Books
Today I skipped two of my classes for a "mental health day" because I'm on the downswing of a depressive thing or something, and I've been feeling like shit all week. It says something about me that my idea of a break from stress is reading creepypasta online and then watching a horror movie with my friend who I'm still awkward with after I kissed him drunk last year. At least the movie was a horror comedy (The Host, watch it if you haven't because it's hysterical) and of course nothing happened.
ANYWAY!
I have an assignment due tomorrow but nobleplatypus posted a meme about books (BOOKS!!!) and so of course I have to do it.
1. Favorite childhood book?
MOOMINTROLL which is still one of my favorite series EVER by one of my favorite authors, Tove Jansson.
2. What are you reading right now?
Consider the Lobster, by David Foster Wallace (awesome), Dracula (okay, and a school assignment) and assorted short stories for my fiction class.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Well, I tried to request a book about linguistics recently, but the reserving system was down so I will have to wait.
4. Bad book habit?
Dog-earing pages, and leaving books open upside-down for days on end.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing, actually. I don't use the library much during the school year.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Nope. I'd like one for textbooks but I really enjoy actual paper.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I actually prefer one at a time, but usually I'm reading several because of school or losing track of one for days at a time.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
The slenderblog means that I'm reading a lot of, um, other slenderblogs- in fact it probably accounts for half of my reading these days. That's weird.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
I'm actually taking notes on how bad a particular "how to write" book is so I can write a very derisive review for my funny(?) blog.
10. Favorite book you've read this year?
EFFING HOUSE OF LEAVES GUYS. Although I'm actually loving Consider The Lobster as well. I'm a great fan of David Foster Wallace.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I have a pretty large comfort zone that encompasses basically everything except romance, high fantasy, and very hard sci-fi. So I don't read outside of it that often.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Oh, oops, see above I suppose.
13. Can you read on the bus?
I suppose, but I'm not usually on the bus long enough to get a good read in.
14. Favorite place to read?
On my couch, or on Heritage Hill on campus in the sun. BLISS, GUYS.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I like to lend things out but I will be VERY annoyed if I don't get them back in a decent time-frame.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Yes, so much.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
GOD no. I take notes on my laptop or in a notebook.
18. Not even with text books?
Only in my russian text, which is sort of meant for it.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English. I wish I could read in Russian but I'm not good enough yet.
20. What makes you love a book?
Beautiful writing, original ideas, well-drawn characters.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I think the other person will like it. Even if I'm not a huge fan, I'll recommend a thing if it's up their alley.
22. Favorite genre?
Magical realism, literary fiction...I read more based on attributes/strength of writing than genre actually.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Um, not sure. I wish there were more really literary, cerebral horror novels out there, rather than just airport-bookstore stuff.
24. Favorite biography?
Hmmm. I read a really good autobiography about a kid growing up in communist China, called Red something or other...wish I could remember the title.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
I used to read my mom's parenting books, does that count?
26. Favorite cookbook?
I like The Joy Of Cooking because it's really comprehensive. I'm not a cookbook conniseur though (and I don't know how to spell coniseur)
27. Most inspirational book you've read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
Um, I suppose the David Foster Wallace book is inspiring me to become a better writer (?)
28. Favorite reading snack?
bread and pesto. Alternatively, a bagel and cream cheese.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I don't usually trust hype, although I feel like if I ever get around to reading The Hunger Games it won't live up to my expectations.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I actually don't usually read critical reviews, but I do disagree with a lot of choices for "important" lit, the stuff that gets taught in school *cough cough Tess of the D'urbervilles cough cough*
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I love getting constructive criticism and I'm not shy about giving it either. If a book is really bad and it's published, I will rip the hell into it (see above, about taking notes on how shitty this how to write book is).
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Russian! Although I'd also like to be able to read Hugo in the original French, and, weirdly, Arabic because the Q'uran has some really lovely language that I'd like to read before translation. I like Rumi a lot too, I'd like to read him in the original.
33. Most intimidating book you've ever read?
Gah, I don't know. I had a hard time getting through Thus Spake Zarathustra but I enjoyed it, and I'm rather proud of myself for reading I, Claudius as a 13 year old. I don't think I got it fully of course, but I did finish it.
Probably the most intimidating book/series I didn't finish is The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson.
34. Most intimidating book you're too nervous to begin?
I'm still working up to both An Infinite Jest by (of course) David Foster Wallace and this Russian mystery novel my dad bought for me.
35. Favorite Poet?
I really like Stephen Dobyns.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
I go months without the library, and then take home anywhere from 7-13 books at a time (granted, these are almost always mostly comics, which take very little time to read generally)
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
I've often returned them half-finished, but usually I at least start them.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Oh why would you even ask that, I have no idea.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Again, not even close to an answer.
40. Books I'm most likely to bring on vacation?
Whatever I'm reading at the time, or about to start. There's no real method to it.
41. The longest I've gone without reading.
During the school year I go long stretches of time without reading for fun, but that's because I'm always reading for class.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Heh. My friend lent me Twilight before it got big, and I got 2 chapters in and quit from boredom.
43. What distracts you easily when you're reading?
Um, not too much actually. When I read, I get very involved in the book.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and also I loved the adaptation of Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (although that's probably because she was very involved in making the movie as well, and did a good half of the animation). Oh, and Coraline was a very good movie as well. Pretty different from the book in some ways, but still totally well done.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
I usually go into movies with really, really low expectations when they're based on books I like, so I'm rarely disappointed. On the other hand I'm rarely pleasantly surprised either.
46. The most money I've ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Hmmm. I bought an art book for over $50, but come on, it was Jaime Hernandez (the artist/writer of Las Locas/Love And Rockets, one of my favorite comic series).
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I don't. If it's a book I've been assigned to read and don't much like, I'll skip around, but usally I just read straight through.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If it sucks, hahaha. No, I suppose I'm most turned off by poorly-drawn characters and melodrama. GOD I hate melodrama.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Right now a good third of my books are scattered around my duplex, so that would probably be a no.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you've read them?
I keep them usually. I re-read books a lot actually.
51. Are there any books you've been avoiding?
Hmmmm. Not specific ones, no.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Aside from my perennial complaint (Tess of the D'Urbervilles), I was angered by my Nonfiction text last semester which was very, very patronizing towards comic books. So angered in fact that I wrote a TL:DR post about it here.
53. A book you didn't expect to like but did?
I really liked The Scarlet Letter actually.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn't?
In Evil Hour by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It's an earlier book of his and it's very, very disappointing, not up to his usual standards at all.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Hmmm. I like Matt Ruff quite a bit, Tove Jansson as mentioned above, and I constantly re-read the Scott Pilgrim comics because they make me laugh every time I look at them. I also re-read The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac whenever I'm sad because it's basically better than prozac.
ANYWAY!
I have an assignment due tomorrow but nobleplatypus posted a meme about books (BOOKS!!!) and so of course I have to do it.
1. Favorite childhood book?
MOOMINTROLL which is still one of my favorite series EVER by one of my favorite authors, Tove Jansson.
2. What are you reading right now?
Consider the Lobster, by David Foster Wallace (awesome), Dracula (okay, and a school assignment) and assorted short stories for my fiction class.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Well, I tried to request a book about linguistics recently, but the reserving system was down so I will have to wait.
4. Bad book habit?
Dog-earing pages, and leaving books open upside-down for days on end.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing, actually. I don't use the library much during the school year.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Nope. I'd like one for textbooks but I really enjoy actual paper.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I actually prefer one at a time, but usually I'm reading several because of school or losing track of one for days at a time.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
The slenderblog means that I'm reading a lot of, um, other slenderblogs- in fact it probably accounts for half of my reading these days. That's weird.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
I'm actually taking notes on how bad a particular "how to write" book is so I can write a very derisive review for my funny(?) blog.
10. Favorite book you've read this year?
EFFING HOUSE OF LEAVES GUYS. Although I'm actually loving Consider The Lobster as well. I'm a great fan of David Foster Wallace.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I have a pretty large comfort zone that encompasses basically everything except romance, high fantasy, and very hard sci-fi. So I don't read outside of it that often.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Oh, oops, see above I suppose.
13. Can you read on the bus?
I suppose, but I'm not usually on the bus long enough to get a good read in.
14. Favorite place to read?
On my couch, or on Heritage Hill on campus in the sun. BLISS, GUYS.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I like to lend things out but I will be VERY annoyed if I don't get them back in a decent time-frame.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Yes, so much.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
GOD no. I take notes on my laptop or in a notebook.
18. Not even with text books?
Only in my russian text, which is sort of meant for it.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English. I wish I could read in Russian but I'm not good enough yet.
20. What makes you love a book?
Beautiful writing, original ideas, well-drawn characters.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I think the other person will like it. Even if I'm not a huge fan, I'll recommend a thing if it's up their alley.
22. Favorite genre?
Magical realism, literary fiction...I read more based on attributes/strength of writing than genre actually.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Um, not sure. I wish there were more really literary, cerebral horror novels out there, rather than just airport-bookstore stuff.
24. Favorite biography?
Hmmm. I read a really good autobiography about a kid growing up in communist China, called Red something or other...wish I could remember the title.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
I used to read my mom's parenting books, does that count?
26. Favorite cookbook?
I like The Joy Of Cooking because it's really comprehensive. I'm not a cookbook conniseur though (and I don't know how to spell coniseur)
27. Most inspirational book you've read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
Um, I suppose the David Foster Wallace book is inspiring me to become a better writer (?)
28. Favorite reading snack?
bread and pesto. Alternatively, a bagel and cream cheese.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I don't usually trust hype, although I feel like if I ever get around to reading The Hunger Games it won't live up to my expectations.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I actually don't usually read critical reviews, but I do disagree with a lot of choices for "important" lit, the stuff that gets taught in school *cough cough Tess of the D'urbervilles cough cough*
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I love getting constructive criticism and I'm not shy about giving it either. If a book is really bad and it's published, I will rip the hell into it (see above, about taking notes on how shitty this how to write book is).
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Russian! Although I'd also like to be able to read Hugo in the original French, and, weirdly, Arabic because the Q'uran has some really lovely language that I'd like to read before translation. I like Rumi a lot too, I'd like to read him in the original.
33. Most intimidating book you've ever read?
Gah, I don't know. I had a hard time getting through Thus Spake Zarathustra but I enjoyed it, and I'm rather proud of myself for reading I, Claudius as a 13 year old. I don't think I got it fully of course, but I did finish it.
Probably the most intimidating book/series I didn't finish is The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson.
34. Most intimidating book you're too nervous to begin?
I'm still working up to both An Infinite Jest by (of course) David Foster Wallace and this Russian mystery novel my dad bought for me.
35. Favorite Poet?
I really like Stephen Dobyns.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
I go months without the library, and then take home anywhere from 7-13 books at a time (granted, these are almost always mostly comics, which take very little time to read generally)
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
I've often returned them half-finished, but usually I at least start them.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Oh why would you even ask that, I have no idea.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Again, not even close to an answer.
40. Books I'm most likely to bring on vacation?
Whatever I'm reading at the time, or about to start. There's no real method to it.
41. The longest I've gone without reading.
During the school year I go long stretches of time without reading for fun, but that's because I'm always reading for class.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Heh. My friend lent me Twilight before it got big, and I got 2 chapters in and quit from boredom.
43. What distracts you easily when you're reading?
Um, not too much actually. When I read, I get very involved in the book.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and also I loved the adaptation of Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (although that's probably because she was very involved in making the movie as well, and did a good half of the animation). Oh, and Coraline was a very good movie as well. Pretty different from the book in some ways, but still totally well done.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
I usually go into movies with really, really low expectations when they're based on books I like, so I'm rarely disappointed. On the other hand I'm rarely pleasantly surprised either.
46. The most money I've ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Hmmm. I bought an art book for over $50, but come on, it was Jaime Hernandez (the artist/writer of Las Locas/Love And Rockets, one of my favorite comic series).
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I don't. If it's a book I've been assigned to read and don't much like, I'll skip around, but usally I just read straight through.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If it sucks, hahaha. No, I suppose I'm most turned off by poorly-drawn characters and melodrama. GOD I hate melodrama.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Right now a good third of my books are scattered around my duplex, so that would probably be a no.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you've read them?
I keep them usually. I re-read books a lot actually.
51. Are there any books you've been avoiding?
Hmmmm. Not specific ones, no.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Aside from my perennial complaint (Tess of the D'Urbervilles), I was angered by my Nonfiction text last semester which was very, very patronizing towards comic books. So angered in fact that I wrote a TL:DR post about it here.
53. A book you didn't expect to like but did?
I really liked The Scarlet Letter actually.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn't?
In Evil Hour by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It's an earlier book of his and it's very, very disappointing, not up to his usual standards at all.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Hmmm. I like Matt Ruff quite a bit, Tove Jansson as mentioned above, and I constantly re-read the Scott Pilgrim comics because they make me laugh every time I look at them. I also re-read The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac whenever I'm sad because it's basically better than prozac.