Book Survey

Author's Note: This survey is from Amanda, who got it from Leslie; I don't know its original... origin. Please note that I have a horrible memory when it comes to recalling books I've read or movies I've seen, but I'll do my best. Also, to answer your question: Yes, I am ashamed that I haven't had any actual writing on this blog since July 1.

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

The more I digest information on the internet, the more I am intimidated by large books that I nonetheless know I'd like to read, such as Moby Dick and The Stand.

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

I would go adventuring with Roland Deschain (gunslinger and dispenser of wisdom from The Dark Tower series), Ian Malcolm (witty mathematician from Jurassic Park) and Oliver Twist (grateful, along-for-the-ride moral compass).

Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Forde): you are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realize it's past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?

The most boring novel I remember reading was The Good Earth. That was in the ninth grade, though, so who knows how boring I'd find it now.

Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you've read, when in fact you've been nowhere near it?

Hamlet, maybe? Never pretended, but it's one of those books (plays) people assume everyone has read and that I generally know enough about to nod along if I need to. (If you're wondering, there's no good reason that I haven't read it yet.)

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realize when you read a review about it/go to 'reread' it that you haven't? Which book?

Funny you should ask, because my coworker and I were just talking about Stephen King books and I was convinced I had read the short story collection Night Shift... until I realized I didn't recognize the names or plots of any of the stories.

You're interviewing for the post of Official Book Advisor to some VIP (who's not a big reader). What's the first book you'd recommend and why?

Angela's Ashes. I feel like there's another I can't think of, but I think this is a good book that anyone can pick up and enjoy on a lot of different levels. Good writing and good story; humor, sadness, inspiration, and a lot of Irish names. Can't go wrong.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?

Russian, because there's such a variety of good stuff (poetry, novels, history). Also in my top three are Spanish (poetry) and Chinese (philosophy, poetry).

A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?

I'll go with 1984. It's tough to lose what you've gained from reading a book if you read it every year, and that seems a useful book to not lose.

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What's one bookish thing you 'discovered' from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?

I'm not familiar with the book blogging community.

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she's granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leather-bound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favorite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.

I love Amanda's idea of having open book shelves because buying new books is so much fun. To elaborate, I'll say that I wouldn't want first editions and signed books and such in my dream library; I'd be much too nervous around books like that. It's the words I'm interested in and I want cheap paperbacks I can drag around with me wherever I want and mark them up without feeling like I'm ruining a piece of history. I want books that invite people to pick them off the shelves and have a read.