On Wednesday, a fresh group of fifth grade interviewers found out all there is to know about their former teacher's reading style, habits, and favorites. Get all the details here!
Have you read the Percy Jackson series?
I just have not gotten around to it with so many other good books out there and with what I’m reading with the fourth graders. I would like to though.
What was the last book you read?
It was called Orphan Train and the author was Christina Baker Kline. I finished it over spring break. Remember that book that we read last year about the Orphan Train? It was kind of like that but more for grown-ups.
Which genres do you like to read?
That’s a hard one. I grew up loving murder mysteries like the books by Lois Duncan and then I read Mary Higgins Clark because she’s a murder-mystery girl. Now I like to read more happy books because I like to use reading to relax. I like books by Lorna Landvik - lighthearted books.
Where do you read?
Anywhere! I love to read on my couch or outside. Sometimes my husband and I will go to a park and find a grassy spot or to a coffee shop to read. Jake loves to read too.
When do you like to read?
In the summer it’s anytime but during the school year usually before bed or when I’m having coffee.
What do you like about reading?
It’s a good escape from real life. It’s relaxing. I can forget about my own life for a while and jump into somebody else’s story.
What is your favorite book?
I go crazy for anything Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice. Those are my two favorites. I’ve read Jane Eyre about 4 times now. The first time was in high school and then it’s fun to read a book again because you get other stuff out of it the more you read it.
Did you have a favorite book when you were a child? At age 11?
Yes, I liked a lot of books. Was Harry Potter even out then? If it was, I am sure it was that. Or I also loved those Lois Duncan books that I talked about earlier.
Do you have a favorite series?
I could not put down the Harry Potter books. I also loved the Hunger Games. Those were really hard to put down too.
How often do you read?
Well, I read every weekend. During the school year, it’s not every day but during the summer it is. Sometimes during the school year I read before bed. It’s usually for about a half hour to an hour during the school year.
When I was younger my sisters would get annoyed with me because I was always reading, always in a book, and my mom would get frustrated because I would get so immersed in what I was reading. It would be hard for her to get my attention to do anything because I was so focused on my book.
Who is your favorite author?
I have so many wonderful ones that it’s hard. Probably Jane Austen. She’s the one who wrote Pride and Prejudice.
Who is your favorite illustrator?
I love Mo Willems. I love everything about Mo Willems. His drawings and writing are so simple they makes you feel inspired because you feel like you could draw and write like he does.
Are you in a book club?
I just started a book club with my friends. We decided we needed to talk about books more so we just made a plan but we haven’t picked a book yet
Do you like reading out loud to a group?
I love read aloud time. It’s one of my favorite times in school because you get to use different voices. Remember the Trunchbull from Matilda?
Who is your favorite character?
I’m going to sound like a broken record, but I really love Elizabeth Bennet. She is from Pride and Prejudice. She is very stubborn and she loves her family and she gets the greatest guy.
Are you at all like her?
In some ways, yes. I’m stubborn and I love my family and sometimes I think that I’m right about things and everyone else is wrong.
What do you like to read on?
Well, I do have a Kindle but I have found that I really love having a book in my hands. I use the Kindle when I’m at the gym though. I also listen to audiobooks because I drive down to Iowa all the time and I can listen to them on the drive.
Do you use the library?
Yes, I love it for when I do book clubs in the summer. In the summer I am there about four times a week. During the school year it is more like once a month. I also like to buy books because I like to keep some for myself so I go to Half Price Books. They sell books that are used and they have bestsellers there. I go to the clearance section in the back - you can find really good books.
Do you like to see movies based on books?
Yes and no. It’s hard to love them as much as the books so I always seem to like the books better. I like to read the books before I see the movies.
Which movies did you like?
I liked the Harry Potter movies definitely. I also liked Holes. I did not like City of Ember, I did not even finish watching that one. It was so different from the book.
Which read alouds have you done this year?
I always like to read Holes and Matilda. Right now we are reading On the Far Side of the Mountain.
Can you speak any other languages? Can you read in another language?
I can speak French. I am not talented enough to read in French anymore but I did take some French literature classes in college so I read in French then.
What is the saddest book you’ve ever read?
Well, I cried my eyes out for Bridge to Terabithia. I also cried a ton for Ida B., as you know.
Do you love books?
Yes I do, can you tell?
Do you ever read children’s books just for fun?
I kind of have an embarrassing collection of Mo Willems books. I always look at picture books when I’m in a book store because I have 2 nephews. I go into the children’s section thinking to myself that I might by a book for them but then it turns out that I’m really just in there looking for myself.
What is the longest book you ever read?
I had to read Paradise Lost for school. That was really long and boring. That was the first time I ever popped out my jaw because I yawned so big while reading it.
Do you like to read really fast to find out what happens or slowly to get the details?
I’m a fast one. I like to find out what’s going to happen. I have to practice good self-control when I read so I don’t read the end or the end of the chapters.
Have you ever been reading in front of people and then laughed out loud or cried? What was the book?
Yes, I cry every year when I read There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom.
Do you remember anyone reading to you when you were little?
Yes, my mom and my older sister.
My sister and I used to make books on tape with our karaoke machine. She would read the books and I would make the ding noise to turn the page so then I could listen to my sister reading to me anytime I wanted.
Have you read the Percy Jackson series?
I just have not gotten around to it with so many other good books out there and with what I’m reading with the fourth graders. I would like to though.
What was the last book you read?
It was called Orphan Train and the author was Christina Baker Kline. I finished it over spring break. Remember that book that we read last year about the Orphan Train? It was kind of like that but more for grown-ups.
Which genres do you like to read?
That’s a hard one. I grew up loving murder mysteries like the books by Lois Duncan and then I read Mary Higgins Clark because she’s a murder-mystery girl. Now I like to read more happy books because I like to use reading to relax. I like books by Lorna Landvik - lighthearted books.
Where do you read?
Anywhere! I love to read on my couch or outside. Sometimes my husband and I will go to a park and find a grassy spot or to a coffee shop to read. Jake loves to read too.
When do you like to read?
In the summer it’s anytime but during the school year usually before bed or when I’m having coffee.
What do you like about reading?
It’s a good escape from real life. It’s relaxing. I can forget about my own life for a while and jump into somebody else’s story.
What is your favorite book?
I go crazy for anything Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice. Those are my two favorites. I’ve read Jane Eyre about 4 times now. The first time was in high school and then it’s fun to read a book again because you get other stuff out of it the more you read it.
Did you have a favorite book when you were a child? At age 11?
Yes, I liked a lot of books. Was Harry Potter even out then? If it was, I am sure it was that. Or I also loved those Lois Duncan books that I talked about earlier.
Do you have a favorite series?
I could not put down the Harry Potter books. I also loved the Hunger Games. Those were really hard to put down too.
How often do you read?
Well, I read every weekend. During the school year, it’s not every day but during the summer it is. Sometimes during the school year I read before bed. It’s usually for about a half hour to an hour during the school year.
When I was younger my sisters would get annoyed with me because I was always reading, always in a book, and my mom would get frustrated because I would get so immersed in what I was reading. It would be hard for her to get my attention to do anything because I was so focused on my book.
Who is your favorite author?
I have so many wonderful ones that it’s hard. Probably Jane Austen. She’s the one who wrote Pride and Prejudice.
Who is your favorite illustrator?
I love Mo Willems. I love everything about Mo Willems. His drawings and writing are so simple they makes you feel inspired because you feel like you could draw and write like he does.
Are you in a book club?
I just started a book club with my friends. We decided we needed to talk about books more so we just made a plan but we haven’t picked a book yet
Do you like reading out loud to a group?
I love read aloud time. It’s one of my favorite times in school because you get to use different voices. Remember the Trunchbull from Matilda?
Who is your favorite character?
I’m going to sound like a broken record, but I really love Elizabeth Bennet. She is from Pride and Prejudice. She is very stubborn and she loves her family and she gets the greatest guy.
Are you at all like her?
In some ways, yes. I’m stubborn and I love my family and sometimes I think that I’m right about things and everyone else is wrong.
What do you like to read on?
Well, I do have a Kindle but I have found that I really love having a book in my hands. I use the Kindle when I’m at the gym though. I also listen to audiobooks because I drive down to Iowa all the time and I can listen to them on the drive.
Do you use the library?
Yes, I love it for when I do book clubs in the summer. In the summer I am there about four times a week. During the school year it is more like once a month. I also like to buy books because I like to keep some for myself so I go to Half Price Books. They sell books that are used and they have bestsellers there. I go to the clearance section in the back - you can find really good books.
Do you like to see movies based on books?
Yes and no. It’s hard to love them as much as the books so I always seem to like the books better. I like to read the books before I see the movies.
Which movies did you like?
I liked the Harry Potter movies definitely. I also liked Holes. I did not like City of Ember, I did not even finish watching that one. It was so different from the book.
Which read alouds have you done this year?
I always like to read Holes and Matilda. Right now we are reading On the Far Side of the Mountain.
Can you speak any other languages? Can you read in another language?
I can speak French. I am not talented enough to read in French anymore but I did take some French literature classes in college so I read in French then.
What is the saddest book you’ve ever read?
Well, I cried my eyes out for Bridge to Terabithia. I also cried a ton for Ida B., as you know.
Do you love books?
Yes I do, can you tell?
Do you ever read children’s books just for fun?
I kind of have an embarrassing collection of Mo Willems books. I always look at picture books when I’m in a book store because I have 2 nephews. I go into the children’s section thinking to myself that I might by a book for them but then it turns out that I’m really just in there looking for myself.
What is the longest book you ever read?
I had to read Paradise Lost for school. That was really long and boring. That was the first time I ever popped out my jaw because I yawned so big while reading it.
Do you like to read really fast to find out what happens or slowly to get the details?
I’m a fast one. I like to find out what’s going to happen. I have to practice good self-control when I read so I don’t read the end or the end of the chapters.
Have you ever been reading in front of people and then laughed out loud or cried? What was the book?
Yes, I cry every year when I read There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom.
Do you remember anyone reading to you when you were little?
Yes, my mom and my older sister.
My sister and I used to make books on tape with our karaoke machine. She would read the books and I would make the ding noise to turn the page so then I could listen to my sister reading to me anytime I wanted.
Thanks Mrs. Fimon!