Book-y Bloggy Meme-y Survey!

Yay, surveys! via colliemommie:

1. Favourite childhood book?
My favorite childhood book is my favorite book ever of course, A Wrinkle In Time, which I promise you you are going to get SO sick of hearing about from me next year, or else you're going to totally enjoy it in a whole new way through my ramblings. Oh yes, I have grand plans for the Year of the Tesseract, I do.

Just out of curiosity, how common is it to have a favorite book that is different from ones favorite CHILDHOOD book? Because don't people usually feel much more strongly about the books they read in childhood than ones they read later? Sure, you do get other "favorite" books over time in the sense that you, you know, end up making a list of 40 of them, but your NUMBER ONE EVER, isn't that tied to the books that SHAPED WHO YOU ARE TODAY as opposed to something you read once you became a crusty old inflexible adult? Or is this just coming from the warped sense of self-importance I have as a children's librarian?

2. What are you reading right now?
I am currently not in the middle of anything, because I just finished This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel, which was quite good, and TENSE, I am so out of the habit of horror lately, but good; so have not started anything new yet. But I walked into work to see we've finally gotten Pratchett's I Shall Wear Midnight which I ordered for myself, so I'll probably be starting that next.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Technically I considered I Shall Wear Midnight in this category, since I knew it was coming and was just waiting for it (and, technically, I DID request it, though under the guise of ordering it for the YA collection, because DUH it needs to be there), but now I actually have it checked out to me, so I guess it's not on request any more.

4. Bad book habit?
Using whatever I can find as a bookmark. This includes hair clips, used kleenex, and other books.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Besides the Pratchett I have Shannon Hale's Book of a Thousand Days from our library; from the Big Library (or the library with a budget? since ours is pretty dang big now), Eva Ibbotson's The Ogre of Oglefort, Maureen Johnson's The Name of the Star, a couple Elephant and Piggie books allegedly for the kids, and a couple cartoon DVDs outright-without-even-an-allegedly for the kids.

6. Do you have an e-reader?
Dude, ask me if I have a cell phone that text-messages. But when I DO get one-- an eReader, not necessarily a cell phone from the past decade-- I'm actually going to get a tablet, so I can use it to read blogs, because blogs are totally my magazines. I think I'd use it more for that than for actual long-format texts (I don't believe in the term "eBook"). Also, I'm still getting a case for it that says "Don't Panic" in big friendly letters on the front. That's all I ask for, really.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I prefer to read one novel at a time, but nonfiction can pop in whenever it likes. Likewise picture books.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Well, they've certainly changed since I started READING blogs, because now I have such a never-ending To Read list that I sometimes fear I will NEVER EVER REREAD ANYTHING EVER AGAIN. Also, I read things written by people I have had direct contact with, which is kind of weird. Nice, but weird.

9. Least favourite book you read this year (so far?)
I've given up on a few books after the first chapter or so, because I haven't had the patience to stick with anything that wasn't catching me. They all SEEMED so promising, too, so it might just be me and how I was feeling at the time. I won't name names, seeing as it was most likely just me and all.

10. Favourite book you've read this year?
Ohhhhh... probably still Frances Hardinge's The Lost Conspiracy.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Rarely. There's too much I want to read IN my comfort zone that I don't have time to read.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Absolute narrowest? Humorous fantasy-adventure upper-middle-grade fiction. More broadly, middle-grade and YA fantasy, mystery, humorous realistic fiction, and general good stuff (as opposed to General Good Times, which would make you laugh if you'd read another of my favorite reads this year, Libba Bray's Beauty Queens.) Outside of the realm of MG and YA, which is what it's my job to be Up On, I love wordless picture books and funny adult novels, and nonfiction for whatever-the-subject-is's sake, rather than nonfiction as a genre.

13. Can you read on the bus?
It's been a long time since I have, but I usually could. Much better than I can in the car, which is Not At All.

14. Favourite place to read?
Anywhere people won't bug me. Like that's anywhere, anymore. Somewhere comfy. I want a comfy chair outside on a nice day. I know, how many comfy chairs do YOU have outside, but still.

15. What is your policy on book lending?
I work in a library. You bring me a photo ID and proof of current address, I'll give you a card and lend you whatever you like!

I rarely have people actually visit my house to see my own personal book collection, and I rarely buy any books anymore (since I rarely get to reread anyway), so I don't really have much opportunity to lend my own books out. I'd love it if people were INTERESTED enough in my books for me to lend them out. But my mom still does have my copy of The Wee Free Men. Think she forgot it's mine.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Not since I was a kid. Did I ever mention how I thought I'd invented that technique?

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
No. I've got a few books from childhood that I felt the need to write my name inside in lots of fancy ways though.

18. Not even with text books?
I never OPENED text books. Okay, I may be exaggerating. But still. Anyway, it's been a long time since I've looked at a text book.

19. What is your favourite language to read in?
English. Which is the only one I really know HOW to read in, though I can guess at Spanish a bit.

20. What makes you love a book?
When it has the ability to make you both laugh out loud AND tear up. That is my favorite mark of excellence.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
As part of my job is to recommend books, my inspiration usually involves a brief reference interview involving questions like "What else do you like to read?" and "What did you like best about that book?" and "Have you tried...author's name?" But if I'm just recommending on my own? Either because I enjoyed it so much myself that I want to spread the love, or because a topic of conversation reminded me of it. To specific people on basis of what I already know about their tastes or interests.

22. Favourite genre?
Humorous middle-grade fantasy and/or mystery.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Humorous classics, adult mysteries. There are lots of genres I rarely read but also don't care to, too.

24. Favourite biography?
Jim Henson: The Works. I was going to say "I don't know, because I can't think of any biographies I reread enough to consider them favorites," and then I was like "OH YEAH. DUH. THAT ONE." Likewise maybe the Beatles' Anthology, if you count collective memoirs as biography.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Most of the nonfiction I read is self-help, in a broad sense. If you want to stick more to the pop-psychology types of titles, I've read a few of them, too.

26. Favourite cookbook?
The one I put together from magazine clippings and computer printouts. But I guess the Better Homes and Gardens one, as it's my basic general reference cookbook.

27. Most inspirational book you've read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
For the first time?... I have no idea. Maybe Warp Speed by Lisa Yee. I've dipped into a few old writing tips books, too.

28. Favourite reading snack?
A strawberry milkshake. Not that I often HAVE one of those while I'm reading, but I WOULD.

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I can think of cases where hype frustrated me AFTER the fact--not with reading, but with being a fan (Harry Potter fandom, I'm looking at you), but I'm usually on the front wave of things I'm actually interested in, and won't read a book I'm not interested in no matter how much hype it gets.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
What do you mean by "critics"? If you're talking like NYT Book Reviews or something, I rarely read them. I read reviews that are written for helping librarians select books for their collections, which are more "this is the audience for this book" than "this book is good or bad." And everyone knows Kirkus is harsh. And then you have book bloggers-- some of which are also proper published reviewers-- and there I've gotten a handle on their tastes and generally know when we're going to agree.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I'm not a proper reviewer. If I am inspired to talk about a book, it's because I DO love it, and if I don't like something I'm just more likely not going to talk about it. Though I will occasionally point out individual issues I have with a book when the subject comes up. I do think that's critical for even a good review-- specifics, not just "I liked/hated it." But I like to dwell on positives, just like with people.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Hebrew. I'd like to read the psalms in their original language.

33. Most intimidating book you've ever read?
Maybe if you count that chapter of Hegel we had to read for Honors Core that one time. It was a chapter, which the professor photocopied for us, but it was SO DANG HARD to read and took forever to get through. I don't remember any actual books I found particularly intimidating.

34. Most intimidating book you're too nervous to begin?
Can't think of specifics at the moment, but there are a lot of fantasy series that I have heard are awesome, but they are all LONG books in SERIES, and the idea of spending that much time on technically one book is scaring me off. Maybe some day when I don't have small children.

35. Favourite Poet?
Dr. Seuss for being a genius. Emily Dickinson for being delightfully morbid. Pink Floyd as a group-- they always tend to claim the songwriting duties across the board, hard to tell whose lyrics I like best. Always a fond spot for Shel Silverstein, too.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Now about 3, and still end up renewing. Before this year-- I don't know what's wrong this year-- 5 or six. Rare renewals.

37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?
This year, shockingly often. Not so much in the past.

38. Favourite fictional character?
Anne Shirley and Samwise Gamgee. After that, I wouldn't know when to stop, so we'll leave it at that.

40. Books I'm most likely to bring on vacation?
Whatever's in my library pile. The idea of POSSIBLY GETTING THEM READ is the exciting thing about vacation reading. Although it's not much of a difference in actuality, because I still have kids.

41. The longest I've gone without reading.
Not sure. Besides, do you mean PLEASURE reading or reading, period? Because that changes it. Also, there's entirely too much print in the world to go without reading, say, a cereal box on occasion.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Like I said, this has happened frequently this year and I can't even remember what they're called. I do remember I gave up on Great Expectations halfway through just because I hated the main character so much.

43. What distracts you easily when you're reading?
Lately, everything. Sometimes my own head. Also I have kids.

44. Favourite film adaptation of a novel?
My favorite movie that is also a favorite book is Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings. With the exception of Not-Enough-Faramir-Being-Swoony (but really, that's just a personal thing), it perfectly captured the books and most of the changes were actually IMPROVEMENTS. My favorite movie of a book that ISN'T one of my favorites is Mary Poppins. I know, the book lovers are very particular about how they love the book better, but I'M SORRY. The movie has: a) an actual plot arc; b) deliciously catchy music; and c) JULIE FREAKING ANDREWS. Julie Andrews is a goddess, I swear. She is UTTERLY goddess-like as Mary Poppins.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Eh, if by "disappointing" you mean "you had high expectations going in" (because normally I DON'T have high expectations and end up pleasantly surprised instead*), I know I could get smacked for this, but Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I know film nerds think that one's the best, and I guess it's good as a movie, but as an adaption of a well-loved book, I was hurt. My dear Professor Lupin sucked, and I hated the rest of the casting for that one, too. Except Emma Thompson, because she's just generally awesome. They did handle the time-turner thing better in the movie than in the book, though. I've been thinking, in preparation for a post I'm going to give you during the Year of the Tesseract called "Why I Actually Didn't Hate The Movie" (there's a teaser for you), that it's strange the different things that will cause me to either love or hate a film adaptation. Usually it's when I feel the characters have not been portrayed properly. I don't care about plot changes as much as character trueness.

46. The most money I've ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
No idea. Does Amazon count as a bookstore? Because probably there around Christmas sometime.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Fiction, never; nonfiction, always.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If i'm just not getting into it and don't care. I have too much else to read.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Yes. Fiction by author, nonfiction by subject, doesn't everybody?

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you've read them?
Keep 'em. I have cheesy book-club paperbacks long out of print that I don't even care about anymore still.

51. Are there any books you've been avoiding?
Lots, but it's not so much "avoiding" as much as "with all the other stuff I have to read, why would I read THAT?"

52. Name a book that made you angry.
The Amber Spyglass. Too much of Philip Pullman's general I'm-smarter-and-better-than-you was coming out in that one, and it was a shame because if you IGNORED that, it was a truly excellent book, and it FRUSTRATED me. I kept wanting to ARGUE with him. Most of his other books he's much better at keeping his obnoxiousness out of the way of the story, but not in that one.

53. A book you didn't expect to like but did?
I don't think there ARE any books like that, because if I didn't expect to like them I wouldn't have read them. Though there are books I liked MORE than I expected to aplenty. Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series is one that I always end up loving way more than I expect to, even when I start subsequent books (although I still don't get why Jace is supposed to be attractive). Ooh, book rec inspiration, rockonliz127, that one's for you, by the way. It's got you written all over it. Not literally.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn't?
See all the books I stopped reading in the middle. Disappointing.

55. Favourite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Reading is always a guilty pleasure for me anymore.

---
*I'm afraid my expectations for the Hunger Games movie are getting way too high, and I'm going to be shockingly disappointed, BUT I CAN'T HELP IT! I just saw Jennifer Lawrence last week for the first time in the new(ish) X-Men movie, and she was SO FREAKIN' AWESOME AND IS GOING TO BE A PERFECT KATNISS! AND THAT WASN'T EVEN HER OSCAR ROLE! What with Peeta now, you know, ACTUALLY LOOKING LIKE PEETA, and with Suzanne Collins being so involved with the script, and with how awesome all the production pictures have looked, I CANNOT CONTAIN MY EXPECTATIONS! On the other hand, I have absolutely no fear of my expectations for the Hobbit movie getting out of hand, because Peter Jackson's Middle Earth + Martin Freeman = BLISS, and the rest of the movie can totally suck without changing that equation. The absolute rock-bottom it can go is "BLISS." So, we're okay, there.