Books and me.
1. Has reading a book ever changed your life? Which one and why, if yes?
I wish I could say it was the Bible but that would be a lie. Anyway, I think the books that changed my life are kids' encyclopedias. I don't think they changed me though so much as influenced me. I must have browsed those books hundreds of times growing up.
First is the Childcraft series. This is the exact same set we have at home:
(Photo from www.wired.com/geekdad. Read the entire article here.)
I owe a lot to those books. Battles will be fought over who gets to keep them.
We also had Charlie Brown's 'Cyclopedia.
These were why I loved the Peanuts gang. I'd fight for those, too.
Because of these books, I learned about sequoia trees before anyone else in my class, I knew what macrame was and I knew that I shared a birthday with Eli Whitney. I know why we call them "lower case" or "upper case" letters. I can solve toothpick/matchstick puzzles in a snap. I have read a heckload of stories around the world and I have a decent trivia bank in my head. I also get the reference Sheldon made in The Big Bang Theory to Flatland.
2. Do you prefer to read fiction or nonfiction? Explain your choice.
Fiction, of course. The imagination of the human mind amazes me and I get more of that from fiction. Nonfiction is educational, yes, but it does not provide the escape that fiction can.
3. If you could be a character in any novel you’ve ever read, who would you be and why?
I want to be the girl version of Edmund Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia. Yes, he made a big mistake when he put is faith in Jadis, but he repented and became one of Narnia's greatest leaders. I prefer him to Peter because he overcame an ordeal and that is very, very important.
I tried to avoid the Harry Potter universe but I have to say, I'd also like to be Luna Lovegood. She's weird but she's clever. Yes, she believes in a lot of nonsensical stuff but she's kind, honest and she knows exactly who she is and what she should do. And she's in Ravenclaw so she's definitely intelligent.
I was struggling with this question when I a realized that there are two ways to answer it. The first way is above: which existing character would you like to be. The second way is: if you could be an original character in any novel who would you be and why? My answer to that is still about Narnia. My character would be a member of the royal court in the Golden Age of Narnia when Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy ruled. I would be an adviser who was asked to join one of their expeditions. Of course, my character gets to meet Aslan.
4. Has reading a book ever made you cry? Which one and why?
The Book Thief made me cry.
Specifically when Rudy died.
I bunch of other stories made me tear up, both for joy and sorrow. I can't recall titles though.
5. How many books do you read each year?
I don't keep track. Not a lot in the past few years. Shall we aim for one each month?
6. Have you ever written (or started to write) a book?
Yes, I've tried. I have some plots in mind but it's really hard to start or to get to a scene that I already have in my head. Establishing a foundation is difficult and I realized that I really haven't planned out my character.
I have a bit written for practice. Some of them are here.
7. Name one book you had to read but hated, and explain why you hated it.
Twilight. I wanted to know what the hype was all about so I borrowed a copy.
Why did I hate it? Wow. How much time do you have?
First of all, Bella Swan is an idiot. She is devoid of personality, she revels in her misery and she's a klutz. It's not adorable, it's annoying. She makes bad decisions. She's a bad example for young girls because I think she's stupid in love. I don't see how she fell in love but once there, she lost whatever little sense of self she has. I think she just got excited with the attention and she became obessessive about it. She's selfish and her world is too small. Population: 1. And the sole citizen isn't even her, it's Edward Cullen.
Second, Edward Cullen is not a vampire. My sister told me something before: he is immortal, he's good looking and he sparkles --he's a fairy. What does he see in Bella? And what does Bella see in him that's not physical? Really, I was in the middle of the book and I still couldn't see why they were so in love. He said that he shouldn't be with her but he's such a wuss that he couldn't muster enough willpower to stay away. Right, he skipped town. But he came back. Because she's "his brand of heroin". Tweens around the world putting that in their statuses, in their blogs, or sticking it in their lockers. How cute. Heroin kills.
Lastly, I quote Stephen King: "Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people… The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good." Some people said he was bitter because he seems to be losing popularity these days. Still, he is one of the most successful novelists of our time and he knows what he's talking about. For goodness' sake, how can you even compare Rowling and Meyer?
Meyer is easy to understand and yes, she was able to come up with good lines, but on the whole, I think the writing wasn't clever at all. It was excruciatingly filled with every little thing Bella did. (There was this one scene when Edward was in her bedroom, I think, then she told him to sit tight so that she could brush her teeth and floss or whatever and change into a decent pair of sweats. Then she went back so that they can ogle at each other.) It's so narcissistic. She had page after page describing Edward's looks, Edward's voice, Edward's ability to read minds but not Bella's. I think she never tackled why Bella was immune to vampire powers. She wrote this book like a fanfic writer with a thesaurus. And she managed to publish four volumes? And they call it a 'saga'??
I can see why it has a market though. It's a love story and the while the concept is not original, it's interesting. She's mortal, he lives forever. She's human, he's supposed to be a vampire. But I think she failed in the execution. These books should be used for kindling.
Click here for an earlier review I posted for Twilight.
8. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would they title it?
How about:
Absolutely Maddening --an obvious choice
The Story of Ro --simple ain't it?
Live Ro For Evil --this is a palindrome (if you spell it backwards, it still turns out the same)
A Clever, Clever Girl --if I do say so myself.
The Complete Works of Roanna Joyce --Haha, I wish. It would be a collection of drawings, not writings.
9. If you could pick a book you’ve read to make into a movie, which one would you choose?
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I think the rights to this have already been bought but it's not yet in production. It's a great story about magic as a profession, striking deals with faeries and the mystery and fulfillment of prophecies.
But remember: The page is still better than the screen.
10. What was your favorite book as a child and why?
My favorite book as a child is "Please Try to Remember, the First of Octember" by Dr. Seuss.
I was six years old when we were taught how to use a library card and I was eager to use it. The first books I borrowed from was a series called The Skittles(?) and Dr. Seuss. I read a lot of them but this one was my favorite. I liked the world Octember a lot.
I was looking for this in bookstores but I couldn't find a copy. My sister had her friend in the US buy one and she gave it to me for Christmas.
I wish I could say it was the Bible but that would be a lie. Anyway, I think the books that changed my life are kids' encyclopedias. I don't think they changed me though so much as influenced me. I must have browsed those books hundreds of times growing up.
First is the Childcraft series. This is the exact same set we have at home:
(Photo from www.wired.com/geekdad. Read the entire article here.)
I owe a lot to those books. Battles will be fought over who gets to keep them.
We also had Charlie Brown's 'Cyclopedia.
These were why I loved the Peanuts gang. I'd fight for those, too.
Because of these books, I learned about sequoia trees before anyone else in my class, I knew what macrame was and I knew that I shared a birthday with Eli Whitney. I know why we call them "lower case" or "upper case" letters. I can solve toothpick/matchstick puzzles in a snap. I have read a heckload of stories around the world and I have a decent trivia bank in my head. I also get the reference Sheldon made in The Big Bang Theory to Flatland.
2. Do you prefer to read fiction or nonfiction? Explain your choice.
Fiction, of course. The imagination of the human mind amazes me and I get more of that from fiction. Nonfiction is educational, yes, but it does not provide the escape that fiction can.
3. If you could be a character in any novel you’ve ever read, who would you be and why?
I want to be the girl version of Edmund Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia. Yes, he made a big mistake when he put is faith in Jadis, but he repented and became one of Narnia's greatest leaders. I prefer him to Peter because he overcame an ordeal and that is very, very important.
I tried to avoid the Harry Potter universe but I have to say, I'd also like to be Luna Lovegood. She's weird but she's clever. Yes, she believes in a lot of nonsensical stuff but she's kind, honest and she knows exactly who she is and what she should do. And she's in Ravenclaw so she's definitely intelligent.
I was struggling with this question when I a realized that there are two ways to answer it. The first way is above: which existing character would you like to be. The second way is: if you could be an original character in any novel who would you be and why? My answer to that is still about Narnia. My character would be a member of the royal court in the Golden Age of Narnia when Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy ruled. I would be an adviser who was asked to join one of their expeditions. Of course, my character gets to meet Aslan.
4. Has reading a book ever made you cry? Which one and why?
The Book Thief made me cry.
Specifically when Rudy died.
I bunch of other stories made me tear up, both for joy and sorrow. I can't recall titles though.
5. How many books do you read each year?
I don't keep track. Not a lot in the past few years. Shall we aim for one each month?
6. Have you ever written (or started to write) a book?
Yes, I've tried. I have some plots in mind but it's really hard to start or to get to a scene that I already have in my head. Establishing a foundation is difficult and I realized that I really haven't planned out my character.
I have a bit written for practice. Some of them are here.
7. Name one book you had to read but hated, and explain why you hated it.
Twilight. I wanted to know what the hype was all about so I borrowed a copy.
Why did I hate it? Wow. How much time do you have?
First of all, Bella Swan is an idiot. She is devoid of personality, she revels in her misery and she's a klutz. It's not adorable, it's annoying. She makes bad decisions. She's a bad example for young girls because I think she's stupid in love. I don't see how she fell in love but once there, she lost whatever little sense of self she has. I think she just got excited with the attention and she became obessessive about it. She's selfish and her world is too small. Population: 1. And the sole citizen isn't even her, it's Edward Cullen.
Second, Edward Cullen is not a vampire. My sister told me something before: he is immortal, he's good looking and he sparkles --he's a fairy. What does he see in Bella? And what does Bella see in him that's not physical? Really, I was in the middle of the book and I still couldn't see why they were so in love. He said that he shouldn't be with her but he's such a wuss that he couldn't muster enough willpower to stay away. Right, he skipped town. But he came back. Because she's "his brand of heroin". Tweens around the world putting that in their statuses, in their blogs, or sticking it in their lockers. How cute. Heroin kills.
Lastly, I quote Stephen King: "Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people… The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good." Some people said he was bitter because he seems to be losing popularity these days. Still, he is one of the most successful novelists of our time and he knows what he's talking about. For goodness' sake, how can you even compare Rowling and Meyer?
Meyer is easy to understand and yes, she was able to come up with good lines, but on the whole, I think the writing wasn't clever at all. It was excruciatingly filled with every little thing Bella did. (There was this one scene when Edward was in her bedroom, I think, then she told him to sit tight so that she could brush her teeth and floss or whatever and change into a decent pair of sweats. Then she went back so that they can ogle at each other.) It's so narcissistic. She had page after page describing Edward's looks, Edward's voice, Edward's ability to read minds but not Bella's. I think she never tackled why Bella was immune to vampire powers. She wrote this book like a fanfic writer with a thesaurus. And she managed to publish four volumes? And they call it a 'saga'??
I can see why it has a market though. It's a love story and the while the concept is not original, it's interesting. She's mortal, he lives forever. She's human, he's supposed to be a vampire. But I think she failed in the execution. These books should be used for kindling.
Click here for an earlier review I posted for Twilight.
8. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would they title it?
How about:
Absolutely Maddening --an obvious choice
The Story of Ro --simple ain't it?
Live Ro For Evil --this is a palindrome (if you spell it backwards, it still turns out the same)
A Clever, Clever Girl --if I do say so myself.
The Complete Works of Roanna Joyce --Haha, I wish. It would be a collection of drawings, not writings.
9. If you could pick a book you’ve read to make into a movie, which one would you choose?
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I think the rights to this have already been bought but it's not yet in production. It's a great story about magic as a profession, striking deals with faeries and the mystery and fulfillment of prophecies.
But remember: The page is still better than the screen.
10. What was your favorite book as a child and why?
My favorite book as a child is "Please Try to Remember, the First of Octember" by Dr. Seuss.
I was six years old when we were taught how to use a library card and I was eager to use it. The first books I borrowed from was a series called The Skittles(?) and Dr. Seuss. I read a lot of them but this one was my favorite. I liked the world Octember a lot.
I was looking for this in bookstores but I couldn't find a copy. My sister had her friend in the US buy one and she gave it to me for Christmas.