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Book meme
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bottle_of_shine.
Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback?
Trade paperback -- I like the way they fit in the hand best. I dislike carting around hardbacks and it's very rare for me to buy them, unless it's a book I'm dying for and just can't hold out, or it's a reference that I intend to keep around forever.
Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Borders, definitely. Broader selection and better salespeople, in my experience. And I felt that way before I was an employee (briefly, over Christmas 2004). I also love a good independent. The best one within my easy reach is a place called Stacey's.
Bookmark or dog-ear?
Bookmark, always. I used to dog-ear when I was a kid and looking at my old books makes me cringe now.
Amazon or brick and mortar?
Brick and mortar, usually. I like the instant gratification. Usually I only buy from Amazon if it's a book that I know I'll have a hard time finding in a store.
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
I don't alphabetize my books at all. They're shelved sort of by topic, but not in any particular order within that. Bad librarian! My CDs, however, are shelved by artist and then release date, with the classical CDs separated out.
Keep, throw away, or sell?
Keep. The idea of throwing away a book is anathema. I do sell, sometimes, and I should do it more often -- the "I know I will never ever read this book again" pile is growing.
Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keep.
Read with dust jacket or remove it?
I leave it on unless it's really annoying me for some reason.
Short story or novel?
Novels generally, although I enjoy a good short story.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Harry Potter. I got to the 6th book in the Series of Unfortunate Events and then just kind of stopped. I should probably read the rest, but I really adore Harry Potter. Rowling can be uneven at times but when she's on the top of her game, there's no one better.
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
Chapter breaks, or at least section breaks, whenever possible. But when you read on the train, you have to learn to stop whenever.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?
Depends, but I'd probably pick "Once upon a time" if I had to choose.
Buy or borrow?
Buy. Again with the instant gratification. (Bad librarian!)
New or used?
Doesn't matter. I love the treasure hunt of an hour in a used bookstore, and the smell of old books is one of my favorite things in the world. But a crisp new book is satisfying in a completely different way. So it depends on where I am and whether I'm looking for something specific.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?
All of the above. But recommendations are my favorite.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Tidy endings. "But what happened next?!" is a question that will keep me up for weeks.
Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
Whenever I have time, but afternoon is probably my favorite time. Stupid work.
Stand-alone or series?
Stand-alone. See above, re. tidy endings. There are series I absolutely love ("A Song of Ice and Fire", HP, Temeraire...) but I would rather have a complete story in one volume when I can.
Favorite series?
Until very recently I would have said "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. But Naomi Novik's dragon books are giving him a run for his money. Also, hers come out more often.
Favorite children's book?
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Favorite YA book?
The Westing Game
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean. Although I hear it's back in print now!
Favorite books read last year?
I didn't read much last year, somehow. Maybe Anansi Boys, or Tigana (although I can't be sure whether I read that in 2006 or 2005), or Fluke.
Favorite books of all time?
The Westing Game, Tam Lin, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The First Wives Club, The Lion's of Al-Rassan....
Least favorite book you finished last year?
The Da Vinci Code
What are you reading right now?
All the comics I picked up at APE.
What are you reading next?
Probably The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain.
Favorite book to recommend to an eleven-year-old?
Not to repeat myself, but The Westing Game. Smart, funny, stars a kick-ass girl, and the mystery is both difficult and satisfying.
Favorite book to reread?
Tam Lin. It's the first book I pull off the shelf if I'm sick or stressed out.
Do you ever smell books?
Of course.
Do you ever read Primary source documents?
Not often. I tend to read fiction over nonfiction.
bottle_of_shine.Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback?
Trade paperback -- I like the way they fit in the hand best. I dislike carting around hardbacks and it's very rare for me to buy them, unless it's a book I'm dying for and just can't hold out, or it's a reference that I intend to keep around forever.
Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Borders, definitely. Broader selection and better salespeople, in my experience. And I felt that way before I was an employee (briefly, over Christmas 2004). I also love a good independent. The best one within my easy reach is a place called Stacey's.
Bookmark or dog-ear?
Bookmark, always. I used to dog-ear when I was a kid and looking at my old books makes me cringe now.
Amazon or brick and mortar?
Brick and mortar, usually. I like the instant gratification. Usually I only buy from Amazon if it's a book that I know I'll have a hard time finding in a store.
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
I don't alphabetize my books at all. They're shelved sort of by topic, but not in any particular order within that. Bad librarian! My CDs, however, are shelved by artist and then release date, with the classical CDs separated out.
Keep, throw away, or sell?
Keep. The idea of throwing away a book is anathema. I do sell, sometimes, and I should do it more often -- the "I know I will never ever read this book again" pile is growing.
Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keep.
Read with dust jacket or remove it?
I leave it on unless it's really annoying me for some reason.
Short story or novel?
Novels generally, although I enjoy a good short story.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Harry Potter. I got to the 6th book in the Series of Unfortunate Events and then just kind of stopped. I should probably read the rest, but I really adore Harry Potter. Rowling can be uneven at times but when she's on the top of her game, there's no one better.
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
Chapter breaks, or at least section breaks, whenever possible. But when you read on the train, you have to learn to stop whenever.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?
Depends, but I'd probably pick "Once upon a time" if I had to choose.
Buy or borrow?
Buy. Again with the instant gratification. (Bad librarian!)
New or used?
Doesn't matter. I love the treasure hunt of an hour in a used bookstore, and the smell of old books is one of my favorite things in the world. But a crisp new book is satisfying in a completely different way. So it depends on where I am and whether I'm looking for something specific.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?
All of the above. But recommendations are my favorite.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Tidy endings. "But what happened next?!" is a question that will keep me up for weeks.
Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
Whenever I have time, but afternoon is probably my favorite time. Stupid work.
Stand-alone or series?
Stand-alone. See above, re. tidy endings. There are series I absolutely love ("A Song of Ice and Fire", HP, Temeraire...) but I would rather have a complete story in one volume when I can.
Favorite series?
Until very recently I would have said "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. But Naomi Novik's dragon books are giving him a run for his money. Also, hers come out more often.
Favorite children's book?
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Favorite YA book?
The Westing Game
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean. Although I hear it's back in print now!
Favorite books read last year?
I didn't read much last year, somehow. Maybe Anansi Boys, or Tigana (although I can't be sure whether I read that in 2006 or 2005), or Fluke.
Favorite books of all time?
The Westing Game, Tam Lin, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The First Wives Club, The Lion's of Al-Rassan....
Least favorite book you finished last year?
The Da Vinci Code
What are you reading right now?
All the comics I picked up at APE.
What are you reading next?
Probably The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain.
Favorite book to recommend to an eleven-year-old?
Not to repeat myself, but The Westing Game. Smart, funny, stars a kick-ass girl, and the mystery is both difficult and satisfying.
Favorite book to reread?
Tam Lin. It's the first book I pull off the shelf if I'm sick or stressed out.
Do you ever smell books?
Of course.
Do you ever read Primary source documents?
Not often. I tend to read fiction over nonfiction.