Sunday, July 20, 2008

Books, books.....I love books!

I could have easily been a librarian, I love reading so much. And someday, maybe when I'm retired, I would love to work in or own a bookstore. I saw this book meme on Tense Teacher's site and of course, I stole it.

1. Who are your favorite authors?

David Baldacci, John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, Jan Karon. I love Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and C.S.Lewis. As far as children's books go, I love Shel Silverstein, Kevin Henkes, Beverly Cleary, Leo Lionni, Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss, J.K.Rowling, Laura Numeroff, and Lewis Carroll.

2. What are your favorite books?

I have read all the Chronicles of Narnia many times. I read Little Women at least once a year. Pride and Prejudice and The Lord of the Rings trilogy have been read many times.I loved The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings long before they were popular, as is the same with the Chronicles of Narnia. I read all the way through Jan Karon's At Home in Mitford series about once a year.

3. What kind of books do you tend to read?

I love historical fiction and political, legal thrillers like the ones John Grisham writes. I also like books about real people, like Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan (which I highly recommend).

4. Do you prefer to borrow books from the library or buy them?

I buy them. I like to carry them around, dog-ear them, and write in them, if the mood hits. I am very good about sharing, though, especially if it's a book that was a good read once, but I probably won't read it again. I love having lots of books in the house. My ex-husband Larry said to me once, "If the library doesn't have a book, do they call YOU?"

5. Do you prefer hardcover or paperback?

I love paperbacks. I just like the way it feels in your hand. But I have many hardbacks, too.

6. What was the last book you read? What are you reading now?

I just finished Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, which is based on the true story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his love affair with the wife of a client of his. It gave me a new appreciation of Wright's work. I may re-read it, because I skimmed over parts in an effort to find out "what happened next", and there are some good quotes I want to write down. I am still working on Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina. It is very interesting reading but it is not a quick read, since I am trying to understand and absorb it as I go.


7. Do you read everyday?

Yes. I usually have more than one book going. I read the Louisville newspaper every day, and since I was on the road with Steven, I've gotten hooked on USA Today. And I'm afraid to admit I'm addicted to magazines. I read Oprah every month, and I am likely to be tempted in the checkout line by Time or Newsweek or Reader's Digest or People. And of course, I read blogs almost every day.

8. On average how many books do you read per year?

I really don't know. I read a lot more in the summer, because I have time. During the school year I read hundreds of children's books. I am doing Shelfari's 50 Books a Year Challenge, but I didn't start until July, so we'll see how many I can get finished by New Year's Eve. I think I can do 25 Check it out here: The 50 Book Challenge .

9. Do you belong to any book clubs?

No, but I would like to if I could find the right group and time. I like the online book discussion groups.

10. Recommend a good book.

Marley and Me (see #3) or Loving Frank (see #6) or just about anything by John Grisham. And you can never go wrong with the classics. Charles Dickens is always good.

As I mentioned earlier, I am doing Shelfari's 50 Book Challenge. Here is my Shelfari book shelf: Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog .

Let me know if you do the meme, so I can see your answers.
Have a great day.
J.


PS. Please scroll down and do the Memory post below! I would love to hear your memories.

13 comments:

yorksdevil said...

Books are wonderful things. I like Trevelyan's quote that education "has produced a vast population able to read, but unable to distinguish what is worth reading." Dan Brown's career suggests he had a point.

Over the last year or so I've been working my way through a big pile of books I bought. Dostoevsky is brilliant and I'm about half way through 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot.

Sayre said...

I will have to do this one on Tuesday (or Monday night). I just posted my fun monday and I don't want to just blast past it.

You're like me - I LOVE reading! And my book collection is bordering on ridiculous. I tend to read series over and over again if I like them (JA Jance, Jean Auel, Nevada Barr, Anne Rice, Irish Johansen) and I like to keep them handy for when I get around to them again.

It was great talking to you last night! Thanks for calling!

Webster Twelb said...

Who doesn't love Jane Austen?!

Nice meme...i think I'm going to steal this one too...

eatmisery said...

Borders has a big bargain book sale going on right now, so I spent $100 on books to make me feel better. Had they not been bargain books, I would've easily walked out with $300 less in my bank account.

Jay said...

webster twelb said:

"Who doesn't love Jane Austen?!"



*raises hand* LOL



Have you ever read any James Lee Burke??

Marley and Me was great.

And you really should take up reading some Hunter S. Thompson. ;-)

e.Craig Crawford said...

I enjoyed Dickens' novels, and find O' Henry to be the master of the short story.

Avitable said...

This was a good one. I might do this sometime.

Amy said...

We like a lot of the same authors! Little Women has always been a favorite of mine.

Megan said...

I never could get into Jan Karon's "Mitford" series. I read the first one, but hated it. I was pregnant at the time and hated everything I read so that might have had someting to do with it!

Anonymous said...

I can relate to #4. I'm a sucker for buying new books "all" the time. Even if the book is new at the library, I still want one of my own that I can put on the book-shelf and reference at some point later. In fact, chances are I've read every book on my bookshelf more than once (I have quite a few books).

Your ex-huband's comment made me laugh: "'If the library doesn't have a book, do they call YOU?'" -- HoosierGirl5

Superwoman said...

Ahh, reading, I remember doing that once, then I had kids. Great choices though!

Jodi said...

York - How is "Middlemarch"? I almost bought that.

Sayre - You are totally welcome on the phone call. It was fun. And yes, sometimes we are so alike it's scary (laugh). I will look for your answers.

Webster - Thanks for stopping by.

Eatmisery - I think books are just an addiction, especially for teachers. Spending an hour or two in Borders is like crack to me.

Jay - Yes, yes, you uneducated oaf, we all KNOW you don't like Jane Austen. You have to be a special kind of person to appreciate Jane Austen. (wink) And no, I haven't read those two authors but I will look into them.

Craig - I forgot about O'Henry. I do love his stories. Nice pic, by the way.

Avitable - Thanks for stopping by. I would be interested to see what kind of stuff you read.

Amy - Of course we like the same stuff.....we're kindred souls living in very different lands. (smile)

Finn - I can relate. I have books like that, that I start at a weird point in my life and never get "hooked".

Ricardo - Thanks for stopping by. The truth is, I don't think he meant it as a compliment at the time (he was tired of lugging my boxes of books), but I totally took it as one!

Superwoman - Ah, poor baby. Reading time will come back to you. Enjoy the babies.

J.

yorksdevil said...

I'm enjoying Middlemarch. I'm sure it would be at home on your bookshelf.