Hey loves. I’m so excited for you to meet Alliee, one of my all time favourite people. She’s absolutely the sweetest and supportive person and I’m so glad to call her my friend. ❤

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Hi friends! I’m Alexandra, but please call me Allie. I blog at ‘allieereads.com’ about books and other bookish goodness. I am so excited to be featured in ‘Coffee With Fay’ with one of my favourite bloggers! So, I’m 24 years-old and I am from Melbourne, Australia. I have a younger brother who is 21 years old this year – I feel so old, goddamn – and I am going back to university in March to begin my research masters in education/sociology! That means that I would be at uni for the past seven years – I don’t know if I’m insane or what, but I do love learning.

I began blogging about books because I realised that I had all these feelings after reading that I literally needed an outlet. And, ‘allieereads’ was born – after a period of being ‘writerpending’. I always knew I wanted to blog because I wanted a healthy outlet for emotions and thoughts and everything that was going on in my brain. Although I began to blog to help with my anxiety through poetry and writing, I have not regretted shifting to being a full-time bookblogger who also writes lame poetry in her spare time.

What else? Hmm. I’m not all that interesting haha! I’m a homebody, I don’t know if that’s been a result of my anxiety or if it’s just who I am. I love spending time with my mum and my brother – to be honest, I’m usually hanging out with my mum having lunch or something, or just chilling at home watching Criminal Minds together.

Oh yea, I absolutely love crime shows. Criminal Minds, all the Law and Order shows, NCIS back before Michael Weatherly was a problematic ass, Numbers – all of them. Could literally watch the reruns over and over again, and I would be a happy little woman.

2. What are you currently reading?

Currently I am reading two books – shocker – and I am thoroughly enjoying both of them! For the Diverse Divers Book Club, that is co-run by Lili Marcus and Vinny, I am reading Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy which has surprised me with how much I am loving it! The main character, Willowdean, is such a wonderful character and the way she is written really is fantastic. If you haven’t’ read Dumplin’, I highly recommend you do! It’s fabulous.

The other book I am currently reading is actually part of a series that I have read many times before, but I wanted to re-read because this year marks it 10th Anniversary. I am reading Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh as part of her Guildhunter series. I have so much love and adoration for this series! Every character is so unique and raw, within a world that is ruthless, cruel and somehow beautiful. The whole universe is centred on the hierarchy of power; that is, Archangels are at the top who control entire territories with loyal Angels and Vampires as their soldiers. It’s a darker twist on the whole vampire and Angel mythology that was all the rage ten years ago – and it is freakin awesome.

3. What is your favorite genre and why?

This is always a hard question, and I think my answers are always constantly changing! Honestly, I would have to say that I don’t have a favourite genre – I enjoy picking and choosing books from a variety of genres, if they seem interesting or have good reviews. However, if you left me in a bookshop and gave me five minutes to pick a book (please don’t, I would literally have a panic attack because there are so many books omg), I would most likely end up buying something from the Adult Romance (either contemporary or paranormal) section or a Crime Thriller. I’ve been on a real Crime fiction fixation recently, I think after I read The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith, I’ve been hankering for more.

I think I’ve always enjoyed Adult Romance novels ever since I was introduced to Nora Roberts when I was younger, and then I found Nalini Singh, then Christine Feehan, J.R. Ward, Gena Showalter, Diana Palmer (though her writing annoys me now) – and traversed into Historical Romance and Paranormal Romance. I did go through a Crime Thriller obsession a few years ago, and I read Dan Brown, J.D. Robb, Kathy Reichs – and I have to admit, I think it’s because these books kind of remind me of watching those crime shows on TV that I love so much! I always see if I can predict who the killer is – and, I don’t mean to toot my own horn or anything, but most of the time, I’m right.

4. What do you think about the reading culture in Australia?

I love this question, Fay! I think though there is a reading culture within Australia – it is more prevalent possibly within the older generation Australians. However, this is obviously my own experience and I could totally be wrong. When I was on placement (which is basically like an internship at a secondary school where I basically become a teacher for 4 weeks without pay for my teaching degree), for instance, I found that there was such a negative attitude towards reading amongst younger people that they literally refused to even touch a book. It made me wonder what and how this type of annoyance towards reading was created and I think I kind of understand why. High School English is literally an endeavour in getting young people to read the most ridiculously boring and irrelevant texts to analyse, then ask them to memorise quotes and be tested on their memorisation skills of said quotes and themes.

Who would like reading if this is your only engagement with it?

I think there is a movement for schools to begin really considering carefully the choices they make for books their students are to study. For young people who don’t typically read, these choices of books for study is extremely important. A book that has the capacity for a child to think about how it connects with their reality, and that they find interesting, is something that schools need to consider – especially if they’re constantly complaining that their students are not engaging with the material.

5. Name 3 reading habits that you have.

  • Oooh! Hmm, I think one of the worst habits I have about beginning to read a book or about to buy a book to read, is that I read the last few pages of the book first. I know! It’s blasphemy! But, I really, intensely dislike terrible endings! So, I typically read the ending first before I actually start the book.
  • I like to begin reading a book with a cup of tea at hand. I don’t know why, but I’ve always been like this, ALWAYS. I love having tea when I’m reading – I feel like such a quintessential reader that it makes my heart happy.
  • Sometimes, well actually most of the time, I like to read with background noise. I usually read in the lounge room and I get so weird with silence, that I end up turning the television on. Sometimes, I even put on YouTube, a video that I’ve already seen, if I’m in my room. It’s weird, isn’t it? I know!

6. Do you prefer tea or coffee? How do you take it?

TEA ALL THE TEA!!!! I love tea so much – the love I have for tea is comparable to my love of books. I would love to collect different types of tea, but my mum completely refuses to allow tea to overflow our kitchen cabinets! I rarely drink coffee, only because it can sometimes trigger my anxiety and it makes me all shaky and weird.

I typically take my tea without milk and sugar. I’m a simple kind of gal.

7. What is one book you recommend to people?

This is a hard one! I think it would depend on the person, if I know what they like or what interests them? But, if someone was to ask about a recommendation at the moment, I would have to say Circe by Madeline Miller. That book enraptured me to no end – it was a completely immersive experience, and I adored reading it. It really was such a fantastic novel that everyone should read. The writing, teh characters, the story – a literary masterpiece.

8. Where can we find you?

I am super friendly! So, come and talk books with me on either my Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads or my blog!

Twitter: allieereads
Instagram: allieereads
Blog: www.allieereads.com
Goodreads: allieereads

Until next time, happy reading!