55 Quirky Questions for Readers: Part 2
via Booklover
Last Sunday I started a three part series answering the questions that Lydia at Literary Lollipop posed to readers. I split these questions into three parts as to not overwhelm you (or me). Welcome to Part 2! The last installment (Part 3) will be posted next Sunday.
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19. What is your favourite language to read?
English… as that is the only language that I’m fluent in. I can read Spanish (poorly) and sometimes like to practice by reading magazines that are in Spanish, but wouldn’t tackle a book in a foreign language.
20. What makes you love a book?
Plot, I am a first and foremost a plot reader. If a book has a great plot, I am not so worried about how tight the writing is, or how sketched out the characters are. If the author is going to skimp on plot, then the characters are second most important to me. They must be interesting enough to keep me wanting to know more about them even if the plot is slow and dusty.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
Two things:
- The plot is important and/or unique
- It is so engaging and entertaining that I have a hard time putting it down
22. Favourite genre:
Literary Fiction
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did):
Fantasy or Science Fiction
24. Favourite Biography:
I am searching my brain for a biography that was unputdownable for me. I’m not sure I’ve read one yet, but I have a few in the queue that I hope to be pretty great. I have several memoirs that I love, though.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Yes, lots of them. I used to really love this genre (and still do on occasion though it has gotten swamped in the past few years with a lot of not so great books by people who have no expertise in what they are writing about).
26. Favourite Cookbook:
Mother’s Best: Comfort Food That Takes You Home Again by Lisa Schroeder
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction):
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert (non-fiction)
28. Favourite reading snack:
tea and toast with butter and jam
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I heard that this book was beyond incredible and I found it fairly boring. It might have been a better experience if I hadn’t gone into it thinking it was the Holy Grail of books. But then again, maybe not… you never know.
30. How often do you agree with the critics about about a book?
Not often… ask me about book bloggers though. I often get my ideas about reading from other bloggers or from friends on GoodReads after seeing their reviews and ratings.
I think what can often happen with paid critics is they review with a general thought in the back of their mind: that they thought of the book will be used to judge them and future jobs might be contingent upon which side they take about each piece of work. Therefore I get the feeling that they end up reviewing books in the same way fashion magazines report fashion news (which is more appropriate in the fashion world than in the literary world); instead of saying what they actually think, they are trying to predict what the publishing world will be saying about the book (and then write it as a form of opinion).
It’s my opinion that the above is a huge reason that book blogs are becoming so widely read (people trust the opinions of non-paid critics and/or people they “know”) and why publicists are using book bloggers to promote books in such a growing fashion.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I hate to do it. Writing is an art. Period. Like in all forms of art, some pieces are total crap, and some artists are just out to make a buck. But it is a fine line trying to figure out who is writing trash just to get it sold and who thinks that (what I think is) trash is actually art. Considering most authors are not making millions of dollars by being vulnerable and putting something out there in the hopes of entertaining the masses, I try not to smash them down for the sake of smashing.
If I don’t like a book, the most respectful way for me to not perpetuate it’s sales is to not feature it or talk about it on my blog. On occasion I will write about a book that I think is horrible, but it is usually because it is part of a series I am already reading, or because I’ve mentioned it on the blog already and need to follow up.
Basically, my blog is about recommending books that I like.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
French. It’s the language that I would most like to learn in general.
33. Most intimidating book I’ve read (in progress of reading):
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I challenged myself with this book this past winter. Very difficult read, but I’m so glad I did it. I learned a lot through Ms. Mantel’s work though it was fiction.
I did read this with several people on GoodReads, which helped because we could complain to each other when the reading got hard and celebrate when we made progress. I recommend having a reading partner with this one.
34. Most intimidating book I’m too nervous to begin:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
35. Favourite Poet:
Edna St. Vincent Millay. I love almost every one of her poems.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out from the library at any given time?
5-10 typically… I LOVE the library. Free books, borrow as many as you want! Puh-lease… I will never get over the excitement of that!
37. How often do you return books to the library unread?
Almost every time. Part of the thrill is knowing you can bring them home! However, my eyes are often bigger than my reasoning (and amount of time I have to get the stack of books read). I do a lot of re-upping, if there are no holds on the books, to give myself more time to get through as many as I can.
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See you next week for the last 18 questions!
Interesting answers. I am also mainly a plot reader. If the plot appeals to me, I most likely will like the book.
There is one thing I don’t understand though. Question 34. Why would a book be intimidating? I read that so often on blogs and just don’t get it. Either I am put off by it because of, let’s say, the length ot the topic, and then I don’t want to read it, or I do want to read it and then I will eventually. But I would never say that a book intimidates me. Can you explain why Tolstoy intimidates you?
Basically for the reason that you said. I am put off because of the length, but I know it’s a famously interesting story so I am still interested in reading it. I also know that it is notorious for having a lot of characters that have names that are hard to remember because they are not very common in my culture. People make notes while reading this book, and sometimes use help guides to remember characters, etc.
Does that make more sense?
Oh, ok, I get you now, I just would not have called that intimidating. Thanks for clarifying
yeah, it’s not used in a literal definition sense in the terms of this questionnaire… sarcasm I guess technically — using the word to as an exaggeration. I imagine it doesn’t translate well. I hear that’s part of the reason why English is so difficult: we use the same words for so many things, we stretch meanings, and use a lot of sarcasm and slang. Do you do that in German as well?
I think every language is that way, just not all in the same situations.
However, I agree, that English is a terrible language when it comes to being precise because it is so ambiguous. There is this one sentence, I think about men and women (I forget exactly what it is, must google it), where the meaning of it turns exactly opposite with only the moving of one comma. That could never happen in German.
I have yet to start Anna Karenina as well. I just can’t seem to start that first chapter. I think I need to be in the right mood.
I kind of wish I had done it with the Oprah crowd a few summers ago, I still have her reading guide that I might use.
Tolstoy intimidates me as well – I think it’s the whole Russian/afraid that I won’t be able to “get it” thing.
I’m totally wanting to make you a fantasy/sci-fi convert now! Let me know if you ever want recommendations.
And.. I’m sad that you didn’t like Shadow of the Wind (but I hate picking up a book and knowing it’s gotten huge hype too). I thought it was beautifully written, gothic and full of creepy goodness. Have you tried The Angel’s Game yet?
I have gotten some good recs from Carin (A Little Bookish). She recommended A Thrones Game and I am trying it out. I like Hunger Games (and am planning on reading Catching Fire).
So, yes, give me more!
Yeah, I think I’m one of the 2% who didn’t like Shadow. Wasn’t planning on trying Angel’s Game as getting through Shadow was a bit of a chore for me. (I say this as I duck and cover from the millions of people who love this book).
Angel’s Game was different. I loved them both, but I have friends who hated Shadows who actually enjoyed Angel’s Game.
I highly recommend Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series (A Game of Thrones is pretty heavy stuff – so it’s good if you want to start out with some lighter). Also the Twelve Houses books by Sharon Shinn are great introductions to the genre as well. (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/sharon-shinn/)
If you want to read more Dystopian books (and are interested in trying out Steampunk) I’d give Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker a shot as well. Zombies, gadgets and Seattle – you can’t go wrong!
Oh really? That’s good to know. So you think I should give it a chance is what you’re saying.
Ok, I promise to pick it up sometime.
Always give something a chance! You never know what you might like =)
(I discovered I like Henry James this past year – WHO KNEW?!)
I know, it’s fun to discover you like new and different things. The problem is there is just so much out there that it’s hard to give everything a chance! Haha! Usually if I discover I don’t like an author, I move on, because there are so many others to try. But if someone gives me an extra push I just might try them one more time.
I’m doing the same as you and posting these over a few parts. I love your answer to the library question! Your eyes are bigger than your reasoning. I get like that with bookstores
Oh fun! Are yours up? I didn’t see them. I will go check again!
I found Anna Karenina to be a phenomenal book and not at all intimidating.
Now I know who to go to if I get tied up! Good to hear that, it makes me more confident that I could get through it.
Have you ever read Les Miserables? That’s the other one that I have, which I would love to read but is a bit daunting in its size.
I have not yet read Les Mis, but I am including it on my list for 2011 as part of a challenge within one of my groups for the book that I have had the longest without ever having read it. A definite for next year though. Reading it in May.
I’m curious, do you plan out your books on a calendar or does this challenge just happen to be in May 2011? Planning seems like a good way to make sure you are getting in the books that are important to you, though I’m not sure I would be good at keeping on task.
One of my online groups is doing a challenge of 3 books per month all with books you already own but all fulfilling another task like the shortest book, the longest book, one with animals, one that is sad, etc. The book that you have owned the longest but not read is set for May, thus I will be reading Les Mis in May. It is a fun challenge but still leaves room for other reading. Another of my local groups which meets every other month just set our books for next year which helps as well. I like trying to fit books into multiple clubs, challenges, etc.