55 Quirky Questions for Readers: Part 1
via booklover
This questionnaire was started by Literary Lollipop. She said readers should feel free to cut and paste in their own blogs and a few of my favorite bloggers (Carin at A Little Bookish, Rikki at The Bookkeeper, and Reese at Bibliphile Girl) have answered them, prompting my desire to do it too. I am breaking it down into three to make them a bit more bite sized. Starting today, they will be posted on three consecutive Sundays. I hope I don’t bore you too much!
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Questions 1-18:
1. Favourite childhood book:
Well, Literary Lollipop did say we could change the questions if we needed, so I changed it to plural (how can you choose one favorite?!? ). My faves growing up were: The Maggie B by Irene Haas , The Country Bunny by Du Bose Heyward (this is actually a family tradition… my grandpa read this to my mom and her sisters and she read it to me and my siblings), The Babysitter’s Club series by Ann M. Martin, and Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards (yes… that Julie Andrews — it’s fantastic, believe me).
2. What are you reading right now?
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None, my library is actually very well stocked, so I don’t need to put much on hold. Usually if something is checked out, I just go with a different book on my list and wait for the other one to be returned.
4. Bad book habit:
Buying more than I read. I don’t read all my books before I buy (borrow) more.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Are you ready? You sure? Okay. Before you endeavor on my list o’ library note this; the children’s titles are for bedtime (I’ve figured out that children’s books are just the right amount of simple to help me fall asleep when I am having trouble), and yes I am having a Helene Hanff obsession right now. Lastly, why do I have so many? Because the library still fascinates me even after being on this earth for 30 years. It’s like a free bookstore… you can take as many books, as often as you want, for FREE! How can you choose just one?
Love, From Your Friend, Hannah by Mindy Warshaw Skolsky, The Library and The Money Tree by Sarah Stewart, Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian, Letter from New York, Q’s Legacy, Apple of My Eye, and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff, The Book of Love by Kathleen McGowan, The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, Mistress of Modernism: The Life of Peggy Guggenheim by Mary V. Dearborn
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Yes, I have a Kindle. I have the first generation (at that time it was between it and the Sony, and the Kindle seemed to have more options)… it has been very useful, especially when traveling!
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
My reading style has changed a bit since I’ve started blogging. I used to have to have several books on the burner at the same time (otherwise I’d get bored). Now I usually only have one or two, or else it takes me too long to get through them and there would be no reviews on here. I’m not the fastest reader to begin with (I read a lot, but not speedily).
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Yes, in addition to what I noted in the last question, I have also expanded my genres. I have now tried Fantasy, a little SciFi, Romance, one Graphic Novel, and Young Adult all which I didn’t really read before the blog (well, I read YA as a young adult, but not much since).
9. Least favourite book you read this year:
This is a tie for me, so I must name them all: Marry Him by Lori Gottlieb, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley
10. Favourite book I’ve read this year:
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
More so now that I am blogging. But it’s still hard for me to get into books that are recommended to me out of my comfort zone (although I have pretty much ended up loving most of them).
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
literary fiction, historical fiction, chick-lit
13. Can you read on the bus?
not usually because it’s loud and I don’t do well reading in loud places
14. Favourite place to read:
my couch downstairs, or my big leather reading chair upstairs in my bedroom. Both wrapped up in blankets – possibly with tea, no distractions, and my cat curled up in my lap to keep me warm.
15. What’s your policy on book lending?
I’m a big lender (and swapper)… and borrower.
16. Do you dogear your books?
No. I don’t actually like it when books are dogearred, and it really bothers me when people do it to library books.
17. Do you write notes in the margins of your books?
Nope, I use small sticky notes to mark important passages and write notes on those instead of in the book.
18. Do you break/crack the spine of your books?
Absolutely! For sure! Completely! This is not only to show that the book has been read (because, really, if you have perfect spined books it looks like you just bought a bunch of new books to line your shelves), or loved a lot (repeatedly cracked spines mean the book has been read numerous times which tells a story of its own), but mostly because I ENJOY reading and I don’t want to have to take the energy to only slightly open the book as I’m reading lest I crack the spine. I like to pull the covers apart from each other and fold the covers back as I read. I adore the feeling of starting with the front cover turned back, and then -as I get further into the book – the moment where I start turning the back cover back let’s me know that I am getting closer to the end… it’s my barometer of where I am in my reading.
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Okay, I hope you’re still with me and not snoring on your keypad. The next 18 questions and answers next Sunday!
I bought Wolf Hall for my husband some time ago. He also said it was absolutely brilliant. He had read it in no time (he also is a history buff).
I read Outlander years ago. Aww, so nice. But the series went downhill after book 2 or so.
You couldn’t have said it better about the spines. Exactly. If the books on the shelves look like unread I automatically assume they ARE unread and only put up there for reputation, lol.
Rikki
Wolf Hall is great if you love Tudor England history. It is definitely a difficult book to get through, but worth it.
You know, the reason I think that about perfect books on the shelf is because I actually know people who do that. No joke — they use it for decorating. I mean, good choice in decor — but I don’t want to be mistaken as a faux book lady.
OK…before I comment on your actual answers, *GASP*! I do not put pretty books on the shelves just for pretty. That would be stupid! I already know that on this page I’ll be outnumbered, but I know I’ve won on my blog (see the poll…mwahahahaha) so I’ll just say it. Pretty books can be read AND kept pretty looking! I will say that my books have minor wear, but books that I love I will repurchase if I crack the spine (We own several copies of Dragonsong–that’s my Jerry/Conspiracy Theory book. When I see the cover that I like I usually buy it, and I have read the book several times–and Ender’s Game).
OK…on to your answers!
#2 – *squealing* George R.R. Martin!!!!! Oh Ned…I love him. Will look in your GR group to see if you’ve posted anymore on the book.
#8 – Highly recommend Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons if you are wanting to read a little more sci-fi. It’s fantastic..plain and simple. Some of the best books I’ve ever read. Also, if I can turn you into a major fantasy fan (and you’ve sort of surrounded yourself in the bloggy sphere with them to a certain extent), I will do cartwheels.
#10 – We’ve talked about this, but wow!..the weapon at the end! LOL! That will forever be burned into my memory.
No, we know you read your books (and could answer about any of them if someone asked!)… you’re okay in my book (pun intended)
Thanks for the extra recs! You know I love hearing about new-to-me books!
#10– yes, disgusting! So glad you had read Beat the Reaper already so I had someone to talk to about it as I was reading it. Such a good book, but serious stomach rumbling parts.
Carin, don’t worry, we know that you do read a book occasionally…:) *duck and run*
LOL…occasionally! Well done, Rikki! i don’t even have a good comeback.
This meme is interesting. I’ve thought about doing it but I think it’s too freaking long. I like how you’ve broken it into bite-sized pieces. It’s nice to get to know bloggers this way.
Thanks! Yes, I had to break it down or I’d have been working on it for hours and hours! Haha! Some people are cutting it down even more, that might work for you.
I loooved Beat the Reaper. I can’t wait for his next book to come out! I wanted to read everything he’d ever written when I finished it, and then I realized…I had. Anxious for his next book. (Also, did you hear it’s being made into a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio? Kind of awesome.)
I did. In fact (a little name dropping is about to ensue, but it is for the purpose of fun) the friend who recommended it to me read it because her fiance works for LD and had to read it back when they were optioning it (and he rec’d it to her). Kind of fun, huh?
Oooh!!! That’s awesome (as is the name dropping
)! I’m erally looking forward to the movie; Leo’s been making a lot of amazing films lately.
He sure has a lot in the queue doesn’t he? … it will be interesting to see how this one turns out!
What great answers! Thanks so much for participating!
The Hunger Games is fabulous, isn’t it? I’m really looking forward to the third *and last* installment.
Looking forward to your review of ‘the vanishing act’ – I love that book!
Lyndsey
I am going to have to check out Mandy for my daughter. I looked it up and it sounds like something she’d love. When I was a kid, ages and ages ago (LOL), Nancy Drew was my love. The public library I visited had reading “caves” in the children’s section. I’d find me a cave and read the day away.
I am still juggling 4-5 books at a time but as you said, I don’t think it makes the reading go any faster but for some reason I still do it. Like the other books would be upset if I just left them on the shelf.
Sarah- yes, it was easier for me to break it down into bite sized pieces… it’s fun, you should give it a try!
Lydia — thanks for creating it and letting us put it on our blogs.
Lyndsey – the review will be up on Friday… I wrote it directly after reading so I could get all of my thoughts down. Wow, every woman should read that book and be thankful that times have changed (for most of us).
Ti – I haven’t read any of the Nancy Drew books, believe it or not. But I did see the recent movie version with Emma Roberts and I thought that was cute! I finally read a few Little House books this year, and still need to read Anne of Green Gables. I will put Nancy on my list as well. Any that you recommend the most?
OK, I just added Beat The Reaper to my TBR pile (as if it wasn’t long enough!)
I have it if you want to borrow it. Just let me know. I can meet you somewhere (haha…if this is the Zoe I am thinking of). It’s a super quick read. You could read it in a day or two.
I really think you will love it Zoe. Carin read it before me and we talked about it as I was finishing. Read it soon… then we can all chat.
This is crazy – my favorite childhood book is also Mandy!! I have never found anyone else who has also read it. And here you are! Seriously people, it’s a great book.
I know, right? So many people have never heard of it! I don’t know how it went so unnoticed, because it is basically a little girl’s dream book! So glad to have another kindred reader.