Tuesday, September 17, 2013

A Compulsive Reader Profile: A-Z

This A-Z meme was started by the Perpetual Page-Turner

Author you’ve read the most books from: 
Walter Farley's Black Stallion series, at least 21 books, I read them all over AND OVER again as a kid. As an adult, I'm catching up with C.S. Lewis' books. He has over 30; I'm about 2/3rds through.

Best sequel ever:
The Iron Knight, by Julie Kagawa. This was actually the fourth and last book in the series, but this is the only series I've read where the books just kept getting better and better.  

Currently reading:
Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley. Another author I plan to read through all her books. 

Drink of choice while reading:
Tea. I have a whole Pinterest board on Books and Tea.

E-reader or physical book:
Physical book all the way! I own a tablet and enjoy reading on it, but I prefer real books.

Fictional character you would have dated in high school:
Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. I was pretty picky in high school. Very high standards. 

Glad you gave this book a chance:
Code Verity, by Elizabeth Wein. Being a WWII story, I knew this one would be heartbreaking in some (or many ways), but the characters are so WORTH getting to know. 

Hidden gem book:
Scarlet Royal by Anne Emery (1976). Loved this book growing up, as a horse crazy girl, and not just because the main character's name is Margo.  I learned so much from this book too, about life and how to meet hardships with courage.  "The only meaningful thing in Margo's life was her horse, Scarlet Royal. However, when a rich family offered her struggling parents a lavish price for the horse, how could they refuse? A story of sportsmanship and courage."

Important moment in your reading life:
I grew up reading like crazy, but during college I got so burnt out with required reading I quit reading except for necessity. After college I didn't get back into the habit again. But I've always been passionate about writing, and when I discovered the world of writer's blogs, I also discovered  that other writers were VORACIOUS readers. I realized I needed to start reading more - you can't write books if you don't read them, for heaven's sake. Yeah, it was kind of a "duh!" moment, but there you go. Once I started reading again, it was like finding myself after being lost for many years.

Just finished:
Warhorse by Michael Morpugo. Very reminiscent of Black Beauty, but with its own historical pathos.  So much more cohesive than the disconnected  movie.

Kinds of books I won’t read:
Erotica. Or books that are famous for their shock value.

Longest book you’ve read:
The Bible - all 774,776 words of it. Compare that to Lord of the Rings (combined): about 473,000. I couldn't find a word count for James Michener's Chesapeake but I bet that's close. Also Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett was a really lonnnnnnng one at 401,905 words (983 pages).  

Major book hangover because of:
I think a book hangover is when you finish a great book, and it just sticks with you, and you wish it hadn't ended and you didn't have to face real life again.  The last time I really got that feeling was probably after reading the Blue Sword last spring. And just a little bit again like that after reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone this spring. 

Number of bookcases you own:
Five large ones and several small ones. All quite full. 

One book you have read multiple times:
Lord of the Rings. So many times I've lost count. 

Preferred place to read:
In winter, curled up in big chair near the fireplace. In the summer, on my porch swing. 

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
She reads books as one one would breathe air, to fill up and live - Annie Dillard

Reading regret:
Pet Semetary by Stephen King. Still gives me nightmares. 

Series you started and need to finish:
The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. So happy I have more regency-era dragons to read about. 

Three of your all-time favorite books:
Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien,  Green Grass of Wyoming by Mary O'Hara and The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

Unapologetic fangirl for:
Gandalf. You know on interviews where they ask you what famous person you'd most like to meet? I pick him everytime. 

Very excited for this release more than all the others:
It's a three way tie between the sequel to Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman, the sequel to Pegasus, by Robin McKinley, and the sequel to the Archived by Victoria Schwab.

Worst bookish habit:
Ignoring my family while I'm in a good book. 

X marks the spot (start on your top shelf and pick the 27th book):
Couldn't have picked a better book: the Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. Of course, of my five bookshelves, I did pick the bookshelf that holds all my favorites.

Your latest book purchase:
One Thousands Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept me up way too late): 
Sabriel and Lirael by Garth Nix - the last 1/3 of both of these books kept me up wayyyyyy too late.

Where's your favorite reading place?

6 comments:

  1. I love this meme, Margo! I'll have to answer these, too, and check out Perpetual Page Turner's blog. My favorite reading place is my couch or my bed. I love reading outside, too, but there's no where to do that at my apartment. When I get a house someday I'll be outside reading all the time!!

    Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

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  2. Awwwww your a Gandalf Girrrl!!!! Good for you!!

    A comfy chair with a good back support!! Take care
    x

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  3. This is a fantastic way to get to know a reader/writer better, as well as promote others' work. Loved it!

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  4. I LOVE Robin McKinley but have never gotten around to reading THE BLUE SWORD. Thanks for the recommendation. It was so much fun reading about your favorite books!

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  5. Cool meme! My favorite reading place is in bed late, late at night. That way, when I get sleepy I just turn out the light and snooze.

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  6. The above books are my favorite books. It's great to think about time immersed in coffee and books.

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