For about-books-and-dreams
1. If it was the end of the world, and you were given the chance to save only 10 books, which books would you choose and why?
Oh, god this question is a pretty intense one to start with. I would probably save the big book of all of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets that I have upstairs (I haven't read them all yet) because I feel like that's something that should be saved. I'd save Tuesdays with Morrie because that book never fails to comfort me. The third book I'd save would be the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes because I absolutely adore the stories, even if I haven't read them all yet. I'd save Pride and Prejudice and Emma because those are my favorite Austen books, Jane Eyre because I love the fact that the heroine isn't traditionally beautiful, but she's a strong and independent character that tries not to depend on anyone but herself. I think I'd save Little Women for the same reason, and god I only have three books left. Okay, after these seven, I'd print all of Harry Potter into one volume and save that and do the same with Narnia because both series were huge parts of my chidlhood. The last book I'd save would be Ishmael, which I am currently reading because I hate to leave a book unfinished, and so far it's a fantastic book and I think it's something that simply must be saved.
2. Have you ever been so frustrated with a book that you've thrown it across the room?
I haven't, actually. I get frustrated but I can't throw books at a wall because then I get so worried that I've 'broken' them.
3. What is one book that you cannot help but hate?
I don't really hate any book, but I can't stand most YA lit and I don't know why. Some of it is good, but for the most part I find the stories a bit overdone.
4. Do you read at night?
All the time. Thankfully my parents never tried to hinder me in my reading at night (but my dad would come in every once in a while and implore me to use more lighting or my eyes would go bad).
5. Favorite author?
I have several, but at the moment I've grown fond of Haruki Murakami's work.
6. Least favorite author?
I don't really have a least favorite author, but I remember not being too fond of Defoe.
7. Do you like to read poetry?
I love poetry. I love reading it and I love writing it. I actually recently got a book of Michelangelo's poetry and letters and I'm pretty excited to get started on that.
8. If you had to teach a course on your favorite genre, what books would you ask your students to read?
Well, I like books that are sort of inner journeys and are more character oriented than plot oriented, so I'd probably want them to read Tuesdays With Morrie, and, since I'm absolutely in love with it so far, Ishmael.
9. One book that you would love to see adapted to the cinema.
Tuesdays with Morrie. Can you tell that I really love the book? Because I really love the book.
10. Do you read on the bus/train/car/etc?
I can read on the train and the bus and anywhere else except in the car. I get carsick if I read in the car, but I think I can read in the bus and train without getting queasy because it's not such an enclosed place. I tend to read wherever I can, actually. At bus stops, train stations, coffeeshops, while I'm walking, before class starts, on my bed, on the couch, on the floor. It goes on and on.
1. What is the longest book you have read?
Either Les Miserables or The Count of Monte Cristo. I read the first earlier the year and the second when I was in junior high. I forget which one's longer, though.
2. How many books do you usually read in a month?
It depends on how busy I am that month, but it can range anywhere from two to fifteen-ish. I tend to read more than one book at a time and if I'm reading an enormous book, I read a few shorter ones on the side.
3. What is one book that you think is underrated?
Hmmm, I'm actually not sure.
4. Which author have you read the most books by, and how many of their books have you read?
Probably J.K. Rowling? I've read all seven Harry Potter books and I've read The Cuckoo's Calling (which was absolutely spectacular, by the way). I've just got to read The Casual Vacancy now.
5. What is your favorite book that you had to read for school?
The Samurai's Garden. I usually don't like books I have to read for a class as much as books I choose to read myself, but this was one of the exceptions.
For falling-inlove-with-books
1. Worst book you've read?
Does Twilight count? I couldn't get past the first few chapters, though.
2. Authors you've been meaning to read but haven't?
E.M Forster. I think I read Howard's End at one point, but I don't remember it at all.
3. How do you feel about e-books/e-readers?
I think that they're definitely convenient, but I don't think I could get used to them, myself. I love the feeling of books for too much. I have to smell my book before I read it and I can't do that with an e-reader. I also love feeling the pages and running my fingertips over the cover and flipping through it.
4. Longest book series you've read?
Harry Potter.
5. Favorite book of all time?
The answer to this question usually changes over time, but I'd have to say it's a tie between Tuesdays with Morrie and Ishmael.
6. Which book would you love to see made into a movie?
I already answered this, but since it's a question I can cheat and say Ishmael. I still need to finish reading it, though.
1. Which one book do you always enjoy, no matter how many times you've read it?
Pride and Prejudice.
2. Do you prefer to buy books or borrow them from friends/the library, etc.?
I prefer to buy them because I'm always so reluctant to return borrowed books. I just want to place them on my shelf next to the last book I've read.
3. What is the last book you read that you couldn't stop thinking about (in a good or a bad way) after you finished it?
King, Queen, Knave by Nabokov because the ending was a bit...abrupt.
4. What book is next on your 'to-read' list and why do you want to read it?
After Ishmael, I want to read Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami and then get started in IQ84 because I'm still on a Murakami kick. I just love his way of writing and I love the way he makes his characters so normal, but it's an unsettling sort of normalcy. The first book I read by him was Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, which was a series of short stories and I every story left me feeling a bit wrong footed. Or like I'd missed a step while going down the stairs.
And that's done! I'm very sorry if this is late for some of you, but I only just realized that I had these in my inbox!! Thank you so much for such wonderful questions!
