Read or Rot - our blog about their blog

Blog name: Read or Rot

Blog link:  https://readorrot.com/blog/

Social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReadorRot/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3887202-susan-van-der-walt

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ReadRot

Pinterest:  https://za.pinterest.com/susanvanderwalt9/_created/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toreadorrot/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanvanderwaltfreelancer/




A little introduction:

I've started reading at the age of 4, and I was hooked. I grew up in a family of readers, and the highlight of our week was the trip to the library every Friday. 

Many interests came and went in my life, but reading is the one that always stays!

I am horrified to think that reading may become a dying art. It is why I want to help parents with my blog to raise a reader. 


What made you start your blog?

I was retrenched in 2018 and first tried to make a living as a Virtual Assistant. That never took off, and I realized that my lifelong passion is reading. So I've started my book blog to help authors get exposure and recommend great books to readers. 

As an affiliate, I also recommend resources like book subscriptions and bibliotherapy (consultations and book prescriptions). I am hoping to be accepted with Amazon or Barnes & Noble soon. 

Which part of having the blog do you love most?

Reading - of course! Although I sure wish I could learn to read faster to read more books. However, I love writing reviews as well. As I look back to my previous reviews, I can see how much more I find in the books than when I've started.

I've always loved research as well, so I enjoy writing articles related to my blog - about things related to reading, writing, bibliotherapy, and I've done a series about language development. 

I also love doing reviews for book tours - I have been chosen as a favourite reviewer for Blackthorn Book Tours (for Asylum and Kolkata Noir) and Blackberry Book Tours (Ronin cleans his room like a ninja). 

I remember always having this reverence for authors (in the good old days of printed books), and meeting any author was very unlikely.) I love connecting with authors (mainly on Twitter) and the author interviews I post on my blog. It made me realize they are also human like me, but I still have that reverence for them - anyone that can pen so many words to take you to a different world should all have our respect!


Where did the name for your blog come from? 

Reading for me is like breathing. If I cannot read, my soul will quietly rot away


What do you love most about books? 

For me, books have always been a way of escape. As a child, it was the way I've dealt with being different and the social isolation that came with my hearing loss. And even as an adult, you have to deal with so many hard things - like losing your parents, retrenchment, etc. 

But besides escaping by reading fiction, reading is also a way for me to learn with non-fiction books about any topics that interest me.


What genres do you blog about?

My favourite genres to read and blog about are thrillers, crime, suspense, archaeological adventure (think Clive Cussler, Kevin Tomlinson). I also love true stories and try to also review books out of my comfort zone. 

But since my mission with my blog is #raiseareader - to help parents raise children who love to read - I am now focusing more on children and YA books. 

What are your favourite books?

I love any books by Max Lucado, and my favourite genre is archaeological adventure. I've started reading this genre with books by Clive Cussler and fell in love with Dirk Pitt. I've discovered many great authors in this genre since.

I love the Genevieve Lenard series. It was the first time ever I've just kept on buying the next book immediately until I've reached the end, which at that stage was book 11. It is about an autistic heroine. Although I see, I'll have to catch up on books 12 - 15!

I also love medical thrillers and true stories - like:

Fractured not Broken - Kelly Schaefer

Spilled Milk - K.L. Randis

Brain on Fire - Cabalan Susannah  


What are your 3 top reads from the last year?

  • Brain on Fire - A true story
  • Room 119 & Funicular by TF Lince (I am waiting for his 3rd book). He dreams his stories and comes up with never-ending plot twists. I've reviewed Funicular and also have an interview with him on my blog.
  • Solomon by Gail Gillmore is the true story of a stray dog who they couldn't catch and who has found his forever home on his own terms.


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