Friday, February 24, 2012

Twenty Questions for Readers


This is an adaptation of a meme that’s found on a number of sites on the web. I don’t know where it originated, but I love reading answers to questions like these. Answer as many or as few as you care to share. I’ll send one randomly selected commenter five books to add to his/her TBR stack.






The Questions

1.     What was your favorite childhood book?

2.     What are you reading right now?

3.     Have your reading habits been affected by the Internet?

4.     What is your reading comfort zone?

5.     What is your favorite place to read?

6.     Do you ever dog-ear books or write in the margins of your books?

7.     What makes a book a keeper for you?

8.     What will inspire you to recommend a book?

9.     How often do you agree with critics about a book?

10.  How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

11.  What is the most intimidating book you’ve ever read?

12.  How often do you not finish a book you begin?

13.  What’s the longest you’ve gone without reading?

14.  What’s the greatest number of books that you’ve read in a day?

15.  What’s your favorite film adaptation of a novel?

16.  Can you think of a book you didn’t expect to like but did?

17.  What book have you read most often?

18.  What book do you have the most copies of?

19.  What book have you tried but failed to finish most often?

20.  You’re going to spend a year on a desert island with no mod cons. You are allowed to take only five books. What books will you take?



My Answers



1.     What was your favorite childhood book? A toss-up between the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace and the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

2.     What are you reading right now? Just Down the Road by Jodi Thomas, Modernism and Women's Popular Romance in Britain, 1885-1925 by Martin Hipsky, and American Rendering: New and Selected Poems by Andrew Hudgins.

3.     Have your reading habits been affected by the Internet? Oh, yes. My TBR has increased dramatically.

4.     What is your reading comfort zone? Happy endings, but I do read outside my comfort zone.

5.     What is your favorite place to read? I have an ancient wing chair in my bedroom that is comfortable and familiar, with a footstool nearby.

6.     Do you ever dog-ear books or write in the margins of your books? I try not to dog-ear, but I sometimes do. I often underline and write comments—but only in books that belong to me.

7.     What makes a book a keeper for you? Knowing that it’s a book that I will reread or sometimes because the book is part of a series I love.

8.     What will inspire you to recommend a book? If it made me laugh and cry, if the characters haunt me after I’ve put away the book, if the prose is so lyrical and textured that I read aloud for the pleasure of the words in my mouth and in my ears.

9.     How often do you agree with critics about a book? About as often as they agree with me.

10.  How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I only review books I like. Some of the books I review I love.

11.  What is the most intimidating book you’ve ever read? Well, I tried to read Finnegans Wake.

12.  How often do you not finish a book you begin? It varies. I sometimes go months and finish every book I begin, but I’ve also had weeks when I started a dozen books and didn’t finish any of them.

13.  What’s the longest you’ve gone without reading? Maybe 2-3 days when I was ill. For most of my life, I’ve read every day.

14.  What’s the greatest number of books that you’ve read in a day? I’ve read as many as eight in a day.

15.  What’s your favorite film adaptation of a novel? To Kill a Mockingbird

16.  What book beloved by many friends just doesn’t work for you? The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon; the In Death series by J. D. Robb.

17.  What book have you read most often? Among novels, probably Pride and Prejudice. I’ve chosen to reread it often, and I’ve taught it a dozen times or more.

18.  What book do you have the most copies of? I have twelve Bibles, probably half a dozen editions of the poems of Emily Dickinson, and four copies of Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James (one in French).

19.  What book have you tried but failed to finish most often? War and Peace

20.  You’re going to spend a year on a desert island with no mod cons. You are allowed to take only five books. What books will you take? The Bible (KJV); The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Johnson edition; Jane Austen: The Complete Novels; Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers; Frederica by Georgette Heyer. I could reread these for a year, knowing my overflowing bookcases, library cards, and ereaders filled as per my instructions by my family would be waiting for me when I returned.


Your turn.

6 comments:

Kati said...

Fun! I love meme's!

The Questions

1. What was your favorite childhood book? Toss up: As I Was Crossing Boston Common by Norma Farber or Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

2. What are you reading right now? Celebrity in Death by JD Robb

3. Have your reading habits been affected by the Internet?
Completely. I get 90% of my recommendations from the internet.
4. What is your reading comfort zone? Happily Ever Afters or Happy For Nows

5. What is your favorite place to read? I have a blue recliner, it's my spot.

6. Do you ever dog-ear books or write in the margins of your books?
I beat my books all to hell. Except that now I read on a Kindle exclusively, so I do nothing to them.

7. What makes a book a keeper for you? Hard to say. HEA is a must. Gorgeous writing. A hero I fall in love with. A heroine I respect. A beautiful resolution to conflict. Great dialogue. That's just some of the things that could make a keeper for me.

8. What will inspire you to recommend a book? There are two criteria that will almost always get me to recommend a book: if I finish the book and immediately do a re-read, OR, a book that I can't stop thinking about days later.

9. How often do you agree with critics about a book? Depends on the critic. If it's Jane from Dear Author, about 90% of the time. If it's Sandy from AAR, about 5% of the time. But I know whose tastes are most like mine, and I tend to use their reviews extensively for recommendations.

10. How do you feel about givingbad/negative reviews?
Giving bad/negative reviews is part of reviewing. I'd much RATHER have nice things to say, but if a book doesn't work for me, I try to lay out why without making it sound like the book sucked. Just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it's not going to work for others. Heck, Laura Kinsale doesn't work for me, and most romance readers LOVE her.

11. What is the most intimidating bookyou’ve ever read?
A few years ago I read Clockwork Heart by Dru Paggliasotti as a Book Smugglers dare. I literally had to email them to get them to explain things to me. I ended up not liking the book at all.

12. How often do you not finish a book youbegin? I read about 300 books a year. I DNF probably 20.

13. What’s the longest you’ve gone withoutreading? I can't ever remember a time when I wasn't reading.

14. What’sthe greatest number of books that you’ve read in a day? I've read four Harlequin Presents books in a day.

15. What’syour favorite filmadaptation of a novel? The 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightly and Matthew MacFadyn. I love that movie desperately.

16. Canyou think of a book youdidn’t expect to like but did? Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey. I read it on a dare and thought I'd hate it. But actually enjoyed it. Not enough that I've kept going with the series, but I enjoyed the first book.

17. What book have you read most often? I've probably read Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan in the neighborhood of 30 times. It's a comfort read for me.

18. What book do you have the most copiesof? I own three copies of The Windflower by Tom & Sharon Curtis. It's out of print, so I have one to loan, one to read and one to keep.

19. What book have you tried but failed tofinish most often? I've tried to read Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran probably six times. The setting doesn't work for me.

20. You’re going to spend a year on adesert island with no mod cons. You are allowed to take only five books. Whatbooks will you take?
The Windflower by Tom & Sharon Curtis, Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh, Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan, Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh, and Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas.

Anonymous said...

1. What was your favorite childhood book?
Anne of Green Gables Series by LM Montgomery

2. What are you reading right now? Bossypants by Tina Fey


3. Have your reading habits been affected by the Internet?
Absolutely.

4. What is your reading comfort zone?
Happily Ever After

5. What is your favorite place to read?
In bed

6. Do you ever dog-ear books or write in the margins of your books?
Never

7. What makes a book a keeper for you?
Will I reread more than once?

8. What will inspire you to recommend a book? Will I reread the book and will it interest the person I'm recommending it to.

9. How often do you agree with critics about a book? 50/50


10. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I don't. But I very much appreciate those that do.


11. What is the most intimidating book you’ve ever read? Crime and Punishment


12. How often do you not finish a book you begin? 10%


13. What’s the longest you’ve gone without reading? a couple weeks


14. What’s the greatest number of books that you’ve read in a day? 3


15. What’s your favorite film adaptation of a novel? 1995 version
Persusasion

16. Can you think of a book you didn’t expect to like but did? Pride and Prejudice


17. What book have you read most often? Pride and Prejudice


18. What book do you have the most copies of? Pride and Prejudice


19. What book have you tried but failed to finish most often? None. If I don't finish it I will not try again.


20. You’re going to spend a year on a desert island with no mod cons. You are allowed to take only five books. What books will you take?
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
Persuasion Jane Austen
Slightly Dangerous Mary Balogh
Blue Eyed Devil Lisa Kleypas
The Heir Grace Burrowes

Jane said...

1. What was your favorite childhood book? Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are"
2. What are you reading right now? Agatha Christie's "Curtain"
3. Have your reading habits been affected by the Internet? I also get most of my recommendations from the various review sites I visit.
4. What is your reading comfort zone? HEAs
5. What is your favorite place to read? Couch
6. Do you ever dog-ear books or write in the margins of your books? No
7. What makes a book a keeper for you? Great plot and likable characters.
8. What will inspire you to recommend a book? I don't usually recommend books to others.
9. How often do you agree with critics about a book? About half the time.
10. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I don't review books, so I've never given a negative review.
11. What is the most intimidating book you’ve ever read? Umberto Eco's "The Limits of Interpretation"
12. How often do you not finish a book you begin? Rarely
13. What’s the longest you’ve gone without reading? One week
14. What’s the greatest number of books that you’ve read in a day? Two
15. What’s your favorite film adaptation of a novel? "The Joy Luck Club"
16. Can you think of a book you didn’t expect to like but did? Megan Hart's "Dirty"
17. What book have you read most often? Julie Garwood's "The Bride"
18. What book do you have the most copies of? Coming up blank for this one.
19. What book have you tried but failed to finish most often? "The Fountainhead"
20. You’re going to spend a year on a desert island with no mod cons. You are allowed to take only five books. What books will you take? Elizabeth Jennings' "Pursuit," Agatha Christie's "Crooked House," Sidney Sheldon's "If Tomorrow Comes," Pamela Clare's "Breaking Point" and an X-Men comic.

Kathleen O said...

1. What was your favorite childhood book? Oh I have a few, but the Pippi Longstocking books were some of my favs

2. What are you reading right now? On my kindle – Small Miracles by Maureen Child and in print The Viper by Monica McCarty

3. Have your reading habits been affected by the Internet? Of course it has my TBR pile is out of control..

4. What is your reading comfort zone? I like c Contemporary, Woman’s Fiction, Historical and Western romance. Also suspense and some paranormal.

5. What is your favorite place to read? Usually curled up on the couch

6. Do you ever dog-ear books or write in the margins of your books? Oh never, ever would you find these thing on any of my books.

7. What makes a book a keeper for you? An Author I really like, especially if it is a series they are writing.

8. What will inspire you to recommend a book? That it had me from the get go… good characters and plot.

9. How often do you agree with critics about a book? Not very often. What I find in a book, another will not. I am my own critic when it comes to books.

10. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I would hate to give a bad review, but I have to be honest.

11. What is the most intimidating book you’ve ever read? I am sure it was a book I had to read in school.

12. How often do you not finish a book you begin? Not very often. I think in the last five years maybe only about 6+ books.

13. What’s the longest you’ve gone without reading? Ah or two days and that is when I had surgery on my eye.

14. What’s the greatest number of books that you’ve read in a day? I would say three.


15. What’s your favorite film adaptation of a novel? The Help, The Horse Whisperer and The Notebook.

16. Can you think of a book you didn’t expect to like but did? The Girl with the Pearl Earring.. Oh I liked the movie too.

17. What book have you read most often? It would have to be one of Nora Robert’s Irish Series of books.. She has written a few of them. I am not a great re-reader of books, as I have so many to read for the first time.

18. What book do you have the most copies of? Note sure to tell you the truth.

19. What book have you tried but failed to finish most often? Not sure

20. You’re going to spend a year on a desert island with no mod cons. You are allowed to take only five books. What books will you take? Beatrice Small Sky O’Malley, Nora Robert’s Tribute, Robyn Carr’s Virgin River, Fern Michaels Kentucky Rich and Carolyn Brown, I Love this Bar.

Quantum said...

1) Fav childhood book:
A Prince of the Willow by Edward Home-Gall ...... about a village lad with a talent for cricket who eventually plays for England.
Sort of a boy's version of 'ballet shoes' LOL

2) Reading now:
'Only Mine' by Elizabeth Lowell ....... I love the feel of Lowell's Westerns. The stark and staggering beauty of the rocky mountains and the way that natural beauty seems to inspire her romance.

3) Effect of internet:
Amazon and Audible have transformed my reading. Almost the only paper books in my house are now the text book variety. Various author sites and 'JustJanga' have also had a major influence.

4) Comfort zone:
I can relax with most genres but a romantic thread will always oil the wheels!

5) favourite place to read:
A very comfortable arm chair with a scotch bottle and jug of ice within reach.

6) Dog Ear:
Never!

7) keeper:
Audio books are kept on CD/DVD while e-books are kept on a computer hard drive. I never give any away (I'm a scrooge like that!) and rarely shred anything. There's always a chance I might want to re-read something.

8) Recommend:
Like all advice, I only respond to requests!

9) I rarely read reviews (this site excepted) though do look at reader ratings when buying.

10) Negative reviews:
I have reviewed some tech books and always detail the pros and cons without favour. Complete honesty is essential if the review is to be useful.

11) Most intimidating book:
Wittgenstein's 'Tractatus' ..... Like much philosophical writing, I thought it spouted a lot of esoteric hot air without solving anything. But that's a scientist's perspective!

12) Finish a book:
I quite often don't finish a novel. I am always looking for the cream and don't want to waste my time with work that doesn't appeal to me.

13) longest time without reading:
I don't think a day passes without my reading something. Though long periods sometimes pass without reading fiction.

14) Greatest number of books in 1 day:
One!

15) Fav film adaptation of a novel:
Any of the Jane Austen books .... I can't choose!

16) Book didn't expect to like:
'The Time Stream' by John Taine, Real name Eric Temple Bell. He was a Scottish Mathematician and on the whole I haven't much liked SciFi as written by professional scientists. Taine is the exception!

17) Read most often:
I can't think of a single novel that I have read more than once!

18) Most copies of:
There are 4 copies of my PhD thesis hidden in the bookshelves somewhere. With e-books I often have them in various formats.

19) Failed to finish:
If I'm not getting on well I tend to doze off. Many books have fallen into this category. I never try them more than twice.

20) Five for a desert island:
I have often struggled with poetry and don't re-read novels. I think I would like A book of John Donne's poems to keep my neurons oiled. If our islands are nearby Janga, perhaps I could swap with your Emily Dickinson occasionaly.

I am very interested in 'Energy Healing' so would like Donna Eden's 'Energy Medicine' which might help me to stay healthy.

The other three books would have to be the latest books from 3 favourite authors: Catherine Anderson; Lisa Kleypas; Robin Hobb

PS
If yo get this far Janga, thanks for the review of 'Undeniably Yours' by Shannon Stacey. I have read her novella 'Twice upon a road trip' which I found hilarious. There are two very hot sex scenes which probably account for the 'twice' in the title. I definitely want to try some more of this author!

Janga said...

Kati, I still refer to certain days as Alexander days.

JMaureen, I'm a big Anne Shirley fan too. I blogged about her at Heroes and Heartbreakers recently.

Jane, your DIK list might take the prize for most eclectic, if we were awarding one. :)

Kathleen, Robyn Carr's Virgin River is one of my favorites too. You won a book a couple of weeks ago. Please contact me a jangarho at gmail dot com.

Q, my dissertation is hidden in my bookshelves somewhere too, but I think I have only a single copy. LOL

I'll announce the Randomizer's pick when I post Friday.