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Jan. 23rd, 2011 08:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nnyMy mood is massively wavery and fragile at present. Annoyingly not a hormone thing, 'cos then at least I'd know when it'd go away. So, meme.
1. Favorite childhood book?
...and already I'm in trouble. When is 'childhood'? My favourite book changed according to my age, my mood, what happened to be in the library at the time. I loved series - like Hardy Boys, Babysitters Club, all the Enid Blytons my mum collected; I adored Dogsbody and The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones; I kept attempting to steal Earthfasts from school. (Blame Paul Nicholls for that last one.)
(Shut up.)
2. What are you reading right now?
I'm supposed to be starting the Hunger Games, but I also have a few books being delivered soon. Another of my favourite childhood books, which I hunted down with ridiculously bare memories and no idea of title and author, turned out to be Skirmish by Melisa Michaels which also turned out to be the first in a series of five, so I'm waiting for them to appear. I'm also intending to read some Barthes when I get a moment, and I'm re-reading Of Mice and Men for the teaching.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. It actually turns out cheaper for me to buy secondhand books and then take them to a charity shop when I'm done; my inability to stick to loan deadlines means I always go back to the library to find a fine of at least twenty quid.
4. Bad book habit?
Reading about seven at any one time. When I had more rooms available to me there always tended to be one in each bag and one in most rooms of the house, so I could just pick up whatever was closest. I also have a dreadful habit of reading the same books over and over again because they're safe, and I know where the characters are going to end up.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
No, but I'm tempted. That said... some of the best books I've read have been read precisely because I don't have an entire library at my fingertips and had to settle for what I could find, plus I'm an iBop shuffler not a playlister generally, and I'd rather not have exactly what I think is the right choice available because it generally isn't what I need.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I'm getting way better at finishing what I start.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I am reading more by authors unfamiliar to me; I trust you guys for the most part.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
There has not been much year! I dunno. Of Mice and Men I guess; at secondary school we studied it and somehow there was this muck up where the teacher thought we could answer GCSE questions on one book when we couldn't, so we ended up studying OM&M over a period of about three weeks. English was my best subject and I got an A* in English Language and a B in Lit - betrayal of the highest order, seriously. It influenced all choices since then, because I didn't make the connection and thought I was just crap.
10. Favorite book you've read this year?
I like the Dresden Files books. Supernatural detective stories are awesome, although that doesn't mean I'll be reading Laurell K. Hamilton any time soon.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Not very. I'm working on that.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Things I've read before and crime stories.
13. Can you read on the bus?
Bleurgh no. I can read on trains and planes and boats, but not on the bus.
14. Favorite place to read?
On a bench by the sea. On one of those spring days where the sun is just starting to bake you a little.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I'm fine with it, I just suck at it. I've bought books that I was sure I owned, before, only to have my copy returned a couple of weeks later. I've lost a hell of a lot of books through book lending, but I've gained some too - people I've never seen before or since who've pressed books upon me when drunk. Yes, this happens. XD It's all a cycle - for the books I've lent I've found myself with more, so I'm good with it.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Absolutely. Mostly non-fiction and fandom books, but pretty much all the time if I find a quote I like.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Increasingly yes. It's one of my LJ interests - other people's margin notes. I love knowing what other people have thought, and I love the idea someone will someday read my thoughts too.
18. Not even with text books?
I'm amused they assume a negative here. I absolutely write in and highlight text books. That's what they're for.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English. Because I can understand it. But poetry with the original and translation side by side is awesome - I have a book of Neruda like that somewhere, must find.
20. What makes you love a book?
If I can lose myself in it. While I can appreciate the cleverness of the metatextuality and such, it's rare that I will appreciate something that really makes me aware that it is a book. Unless that's part of the story. Like Hard Core Logo - it becomes almost a scrapbook, which is taking advantage of the medium while still being first and foremost a story, I can deal with that. Does that make any sense?
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
I don't often. Um... if it fits someone; I'm far more likely to recommend to specific people (and possibly buy it for them and thrust it into their hands) than I am to make a blanket recommendation.
22. Favorite genre?
Supernatural crime stories. Yes, I am specific. :D Crime in general I love, provided the detective isn't bland, but if it has a supernatural edge to it I am in paroxysms of delight.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
I don't know, I'm not good at genres. I wish I read more good sci-fi, I guess? I got bored of reading exacting details of spaceships because I'm not in any way a visual reader, so I stopped pretty early on, but it feels like something I should be excited about.
24. Favorite biography?
A Pirate of Exquisite Mind. William Dampier was awesome. I also love Mick Foley's autobiography, shut up.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Started but not finished.
26. Favorite cookbook?
The little fake-leather book I'm putting together myself.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I don't know. The Dresden Files books, possibly? Because they're good and ridiculous and enjoyable and flawed in many ways, and it makes me think 'hey, maybe I could do that'. Stuff that is transcendental is more likely to intimidate me than inspire.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Grapes.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Nothing - but I avoided Harry Potter for a long time because I didn't think it could be as good as people said. And it wasn't, really, but I adored it anyway.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don’t read book reviews.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I don't personally, but there's a place for them if there's something that should be pointed out about a book. Oh, and Dan Brown. Dan Brown should get negative reviews. Pfeh.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
I'd love to read some Murakami sans translation quirks.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Heh, I tried to read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel about five times before I finally got around to it, which was mostly because I was trapped in a room with no internet for two weeks.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Oh lord, any number. Anything that looks clever, because I'm not.
35. Favorite Poet?
I generally prefer poems to poets, can't I do that instead? Meh. I like Neruda and Rilke...
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
I don't. Used to be as many as possible, hence the enormous fines.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Again, never, hence fines. I re-read dreadfully, and I own a ridiculous number of books I've not read.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Impossible to answer definitively, but my love of Torquil from Archer's Goon borders on the ridiculous. And. Well, Aziraphale. Obviously.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
I don't know. I don't often find books with villains that the author loves. I love Low Key in American Gods.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Something unstressful. Good Omens. XD
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Without reading anything? Without reading a book? Without reading something new? This question is pretty much impossible.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
I tend to force myself through them eventually. There are a lot I've not finished through distraction or OOH SHINY! but I imagine I'll get there in the end.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
The internets.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
I like the newer Pride and Prejudice? Coraline's pretty awesome, especially the TMBG song. I don't know, my mind always goes blank at times like this.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Difficult to say. I'd have liked Howl's Moving Castle to have some passing resemblance to the book, that would've been nice.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Not that much, probably, but it's relative. I've spent much much larger chunks of my finances on books than I could afford, but at the time it was probably twenty quid. Books have taken precedence over food before, put it like that.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Never. When I was reading Point Horrors as a tiny teen I used to read the last page first, mostly to see who got together in the end, but that was it.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If I don't care enough to remember what happened at the beginning.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
No. If you find what you're looking for you might not find the book you secretly needed all along.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep most of them but I shouldn't. I really need to pare down my collection; it'd be nice to be able to fit all my books in somewhere I'm living.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
The Twilight ones; any books that there is any kind of pressure for me to read; books I'm convinced are too clever for me.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Dan Brown. There is no excuse to write that badly.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Books on literary theory. I don't expect to get it or like it but I'm more able to understand than I thought.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Er, the Hunger Games so far. I'm going to give it another go soon. :)
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Diana Wynne Jones. Good Omens or Archer's Goon, mostly.
1. Favorite childhood book?
...and already I'm in trouble. When is 'childhood'? My favourite book changed according to my age, my mood, what happened to be in the library at the time. I loved series - like Hardy Boys, Babysitters Club, all the Enid Blytons my mum collected; I adored Dogsbody and The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones; I kept attempting to steal Earthfasts from school. (Blame Paul Nicholls for that last one.)
(Shut up.)
2. What are you reading right now?
I'm supposed to be starting the Hunger Games, but I also have a few books being delivered soon. Another of my favourite childhood books, which I hunted down with ridiculously bare memories and no idea of title and author, turned out to be Skirmish by Melisa Michaels which also turned out to be the first in a series of five, so I'm waiting for them to appear. I'm also intending to read some Barthes when I get a moment, and I'm re-reading Of Mice and Men for the teaching.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. It actually turns out cheaper for me to buy secondhand books and then take them to a charity shop when I'm done; my inability to stick to loan deadlines means I always go back to the library to find a fine of at least twenty quid.
4. Bad book habit?
Reading about seven at any one time. When I had more rooms available to me there always tended to be one in each bag and one in most rooms of the house, so I could just pick up whatever was closest. I also have a dreadful habit of reading the same books over and over again because they're safe, and I know where the characters are going to end up.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
No, but I'm tempted. That said... some of the best books I've read have been read precisely because I don't have an entire library at my fingertips and had to settle for what I could find, plus I'm an iBop shuffler not a playlister generally, and I'd rather not have exactly what I think is the right choice available because it generally isn't what I need.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I'm getting way better at finishing what I start.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I am reading more by authors unfamiliar to me; I trust you guys for the most part.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
There has not been much year! I dunno. Of Mice and Men I guess; at secondary school we studied it and somehow there was this muck up where the teacher thought we could answer GCSE questions on one book when we couldn't, so we ended up studying OM&M over a period of about three weeks. English was my best subject and I got an A* in English Language and a B in Lit - betrayal of the highest order, seriously. It influenced all choices since then, because I didn't make the connection and thought I was just crap.
10. Favorite book you've read this year?
I like the Dresden Files books. Supernatural detective stories are awesome, although that doesn't mean I'll be reading Laurell K. Hamilton any time soon.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Not very. I'm working on that.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Things I've read before and crime stories.
13. Can you read on the bus?
Bleurgh no. I can read on trains and planes and boats, but not on the bus.
14. Favorite place to read?
On a bench by the sea. On one of those spring days where the sun is just starting to bake you a little.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I'm fine with it, I just suck at it. I've bought books that I was sure I owned, before, only to have my copy returned a couple of weeks later. I've lost a hell of a lot of books through book lending, but I've gained some too - people I've never seen before or since who've pressed books upon me when drunk. Yes, this happens. XD It's all a cycle - for the books I've lent I've found myself with more, so I'm good with it.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Absolutely. Mostly non-fiction and fandom books, but pretty much all the time if I find a quote I like.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Increasingly yes. It's one of my LJ interests - other people's margin notes. I love knowing what other people have thought, and I love the idea someone will someday read my thoughts too.
18. Not even with text books?
I'm amused they assume a negative here. I absolutely write in and highlight text books. That's what they're for.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English. Because I can understand it. But poetry with the original and translation side by side is awesome - I have a book of Neruda like that somewhere, must find.
20. What makes you love a book?
If I can lose myself in it. While I can appreciate the cleverness of the metatextuality and such, it's rare that I will appreciate something that really makes me aware that it is a book. Unless that's part of the story. Like Hard Core Logo - it becomes almost a scrapbook, which is taking advantage of the medium while still being first and foremost a story, I can deal with that. Does that make any sense?
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
I don't often. Um... if it fits someone; I'm far more likely to recommend to specific people (and possibly buy it for them and thrust it into their hands) than I am to make a blanket recommendation.
22. Favorite genre?
Supernatural crime stories. Yes, I am specific. :D Crime in general I love, provided the detective isn't bland, but if it has a supernatural edge to it I am in paroxysms of delight.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
I don't know, I'm not good at genres. I wish I read more good sci-fi, I guess? I got bored of reading exacting details of spaceships because I'm not in any way a visual reader, so I stopped pretty early on, but it feels like something I should be excited about.
24. Favorite biography?
A Pirate of Exquisite Mind. William Dampier was awesome. I also love Mick Foley's autobiography, shut up.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Started but not finished.
26. Favorite cookbook?
The little fake-leather book I'm putting together myself.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I don't know. The Dresden Files books, possibly? Because they're good and ridiculous and enjoyable and flawed in many ways, and it makes me think 'hey, maybe I could do that'. Stuff that is transcendental is more likely to intimidate me than inspire.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Grapes.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Nothing - but I avoided Harry Potter for a long time because I didn't think it could be as good as people said. And it wasn't, really, but I adored it anyway.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don’t read book reviews.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I don't personally, but there's a place for them if there's something that should be pointed out about a book. Oh, and Dan Brown. Dan Brown should get negative reviews. Pfeh.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
I'd love to read some Murakami sans translation quirks.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Heh, I tried to read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel about five times before I finally got around to it, which was mostly because I was trapped in a room with no internet for two weeks.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Oh lord, any number. Anything that looks clever, because I'm not.
35. Favorite Poet?
I generally prefer poems to poets, can't I do that instead? Meh. I like Neruda and Rilke...
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
I don't. Used to be as many as possible, hence the enormous fines.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Again, never, hence fines. I re-read dreadfully, and I own a ridiculous number of books I've not read.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Impossible to answer definitively, but my love of Torquil from Archer's Goon borders on the ridiculous. And. Well, Aziraphale. Obviously.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
I don't know. I don't often find books with villains that the author loves. I love Low Key in American Gods.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Something unstressful. Good Omens. XD
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Without reading anything? Without reading a book? Without reading something new? This question is pretty much impossible.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
I tend to force myself through them eventually. There are a lot I've not finished through distraction or OOH SHINY! but I imagine I'll get there in the end.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
The internets.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
I like the newer Pride and Prejudice? Coraline's pretty awesome, especially the TMBG song. I don't know, my mind always goes blank at times like this.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Difficult to say. I'd have liked Howl's Moving Castle to have some passing resemblance to the book, that would've been nice.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Not that much, probably, but it's relative. I've spent much much larger chunks of my finances on books than I could afford, but at the time it was probably twenty quid. Books have taken precedence over food before, put it like that.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Never. When I was reading Point Horrors as a tiny teen I used to read the last page first, mostly to see who got together in the end, but that was it.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If I don't care enough to remember what happened at the beginning.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
No. If you find what you're looking for you might not find the book you secretly needed all along.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep most of them but I shouldn't. I really need to pare down my collection; it'd be nice to be able to fit all my books in somewhere I'm living.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
The Twilight ones; any books that there is any kind of pressure for me to read; books I'm convinced are too clever for me.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Dan Brown. There is no excuse to write that badly.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Books on literary theory. I don't expect to get it or like it but I'm more able to understand than I thought.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Er, the Hunger Games so far. I'm going to give it another go soon. :)
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Diana Wynne Jones. Good Omens or Archer's Goon, mostly.
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no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 09:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 11:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 11:52 am (UTC)I've found very little to tempt me recently that isn't in the supernatural crime / mystery genre at the moment. I borrowed Magic Burns (by Ilona Andrews, book 2 in a series) off
Which authors have you been reading in this area? I'm definitely interested in more and would welcome any new names!
no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 03:34 pm (UTC)I wish I read more good sci-fi, I guess? I got bored of reading exacting details of spaceships because I'm not in any way a visual reader, so I stopped pretty early on, but it feels like something I should be excited about.
As someone who purports sci-fi to be one of their favourite genres, I rarely read hard sci-fi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_science_fiction). The stuff with a big ol' helping of fantasy or paranormal tossed into the mix is definitely more my speed.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 04:24 pm (UTC)