About Me

All opinions are my own and do not represent my place of employment, publishers that give my books to review, or anyone or anything else. 

So, my name is Christine, and I wear many hats (many would probably argue too many), one of which is blogger. I started Bookishly Boisterous in July of 2010 after shunning the blog world for quite awhile, not realizing there was more to the community than I had previously thought. Since starting my project I've realized how much I've missed dialoguing about literature (even if it is only one-sided) and writing itself.

Too Legit to Quit: I'm Qualified, Yo

This is half true. I mean, I write a blog on Blogspot, I'm not an editor for the New Yorker. I don't even self-host with advertisers. But, I do have this fancy piece of paper (somewhere) that says I earned a BA from UCLA in English, I have a teaching credential to teach the youngins about the subject, and I talk a good game. I've been reading "chapter books" nonstop since kindergarten, shun chic lit and most mass market paperbacks, and prefer a book to TV any day. I also buy books like most women buy clothes.

All Up in My Business

I'm in my mid (groan) thirties, a high school English teacher, an ex-elementary teacher (this fall will be mark my thirteenth school year in this glamorous industry we call education), and an obvious lover of literature. I've been married for a few years to a man that craves privacy more than I do, so I won't be posting his picture or yammering on about how intelligent, humorous and talented he is, so just trust me when I say he doesn't suck. Together we co-own a big lazy chocolate lab named Chomsky and a four-year-old human child named Sawyer (whom I talk a lot about here but seldom post pictures of). 

I live in Southern California, which I have mixed feelings about. We don't live at the beach, but instead fourty-ish miles inland where it's much warmer, a little dirtier, but where we can actually afford a home that's not the size of a shoebox (as opposed to the OC or LA). I grew up in Modesto, located in the Central Valley, where my immediate family still lives. I despised the place as a teenager ("there's nothing to do here") but find myself occasionally nostalgic, probably just because I miss my family very much. 


In my free time I read, obviously, but I actually do other things as well (some day I'll write a post on all my mind-blowing diverse hobbies and you'll be able to click here... for, now use your imagination).


Disclaimer

I'm a little feisty, frequently liberal, and often sarcastic. I use four-letter words on occasion. I've been known to sound condescending (sorry, Nicholas Sparks and you stupid Kindle users). And I talk about cereal more than I should. That being said, just remember we wear different hats- my blogging persona may be a little different than who I am in real life sometimes (and sometimes not).


Bottom Line

At the end of the day I'm just someone who really loves books and appreciates anyone and everyone who stops by.

12 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. I really like your blog! Is there anyway I can contact you about possible review titles. Please email me kenya(dot)walker@us(dot)penguingroup(dot)com

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  3. I just came upon your blog and a) I love books as much as you do, and b) I also live in the Inland Empire, although I prefer to call it the San Gabriel Valley because it sounds nicer. :) I look forward to reading more of your book reviews.

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  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  6. Hi,

    Good day! I would like to invite you to become a part of our Reviewer Community Network. We have a bunch of books and products that needs honest reviews. Please take time to sign up for this site - http://www.amazonreviewernetwork.com/kick-start-program.html

    We would love to hear from you soon and be a part of our Reviewer Community..

    Warm Regards,
    Samantha

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  7. dear Christina, I love your writing and lovely dogs, want to send some gift to your dogs if you can help review my product on amazon, my email: bingo6000@hotmail.com , wait for your reply soon!

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  8. Hi Christine

    I read your review of Tim Parks' Italian Ways on Amazon and I wondered whether you would be interested in having a look at my about to be published "Living in Italy: the Real Deal - How to survive the Good Life".
    The book contains sixty short stories about my adventures as a Dutch expat who moved to Italy in 2008 to start a bed and breakfast. It is the translation of the Dutch original that met with considerable success (sold 3000 copies) and had very positive readers' reviews.

    Author bio:
    Stef Smulders was born in The Netherlands in 1960 and moved with husband Nico and their dog to Italy in 2008 to start bed-and-breakfast Villa I Due Padroni in the beautiful wine region Oltrepò Pavese south of Milan. In 2014 he published his first volume of short, anecdotical stories (in Dutch) about daily life among the Italians entitled "Italiaanse Toestanden". It was well received by readers, leading to a second volume of witty anecdotes. A third volume is to be published spring 2017.

    Book summary:
    In 2008 the author emigrated to Italy, bringing husband and dog along, to start Bed & Breakfast Villa I Due Padroni. But a lot of hurdles had to be taken before the first guests could be accommodated. In 2014 Stef reported about his adventures in buying and reconstructing the house, obtaining a tax number and a bank account, registering at the commune and at the national health service, importing their car and a range of other things that lead to a myriad of bureaucratic troubles. These problems were always resolved in a truly Italian fashion, leading to raised Dutch eyebrows and hilarious scenes. As a reader you will encounter a range of characteristic Italians, from sympathetic to villainous, from moving to shameless. Real Italians of flesh and blood, sometimes cliché, somtimes surprisingly original. But always worth encountering.

    Goodreads page:
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32572055-living-in-italy

    Have a look at my presentation page as well with fragments and a sneak preview if you like:
    http://italiaanse-toestanden.duepadroni.it/index-UK.html

    I could send you the epub or pdf if you want to.

    Hope to hear from you
    Cari saluti
    Stef

    Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPad

    Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPad

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  9. Dear Christine,

    I am the founder of #HelpAfricanAlbinos and personally write to you kindly requesting your support because you, as an Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer, are a person who I believe can make a difference.

    I would like to draw your attention to a new novel, “Then She Was Born” that also forms part of an international human rights campaign which has been endorsed by Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama and eleven Nobel Peace laureates who lent their voices and who each read aloud a different sentence of the novel, recording a video message and being pictured alongside the official hashtag #HelpAfricanAlbinos.

    “Then She Was Born” is an independently published work of fiction that meets the same standards as books published by mainstream publishers. You are an Amazon Vine Voice reviewer and your honest (but not mandatory) review of the book would allow this story and the reality faced by many to become noticed.

    The e-book is published through Amazon KPD select (free for Kindle Unlimited and Prime) but if you prefer I can send it to you as a gift. There is no obligation of a review.

    It would be my pleasure, if you agree, to mention your name in the e-book in the “thanks” section and your review, if you have a blog, will be showed on the official website campaign (HelpAfricanAlbinos.com) with a link attached.

    I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding and time with this important matter.

    With my best regards,

    Cristiano
    Cristiano@HelpAfricanAlbinos.com
    Link to Kindle: https://goo.gl/TzPko3

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  10. Hello Chris!

    I'd love to connect and collaborate with you somehow.

    My work is about practical and creative ideas that are inspired by love in the quest for wellbeing.

    As a fitness coach, I suggest the implementation of philosophical inquiry and discussion at fitness centers.

    As an author and writing instructor, I aim to explore meaningful truths and insights through storytelling, in particular, stories based on true events, memoirs.

    In Fit for Joy, I wrote about the paradox of two realities that didn’t match; physical health and mental chaos. The idea was to start a conversation about the “true” meaning of health.

    As a speaker, I promote the idea that to love and health are inseparable, as well as that they can be measured by the way we think, act, and relate to others.

    Would you be interested in any or a combination of:

    - Guest Blogging
    - Exchanging blogs
    - Book Review: You can write a review for my book and I can write a review for your book (if you have one.) – An honest review, no bias.
    - Fitness & Philosophy Class Referral
    - Podcast Interview: I can interview you or you can interview me on our approach to health and wellbeing.


    Much Love,
    Valeria Teles

    Website: https://fitforjoy.org
    Email: info@fitforjoy.org


    BIO

    Valeria Teles is an inspirational writer, published author, speaker, fitness trainer, and founder of Fit for Joy.

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  11. Dear Christine,


    I'm writing to tell you about my new literary fiction novel, The Bird that Sang in Color. This book has been workshopped with notable author, Lidia Yukvavitch, who called it "beautifully rendered, hugely moving, and brilliant." It has received stellar reviews from various literary book blogs, individual reviewers, and Midwest Book Review.

    Part family drama and part self-actualization story, this is about Donna Greco, who in her teens, subscribes to a conventional view of success in life and pushes her freewheeling, artistic brother, Vincent to do the same. However, he refuses to conform and she harbors guilt for her supposed failure to ensure his happiness until she discovers a book of sketches he made of his life, which allows her to see his internal joy and prompts her own journey of living authentically.

    Based on your current book reviews, I believe you would really enjoy this read. I would love to send you a free copy in exchange for an Amazon review. Thank you very much for your time, and I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience.

    Warm regards, Grace Mattioli
    http://gracemattioli.com/

    https://www.amazon.com/Bird-that-Sang-Color-ebook/dp/B08GS2D3ZB/

    ReplyDelete

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