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Saturday, March 24, 2007

Saturday (Not So) Small Talk

I snagged this book meme from Jen's Page a while back. I thought it might come in handy for a Saturday chat.

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
I prefer hardback for children’s picture books, but I find paperback novels much easier to hold onto while nursing a baby or reading in bed. Probably trade paperback.

Amazon or brick and mortar?
My Amazon history is shocking (or so says my husband who happened to glance at it the other day). I love reading reviews or recommendations. I love the convenience. I love the price and speed with which my books arrive (thanks to Amazon Prime). However, if I didn’t have three little children tagging along, and if Barnes & Nobel was closer than 20 miles away, I would probably spend an insane amount of time browsing in a brick and mortar establishment.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Barnes & Noble

Bookmark or dogear?
Bookmark. I dogear pages with memorable passages.

Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
I sort by subject.

Keep, throw away, or sell?
After I read a book, I feel like it is a part of me. So, keep, definitely. (Unless I truly did not care for it.)

Keep dustjacket or toss it?
Toss.

Read with dustjacket or remove it?
Remove.

Short story or novel?
Novel. I like books with a little meat. They need time to develop plot and character.

Short story collection (short stories by the same author) or anthology (short stories by a different author)?
Either.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
I haven’t read either. Gasp.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
I much prefer stopping at chapter breaks. But, reality? I usually stop when the baby stops nursing, a crash is heard in the bedroom, the oven timer goes off, or when I smell smoke.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
Both.

Buy or Borrow?
Buy. Buy. Buy! It is a part of me, remember?

New or used?
Usually new. I loved visiting our local used book store, but it closed last year.

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?
All of the above. (Any excuse to buy a book.)

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Tidy ending. I need emotional closure. Enough stress in the real world.

Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading?
I have to take it whenever I can get it! I’d say nighttime is my favorite, though.

Standalone or series?
Probably standalone. I like to read a variety of books.

Favorite series?
Narnia. No other series has captured my ongoing interest. I am having so much fun sharing them with my oldest son.

Favorite books read last year?
Robinson Crusoe, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Count of Monte Cristo (4th time through), and David Copperfield.

Favorite books of all time?
The Count of Monte Cristo (Dumas), Mere Christianity (Lewis), Space Trilogy (Lewis), Maggie Rose--Her Birthday Christmas (Sawyer), The Little French Girl (Sedgwick)...There are so many. I'm not sure how to list them!

Want to join me? Feel free to leave comments! (Or link to your blog in the comments section.)

2 comments:

Jen Rouse said...

Isn't that a fun one? I've very much enjoyed three out of the five books you mention on your all-time favorites list, so I'll have to check out Maggie Rose and The Little French Girl.

By the way, I found your blog through Heather T's. I'm not sure if you know who I am, but after looking at the pictures on your blog, I think we've met in real life at least once...I'm a friend of Heather's, I was a few years behind your sister Shannon in high school, and I wrote a story about your family's adorable shop several years ago, back when I worked for the local paper.

Happy reading. I may have to try that Daily Lit thing you mention too!

Heidi said...

Hi, Jen! It's nice to 'meet' you again. I remember you writing the story for the paper. What fun. Glad you stopped by!

Maggie Rose is an absolutely delightful story about a 9 year old girl who plans a big party for her birthday (on Christmas). It is one of those 'children's' stories that is even more captivating when you read it as an adult.

I'm not sure how to describe The Little French Girl. It isn't a children's book. Alix (the French girl) goes to stay with an English family at the age of 15 or 16. It is a thoughful, beautiful, introspective sort of book that just makes me feel shining when I read it. Highly recommended!