A to Z Book Survey
I'm borrowing this one from Alycia at Habitual Homebody. Since we all love books, I thought it would be fun. Feel free to grab it and answer them yourself.
Author you've read the most books from:
Overall this would probably have to be Ann M. Martin, because darn those Baby-Sitters Club books were addictive. But as an adult, I've probably read the most Sandra Brown novels, although I am behind on her latest few.
Best sequel ever:
No idea. (I'm starting this off with a bang!)
Currently reading:
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. I just started it but it's supposed to be really good, a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant business. I just finished Waiter Rant, based on a blog by the same name, that gives the perspective of a waiter, so I'm interested in checking out what happens in the kitchen.
Drink of choice while reading:
Tea. Duh.
E-reader or physical book:
Physical book. While I don't have an e-reader and can't really compare, I don't have an e-reader because I like holding a book. It's fun to hunt down a book at the library- kind of like going on a search for a good pair of shoes. I don't commute anywhere and I don't travel, so an e-reader just really isn't necessary to me right now.
Fictional character you would have actually dated in high school:
No clue. I mean, I've read romance novels with some pretty wonderful chaps but can I cite a specific character that makes me swoon? Not really.
Glad you gave this book a chance:
The Hunger Games. Seriously, I didn't think I was going to get past the first chapter. I think I read it twice, maybe three times. It was really hard to get into. Then I couldn't stop reading and devoured the other two in the series as fast as I could get my hands on them.
Hidden gem book:
About A Boy, or anything by Nick Hornby. He comes out with such great characters. Ooooo, or anything by Richard Russo. Same reason.
Important moment in your reading life:
Hiding a flashlight and book under the covers, starting probably around the age of 8. This marked the beginning of staying up reading until the book was finished, because sometimes it's really hard to stop.
Just finished:
Waiter Rant (see above, very good), Homeward Bound (about the handmade/homemaker movement currently happening, review coming soon), and Not Buying It: My Year Without Spending (very interesting).
Kinds of books you won't read:
Science-ficiton/paranormal/fantasy, historical/historical fiction
Longest book you've read:
?? I'm not one for hugely long books- it's just not what I tend to pick. The later Harry Potter books were pretty long but the font wasn't that small so can you compare them to long adult books? My husband read a book on Napoleon that was over 1000 pages long with tiny type. It took us three library renewals for him to finally finish it. Now that's a long book. Me, not so much. I tend to stick with books in the couple-hundred page arena. I should probably branch out.
Major book hangover because of:
Any thought-provoking book I've just finished. The ones where you feel like you're in the book and have a hard time returning to Earth because the story was just that good. There are too many to just pick one.
Number of bookcases you own:
Five. Not including shelving. Though this hasn't stopped us from keeping books everywhere around the house. (see here) I want a library.
One book you have read multiple times:
I don't read a ton of books twice, but I will sometimes go back and re-read if I was trying to read fast to get to the end so I could find out what happens. Then I find I've missed some of the details.
Preferred place to read:
In bed, with the couch and a blanket a close second.
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:
It would be hard to pick on quote from one book, and frankly, my memory is not that good. I read a book and absorb the story but don't generally focus on specific quotes. But here's one that's suitable, and I'm sure we all know it:
Reading regret:
I don't think I've really regret a book that I've finished. If it was a lousy book I probably didn't finish it and therefore also forgot about it. There have been some lousy little novels, like Debbie Macomber books that aren't very involved, but nothing I would see as a huge waste of time.
(edited before publishing: Sex and the City was a terrible book. Candance Bushnell has some other decent books but I felt like SATC was trash. The series turned out so much better.)
Series you started and need to finish (all books in series are out):
All caught up on all series I've been reading, though if you have a suggestion I'd love to hear it.
Three of your all-time favorite books:
The Devil Wears Prada (I credit this for getting me back into books after years of not reading much), MWF Seeks BFF (reviewed here), and the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, which we use all the time.
Unapologetic fangirl for:
Harry Potter. I really need to re-read them. Probably cliche, but as a reader and as a teacher, I think it's just such a fantastically done series.
Very excited for this release more than all the others:
I don't think I've actually gotten that excited for book releases, save for Harry Potter, of course, because I never know when new books are coming out. I generally pick up the latest "it book" about 6 months later.
Worst bookish habit:
Dogearing the pages.
X marks the spot: start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
One Day by David Nicholls. It's on the to-read shelf, though I have no idea what it's about. Considering I brought two copies of it home from the dump, it must have looked interesting.
Your latest book purchase:
With the dump offering an endless supply of free books, we don't really buy books anymore. However, I stopped in at the library book sale last spring (I think) and picked up a David Sedaris book that we didn't have- my husband was in the middle of reading them. I think it was $1.
Zzzzz-snatcher (the last book that kept you up WAY late):
Probably The Hunger Games series. I think I may have been reading one of those while my husband was away on a business trip. There's not a whole bunch of really late-night reading going on around here anymore.
While my list is not full of epic authors, or all of those classic books you were supposed to read in high school, I'm proud of being a reader and enjoying books. I'm currently on a non-fiction kick and feel like I'm gaining tons of information from that. In fact, it's hard for me to get into a novel right now, though I've got a list lined up.
If you have good book/author suggestions, please leave the names in the comments below. I've also started a group Good Reads board on Pinterest. If you'd like an invite, let me know your e-mail or Pinterest name.
Author you've read the most books from:
Overall this would probably have to be Ann M. Martin, because darn those Baby-Sitters Club books were addictive. But as an adult, I've probably read the most Sandra Brown novels, although I am behind on her latest few.
Best sequel ever:
No idea. (I'm starting this off with a bang!)
Currently reading:
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. I just started it but it's supposed to be really good, a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant business. I just finished Waiter Rant, based on a blog by the same name, that gives the perspective of a waiter, so I'm interested in checking out what happens in the kitchen.
Drink of choice while reading:
Tea. Duh.
E-reader or physical book:
Physical book. While I don't have an e-reader and can't really compare, I don't have an e-reader because I like holding a book. It's fun to hunt down a book at the library- kind of like going on a search for a good pair of shoes. I don't commute anywhere and I don't travel, so an e-reader just really isn't necessary to me right now.
Fictional character you would have actually dated in high school:
No clue. I mean, I've read romance novels with some pretty wonderful chaps but can I cite a specific character that makes me swoon? Not really.
Glad you gave this book a chance:
The Hunger Games. Seriously, I didn't think I was going to get past the first chapter. I think I read it twice, maybe three times. It was really hard to get into. Then I couldn't stop reading and devoured the other two in the series as fast as I could get my hands on them.
Hidden gem book:
About A Boy, or anything by Nick Hornby. He comes out with such great characters. Ooooo, or anything by Richard Russo. Same reason.
Important moment in your reading life:
Hiding a flashlight and book under the covers, starting probably around the age of 8. This marked the beginning of staying up reading until the book was finished, because sometimes it's really hard to stop.
Just finished:
Waiter Rant (see above, very good), Homeward Bound (about the handmade/homemaker movement currently happening, review coming soon), and Not Buying It: My Year Without Spending (very interesting).
Kinds of books you won't read:
Science-ficiton/paranormal/fantasy, historical/historical fiction
Longest book you've read:
?? I'm not one for hugely long books- it's just not what I tend to pick. The later Harry Potter books were pretty long but the font wasn't that small so can you compare them to long adult books? My husband read a book on Napoleon that was over 1000 pages long with tiny type. It took us three library renewals for him to finally finish it. Now that's a long book. Me, not so much. I tend to stick with books in the couple-hundred page arena. I should probably branch out.
Major book hangover because of:
Any thought-provoking book I've just finished. The ones where you feel like you're in the book and have a hard time returning to Earth because the story was just that good. There are too many to just pick one.
Number of bookcases you own:
Five. Not including shelving. Though this hasn't stopped us from keeping books everywhere around the house. (see here) I want a library.
One book you have read multiple times:
I don't read a ton of books twice, but I will sometimes go back and re-read if I was trying to read fast to get to the end so I could find out what happens. Then I find I've missed some of the details.
Preferred place to read:
In bed, with the couch and a blanket a close second.
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:
It would be hard to pick on quote from one book, and frankly, my memory is not that good. I read a book and absorb the story but don't generally focus on specific quotes. But here's one that's suitable, and I'm sure we all know it:
Reading regret:
I don't think I've really regret a book that I've finished. If it was a lousy book I probably didn't finish it and therefore also forgot about it. There have been some lousy little novels, like Debbie Macomber books that aren't very involved, but nothing I would see as a huge waste of time.
(edited before publishing: Sex and the City was a terrible book. Candance Bushnell has some other decent books but I felt like SATC was trash. The series turned out so much better.)
Series you started and need to finish (all books in series are out):
All caught up on all series I've been reading, though if you have a suggestion I'd love to hear it.
Three of your all-time favorite books:
The Devil Wears Prada (I credit this for getting me back into books after years of not reading much), MWF Seeks BFF (reviewed here), and the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, which we use all the time.
Unapologetic fangirl for:
Harry Potter. I really need to re-read them. Probably cliche, but as a reader and as a teacher, I think it's just such a fantastically done series.
Very excited for this release more than all the others:
I don't think I've actually gotten that excited for book releases, save for Harry Potter, of course, because I never know when new books are coming out. I generally pick up the latest "it book" about 6 months later.
Worst bookish habit:
Dogearing the pages.
X marks the spot: start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
One Day by David Nicholls. It's on the to-read shelf, though I have no idea what it's about. Considering I brought two copies of it home from the dump, it must have looked interesting.
Your latest book purchase:
With the dump offering an endless supply of free books, we don't really buy books anymore. However, I stopped in at the library book sale last spring (I think) and picked up a David Sedaris book that we didn't have- my husband was in the middle of reading them. I think it was $1.
Zzzzz-snatcher (the last book that kept you up WAY late):
Probably The Hunger Games series. I think I may have been reading one of those while my husband was away on a business trip. There's not a whole bunch of really late-night reading going on around here anymore.
While my list is not full of epic authors, or all of those classic books you were supposed to read in high school, I'm proud of being a reader and enjoying books. I'm currently on a non-fiction kick and feel like I'm gaining tons of information from that. In fact, it's hard for me to get into a novel right now, though I've got a list lined up.
If you have good book/author suggestions, please leave the names in the comments below. I've also started a group Good Reads board on Pinterest. If you'd like an invite, let me know your e-mail or Pinterest name.
