Yay! A Book Meme!
I had to do it - I dare anyone to resist the temptation.
Book Meme snagged from denorios
First off I had to add another question - I just can't help it...
Bonus Question - Favourite fairytale?
Bluebeard by far. I was completely spellbound by this story when I was eight years old and I still love it. It's creepy, gruesome and yet still has somewhat of a happy ending - kinda. Totally awesome.
1. Favorite childhood book?
The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles by Julie Andrews and Voyage of the Dawntreader (Narnia series) - shame about the movie, I was totally looking forward to it but they had to go and turn it all into a "Mission". Yawn Hollywood, yawn. Ooh I nearly forgot - Fantastic Mr Fox love, love, love that book. I refuse to watch the movie because Mr Fox DOES NOT have an american accent. And wait, one more Six Little New Zealanders by Esther Glen, lovely, lovely story.
2. What are you reading right now?
Kind of in between books. Just finished The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry and thinking about getting into Lady Chatterly's Lover
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. They charge you to reserve books at my local library and I am such a Scrooge McDuck
4. Bad book habit?
Stacking them up in massive piles on my bedside cabinet until they all crash in a heap. Other than that they are really my precious...es(?)
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Oh God a book about raising chickens - don't ask, IDEK myself
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Nope. I am considering one though which seems like such a traitorous thing to do - I love holding and smelling books and the feel of turning the pages and the satisfying thud of closing a book when you finish it - that is one of my particular brands of crack.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
One at a time usually, but often I break this rule and have up to four on the go - especially if the books aren't that interesting/good.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Possibly I read a little less - although I just can't seem to find a lot of good reading at the moment so it may just be coincidence.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
(I'm basing this on 2010 also)
Angelology by Kate Mosse - the cover and the blurb made this book sound great. It isn't. It totally sucks ass.
10. Favorite book you've read this year?
(2010 included)
The Painted Man and The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett. They are pretty good reads but I have to say my reading over the last year had been pretty light on the awesome.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I have a pretty broad range of likes - although I have discovered that I don't particularly like historical fiction. Manipulating history to fit a ridiculous fictional (and usually soppy romantic) story just annoys me.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
My reading comfort zone would be in the style of writing rather than the topic or genre - conversational but clever and 'just say no' to cliches.
13. Can you read on the bus?
Nope, reading in a moving vehicle makes me sick.
14. Favorite place to read?
In bed at night, with my lamp on. Perfect.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I hate it, they always come back scragged in some way and it really upsets me. Now I only really lend to my sister - and they still come back mildy wrecked. Freaks me out but eh, what do you do?
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Hells no. I just use anything and everything as a bookmark from a cough lozenge wrapper to a till receipt.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Again no, that seems like such a pretentious thing to do.
18. Not even with text books?
Nope.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English because that is all I know.
20. What makes you love a book?
Wonderful use of language and well thought out clever stories that flow off the page. When its good I can read till the wee small hours and not give a shit about how crappy and tired I feel the next day - I just want the day to end so I can get back to the characters and see what they're up to.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
I tend to not recommend books simply because I'm acutely aware of everyone having very different tastes - also I know very few people that read, tragically.
22. Favorite genre?
Fantasy, alternate world stuff/apocalypsey (although not really sci-fi) English literature. A bit of action.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
I wish I read more poetry. I blame my mother that I don't because she wrote (and still writes) poetry and would read it aloud to me in the fake poetry voice that drives me INSANE. Unfortunately it makes me view poetry with a fair bit of cynicism and yet I know it has the ability to be incredibly moving. I need to get over it.
24. Favorite biography?
Wild Swans by Jung Chang. Amazing story.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Not unless you consider books by the Dalai Llama to be self-help. (which I refuse to *chuckles*)
26. Favorite cookbook?
Anything by Jamie Oliver. He is a god in the kitchen.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
No books have really inspired me for quite some time - which is a little sad when I think about it.
28. Favorite reading snack?
I don't like to eat and read - gets in the way of the pageturning.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Can't say it has ever really happened to me. I tend to ignore hype because it always represents an extreme view of either 'Love it!' or 'Loathe it!' Books rarely fall into either of those categories I've discovered.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don't really read reviews.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
It's very rare I will say something bad about a book. Usually I just go with the "Well it wasn't really my kind of thing" response. It's gotta be written pretty badly for me to say a book was crap.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Latin. That would be fab. I would feel like such a brain.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Funnily enough the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I started trying to read it when I was eight and tried numerous times over the years - but I just couldn't get into the style of writing. It's not particularly accessible to the reader in my opinion. Finally managed to wade my way through them after the first film came out.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
There isn't really anything I'm too nervous to read - more correctly I am too lazy to start reading some of the giants of literature.
35. Favorite Poet?
I do love some T.S. Eliot. William Blake also. I tend to like bleak poets. But then I suppose most of the are.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Probably about five - but generally I just check out non-fiction and tend to buy the fiction that I read.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Maybe twenty percent of the time.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Roland the Gunslinger from The Dark Tower series. And Thargor from the Otherworld series.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Probably Snape - he is fantastic although not particularly villainous.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
I don't really take books when I go on holiday. I like the ritual of reading in my bed at night. I don't really absorb what I read when I'm away from home.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Maybe a couple of days - I'm always reading something even if its just magazines - but I do read the whole thing.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
The Time Travellers Wife. Yawn.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
If its a good book nothing can distract me. If its less than good a breeze will catch my attention if its stiff enough.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Lord of the Rings movies were spectacular - they gave such an authenticity to the stories that I didn't feel from the books. Sorry you can shoot me if you like.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Voyage of the Dawntreader. Disappointed me incredibly.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Roughly $150.00.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I don't. Its starts at page one or it doesn't start at all.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Total crapness generally - but sappy and cliched will do it just as well. I try to force myself to finish everything I start otherwise it seems like such a waste of the time invested. But sometimes...
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
I like to keep authors together in my bookshelves but generally they are just lumped together according to size.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep those that I like or love, and give away those that are just meh to charity.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Since the Twilight series I have been avoiding vampire books like the plague - which is a shame because there are probably some excellent new ones. Probably.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Usually I'm angered when I read biographies about women. More often than not they have been treated despicably by men - sexism makes me furious.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Persuasion by Jane Austen. Surprised me I think because it wasn't exactly a cheery book. I quite like gloomy.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
The Strain by Guillermo del Toro.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Dean/Cas fanfic - my current obssession. Too much fun.
Book Meme snagged from denorios
First off I had to add another question - I just can't help it...
Bonus Question - Favourite fairytale?
Bluebeard by far. I was completely spellbound by this story when I was eight years old and I still love it. It's creepy, gruesome and yet still has somewhat of a happy ending - kinda. Totally awesome.
1. Favorite childhood book?
The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles by Julie Andrews and Voyage of the Dawntreader (Narnia series) - shame about the movie, I was totally looking forward to it but they had to go and turn it all into a "Mission". Yawn Hollywood, yawn. Ooh I nearly forgot - Fantastic Mr Fox love, love, love that book. I refuse to watch the movie because Mr Fox DOES NOT have an american accent. And wait, one more Six Little New Zealanders by Esther Glen, lovely, lovely story.
2. What are you reading right now?
Kind of in between books. Just finished The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry and thinking about getting into Lady Chatterly's Lover
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. They charge you to reserve books at my local library and I am such a Scrooge McDuck
4. Bad book habit?
Stacking them up in massive piles on my bedside cabinet until they all crash in a heap. Other than that they are really my precious...es(?)
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Oh God a book about raising chickens - don't ask, IDEK myself
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Nope. I am considering one though which seems like such a traitorous thing to do - I love holding and smelling books and the feel of turning the pages and the satisfying thud of closing a book when you finish it - that is one of my particular brands of crack.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
One at a time usually, but often I break this rule and have up to four on the go - especially if the books aren't that interesting/good.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Possibly I read a little less - although I just can't seem to find a lot of good reading at the moment so it may just be coincidence.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
(I'm basing this on 2010 also)
Angelology by Kate Mosse - the cover and the blurb made this book sound great. It isn't. It totally sucks ass.
10. Favorite book you've read this year?
(2010 included)
The Painted Man and The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett. They are pretty good reads but I have to say my reading over the last year had been pretty light on the awesome.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I have a pretty broad range of likes - although I have discovered that I don't particularly like historical fiction. Manipulating history to fit a ridiculous fictional (and usually soppy romantic) story just annoys me.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
My reading comfort zone would be in the style of writing rather than the topic or genre - conversational but clever and 'just say no' to cliches.
13. Can you read on the bus?
Nope, reading in a moving vehicle makes me sick.
14. Favorite place to read?
In bed at night, with my lamp on. Perfect.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I hate it, they always come back scragged in some way and it really upsets me. Now I only really lend to my sister - and they still come back mildy wrecked. Freaks me out but eh, what do you do?
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Hells no. I just use anything and everything as a bookmark from a cough lozenge wrapper to a till receipt.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Again no, that seems like such a pretentious thing to do.
18. Not even with text books?
Nope.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English because that is all I know.
20. What makes you love a book?
Wonderful use of language and well thought out clever stories that flow off the page. When its good I can read till the wee small hours and not give a shit about how crappy and tired I feel the next day - I just want the day to end so I can get back to the characters and see what they're up to.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
I tend to not recommend books simply because I'm acutely aware of everyone having very different tastes - also I know very few people that read, tragically.
22. Favorite genre?
Fantasy, alternate world stuff/apocalypsey (although not really sci-fi) English literature. A bit of action.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
I wish I read more poetry. I blame my mother that I don't because she wrote (and still writes) poetry and would read it aloud to me in the fake poetry voice that drives me INSANE. Unfortunately it makes me view poetry with a fair bit of cynicism and yet I know it has the ability to be incredibly moving. I need to get over it.
24. Favorite biography?
Wild Swans by Jung Chang. Amazing story.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Not unless you consider books by the Dalai Llama to be self-help. (which I refuse to *chuckles*)
26. Favorite cookbook?
Anything by Jamie Oliver. He is a god in the kitchen.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
No books have really inspired me for quite some time - which is a little sad when I think about it.
28. Favorite reading snack?
I don't like to eat and read - gets in the way of the pageturning.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Can't say it has ever really happened to me. I tend to ignore hype because it always represents an extreme view of either 'Love it!' or 'Loathe it!' Books rarely fall into either of those categories I've discovered.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don't really read reviews.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
It's very rare I will say something bad about a book. Usually I just go with the "Well it wasn't really my kind of thing" response. It's gotta be written pretty badly for me to say a book was crap.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Latin. That would be fab. I would feel like such a brain.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Funnily enough the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I started trying to read it when I was eight and tried numerous times over the years - but I just couldn't get into the style of writing. It's not particularly accessible to the reader in my opinion. Finally managed to wade my way through them after the first film came out.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
There isn't really anything I'm too nervous to read - more correctly I am too lazy to start reading some of the giants of literature.
35. Favorite Poet?
I do love some T.S. Eliot. William Blake also. I tend to like bleak poets. But then I suppose most of the are.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Probably about five - but generally I just check out non-fiction and tend to buy the fiction that I read.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Maybe twenty percent of the time.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Roland the Gunslinger from The Dark Tower series. And Thargor from the Otherworld series.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Probably Snape - he is fantastic although not particularly villainous.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
I don't really take books when I go on holiday. I like the ritual of reading in my bed at night. I don't really absorb what I read when I'm away from home.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Maybe a couple of days - I'm always reading something even if its just magazines - but I do read the whole thing.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
The Time Travellers Wife. Yawn.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
If its a good book nothing can distract me. If its less than good a breeze will catch my attention if its stiff enough.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Lord of the Rings movies were spectacular - they gave such an authenticity to the stories that I didn't feel from the books. Sorry you can shoot me if you like.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Voyage of the Dawntreader. Disappointed me incredibly.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Roughly $150.00.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I don't. Its starts at page one or it doesn't start at all.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Total crapness generally - but sappy and cliched will do it just as well. I try to force myself to finish everything I start otherwise it seems like such a waste of the time invested. But sometimes...
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
I like to keep authors together in my bookshelves but generally they are just lumped together according to size.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep those that I like or love, and give away those that are just meh to charity.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Since the Twilight series I have been avoiding vampire books like the plague - which is a shame because there are probably some excellent new ones. Probably.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Usually I'm angered when I read biographies about women. More often than not they have been treated despicably by men - sexism makes me furious.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Persuasion by Jane Austen. Surprised me I think because it wasn't exactly a cheery book. I quite like gloomy.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
The Strain by Guillermo del Toro.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Dean/Cas fanfic - my current obssession. Too much fun.