Book Survey IX

1. A book that made you cry:
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. I was reading it in class, and because I read faster than all my class mates they couldn’t understand why I was bawling my eyes out. I was 13 at the time and it hit me pretty hard.

2. A book that scared you:
The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin. I was about 9 at the time, and that book scared the bejesus out of me! The suspense and concepts in that book were probably a bit heavy for a nine year old (it is nothing like the movie!) but I had run out of things to read, so I was dipping into the family bookshelf again.

3. A book that made you laugh:
Piers Antony and Terry Pratchett novels always make me chortle.

4. A book that disgusted you:
The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner. While I could appreciate it’s literary merit, I haven’t been able to reread it. Also, that scene with Miss Havisham in Great Expectations with the wedding cake and the ruins of her wedding dress still freaks me out. I picture the ravaged finery being infested by spiders and smelling of dust and mildew *shudders*

5. A book you loved in elementary school:
The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I loved the concept of the lands at the top of the tree, and I loved the crazy characters like The Saucepan Man and Moonface. One day I am definitely going to a costume party as the Saucepan Man LOL

6. A book you loved in middle school:
Looking For Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta. Yes, I read it as a new release! I was so addicted to that book that I reread it over and over and over. I also loved See How They Run by David McRobbie and A Bridge To Wiseman’s Cove by James Moloney.

7. A book you loved in high school:
The Dancing Bear by Peter Dickinson. My school was throwing them out and I nabbed a copy. It is being held together with a rubber band, but I still really love this book. It is about a slave boy and his bear on a quest to save the girl he loves (and his mistress) who has been stolen by raiders. It is set in the Byzantine Empire, and absolutely fascinating! I also loved Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park which is about a girl being lost in time and ending up in Victorian times in Sydney.

8. A book you hated in high school:
I can’t think of any books I hated in high school. I didn’t finish reading Wuthering Heights, but that is because I got bored half way through and needed to have a classic read for my major English assignment. I convinced my teacher that Lord of the Rings was a classic, and did my assessment on it instead.

9. A book you loved in college:
Just one? The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. I will never look at processed meat the same! I feel sorry that the author’s dream was shattered and people focussed more on the hygiene standards of the meat works rather than the living conditions of the poor in Chicago.

10. A book that challenged your identity or your faith:
I can’t think of any. I could name any number which challenged my (limited) faith in humanity. The biggest one, while an interesting read, was absolutely abhorrent. It was Sacrifice As Terror by Christopher C Taylor, and was about the cultural facets of the Rwandan genocide. Some of the content was extremely graphic, disturbing and horrifying, and I would rather pretend that people couldn’t do that to each other. However, on an intellectual level, it was absolutely fascinating! A lot of the atrocities were cultural in how they were perpetrated, and mimicked fertility rites and the like. Disturbing, yet it was fascinating the motivations for specific acts. I don’t recommend anyone reads it unless they are an anthropology or sociology major and focusing on violence and culture. Brilliant book, abhorrent subject.

11. A series that you love:
Just one?! *whimpers* Charles de Lint’s Newford stories. They aren’t a serial, but are more of a collection.

12. Your favourite horror book:
Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I also really loved Stephen King’s Night Shift.

13. Your favourite science-fiction book:
Dune by Frank Herbert.

14. Your favourite fantasy book:
*eyes pop out of my head* JUST ONE??!! I have been reading fantasy for so long that I haven’t just one favourite novel in this genre, but many. Magician by Raymond E Fiest is probably the most obvious answer I could give. Or JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. So I won’t be obvious. But how can I choose! *wails* I will just list a few: Someplace To Be Flying by Charles de Lint, The Painted Man by Peter V Brett, Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, Waylander (or Iron Hand’s Daughter, Druss The Legend, The Swords of Night and Day etc) by David Gemmell, Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey – I have more… many many many MANY more….

15. Your favorite mystery book:
One written by Dick Francis. He is greatly missed!

16. Your favourite biography:
I don’t read those.

17. Your favourite coming-of-age book:
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

18. Your favourite book not on this list:
I haven’t mentioned The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Pride and Prejudice or Persuasions by Jane Austen, or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

Book Survey IV

1) What was the major theme from the last book you read?
Depression. I read Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta. Brilliant book!

2) Who was the best written character from the last five books you read?
Francesca from Saving Francesca

3) Is there a new genre/topic that you're really looking forward to getting better acquainted with?
Steampunk! I have read a few that have themes, but none that are regarded as steampunk - I have an obsession!

4) Three things from recently read books that made you uncomfortable or nervous?
Jane True tottering around on extreme high heels when she normally wears joggers.
I can't think of any others.

5) Something you read recently that made you gleeful or overcome with admiration?
I can't think of anything in particular. I normally find that books are a rollercoaster ride, and they have so many challenges so each has its moment of joy.
More long term gleeful encounters have been the twist at the end of The Lace Reader, the Hunger Games series, and discovering Nalini Singh's Psy series.

6) Name a literary character you 'met' recently who you really liked?
I can't think of any in particular... I am really liking the Dark Heavens series which is an urban fantasy that has delved into Chinese mythology - of those I particularly like John Wu (Xuan Wu/Pak Tai , The Black Turtle- Snake, God of Martial Arts and Warfare, The Northern Wind) and Bai Hui (The White Tiger, The Western Wind).

7) Name a doomed literary character whose death really made you miss them?
There are quite a number!

• Leslie in Bridge to Terribithia by Katherine Paterson
• Beth in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Ona in The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
• Nick in the Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. He is resurrected (or whatever) but he is a different person - no longer the loving, carefree jokester but hell bent on revenge (which is silly, because he killed himself - Ash just said a word!)
• Sirrius and Dumbledore in Harry Potter by JK Rowlings

There are definitely more, but I can't think of them at the moment.

8) If you could only have access to a dictionary or a thesaurus, which would you choose?
The Complete Oxford Dictionary. I can spend hours looking at all its volumes! I used to get sidetracked when I was looking up words while researching my archaeology assignments. It is full of etymology, definitions, explanations of various meanings and damn, they just pack so much in! They also have a lot of words that are no longer common usage. I made mum buy me The Concise Oxford Dictionary for my 21st birthday (I really am a nerd!), but what I really wanted was the full dictionary - it is 20 volumes... and three grand *sigh*

9) What's the most pointless book on your shelves? The one you blink at every time you notice its existence?
The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren. It was a free book given to me, but it is a Christian life type, and so not my deal. I think I will find someone to give it to. I didn't even crack the cover and there are so many copies floating around that it isn’t even worth trying to sell *rolls eyes*

10) What's the best conversation you ever had about books or a particular book? Who was it with?
Damn! Um...... There are a couple! My presentation for Criminology at university was about the culture of Chicago, and took a leap of faith and decided to add colour to my discussion. I drew The Jungle by Upton Sinclair into it. It was meant to be the great socialist novel, but he ended up horrifying America on the practices of the meat works, and kicked off reform of the processed meat industry. It is very graphic, and I spent a lot of time feeling ill at the conditions they had to live in, the way the migrants and poor were treated, taken advantage of or blatantly victimised. Anyway, I bought all the criminal elements from The Jungle into the discussion and blew them away. Because there was now faces to the players. The Jungle has to be one of the only books I have analysed as both an English Literature and a Sociology text! I got carried away and instead of speaking for 15 minutes, I spoke for an hour LOL I got a High Distinction and my lecturer started fawning over me. Definitely a terrific book discussion, especially once I started a Q&A session after class LOL

Also, I ran a book forum, and was present at other forums. I had some terrific conversations there! Twitter is also a great place to talk books... Even if it does become a free for all!

My paranormal book club has made such a difference for me. I love those guys!