I can't resist a good book, and I can't resist a good book meme, either. I found this one over at Just Peachy. If you want to play along, leave your link in my comment section below! (Oh, and by the way, while we're on the subject of books, don't miss the Spring Reading Thing over at Callapidder Days. It begins March 21.)
Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback? Hardback, whenever possible.
Amazon or brick and mortar? I prefer Amazon, because browsing is so easy, and they have everything (not to mention all the access to used books). Brick-and-mortar bookstores usually tempt me to spend way too much money.
Barnes & Noble or Borders? Borders. There's one about three minutes from my house.
Bookmark or dogear? Dogear. I know, it's an awful habit.
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random? You mean, there are actually people that alphabetize their personal book collections? It boggles the mind. I'm doing well if all the books just make it to a shelf.
Keep, throw away, or sell? I usually plan pretty carefully what I want to read, so I don't stumble across many "bad" books in my reading. There all keep-able. Which means I need a bigger house, at some point.
Keep dustjacket or toss it? Toss it. Immediately. Does anyone think it's ironic that dust jackets seem to attract so much, um, dust?
Read with dustjacket or remove it? See above.
Short story or novel? Novel, though I enjoy a short story collection every now and then.
Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)? Both, though I generally prefer a collection. Here's a good one.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? I'm wild about Harry. Go Gryffindor! My 9 year old is wild about Lemony Snicket right now, though, so that probably means I'll be reading it soon.
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? Chapter breaks.
“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”? Both. It totally depends on my mood. I've been in a dark-and-stormy phase lately.
Buy or Borrow? Buy, or borrow from the library. I don't like borrowing from others, because I shudder at the thought of losing someone else's book.
New or used? Used, whenever possible. Does anyone know how those booksellers on Amazon.com make any money by selling used books for a penny each? Actually, I don't care, as long as they keep doing it.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse? I really don't like book reviews--reading them or writing them. I'd prefer a recommendation from a friend who knows my taste in books.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Tidy ending, unless it's part of a series--then I don't mind a little unresolvedness. I read the western classic Lonesome Dove last year, and the random ending nearly made me put my head through a wall.
Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading? Nighttime. If I read in the morning I'll fall asleep in my Raisin Bran, seriously.
Stand-alone or series? I enjoy a good series every now and then, but generally I prefer stand-alone books.
Favorite series? Anne of Green Gables
Favorite children's book? Time For Bed by Mem Fox, and anything by Audrey Wood.
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard? Thundering Sneakers, by Prudence Mackintosh. Her writing has really inspired my own.
Favorite books read last year? Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was my very favorite, and Jewel by Brett Lott was a keeper too.
Favorite books of all time? The Anne of Green Gables series is second only to the Bible in terms of books that have profoundly affected me. The Hiding Place was another life-changer. I also love Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis (it's generally considered his greatest masterpiece, which should tell you something, since everything he wrote is spectacular). I love historical fiction; two of my favorites in that genre have been London by Edward Rutherford and The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George. Ooooo, and Jane Eyre--now there's a book I wish I could read again for the first time.
Least favorite book you finished last year? I had heard good things about The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley, but it wasn't as good as I hoped.
What are you reading right now? The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas. I'm only a couple of chapters into it, but it is excellent so far. Anything by her is excellent.
What are you reading next? Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss
Hi! I love to stop by and browse through your blog, and love every minute of it. :) You should check out www.paperbackswap.com it's a great site to swap books around. The greatest part is that you only pay shipping ($1.45ish)on the books that someone requests from you! I've found some amazing books there. Have a blessed day!!
Posted by: Ang | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 05:54 AM
The Hero and The Crown is not my favourite of McKinley's but you should give The Blue Sword a try. It's a great story with a strong female protagonist. Much better than The Hero and The Crown.
Posted by: Islandsparrow | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 06:10 AM
BTW - I'm going to give Sandra Dallas a try - I was able to request her books from our library. Thanks for the recommendation.
Posted by: Islandsparrow | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 06:11 AM
I knew someone would write a book about Chili eventually. Is it unauthorized? Shots of her at the plastic surgeon getting that nose job? I knew it wasn't real. The way the mustache is attached totally gives it away.
I am soooo not surprised that you are reading Eats, Shoots and Leaves. A panda goes into a restaurant...
Posted by: Jeana | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 08:17 AM
Here's a blog essay for your docket: how the Anne of Green Gables series changed my life, second only to the Bible. Seriously, I'm interested! So much scope for the imagination...
Posted by: Marian | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 09:14 AM
Oooh, I love a good book meme! But you remove the dust jackets? That makes my heart palpitate. It's wrong, girl, just wrong. ;)
Posted by: Merci | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 09:57 AM
Anne of Green Gables series is one of my favorites also. I borrowed them from my school library so many times that eventually someone bought me the whole set to own for myself. I read those over and over and over. One time I was home alone reading the scene in Rilla of Ingleside where Walter dies and was bawling my eyes out and a salesman came to the door. boy, was I a sight!
Posted by: Debi | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 10:27 AM
I posted my book meme! This was fun. =)
Posted by: Tammy S. | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Ooo, I want in! What a great meme - you can tell so much about someone by their reading habits! It looks like we have several things in common ;-)
I've got Pride and Prejudice sitting on my shelf, so maybe I'll need to bump it up on the TBR.
Here's mine: http://www.mysuspensionofdisbelief.com/?p=522
Posted by: Lindsey | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 11:25 AM
What a fun meme! I had a great time reading yours and doing it myself. Here's mine.
Posted by: Pieces | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 11:46 AM
These comments make me want to reread the Anne of Green Gables series. I enjoyed this meme. You can read mine here: http://stuck-on-survive.blogspot.com/2007/03/bookishness.html
Posted by: Ginger | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 01:14 PM
here's mine.
i love talking about books...and i KNOW i've forgotten so many books that i've wanted to refer to...
thanks for sharing this - now i'm off to read everyone else's!. :)
~liz
Posted by: ~liz | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Does anyone know how those booksellers on Amazon.com make any money by selling used books for a penny each?
By charging a flippin' fortune for postage, that's how :( On amazon.co.uk, anyway.
I haven't read 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' but I want to.
Posted by: Rebecca | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 03:11 PM
I loved this meme when I did it last month! I picked Harry Potter, too, and The Hiding Place was also one of my favorites of all time. :)
http://southern-born-and-bred.blogspot.com/2007/02/bookishly-speaking.html
Posted by: Southern Girl | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 10:56 PM
Ooo I want to do this one! I am a huge book worm so this is right up my alley.
Posted by: Awesome Mom | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 12:58 AM
Great meme! I am a Harry freak and dogear-er, too (not to mention a reader of books on grammar). Thanks for spreading the word about the Spring Reading Thing. I appreciate it!
Posted by: Katrina | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 08:18 AM
I really liked Eats, Shoots and Leaves - but I'm a grammar geek too, lol! Thanks for the inspiration for this meme - mine is at: http://thoughts-from-dawn.blogspot.com/2007/03/getting-in-mood.html
Posted by: Dawn | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 12:20 PM
I've just come across your blog from a friend of my sister. I soon as I read that you love Anne books, you shot straight up to Kindred Spirit in my book. Anne of Green Gables is my absolute favorite book of all time and the series is my all-time favorite along with Harry Potter. I can just open up to the chapter of Matthew's death and bawl within the first sentence. :-)
Posted by: Lindsey | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Great meme...I had to play along! It's posted on my blog (click my name for the link). You can tell a lot about a person by the books they read, I think!
Posted by: Becky Thompson | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 02:31 PM
Hello...I loved the meme and I love your blog - I came to it through someone else's blog. I hope you don't mind if I add you to my blogroll.
My answers to the meme are at www.themindwobbles.blogspot.com.
Thanks for the fun...
Posted by: Hilda | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 03:17 PM
What about the Chronicles of narnia?
=)
Posted by: Crystal | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Loved it, much better than some of the memes with one word entries (mind you sometimes thats all the time we mums have!). And I do love books...so this is great! Thanks
Posted by: Sarah | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 06:51 PM
I played along too!
http://amanda47.blogs.com/following_an_unknown_path/2007/03/bookworm_meme.html
Posted by: amanda | Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 08:48 PM
Posted the Meme. Had to it's one of my favorite subjects! Love books!
Posted by: Cathy | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 07:15 AM
I'm not very litterate at blogging so no linky thing from me. Just my blog name so you can see my answers to this great meme...
http://gimmepatience.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Cris | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Thanks for posting this meme! I have done a couple of others recently, which I really enjoyed, and was looking for another fun one to take part in. http://www.northofthe49.com/blog/?p=125
Posted by: Michelle | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Wow, Til We Have Faces in one of my favorites, too. I know so few people who have even heard of it, it's nice to come across somebody who loves it as much as I do.
Posted by: Heather O. | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 05:54 PM
You must try Francine Rivers. I recommend "Redeeming Love" to be the first one you read...she is TRULY AMAZING...I believe you won't be disappointed.
Posted by: Tamara Cosby | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 09:28 PM
Fun Fun. Mine is posted here http://theseourtreasures.blogspot.com/2007/03/regarding-books.html
Posted by: Becky A | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 09:42 PM
I'm really enjoying this...finding new books, learning what others are enjoying.
I've put mine up too
http://jeanjar.wordpress.com/2007/03/13/book-meme/
Posted by: Connie | Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 01:51 PM
Did you know there was a kid's version of 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves.' I picked it up at the library the other day. The kids were not as excited as I was!
Posted by: Karin | Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 04:08 PM
I finally did this meme today. Whew. I had a hard time narrowing down my answers. Anyway, thanks for the meme. :)
Posted by: Andrea | Friday, March 23, 2007 at 09:28 AM