A few random bookish facts, part II…  (here’s part I)

28.   Favorite reading snack?  It depends when and where I’m reading.  Sometimes I read during my lunch – so I eat my lunch which is something usually very exciting and exotic like a sandwich or a soup!  I read on the bus – so I don’t tend to eat then and I read in bed and I don’t tend to eat in bed really.

29.   Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.  Mmm, not sure whether it’s the hype that ruins my experience or the fact that my expectations have gone into orbit.  Struggling to think of a book – I enjoyed Jo Walton’s Among Others but it wasn’t what I was expecting and so I did feel a little disappointed immediately on finishing.  On reflection, if my expectations hadn’t gone on a tangent I think this is a story that I would have loved.

30.   How often do you agree with critics on a book?  I enjoy reading reviews, particularly from bloggers whose opinions I’ve grown to trust, but I still think we all have our own opinions so I like to make up my own mind.

31.   How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I don’t really enjoy giving a negative review but I think you have to be honest.  I would never probably give a really scathing review as I tend to think that the enthusiasm you feel or not should come across in the language you use.  If I really didn’t like a book I would probably just say that it hadn’t worked for me but may appeal to others but I would try to outline my own reasons why.

32.   If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?  French .

33.   Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?  This is really quite difficult.  We need to talk about Kevin – don’t know whether I’d say intimidating but it took me at least 100 pages to actually feel invested in the story, I thought the way it was written was a little ‘showy’ on the part of the author and also it’s a fairly grim read.  However, I did get used to the writing and ended up being gripped.

34.   Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?  Couple of possible candidates – Les Miserables – because it’s such a chunkster and it just worried me but I’m determined to read it or – The Mote in God’s eye – for very similar reasons and also it’s sci-fi and I always feel intimidated by sci-fi, like it’s going to make me feel stupid or inadequate.

35.   Favorite poet?  Dont’ read a lot of poetry so would have to go old school – Wordsworth

36.   How many books do you usually have check out of the library at any given time?  About 4

37.   How often have you returned a book to the library unread?  Not many times.  Once because I bought the book as it was a great bargain, a couple of times because about six books have come in at once – you can’t always plan these things after all and if there are others waiting to read then it feels fair to take the book back.  Maybe 5 a year.

38.   Favorite fictional character?  At the moment, Jean Tannen

39.   Favorite fictional villain? Iuda from Jasper Kent’s vampire/historical, russian series

40.   Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? Same books I read all year to be honest.  It’s what I like.

41.   The longest I’ve gone without reading.  Probably 3 or 4 days tops.

42.   Name a book that you could/would not finish. It sort of goes against my own ‘rules’ to diss a book if I haven’t at least done it the courtesy of finishing.

43.   What distracts you easily when you’re reading?  Twitterverse and the blogosphere.

44.   Favorite film adaptation of a novel.  Lord of the Rings – all three films

45.   Most disappointing film adaptation?  I am Legend.  I think it’s a good film in it’s own right but I hated the changes particularly the change of ending.

46.   The most money I’ve spent in the bookstore at one time?  If I told you, I’d have to kill you – or, more to the point, my husband might actually read this and kill me.

47.   How often do you skim a book before reading it?  Never.  I might pick it up in the bookstore and look at the first page or two to see if I get an immediate feel for the author’s style but really I never skim through it.

48.   What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?  The most obvious thing for me would be if the author’s style of writing irritated me.  Also overuse of sex or violence just purely for shock value.

49.   Do you like to keep your books organised? I would love to – but I don’t.  I’m your basic shambles.

50.   Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? Bit of both.  I keep the books I love.  The rest I (eventually) part ways with.

51.   Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?   Well, see above – Les Mis and The Mote!  Actually I quite often avoid the last book in the series which is the oddest thing, as though I’m determined not to let the series end.

52.   Name a book that made you angry.  50 Shades.  (I should have never read it, I knew I shouldn’t have read it – and I was right)

53.   A book you didn’t expect to like but did?  Foundations by Asimov.  I was almost in fear of reading these books but then ended up loving them.

54.   A book that you expected to like but didn’t.  Well, at the moment I’m struggling to finish Dangerous Liaisons – which is a surprise.  But maybe I need to give it more time.

55.   Favorite guilt free, pleasure reading? I don’t tend to suffer guilt over any of my books really but fantasy is my favourite reading zone.