Book Meme!
I seriously, seriously miss books for fun. So in memorium of my reading for pleasure days and in the hope that they will return sooner rather than later, here is a meme stolen from electrichobbit
1. One book that changed your life?
Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. Completely set me off on the whole Russian track and one of the first books I've ever read that was morally ambiguous. Not only did it set me off on the whole Russian literature thing that turned into the foundation of my university days, but it also introduced me to ideas that books were about more than just good stories - that they were a way to explore societies and ideas as well, the first thing that really sold me on "literature" I suppose.
2. One book you have read more than once?
Unlike many, I don't actually re-read books very often. Mostly because I read comparatively slowly, and because I'm very concious that I will never be able to read all the books I want to. But I will occasionally re-read, which is always an interesting experience. Some I'm sad that I've done, because I'm no longer in the place to really enjoy anymore (Little Women sadly falls into this category, though I still have beautiful memories of it) and others help to uncover new aspects (most Hesse & Tolkein falls into this camp) and it is almost like reading a new, yet familiar book. Some are just fun - like the Aubrey/Maturin novels, which R and I are going through aloud.
3. One book you would want on a desert island?
Oh this is hard, see the problem above with not really liking to re-read. It would have to be something pretty voluminous and layered, but not overly heavy that it would be hard to hold my attention for extended periods of time. Hmmmmm probably Brother's Karamazov.
4. One book that made you laugh?
The Fur Hat by Vladimir Voinovich - utterly hilarous; some of the best satire you'll ever read.
5. One book that made you cry?
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Another one that I can't really talk about without giving it away, but man a total tear jerker, though not for the reasons most think.
6. One book you wish had been written?
This is really hard, because there is so much that has been written and so much of that which I don't know about. . .I tend to agree with Hobbit that it would have been interesting for The Trial to have been finished. . .oh actually! I would love to know how Gogol would have finished Dead Souls
7. One book you wish had never been written?
I have a feeling I'm going to make some enemies here, but Great Expectations. So many hours of my life I will never get back.
8. One book you are currently reading?
See above with the whole law school thing and not having any time for actual reading for pleasure - audiobooks that I can listen to while commuting have featured rather prominantly lately. The one book that is sitting on my bedside partially read and really wish that I could finish in a single sitting without the guilt monster coming to get me is The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson.
9. One book you have been meaning to read?
So many! One that has been hanging around my to-read list forever though (since from when wyvernmoon and I first moved in together in 2000) is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
10. One book that was difficult to read?
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk and frustratingly so, because I really, really wanted to be into it. That's the most recent case, though I think the most infamous one is The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse, which took me almost two years to get through. Not for lack of interest, but some of the densist prose I've ever come across.
11. Favorite childhood book?
The first book I ever learned to read was an illustrated version of Sleeping Beauty, so that has a special place in my heart. I was also passionately into Nancy Drew between sort of 7 and 8 (and those have a special place too because it's how I met socratic_me) though I don't really have a favourite one book out of that series. In Junior High it was Anne McCaffrey, who really set the tone for my later explorations into Fantasy. . .
12. Popular book you have no desire to ever read?
The DaVinci Code - hands down. I've caught snippets over the shoulder of other people and *ugh* No thank you. I know that Umberto Eco isn't for everyone, but sheesh there are so many better ways this particular theme has been done - the Shardlake novels are a good example and very accessable. A complete waste of paper.
(and just because I can) 13. What book are you looking forward to reading next?
The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin by Vladimir Voinovich. R got this for me for my birthday this past year and I ever got to read it, though I keep stealing glances through it and it looks delish! Just the thing for when I finish my exams I think. . .
1. One book that changed your life?
Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. Completely set me off on the whole Russian track and one of the first books I've ever read that was morally ambiguous. Not only did it set me off on the whole Russian literature thing that turned into the foundation of my university days, but it also introduced me to ideas that books were about more than just good stories - that they were a way to explore societies and ideas as well, the first thing that really sold me on "literature" I suppose.
2. One book you have read more than once?
Unlike many, I don't actually re-read books very often. Mostly because I read comparatively slowly, and because I'm very concious that I will never be able to read all the books I want to. But I will occasionally re-read, which is always an interesting experience. Some I'm sad that I've done, because I'm no longer in the place to really enjoy anymore (Little Women sadly falls into this category, though I still have beautiful memories of it) and others help to uncover new aspects (most Hesse & Tolkein falls into this camp) and it is almost like reading a new, yet familiar book. Some are just fun - like the Aubrey/Maturin novels, which R and I are going through aloud.
3. One book you would want on a desert island?
Oh this is hard, see the problem above with not really liking to re-read. It would have to be something pretty voluminous and layered, but not overly heavy that it would be hard to hold my attention for extended periods of time. Hmmmmm probably Brother's Karamazov.
4. One book that made you laugh?
The Fur Hat by Vladimir Voinovich - utterly hilarous; some of the best satire you'll ever read.
5. One book that made you cry?
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Another one that I can't really talk about without giving it away, but man a total tear jerker, though not for the reasons most think.
6. One book you wish had been written?
This is really hard, because there is so much that has been written and so much of that which I don't know about. . .I tend to agree with Hobbit that it would have been interesting for The Trial to have been finished. . .oh actually! I would love to know how Gogol would have finished Dead Souls
7. One book you wish had never been written?
I have a feeling I'm going to make some enemies here, but Great Expectations. So many hours of my life I will never get back.
8. One book you are currently reading?
See above with the whole law school thing and not having any time for actual reading for pleasure - audiobooks that I can listen to while commuting have featured rather prominantly lately. The one book that is sitting on my bedside partially read and really wish that I could finish in a single sitting without the guilt monster coming to get me is The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson.
9. One book you have been meaning to read?
So many! One that has been hanging around my to-read list forever though (since from when wyvernmoon and I first moved in together in 2000) is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
10. One book that was difficult to read?
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk and frustratingly so, because I really, really wanted to be into it. That's the most recent case, though I think the most infamous one is The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse, which took me almost two years to get through. Not for lack of interest, but some of the densist prose I've ever come across.
11. Favorite childhood book?
The first book I ever learned to read was an illustrated version of Sleeping Beauty, so that has a special place in my heart. I was also passionately into Nancy Drew between sort of 7 and 8 (and those have a special place too because it's how I met socratic_me) though I don't really have a favourite one book out of that series. In Junior High it was Anne McCaffrey, who really set the tone for my later explorations into Fantasy. . .
12. Popular book you have no desire to ever read?
The DaVinci Code - hands down. I've caught snippets over the shoulder of other people and *ugh* No thank you. I know that Umberto Eco isn't for everyone, but sheesh there are so many better ways this particular theme has been done - the Shardlake novels are a good example and very accessable. A complete waste of paper.
(and just because I can) 13. What book are you looking forward to reading next?
The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin by Vladimir Voinovich. R got this for me for my birthday this past year and I ever got to read it, though I keep stealing glances through it and it looks delish! Just the thing for when I finish my exams I think. . .