A-Z Book Meme

The talented and amazing creator of Banana Man herself, Ang Writes, posted her responses to an A-Z book meme, and challenged others to do the same. So I did. Hers is prettier. Mine is mineier. Here’s hers: http://www.angwrites.com/2013/08/a-to-z-book-survey.html?spref=tw

Author(s) You’ve Read The Most Books From: 

I think I have to go with Stephen King. Might be Isaac Asimov, though. Or whoever really wrote the Hardy Boys novels.

Best Sequel Ever:

There are so many choices. The Two Towers, which hooked me on the series (read it before Fellowship, actually). Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul.

Currently Reading:

Dreams and Shadows, C. Robert Cargill

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Water, Iced tea, or Coke

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical book, but I have read a growing number of books on my iPad. Good for some things, not for others.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Presuming I’d dated in high school, you mean?

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

The Nine-Billion Names of God, Arthur C. Clarke. A short story collection, I bought it knowing very little about science fiction and it sent me on a wonderful path of discovery. The title story and The Star stuck with me for a very long time.

Hidden Gem Book:

I’m not sure what really qualifies anymore, but I’ll go with The Riyria Revelations series, by Michael J. Sullivan. He’s an indie author who had enough success to grab a publisher, and I really liked the series.

Important Moment In Your Reading Life:

The latest? When I decided I wanted to write. I read very differently now.

Just Finished:

The Daylight War, Peter V. Brett (Demon Cycle, #3)

Kind of Books You Won’t Read:

There’s a lot that just doesn’t grab my eye, but I’ll focus on books that I might otherwise read and don’t. I’m just not a big fan of overly complicated naming structures. If I read the blurb, and it’s got a bunch of “Kl’theyorianismistism the Third was the lost scion of the Melipinatiortianianthian clan,” I’m done.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Had to look it up. I’m going with the revised version of The Stand, at 1153 pages, because I can’t think of anything longer.

Major Book Hangover Because Of:

There are a lot of things that make me think, or I wouldn’t enjoy reading them. The last one was (hope this isn’t repetitive) Joyland, by King. There was an awful lot in there about getting older that really resonated with me as I close in on 40. Does staying up all night to finish the last two HP books on the night they were released so that my wife could read them upon waking up count? Because I felt awful after those. 🙂

Number Of Bookcases You Own:

Five, all stuffed to the gills. Could use a couple more. And that doesn’t count the ones at work.

One Many Book(s) You Have Read Multiple Times:

Why read a good book only once? I get to LotR about once a year. The Belgariad/Mallorean probably 10 times in total. The early HP books 6-7, rereading as the new ones came out. The Tom Clancy Jack Ryan Books about 7 times, until Clancy went insane. The various Thomas Covenant books, a bunch of times. And too much King to mention.

Preferred Place To Read:

Sprawled. Wherever.

Quote That Inspires You/Gives You All The Feels From A Book You’ve Read:

“Optimism is an excuse to behave optimally,” Ray Bradbury, Yestermorrow.

Reading Regret:

There are times I’m too busy to read.

Series You Started And Need To Finish:

The Gentlemen Bastard Books

The Kingkiller Chronicles

The Demon Cycle

A Song of Ice and Fire

Three Of Your All-time Favorite Books (not mentioned above – ed):

1. Angry Candy, Harlan Ellison. If you haven’t read ‘Paladin of the Lost Hour’ or ‘The Function of Dream Sleep,’ find a copy, read it. NOW.
2. The Fireside Book of Baseball, Charles Einstein, ed. Non-fiction, fiction, poetry. Excerpts from some of the most amazing writing on my favorite game.
3. A Man on the Moon, Andrew Chaikin. The book used as a basis for the HBO miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon.” A wonderful history of the greatest adventure I could imagine.

Unapologetic Fanboy For:

Anything written by Jack McDevitt or Joe Abercrombie. Two of my favorites working today.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Orison, by Daniel Swensen. And no, I’m not blowing smoke. I really want to see what the finished product looks like.

Worst Bookish Habit:

Folding the corners in to mark my pages.

X Marks The Spot: Start At The Top Left Of Your Shelf & Pick the 27th Book

Foundation’s Fear, Gregory Benford. On one of the bookshelves, anyway.

Your Latest Book Purchase:

I don’t buy a lot of books, because we have a fantastic library. I honestly think the last book I purchased for pleasure (ie, not a text I needed for work) was Once Upon a Time: A Collection of Unexpected Fairytales, ed S. J.I. Holliday, Anna Meade. I know one of the authors. 🙂

ZZZ-Snatcher Book: Last Book That Kept You Up Way Too Late:

The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss. That book captivated me.