I got this from Lisa.
1. Favorite childhood book?
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I was obsessed with living in a museum for a very long time. Until I was like 23.
2. What are you reading right now?
A few things: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller; The Lost City of Z, David Grann; The Brothers Karamazov — which, yes, I’ve never read.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Uhm, none?
4. Bad book habit?
I don’t get it. Is there such a thing? Like, do I rip out pages and smoke them? Do I binge eat book covers? What are you getting at?
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
You make a lot of library assumptions, Mr. McMemey.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Nope.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?
See #2 above.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
No. Should they? Am I doing it wrong?
9. Least favorite book you read this year?
Drood, by someone whose name I don’t even remember.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
I loved Goolrick’s A Reliable Wife. Oooh! Also The Passion by Winterson. I’ve gone back to both of those books repeatedly. So many passages just take my breath away.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
“Comfort zone” meaning what? Do I sometimes read wearing tight pants? Do I sometimes read while riding naked on the bus? You use terms but you don’t define them.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Loose clothing. Cushy chair. Yes, I know what you mean, but I’m just being a sassypants.
13. Can you read on the bus?
I’m sure it’s allowed.
14. Favorite place to read?
In my big chair at home. Sometimes in bed, but I always fall asleep.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
“Policy”? Please contact my HR department.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Sometimes. I mean, look, I end up sleeping on top of them. I’m not proud of it, but things happen in bed. Things you don’t intend.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Sometimes.
18. Not even with text books?
What?? Okay. No, then. Not even with textbooks. And you mean, of course, the textbooks I’m regularly reading? Like the Calculus textbook I slept with last night?
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
Again, what?? Damn, I really wish this meme was in Urdu. It’d be so much better.
20. What makes you love a book?
Goodness. The goodness of the book. And if it sends me chocolates. And tells me I’m pretty. The basics.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
I’m rarely “inspired” to recommend a book. If I like a book, I’ll get excited about it and tell people. The word “inspired” is ooging me out here, but I guess “liking/loving it” will “inspire” me, if you insist. I don’t know. I’ve given up on recommending books to others, really. So that’s not too inspiring, is it?
What I’m saying is that I don’t tell people, “Oh, you need to read this book!” I say, “I really liked this book.” (And the person can do whatever the heck he wants with that information.) I don’t like being all enthusiastic about a book and having someone tell me they read it based on my enthusiasm and — oh, also — that they hated hated hated it so what the heck was up with my inexplicable enthusiasm??
This whole answer is uninspiring. Whatever. Go read a book. Of your own choosing.
22. Favorite genre?
I like lots of things. I’m an omnivore.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Well, you know, I rarely read several of the genres mentioned here: the “on request at the library” genre, the e-reader genre, the comfort zone genre.
24. Favorite biography?
Most recent favorite was probably Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Yes. I think I’ll need one after this meme.
26. Favorite cookbook?
The Barefoot Contessa. The one that Jayne should write. If Pioneer Woman can do it, I see NO reason Jayne cannot.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or nonfiction)?
You’re really into this inspiration thing. I have not been overly “inspired” in my reading this year, but there’s still time for that Tuesdays-With-Morrie experience, I guess.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Snack? Sometimes I’m drinking coffee when I read. Is that a snack?
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Hm. Well, I don’t usually jump on a hype bandwagon right away. I mean, I’m basically always late to the party on things and that’s okay with me. So why let hype “ruin” my experience? I either like the book or I don’t. “Hype” doesn’t affect my opinion.
And I shall name the case Guillermo.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Sometimes yes; sometimes no. And I’m sure the critics are biting their nails over it, too.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
It must be me, I guess, because some of these questions just strike me as odd. Then again, I’ve had a couple of margaritas. Honestly, Memepants, does any author anywhere give a tiny rat’s bottom what I might say about his or her book? The way the question is phrased it presupposes that I’m perched on my lofty critic’s pedestal, doling out literary lollipops or lumps of coal. So, yeah, I’m fine about “giving bad reviews.” Hahaha. I mean, I don’t think that Waller wanker would slit his “last cowboy” wrists because he heard I hated The Bridges of Madison County with a white hot hate. Am I supposed to feel guilt about “giving” these “bad reviews”? Which of us has had too many margaritas, Memesy?
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Didn’t we cover this? No?
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
I can’t think of a book that intimidated me, really. I mean, if I’m picking up a book to read it, I’m doing so because I’m looking forward to it, because I WANT to read it. At least, it always starts out that way.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
I hate the way this question is phrased. Pass. “Most” intimidating? “Too” nervous? I’m not the Cowardly Lion, dude.
35. Favorite poet?
Auden. I’m really into William Carlos Williams right now.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
I don’t usually check out books. And I really don’t check them out now because I have two books that have been overdue for a year. Shhhh.
37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?
Well, if I ever return the above-mentioned books to the library, they will be unread. Which is weird considering I’ve had them for the 3-week checkout period X 20.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Just one? Seriously? Well, I do so love Jane Eyre.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
The Thenardiers made me shiver.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
What is a vacation?
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Well, I read every day. Something.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
In high school I was supposed to read Giants in the Earth, but I just couldn’t finish it. I couldn’t get past all the Norwegian names. Argy Bargy Volstagaaaaard. Narwhal Parwhal Omerkring. Shmeleg Vrleleg Shmundebaaaarg. I was lost. Reading those names felt like having dry heaves. I think I read the Cliff Notes.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Well, Norwegian names, clearly.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
I say this all the damn time, but it’s true: The Bridges of Madison County is a truly fine movie, thanks to Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep and the ruthless editing of the original piece of poo from whence it came.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Well, I’m preparing myself to be disappointed by the film version of Life of Pi. It keeps switching directors. Last I heard it was Ang Lee, which actually gives me some small hope. I’m not sure this will actually ever get made. I don’t see how it can be done. Or, rather, done well.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
100 bucks?
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Always. Is that often?
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Boredom. Bad writing. Norwegian names.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
I would like Sheila or Lisa to keep my books organized. I don’t wanna talk about it.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep them. And I don’t have space for them. I will die in a book avalanche. I don’t wanna talk about it.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Another weird question. “Avoiding”? Like, we went out on an awkward first date? It has an unrequited crush on me? I owe it money? I mean, books just sit there. So far, I’ve found it pretty easy to “avoid” them. But if War and Peace starts to camp out in front of my house with binoculars and night vision goggles or jumps out of my closet wielding a Bowie knife, then we’ll have an avoidance problem, I guess.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Well, they usually already HAVE names, but let’s name the book that made me angry That Piece of Crap Oprah Recommended.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
You know, I don’t generally pick up a book going, “Ooooh, I can’t wait to hate this!” I guess I can say that I didn’t “expect” to like Twilight as much as I did because liking it might make me ask myself deep probing questions I’d rather not ask, but I liked Twilight. It kept the toe tappin’.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Well, That Piece of Crap Oprah Recommended comes to mind. Actually, there were several of those. I have never liked an Oprah recommendation and I gave up on being cool enough for her club long ago.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
I don’t get it. You’re implying my pleasure reading is supposed to be guilt-ridden — which is weird. Are you in the FOC, Memehead? If everyone feels guilty about what they read for pleasure, there’s not much pleasure in it, is there? You know, I can’t answer this question. I’m not smart enough to keep up with your word-smithery.
“I have never liked an Oprah recommendation and I gave up on being cool enough for her club long ago.”
You have no idea how much I lurve you for that sentence right there.
I gritted my teeth when Oprah slapped her “recommend” label on Steinbeck’s “East of Eden,” fully half a century after it was published, as though she was the first to discover it. Yeah, yeah, I know in theory her stamp of approval is supposed to get non-readers to read, but Steinbeck’s got to be rolling in his grave over “OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB!” stuck onto the cover of his novel.
“Like the Calculus textbook I slept with last night?”
Far be it for me to criticize your book, ummm, “habits”, but I’ve never met a Calculus book, that I EVER trusted.
Oh, sure, they start out all nice and innocent, only interested in your mind, but, after a few weeks start putting you off balance. You first take them at their word that most equations are merely “derivative” of more complex complex concepts, and it’s easy to fall in love with the simplicity of the “heart” of Calculus’ theory. Then they begin to plead with you that your involvement is “integral” to the on-going relationship.
Now you’re hooked, but it’s too late to drop this jerk, because your parents have already invested in this relationship… besides you’ll be labeled as a “F’ing” loser by that company that is interested in hiring you.
Then at your lowest point they try to completely change your point of view, introducing radial coordinates to the picture. You already know that “radial” is merely missing a “c” that truly defines this system. All the previous rules are OUT. You must learn the newer concepts of this more “free” system of coordinates, and you feel very uncomfortable compared to the classic x-y system that you were raised in.
They begin introducing “double integrations” which you KNOW your parents would probably not approve of, but the book says that: “It’s okay” and “Trust me, it may be difficult at first to handle another integration” (that extra huge swiggly symbol) but you’ll get used to it. Besides the book says, “At your age and maturity, EVERYONE else is doing it”.
By the end of the relationship, you’re just wanting to stay alive and sane. If you’re lucky (and, not an engineer, like I was), you may be able to escape and rebuild your life. If you’re not, you get dragged into the cults of “Differential Equations” which teaches unholy concepts such as LaPlace transforms and “Matrix” math.
By then, you’ve lost the ability to “feel” anything, and can only hope you find a significant other that can bring you back from the brink
One of my professors at school is named Guillermo. In my opinion, he fails to live up to his hype. 🙂 Just sayin’.
OOOOOOOOOOOH! I read “The Reliable Wife!” I forgot to tell you, but I read it. It was teh awesome.
Katie — Really? You have a Guillermo? That’s kind of awesome. I’m sorry he doesn’t live up to his hype.
Lisa — Oh! I’m so glad you liked it! Isn’t his writing fabulous? I just loved it. So hypnotic. Of course, I hear they’re making a movie and I keep casting it in my head. Who would be Truitt? Who would be Catherine? They can’t screw it up!!
I love it when you give me free post ideas… uh, answer one of these memes. Your answers are fabulous. Argy Bary Volgestaaaaaard made me snort tea. Listening to your Squeeze albums in the middle of the meme? Awesome.
And “the ruthless editing of the original piece of poo from whence it came” is also Awesome.
Okay, I haven’t finished this yet but 2 comments already:
1. I think I am still obsessed with camping out in museums overnight.
2. Have we discussed The Passion before? That’s one of my favorite books ever written – it got me hooked on Winterson for all time, even when she kind of lost it there, for about, oh, 7 books after that. I read ’em all because of The Passion!!
Okay, I’ll be back.
I did this meme a while back and was also confused by the wording of some of the questioning.
To be a wee voice of dissent, I actually was pleased when Oprah started going back into classic literature and had people reading those books. I thought it was a far better use of her power (although she certainly has MADE some of the careers of the writers she’s picked, so far be it from me, as a struggling writer, to pooh-pooh that). But way back in the dark ages of the Book Club, I remember thinking, “God, how awesome it would be if she picked, oh, The Scarlet Letter or The Great Gatsby” – to have serious conversations about serious literature entering the pop culture world again, the way they used to … She EVENTUALLY took my advice. hahaha I felt strangely vindicated when I saw spanking new editions of Anna K and East of Eden (one of my favorites of Steinbeck’s books – actually, scratch that – it’s my favorite) lining the windows of Barnes and Noble. I felt somehow like I had created it merely by thinking it.
And yes, I’m nuts.
Tracey – I am also nervous about the adaptation of Life of Pi. What do we know about it so far? Who is doing it? HOW will they do it? Like …. HOW????
And, finally, I am totally with you 100% on the stellar adaptation (and eventual movie) of Bridges of Madison County, a book which is completely unreadable. But God, that movie!! It KILLED ME. I remember when I first saw it and my poor friends had to lead me up the aisle after the movie ended, like I was some shattered psychic invalid. Tremendous.
Some things are meant to be seen and not read.
sheila — We have not discussed The Passion. We need to! Seriously, that book has been on the floor next to my bed for the last year. I’ve reread sections over and over. She is SO DAMN GOOD, I can’t bear it. Seriously. It’s almost unbearable to me.
Here’s how out of the loop I am on Oprah: I didn’t even KNOW she’d started recommending classics. On that front I say “YAY.” That’s something I can get on board with, definitely.
(SPOILERS BELOW ON “LIFE OF PI”!!!)
Life of Pi — LAST I heard, Ang Lee. I can’t remember who it was before. Another big name. Damn, who was it? Anyway, he’s out; Lee is in. Somewhere online I read a big debate about Richard Parker — like, how to do Richard Parker?? Real or CGI? I would think they’d HAVE to go with real because even as good as CGI is, it has limitations. I mean, Aslan is okay in the Narnia movies, but honestly, he’s not what I pictured. His mane bothers me, but I’m weird.
On the other hand, how can a real Richard Parker do everything he needs to do? I don’t know! I mean, I bite my nails just thinking about it.
Bridges of Madison County — All these years later, I’m still stunned that such a wonderful movie came from such a piece of crap. Apart from the basic outline, the movie is unrecognizable from the book. I HATED the Eastwood character in the book. He was a blathering narcissist. I would watch the movie again without hesitation, but I don’t want that book within a 50-mile radius of my brain.
You know, I just decided something: Everyone needs to bring a copy of their favorite childhood book to the SYC. We can pass them around, read whatever we haven’t read.
Wouldn’t that be a cool book swap??
I have so many thoughts whirling through my mind right now. So now let me EXPLODE. Yes with The Passion. I was so obsessed with that book when it came out in the 90s that I actually looked into acquiring the rights for it – like, who did I think I am?? – I wanted to do an adaptation of it for the stage with me as Villanelle (naturally) and Mitchell as Henri, the cook for Napoleon. I was informed by the publisher that “Ms. Winterson” was not releasing the rights to anyone. The fact that there has not been a movie made of that book is ASTONISHING and the only reason is that “Ms. Winterson” won’t release the rights. I am sure people, moguls, actors, have BEGGED her to release those rights – but she stays strong. I hate her for it (I would have made something awesome of that book for the stage) but I also love her for her Salinger-like integrity.
Have you read her other stuff? It gets pretty tiresome, but Sexing the Cherry, which I believe came out before The Passion – is also a wonderful read. It’s about a guy in Renaissance-era England who becomes obsessed with a woman … She really only has one story to tell (Winterson) – the story of unrequited love – but I think she tells it like no other.
The Passion is just brilliant, plain and simple.
I am so excited – I had no idea you were into that book as well! I have a whole “tag” on my site for Jeanette Winterson (if you scroll down, you can see it under the “Writers I love” heading. She is an egotist of the highest order (she has declared that she is the best author writing currently in the English language), and sometimes that leads her astray – but I appreciate her honesty, and I think actually she may be right. She has had enormous failures, but she’s one of those writers where I look forward to whatever she does.
She recently published a book which is a re-telling of the Hercules myth called “Weight” which is flat-out brilliant.
Okay, I’ll stop now. I’m just so excited.
Sheila’s reaction to Bridges is the same as mine to Phenomenon. Have y’all seen that movie? John Travolta? Psychic/brain tumor? Robert Duvall? Kyra Sedgwick? I cried so hard I had to wait until everyone else in the theater left — then I snuck out the side door when they came to sweep up the popcorn.
Okay, so Ang Lee gives me hope. In general, he is very good with adaptations. How do you adapt a 30 page story into a full-length movie as he did with Brokeback Mountain? He did it.
I seriously hope they go with a real tiger and not CGI.
Richard Parker lives in my mind. You watch footage of live tigers and you could certainly imagine them having the consciousness of a Richard Parker, so it would be tricky to pull off but it could be amazing!
I don’t know who should be Catherine, but it better not be Nicole Kidman, that’s for sure. The whole time I was reading it, I was thinking, “I bet that b*tch Kidman’s bought this so she can star in the movie.”
Lisa – ha!! I love that, I did not know that! I loved Phenomenon!
It’s so amazing when these movies come along and just WRECK you. You walk in there, perfectly normal, and you walk out shattered, and you call it “a damn good time”!!
Tracey – Aslan really bugged me. That was a character I grew up loving … and to see that lion’s mouth move in the movie … it just was kitschy, and it upset me. Don’t do that to Aslan!
Lisa — /“I bet that b*tch Kidman’s bought this so she can star in the movie.â€/
Hahahahahahahaha!! I had that exact same thought!!!
sheila — The Passion. OMG. It’s brilliant, as you said. There’s not one wasted word, one wasted image. Winterson’s brain is just different, I’m convinced. The way she tells a story — yeah, maybe she IS the best writer currently in the English language. Reading her, I’m hard-pressed to argue against that point, you know?
You’d be a great Villanelle. I can see it. And Mitchell as Henri? Fabulous. I love you for trying to get those rights. I really do.
Sexing the Cherry is next on my list!
Oh, I remember I read aloud to MB the section about the bet, the wager in The Passion. Remember that part? This was after I’d read the whole book. I read that one section to him and he was dumbfounded. I mean, he literally didn’t know what to say after I’d read it. Stunned the man into silence.
Oh that WAGER. I am HAUNTED by that story.
I love how she incorporates the fantastical into the realistic (Sexing the Cherry has a lot of that, too – the title refers to the gender of plans, and the introduction of the banana into Renaissance-era England …I can’t remember why) – the fairy tale element. That house in Venice in The Passion, with the heart in the box.
She’s sooooo good.
Or, she can be. Like a lot of geniuses, when she’s bad, or “off”, she’s AWFUL. But boy, when she’s good? nobody can touch her.
Oops, not the “gender of plans”. I meant to write the “gender of PLANTS”.
Hahahahahahahah. Well, all MY plans are transgendered.
/and the introduction of the banana into Renaissance-era England /
Why is that striking me as so funny? I’m now picturing a giant banana in a huge bejeweled gown being presented at the court of Henry VIII.
I HAVE to read this book.
Yay for “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler”! I saw it on display at the bookstore I was in today and got a warm fuzzy feeling.
P.S. I think you’ve reached either the amnesty point or the pay-for-the-cost-of-the-book point for those overdue library books. Are they nice at your library?
Tracey – yes, that is totally what happens! The banana is this huge deal, presented in a formal ceremony …. Winterson is NUTS and I LOVE HER.