end of year 2011 book meme.
(I’m not sure where I found it, I’m sorry! It’s been in my Evernote since last year.)
1. Favorite childhood book?
Pippi Longstocking
2. What are you reading right now?
Hamlet and Don Quixote. I’ve also started on a book containing selections from famous travel journals.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. My library doesn’t do requests, I don’t think.
4. Bad book habit?
Starting too many at the same time. I end up having to go back and see what was up at the beginning, because everything becomes scrambled into one tale.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
A couple of textbooks from uni library.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Does Android app count?
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I would usually read a classic/ heavy non-fiction and something light and non-committal in case I just need to unwind.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I think I talk in more coherent thoughts about them in my head. Also, challenges.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
Yudenich’s The Oil. It just pissed me off. (Mentioned here in more detail.)
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
Probably HP&DH for the bittersweetness factor. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the Uncommon Reader and a Study in Scarlet (finally read the first Holmes book). And Russia in the Shadows.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Constantly. I’m not sure I have a reading comfort zone.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Hmm. OK, maybe light non-fiction and mysteries.
13. Can you read on the bus?
No, I get motion sickness. Maybe on devices.
14. Favorite place to read?
Anywhere I could open a book at.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I used to lend all the time, but the error of my ways was intense. Now I maybe lend books to my cousin, from time to time.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Yes, but not as much these days.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Yes.
18. Not even with text books?
Actually, it’s less with textbooks.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
It depends.
20. What makes you love a book?
Its ability to consume me.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
Very little. I’m not big on giving recs.
22. Favorite genre?
Mysteries and biographies and memoirs.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Sci-fi and fantasy.
24. Favorite biography?
I don’t have one. A life is a life.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Quite often, I love those.
26. Favorite cookbook?
The Internet. :P
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
a Witch Alone and Ghost in the Shell.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Tea. Is that a snack?
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
That’d be any hyped case. I usually wait for the hype to subdue before reading a book. An exception would be HP, but when I started reading it, it wasn’t at all hyped where I live. I’m a pioneer, hear me roar.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Almost never.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
On books that I kinda liked, but didn’t, not good. On books that I can’t even finish, positively okay. Writing is a profession, and if a writer is incompetent, they either need to improve or GTFO.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Three: Japanese, German, and French.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Oh dear. Um. Must be some anthropology textbook.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
I’m not really nervous to begin anything.
35. Favorite Poet?
I’m not big on poetry, so let’s go with the Russian (well-deserved) favourite: Pushkin.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Well, I’ve got 3 textbooks checked out now, but usually the amount is either 1 or 0.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
More often than I’d like.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Draco Malfoy (though I guess this is more based on my own perception and fandom rather than canon), Sherlock Holmes, and Poirot.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Tom Riddle.
40. Books you’re most likely to bring on vacation?
I’m not sure about the genre, but either too many (because obviously I’m going to finish a book a day) or none (an excuse to spend copious amounts of money in a bookshop).
41. The longest you’ve gone without reading.
I think in 2004 and 2005 I read very little, but I’m not sure about the time span between reads.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Dukhless and The Oil.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
It depends on what I’m reading.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Pride and Prejudice (1940)
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Something like $200, I think.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Depends on the book and what I’m reading it for.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
The desire to kick walls and pick unnecessary fights with people. It only happened two or three times so far.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Hypothetically, yes; but it’s hard to organize ~3000 books.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
Keep. Obviously.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Uhh… Twilight? Sorry, folks, I think it’s a generational phenomenon. Maybe I’ll give it a go if I’m given these for free.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Cash in the City.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
I approach books with little expectation. (Aside from Twilight. :P)
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
See above.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
I don’t really feel guilty for my choices, though sometimes I ridicule them. Hm~ Classic mystery authors. Conan Doyle, Christie, Simenon… Also, good (and bad) manga.
I’d really love to read other’s replies! If you do the meme, can you please answer this post with your URL?
