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Jan. 29th, 2011 12:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
plasmoidsI don't have much to talk about right now, as I'm currently fighting the good fight with iTunes (last night it wouldn't work, and today is crashed my computer), so here's a book survey taken from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
saffronlie!
1. Favorite childhood book?
I'm going to admit something bad here, and let you in on a dirty little secret: I didn't read much until after high school. I had plenty of books as a kid, but for the most part, they just looked really nice on my shelves and I totally wasted my parent's money on them. I really loved a picture book called "In Arm" when I was little. My mom recently got me a copy for a Christmas or birthday, and I have to say, it still just as enchanting as it was when I was younger.
2. What are you reading right now?
Heart of Darkness for school and Howl's Moving Castle for fun. I've owned the book since the movie came out, and this is the first time I'm reading it. I never said my reading habits have improved.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. I should utilize the library more, but I'm trying to finish off the three shelves (two of which are two rows deep) worth of books before I move, so I'm not about to buy/borrow anymore.
4. Bad book habit?
Buying a ton and then never reading them? Idk, it's so easy when you go to book sales and they're all $1 or less.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
No. I'm very torn on eReaders. I would love to have one, because being the size I am, it's hard to lug extra books around without hurting myself sometimes, but I still love the weight of holding an actual book while reading. And because I'm such a book sale junkie and never really buy new, I don't think I could spend money on digital editions, because they're incapable of being "used." Not that I couldn't find free ebooks online, I'm sure, it's just that I'm too attached to print. If I had a reason to have a lot of books around for work or something, then I might consider it.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
One at a time, but I tend to read fast.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I think this is a more book-blog specific question, so I can't really answer, but I started blogging in high school and I never really read then, so...
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
Though there haven't been many so far, I've really enjoyed them all.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
Erm, I guess Osamu Dazai's "Self-Portraits." He's the guy who wrote the book that the mangaka of Zetsubou Sensei based Nozomu's character on, and it was so easy to read it as him. Also, the way Dazai constructs his sentences, they can easily be read allowed in Comic Book Guy's voice, which was endlessly amusing to me.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Often enough, considering I have to read a lot for school. I'm not really sure I have a literary "comfort zone," though.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Uh...
13. Can you read on the bus?
No, I get sick on buses, which is why I only usually take the subways/trolleys.
14. Favorite place to read?
In bed/on the couch.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
If I'm going to lend it to you, you're going to read it. Right now. Drop everything. Seriously. If it takes you eight months to give the book back, I'm never lending you a book again. I'm not a library and I can't charge late fees, but boy have I been tempted to.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Generally no. I really don't like to, especially when the books are really nice/new.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Only if the books are already written in/are just cheap copies I'm using for class.
18. Not even with text books?
This survey is kind of presumptuous.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English, because it's the only language I *can* read in.
20. What makes you love a book?
It really depends on the book.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I've read something and thought it was just brilliant. It also sometimes depends on the person.
22. Favorite genre?
SF, fantasy, crime/mystery, biography, psychology, essays, just about anything.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Probably more non-fiction. Perhaps even history. I don't know, I want to read more in general.
24. Favorite biography?
They aren't so much biographies as they are essays, but I love Sloane Crosley's books. She is the hilarious lady writer I wish I was.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
I've been given some of those "inspirational" books as grad gifts and stuff, and I've flipped through them, but honestly they bore me.
26. Favorite cookbook?
Okay, I've never read a cookbook. Aren't they just recipes?
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I haven't read much of anything inspirational so far this year.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Apples and peanut butter! That might just be my favorite snack in general, though.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I don't really think I pay attention to much book "hype." I'm not a bestseller reader.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I'm going to co-optsaffronlie's answer and say literary criticism isn't so much criticism as it is discourse between scholars, so that's a weird question to ask. Occasionally I read book blogs, but they don't affect my reading decisions much. Like I said, I'm not buying many books right now.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
If it sucked, it sucked. I won't sugarcoat it.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Total weeaboo answer, but Japanese. I read a lot of Japanese lit as it is, and a decent amount doesn't really get translated into English. I feel I'm missing out on a lot. ):
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
House of Leaves, which I never finished, because it didn't intimidate me so much as scare the living daylights out of me.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
I guess I might attempt House of Leaves again someday. Probably Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell too, because that is one long ass book that can be a little dry at times.
35. Favorite Poet?
Let's not go there.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
See the above questions about libraries.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
...
38. Favorite fictional character?
Alice. I judge all fictional heroines by her. Sorry, ladies.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Oh God, I don't know. Books make things like heroes and villains a lot more grey than other media does, okay?
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
My idea of a vacation is just sitting around in my apartment, not going anywhere and reading. So, any and all of them!
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Since I started reading regularly after high school... not very long. Maybe a summer. I remember being stuck on a book for a long time, and rather depressed, so I couldn't get into the feel for doing much of anything at the time.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Except for the one or two I've already mentioned, I don't have any specific titles in mind. I can't finish a book if they squick the hell out of me. Erik read "Room" and told me I probably wouldn't enjoy it for all the rape and terrible things that go on it, and that's totally possible. OH. I do remember I couldn't even get ten pages in Alice Sebold's "Lucky." Open your novel with a graphic rape scene? Okay, that's your decision, but... /shudders
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Nervous energy.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Devil Wears Prada, only because they basically changed everything and made it so much better in comparison to the book. Honestly, it was agony reading it, but the movie was much more cute and funny.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
I really don't know. I'm not really one to compare books and movies. I think they should stand on their own, like when Americaruins redoes shows from other countries. Different medium, you know?
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Like I said, I buy used.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I hate skimming things! If anyone ever tells me to skim something, I read it straight through. I don't care; I always miss something if I skim, so I don't want to give myself a heart attack by skimming ahead and finding a particularly crazy plot point.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
I've done this before. If it was stupid or squicky. I've put down books because they've just been so awful I couldn't keep going. (Example? Fight Club. Yeah, you heard me.)
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Only by size.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
Both? Rereading chances are low, so I tend to give them away, but if they were particularly good or by an author I really like, despite that fact that I'll never reread them, I keep them.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Just all of the ones sitting on my shelves. 8Db
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Anything by Katie Rolphie. She is just wrong about everything I love and I wish gravity would stop working for her and she'd just float away.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Chuck Palahniuk's "Pygmy." I don't really like his work (see snark above), but he did pretty well with this one. It was pretty hilarious.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Natsuo Kirino's "Out." The book was excellent and then the last 50 pages happened. What the hell.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
To quotesaffronlie: "Oh, it's all guilt-free, baby."
Sometimes, when I don't post on LJ as often, I forget how to use the site-specific coding. Oops.
saffronlie!1. Favorite childhood book?
I'm going to admit something bad here, and let you in on a dirty little secret: I didn't read much until after high school. I had plenty of books as a kid, but for the most part, they just looked really nice on my shelves and I totally wasted my parent's money on them. I really loved a picture book called "In Arm" when I was little. My mom recently got me a copy for a Christmas or birthday, and I have to say, it still just as enchanting as it was when I was younger.
2. What are you reading right now?
Heart of Darkness for school and Howl's Moving Castle for fun. I've owned the book since the movie came out, and this is the first time I'm reading it. I never said my reading habits have improved.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. I should utilize the library more, but I'm trying to finish off the three shelves (two of which are two rows deep) worth of books before I move, so I'm not about to buy/borrow anymore.
4. Bad book habit?
Buying a ton and then never reading them? Idk, it's so easy when you go to book sales and they're all $1 or less.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
No. I'm very torn on eReaders. I would love to have one, because being the size I am, it's hard to lug extra books around without hurting myself sometimes, but I still love the weight of holding an actual book while reading. And because I'm such a book sale junkie and never really buy new, I don't think I could spend money on digital editions, because they're incapable of being "used." Not that I couldn't find free ebooks online, I'm sure, it's just that I'm too attached to print. If I had a reason to have a lot of books around for work or something, then I might consider it.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
One at a time, but I tend to read fast.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I think this is a more book-blog specific question, so I can't really answer, but I started blogging in high school and I never really read then, so...
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
Though there haven't been many so far, I've really enjoyed them all.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
Erm, I guess Osamu Dazai's "Self-Portraits." He's the guy who wrote the book that the mangaka of Zetsubou Sensei based Nozomu's character on, and it was so easy to read it as him. Also, the way Dazai constructs his sentences, they can easily be read allowed in Comic Book Guy's voice, which was endlessly amusing to me.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Often enough, considering I have to read a lot for school. I'm not really sure I have a literary "comfort zone," though.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Uh...
13. Can you read on the bus?
No, I get sick on buses, which is why I only usually take the subways/trolleys.
14. Favorite place to read?
In bed/on the couch.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
If I'm going to lend it to you, you're going to read it. Right now. Drop everything. Seriously. If it takes you eight months to give the book back, I'm never lending you a book again. I'm not a library and I can't charge late fees, but boy have I been tempted to.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Generally no. I really don't like to, especially when the books are really nice/new.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Only if the books are already written in/are just cheap copies I'm using for class.
18. Not even with text books?
This survey is kind of presumptuous.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English, because it's the only language I *can* read in.
20. What makes you love a book?
It really depends on the book.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I've read something and thought it was just brilliant. It also sometimes depends on the person.
22. Favorite genre?
SF, fantasy, crime/mystery, biography, psychology, essays, just about anything.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Probably more non-fiction. Perhaps even history. I don't know, I want to read more in general.
24. Favorite biography?
They aren't so much biographies as they are essays, but I love Sloane Crosley's books. She is the hilarious lady writer I wish I was.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
I've been given some of those "inspirational" books as grad gifts and stuff, and I've flipped through them, but honestly they bore me.
26. Favorite cookbook?
Okay, I've never read a cookbook. Aren't they just recipes?
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I haven't read much of anything inspirational so far this year.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Apples and peanut butter! That might just be my favorite snack in general, though.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I don't really think I pay attention to much book "hype." I'm not a bestseller reader.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I'm going to co-opt
saffronlie's answer and say literary criticism isn't so much criticism as it is discourse between scholars, so that's a weird question to ask. Occasionally I read book blogs, but they don't affect my reading decisions much. Like I said, I'm not buying many books right now.31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
If it sucked, it sucked. I won't sugarcoat it.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Total weeaboo answer, but Japanese. I read a lot of Japanese lit as it is, and a decent amount doesn't really get translated into English. I feel I'm missing out on a lot. ):
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
House of Leaves, which I never finished, because it didn't intimidate me so much as scare the living daylights out of me.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
I guess I might attempt House of Leaves again someday. Probably Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell too, because that is one long ass book that can be a little dry at times.
35. Favorite Poet?
Let's not go there.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
See the above questions about libraries.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
...
38. Favorite fictional character?
Alice. I judge all fictional heroines by her. Sorry, ladies.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Oh God, I don't know. Books make things like heroes and villains a lot more grey than other media does, okay?
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
My idea of a vacation is just sitting around in my apartment, not going anywhere and reading. So, any and all of them!
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Since I started reading regularly after high school... not very long. Maybe a summer. I remember being stuck on a book for a long time, and rather depressed, so I couldn't get into the feel for doing much of anything at the time.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Except for the one or two I've already mentioned, I don't have any specific titles in mind. I can't finish a book if they squick the hell out of me. Erik read "Room" and told me I probably wouldn't enjoy it for all the rape and terrible things that go on it, and that's totally possible. OH. I do remember I couldn't even get ten pages in Alice Sebold's "Lucky." Open your novel with a graphic rape scene? Okay, that's your decision, but... /shudders
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Nervous energy.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Devil Wears Prada, only because they basically changed everything and made it so much better in comparison to the book. Honestly, it was agony reading it, but the movie was much more cute and funny.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
I really don't know. I'm not really one to compare books and movies. I think they should stand on their own, like when America
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Like I said, I buy used.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I hate skimming things! If anyone ever tells me to skim something, I read it straight through. I don't care; I always miss something if I skim, so I don't want to give myself a heart attack by skimming ahead and finding a particularly crazy plot point.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
I've done this before. If it was stupid or squicky. I've put down books because they've just been so awful I couldn't keep going. (Example? Fight Club. Yeah, you heard me.)
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Only by size.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
Both? Rereading chances are low, so I tend to give them away, but if they were particularly good or by an author I really like, despite that fact that I'll never reread them, I keep them.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Just all of the ones sitting on my shelves. 8Db
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Anything by Katie Rolphie. She is just wrong about everything I love and I wish gravity would stop working for her and she'd just float away.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Chuck Palahniuk's "Pygmy." I don't really like his work (see snark above), but he did pretty well with this one. It was pretty hilarious.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Natsuo Kirino's "Out." The book was excellent and then the last 50 pages happened. What the hell.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
To quote
saffronlie: "Oh, it's all guilt-free, baby."Sometimes, when I don't post on LJ as often, I forget how to use the site-specific coding. Oops.
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Date: 2011-01-30 07:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 07:59 pm (UTC)