Suddenly Sunday - What I Read

Suddenly Sunday is hosted by Svea at Confessions and Ramblings of A Muse in the Fog.

Happy Sunday everyone! I already can't wait for next weekend and having Monday off - but it's so far away. I figured I would just do some quick updates today and then post a reading meme that I found at Hyaline Prosaic.

So yesterday officially ended Dracula week - you can check out the wrap up post if you missed any of the events.

Get ready for the next HFBRT event starting this Wednesday featuring Susan Holloway Scott's new book The Countess and the King! I will announce a schedule later this week.

Now that's out of the way, onto the meme!

1. Favorite childhood book?

If we go back to my under 10 days – it would have to be either The Sorcerer’s Apprentice or Mickey and the Phantom Blot (or something to that effect). I think I must have made my mom read them to me over and over. As I got a little older, I really enjoyed reading Ann Rinaldi – especially The Fifth of March. That was the early historical fiction lover in me!

2. What are you reading right now?

Well, I am kinda juggling several at the moment (so very unlike me). In paperback I’m reading, For the King's Favor by Elizabeth Chadwick (for review) and on audiobook, 8th Confession by James Patterson (for pleasure).

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

I don’t have any books on request at the moment, I actually learned today about how easy it is to request books at my new local library. At my old library I had to talk to the crazy librarian there (no offense to librarians, but this one was really crazy). My new library, I can request the book online and get emailed when it is available. I might take advantage of that now.

4. Bad book habit?

I think the bad habit is that I get WAY too many. And it’s not that I buy them all – I just get them and then they sit forever – especially now that I’m reviewing books, my own get put to the side for too long.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

I downloaded the above mentioned 8th Confession from the library audio download thingy – so I guess it could be considered checked out.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

No...and I definitely don’t want one. First of all, I spend way too much time at work on the computer and I don’t want to come home to relax and stare at the screen more (I say this as I’m on the computer after work now…). Second of all, I really like the tactile quality of books and you don’t have that same sensation with a reader.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

Honestly, I like to read one at a time or one audio and one paperback at a time. Usually these will be on VERY different topics. But sometimes I get carried away…

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

I started a reading journal for one thing. Some of it is so that I can keep track of things I want to point out in reviews but other times its things I want to look up for myself or something I want to tell others. I also have become a much faster and committed reader and referring to question 7, now I read more than one at a time.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)

I guess I would have to say Within the Hollow Crown by Margaret Campbell Barnes, but it’s a close tie with Great Maria by Cecelia Holland.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

Heart of Lies by M. L. Malcolm for sure! But I have read a lot of and enjoyed the Janet Evanovich books this year too.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

Not as much as I could. I read A LOT of historical fiction and sometimes an occasional book outside that genre here or there.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

Well obviously historical fiction and some YA (which is usually not historical fiction but contemporary).

13. Can you read on the bus?

I used to read on the school bus all the time but since then there have been no busses for me. In regards to other methods of transportation, I have no problems reading on anything – car, train, boat, plane…

14. Favorite place to read?

In my bed, especially when the sheets are nice and cool and with the window open.

15. What is your policy on book lending?

I don’t really lend out my books – I have had a few bad experiences in the past and books are too important to me.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

Once in a blue moon if I’m in a really hard place with no other options of marking the page or writing a note.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

No! And in college when I was required to (meaning that they would look to make sure you had made notes based on what you read) I had a very, very hard time and would do so in light pencil so I could erase it later.

18. Not even with text books?

Oops, see the answer above!

19. What is your favorite language to read in?

English is about the only thing that I know well enough to read anything enjoyable in. I can read Spanish, but it takes a lot longer and usually is less fun for me.

20. What makes you love a book?

First of all, the cover. If the cover isn’t great, I probably won’t pick up the book (I know, snobbish of me). I also love fully developed characters and a great plot (basic book qualities I think).

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

I recommend books to those who are close to me and I know what their tastes are like – if I love it, I am likely to talk about it a lot and then just blurt out, “you have to read this!”

22. Favorite genre?

Historical fiction, hands down.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)

Some science fiction – not the weird kind tho. I like it to be based in reality a little. I do like Ray
Bradbury and George R. R. Martin.

24. Favorite biography?

I read Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland by Gerald Clarke. I had to read this for a school project and thought it was so well written and evocative of the time period. I would definitely recommend.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?

Not that I can really recall – I don’t really believe in them.

26. Favorite cookbook?

I don’t use a lot of cookbooks (usually look online), but I have enjoyed Rachel Ray’s Book of 10 and I like Taste of Home series cooking magazine.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

Umm, maybe By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan – I really learned a lot about the Jewish side of things during the Inquisition.

28. Favorite reading snack?

Usually just a glass of water – I tend to read right before bed after brushing my teeth.

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.

The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen – but totally all my fault. I learned about the real life main character and spent a lot of time writing a huge project on her for my school project, so I expected a lot from the book and it didn’t live up to what I wanted - so it was really self hype.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?

I usually never agree with professional book critics (or movie critics for that matter). I don’t read a lot of professional reviews but I sometimes feel like they are not being truthful. On the other hand, the few bloggers whose reviews I read frequently I often agree with.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

I think that a real review should tell exactly what you thought of the book. I really try to make mine to discuss both the good things as well as the bad, because most books have some of both. But if it is truly a horrendous book, I would say so and support my decision with my reasons. I think that the reasons are just as important.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?

I would love to be fluent in Arabic. I took 2 semesters in school, so I can vocalize what I see, but can’t really translate or read it (especially after a year off!).

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?

I don’t know that I can pinpoint an exact book – but long ones are the hardest for me to get into and stay interested in, especially if it is over 400 pages. I feel like I want to move on to something else, even if the story is riviting.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?

I honestly would like to read the Old Testament of the Bible. I’m not very religious at all, but as a kid those were always the stories I loved to hear and I really would like to actually read it.

35. Favorite Poet?

I can’t stand poetry! I have no head for trying to figure out what they are saying. If you mean something, just say it straight out!

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?

Usually just one, and it is almost always an audiobook.

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?

Maybe once?! I usually go in with a specific book in mind and if they don’t have it I will get nothing instead.

38. Favorite fictional character?

William Marshall from The Greatest Knight (not so much in The Scarlet Lion). I know that he was real, but he was so handsome and awesome and I loved the way he was written!

39. Favorite fictional villain?

I can’t really recall the last time a book I read had a real villain - maybe Maleficient from Sleeping Beauty.

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?

I usually will bring whatever book I had on my list next to read – I don’t really differentiate between vacation reads and regular reads.

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading?

There was about 3 years (senior high school and first two years of college) that I don’t think I read anything. I had so much school work and I had really lost my love of reading. Then I read Wicked by Gregory Maguire in the end of my junior year that really got me back into reading.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

I think the only book I have ever put down unread is Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I am considering listening to it on audio book because everyone says such great things about it. I think it was just a bad time for me to try to get into it.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

The tv and other people.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

After my initial thoughts, I enjoyed The Time Traveler’s Wife – even though it wasn’t quite as good as the book, I still enjoyed it.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?

Probably The Lovely Bones – really didn’t even get the essence right.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?

I think about $200.00, but that was because I had gift cards to spend after graduation. With my own money, I think I hit $100.00 once.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?

I used to read the last page and I still would, but my boyfriend yells at me. I hate being surprised…

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

Really I have this rule that if I start reading it, I will finish it – even if it isn’t great. I always keep thinking that it has to have some redeeming quality.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

Yes. I try to keep all the books by one author together and then sort of by genre.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

I usually keep all of my books, at least for awhile. If I start to run out of space then I will usually go thru and decide which ones I didn’t like as much and give those away or donate to my library.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

The Harlot’s Progress by Peter Mottley. I have heard some bad reviews so I keep putting it off.

52. Name a book that made you angry.

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier after I read The Girl With a Pearl Earring.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

The Crucible by Arthur Miller – and now I can’t get enough of it.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

Again, The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen.

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

Usually my YA (Gossip Girl series) and my audio books

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