In Their Free Time, with "Bookworm" Christen Karniski

The following is the first part in a series that will capture the unique passions and hobbies, other than soccer, that the players of Women's Professional Soccer have. The league is a smorgasbord of talent and personalities on the field: Some quiet, others boisterous. Some are speedy and attacking, others are consistent and technical. But what makes the WPS athletes unique are their off-the-field tendencies and lifestyles, hobbies, and passions.

Washington Freedom defender Christen Karniski might not be the most well-known player on a roster sprinkled with international talent, but her approachability and friendly nature makes her very easy to get to know.

A product of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Karniski played for the Freedom's W-League side before signing with the full team last year. As a Midwesterner, she is the picture of the "girl-next-door," easy to talk to, and extremely friendly.

Currently a free agent, Karniski's passion for soccer is apparent through conversation with her.

There is another interest in her life that tends to be brought up in conversation. As is often the case with most people who talk about something they love, once the topic of books come into play with Karniski, it's hard to curb the talk.

Lauren Salter: Would you consider yourself to be a "bookworm?"

Christen Karniski: Definitely. I'm pretty much always reading in my free time.

LS: How did you get so into reading?

CK: I think because my mom is a bookworm. She reads all the time. My dad used to pick up books and read to us. He read the Lord of the Rings to my sisters and I. My parents being so into books rubbed off on us.

LS: So does your twin sister, Natasha, enjoys reading as much as you?

CK: Yeah she does. She reads all the time. We read all the same books.

LS: What was your favorite childhood book?

CK: That's a tough one. I used to always read the horse books called The Saddle Club.

LS: Me too!

CK: I loved those books! Ronald Dahl is also great. Harry and the Horrible Whatsit, too. My dad would do all the voices for the characters.

LS: In your off-the-field question and answer for the Freedom, you said one of three things you had to have when you traveled was a book. Do you only bring one?

CK: Depends on how thick the book is! If it's thick, I only take one. Usually I stick a back-up book in a bag for the plane. So I have a backup just in case.

LS: Have you ever considered writing a book yourself?

CK: Yeah. I think it'd be fun to write a children's book or for a young teenage kind of age. Those are the books I remember. A Wrinkle in Time type of book would be great to write.

LS: I still haven't read A Wrinkle in Time.

CK: Oh, you have to. It's awesome!

LS: If you weren't playing professional soccer, you said you'd be in book publishing. What appeals to you about it?

CK: I love the idea of getting to read people's works. I worked in a publishing agency and it was interesting even reading the slush pile, which is the manuscripts people send. It'd be really cool taking those ideas and making them into a book that others can read.

LS: What made you choose a major in English at the University of Illinois?

CK: I went in undecided and waited until the last minute to decide. I loved so many different things. I decided on it because I love the reading side of things and looking through books to catch different things. I like analyzing and writing essays and all that. The professors were so good about pointing out out things I've never thought to think about.

LS: What else were you thinking of majoring in?

CK: Atmospheric sciences, which is a little different. (laughs) The weather really interested me.

LS: So you could have been a weatherman?

CK: More behind-the-scenes stuff. Research.

LS: Off the topic a little bit, how was it growing up with a twin sister?

CK: It was tough in terms of athletics, but it was fun that way. We'd play in the backyard and play one vs. one. We almost never made it through a game without fighting with one another. But then we'd be done and we'd be best friends again.

LS: Where did Natasha play on the field?

CK: She played all over. In college, she played mid, then outside back, then forward. She's one of the players that can play anywhere.

LS: And you've stuck with defense your whole life?

CK: Well, teams always need a left back so it's always stuck with me. Once in a while I played center back in college, and sometimes forward during games, but most of the time it's outside back.

LS: What's the oddest question you've gotten about being a twin?

CK: We've gotten people who ask us things like "if she gets hurt, do you feel it too?"

LS: And do you?

CK: I've never had that before. (laughs) But my best friends in high school were fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. People would ask if they're identical. It's like, let's think this one through first!

LS: So now I have some quick shots for you. Ready?

CK: I'm ready.

LS: What is your favorite book of all time?

CK: Pride and Prejudice. I've read that one multiple times.

LS: Favorite book genre?

CK: Any kind of fiction.

LS: Favorite author?

CK: Charles Dickens.

LS: Favorite Dickens book?

CK: David Copperfield. Or Our Mutual Friend.

LS: Favorite movie adaption of a book?

CK: Actually, The Lord of the Rings.

LS: Which do you prefer: Harry Potter or Twilight?

CK: (laughs) Harry Potter.

LS: Have you read Twilight?

CK: I have. My sister had the books. I read them to see what the fuss was about.

(LS: Upon reading the article, Karniski corrected me, saying it was her host sister in Germantown, MD who had the Twilight books. Said Karniski: "I'm not sure either of my sisters would be caught dead owning the Twilight Series." Makes sense, seeing how similar her taste in books is with her twin sister.)

LS: Starbucks or The Coffee Bean?

CK: I don't know what The Coffee Bean is. I like Starbucks, but I don't love it. I like Caribou Coffee.

LS: Baskin Robbins or Cold Stone?

CK: Cold Stone

LS: Chocolate or Vanilla?

CK: Chocolate

LS: And finally...why the No. 24 [on the Freedom]?

CK: I've always been No. 4. But four was taken for the Freedom. 2 was Natashia's number in college and 4 was mine so it kind of worked being 24.