15 Aug 2013

AN A TO Z BOOKISH SURVEY.

Having come across THIS POST on Kimberly's On The Wings Of Books site I simply had to join in the fun.

Author you've read the most books from ..... That would have to be Philippa Gregory.

Best sequel ever ..... Best one ever? Can I give a recent example? Bone Quill by John and Carole E Barrowman is the book that first comes to mind.

Currently reading ..... Spirit And Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore.

Drink of choice while reading ..... I wish my answer was drinking hot chocolate whilst reading in front of a log fire - how romantic is that? - but the truth of the matter is I tend to do most of my reading during the wee small hours so I don't generally drink anything apart from maybe the odd sip of water.

E-Reader or physical book? ..... Without a doubt I'm a tree-book reader.

Fictional character you probably would have dated in High School .....Mmm? Robert Langdon of the Da Vinci Code fame (The character of my imagination and not the Tom Hanks character of the film). A professor of religious iconology and symbolism, imagine the fascinating conversations you'd have.

Glad you gave this book a chance ..... To give a recent example, TaleSpins by Michael Mullin. Not usually enamoured of either re-tellings or poetry I was totally taken aback by just how much I relished this trilogy of alternative fairytales and re-tellings written in verse.

Hidden gem book ..... The Matthew Shardlake series of books by CJ Sansom.

Important moment in your reading life ..... The time I received my own junior readers library card. Up until then any books I got out of the library had to be 
checked out on a 'adult's' ticket. To have my own made me feel so grown-up and somehow powerful.

Just finished ..... The Flower Plantation by Nora Anne Brown.

Kind of books you won't read ..... Erotica, sports related stuff.

Longest book you've read ..... Possibly Husband dearest's copy of JRR Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings. An edition containing all three books in the trilogy, it was 998 pages long, 1129 if you include all of the appendices and indexes. 

Major book hangover because of ..... Not sure exactly what is meant by this but The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy still has me reeling and feeling sick.

Number of bookcases you own ..... A double book case with 11 shelves in the living room, a floor to ceiling bookcase under the stairs in the dining room and 3 cases in the study not to mention the various boxes scattered around the house.

One book you have read multiple times ..... Only one? Emm, The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom.

Preferred place to read ..... In bed.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read ..... Despite my 'memorable moment' which I include in just about every book review I do I really am hopeless at remembering quotes so will go with this one from A Tale Without A Name by Penelope S Delta which I think sums up perfectly women of a certain class and period in time - 'With that, she suffered one of her attacks of nerves, and had to leave the room'.

Reading regret ..... That once I start a book I have to finish it no matter what. Grief, with so many books waiting on my TBR pile why I can't admit defeat and label a book DNF (Did Not Finish) I'll never know.

Series you started and need to finish (All books are out in series) ..... With only the last book in the series to be read I'm with Kimberly in that I need to finish the Sookie Stackhouse/TrueBlood series.

Three of your all time favourite books ..... In no particular order, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, The Pillars Of The Earth by Ken Follett, as I mentioned in 'O', The Five People You Meet In Heaven.

Unapologetic fan-girl for ..... At the risk of sounding boring, Mitch Albom. Thought provoking and awe inspiring I loved his The Five People You Meet In Heaven and One More Day and would encourage everyone to read them.

Very excited for this release more than all the others ..... Being greedy, I'm having two. Philippa Gregory's The White Princess, the latest book in her Cousin's War series and, here we go again, Mitch Albom's latest, The First Phone Call From Heaven.

Worst bookish habit ..... See 'R' - Having to finish a book. What? You were expecting me to say folding the corner of the page instead of using a bookmark? Now that to my mind is a bad bookish habit. *

X marks the spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book ..... River God by Wilbur Smith.

Your latest book purchase ..... The White Princess by Philippa Gregory - it should be delivered any day now.

Zzz snatcher book (The last book that kept you up way late) ..... Funny you should ask that as my last read, The Flower Plantation by Nora Anne Brown, had me doing just this.

So, what are you waiting for? I'm longing for you to complete your own A to Z Bookish Survey. For full details visit Kimberly's post or meme host, Jamie, HERE

* Revised sentence.




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17 comments:

Kelly said...

This is so much fun! I would follow suit and answer them myself, but some of them would really stump me.

You don't use bookmarks? I LOVE bookmarks and like to "match" them to the book I'm currently reading.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

That's what I get for trying to type without my glasses on late at night and then not re-reading what I'd typed. I always use a bookmark, what I had meant was that I thought NOT using a bookmark was a bad bookish habit. I'll go back and correct that now Kelly.

Stephanie@Fairday's Blog said...

This was fabulous. I learned so many bookish things about you. I had read most of Philippa Gregory's books too (I was supposed to see her talk two years ago when we had a freak October snow storm and the talk was cancelled- I was sad).

Pillars of the Earth was my longest book (one of my favorites).

Thanks for sharing all of these fun facts. In the future- I hope you can discard books you aren't enjoying. I used to do what you do- until I read (or tried to read) Moby Dick. Got to page 100 after a long time of stopping and starting and then decided I was wasting my time and taking away from books I actually wanted to read. It IS hard to put a book down- but once you are reading a book you love, you lose the guilt. :)

Happy reading!

Maude Lynn said...

This is so fun! Once I start a book, I have to finish it!

Literary Feline said...

How fun! I enjoyed reading your answers, Tracy.

My favorite place to read is in bed too. :-)

Suko said...

Wonderful, thoughtful post! Pretty amazing that you finish every book you start. I am not sure I'd have enough patience to create a similar A to Z survey!

Kimberly @ Midnight Book Girl said...

Not being able to DNF is fairly common. I used to be that way but now that I've given in to the DNF I feel better about what I read, but I know it's hard to give in!

Chitra said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chitra said...

No Bookish survey for me ..May be a beading survey will be apt now I think;)

Brian Joseph said...

Great and fun survey!

Interesting what you mention about The Black Dahlia murders. I have heard from several sources that it was very disturbing. Years ago I would have given it a read. Though intrigued I have gotten squeamish in my old age and will likely stay away.

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Tracy,

I have read a few of these surveys on different blogs, this week and I always seem to comment most on the letter 'W'.

Some people have terrible habits and ways of treating books, which are almost criminal, so I was so pleased to see that you always use a bookmark rather than 'corner turn'.

We also agree on always having to finish a book, even if it is complete drivel. Are we both stubborn, or just plain stupid, in not admitting defeat?

We don't seem to agree on re-reading books though. I never read a book more than once and I always give the book away once I have finished with it. There are just too many new books to discover, to waste time re-reading one!

Some great answers, looks like you had fun completing the challenge.

Yvonne

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I used to be that way and not DNF any books, but I will do it on occasion now since I started reviewing. Too many books to get caught in one I just don't like at all. :)

So many books, so little time said...

up in bed but will come back tomorrow and do this, muchos fun!

Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

The Bookworm said...

Great answers. I do need to read The Five People You Meet In Heaven.
I used to finish bad books no matter what, but then I started to toss them into the DNF pile.

Betty Manousos said...

such a fun survey!

enjoyed reading your great answers.

xx

Betty Manousos said...

...you've got a brilliant mind my wonderful friend! xx

Lindsay said...

I haven't seen this before, Tracy, great post, I really enjoyed it. I find it very hard to not finish a book too, even when I'm struggling with it. I'd love to do this if I get time.