Booking Through Thursday is a great blog all about books and reading. This blog posts a weekly topic for responses. Last week’s topic was a series of questions about reading habits. Here’s my attempt at Booking Through Thursday.
1. Favorite childhood book?
The Nancy Drew series. My mom and I found all the books in the series in the same hardcover. I even bought the last one I needed for my collection from a friend. I still have them on my bookshelf.
2. What are you reading right now?
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s a fascinating look at how one family vowed to eat only what is grown locally by themselves or local farms. Sounds boring, I know. But it’s fascinating if you’re a foodie and like learning about where food comes from and agriculture.
3. What books do you have on request at the library your Amazon Wish List?
It’s crazy how many books I want to read, so let me just give you the highlights:
Red Hook Road, Ayelet Waldman
The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence, Rachel Simmons
The Nobodies Album, Carolyn Parkhurst
Secrets of Eden, Chris Bohjalian
The Whiskey Rebels, David Liss
Sarah’s Key, Tatiana de Rosnay
Hanna’s Daughters, Marianne Fredriksson
The Uses of Enchantment, Heidi Julavits
The Saturday Wife, Naomi Regan
4. Bad book habit?
I used to buy so many books and they’d just sit there because I never committed to reading them. I’ve actually gotten much better and have now read all the books that I’d purchased to date.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library from friends?
Here’s what on my reading shelf, which are books being lent to me from friends:
Admission, Jean Hanff Korelitz
Golden Country, Jennifer Gilmore
Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon – and the Journey of a Generation, Sheila Weller
The Widow of the South, Robert Hicks
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
6. Do you have an e-reader?
No. I’m a paper person, true and true.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
One book at a time. I’ve tried several and I can’t handle it. Too much pressure.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Yes — I’ve learned of so many more books out there. And I also use blogs as a source for book recommendations.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
(answer here)
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
It’s a tie – The Help by Kathryn Stocket and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Not often. I’m a creature of habit.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Mainly fiction novels. Some historical fictions. And ethnographic memoirs by authors such as Peggy Orenstein.
13. Can you read on the bus?
No
14. Favorite place to read?
On my couch
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I only lend to a select few due to bad experiences in the past.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Never! Nor do I crease the spine. Ever!
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Nope!
18. Not even with text books?
Yes, with text books. Those are a different breed all together.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English, I guess.
20. What makes you love a book?
Probably rich, life-like characters who just draw me in from the beginning. Characters that are struggling in some way, trying to find their identity.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
The characters. And if I’ve learned something about history or people.
22. Favorite genre?
Fiction (which is ironic because I just can’t write fiction at all)
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Science Fiction. And no, don’t wish that I did.
24. Favorite biography?
Anne Frank
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Does Suze Orman count?
26. Favorite cookbook?
Anything by Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa. I often find myself pulling out her books and re-reading/looking at the beautiful photos.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
The Help — I read that book and wished I was brave and could do something as meaningful as those women.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Diet Coke
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I was so excited to read South of Broad by Pat Conroy. Probably the excitement led to high expectation. It wasn’t a bad book. Just not as good as I’d hoped it would be.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Occasionally. I don’t read critics so much as online reviews and blogs.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I believe in honesty. I try not to be negative, just honest.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Let me get back to you on that one.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
A Tale of Two Cities
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
The Hope and The Glory by Hermann Wouk
35. Favorite Poet?
Robert Frost
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Only 1 – 2
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Rarely.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Jo March of Little Women
39. Favorite fictional villain?
The Wicked Witch of the West
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Something fun and a good novel – probably something from my wish lists above.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Two months after my daughter was born.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
The Shadow of the Wind
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Sophie, my 2 ½ year old
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Joy Luck Club. It’s one of the few movies that is very similar to the book.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Memoirs of a Geisha — Loved that book!
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Probably $75 (and that’s with a stack of Borders coupons)
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I now read the first few pages. If it doesn’t draw me in, I don’t buy it. I’ve wasted too much money not doing that.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If I’m bored with it and find myself reading the same page over and over again. That’s a sign that it’s time to move on.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Is there any other way?!
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep the ones I like. Donate the ones I didn’t finish or didn’t like. I think the local Goodwill Books is stocked with my donated books.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Vampire stories
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Can’t think of anything right now.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
I wasn’t sure about Edgar Sawtelle, but ended up loving it!
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Probably South of Broad again.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Fiction and cookbooks.