Just because it's more interesting than most memes
Book Meme:
1) What author do you own the most books by?
Charles de Lint. Although my Terry Pratchett collection is getting up there.
2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Well, I suppose the closest thing I have to an answer to this is Shakespeare -- I have two copies of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (one with annotations, one without) and individual paperback copies of about half the plays.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
A little bit. But then I am also reminded by dear Mr. Churchill that there are extremes "up with which I shall not put."
4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Oh gods do I have to choose? Aerin, from The Hero and the Crown, Liath from my own novel, Janet Carter from Tam Lin, Abby Sciuto from "NCIS," Kensi Blye from "NCIS: Los Angeles," need I go on?
5) What book have you read the most times in your life?
I think Pamela Dean's Tam Lin wins out, although The Secret Garden comes close.
6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. And to think I fought my mother tooth and nail on reading it because I "didn't like classics." I'm so glad she made me at least get through the first two chapters.
7) What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
Hmm . . I don't think I've read a truly *bad* book in the last year. Some mediocre ones, definitely. But nothing I'd say was truly bad.
8) What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind. The man has single-handedly restored my faith in the high fantasy epic.
9) If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
Charles de Lint, Dreams Underfoot. Not only is it a brilliant collection of short stories, but de Lint's unique way of looking at the world really makes you rethink your prejudices and assumptions.
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
Oh wow. I don't really know. To be honest, I mostly read genre literature, and I'm not sure any of it qualifies for a Nobel Prize. If we could do posthumous nominations though, definitely Angela Carter.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown, but only if done well. The other book I really would have liked to see made into a movie was Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising. Then they *did* make it into a movie, completely changed things, and it sucked.
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Anything by Proust.
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
Um . . . I dreamt I was Clint Eastwood once. Does that count?
14) What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?
I read fanfiction. Does that count?
15) What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
James Joyce, Ulysses. Yes I did read it all. Took an entire graduate course to understand it though.
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?
In movies: probably Titus Andronicus. Theatre: The Merry Wives of Windsor.
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I assume you mean in Literature? The French. Never could get into the Russians. Too damn depressing and long.
18) Roth or Updike?
Never read either.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Well, I haven't read Dave Eggers, so Sedaris wins by default. Although I do love him.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Shakespeare. Hands down.
21) Austen or Eliot?
Which Eliot? George Eliot? T.S. Eliot? Either way, I'd still say Eliot. I hate Austen.
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Austen and Dickens. I have a Masters degree in English Literature and I have never read a single Austen novel all the way through and the only Dickens novel I've read is Hard Times.
23) What is your favorite novel?
Pamela Dean, Tam Lin. I am told this makes me odd, because many people are infuriated by that book. But I love it.
24) Play?
Shakespeare - "Much Ado About Nothing" Absolutely hilarious.
25) Poem?
Pablo Neruda - "Oh Earth, Wait for Me"
26) Essay?
Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance."
27) Short story?
O. Henry, "The Gift of the Magi."
28) Work of nonfiction?
Daniel Defoe (maybe), A General History of the Pyrates
29) Who is your favorite writer?
I think Charles de Lint still hold pride of place, although he has challengers these days.
30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Honestly? I think J.K. Rowling. Don't get me wrong, I loved the books. But certain people have heralded her as this huge world changing author. I don't think she's quite that great.
31) What is your desert island book?
Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe. After all, I'll need some good ideas, right?
32) And… what are you reading right now?
Neal Stephenson, Anathem; Max Lüthi, The European Folktale: Form and Nature, Virgil, The Aeneid (John Dryden translation); Laurence Yep, City of Fire [Yes, all of them at once]
1) What author do you own the most books by?
Charles de Lint. Although my Terry Pratchett collection is getting up there.
2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Well, I suppose the closest thing I have to an answer to this is Shakespeare -- I have two copies of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (one with annotations, one without) and individual paperback copies of about half the plays.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
A little bit. But then I am also reminded by dear Mr. Churchill that there are extremes "up with which I shall not put."
4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Oh gods do I have to choose? Aerin, from The Hero and the Crown, Liath from my own novel, Janet Carter from Tam Lin, Abby Sciuto from "NCIS," Kensi Blye from "NCIS: Los Angeles," need I go on?
5) What book have you read the most times in your life?
I think Pamela Dean's Tam Lin wins out, although The Secret Garden comes close.
6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. And to think I fought my mother tooth and nail on reading it because I "didn't like classics." I'm so glad she made me at least get through the first two chapters.
7) What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
Hmm . . I don't think I've read a truly *bad* book in the last year. Some mediocre ones, definitely. But nothing I'd say was truly bad.
8) What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind. The man has single-handedly restored my faith in the high fantasy epic.
9) If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
Charles de Lint, Dreams Underfoot. Not only is it a brilliant collection of short stories, but de Lint's unique way of looking at the world really makes you rethink your prejudices and assumptions.
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
Oh wow. I don't really know. To be honest, I mostly read genre literature, and I'm not sure any of it qualifies for a Nobel Prize. If we could do posthumous nominations though, definitely Angela Carter.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown, but only if done well. The other book I really would have liked to see made into a movie was Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising. Then they *did* make it into a movie, completely changed things, and it sucked.
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Anything by Proust.
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
Um . . . I dreamt I was Clint Eastwood once. Does that count?
14) What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?
I read fanfiction. Does that count?
15) What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
James Joyce, Ulysses. Yes I did read it all. Took an entire graduate course to understand it though.
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?
In movies: probably Titus Andronicus. Theatre: The Merry Wives of Windsor.
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I assume you mean in Literature? The French. Never could get into the Russians. Too damn depressing and long.
18) Roth or Updike?
Never read either.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Well, I haven't read Dave Eggers, so Sedaris wins by default. Although I do love him.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Shakespeare. Hands down.
21) Austen or Eliot?
Which Eliot? George Eliot? T.S. Eliot? Either way, I'd still say Eliot. I hate Austen.
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Austen and Dickens. I have a Masters degree in English Literature and I have never read a single Austen novel all the way through and the only Dickens novel I've read is Hard Times.
23) What is your favorite novel?
Pamela Dean, Tam Lin. I am told this makes me odd, because many people are infuriated by that book. But I love it.
24) Play?
Shakespeare - "Much Ado About Nothing" Absolutely hilarious.
25) Poem?
Pablo Neruda - "Oh Earth, Wait for Me"
26) Essay?
Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance."
27) Short story?
O. Henry, "The Gift of the Magi."
28) Work of nonfiction?
Daniel Defoe (maybe), A General History of the Pyrates
29) Who is your favorite writer?
I think Charles de Lint still hold pride of place, although he has challengers these days.
30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Honestly? I think J.K. Rowling. Don't get me wrong, I loved the books. But certain people have heralded her as this huge world changing author. I don't think she's quite that great.
31) What is your desert island book?
Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe. After all, I'll need some good ideas, right?
32) And… what are you reading right now?
Neal Stephenson, Anathem; Max Lüthi, The European Folktale: Form and Nature, Virgil, The Aeneid (John Dryden translation); Laurence Yep, City of Fire [Yes, all of them at once]