Alycia from Habitual Homebody had yet another cool survey post – this time about books! So here it is – feel free to snag it to use yourself.
Author you’ve read the most books from:
I think it’s probably Augusten Burroughs. I’ve read all but two of his books, and they are excellent. Such a brilliant combination of dark humor, sad truths, and honesty. I like that.
Best Sequel Ever:
I think I’ll have to go with ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’ by Stieg Larsson, which is Book 2 of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. I liked ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’, but I wasn’t riveted for the whole book. With Book 2, I was. I could NOT put that book down. Book 3 is fabulous as well – I highly recommend the whole series.
Currently Reading:
‘The Way of Shadows’ by Brent Weeks. It was loaned by a friend who knows I love fantasy novels, and it is quite good so far. And it’s one a trilogy, so I have two more after, yay!
Drink of Choice While Reading:
Tea. But then again, tea is always my drink of choice. However, if it’s super late, or I’m in bed, usually it’s a bottle of water.
E-reader or Physical Book?
I have both, and I like both equally. Originally, I thought I would hate a Kindle. Nothing beats holding a physical book, or that lovely book smell. But when we got our Kindle many years back, I begrudgingly tried it, and found out I like it! It is really so much more convenient in bed than trying to comfortably lay and hold open an 800+ page hardcover book. And since it’s not a standard screen like a computer, I don’t get the headache problem from staring at a screen too long (which is why I will never get a Kindle Fire).
Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:
I’d have to say Simon from the YA series Mortal Instruments. He’s nerdy, a bit weird, into anime, and hot. Pretty much sums up my actual high school dating experience! But I think he’s realistically the most like me and my friends in high school, therefore, the most likely fictional guy I would’ve dated.
Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
‘Lamb’ by Christopher Moore. I was in a bookstore, just browsing the shelves, and I picked up Lamb. At first, I was put off because it had to do with religion (it is a ‘re-telling’ of the Christian gospel according to Christ’s childhood pal, Biff. Yes, it’s a comedy). Now, I have nothing against religion, I myself am just not a religious person so I wasn’t sure I’d be interested in the book. But a complete stranger (a girl about my age ,which was 20 or so at the time) saw me with it and said, “Just read it. You will love it. It’s hilarious.” Well, that was enough for me. I bought it, and it is currently one of my all time favorite books. It IS hysterical, but it has it has sad and serious moments as well. I definitely recommend it.
Hidden Gem Book:
‘Lamb’ by Christopher Moore. See above question.
Important Moment in your Reading Life:
When I was nine or ten years old I read a book called ‘The Daydreamer’ by Ian McEwan. It was the first book I remember that really sucked me into another world. It has fantasy elements in (the main character is constantly daydreaming about his everyday life) and it is the first memory I have of realizing that reading can really show you amazing things.
Just Finished:
The third book in the Gentlemen Bastard series, ‘The Republic of Thieves’ by Scott Lynch. This series is absolutely fantastic, and the first book ‘The Lies of Locke Lamora’ is in my top ten books of all time. The Republic of Thieves is good, but not as good as the first two. It suffers from sequel-itis, in that it really seems to be setting you up for the NEXT book, which sounds like it will be far more interesting. But this was still a great read.
Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:
Romance novels. I’ve just never had an interest. I mean, not that I mind stories involving a love story, but for the most part they are secondary plots in the books I like. That being said, I have read the 50 Shade of Grey series, and I don’t consider them love stories. They are basically porn, in book form.
Longest Book You’ve Read:
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin, book 2 in his Song of Ice and Fires series. Clocks in at 1,004 pages. Dance with Dragons (Book 5) is longer, but I have yet to read it.
Major book hangover because of:
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I am not a sappy person, but every since I had a child, I can not handle anything having to do with sick/dying children. This whole book was about kids with cancer. Cue sobbing silently on the couch for half the book, and for about an half an hour after I finished it. But despite that, I highly recommend the book because it is excellent!
Number of Bookcases You Own:
Two.
One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:
Besides the entire Harry Potter series, I have read Dry by Augusten Burroughs about eight or nine times. It is in my top ten books of all time, and I love it every time I read it.
Preferred Place To Read:
Curled up on my couch with a blanket.
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
“The marks humans leave are too often scars.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
“Much of my life had been devoted to trying not to cry in front of people who loved me, so I knew what Augustus was doing. You clench your teeth. You look up. You tell yourself that if they see you cry, it will hurt them, and you will be nothing but a Sadness in their lives, and you must not become a mere sadness, so you will not cry, and you say all of this to yourself while looking up at the ceiling, and then you swallow even though your throat does not want to close and you look at the person who loves you and smile.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
“We’re as likely to hurt the universe as we are to help it, and we’re not likely to do either.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
This whole book gave me the feels, but those quotes are a few I really love.
Reading Regret:
The Great Gatsby. I couldn’t even finish it. I didn’t care about a single character in the book, nor any of the events.
Series You Started And Need To Finish (all books are out in series):
The Divergent series by Veronica Roth. Allegiant (the final book) just came out last month, and I bought the whole series but at the time, my hubs had taken over the kindle. When he’s finished, it’s next on my list!
Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
World War Z by Max Brooks
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Unapologetic Fangirl For:
The Mortal Instruments series – they’re a YA series, and while I recognize they aren’t spectacular, I thoroughly enjoy them!
Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:
Allegiant (final book in the Divergent trilogy) which just came out, and the next Gentlemen Bastard book which probably won’t be out for years, as the most recent one just came out last month. But I want more!
Worst Bookish Habit:
Constantly adding to my ‘Want To Read’ list on Goodreads without ever actually reading books on that list. I’m usually too frugal to constantly buy books, so I read books my neighbor loans me that aren’t on my list (but at least they’re good!).
X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (Book 2 of the Mistborn series – excellent series!!)
Your latest book purchase:
Bought The Republic of Thieves (Book 3 of Gentlement Bastards) and the Divergent trilogy on the same day.
ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
When I first read the Divergent series. I could NOT put those books down – definitely my favorite YA series. I had a couple late-nighters with the Mortal Instruments books as well.
Hope you got some new books you’d like to read out of this – I did in reading the previous answers! I tend to sway towards fantasy novels, and I have a soft spot for YA series so if you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them.
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