armchair travel

So, since I have two abstracts for two serious research papers due tomorrow (one in the morning, the other in the afternoon) - why not have a little fun in between? I found this survey from a couple different blogs around the internet and thought it might provide several good breaks as I attempt to write. "Attempt" being the key word.

1. Favorite childhood book?

Harry Potter by JK Rowling. I started reading them when I was eight, and they literally changed my life.

2. What are you reading right now?

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, a collection of Sherlock Holmes tales, & a text on Roman Sculpture by Kleiner as well as whichever book I read for my literature class I'm in currently - we just finished The Chinese Gold Murders by Robert van Gulik.

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

I generally don't request things from the library. If I want to read a book, I buy it. Even if I end up hating it, I just prefer owning the books I read.

4. Bad book habit?

Not finishing due to reading too many at once.

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

Several boring books about Hellenistic sculpture and the like.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

No, but I'd love one! Perfect for traveling. Seriously - why wouldn't I want to have all of my favorite books in one place?

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

I really love reading two at once, but, due to school, I often read up to five simultaneously.

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

No...

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

My least favorite right now would have to be The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. Not to say that I didn't like it! But, I think I need to read it once more to fully appreciate it.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

One Day by David Nicholls; this is an instance where I watched the movie beforehand. It wasn't necessarily a great literary work or anything, but I really enjoyed the characters.

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

I didn't know there was such a thing for books? I don't know...well, you probably wouldn't ever catch me reading sci-fi books or anything (does Jose Saramago's Blindess count?), so no...I like - LOVE - the 19th Century novel or a good, emotional, character study or vignette.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

Victorian, 19th Century Novel, Christian theology (Lewis, Platt, Chan...), anything Jane Austen

13. Can you read on the bus?

I can read practically anywhere, anytime - except in my sleep. Which has proved quite annoying this semester.

14. Favorite place to read?

My room, on my bed. Someplace quiet and isolated.

15. What is your policy on book lending?

I have a love/hate relationship with sharing. But generally my friends don't read the things I like, so it's never usually a problem. :D

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

I swear by dog-ears.

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

Not unless I'm particularly confused by something.

18. Not even with text books?

In the case of textbooks, more so - but the above still applies.

19. What is your favorite language to read in?

English. Unfortunately my French isn't good enough to not give me headaches when I read it for too long.

20. What makes you love a book?

The characters. One of my favorite books is Villette by Charlotte Bronte, and that book, I think, is about the genesis of that character. It doesn't really have a plot - there's some supernatural elements included that are common for the time period in which it was written - but it is more like a compilation of vignettes of life. Also, I love books that are rich in play-on-words or little details like that. Poe, for instance, is a good example of this.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

If I feel really personally attached to it.

22. Favorite genre?

I love gothic, the 19th Century novel (I don't know what else to call it?), and also dystopian, like Orwell and the like.

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

More things like His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman - such a good, good series. Alternative universes? Again, my terminology is failing me. Oh! And biography...I used to be OBSESSED with them but haven't had the time to read them as of late.

24. Favorite biography?

I'll have to look up the title and author next time I'm home, but I read a really, really good biography on Eleanor Roosevelt (who's one of my role models) a while back. Also (again, I can't remember the author) I read a really interesting biography on the Mitford Sisters when I was in high school.

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

Nope.

26. Favorite cookbook?

One that my great-grandmother, Mamaw, & Granny compiled for me. I will love that thing forever.

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

Oddly, To the Lighthouse by V. Woolf. The way she captures the melancholia of everyday life is fascinating.

28. Favorite reading snack?

Coffee. I hate getting my fingers dirty.

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

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer is probably the best example of this, except the hype wasn't necessarily what ruined it...let's just say I didn't have high expectations to start with.

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

I don't recall a time I've ever read a critics' review for a book.

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

I don't really review...I just treasure the books I love and forget the ones I don't. Unless, of course, it's something like The Red Pony by John Steinbeck, which I read in the 6th grade AND which has ruined me for all other Steinbeck books.

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

French, probably - I just love the language.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James; I was 13 when I tried to first read it (I was determined, because it was a Senior reading level), but I never understood it. Also, Sanctuary by William Faulkner. Still haven't succeeded with that one.

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

I can't think of one right this second, but I'm sure there is one...

35. Favorite Poet?

I enjoy Emily Dickinson. I love her wit. Otherwise, I know next to nothing about poetry.

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

During school term, about three to five, but nothing too exciting. During breaks, none.

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

None that I can remember.

38. Favorite fictional character?

In no particular order: Tess d'Urberville (absolute. favorite.), Lucy Snowe (from Villette), Jane Eyre, Luna Lovegood (from Harry Potter), Lyra Belacqua (from His Dark Materials), Sally Lockhart (from the Sally Lockhart Trilogy)....

39. Favorite fictional villain?

Er...Sauron?

40. Books you’re most likely to bring on vacation?

Anything Young Adult fiction-wise. The Hunger Games, Gemma Doyle Trilogy...

41. The longest you’ve gone without reading.

I've never noticed, but probably a month or two? I'm usually reading something, if only just the newspaper.

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

Sanctuary by William Faulkner. I started it in high school. I couldn't get past the first chapter. I tried again over Christmas break (2011), and the same thing happened, only this time I understood what was going on.

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

My to-do list.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

LOVE all the recent adaptions of Jane Austen's novels...Emma (2009), in particular. Also, the recent adaption of Tess of the d'Urbervilles (2008?) was wonderful.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. They changed the whole undertone of the books. I liked the movie overall, but I think because of its kind of controversial nature (especially from where I live) the writers decided to change the undertone from a religious to a political one.

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

Probably close to $100...I only ever do that around Christmas, though.

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

Never! I hate having things spoiled. I'll read the back (or flap) description and maybe the "about the author," but that's it.

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

Disinterest? I know that's vague, but...oh well.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

I mean, I keep them together on shelves (at home) and under my bed here at school, but I don't organize them alphabetically or anything. I keep the books I'm currently reading at the end of the stack for easy access.

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

Keep. I never give away books.

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

No, at least - none that I can think of...well, besides school related books I can't think of any.

52. Name a book that made you angry.

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck. I don't even remember why - I read it eight years ago - but I truly loathed that book in 6th grade.

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

The Hunger Games. I was really skeptical when I read them, but once I started, I read the whole series in two days. Also, The Awakening by Kate Chopin. I thought it was going to be boring and the characters were just going to whine, but it was obviously not like that at all.

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

My memory must be getting really bad, because I can't think of anything for this, either!

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

Young Adult fiction is pretty much my pleasure reading. It's entertaining and usually the writing style is easy to follow. Nothing too complicated, yet still worthy in its own right. Libba Bray, Suzanne Collins, JK Rowling (although I feel like Harry Potter is too dense to truly be YA fiction), etc.

listening to: gray or blue by jaymay

cups of coffee: one going on two

Monday, April 9, 2012

ICED COFFEE

Sunday, March 4, 2012

A BOOK SURVEY & REWARD SYSTEM

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

AN INTRODUCTION