A meme from Booking Through Thursday. I am notoriously bad at remembering what I have read (even going so far as to start books and think -- gee, this seems familiar -- only to discover that I had read it previously). So this should be fun or at least funny. . .
What was the last book you bought?
No idea. I usually check out books from the library. Hmmmm. . . maybe Printing by Hand
by Lena Corwin (which I've been meaning to review here.)
Name a book you have read MORE than once
Well, I usually read series more than once. There is the The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
by J. R. R. Tolkien, the Rama
books by Arthur C. Clarke, Harry Potter Books
by J.K. Rowling and the Foundation
books by Isaac Asimov. I'm sure there are others, but these are most memorable.
Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
Heck yeah! So many books change the way I see life. In fact, that's one of the reasons I love to read so much. I like good historical fiction (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
by Lisa See was a powerful example) but I also enjoy contemporary fiction set in countries I might not know much about. Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi opened my eyes. I bought the complete Persepolis a while back and look forward to re-reading these graphic novels soon.
How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews
Never by cover design -- some are so bad, or just plain wrong. I usually ask Pete what I should read -- I have a most excellent husband who knows what I like and makes great suggestions. I also like to read literary prize winners.
Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
I'd have to say it depends on my mood. I read more fiction than non-fiction, but I like to mix it up. The past year has been filled with some awesome food reading -- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
, Chocolate
, The Omnivore's Dilemma
and In Defense of Food
.
What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
I would have to say that you need at least one. I gripping plot will keep me reading, but beautiful writing will allow me to linger. I can't think of illustrations of these two types off the top of my head.
Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
Wow. Not sure on this one. I love strong female characters -- Lyra from the His Dark Materials Trilogy
by Phillip Pullman was one I was sad to see go at the end of the third book.
Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
Well, I'm on a Neil Gaiman binge right now -- just finished Coraline
and right now I'm reading Anansi Boys
, so that's on my nightstand.
What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
See above :)
Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
Sure all the time! I just gave up on Rushdie's The Enchantress of Florence
. Heck, I just wrote about that last week. In fact, there are so many books I want to read that I seldom slog through a book I'm not getting anything out of. What's the point?