I saw this tag on mylittlebookblog and quite liked it, though I feel some of the questions are a bit overkill.
I was not tagged in this, but I fancied doing it and since I don’t much care for convention, here we go!
1. What was the last book you read?
Last book I completed was New York Actually by Sarah Morgan.
2. Was it good one?
It was ok. It was not a chore to read, but fluffy romance novels are not really my thing and I would not read again. This one was given to me and it will go into the guest library to take or read at their leisure.
3. What made it good?
This is assuming it was good, but nevermind. I will just think of something good about this novel. There were dogs in it…. Does that count?
4. Would you recommend it to other people?
Only if they were really into romance. It’s proper chick lit.
5. How often do you read?
Every day at bedtime, but when I am in the mood I read any given moment in a day that I have a chance to.
6. Do you like to read?
Duh!
7. What was the last bad book you read?
A truly bad book? Not sure. I was really disappointed with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Does that count?
8. What made you dislike it?
I loved the premise, but the story itself just did not end up grabbing me the way I had expected. I found it quite a dull read.
9. Do you wish to be a writer?
Sure, that would be nice. I have started a few novels, but I doubt I will ever complete them! I enjoy the act of writing a lot though. It’s like therapy!
10. Has any book influenced you greatly?
I could not pinpoint one book, but the Silver Brumby and Black Stallion series from my youth definitely helped my love for reading and writing. Terry Brooks’ original Shannara series, which I read in my teens, fuelled my love for Fantasy.
11. Do you read fan fiction?
No.
12. Do you write fan fiction?
No.
13. What’s your favourite book?
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, which completely blew me away when I first read it about five years ago.
14. What’s your least favourite book?
I have tried reading The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy several times and never got any further than about three chapters in. I still have it though in the hope it may one day be different!
15. Do you prefer reading physical books or reading on a device like a Kindle?
Definitely physical books. The act of curling up with a good book and turning the pages is something special.
16. When did you learn to read?
In primary school I imagine.
17. What is your favourite book you had to read in school?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I did not like it at the time, but I sure do love it now. Definitely in my top 5 of favourite books.
18. What is your favourite book series?
This is hard. From my youth, The original Silver Brumby series. And from adulthood The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. To read 14 books in one series was quite an emotional investment!
19. Who is your favourite author?
Not sure. Maybe William Horwood.
20. What is your favourite genre?
Fantasy I think, or historical fiction. Or what do you call books where the world is seen from an animal perspective, like Watership Down?
21. Who is your favourite character in a book series?
I am very fond of Perrin Aybara from the Wheel of Time series. Or Baringa from the Silver Brumby series – can a horse be a favourite character?
22. Has a book ever transported you somewhere else?
A good book should always do that. It’s the sole purpose of fiction.
23. Which book do you wish had a sequel?
I wish Jane Austen had written a sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Other people have, but that does not count! It would have been nice to get a glimpse of Mr and Mrs Darcy’s married life!
24. Which book do you wish did NOT have a sequel?
I wish Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel was a stand alone novel. The sequels do not even come close to measuring up!
25. How long does it take you to read a book?
This greatly depends on the book and my mood! I generally read a normal sized novel in a few days to a few weeks depending on how much I feel like reading and how much it is grabbing me.
26. Do you like it when books become movies?
Sometimes. It depends how good the adaptation is. Sometimes I only discover the book because a movie has been made, like The Hunger Games.
27. Which book was ruined by its movie adaptation?
God, can I just mention the Shannara adaptation MTV did recently? Such drivel! So badly done! I did not watch past the first couple of episodes for fear that it would ruin the books I loved from my teens!
28. Which movie has done a book justice?
Trainspotting (Irvine Welsh)!
29. Do you read newspapers?
Seldomly.
30. Do you read magazines?
In waiting rooms 🙂
31. Do you prefer newspapers or magazines?
Much of a muchness to me.
32. Do you read while in bed?
Big fat yes!
33. Do you read while on the toilet?
No.
34. Do you read while in the car?
No, I would get car sick.
35. Do you read while in the bath?
No. I don’t really take baths anyway. I’m a shower kind of girl and you can’t take books in showers!
36. Are you a fast reader?
Just above average.
37. Are you a slow reader?
See question 36.
38. Where is your favourite place to read?
In bed.
39. Is it hard for you to concentrate while you read?
I have a child. I have learned to not let much bother me while I’m reading. There’s usually music on, or television. I don’t mind.
40. Do you need a room to be silent to read?
No, see question 39.
41. Who gave you your love for reading?
Myself! And Mr Walter Farley, the writer of the Black Stallion series, the first books I really loved.
42. What book is next on your list to read?
Orange Horses by Maeve Kelly probably. It’s quite a thin book and has been on my shelf for ages! I think it’s a collection of short stories.
43. When did you start reading chapter books?
No idea!
44. Who is your favourite children’s book author?
For very young children Julia Donaldson, for 8+ Walter Farley and Elyne Mitchell.
45. Which author would you most like to interview?
I would have loved to interview Elyne Mitchell, but she died some time ago. Maybe John Francome, an ex-jockey, who now writes Dick Francis style horse racing crime fiction.
46. Which author do you think you’d be friends with?
David Baddiel
47. What book have you re-read the most?
The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell – pure magic!
48. Which books do you consider classics?
Any book that pretty much everybody who reads knows for its literary merit, even if they have not read it.
49. Which books do you think should be taught in every school?
Any classics that a child that age could relate to that have wider themes that are relevant to the world we live in. I love Jane Austen, but I don’t necessarily believe it is very interesting for middle school or high school children. I certainly did not appreciate her until much later.
50. Which books do you think should be banned from all schools?
None spring to mind. Many books are controversial, but controversy can be a great topic for discussion.
I will tag anyone who loves books!
Well, since I have limited my TBR for this exercise to the book I already own… But a book that’s on my to-read list on Goodreads that is not out yet is Wicked Like A Wildfire by Lara Popovic. I love the premise and the cover is just gorgeous!
