Question of the Day

I read this question over at Pop Culture Junkie, so I had to steal it and answer it on my blog, too.

Book Gluttony! Are your eyes bigger than your book belly? Do you have a habit of buying up books far quicker than you could possibly read them? Have you had to curb your book buying habits until you can catch up with yourself? Or are you a controlled buyer, only purchasing books when you have run out of things to read?

In the last few years I've developed a nice system. Over the course of the year, I fill my Amazon Wish List with books that I want. I only receive birthday/Christmas presents from two sets of parents and my husband, but all I ask from them are books off my list. This past holiday/birthday season, I received a total of 17 new books. It's now May and I still haven't read them all.

This doesn't mean that I don't buy books myself, however it's usually only ones that I can't wait for and want to own: i.e. Harry Potter, Twilight, It Sucked and Then I Cried, etc. So in the first five months of 2009, I think I've only purchased two books. I'm proud of that. I also have borrowed several books, which is a great way to read and save money. And once my holiday books run out, I'm going to check out the library in our new city. (We've lived here for a year, but I haven't made it to the library down the road yet.) Bills are increasing and money's getting tight, so I'm going to try my hardest to not buy too many new books for the rest of 2009. While that might mean the pickings will be slim and this blog will review quite a few more "chick lit" books (they seem to always be in great supply at the library), it's probably the best idea in the end.

So, what about you?

Q & A

So, these little interviews have been going on all over the blogosphere. Thanks to Pop Culture Junkie, my fellow book lover, for sending me some questions to answer.

Questions:

1. What is one book you hate?

This is a hard question! In my post about Chick Lit, I mention some books I never finished. And there are some other books (On Beauty, The Secret of Lost Things) that I didn't finish last year. However, I'm not sure I can say that because I didn't finish them, I "hate" them. More that they were boring. I pretty much know what I like. I think high school turned me off to Ayn Rand, but if I were to pick up her books again, who knows...

2. What is your favorite classic?

I didn't read too many classics in high school, but in college my roommate introduced me to both Pride & Prejudice and The Great Gatsby. Loved them! But, I think my most favorite classic is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I read this book in English 1001 freshman year and was completely surprised by how much I loved it. I should really read it again.

3. What was your favorite book from your childhood?

I read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett several times, as well as Just As Long As We're Together by Judy Blume (seriously, I probably read that 20 times). I read those books in late elementary school. Earlier than that I loved anything by Tomie dePaola (Strega Nona rocks!), and Molly was my favorite American Girl. (However, when I was reading those 20 years ago, there was only Molly, Samantha and Kirsten. Did you know they're actually retiring Samantha?!)

4. What is your favorite series?

Well, we all know I fell in love with vampires last summer with the Twilight series; I so enjoyed the Traveling Pants; but really, when I have to choose, Harry Potter wins over all series I've ever read (child, teen or adult). They're magical, complex and hopeful, and to put all those themes into a book that's meant for pre-teens/teens, well, that takes some talent. I loved every single one of those books. I look forward to reading them again someday.
5. Do you read hardcovers with the dust jacket on or off?

I used to read with the jacket on, but when I started dating my husband, he would always take the jackets off his books. I realized this kept the cover looking nicer, plus it kept snoopy people on the bus from knowing what I was reading!

Thanks Alea, of Pop Culture Junkie!

What would your answers be? Or:

Want to be Interviewed?
1. If you want to be interviewed, leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions and let me know when you have posted it, so I can link it.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.