Tuesday, September 15, 2009

BBAW: Interview with Adele from Persnickety Snark


Last year I had the opportunity to
interview the brilliant Bookish Ruth for BBAW. After submitting my request to be partnered again this year, I waited with bated breath to find out who my latest interview partner would be. I am pleased to introduce you to Adele from Persnickety Snark. She is every bit as charming and friendly as you might guess from reading her blog. So, after this interview, hurry on over to check out Persnickety Snark!


Wendy: I like that you focus quite a bit on Australian YA. It really does seem like an underrepresented area. Can you share a little about your experience in choosing to blog about books, particularly YA books?

Adele: I am an English teacher and so my exposure to books is part of the job. That being said, I wouldn't teach English if I didn't love reading in the first place! The reason for YA review blogging was two-part; 1) bring more attention to the talented Australian YA authors and 2) receive review copies to supply my school's minuscule library. It's been successful on both counts but seeing my student's smile as they pore over the new books that arrive is the best part of blogging.


Wendy: What has been one of the highlights for you as a teacher, helping instill the love of reading in your students?

Adele: That's a tough question as every time you see them make that connection, or that "a-ha" moment, is a highlight. However, reading The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) with my grade eight class last term was fantastic. My students are all ESL (English as a Second Language) so a 400+ page book was enormously intimidating for them and yet within two chapters they were reading ahead of the class. They are now hanging out for the release of Catching Fire - not bad for "reluctant readers".


Wendy: I love the title of your blog. It's catchy and memorable (it should have won the award for Best Blog Title, if you ask me). How did you come to choose that name?

Adele: Thanks so much Wendy!

It's not so evident in my review writing but in person I can be quite snarky, so it was an immediate choice. Persnickety is my favourite word - it just sounds deliciously prickly and apparently I can be a snob. Together they sound like perfection, even if they aren't an accurate representation of my review style.


Wendy: Besides reading and books, what are some of your other interests, hobbies or passions?

Adele: I was a huge podcaster until Persnickety Snark became more time consuming than I anticipated. I was the host of a podcast called Fringe Dwellers that discussed each week's episode of FOX's Fringe. I love discussing my thoughts on any mode of storytelling whether television, movies or novels and being able to do that through the Internet is enormously rewarding. I loved editing as well but it took a huge amount of time and it eventually came down to a choice between Psnark and Fringe Dwellers.

I am a huge movie buff - specifically teen movies of the Hughes era and forward. I am such a huge fan of YA that it makes sense that the cinematic storytelling of teen experience would also grab my interest. The Breakfast Club is one of my favourite films of all time!


Wendy: What types of books do you like to read outside of YA or do you solely read YA books?

Adele: Sadly I don't really have the time to read outside of YA. I read my first non-review title in nine months last week and it was great. I am lucky to receive so many review copies so I feel guilty if I am not placing my whole attention on them. I am itching to re-read Stephen King's The Stand though, it's one of my faves alongside Austen's Pride and Prejudice. On the bright side, YA covers all genres and rocks so I am sitting pretty.


Wendy: Labels have their purpose, but they also can be very misleading. In the blogosphere, there has been a debate recently (and probably for a lot longer than that) about what constitutes a YA book. Some believe it is a marketing tool while others rank it as a genre or category of book. As a teacher and someone who focuses mostly on YA literature, what do you think qualifies as a YA book?

Adele: I might be oversimplifying it but I tend to think that YA literature is that which focuses on a teen protagonist and their perspective of the world regardless of setting. I do agree that it had increasingly becoming a marketing tool but anything that gets young people to read is a GOOD thing. It's for this reason that I can't begrudge Twilight too much as many teens have reacquainted themselves with reading.


Wendy: To the adult reader who is looking to try YA fiction for the first time or perhaps someone like me who is still testing the waters, what would you recommend?

Adele: I would start by searching blogs for reviews of books or authors you enjoy and see what that blogger also likes. Usually you can match your own tastes with another blogger - Jenny at Wondrous Reads is my reading twin (though she doesn't know it.)

Meg Cabot is the Queen of YA for a reason - I would start with some of her older titles eg Teen Idol and the Mediator Series. Melina Marchetta and Simmone Howell are great contemporary Australian YA novelists and can transcend international time zones. I love Lisa Ann Sandell's Song of the Sparrow as it mixes Arthurian legend, beautiful characterisation and the most exquisite free verse you've ever had the pleasure to drink in. In terms of new releases you can't go wrong with Lisa Mantchev's Eyes Like Stars, Gayle Forman's If I Stay or Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters.


Wendy: Who are some of your favorite Australian authors?

Adele: Those who are familiar with Psnark know that I have a fierce love of Melina Marchetta's work. Her debut title, Looking for Alibrandi came out when I was eleven and I have been a captive audience ever since. Marchetta won this year's Printz Award for her fantastically complex, intriguing and utterly magnificent Jellicoe Road.

Some names that you should know - John Marsden, James Roy, Anthony Eaton, Simmone Howell, Lili Wilkinson, Kathy Charles, Kirsty Murray, Shaun Tan...there are too many to mention :)


Wendy: So, have you decided yet? Is it Team Unicorn or Team Zombie?

Adele: Nope...is there a third choice? Like Team Winged Monkey? I'd be on that team faster than you could say Justine Larbalestier!


Wendy: I do have one bone to pick with you. How can you not like bananas? Seriously though, what is your favorite fruit since it is obviously not bananas?

Adele: As a toddler I apparently glutted myself on bananas, as a response I can no longer smell them without feeling extremely ill. My students know this and torment me!

I am rather partial to the humble grape - ideally Pacey (Dawson's Creek) would feed them to me by hand as Ben (Felicity) would fan me with palm fronds :D


Wendy: Thank you, Adele, for taking the time to answer my questions!


Don't you just love her? If you haven't yet, do stop by and visit Adele at Persnickety Snark. Also, if you are interested, head over to read Adele's interview with me.


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

25 comments:

  1. Wonderful interview! My interest is definitely piqued. I'd love to read more YA, so I'm going to be stopping by Persnickety Snark a lot I hope!

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  2. Great interview, Wendy! I've to check out Adele's blog! :)

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  3. I recently discovered Adele and think she has got a great blog. Thanks for this!

    BBAW: Interviewing myself

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  4. Ah! Finally another person who is neither Team Zombie nor Team Unicorn. Adele, you rock.

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  5. Such an enjoyable interview! I am not familiar with Adele's blog (yet) - but was instantly attracted to its title. It is so fun to read the story behind the titles.

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  6. Fantastic questions Wendy, I've always enjoyed you interviews.

    Hi Adele. I already subscribe to you vai google (although you might not know it). You have a great blog. You are doing a great job by highlighting all the Australian authors.

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  7. I love that Adele is using her blog to get books for her school - what a wonderful idea!

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  8. Great interview Wendy! That does have to be one of the greatest blog titles!

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  9. I love Persnickity, it's a great blog and I would definitely sign on for team flying monkey.
    Hagelrat/The other Adele

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  10. Thanks for introducing me to Adele! I'm off to read her interview with you and check out the rest of her blog :-).

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  11. Great interview, Wendy. I'm off to add her to my reader.

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  12. I can understand not liking bananas - I did the same thing with ketchup when I was 3 or 4.

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  13. Great interview! I'm definitely going to check out Adele's blog - with a name like Persnickety Snark, it's got to be great fun. I love your new header, too!

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  14. what a great interview. I will definetly have to check her blog out.

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  15. She won me over with The Breakfast Club. It's one of my all-time faves too. On my way to check out her blog...

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  16. I haven't met Adele yet so I'm glad to make the acquaintance. I will skip right over there.

    You asked some good questions, Wendy. I'm always impressed with the questions people think of.

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  17. Meant to say that I was surprised Adele didn't mention Markus Zusak as a favorite YA Australian author. Maybe he's not really from Australia like I thought. Or maybe she doesn't care for his writing.

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  18. This is one new blogger that I really can't wait to read. I love that she focuses on YA. I love YA big time and then to know that she puts her ARC's into the library...she's pretty darn awesome!!

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  19. Booklogged - to be honest I haven't read any of Markus Zuzak's work as I can't find it in bookstores...weird I know. I am terribly keen though, I will step up the search :)

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  20. Thank you everyone for stopping by and getting to know, Adele! Isn't she wonderful?

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  21. This was such a fabulous idea of BBAW, to introduce so many new bloggers! My blogroll is now over 100.....I really enjoyed this question and answer, Wendy. I'm heading over to read yours.

    I wanted you to know too that I really like how you've changed your blog, too. All those kitty pictures! I have to show my daughter tomorrow when she's awake, she loves cats. How did you get 4 columns to fit, though??!!!

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  22. Great interview! And off topic, but I just noticed you're remodeling! It's looking good!

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  23. Fun interview! I love the blog name Persnickety Snark too! Off to read your interview.

    Oh, and I keep forgetting to mention it, but I love the new look! :)

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  24. I loved your questions. And I'm glad I discovered Persnickety Snark during BBAW!

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  25. Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I am glad you enjoyed meeting Adele (I did too!).

    Thanks again, Adele, for answering my questions.

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