I’m having a rather stubborn case of insomnia tonight (read: this morning), so I thought I’d use the time somewhat constructively by writing a blog post. Whilst puff levels are astronomically high, inspiration levels are, er… not, so I’ve decided to use the book survey that Kayley and Bryarly recently filled in. This is mainly for my entertainment – please feel free to leave and go watch paint dry or something. Ooookay.
Also, I refuse to change all the spellings to British English, because quite frankly, at half one in the morning beginning this, I can’t be arsed.
1. Favorite childhood book?
Matilda by Roald Dahl.
2. What are you reading right now?
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, but I’m alternating it with The Original Illustrated ‘Strand’ Sherlock Holmes, which I just bought for ONE PENNY. GOD I love Amazon.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None currently. It’s beginning to depress me, how badly stocked my local libraries are.
4. Bad book habit?
I’ve been known to read, fall asleep and therefore drop books... in the bath.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing. See above.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
No. On principle.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
Usually one at a time, but I’ve been ridiculously busy lately, so I’ve been dipping in and out of each new purchase when I get the chance. I’m buying LOTS of books at the moment because Amazon is cheap and because my old favourites are trapped, shivering, in our garden shed.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Not in the slightest – I don’t see why they would.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
It’s only February, so I haven’t really had the time to read anything awful – but I wasn’t all that hooked on A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French. Maybe it’ll grow on me.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
My long-awaited devouring of Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, upon my return to England. Simply brilliant.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Not sure. My comfort zone is quite large – but if a book is decidedly out of it, I’m highly unenthusiastic and generally don’t see it through. VERY picky in a non-picky kind of way. Yup.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Oh, now you’re asking. Fantasy, some sci-fi (not too deep though), humour (not the crap kind), psychological thriller, suspense… ugh. I HATE putting books into genres though – I’m really against it for a number of reasons, which I would be happy to divulge if anyone is bothered enough to ask. :)
13. Can you read on the bus?
Nope. I get really really sick.
14. Favorite place to read?
Bed. This is probably due to my room being so shoebox-sized that my bed is the only comfortable seating area. Ideally, I would love a large, squashy armchair, just for reading.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I’m fine with it, except for my Harry Potter collection, which I’m extremely mean with.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Never ever.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Only textbooks, and only in pencil.
18. Not even with text books?
Are you not listening?
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English. I loved studying French plays in college, but nothing ever flows as well as one’s mother tongue. *nods*
20. What makes you love a book?
Character depth. They absolutely need to be unpredictable and real. Otherwise I see right through them and lose all interest immediately. Also, a really amazing story idea. This is rare, but when I come across it, I get that lovely, bittersweet feeling of ugh, this is amaaaazing, but argh why didn’t I think of it?!
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
Some books immediately seem suited to people I love, so I tell them. Other times it just comes up in conversation, and other other times, my dad just nags and nags me about what I’m reading. And yet still refuses to read Harry Potter. Muggle.
22. Favorite genre?
Ugh genre. Just get out of my life with your stupid genre talk.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
WHAT DID I JUST TELL YOU?
24. Favorite biography?
I’ve yet to read one that’s really gripped me. I much prefer autobiographies.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
For giggles.
26. Favorite cookbook?
LOL you think I cook.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Also a favourite, but I’m trying to spread things out y’see.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Oh, god, anything. As unhealthy as possible.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I’m not sure whether it was actually the abominable writing that ruined my experience of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, but at the time, two girls at my high school spoiled it for me. I know, right? WHAT a shame.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Oh, book critics generally annoy me, which is unfair to say because book reviews can be very useful/awesome. I just prefer to form my own opinion. And critics never share the same opinion anyway. This is a fairly stupid question, survey. Tsk.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
If that’s how you feel, that’s how you feel. Again. BREAKING DAWN.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
I find Latin intriguing.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
I don’t get how a book can be intimidating. You either want to read something or you don’t.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Sigh.
35. Favorite Poet?
Probably John Keats. Ode to Autumn is just so atmospheric and beautiful.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
If I’m going through that phase, probably around five or six.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Once. It was about feng shui. I say unread; I read the first page, was informed that a giant turtle lived behind my house, dissolved into a cackling heap of cynicism and returned the book promptly.
38. Favorite fictional character?
A three-way tie, between Sherlock Holmes (from well DUH), Augustus Waters (TFiOS) and Ron Weasley (Harry Potter).
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Bellatrix Lestrange from the Harry Potter series.
40. Books you’re most likely to bring on vacation?
Belinda Jones is my faithful holiday author – she’s got the divine talent of bottling the sun and the sea and pouring it into the pages.
41. The longest you’ve gone without reading.
No more than a week. I doubt even that, but I can get ridiculously wrapped up in the Internet or my own writing.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Zelda’s Cut by Phillipa Gregory. Indescribably awful.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
If it’s really good, nothing.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
One Day. I wasn’t completely and utterly happy with the book, but the film was undoubtedly the most accurate book-to-screen adaptation I’ve seen to date. Of course, this is in terms of accuracy. Not sure which I've enjoyed the most. Mainly because the books are, 99.9% of the time, a squillion times better.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Bland acting, altered title, storylines shoved together, characters altered, deleted, invented purely for political correctness and racial balance… ugh. Could have been SO much better.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Possibly around £20? That’s not much, but this is mainly because I do my book hauls in second hand bookshops. Brand new buys are one-offs, 'cause I'm a poor student.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I don’t skim, I just read the blurb and do the first page test.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Lack of intrigue. Or it could actually be one single badly written line/section. I’m very harsh sometimes.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
By size only, unless it’s a series, and then obviously chronologically.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
Keep. FOREVER. I’m such a hoarder when it comes to books.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Lord of the Rings. One day. I promise. And I haven't been avoiding it, as such, I've just never even looked at a copy. In fact, I'm going to make that a goal for this year: start reading LotR.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Breaking Sodding Crapping Bloody Dawn. UTTER TRIPE.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Marley & Me by John Grogan. Sad doggy snuff book this is not.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
This hasn’t really happened. When I start out cynical I’m either proven right or wrong, but when I start out optimistic (this is a less common occurrence) I’ve always been proven right. I tend to know my taste.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Harry Potter. Quite simply one of my greatest joys in life.
And there you have it, guys! Oh crikey, it’s half 2 in the morning. I should sleep now.
KBAAAAAI.
p.s. in 12 days or less, I’ll know whether or not my story got into the Less Than Three book. Ohgodohgodohgod.
