Book meme
Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
I usually end up in the new books, which tend to be hardcover. By the time a book comes to paperback, I've already read it or am not interested. Although, I do buy favorite series in paperback sometimes, such as the Ender Series by Orson Scott Card, The Time Series by Madeleine L'Engle, etc.
Amazon or brick and mortar?
I love book stores...so much potential, much easier to browse. I only go online if it's something that I can't find in a store, or if it's really cheap.
Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Barnes & Noble, but Borders is closer :(
Bookmark or dog-ear?
Bookmark!! I usually use a little Post It note from work.
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
I keep series and authors of which I have a large collection together, but the rest is kind of just plopped wherever. I always have grand plans of sorting--non-fiction, fiction, memoirs/biographies, but that never happens.
Keep, throw away, or sell?
I just let people borrow them, and I usually don't get them back! Then I forget about them until I want to loan it to someone else. Melanie is good about returning books, though.
Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keeper. I take it off to read, so it doesn't get ripped, spilled on, etc.
Read with dust jacket or remove it?
Take it all off!!!
Short story or novel?
I tend to go for novels. I can't read a short story collection as fast as I can read a novel, because I have to pause and absorb between stories.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Harry Potter. I've read most of the Lemony Snicket books, but they are very formulaic. Might as well read Stephen King if I want to be bored by a formula writer!
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
When tired.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?
I tend to like sci-fi/fantasy, if it's not a non-fiction book, so I guess "Once upon a time..."
Buy or borrow?
My library isn't as easy to browse, so I tend to buy more. I wish Cranston Library had separated sections for the new releases. Instead, they have just a generic New Releases display, which usually REALLY sucks. I don't know who picks those books that are displayed, but they SUCK at their job!!!
New or used?
Much like the paperback question for me. If it's old, I've already read it or just have no interest. Although, I've found some gems used: Fear of Flying by Erica Jong was one such gem.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?
All of the above. I usually read 3-4 books, at least, a month, so I'll take recommendations, read reviews, and just browse.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Ummm...I don't know. Some kind of conclusion is good (by "conclusion" I mean "ending", not that the author draws all of the conclusions). I like a book that makes me think about it for a long while after finishing it.
Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
Yes.
Stand-alone or series?
I love both.
Favorite series?
Harry Potter, Anita Blake, The Time Series, Ender, Alvin Maker, Vampire Chronicles, Mayfair Witches, Sleeping Beauty Series ;), The Ring.
Favorite children's book?
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish - Dr Suess!!! Ramona Quimby
Favorite YA book?
The Time Series, Are You There God? It's Me Margaret
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Someone to Run With
Favorite books read last year?
The Ring Series, Someone to Run With, The Time Traveler's Wife. I really got into James Baldwin last year and plowed through most of his books--fiction and non.
Favorite books of all time?
Ender Series, Vampire Chronicles, Someone to Run With, The Time Series, The Time Traveler's Wife, Eating Chinese Food Naked, Lies My Teacher Told Me, Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone
Least favorite book you finished last year?
Motion Sickness. I started this a few times, but could never get through it. I finally did last year. I think I was just happy to be done with it...finally!
What are you reading right now?
Nothing right now. I want to re-read the Harry Potters before the next book, but I don't know if I will or not.
What are you reading next?
See above. popicn wants to start a book club. The books chosen so far are: The Times Series, Tales from the City Series, Harry Potters, The Mayfair Witches.
Favorite book to recommend to an eleven-year-old?
Are You There God? It's me, Margaret. There was also a book that was the Are You There God? for boys, but I just spent at least 30 minutes trying to search for it with no success. This boy experiences his first erection (in school when he is called to the board), spies on his neighbor, has some wet dreams. I read it in elementary school, but I cannot recall the title or author. If anyone knows this, HELP!!
Favorite book to reread?
The Time Series - Madeleine L'Engle. Sorry I keep going back to this, but it's an amazing series. A great introduction to sci-fi.
Do you ever smell books?
Oh, yeah. Old paperbacks from the 80's have a certain smell. MMMMM...libraries!!! ♥♥
Do you ever read Primary source documents?
If the secondary source is interesting enough.