Yet another meme from Tense Teacher (only, with this one, she practically threatened English teachers to fill it out, so I’m not so much lifting it as completing an assignment).
Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror?
My reading choices don’t really lean toward any of these. I’ve got friends trying to hook me on fantasy, and I’ve loved a few books from the other genres, but I don’t have a definite preference (I know, I know; lame answer. Sorry. Sometimes, the truth IS lame…)
Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?
I’ll read any of those if they come from the library. If I’m buying a book for the sheer possession of it (say, a really nice copy of a Shakespeare tome or something), I’ll go for the hardback, and all our Harry Potters are hardcover because we’re too impatient to wait for the mass market paperbacks, but I’m usually not up for dropping the extra cash for the hardcovers. Generally, I buy mass market paperbacks. Really, though, it doesn’t matter unless it’s part of a series; then all the books have to be in the same format - it’s an OCD thing for me.
Amazon or Brick and Mortar?
That depends on how impatient I am to have a book. I love to buy from Amazon (because I generally treat myself to a DVD while I’m at it, just to make up the minimum for free shipping, of course!), but there’s a little independent bookstore that I LOVE….
Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Neither, though we have a B&N local to us. I prefer my little Book Outlet.
Hitchhiker or Discworld?
I started reading Hitchiker decades ago, but never finished it. I’ve never heard of Discworld.
Bookmark or Dog-ear?
Bookmark! Unless I’m completely without intrusive markers, I never dog-ear books; in fact, like Tense Teacher, most of my books still look brand new after I’ve read them.
Asimov’s Science Fiction or Fantasy & Science Fiction?
Of those two, I’ll take Fantasy & Science Fiction… But, where’s the romance, where are the classics, where is the gothic horror? Obviously, a science fiction fan wrote this meme! (This is Tense’s answer, verbatum, but I couldn’t reword it to sound better than this…)
Alphabetize by author, Alphabetize by title, or random?
I alphabetize by author, but my bookshelves are grouped by genre (because I now have enough bookshelves to do that - aren’t you jealous?)
Keep, Throw Away or Sell?
Keep the ones I love; sell, or more often share, the rest. The Book Outlet will give me credit for the books I bring in, so that’s generally what I’ll do with a book I know I’ll never have need or want of again.
Keep dust-jacket or toss it?
I keep it unless it gets totally ruined or (as has been the mysterious case on occasion) lost.
Read with dustjacket or remove it?
Here’s the funny bit about me; I take the jacket off while I’m reading, but will replace it between reading sessions. Hmmmm. Maybe that’s how I’ve lost them….
Short story or novel?
I prefer novels, but I’ve been known to sit down to a collection of short stories before, most notably by Annie Proulx or Tim O’Brien.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
I’ve not read Lemony Snicket yet, though I suspect I will when my daughters get into them. My answer here has to be “Potter.”
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
Unless my eyes are crossing and I absolutely can not comprehend English anymore (or there’s an immediate crisis), I can’t stop reading in the middle of a chapter.
“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time?”
I’m mostly a “dark and stormy” kinda gal, though I do own - and have heartily enjoyed - the “once upon a times.”
Buy or Borrow?
BUY! Some women buy shoes; I buy books.
Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation or Browse?
I browse, but I love a lot of readers and they give me good scoop, so recommendations are important. I rarely come into contact with reviews, so they figure far less heavily into my buying decisions.
Lewis or Tolkien?
I’m not heavily steeped in either, but one of my best and dearest is a Tolkein fan, so there you have it.
Collection (short stories by the same author) or Anthology (short stories by different authors)?
I enjoy and have some truly top-notch specimines of both, though I tend to own collections to read for myself and anthologies to use in the classroom.
Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?
I have a love for both of these, though I prefer to have the next installment handy if there’s a cliffhanger.
Morning reading, Afternoon reading or Nighttime reading?
I read blogs in the morning. Reading, for me, is generally a before bed thing, though nothing beats a spare, quiet hour, the couch, and a good book.
Standalone or Series?
Yet again, I’ve gotta say “both.” I used to be a standalone girl, but I’ve gotten myself stuck in a couple of really great series that were SO worth the time it took me to get through them.
New or used?
My favorite bookstore sells both, though used copies have to be NICELY used copies. If the only used copy my bookseller has in stock has someone else’s notes in it, I’ll buy it new.
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
I can’t come up with one here; I think everyone’s heard of Outlander.
Top 5 favorite genre books of all time?
My favorite general fiction books: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon; The Green Mile by Stephen King; The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd; Without Remorse by Tom Clancy; Wicked by Gregory Maguire.
Favorite genre series?
I’ve got a couple: The entire Chili family has loved the Harry Potter series, and we can’t wait for the next book (and yes, Contrary; Dumbledore IS dead!). I’m also completely in love with the Outlander series and will read them all again - probably several times - before I shuffle off this mortal coil.
Currently Reading?
I just finished The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (it was lovely) and have started Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.
Thanks, Tense - that was fun!
I loved “Wicked”, and i just finished the sequel “Son of a Witch” which is excellent.
I alway like to read about books. And read them.
I didn’t read yours until I had completed mine - I forgot Tim O’Brien in my answer for short stories. Devastatingly marvelous, they are.
I am with you on Outlander - go and see the photo of Ewan (no, he couldn’t be Jaime) in a kilt..I wanted to find a random photo to typify our rogue, but I could’na. Och, he’s fiiiiine man, is’nhe?
I LOVED reading your answers to this meme! And, I had totally forgotten about the Outlander series… Wonderful books!
Discworld is a really excellent series, the only one that has consistenly made me laugh out loud when I read them. Might not be for you if you don’t lean towards fantasy, but these are more books in a fantasy setting than fantasy books. Full of funny culture references (they had a whole book that revolved around “music with rocks in”) and odd situations (there is only one actually seamstress in the seamstress’ guild, the rest are in fact “ladies of negotiable affection,” there is a whole book about a highly sexist and very militant country whose military is made up, for the most part, of women pretending to be men). If you ever feel like giving it a peek and are looking for a one-off, give “Small Gods” a try (the actual first book, “The Color of Magic,” is part of a series).
Any must-read recommendations? I just got a gift certificate to a bookstore, so I’m looking for ideas!