reading meme
ooookay... let's get started.
1. Favorite childhood book?
there were several fairy tale books. i also loved J.M. Barry's "Peter Pan". still do.
2. What are you reading right now?
well... "Paperweight" by Stephen Fry, "Lolita" by Nabokov, poems by Robert Burns, "A Clockwork Orange" by Burgess and some others i have put aside for a while,.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
text-books mostly.
4. Bad book habit?
none, i guess.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
a set of text-books for my uni course.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
yep. PocketBook 360
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
one at a time. but more often i end up reading 3-5 at once.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
i don't normally write reviews so no, they have not.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
ohhh... this is a hard one. it's been a long year. i'd say it was "Orlando Furioso" by Ariosto. i also disliked "Five Weeks in a Balloon" by Jules Verne.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
please don't make me choose... well then, let's say it's "Much Ado About Nothing" and just move on to the next question.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
never, if i can help it. sometimes i can't.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
pretty much anything that doesn't bore me to death
13. Can you read on the bus?
yes
14. Favorite place to read?
i'd say bed. although it really depends on the reading material. sometimes i just don't care.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
i want them back. undamaged. and NO FOLDED PAGES PLEASE!
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
no!
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
very rarely. when the book's in English, for example.
18. Not even with text books?
well, that's an entirely different story xD
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
depends on my mood. i love Russian passionately but i immensely enjoy reading British and American literature in original. oh yeah, i read LOTS of fic, nearly all of it in English <3
20. What makes you love a book?
it could be anything. writing style, captivating plot, believable characters, language and vocabulary used, etc...
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
if it makes me feel happy or see the life from a new angle or if it is so deep it leaves me speechless - i will recommend it. there can be other reasons too, i just can't think of any right now.
22. Favorite genre?
..drama? too obvious. actually it's difficult to decide. i don't think it's quite fair to make anyone choose their one favourite genre.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
sci-fi, adventures, horror. (not sure if i wish i did though)
Favorite biography?
The Beatles Authorized Biography by Hunter Davis
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
not sure
26. Favorite cookbook?
not interested in them
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
can't think of any. let it be Stephen Fry's Autobiography. (what di they mean by inspirational anyway?)
28. Favorite reading snack?
tea. apples. actually i don't like having snacks while reading, it's too distracting
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
i expected much more from "Lolita" and a bit more from "Master and Margarita". everyone around is just so excited about them that you inevitably expect your world to turn upside-down after reading them. also, i'd hoped Richard Bach would've been more impressive as well.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
i don't really know. sometimes i agree, sometimes i don't. and sometimes the critics surprise me :)
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
fine. if i don't like a book and have good reasons for it i will give these reasons so that people can decide if they really want to read the book or not.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
i'd love to read in French.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
oh i don't know. probably "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Friedrich Nietzsche. it's huge and... philosophical? terrifying xD
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
none
35. Favorite Poet?
French - Rimbaud, Russian - Tyutchev, American - Witman, British - not sure...
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
i don't even use the library!
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
seriously, stop this already.
38. Favorite fictional character?
oh nonononono, i'm not even going to start thinking about them all. for now (!) it's Benedick from "Much Ado About Nothing"
39. Favorite fictional villain?
that would be Severus Snape. if we actually could call him a villain.
it's all very controversial and my favourite characters are not usually heroes or villains, they all have quite complex personalities.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
there's no specific kind. anything i'm in the mood for!
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
my memory is really something else. i honestly can't remember. maybe a week.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
i tend to finish a book if i start one, even if it's torture. but not long ago i dropped "the 120 Days of Sodom" by Marquis de Sade. BOOOORING!
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
people talking cause i can't help listening and processing. maybe wind turning the pages. i'm good at blocking things out actually... but if i try to eat and read at the same time i just go terribly slowly and give up in a couple of minutes.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version of 1995). it's a masterpiece, i tell you.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
The Shining. honestly, that was a disaster. loved the book, hated the movie.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
not sure. about 2000 rub, i guess.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
i don't have such a habit. although i've done so a couple of times.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
unbearable boredom and horrible writing.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
sure. i divide them into piles according to their status/author/language/whatever.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
keep!!
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
i don't think so.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
nothing comes to mind... although... i hated the last Harry Potter book which, not a masterpiece in itself, mind you, was translated by some mentally ill illiterate morons. yes, i guess it got me furious.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
"Woe from Wit" by Aleksandr Griboyedov, "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
there're many. "A Midsummer Night`s Dream", "An American Tragedy", Casanova's "The Story of My Life", Agatha Christie's stories, Jack London's stories, "Dracula", etc. some of them are not so bad but disappointing nonetheless.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
used to love Harry Potter. guilt-free? what should i feel guilty for? i love slash fanfiction, what of it?
1. Favorite childhood book?
there were several fairy tale books. i also loved J.M. Barry's "Peter Pan". still do.
2. What are you reading right now?
well... "Paperweight" by Stephen Fry, "Lolita" by Nabokov, poems by Robert Burns, "A Clockwork Orange" by Burgess and some others i have put aside for a while,.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
text-books mostly.
4. Bad book habit?
none, i guess.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
a set of text-books for my uni course.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
yep. PocketBook 360
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
one at a time. but more often i end up reading 3-5 at once.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
i don't normally write reviews so no, they have not.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
ohhh... this is a hard one. it's been a long year. i'd say it was "Orlando Furioso" by Ariosto. i also disliked "Five Weeks in a Balloon" by Jules Verne.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
please don't make me choose... well then, let's say it's "Much Ado About Nothing" and just move on to the next question.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
never, if i can help it. sometimes i can't.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
pretty much anything that doesn't bore me to death
13. Can you read on the bus?
yes
14. Favorite place to read?
i'd say bed. although it really depends on the reading material. sometimes i just don't care.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
i want them back. undamaged. and NO FOLDED PAGES PLEASE!
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
no!
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
very rarely. when the book's in English, for example.
18. Not even with text books?
well, that's an entirely different story xD
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
depends on my mood. i love Russian passionately but i immensely enjoy reading British and American literature in original. oh yeah, i read LOTS of fic, nearly all of it in English <3
20. What makes you love a book?
it could be anything. writing style, captivating plot, believable characters, language and vocabulary used, etc...
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
if it makes me feel happy or see the life from a new angle or if it is so deep it leaves me speechless - i will recommend it. there can be other reasons too, i just can't think of any right now.
22. Favorite genre?
..drama? too obvious. actually it's difficult to decide. i don't think it's quite fair to make anyone choose their one favourite genre.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
sci-fi, adventures, horror. (not sure if i wish i did though)
Favorite biography?
The Beatles Authorized Biography by Hunter Davis
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
not sure
26. Favorite cookbook?
not interested in them
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
can't think of any. let it be Stephen Fry's Autobiography. (what di they mean by inspirational anyway?)
28. Favorite reading snack?
tea. apples. actually i don't like having snacks while reading, it's too distracting
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
i expected much more from "Lolita" and a bit more from "Master and Margarita". everyone around is just so excited about them that you inevitably expect your world to turn upside-down after reading them. also, i'd hoped Richard Bach would've been more impressive as well.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
i don't really know. sometimes i agree, sometimes i don't. and sometimes the critics surprise me :)
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
fine. if i don't like a book and have good reasons for it i will give these reasons so that people can decide if they really want to read the book or not.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
i'd love to read in French.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
oh i don't know. probably "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Friedrich Nietzsche. it's huge and... philosophical? terrifying xD
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
none
35. Favorite Poet?
French - Rimbaud, Russian - Tyutchev, American - Witman, British - not sure...
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
i don't even use the library!
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
seriously, stop this already.
38. Favorite fictional character?
oh nonononono, i'm not even going to start thinking about them all. for now (!) it's Benedick from "Much Ado About Nothing"
39. Favorite fictional villain?
that would be Severus Snape. if we actually could call him a villain.
it's all very controversial and my favourite characters are not usually heroes or villains, they all have quite complex personalities.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
there's no specific kind. anything i'm in the mood for!
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
my memory is really something else. i honestly can't remember. maybe a week.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
i tend to finish a book if i start one, even if it's torture. but not long ago i dropped "the 120 Days of Sodom" by Marquis de Sade. BOOOORING!
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
people talking cause i can't help listening and processing. maybe wind turning the pages. i'm good at blocking things out actually... but if i try to eat and read at the same time i just go terribly slowly and give up in a couple of minutes.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version of 1995). it's a masterpiece, i tell you.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
The Shining. honestly, that was a disaster. loved the book, hated the movie.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
not sure. about 2000 rub, i guess.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
i don't have such a habit. although i've done so a couple of times.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
unbearable boredom and horrible writing.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
sure. i divide them into piles according to their status/author/language/whatever.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
keep!!
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
i don't think so.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
nothing comes to mind... although... i hated the last Harry Potter book which, not a masterpiece in itself, mind you, was translated by some mentally ill illiterate morons. yes, i guess it got me furious.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
"Woe from Wit" by Aleksandr Griboyedov, "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
there're many. "A Midsummer Night`s Dream", "An American Tragedy", Casanova's "The Story of My Life", Agatha Christie's stories, Jack London's stories, "Dracula", etc. some of them are not so bad but disappointing nonetheless.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
used to love Harry Potter. guilt-free? what should i feel guilty for? i love slash fanfiction, what of it?