Poor Waldo and Dickens had to go to the vet for their shots today. Waldo is currently curled up in front of me on my desk in the crook of my left arm for maximum pets and sympathy. Not sure where Dickens is but whenever he sees me he starts meowing frantically. Hopefully I will be able to get through this post before he shows up and immobilizes my other arm.
Today seems like a good day for the reading meme that’s been going around. I’ve seen it on several sites but can’t remember on whose I saw it first.
Do you remember how you developed a love of reading?
It seems like I’ve always known how to read and have always loved doing it. I was read to a lot when I was small by my mom and dad and aunts and uncles and the cousin who babysat me, by my grandparents and by teachers. I always had books for my birthday and Christmas and in between from the Scholastic catalog I’d get at school to the school library and the public library. And I don’t remember anyone ever telling me that I couldn’t read a certain book. If all that didn’t help me develop a love of reading then I don’t know what did.
What are some books you loved as a child?
Dr. Seuss, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon, the Black Stallion series, a few books I had about Helen Keller, and of course, the Little House books and Charlotte’s Web
What is your favorite genre?
Fiction, mostly contemporary.
Do you have a favorite novel?
Yeah right. That’s like when I used to ask my mom who she loved more, me or my sister.
Where do you usually read?
On my bed or in it depending on the time of day.
When do you usually read?
Whenever I can! But mostly in the evenings after my schoolwork is done and on weekends.
Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
Definitely. I never know what I might be in the mood for so it is important to have a book on the go to fill my every whim.
Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
I think I pay closer attention when I am reading nonfiction, but other than that I read everything with my tin of page points at hand and on occasion a pencil. I am generally more willing to mark up a nonfiction book.
Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out from the library?
Since my Bookman manages a bookstore he brings home quite a lot of books. I also get books or book gift cards as gifts, the rest I buy secondhand or borrow from the library and sometimes mooch from Bookmooch.
Do you keep most of the books you buy?
Most of them. Sometimes I am forced to weed but I keep as many as I can.
If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them?
No children of my own but I have given books to my husband’s three nieces. To one of them who loves Nancy Drew I gave my whole collection. It was hard but I felt it was appropriate since when I was her age a cousin gave me all of her Nancy Drews.
What are you reading now?
The list in the sidebar is pretty up-to-date.
Do you keep a To Be Read List?
Do I ever! I now keep it in Excel and there are a couple hundred books on it
What’s next?
No idea. Oh, except for The Persians by Aeschylus. I requested that from the library the other day.
What books would you like to re-read?
Quite a few and too numerous to name them all but Jane Austen is up towards the top as is Montaigne and Emerson.
Who are your favorite authors?
There are lots. The three from the previous question, Margaret Atwood, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Terry Pratchett, Alberto Manguel, A.S. Byatt. I think I’ll stop there.
That was fun. Waldo is still curled up in my arm. Dickens did not stop by. If you haven’t done this meme yet, please do!
I love the Nancy Drew story — what a great thing to pass along your collection, which someone had passed on to you!
Paris to the Moon. Hands down. It’s one of my absolute favorite books and it has changed my life in so many ways. Every time I move or go through a period of transition in my life I reread it. It’s beautiful and funny. Also, he’s got archives on newyorker.com. He’s pretty much a genius. I’m so glad you love Terry Pratchett. He’s kind of amazing. Have you read his Tiffany Aching novels?
This was a fun meme to read. It is always interesting to know someone else’s book habits, along with what their favorites are. I love book stories, like the Nancy Drew. My collection came from my aunt. Neither of my daughters were interested, however, so maybe my grandchildren….. someday.
I have kept all of my childrens’ books, and will have many fond memories when I get them out to read to new children.
I can never get enough of these memes – always so interesting to read more about friends’ reading habits! I loved Nancy Drew too as a child, and so wish I was married to someone who managed a bookstore! And my cats would like to send condolences to yours – they too had shots on the weekend and are still offended.
Oh, I remember being read “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “The Great Glass Elevator”, I think they had both just been published at the time. If I am ever fortunate enough to have children, you can bet I’ll be reading to them. For the time being I have about 1500 children and I try to read to them when I am allowed. A week or so back, I was asked by a library volunteer to come in and read: 100 kids out of 300 gave up their recess to hear me read (in English).
I love holding the book upside down as I’m getting ready to begin. In Japanese, “the book is backwards” and, “the book is upside down” come out the same. I flip the book over and around a few times, as the kids roar out telling me to correct the orientation. Sometimes they use an alternate term which means, “end for end”. One time a four year old came up, took the book from my hands, corrected it, and handed it to me with a big smile that said, “I’m glad I could help you out.”
I love reading these memes, too, and I may have to borrow this one. I like your idea of an Excel file–I usually write down titles on little slips of paper and then promptly lose them! I have a tin of those book darts, too, by the way, but I never seem to have them handy when I need them. Do you take them out of the books when you’re finished and recycle them?
So fun to read this. I used to be very good with my TBR list which I also had as an Excel spreadsheet. It was always up to date but lately I just add the books to my mooch wish list or on my bookpedia list or I write them down in of the many journals I keep. That’s not good. It’s gotten out of hand
This is right up my alley, I”ll go do it right now!! I loved your answers… it is a wonderful gift to let kids read whatever they want.
Very fun to read your answers. I also loved Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. I think its lovely that you gave away your old set – just think, she might do the same someday and it will become a real tradition.
I also loved your answer about having a favorite book – that made me laugh out loud.
Dorothy, it was both fun to do and hard because I felt like I was giving away a piece of my childhood. But she was delighted to get them so it was worth it.
littledevil, thanks for the Gopnik tip! I have not read Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching novels yet. I’ve been enjoying his Dsicworld books very much
qugrainne, what a nice aunt! I hope your grandchildren will be the happy recipients of your collection. I still have a few other books I loved when I was a kid, but not many. Since most were shared with my sister, I think she squirreled them all away.
Litlove, being married to someone who manages a bookstore is a two-sided coin. Lots of free books and lot of free books. Your new shelves would have been filled as soon as they were installed if they had been at my house! I do hope your kitties have forgiven you for their shots.
Bikkuri, what a wonderful story! Children are so much fun to read to. Their delight in the story is a joy as is their honesty.
Danielle, I used to have a shoebox full of little slips of paper and it got so out of hand that I had to do something. Since most of my reading takes place at home, I always have my page points with me. I remove them from the book when I am done. If there is a passage I want to remember I copy it out into a commonplace book.
Iliana, sounds like it’s time to do some TBR list wrangling!
It took me a long time too get mine all in one place but I’m glad I did. As I was doing it I found I had the same book noted in several different places. I suppose that meant I really wanted to read it!
Daphne, it is a wonderful gift to let kids read whatever they want and I am forever grateful for it.
Verbivore, I like to think my husband’s niece will pass along the books. She’s 15 now and still likes to read so I keep my fingers crossed. My sister and I would always ask our mom who she loved best and she’d say she loved us equally but we were sure she wasn’t telling the truth so then we’d go outside and argue about it where our couldn’t hear us
I’m sorry to break it to you, but mom told me in private that she really did love me best. And I didn’t squirrel away the books. If you asked mom about them she would claim they are in a box in the attic or garage, which is what she says about everything!
sister, I always suspected!
So Mom squirreled away the books in the magically expanding rafters. I am surprised the roof hasn’t come down yet.