Reading Questionnaire - PART 2
26. Have you ever read a self-help book? – Yes!
27. What is your favorite reading snack? – Sour straws…
28. What is the most inspirational book you’ve read this year? – You know, The Ocean at the End of the Lane really resonated with me, because it is an adult-level book written for adults, but with the intention of creating a magical fantasy world. It was like a strange, adult Harry Potter, and for me, that was invaluable. It reminded me to stay young and keep using my imagination.
29. Are there any books that have been ruined for you by all the hype? – I don’t think so.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book? – I don’t spend a lot of time reading book reviews in the traditional sense. If I run across a review on a blog I like, or something shows up in my tumblr newsfeed, we might be in business. Otherwise, I’ve probably made a conscious effort to ignore it. I tend to be one who is easily influenced by the opinions of others, so I try to avoid investing any energy in reading something that might throw off my true, honest opinion of a book, or skew my vision of it as I read.
31. How do you feel about giving negative reviews? – Well, as I’m sure you can tell from this blog…I don’t mind. I’ve been known to wonder how the author would feel if they were to read my analysis, but I usually shove that thought aside. Then again, Mama always did say that if you don’t have anything nice to say…
32. What book are you most intimidated to begin? – Some of the older books written by historical authors can just be too much. Anything by Dostoyevsky makes me nervous.
33. What book are you most likely to take on vacation with you? – No hate, don’t discriminate…whatever I’m working on at the moment is what’s coming with me! Right now I’m reading “Conscious Capitalism” and I’m sure I’ll take that with me on an upcoming roadtrip…as if I will have time to read it…
34. What is the longest you have gone without reading? – In 2013 I read less than 10 books…as a matter of fact, there’s a fair bet I could’ve counted how many I did read on one hand. At the time, I was President of my sorority and working two internships on top of being in a business club and actually going to class, so I really didn’t have five seconds of time to myself, let alone to spend reading.
35. What is a book that you just couldn’t finish? – There are many. Usually I just mark them as read- gold star for attempt, right?!- and move on.
36. What is the most money you have spent on books at one time? – Well, I don’t know. I tend to spend a lot of money on a lot of random things so I really couldn’t tell you. Most recently, I spent $20 on an antique book, which was a far cry from the $0.50 I usually spend (my Junior League sells paperbacks for $0.50 and hardbacks for $1. Whaaaaaat!)!
37. How often do you skim through a book before reading it? – Depends a lot on what it looks like. If there’s something going on, on the cover, that I know I’ll like, then no.
38. Do you keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? – KEEP.
39. Are there any books that you’ve been avoiding, or refuse to read? – Whoever filled this out before me said “vampire lit”. AGREED. I am more than certain that Bram Stoker has a lot to say from beyond the grave about every author under the sun tapping into “his” genre, but I’m not going to bite (see what I did there?).
40. What is your favorite literary pop-culture reference? – Actually, this is why I’m so interested in Pretty Little Liars. So much of their plotline is carved out of books that I am eagerly watching along to determine which bit and piece references its literary counterpart. So far (of books with which I’m familiar), we have To Kill a Mockingbird, Macbeth, Lolita, Tom Sawyer, The Bell Jar, Great Expectations, 1984, Harry Potter, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and Brave New World. I’ll admit I’m more interested in that than I am about the plot!
41. What is your favorite guilt-free pleasure reading? – Oooh, ooh, ooh, pick me! Okay. Fan-fiction. I went there. I love to see what people will come up with about their favorite characters. Tells a lot about a person, you know? Also, guilty as charged, but aside from all of the murmuring and questionable storyline, I was totally fine with 50 Shades. So there’s that.
42. What reading materials are in your bathroom right now? – Our half-bath downstairs is the only bathroom, to my knowledge, with any reading material in it, and that’s got stuff like The Official Preppy Handbook and Emily Post’s Abbreviated Guide to Manners. You know, as a hint to the less polite of houseguests.
43. What book do you most remember reading for school? – To Kill a Mockingbird.
44. What was the last book that you couldn’t put down until you finished it? – Please don’t hate me, but the Divergent Trilogy is my most recent book crack.
45. What book is (physically) closest to you right now? – Actually, The Wawa Way. Call me crazy, but I am a businesswoman, and anything I can get my hands on regarding Fortune 5s is fair game. Wawa’s business model is incredible, and I wanted to learn more about it. I keep the book at my desk as inspiration to always move farther, faster, and higher.
46. What is your favorite book series? – Right now, it’s an even tie between the Divergent Trilogy, and Harry Potter.
47. What is the longest book you’ve ever read? Shortest? – Oh my gosh no clue. No clue. No clue. Sorry y’all…
48. Who is your favorite book character? – And here you have it…I really love Tris Prior (before and after the choosing ceremony), and all of Hermione Granger. They are strong and intelligent women who take the hits life throws at them with aplomb, and they’re my literary role models. I can say a lot about Hermione, since she’s been the Boss Lady since I was about 9!
49. Who is favorite author? – Daphne du Maurier, Jodi Piccoult, JK Rowling.
50. What is your favorite book? – Rebecca.
