I came across this book meme from The Book Lady’s Blog and I liked it because I think it asks questions other than the typical ones. So here’s a peak into my reading world.
1. Favorite childhood book? Anne of Green Gables. She had an overactive imagination and hated her freckles, which meant that we were destined to be bosom buddies.
2. What are you reading right now? I’m finishing up the last Percy Jackson book, I’m in the middle of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and I have Gayle Forman’s If I Stay on deck.
3. What books do you have on request at the library? Lots – a couple of Sarah Dessen books, Illyria and Nancy Werlin’s Extraordinary.
4. Bad book habit? I tend to toss them around my apartment, unintentionally of course, but they get a little banged up.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library? Most of the books I read come from the library – Jessica’s Guide, If I Stay and others are all library books.
6. Do you have an e-reader? No, and I doubt I’ll get one until I have no other choice. I’m irrationally attached to physical books.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once? I usually have at least two books going at once. I like to have choices, depending on my mood.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? Yes and no. I still read pretty much what I want to read, but I’m much more away of the variety of books out there and I’m always finding new things to read because I read other book blogs.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?) Little Brother, since it didn’t meet my expectations.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year? So far, Mockingjay. It exceeded my expectations and concluded the trilogy quite spectacularly.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? Not often. I’m a creature of habit and I tend to stick with what I know I like. I’m open to suggestions for specific books within the genres I like and prefer, but I rarely step outside those preferred genres.
12. What is your reading comfort zone? Speculative fiction, sci-fi and fantasy, chick lit – I’m not going to hide or lie. I like reading stuff that’s fun. I read some literary fiction and nonfiction, but it’s not what I gravitate towards and I’m perfectly fine with that. We can’t all be Jonathan Franzen fans.
13. Can you read on the bus? Ugh, no. Motion sickness.
14. Favorite place to read? In a large oversized chair next to the fireplace.
15. What is your policy on book lending? I usually only lend the books I’m not completely attached to. I have this fear of getting the books back and finding them in tatters.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books? No! That’s what bookmarks are for.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? No.
18. Not even with text books? I used to highlight with textbooks, but I don’t consider that the same as writing.
19. What is your favorite language to read in? English; I try to read in French, but I don’t get very far.
20. What makes you love a book? A story that grabs my attention, makes me care about the characters and what happens to them and takes me by surprise by not being predictable.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book? Wanting to share the love I have for a book with someone else, esp. when I know or think they’ll feel the same way.
22. Favorite genre? Speculative fiction and YA
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?) Non-fiction. I tend to fall asleep.
24. Favorite biography? Eh, not really a biography person.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book? Not that I’ll admit to.
26. Favorite cookbook? Cooking Light has a fabulous compilation of the best of their magazine recipes.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? If I ever actually finish it, I’m sure Ted Kennedy’s memoir, True Compass will inspire me.
28. Favorite reading snack? Popcorn.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience. Reading Little Brother – I don’t know that the hype ruined it, but it certainly gave me high expectations that the book didn’t quite meet.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book? Depends on the critic, and the book.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I try to find at least some positive in a book, something good to comment on, but I won’t lie and say I liked a book if I didn’t. Honesty is the best policy.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose? I’m working on improving my French reading.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? I’ve never quite managed to get through Ulysses.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? I’ve been stuck on the first few chapters of Wolf Hall for awhile now.
35. Favorite poet? Wislawa Szymborska
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time? Usually two or three
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread? Very rarely.
38. Favorite fictional character? Anne Shirley, Jo March
39. Favorite fictional villain? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, obvs.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? Whatever I feel like reading at that time.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading. A day? Two at the max.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish. See number 33.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading? The Food Network (it’s constantly on in the background).
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel? The Lord of the Rings trilogy was good, as was Atonement.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation? The Time-Traveler’s Wife – just horrible.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? A hundred or so. That’s why I love my library.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it? All the time – how else do I know if I want to read it or buy it?
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through? Fall asleep while reading (meaning the book couldn’t hold my attention), characters I don’t care about, a stupid plot twist.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized? Yes, I have a very detailed system for my multiple bookshelves, but it only really makes sense to me.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? I keep the ones I love and want to re-read. I’ll clear out the shelves once a year and donate books to the library.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? Wolf Hall and The Magicians, though not necessarily intentionally.
52. Name a book that made you angry. Anything Michael Moore wrote (b/c he made me angry at the stupid conservatives, not him).
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did? The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t? Julie and Julia
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? All reading, but mostly romance novels.
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]
2 Comments
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about The Weight Of Silence, but did end up enjoying it! The suspense was too much for me, though; I wound up skipping to the end to find out what happened almost right from the beginning. The not-knowing was making my stomach hurt!
Meg – that what I usually do too. I’m not good with suspense – it’s why I don’t read mysteries. But I was pleasantly surprised by The Weight of Silence.