Check Out Lisa of Troy’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa of Troy.  

Hi Lisa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
When I was a kid, I loved to read. Even at a young age, I longed to fill my days in an epic story. Of course, school and work slowly eroded my free time until I couldn’t remember the last time that I picked up a book. 

Then, I happened across a list of 30 Books to Read Before 30, which was roughly 6 books a year. Slowly, very slowly, I eased back into reading, discovering new genres and taking time to find a bit of stillness in the world. 

In the summer of 2020, I faced a major healthy crisis that led to two heart surgeries. During this time, I was isolated from the world, and the book community was such an important part of my survival, such a great place to connect with others in a respectful, supportive environment. The book community has been very kind to me, and I am very fortunate to consistently rank among GoodReads top reviewers. Currently, I’m rated #3 in the United States and #9 in the world. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As a book influencer, there are two main areas of challenges: content and people. 

Like so many, I felt the pressure to read more and more books. Last year, I read 200 books, and I would never do that again. Reading should be more about enjoyment rather than hitting a magic number. Remember, I started off by reading just 6 books per year. 

The other area that I had to work on involves people. When I first joined GoodReads, I reached out to other users with similar tastes in books and were active on the platform. Despite being a natural introvert, I extended a friend request. Only about half the time would the other user accept my request. Similarly, when I first started to ask for ARCs (“Advanced Reader Copies”), I had to get comfortable with rejection. 

And don’t even get me started on when I have had to write a negative book review for a friend… 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My fellow readers know that I provide a safe place to discuss books, and I post authentic, passionate book reviews covering a wide variety of genres from classics to contemporary. 

I am a tough critic, so I’m not afraid to give a one-star review, but I’m also fair. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Such a great question. 

There are a lot of digital resources that I use, and it seems that more and more exciting tools are coming out every day. 

The library has a phenomenal resource called Libby, a phone app that is accessible with a library card. Libby provides completely free ebooks and audiobooks. You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home to enjoy reading! 

Surprisingly, I am a very slow reader, and one of my favorite reading techniques is immersion reading, listening to the audiobook while following along in the text. Some of my favorite places to find audiobooks include Libby, Scribd, and Audible. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/124132123-lisa-of-troy