Book Meme
I haven't been a meme sheep in a long time -- I'm past due for one!
From caersidi, it's the 8-question Book Meme:
1. Which book(s) do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?
Most romance novels -- with "Christian romance" being especially cringe-worthy. However, I do not think this is irrational.
2. Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, you are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for a while, eventually you realize it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
I was about to say The Last of the Mohicans, until I remembered the entertainment value that lies in mocking James Fenimore Cooper's literary offenses.
I think I'll have to go with James Joyce's Ulysses.
3. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it?
There are books that I may claim more familiarity with than I actually have -- books I've only skimmed, maybe even tried to read a chapter or two but gave up on (like The Last of the Mohicans). But I can't think of anything I've claimed to have read when I have, in fact, been no where near it!
4. You’re interviewing for the post of Official Book Adviser to some VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why?
This is the most difficult of the eight questions, because so much depends on the VIP's job, and the reason why s/he has an Official Book Advisor.
For example, if the VIP is a singer who wants to become better educated, I'd start with the complete plays of William Shakespeare, and I'd want him/her to read it out loud.
On the other hand, I'd start with the Koran if the VIP is an oil company executive who wants to get a better feel for the culture of Saudi Arabia; while Paris Hilton would be told to read Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting By in America.
5.A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
Oh, Russian, please. Who needs soap operas when you have Russian novels?
6. A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
The Lord of the Rings. I do this most years anyway.
7. I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What’s one bookish thing you ‘discovered’ from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art - anything)?
I hadn't realized how little input the average author has over everything except the text of a book -- even the name. I hadn't realized that most authors have little control over the cover, the layout, the blurbs, how it's marketed.
8. That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leather-bound? Is it full of first edition hard covers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead - let your imagination run free.
First, I'd want more room. Our guest room, living room and dining room are already lined with book shelves and they're overflowing.
Next, I'd like to have all my books catalogued already.
There are some books I have that I'd want to have rebound in very sturdy leather covers, because they've been read so often they're falling apart.
Finally, I'd like to have some of my reference books and light reading put on a couple of eBook readers; I'd keep the original reference books but give away the originals of the light reading, so I'd have room to buy more books.
From caersidi, it's the 8-question Book Meme:
1. Which book(s) do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?
Most romance novels -- with "Christian romance" being especially cringe-worthy. However, I do not think this is irrational.
2. Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, you are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for a while, eventually you realize it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
I was about to say The Last of the Mohicans, until I remembered the entertainment value that lies in mocking James Fenimore Cooper's literary offenses.
I think I'll have to go with James Joyce's Ulysses.
3. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it?
There are books that I may claim more familiarity with than I actually have -- books I've only skimmed, maybe even tried to read a chapter or two but gave up on (like The Last of the Mohicans). But I can't think of anything I've claimed to have read when I have, in fact, been no where near it!
4. You’re interviewing for the post of Official Book Adviser to some VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why?
This is the most difficult of the eight questions, because so much depends on the VIP's job, and the reason why s/he has an Official Book Advisor.
For example, if the VIP is a singer who wants to become better educated, I'd start with the complete plays of William Shakespeare, and I'd want him/her to read it out loud.
On the other hand, I'd start with the Koran if the VIP is an oil company executive who wants to get a better feel for the culture of Saudi Arabia; while Paris Hilton would be told to read Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting By in America.
5.A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
Oh, Russian, please. Who needs soap operas when you have Russian novels?
6. A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
The Lord of the Rings. I do this most years anyway.
7. I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What’s one bookish thing you ‘discovered’ from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art - anything)?
I hadn't realized how little input the average author has over everything except the text of a book -- even the name. I hadn't realized that most authors have little control over the cover, the layout, the blurbs, how it's marketed.
8. That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leather-bound? Is it full of first edition hard covers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead - let your imagination run free.
First, I'd want more room. Our guest room, living room and dining room are already lined with book shelves and they're overflowing.
Next, I'd like to have all my books catalogued already.
There are some books I have that I'd want to have rebound in very sturdy leather covers, because they've been read so often they're falling apart.
Finally, I'd like to have some of my reference books and light reading put on a couple of eBook readers; I'd keep the original reference books but give away the originals of the light reading, so I'd have room to buy more books.