This meme has been circulating on the book blogs this week. I don't usually do these, for no good reason, but this one looks fun! So here goes… more information on me than you need.
What was the last book you bought?
I rarely buy new books these days, because I get so many review copies. But I went wild at Powell's bookstore in Portland, OR a few weeks ago, and bought used copies of Dervishes, Girls in Trucks, and The Woman Who Can't Forget.
Name a book you have read MORE than once.
Lolita. I fall in love every time, and every time the ending sucks. Also Pride and Prejudice (whose ending doesn't suck).
Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
Nickel & Dimed. Wow. I stopped complaining about my (then) job when I read it. (No need to complain about my current job!)
How do you choose a book? (eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews)
Almost always by plot summary. If it's a story I think I will enjoy – that's the most important factor. Reviews come second. A good cover design doesn't hurt.
Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Overwhelmingly fiction. I find non-fiction much less compelling. I love a good story, coupled with beautiful writing. I do buy/order non-fiction from time to time, though I then put off reading it for a long while.
What’s more important in a novel – beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
Definitely beautiful writing. Bad – or even average – writing, for me, kills a book, even one with a good plot. I am terribly distracted by bad writing, and conversely transported by good writing.
Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
Hmmm. Is it a cliche to say Elizabeth Bennett? For me, "memorable" doesn't necessarily equal "loved" in a lot of cases.
Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
My "nightstand" has spilled over to the double shelves under my nightstand, the radiator cover, the bottom shelf of my bookshelf, and now a 3 foot-high pile on the floor. This is my TBR list. I estimate there are over 150 books in it right now. Sigh. I should take a picture of these piles – it's pathetic.
As for the top of my nightstand, it's the book I am currently reading – Lost in the Forest, my friend Len's copy of Revolutionary Road, which I have been putting off for about a year for no reason, PostSecret and Not Quite What I Was Planning.
What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
Last week I finished Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield. Reviewed here. I am almost done with Lost in the Forest.
Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
Very infrequently. I don't like to do that – makes me feel guilty. The most recent book I remember not finishing – and this was a few years ago – was The Book Borrower by Alice Mattison. It was just spiraling down and I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I forced myself through Miss American Pie last year – another disappointment.
Thanks for reading!