1. Favourite childhood book?
The Egyptian Game, by Zilpha Keatley Synder
2. What are you reading right now?
A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness, by Nassir Ghaemi
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. I tend to be snobbish about sharing books.
4. Bad book habit?
Judging by the cover art.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
The Watchman
Bigenzast
The Runaways, Vol 1-3
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Just the software, for Blackberry and iPad, both Kindle and Nook.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
One if it's fiction, but if it's non-fiction or for class, I read several at a time.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Every once in a while I try to impress people with an obscure title. It usually backfires.
9. Least favourite book you read this year (so far?)
I admit to reading a lot of crap around 3 am. So the list is actually too long.
10. Favourite book you’ve read this year?
Gah...
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Rarely, so I am making an effort to do so more often.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Mind candy- paranormal, YA, romance, fantasy, sci-fi. I rarely read classics/ literary *shamefaced*
13. Can you read on the bus?
No- motion sickness. No cars, no trains, no boats... but planes are okay, funnily enough. But nowadays I've trained myself to sleep on planes, so any books I bring on-board are in the optomistic pile.
14. Favourite place to read?
Anywhere I am.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I hate it, because I never get them back. I used to, once. I've learned better.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
No. And I hate to highlight/underline. But I LOVE creasing the spine. I do on purpose. Nothing like that first crease, right down the middle. Then repeat, multiple times, so it looks well-read.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Only in textbooks/ things I read for class, i.e. notes for assignments. But I had to train myself that this was okay, that no book gods would strike me down with lightening bolts if I did.
18. Not even with text books?
see above.
19. What is your favourite language to read in?
French, actually. I read Cyrano de Bergerac in French (an easy reader version, true), and loved it. Then I read a translated version (full-text) and hated the loss of tone and rhythm and fluidity, even though I knew the easy reader was nothing compared to the original. It was still so much better than the English.
20. What makes you love a book?
If I keep thinking about it long after I put it down, rewinding and rewatching the imagined scenes, re-reading for sentence structure and word choice and hidden nuance.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
I rarely do, so I KNOW that you are perfectly suited in interest and previous reading material to like this one.
22. Favourite genre?
Fiction. After that I pretty much read anything, although I tend to read a lot of urban fantasy.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Narrative nonfiction and/or biography.
24. Favourite biography?
Erm, I dunno that I HAVE read a biography- I keep meaning to read Queen Noor's, but never got around to it...
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
One. I didn't finish.
26. Favourite cookbook?
Michael Symon's Live to Cook
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
Inspirational? Yeah...
28. Favourite reading snack?
Anything. Usually involves cheese and/or chips.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
The short story with Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler, A Scandal in Bohemia. All I heard was, Irene Adler! Irene Adler! The woman, the only one he loved, blah blah blah. And it was like, dude, of course she recognized your poorly disguised ass. Bah.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Depends on the reviewer/ blog/ firm.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
Perfectly fine. I don't tend to WRITE then, but I rant in my head a lot.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Russian, for novels, and Polish for poetry.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Ayn Rand. I forgot which one, but they both scare me.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Moby Dick. I refuse to read it.
35. Favourite Poet?
Wislawa Szymborska.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Heh. Usually the limit. So like 15 or so. I'm a "eyes bigger than my __________" kind of person.
37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?
More times than I like to admit.
38. Favourite fictional character?
Wow, tough one. Wow, tough one! Um, yeah, I like so many... Next question!
39. Favourite fictional villain?
Ooooooh, Frankenstein's monster, except I don't think he's really a villain.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
The ones that I've been avoiding at home. I think that if I get myself into a hotel room with nothing else to read, I'll finally sit down to whatever I've brought.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
A few days?
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
War and Peace. I think I got to page 423 and then just gave up. The names, man, the names. I couldn't keep them straight, even after four hundred pages.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Movement. There's a certain auditory point where I can tune everything out, but seeing something out of the corner of my eye is distracting. This applies to people, light, and TV.
44. Favourite film adaptation of a novel?
Mansfield Park. The book was surprisingly dull, but the movie had action.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Blood and Chocolate. It was a favorite YA novel, and then they completely ruined it.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Erm. I don't think I've ever gone over 200.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
It's a must. Usually I can tell in a few pages, but sometimes I'll pick random middle bits for insurance.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
I rarely do. Maybe .... twice? So, really rare. I finish, in a sort of a watching-a-train-wreck kind of way. Does it fail to get better? Can it get even worse? Can this character get any lamer? Oh my gosh it does!
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
No, it doesn't bother me. I just want them on a shelf.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep books, but I'm trying to prune down. I sell some, and donate the hardbacks to the library.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Most of the classics. Most American lit. Especially Moby Dick.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
River Called, by Patricia Briggs. Seriously, a foster kid w/ abandonment issues who also happens to be a recent rape victim is happily getting married? And you didn't even write the proposal? GAHHH. Please, treat these issues consciously and not as a plot vehicle. (Both the previous rape and the marriage.)
(disclaimer: I believe that rape victims can get married. But I also think that completely forgetting said rape within a month or two is unrealistic. There are side effects. Especially with romantic relationships. Getting married should stir the pot emotionally. Briggs wrote the character as completely blase.)
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Villette, by Charlotte Bronte. It was a mind-blowing experience.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
The Language of Bees, by Laurie R King. It was fine, just ... dissatisfying afterwards. Not memorable, I guess.
55. Favourite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Georgette Heyer, hands down.
I started a book today. By the inside jacket blurb, I knew I was in for some far-fetched and convoluted plot "twists." By page 74, I knew I didn't like it. By page 140, I knew if I skimmed the rest of the book, I wouldn't have missed anything. Yet here I am, impossibly at page 294, still reading, still hating it, and still convinced that I should finish the da*m thing. Because 100 pages of "climax" and "conclusion" might teach me something about how to write CLIMAX! and CONCLUSION!
Hopefully.
So, do you believe there's worth in a bad book, if not for the reader then for the writer? Or do you think that only good literature teaches us? What has been your experience in this area?
Right Now:
What I'm listening to: The Paternal Voice's horrible semblance of music
What I want most: to finish this stupid book
Say that you and Author X have a small but significant relationship (to you) where you've email back and forth a few times, did the whole comments on the blog thing, might even have meet at a signing or conference, and you want to take it one step further. You might have the time for it, but do they? And do they, fiercesome god/goddess of words divine, really want to have an actual friendship, or are you just the lowly pion that is overstepping boundaries?
This question has been bothering me for some time. When authors turn into people, and not just the hands that touch the keyboard, for their readers, that's great. But the author is looking out at a vast, faceless crowd. So, how do you show that 1) the interest is real, and 2) not connected to books in the total omg fangirl sense.
I have no answers. But do you have (I don't want to say strategies because that sounds so . . . clinical) ideas for a polite, political, and non-invasive approach? Comment please!
Write Now:
What I'm listening to: Nothing. I am getting boring in my old age.
What I want most: There's this ice cream flavor that I can't remember the name of but tasted EXACTLY like a White Russian. . .
For fun, because I have masochistic tendencies, I use break to figure out my life... that is graduate schools, M.F.A. vesus M.A. programs, fellowships, grants, scholarships, summer activities, etc.
Etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
It's really... stressful. Really, really, really stressful. I have so many possibilities, so many opportunities...
On the other hand, I have so many possibilities, so many opportunities. It's amazing what I can do. I'm excited and inspired to see the line of stretched-out and scheduled slots for this summer, next summer, the following summer, even the next next next summer...
Ahhhhhhhhh, amazing.
Currently there are very tenative plans for the Bread Loaf summer program next summer, if everything works out. (It never does, but whatever. I'm dreaming.)
And conferences. Oh, the conferences. Have I mentioned that I'm going to the CNU writing conference? I'm going to the CNU writing conference. In two days. On Friday. So excited! I have some really cool classes that I'm attending- Trauma in Memoir, Haiku Aesthetics, and Allusion in Poetry.
I'm also pretty much guaranteed to go to the Pennwriter's conference in May as well. They have a class on breaking into the graphic novel market-- I'm totally geeking out about this. I've secretly wanted to expand into graphic novels for about a year... we'll see how it works out. I'm thinking about taking a drawing class soon (pass/fail option of course; I don't have time to work for a grade on a drawing class. None of that.)
Anyways, exciting stuff. I should go back and work on it more. (*happy, happy, happy, happy*)
Right now:
What I'm listening to: Criminal Minds!!!!!
What I want most: conference funding, conference funding!
I have decided that sometime in the future, I will take a year off and read a book a day. One year, 365 books, one epic adventure.
I vote yes.
Right now:
What I'm listening to: sone Bollywood song
What i want most: a year off school anyone? heh
This writer has been running errands all day. That's want happens when you get a car. Suddenly, all those excuses for procrastination just magically float away. And you are left with a to-do list a mile long, a steadily increasing pile of bills, and only an hour or so to complete it all. Sigh.
First, I went to Barnes and Nobles. Uh, hello? Excellent! So I bought my creative writing textbook, and another text from the creative writing class one shelf over that I'm not taking, called On Writing Well. Then, the cashier invites me to a local critique group. I'm excited about that. I'm not sure that I'll actually go, although I want to. I think I might grab a wingman from the English majors still on campus first.
Then next I swung by the local library to sign up and get my library card. I walked in the door, and ... instant happiness. And then I asked for a volunteer form. =)
Then I went to my creative writing class. I'm really excited to see where this goes, and what I can do with it myself. I hope for really good things!
Then on Saturday I'm going to go to a poetry reading at a different library in the area. So that's quite a lot! And I think that I'll have to sign out, and go catch up on my beauty sleep. The Muse doesn't like looking haggard.
Right Now:
What I'm listening to: Molly Marlette "Constantly"
What I want most: to be really productive
I decided to take a study break, to escape from the depression of realizing that I-really-and- truly know-nothing-about-this-subject. I thought to read my new copy of Poets and Writers magazine, to motivate me to write, to help me remember why I suffer through college and finals. But I entered into a whole new kind of depression. The article I read was on agents, and the effects of the economy on publishing. This is what caught my eye:
Cross-posted from my other blog, Bibliophilia and Me.
The Kindle 2 was released this week!
Today I have been battling mightily against the whispers of the Inner Critic, and I feel that in the end I won, because I was still able to produce and submit a poem for a campus literary competition today despite her insidious words. Victory!
So I've recently switched over to a Mac computer (best decision of my life!) but found out that sadly I am unable to continue using my Sony eReader, as it's not compatible. So I've been looking for alternatives of any sort-- I found a great website, that doesn't require any sort of device at all, but I've also been looking at the Kindle, and I have to admit, I'm greatly tempted.
In the vain attempt to escape from a campus tradition involving tennis balls, golf clubs and excessive amounts of alcohol, I rushed down into Colonial Williamsburg directly upon the heels of waking. I unhappily forgot that Colonial Williamsburg does not belong to the college campus, and as such is subject to the vast crowds of tourists. I scuttled from sandwich shop to sandwich shop to coffee shoppe in search of a Line that Is Not a Ridiculous Wait, and thankfully finding sustenance within a reasonable time, I decided to wander into the campus bookstore. (A purely spur of the moment, whimsical idea, that was completely and utterly spontaneous and had nothing resembling "PLANNING" or "DESIGN" about it, because that would mean that I had spurned my homework in favor of shopping, and worse still, browsing a bookstore for a book to read when I had all those class readings to do....)
I was charmed when I saw that an author was sitting at a table near the front door, but I only wandered over to her table after guiltily surveying the Lack of An Interested Audience, and also catching her eye a few times as I browsed the aisles. I spent a few minutes chatting, during which time another customer came up to the table. We both decided to buy her books, being sufficiently intrigued to invest the money. The author cheerfully asked "Would you like me to sign that for you?" and then proceeded to simply write her name and hand the book back.
Now I realize that as a published author, sitting there, the idea is that customer is interested in You, and Your Work. They are buying Your Book. They come to you. Cue the supplicants to approach the mighty Wielder of Creative Power.
No. WRONG.
THE CUSTOMER IS (unfortunately) TO BE PANDERED TO.
You are an author. And unless you are singularly blessed/ lucky/ whatever to be John Grisham or Stephen King or Anne Rice or some other Big Name, this scenario will never play out. At a signing, YOU ARE TRYING TO DRAW A CUSTOMER IN. You say "Oh, look at me. Look at my books. Don't they look interesting? Here I'll tell you why. You're intrigued? That's fabulous. Here, let me sweeten the deal. I'll sign this book for you. What's your name? To Jane Doe, Happy Readings, Sincerely, Still Poor but Finally Published Author." And unless you are the aforementioned John Grisham, Stephen King or Anne Rice, you have the time to write that much, because there's not likely to be a line of 100 more people waiting to meet you. YOU INVEST THE TIME WITH YOUR READERS IN YOUR BOOK BY MAKING IT INTERESTING AND REALISTIC. WHY WOULDN'T YOU DO THE SAME IN PERSON?
As an author, your readership is based on loyalty. You continue to deliver the goods, they continue to buy. Word of mouth is equally important. If my first exposure to an author is in person, but they don't seem to care about me, the reader, other than a statistic, why should I care about them, the author? I don't like giving money unnecessarily to ungrateful people, which is what a disinterested author shows. He is saying "I'm too important to be here signing for you commoners. I'm a Voice of Genius. I'm Special." And I'm saying in response, "Then obviously my money is too common for you as well, right?"
So please, invest a little in your readers. Because they invest a lot in you through reading, buying, and talking about your works.
Right Now:
What I'm listening to: Nothing.
What I want most: ummmm. The excuse to buy more books. And the time to read them in.
And I thought the pun inherent in the title just deserved a little acknowledgement....
Wow! Look at me! Actually posting in a responsible manner, i.e. before 2 am, coherent, and sitting at a proper desk. Almost like is I was a real professional at this stuff. lol
Anyways. So today's topic-my obsessiveness. Or rather, a different aspect of my obsessiveness that previously discussed. Admittedly, there are many instances of my obsessiveness. haha.
Yesterday I mentioned that I had created a collection of varied notebooks, journals, and calenders for even more varied uses. One of the journals was to be memoir-esque in my entries, a diary for my future kids and grandkids to read. (A classic obsessiveness is my hyper-awareness of my need to have a legacy that I can pass on, but that's another post.) Anyways, because of the imposed importance I have placed on this single, $22 leather-bound, gilt-edged journal, I have also placed a great deal of superficial importance on the pen I use to write in it. Yes, you read correctly. The pen is important. I have a trend where I match the character of the notebook or journal or calender not only to it's purpose and subject matter but also the pens and pencils and highlighters that I use in it. The writing calender has a very studious fine point capped black pen with a bright pink highlighter. The daily chronology has a very cheap, thin black pen that is bought in boxes of 20. For the student calender I use a pencil, in case of mistakes, a red felt tip for exams, and a multitude of different highlighters for my color-coded activities. And today, happily, I found the perfect pen for my memoir journal- a retractable pen with gold accents that match the gilt edged pages, and a smokey metallic color that looks very attractive against the black leather cover. It's very professional, very elegant and very sophisticated with smooth writing. The perfect type of pen to write down my legacy.
Right Now:
What I'm listening to: Amy MacDonald's "Poison Prince"
What I what most: More time in the day. A frequent complaint. I have a 6:30 am flight in the morning and I still have packed for my month long trip. sigh. Oh vey.
Acknowledgement: The title is taken from Lope De Vega's play Feunte Ovejuna... I think. It's a long story. Someday I'll tell you all about it.
No, I'm not talking about the newest trend in Vogue. It's the literary love of my life and a product that any bestseller-destined dreamer should invest in. Moleskine is the creater of a line of journal, sketchbooks, and calenders for the artistically minded. Started way back when (I think the 1700s, but I lost the info sheet that comes with every purchase) it became the favorite of the famous like Hemingway, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Chatwin-recommendations to beat all others! Moleskine has a wide range of stuff to fit all eccentric starts and bursts- they even have nifty little books with composition sheets for the musical. And to state again, it is my current obsession.
The notebooks come in all different sizes and functions, hardback and softcolor, red, blue or black. I enjoy the pocket ones, which I literally pull out of my pocket to jot my inspirations. One journal to each novel that I'm "writing", and another with blank cartoon scene panels for unrelated lightbulbs. And it's great because the journal have a small pocket at the back to put loose leaf items in, and a stretch band that snaps the journal closed.
Moleskine also publishes a cool little item called CityNotebooks (or similar) that are essentially write- your-own-travel-guide. I got one for Boston when I visited, and thought it worked pretty good. Remeber that fabulous hole-in-the -wall restaurant or the back alley baragain shopping boutique. (Oh my! The alliteration. Too tired, not enough creativity. I applogize.)
Lately, I've been obsessing over getting of the weekly calenders, so that I can write down all my literary due dates in a single centralized location. I went today to B&N, but unfortunately didn't find what I wanted. I settled for a different calender that will work perfectly well, unable to wait another day and look at a different store, but I know my heart is still fixed on that red hardback Moleskine.
Right Now:
What I'm listening to: Taylor Swift's "Lucky You", the first song she wrote, at age 12! The jealousy is consumming me alive.
What I want most: To be able to write something like that someday....
Well, my AWOL notice has been flapping on my front door for quite some time now, but I promise, it was practically unavoidable. See Mark Wahlburg in the character of Bob Lee Swagger came to my front door needing help and a nice big hug....or more in the guise of that guy from the Italian Job, where he goes to Charlise Theron's office all out of the blue (because I'm a blonde, not a redhead, so I would probably choose the latter scenario). Haha. Ok, no, actually, I've been doing some wicked medical treatments, but I'm all better now (9 months later, with many AWOL notices) so the blog is hopefully (cross your fingers) back up and running. I admit to a noticable and lamentable lack of literary topics for future discussion, but I figure I can babble on about nothing if I need to; I usually do regardless. =)
But I HAVE figured a few things out, and the first thing that I 'm starting a serialization story on my website. I got the idea from author Lillith Saintcrow, who posted her serial "Selene" on her website http://www.lillithsaintcrow.com/ thrice-weekly. (Go there. She's got a great blog, full of interesting things for everyone and tips for writers. Plus, she has like three years of daily postings; the woman has amazing self discipline and inspiration.) Ambitious as I am, I doubt that I'm that prolific, so I'm thinking just a once a week posting, but if it goes good, maybe I'll bump it up. I'm also thinking Mondays, because Mondays are usually bare of good things to look forward to.
Promise, promise I'll be back tomorrow- I actually have an idea of what to write, so I'm dying to write about it now. But I'm forcing myself to put it in a proper post tomorrow instead of just a P.S. to this one. (*pats back*) Alright, well then, tomorrow!
Right now:
What I'm listening to: Dido's new single "Don't Believe in Love" (can't wait for the release of her new ablum- ETA November 18th!)
What I want most: A red leather, hardbound Moleskine 2009 calender (and the subject of tomorrow's post!)
I would apologize for the extreme lack of consistency in this blog, but I now realize that my case is hopeless, and I will certainly skip another day in the future, so all self-recriminations are useless and my apologies to the not-listening world a waste of time. Hence, no apologies.
So, the last month has seen me with an unexpected abundance of leisure time, something I know I haven't fully taken advantage of, my reading generally limited to the title credits in a movie or TV show. But I have discovered my fondness for (and inner identification with) snarky and sarcastic characters, specifically House from the self-titled show. Extremely intelligent characters with social awkwardness and naivete also top my list, ie. Dr. Temperance Brennan from the show Bones. I definitely have appreciation for the writers that create such shows as these. I didn't follow the strikes except to know when new episodes came back, but my enjoyment of these latest shows definitely gives me a tendency to side with the writers. Deserving doesn't begin to cover it.
But I probably shouldn't show my ignorance to the world. I merely am trying to articulate my new-found appreciation for the serial drama, today's adaptation of the serial novel. If Dickens could do it, why shouldn't I appreciate the splendor of cliff-hanger chapters in it's modern form of the weekly episode? We readers really should learn to branch out a little, lose a bit of the intellectual snobbery I know I hoard with secret glee and satisfaction.
This is the problem with writing without topic or purpose. You expose too much that is by definition unflattering, and reveal that under the enviable vocabulary and disguising grammatical structure there lurks the uninformed b.s.-er. Ah, sadness. Well, that is actually my goal for the rest of this summer and fall, as I continue with the unexpected leisure time. I don't necessarily mean that I am setting out to cure literary ignorance. (although this new book I have called 101 Most Influential People that Never Lived has some very interesting segments, including one on the continuation of the Nancy Drew series beyond the originals. Interestingly, there are different series for different age groups and interests, including one that is more geared towards the romantic aspect than the good, old-fashioned mystery solving crime aspect. I've not known about any these series, and I'm really quite amazed. I also really do think I need to brush up on my deductive and deducing skills as well...) More I am trying to expand my knowledge in other areas of interest. Like cooking. I really haven't got a grasp on the basics, yet I experiment as if I have years of practice and knowledge. Not the best arrangement for my digestion by any stretch of the imagination. And fashion as well. I'm considered myself reasonably well-dressed, but my unexpected leisure time has also called for the heavy utilization of scarfs in my wardrobe, and the ability to properly apply said scarves into an outfit frankly stumps me. Hence, an investigation into fashion and style. Lastly, taking another look at my old anthropology and archaeology textbooks, to brush up on the basics in hopes that I can get into an upper division anthro class when I go back to school. Of course, my school is giving me trouble about approval of transfer credits, but I'm not complaining. They can't help the underlying snobbish and elitist tendencies that plague and restrict true learning.
I should probably stop before my tongue gets me in trouble (it has that tendency). The last thing I am doing is armchair travel. I see a future full of lots and lots of Frommers. And some of those really cute pocket dictionaries that don't really help but look fabulous on your shelf once you get about 8 or so of them from the same publisher. You look intelligent if you have them all lined up, even if you can only say "My dog is having a heart attack. Where is the veterinarian?" in Turkish, Yiddish and Mandarin Chinese.
Of course, if you happen to enjoy traveling with your much beloved Yorkie or Jack Russel...
Right Now:
What I'm listening to: Nothing. I was going to bed but then got distracted.
What I want most in the world: Hmmmm. To stop being hungry. I ate a ton today, probably literally, and yet I really am considering a snack right now, which is beyond ridiculous.
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