Portrait of a Reader: Rachel R.

Welcome, Rachel! Please start by introducing us to yourself and your family!

I am 17 and I live with my parents, my younger sister, and my younger brother. We live in Pennsylvania (close to Philadelphia) where I have lived my whole life, so far! I am a history-loving writer and reader who loves family and God! 

Wow! Since I only know you online, Rachel, I had no idea you were so young! 🙂 Good for you already pursuing your dream of historical fiction! So tell us a little about yourself as a reader. Do you consider yourself a casual reader, a sporadic reader, a serious reader or an all-out bibliophile? 

I have always been reading and started at a very early age! And I could definitely say that I am a bibliophile! I pretty much always have at least one book going, but sometimes more! 

A kindred spirit, for sure! What do you most enjoy reading now?

My absolutely favorite genre is historical fiction, but I also love reading the classics, historical romance, and Christian contemporary. Usually my favorite author is who I have read most recently and at the present, I have been going through all of Julie Klassen books and loving them! I also enjoy reading Jody Hedlund, Anne Mateer, and Tamera Alexander. 

Those are some amazing ladies that I feel blessed to be included among. Not only are they great writers, they are godly women. What is the last book you finished and what are you currently reading?

The last book I just finished was “The Girl in the Gatehouse” and currently I’m reading “The Apothecary’s Daughter” by Julie Klassen and “To Everything a Season” by Lauraine Snelling. 

Oh, I love every one of Julie’s books! Do you have a favorite time and/or place to read? 

Favorite time would definitely have to be in the late afternoon or evening after I have the sense of accomplishment for finishing *most* of my scheduled activities! I love reading out on my back porch especially when it is warm, but otherwise I love just relaxing on my bed, curled up in a blanket.

Curled up with a blanket and a good book is the best! So what is the most unusual circumstance in which you’ve been found reading?

Well, this did happen when I was younger, but I had been reading for long time and I flipped off my bed so that I was dangling upside down. It was quite comfortable and was a nice change in scenery! 🙂

Lol! A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do to keep reading! Do you read physical books, ebooks, or both?

Both! At one point in time, I was sure that I would be an only-physical-book-type-girl, but now, I love reading kindle books as well! 

Same here. Do you buy your books, borrow them from friends or check them out of the library? (Or all of the above!)

Mostly I buy my books, especially on Kindle, but I have borrowed from friends and the library. Usually, I do that if I’m not quite sure if I will LOVE the book or not, because I do enjoy re-reading books after enough time has elapsed.

So you are one of those “if I read it and love it I want to own it” kind of girls, huh? (I am, too!) Do you have any favorite foods or drinks that generally accompany your reading?

Oh my! I love accompanying my reading with a cup of tea and chocolate. Somehow, all three just go together perfectly!

Anything and chocolate! Finally, it’s true confessions time: have you ever forgotten something important (to fix dinner or that dinner was in the oven or an appointment, etc) because you were lost in the pages of a book? 

Oh yes! On many occasions, I told myself I would only read a chapter or two, but hours later, I finish about half or the whole book! This has caused me to forget about my schoolwork multiple times and I almost forgot to go to babysitting! 

I’m so glad you remembered! It’s not good to forget about your job while you read! 🙂

Thank you so much for sharing a little bit of yourself with us today, Rachel. I’m sure everyone else enjoyed getting to know you, too!

Happy Reading, Y’all!