Book meme

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

1. What the funniest book you've ever read?
Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Even after having read it so many times that I practically know it by heart, it still makes me laugh out loud. I love the dry wit.

2. What's the scariest book you've ever read?
Probably The Shining by Stephen King. I tend to not get terribly scared by books though. This one made me not want to go to the bathroom while the shower curtain was drawn though.

3. What's the most difficult book you've ever read?
I'm not sure whether the question refers to subject matter or ability to actually finish it, so I'll answer both.
The most difficult book I've ever read because of a disturbing subject is Burned Alive by Souad - the story of an attempted honour killing in the Middle East. It was written as non-fiction, but that has since been disputed, so I'm not sure whether or not to believe it. Either way it's a very, very troubling book.
The book that was the most difficult for me to finish was A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. It's LONG (1400+ pages), and not a page-turner at all. So while not actually boring either, I had to basically force myself to finish it. Took a couple of months if I recall correctly.

4. What's the most shocking book you've ever read?
Also Burned Alive by Souad I think... Or perhaps Infidel by Ayann Hirsi Ali or In His Sights by Kate Brennan. The latter is an AMAZING memoir of a woman's life with a stalker. I remember sitting in bed reading it, and having to put it away and snuggle up to my husband at regular intervals, because I was so grateful to have a man I could trust.

5. What book made you cry more than any other?
I seldom cry over books, so I'm having a hard time remembering. I know I cried over Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - Walter, Dog Monday... many things. Last time I "read" it as an audiobook, and found to my surprise that it affected me a LOT more when read like that.
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis makes me cry happy tears or tears of longing. No other book makes me quite THAT homesick for Heaven.
The Yada-Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling by Neta Jackson - but again happy/touched tears rather than sad ones.

6. What book gave you nightmares or bad dreams?
None that I remember. What I read very, very seldom affect what I dream.

7. What book inspired you to change your life?
The easy answer here would be The Bible, but since I've been a Christian all my life, that wouldn't actually be 100% accurate. I don't know... there are several books (secular and religious both) that have inspired me to change my life *for a time*, but very few that I believe had any lasting effect. The "for a time books" include, but aren't limited to:
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
The Yada Yada Prayer Group-series by Neta Jackson
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian (I'm assuming)

8. What's the most romantic book you've ever read?
The Rosary by Florence L. Barclay - hands down.

9. What's the most adventure-filled book you've ever read?
It's always difficult to answer "What's the most xx" questions, because I keep worrying that I forget a really obvious answer. For now I'd have to say Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind - now THAT's a page-turner!

10. What book carried you off into a land of imagination more than any other?
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I LOVE Narnia :-)