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magictreehouse1. Favourite childhood book?
My Great Auntie said that I always had my head in a book but thinking back, I can't think of favourite books I had as a kid. I remember reading the Secret Seven books. However, the book that got me into reading was Michael Crichton's 'Jurassic Park' which I'd bought in the summer to read on holiday but ended up being so engrossed in it that I'd finished it by the time of the holiday.
2. What are you reading right now?
I'm reading Robert Rodi's 'Fag Hag'. Haha. It's surprisingly well written and I'm really enjoying it. I'm also reading Kate Fox's 'Watching the English'.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Call me a hypocrite but I don't lend books from the library. I quite like buying books which I then give away. I offset my guilt by saying that I'm a qualified librarian and so dedicate my life to providing books for others.
4. Bad book habit?
Not being ruthless enough about getting rid of books.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing
6. Do you have an e-reader?
I don't. We've been reading books to get rid of them lately so that we might get a Kindle but as time's going on neither of us are that enthusiastic about it. It's big benefit is being able to download classics for free but I still think that there ar emore positive aspects to physical books than digital ones.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I very rarely read two books on the go. The only time I will ever do it is if I'm reading one non-fiction book and one fiction book, like at the moment, but that doesn't happen often.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
No.
9. Least favourite book you read this year (so far?)
As it's only February I'll use 'this year' as 'in the past year'. I've had a look back and there has only been one book I didn't really enjoy in the past year and I read it exactly a year ago. Me Cheeta: The Autobiography wasn't as funny as I thought it was going to be.
10. Favourite book you've read this year?
It's so easy to write Jasper Fforde here! However, I really loved Julia Stuart's Balthazar Jones and The Tower Of London Zoo.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I try and read bits of everything. It's the one reason I miss being part of a book group though, I used to read a lot of stuff I'd never touch otherwise.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
It's slowly becoming crime fiction but it's usually, not surprising, quirky fiction - librarian mysteries, Jasper Fforde, Alexander McCall-Smith, you get the idea.
13. Can you read on the bus?
No. I hate not being able to do this as I get travel sick. Coach travel is especially boring.
14. Favourite place to read?
I usually read in bed.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
My policy on book lending is similar to my general policy of lending. I don't do it often because I like my things to be kept in good condition and other people don't always share this view!
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Never ever.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Not since education.
18. Not even with text books?
See above.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
Master of Science i may be but I ain't no Superman!
20. What makes you love a book?
It depends. I guess the main one is really likeable characters. Actually, they don't really have to be likeable as long as you can really get inside their heads and/or empathise with them. I also really love it when a topic has clearly been well researched. Sarah Waters and Michael Crichton are/were great at doing this.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
You know, I don't tend to talk about books I've read to many people. The friends I see often never talk about books and me and James don't tend to read the same books very often (this has changed recently which has been nice). Reading is a strangely private thing, not through choice though. Again, it's a reason I miss my book group. However, I would match a book to the person if I did make a recommendation.
22. Favourite genre?
I dunno if I have one! I tend to have favourite authors and a lot of them don't stick to a genre. Michael Crichton's books for example change subjects with each book. Crime fiction is easy to read but them again I love Sarah Waters who writes historical fiction, While Kate Atkinson's vary between very human stories and mysteries. Left to my own devices though, I'll tend to go with off-beat fiction.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
I rarely read horror. Oh, and I don't really read many graphic novels as there are so many and I never know where to start!
24. Favourite biography?
I don't read biographies often, there aren't many people that I find interesting enough to care about. And I don't really like to read about a celebrities life before they were famous! For this reason, David Attenborough's 'Life On Air' is a fantastic read. I also really loved Alan Carr's autobiography because it had me in stitches.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
No.
26. Favourite cookbook?
I've stopped buying cookbooks. I have a few stock ones that I use often and anything else I try to get online. I have two main ones. An old one with classic recipes in which I bought from a car-boot sale in about 1995 and another one called 1001 recipes which is really great from browsing through and getting ideas.
27. Most inspirational book you've read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I can't think of any! Andrew Marr's 'A History of Modern Britain' made me proud to be British although it was a right old slog. I suppose any book with a librarian in helps inspire me! So, Ian Sansom's 'Bad Book Affair' and Charlaine Harris' Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.
28. Favourite reading snack?
As I tend to read most in bed I could never get away with snacking there!
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I don't think it ever had. I guess it makes me want to dislike a book if it's really hyped. It's the reason I've stayed away from Harry Potter I guess. However, I did read The Da Vinci Code and liked it so it doesn't always deter me.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don't really read reviews of books. However, award winning books are totally hit and miss for me. I've read a few Booker prize winners for example, and my thoughts have varied widely. I loved Yann Martel's 'Life Of Pi', thought that Hilary Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' and JM Coetzee's 'Disgrace' were good and thought that Anne Enright's 'The Gathering' was rubbish!
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I feel fine about it.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Japanese so I could read more graphic novels.
33. Most intimidating book you've ever read?
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (it has a bloody cast list at the front!) although I was surprised by how easy it was to read. there's probably more although if I buy a book I'll want to read it. I have no desire to read Ulysses for example!
34. Most intimidating book you're too nervous to begin?
I can't think of one at the moment.
35. Favourite Poet?
I'm not a fan of poetry so couldn't even pick one.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Well, none!
37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?
Not applicable.
38. Favourite fictional character?
Rob Fleming - High Fidelity
Thursday Next - The Eyre Affair and others
Bertie - 44 Scotland Street Series
Mouse - Tales of the City series
Jackson Brodie - Case Histories and beyond
39. Favourite fictional villain?
I really can't think of any!
40. Books I'm most likely to bring on holiday?
My reading doesn't on holiday.
41. The longest I've gone without reading.
When I used to deliver books to housebound people I had a woman that said that if she runs out of stuff to read she ends up reading anything she can find, cornflake boxes, anything! And I'm a bit like that. There are gaps in my book runs because I read magazines in between so I guess they serve my non-fiction needs a lot of the time - Empire (which takes ages to read!) and Attitude mostly, but also The Week for my news. So I rarely go a day without reading. However, I rarely read when I was at Uni because my English course had beaten my love of literature out of me.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
I very rarely don't finish a book once I've started. The exceptions I can count on one hand - Monica Ali's ' Brick lane' (boring!) and Doris Lessing's 'Golden Notebook (what is the point?!).
43. What distracts you easily when you're reading?
Not a lot really. As I said I read in bed.
44. Favourite film adaptation of a novel?
Some good graphic novel ones - Watchmen, V for Vendetta and Persepolis. Also, Jurassic park (probably my favourite), High Fidelity, and Chocolat.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Enduring Love
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the book shop at one time?
£20 maybe? I shop cheaply and in bits.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Never.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Utter boredom, especially if the book is long.
49. Do you like to keep your books organised?
Yeah, like I said, me and James don't read the same book often so our un-read bookshelf (overflowing :s) is roughly arranged by collection or author. In the kitchen I have a bookshelf with collection by my favourite authors on.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you've read them?
I need to start getting rid of more. Now that I have an online list I'm less likely to forget what I read so next sort out I shall get rid! I keep my favourites though.
51. Are there any books you've been avoiding?
Not really. I only read 'classics' when the mood suits. I don't like being told what to read!
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Madame Bovary - that woman needs a slap. Also, not a book but when I joined a gay book group I was made to read some right old shit.
53. A book you didn't expect to like but did?
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 'Half Of A Yellow Sun' I found surprisingly good. Marcus Zusak's 'The Book Thief' really took me by surprise too, it's a fantastic book. Jane Eyre, Dracula.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn't?
I thought I'd like Annie Proulx more but I've read two of her books and the style of her writing made my mind wander.
55. Favourite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Agatha Christie.
For the record, my favourite books are Jurassic Park and David Mitchell's 'Cloud Atlas.
My Great Auntie said that I always had my head in a book but thinking back, I can't think of favourite books I had as a kid. I remember reading the Secret Seven books. However, the book that got me into reading was Michael Crichton's 'Jurassic Park' which I'd bought in the summer to read on holiday but ended up being so engrossed in it that I'd finished it by the time of the holiday.
2. What are you reading right now?
I'm reading Robert Rodi's 'Fag Hag'. Haha. It's surprisingly well written and I'm really enjoying it. I'm also reading Kate Fox's 'Watching the English'.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Call me a hypocrite but I don't lend books from the library. I quite like buying books which I then give away. I offset my guilt by saying that I'm a qualified librarian and so dedicate my life to providing books for others.
4. Bad book habit?
Not being ruthless enough about getting rid of books.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing
6. Do you have an e-reader?
I don't. We've been reading books to get rid of them lately so that we might get a Kindle but as time's going on neither of us are that enthusiastic about it. It's big benefit is being able to download classics for free but I still think that there ar emore positive aspects to physical books than digital ones.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I very rarely read two books on the go. The only time I will ever do it is if I'm reading one non-fiction book and one fiction book, like at the moment, but that doesn't happen often.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
No.
9. Least favourite book you read this year (so far?)
As it's only February I'll use 'this year' as 'in the past year'. I've had a look back and there has only been one book I didn't really enjoy in the past year and I read it exactly a year ago. Me Cheeta: The Autobiography wasn't as funny as I thought it was going to be.
10. Favourite book you've read this year?
It's so easy to write Jasper Fforde here! However, I really loved Julia Stuart's Balthazar Jones and The Tower Of London Zoo.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I try and read bits of everything. It's the one reason I miss being part of a book group though, I used to read a lot of stuff I'd never touch otherwise.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
It's slowly becoming crime fiction but it's usually, not surprising, quirky fiction - librarian mysteries, Jasper Fforde, Alexander McCall-Smith, you get the idea.
13. Can you read on the bus?
No. I hate not being able to do this as I get travel sick. Coach travel is especially boring.
14. Favourite place to read?
I usually read in bed.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
My policy on book lending is similar to my general policy of lending. I don't do it often because I like my things to be kept in good condition and other people don't always share this view!
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Never ever.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Not since education.
18. Not even with text books?
See above.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
Master of Science i may be but I ain't no Superman!
20. What makes you love a book?
It depends. I guess the main one is really likeable characters. Actually, they don't really have to be likeable as long as you can really get inside their heads and/or empathise with them. I also really love it when a topic has clearly been well researched. Sarah Waters and Michael Crichton are/were great at doing this.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
You know, I don't tend to talk about books I've read to many people. The friends I see often never talk about books and me and James don't tend to read the same books very often (this has changed recently which has been nice). Reading is a strangely private thing, not through choice though. Again, it's a reason I miss my book group. However, I would match a book to the person if I did make a recommendation.
22. Favourite genre?
I dunno if I have one! I tend to have favourite authors and a lot of them don't stick to a genre. Michael Crichton's books for example change subjects with each book. Crime fiction is easy to read but them again I love Sarah Waters who writes historical fiction, While Kate Atkinson's vary between very human stories and mysteries. Left to my own devices though, I'll tend to go with off-beat fiction.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
I rarely read horror. Oh, and I don't really read many graphic novels as there are so many and I never know where to start!
24. Favourite biography?
I don't read biographies often, there aren't many people that I find interesting enough to care about. And I don't really like to read about a celebrities life before they were famous! For this reason, David Attenborough's 'Life On Air' is a fantastic read. I also really loved Alan Carr's autobiography because it had me in stitches.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
No.
26. Favourite cookbook?
I've stopped buying cookbooks. I have a few stock ones that I use often and anything else I try to get online. I have two main ones. An old one with classic recipes in which I bought from a car-boot sale in about 1995 and another one called 1001 recipes which is really great from browsing through and getting ideas.
27. Most inspirational book you've read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I can't think of any! Andrew Marr's 'A History of Modern Britain' made me proud to be British although it was a right old slog. I suppose any book with a librarian in helps inspire me! So, Ian Sansom's 'Bad Book Affair' and Charlaine Harris' Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.
28. Favourite reading snack?
As I tend to read most in bed I could never get away with snacking there!
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I don't think it ever had. I guess it makes me want to dislike a book if it's really hyped. It's the reason I've stayed away from Harry Potter I guess. However, I did read The Da Vinci Code and liked it so it doesn't always deter me.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don't really read reviews of books. However, award winning books are totally hit and miss for me. I've read a few Booker prize winners for example, and my thoughts have varied widely. I loved Yann Martel's 'Life Of Pi', thought that Hilary Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' and JM Coetzee's 'Disgrace' were good and thought that Anne Enright's 'The Gathering' was rubbish!
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I feel fine about it.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Japanese so I could read more graphic novels.
33. Most intimidating book you've ever read?
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (it has a bloody cast list at the front!) although I was surprised by how easy it was to read. there's probably more although if I buy a book I'll want to read it. I have no desire to read Ulysses for example!
34. Most intimidating book you're too nervous to begin?
I can't think of one at the moment.
35. Favourite Poet?
I'm not a fan of poetry so couldn't even pick one.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Well, none!
37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?
Not applicable.
38. Favourite fictional character?
Rob Fleming - High Fidelity
Thursday Next - The Eyre Affair and others
Bertie - 44 Scotland Street Series
Mouse - Tales of the City series
Jackson Brodie - Case Histories and beyond
39. Favourite fictional villain?
I really can't think of any!
40. Books I'm most likely to bring on holiday?
My reading doesn't on holiday.
41. The longest I've gone without reading.
When I used to deliver books to housebound people I had a woman that said that if she runs out of stuff to read she ends up reading anything she can find, cornflake boxes, anything! And I'm a bit like that. There are gaps in my book runs because I read magazines in between so I guess they serve my non-fiction needs a lot of the time - Empire (which takes ages to read!) and Attitude mostly, but also The Week for my news. So I rarely go a day without reading. However, I rarely read when I was at Uni because my English course had beaten my love of literature out of me.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
I very rarely don't finish a book once I've started. The exceptions I can count on one hand - Monica Ali's ' Brick lane' (boring!) and Doris Lessing's 'Golden Notebook (what is the point?!).
43. What distracts you easily when you're reading?
Not a lot really. As I said I read in bed.
44. Favourite film adaptation of a novel?
Some good graphic novel ones - Watchmen, V for Vendetta and Persepolis. Also, Jurassic park (probably my favourite), High Fidelity, and Chocolat.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Enduring Love
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the book shop at one time?
£20 maybe? I shop cheaply and in bits.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Never.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Utter boredom, especially if the book is long.
49. Do you like to keep your books organised?
Yeah, like I said, me and James don't read the same book often so our un-read bookshelf (overflowing :s) is roughly arranged by collection or author. In the kitchen I have a bookshelf with collection by my favourite authors on.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you've read them?
I need to start getting rid of more. Now that I have an online list I'm less likely to forget what I read so next sort out I shall get rid! I keep my favourites though.
51. Are there any books you've been avoiding?
Not really. I only read 'classics' when the mood suits. I don't like being told what to read!
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Madame Bovary - that woman needs a slap. Also, not a book but when I joined a gay book group I was made to read some right old shit.
53. A book you didn't expect to like but did?
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 'Half Of A Yellow Sun' I found surprisingly good. Marcus Zusak's 'The Book Thief' really took me by surprise too, it's a fantastic book. Jane Eyre, Dracula.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn't?
I thought I'd like Annie Proulx more but I've read two of her books and the style of her writing made my mind wander.
55. Favourite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Agatha Christie.
For the record, my favourite books are Jurassic Park and David Mitchell's 'Cloud Atlas.
