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christianreader2009-02-12 10:16 am
chestnutcurls.livejournal.com) wrote in christianreader2009-02-12 10:16 am
Entry tags:
Reading Meme
1. What's your name? Brenda
2. Do you read a lot? YES.
3. What's your favorite genre? YA, fantasy/sci-fi with a love story.
FANTASY AND SCI-FI
4. Do you prefer fantasy or science fiction? I can't decide!
5. What's your favorite fantasy book/series? Lord of the Rings is my very favorite series (amazingly, I didn't read it for the first time until I was in college).
6. Who's your favorite fantasy author? Stephenie Meyer and J.K Rowling. I know. *sigh* I would say C.S. Lewis, but I haven't read much of his fantasy stuff other than Narnia.
7. What's your favorite science fiction book/series? The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. It's sci-fi in which the sci-fi feels totally natural. I love it.
8. Favorite sci-fi author? I don't know.
MYSTERY, HORROR, AND THRILLERS
9. Which do you prefer: a puzzling mystery, or a terrifying thriller? Mystery (although I'm not really into either). I can't handle gore or gratuitously scary stuff.
10. Do you have a favorite mystery novel? Is The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series considered mystery? If so, that. I've read several Jodi Picoult books and enjoyed them, but she's more like Law & Order in book form.
11. A favorite horror novel? Nope.
ROMANCE
12. Do you read romance novels? Not pure romance. I love a love story, but I prefer that there be other dimensions to the story too. However, I did read the whole works of Danielle Steel (up to that point) when I was in high school, and let me save you some time: if the hero goes off to war, he's probably not coming back.
13. How about gay romance novels? Eh...no. I wouldn't necessarily stop reading a book if that plotline came up, but I wouldn't seek it out either.
14. What's your favorite romance novel? The Brides of Montclair series by Jane Peart. I have them all and have re-read them many times. My Sergei: A Love Story by Ekaterina Gordeeva (the figure skater) is my all-time favorite true love story. I cry my eyes out every time. Oh, and A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken is amazing. But that's not what the question asked.
CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT
15. What's your favorite children's book? The Ramona books by Beverly Cleary and the Anastasia books by Lois Lowry (well, pretty much anything by either of those authors).
16. Is it the same book that was your favorite when you were a kid? Yes, plus I was addicted to the Baby-Sitters Club (I still have all my BSC books). I also liked Sweet Valley, Sleepover Friends, etc; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and a lesser-known book, In The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Bette Bao Lord.
17. What's your favorite YA book? This is near-impossible for me to answer, so I'll just start listing authors. L.M. Montgomery, Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, Caroline B. Cooney (she's the master of multiple points of view), Scott Westerfeld, Ann Brashares. Also Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman (she hasn't written anything else yet that I know of).
18. Did you actually read it as a YA? With the exception of LMM and CBC, none of those authors were published when I was a teenager. So not really. :) YA wasn't a very big market then, unfortunately.
19. In general, do you prefer children's books over grown-up books? I still read a ton of YA (and some children's) fiction at the age of 29 and I'm not ashamed of it. It's fun, keeps me young, and more importantly, it's usually cleaner than adult fiction. I know fiction needs to be real, but I get tired of trying to avoid gratuitous stuff in adult books. YA gives me something interesting to read that's not schlocky or set in pioneer times. Plus, I like the idea that when I have kids, I'll be in touch with what they're reading and can share it with them.
CLASSICS AND GENERAL FICTION
20. What's your favorite classic novel? Little Women. My second-favorite book, period, after LOTR. I used to re-read it every Christmas. It's a story that grows with you.
21. What about general fiction? This question is so broad that I'm unable to respond. LOL.
22. What classic novel do you just *not* get? Hmm. I "got" most of the books that I had to read in high school and college, but I really disliked the more traumatic ones. Such as Lord of the Flies.
23. Do you have a favorite play or drama? In book form? I guess Romeo & Juliet.
24. What do you think of Shakespeare? I'd like to be academic enough to enjoy Shakespeare in the park with a glass of wine, but I'm not. I think the difficult language is the main thing that holds me back. He was obviously very good at plot - I've enjoyed most modern retellings of his plays (i.e. 10 Things I Hate About You). But I can't get into his stuff as is. Especially all the Richards. Yawn.
POETRY
25. Could you pick a favorite poem? The Bridge by Lilian Moore. This Is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams. There are others, but I can't remember.
26. What about a favorite poetry collection? Any of Shel Silverstein's. :)
27. Who's your favorite poet? I've always liked Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Christina Rossetti and John Donne.
COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS
28. Do you read comics or graphic novels? Not in the sense of this question, but I do have several comic-strip collection books from Peanuts, For Better or For Worse, Cathy, Calvin & Hobbes, and a few others.
29. Do you have a favorite series? See above.
30. A favorite book? The Lives Behind the Lines FBOFW collection is really good if you like that strip. I admire writers (of any kind) who create a whole elaborate history for their characters.
SHORT STORIES AND NOVELLAS
31. Do you prefer short stories (or short novels) over full-length novels? Not usually. I like getting to know the characters over a longer period of time.
32. What's your favorite short story? All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury has stuck with me my entire life.
32b. Favorite novella? Shopgirl by Steve Martin. I was surprised by what a good writer he is.
33. Favorite short story collection? Um...the anthologies I read in college were pretty good. :)
34. Do you have a favorite short story author? I guess Ray Bradbury. He definitely wrote a lot of them!
NONFICTION
35. What kind of nonfiction do you usually read? Theology, topical Christian books, memoirs, biographies, travel books, animal stories.
36. Do you have a favorite nonfiction book? Again, this question is insanely broad. Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner. Mere Christianity. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Philip Keller. In the non-faith category, I love The Cat Who Went to Paris trilogy by Peter Gethers, and The Geography of Bliss, which I can't stop raving about.
37. Read any interesting biographies? I recently read Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis and it was very comprehensive. I like Chuck Swindoll's Lives of Faith series (David, Moses, etc.). Oh, and this isn't a biography per se, but Inside Edge by Christine Brennan has been one of my favorites for years. It's a figure skating expose written right after the 1994 Olympics.
38. History books? Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson, about the Galveston hurricane of 1900.
39. Politics? Not really. :\ I have an interesting book about the political history of Tennessee, but I don't remember what it's called.
40. Religious texts? Um, the Bible?
41. How about books on mythology, fairy tales, or other cultural stories? I enjoy all those things but haven't read about them much. I did just finish a retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley.
ELEMENTS OF FICTION
42. What's the most important element of a novel? Plot? Characterization? Style? Themes? Happy ending? Those are all important, but characterization is my highest priority. (Laurie Colwin was the best character-izer around.) If I'm interested in the characters, I'll hang in with them even if not much is happening. Setting is another big deal for me - I need a good sense of place.
43. What kind of plot interests you the most? My favorite kind of story is one with a well-drawn ensemble cast of unrelated people who gradually become connected through unforeseen circumstances. :) Maybe because that's how it happens in life. I also love stories in which the main character thinks they're dying and so does everything they've always wanted to do, but then it turns out they're not dying, and they live happily ever after, finally free of fear and societal pressure (i.e. The Blue Castle, the movie Last Holiday).
44. What kind of characters usually appeal to you? Ones who aren't too sure of themselves and have a good sense of humor.
45. What is your favorite fiction book overall? I'll list a few of my five-star books that I haven't already mentioned. In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. Happy All The Time by Laurie Colwin. The Jane Austen in... books by Paula Marantz Cohen. Children of Men by P.D. James (creepy but something to think about). Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons.
2. Do you read a lot? YES.
3. What's your favorite genre? YA, fantasy/sci-fi with a love story.
FANTASY AND SCI-FI
4. Do you prefer fantasy or science fiction? I can't decide!
5. What's your favorite fantasy book/series? Lord of the Rings is my very favorite series (amazingly, I didn't read it for the first time until I was in college).
6. Who's your favorite fantasy author? Stephenie Meyer and J.K Rowling. I know. *sigh* I would say C.S. Lewis, but I haven't read much of his fantasy stuff other than Narnia.
7. What's your favorite science fiction book/series? The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. It's sci-fi in which the sci-fi feels totally natural. I love it.
8. Favorite sci-fi author? I don't know.
MYSTERY, HORROR, AND THRILLERS
9. Which do you prefer: a puzzling mystery, or a terrifying thriller? Mystery (although I'm not really into either). I can't handle gore or gratuitously scary stuff.
10. Do you have a favorite mystery novel? Is The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series considered mystery? If so, that. I've read several Jodi Picoult books and enjoyed them, but she's more like Law & Order in book form.
11. A favorite horror novel? Nope.
ROMANCE
12. Do you read romance novels? Not pure romance. I love a love story, but I prefer that there be other dimensions to the story too. However, I did read the whole works of Danielle Steel (up to that point) when I was in high school, and let me save you some time: if the hero goes off to war, he's probably not coming back.
13. How about gay romance novels? Eh...no. I wouldn't necessarily stop reading a book if that plotline came up, but I wouldn't seek it out either.
14. What's your favorite romance novel? The Brides of Montclair series by Jane Peart. I have them all and have re-read them many times. My Sergei: A Love Story by Ekaterina Gordeeva (the figure skater) is my all-time favorite true love story. I cry my eyes out every time. Oh, and A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken is amazing. But that's not what the question asked.
CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT
15. What's your favorite children's book? The Ramona books by Beverly Cleary and the Anastasia books by Lois Lowry (well, pretty much anything by either of those authors).
16. Is it the same book that was your favorite when you were a kid? Yes, plus I was addicted to the Baby-Sitters Club (I still have all my BSC books). I also liked Sweet Valley, Sleepover Friends, etc; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and a lesser-known book, In The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Bette Bao Lord.
17. What's your favorite YA book? This is near-impossible for me to answer, so I'll just start listing authors. L.M. Montgomery, Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, Caroline B. Cooney (she's the master of multiple points of view), Scott Westerfeld, Ann Brashares. Also Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman (she hasn't written anything else yet that I know of).
18. Did you actually read it as a YA? With the exception of LMM and CBC, none of those authors were published when I was a teenager. So not really. :) YA wasn't a very big market then, unfortunately.
19. In general, do you prefer children's books over grown-up books? I still read a ton of YA (and some children's) fiction at the age of 29 and I'm not ashamed of it. It's fun, keeps me young, and more importantly, it's usually cleaner than adult fiction. I know fiction needs to be real, but I get tired of trying to avoid gratuitous stuff in adult books. YA gives me something interesting to read that's not schlocky or set in pioneer times. Plus, I like the idea that when I have kids, I'll be in touch with what they're reading and can share it with them.
CLASSICS AND GENERAL FICTION
20. What's your favorite classic novel? Little Women. My second-favorite book, period, after LOTR. I used to re-read it every Christmas. It's a story that grows with you.
21. What about general fiction? This question is so broad that I'm unable to respond. LOL.
22. What classic novel do you just *not* get? Hmm. I "got" most of the books that I had to read in high school and college, but I really disliked the more traumatic ones. Such as Lord of the Flies.
23. Do you have a favorite play or drama? In book form? I guess Romeo & Juliet.
24. What do you think of Shakespeare? I'd like to be academic enough to enjoy Shakespeare in the park with a glass of wine, but I'm not. I think the difficult language is the main thing that holds me back. He was obviously very good at plot - I've enjoyed most modern retellings of his plays (i.e. 10 Things I Hate About You). But I can't get into his stuff as is. Especially all the Richards. Yawn.
POETRY
25. Could you pick a favorite poem? The Bridge by Lilian Moore. This Is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams. There are others, but I can't remember.
26. What about a favorite poetry collection? Any of Shel Silverstein's. :)
27. Who's your favorite poet? I've always liked Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Christina Rossetti and John Donne.
COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS
28. Do you read comics or graphic novels? Not in the sense of this question, but I do have several comic-strip collection books from Peanuts, For Better or For Worse, Cathy, Calvin & Hobbes, and a few others.
29. Do you have a favorite series? See above.
30. A favorite book? The Lives Behind the Lines FBOFW collection is really good if you like that strip. I admire writers (of any kind) who create a whole elaborate history for their characters.
SHORT STORIES AND NOVELLAS
31. Do you prefer short stories (or short novels) over full-length novels? Not usually. I like getting to know the characters over a longer period of time.
32. What's your favorite short story? All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury has stuck with me my entire life.
32b. Favorite novella? Shopgirl by Steve Martin. I was surprised by what a good writer he is.
33. Favorite short story collection? Um...the anthologies I read in college were pretty good. :)
34. Do you have a favorite short story author? I guess Ray Bradbury. He definitely wrote a lot of them!
NONFICTION
35. What kind of nonfiction do you usually read? Theology, topical Christian books, memoirs, biographies, travel books, animal stories.
36. Do you have a favorite nonfiction book? Again, this question is insanely broad. Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner. Mere Christianity. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Philip Keller. In the non-faith category, I love The Cat Who Went to Paris trilogy by Peter Gethers, and The Geography of Bliss, which I can't stop raving about.
37. Read any interesting biographies? I recently read Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis and it was very comprehensive. I like Chuck Swindoll's Lives of Faith series (David, Moses, etc.). Oh, and this isn't a biography per se, but Inside Edge by Christine Brennan has been one of my favorites for years. It's a figure skating expose written right after the 1994 Olympics.
38. History books? Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson, about the Galveston hurricane of 1900.
39. Politics? Not really. :\ I have an interesting book about the political history of Tennessee, but I don't remember what it's called.
40. Religious texts? Um, the Bible?
41. How about books on mythology, fairy tales, or other cultural stories? I enjoy all those things but haven't read about them much. I did just finish a retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley.
ELEMENTS OF FICTION
42. What's the most important element of a novel? Plot? Characterization? Style? Themes? Happy ending? Those are all important, but characterization is my highest priority. (Laurie Colwin was the best character-izer around.) If I'm interested in the characters, I'll hang in with them even if not much is happening. Setting is another big deal for me - I need a good sense of place.
43. What kind of plot interests you the most? My favorite kind of story is one with a well-drawn ensemble cast of unrelated people who gradually become connected through unforeseen circumstances. :) Maybe because that's how it happens in life. I also love stories in which the main character thinks they're dying and so does everything they've always wanted to do, but then it turns out they're not dying, and they live happily ever after, finally free of fear and societal pressure (i.e. The Blue Castle, the movie Last Holiday).
44. What kind of characters usually appeal to you? Ones who aren't too sure of themselves and have a good sense of humor.
45. What is your favorite fiction book overall? I'll list a few of my five-star books that I haven't already mentioned. In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. Happy All The Time by Laurie Colwin. The Jane Austen in... books by Paula Marantz Cohen. Children of Men by P.D. James (creepy but something to think about). Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons.