Portobello Book Blog

I’m very pleased to welcome Kate who blogs at The Quiet Knitter to the blog today. Thanks for agreeing to be part of my Blogger in the Spotlight feature. First of all, would you tell me a little about yourself?

My name is Kate, and I turned 30 this year.  I’m mum to 1 human child of the toddling variety and 2 canines (a border collie and a border collie x).  I’ve had a fascination with books for as long as I can remember and most of my spare time is spent either reading or knitting.  

What books/authors did you enjoy as a child?

I was a big fan of Roald Dahl books (still am), but found I was heading towards my parents bookcases to pick up more grown up novels as soon as I’d finished with the children’s books.  I found my love of John Grisham and Val McDermid before I hit teenage years.

What do you enjoy most about blogging?

I love enjoy the conversation about books with other bloggers, it’s so lovely to share thoughts about books and it’s nice to follow their recommendations, discovering books I might not have picked up otherwise.   But most of all I love the community feel, there are so many bloggers out there but I have to say that I’ve “met” some of the nicest book bloggers – they all try to help each other out or will share information if they know a good book is coming out!  

Tell me about your blog – sell yourself!

Oh gosh, where to start….It all really came about as a place for me to witter away about my thoughts on the books I’d read as a hobby, but since then it’s grown into a place where I feel proud to share my thoughts and reviews and I’ve just taken the leap into participating in blog tours.  Occasionally I do post something less bookish –  ie a business I’ve bought from and would recommend.

What’s your favourite book you’ve reviewed in the past year? Or favourite three if you really can’t choose.

You don’t want to make it easy eh!?  Favourite book……too hard, favourite three……
1. The Girl in The Ice
2.  A Boy Made of Blocks
3. Casting Off – I’ve just finished this one and absolutely LOVED it!

But then being a mum, I’ve also read a lot of children’s books so can I pick three favourites there?
1. The Tiger Who Came to Tea
2. Spaghetti With The Yeti
3. The Gruffalo (In Scots)

What are you reading just now?

At the moment I’m juggling a few things (I couldn’t decide which to read first!), so it’s Behind Her Eyes, A Deadly Thaw and Death at the Seaside. (September 2016)

If you were on Desert Island Discs, what one book would you take with you?

Alone in Berlin – this has got to be one of my all time favourite books.  I read it in my teenage years and it left a lasting impression, so much so I replaced my copy of it recently as it was looking a little too “loved” after 15+ years of reading.  

Is there a book you’d like to see made into a film? Who would be in your dream cast?

Oooooh now that’s a headscratcher, there are so many that I think might play out well on the big screen…I do wonder what Robert Bryndza’s books would be like on the big screen – however, I always worry that something will be lost between the book and the film as is the case all too often but as long as Tom Hardy is cast somewhere in the film I’ll be happy!  

How can people follow your blog or connect with you on social media?

My wee blog can be found at https://thequietknitterer.wordpress.com and the follow feature means you will get an email with my newest reviews when I write them.

I’m on Twitter as @murronsmama so please do stop by and say hello.

And finally, if you could be a character in any book you have read, who would it be and why?

I would love to be the legendary Hercule Poirot, so clever, so eccentric and yet so cultured.  Granted, I’m not sure I could pull off the moustache……