Undersea Spotlight: Christine at Oh, Chrys!

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on August 20, 2013 | 9 Comments


USSpotlight I started this feature here at ASR in order to know your fellow bloggers a little better! If you are interested in being featured please fill out the form.

USSfeature

Oh, Chrys!
Meet Chrys!

Hiya! The name’s Christine, but you can call me Chrys if you’d like. I am almost 21 years old, and I am currently residing in Belize. It’s okay if you have to Google it. *snickers* 
 
Obviously, I love books. Whether I am reading them, sniffing them, or even cuddling with them, books are a salient part of me. 
 

How long have you been blogging? What made you want to start a book blog?

I never planned my blog. It was a real spur of the moment decision. I had no idea I would wake up and open a book blog that summer day. That whimsical day was August 22, 2012. I had just discovered book blogging via giveaways, and I just could not wait to sponsor my own and interact with other book lovers.  I am so honored to share my bookish love with others all across the globe.  I still remember my first post being a giveaway of Othello by William Shakespeare. My boyfriend won it.

What do you do when you’re not blogging or reading?

There are so many things I do when I am not blogging or reading, and I am glad for this because it allows for balance. I am usually listening to music like Coldplay, Avenged Sevenfold, M83, and Queen or doing something in the kitchen, like baking gingerbread cookies! Other times, I can be found being silly with my little sister and mom.

[Jessi] AVENGED SEVENFOLD. *fist bump*

What is your favorite part about blogging? Least favorite?

Okay. I know this answer is overdone, but the community is my favorite. For serious. This is like another universe. Yes, we are practically strangers, but we are unified by a common denominator – a passion for reading! It boggles me how harmonious and supportive we are despite our geographical position. It is mind-boggling, and I am ever-grateful to have experienced it.
 
My least favorite part would be the drama. I mean, book blogging is an opinionated realm. We don’t all like John Green. We don’t all read classics. We don’t all use the same rating scales. We have our idiosyncrasies when it comes to reading and blogging, and it sucks when people, whether authors or bloggers, cannot accept that. If we all read the same books, or had the same blogging quirks, this would be the shittiest virtual corner ever.
 

Where did you come up with the name for your blog?

I really do not recall. It is pretty lame, but at the same time it has uniquely branded my blog. One day I might remember. I think I just could not find a free Blogger domain that was not taken!

Do you have any specific book bloggers that inspire you?

Of course, I do! Here’s a mini-mini-list:
 
Shannon of Twilight Sleep
Nancy of Tumbling Books
Meg and Chri of Ink Skies
Nikki of The Paper Sea
 

What do you look for in a blog when following? What are your pet peeves?

I pay keen attention to reviews, in both content and style. I want reviews that are not necessarily long, but thorough and creative. Besides reviews, discussions are also attractive – especially topics that have not been overplayed. Another thing I look for is design. I do not judge a blog by its design, but it certainly holds special value in terms of eye-pleasing. Perhaps the most important thing I look for though is personality, which often radiates in reviews. I want to ‘feel’ the blogger.
 
My pet peeves include blinding designs, meme pollution, unfriendliness (ie. blogger isolation), and unoriginal content.
 

What’s your favorite book(s)?

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls
Two-Headed Poems by Margaret Atwood
 

Favorite author?

Why? This is getting hard. But I will go with George RR Martin for now.

What is the biggest turn off for you when you’re reading a book?

I have so many, but one would be having a lead who feels incomplete and meaningless until a significant other ‘changes’ them or ‘enlightens’ them. Literature today is starting to portray dependency as though it is something good. It never is. Unless you are a nursing baby or something. I want lead characters that are independent and ambitious, without any inspiration from some random fuck.

[Jessi] SERIOUSLY. Whatever happened to being happy on your own?

What first draws you to a book to make you want to read it?

Well, now that I am a book blogger *flips hair* reviews from trusted friends are what influence my purchasing power. Of course, this only applies to books that are unknown territory (ie. I have not read from the author before).

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Got no clue?

Name a random fact about yourself.

I am extremely terrified of roaches, especially the big flying ones that are in Belize.

Do you have a job? If so, what do you do?

Well, I do have a job, but it is voluntary. I manage my grandmother’s stationery/desktop publishing store.

What did you want to be when you were little? Has that changed?

I wanted to be an entomologist. I used to be so fascinated by bugs, and my mom encouraged my “dream” by getting me these books on them. That has greatly changed. I do not know why, but I guess it has to do with traumatizing experiences due to flying cockroaches. I now want to work in the publishing process, preferably being an editor or agent.

Randomness 

 Cats or dogs? 
Cats.

 Favorite animal? 
Papa Smurf.

 White, dark, or milk chocolate? 
Milk.

 Coke or Pepsi? 
We only have Coke in Belize.

 Favorite TV show? 
Jeopardy!

 Movie? 
Inglourious Basterds.

 Color? 
Teal.

 

Thanks for being here today, Chrys! It was great getting to know you! :)

 

Find Christine:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

 

Jessi (Geo)

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9 responses to “Undersea Spotlight: Christine at Oh, Chrys!

  1. Hi Chrys! I totally agree with following a blog, I definitely look for reviews and, in general, what kind of stuff they post :) And a design is always super important, although I always think mine is way too bright which probably turns some people away lol :) I totally agree with your reading turn-off, a love interest shouldn’t be the one to change you for the better, you should change YOURSELF and then the love interest could just be with you through the process, I don’t know, something like that.

    Fantastic interview, you two! It was so awesome meeting you :)

    • Hi, Eileen! Your design is bright,but it is not an eyesore and has great readability! Great to see that we also share the same reading turnoff! I would love to see auto-transformation, not aided transformation. Hopefully, our wishes are met soon! It was awesome meeting you as well – thanks for stopping by!

  2. Yay, what a great interview! I hate those flying cockroaches, too! Ick, they are the WORST. And my cat is such a jerk, too, because she chases every kind of bug and creature EXCEPT cockroaches, for whatever reason. -_-

    Anyway, enough about bugs. I loved getting to know more about Chrys! :D

    • Why do these creatures even exist?! In the rural areas of Belize, flying cockroaches are like the size of those old Nokia phones lol. Luckily, my cats in the past always had a blast torturing them. *shivers*

      So glad you learnt more about me, Kelley!

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