There is a book that my mother gave to me “If I were a wishful unicorn.” Also Dr Seuss.
You mention your favorite authors are Jodi Picoult, Marian Keyes, Emily Giffin - do you have a favorite novel?
Carrie - One novel that has really spoken to me is Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. It’s about highschool and being friended and bullied - being cautious and aware of surroundings.
Thank you Carrie! If you are a reader and would like your story shared with the world - let us know and we’ll set up an interview.
-Nick
Karen currently reigns as the #1 best reviewer on GoodReads.com as selected by fellow Good Reads users, as well as the 16th most followed reviewer. All this on top of juggling college and a job! Generous as she is, she squeezed me in between work and studying and spared me a few minutes of her time for an interview:
