Where: Washington, DC
What: Cavioidea (or Caviidea) is the Latin name for a rodent superfamily (order Rodentia) that includes guinea pigs and capybaras and other assorted members of the subfamilies.
Why I named this blog after rodents: Mainly because I love to read, and the German equivalent of a bookworm is the Leseratte, which, although a rat, sounds better than being a worm. Also, the world’s largest rodent is the capybara, a creature that looks like what it is – a giant guinea pig. To me, they look serene, and looking at them makes me happy in a quiet and lovely way.
The basics on me: I have roots in both Germany and the US, I spent formative years in Berlin, on questionnaires I now have to check Age: 25 – 45, and I am chained to the thesis that ate my world. If you ask me what my favorite activity is, I’ll point you to the name of this blog.
If you’re like me and think an inspection of your host’s bookshelves and DVD libraries will yield interesting insights, you can find a selection of what I’ve read and am reading on Shelfari or you could just see what TV show has recently been canceled. Like, for example, Terriers on FX. As with that awesome show, all too often my TV tastes seem to be in opposition to the ratings. See also Caprica, Pushing Daisies, Dollhouse, Veronica Mars, Life, the live-action The Tick, Wonderfalls, Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks, Firefly, etc. On the other hand, The Simpsons have lasted far beyond my watching, The Office continues, and The X-Files, Samurai Jack, Angel, Buffy, and Battlestar Galactica had a good run and in some cases even the chance for a proper ending. Still, I often find it best to just watch the shows I like on DVD – see also The Wire. I’d say that at least Justified is still going strong, but I don’t want to jinx it.
As for movies? Well, one of my all time favorite directors is Billy Wilder (writer too). Maybe that says something about my outlook. Who am I to say. I also watched a lot of Hitchcock as a young girl. It may have warped me.
In the stereotypes category, I tend to live up to that bit about Germans being rule-abiding, punctual, organized and efficient but on the other hand, I’m not big on coffee. I’m also living proof that not all Germans love beer from birth. I’m working on that.
Why does a blog called “The Reading Rodent” have so many food posts and almost nothing recent about books?
Good question. Can you imagine a food-oriented blog called “The Cooking Rodent”? Despite Ratatouille‘s great work in making rats in the kitchen socially acceptable, that just won’t fly. Besides, this blog has non-cooking origins, and no mandate to talk only about food.
