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Yet Another Books Meme
This one is ganked from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
penrynsdreams. It is also long. You have been warned.
The questions ask a lot about "favorites" but every voracious reader knows that choosing a single "favorite", even in a genre, even if multiple authors/titles are allowed, is pretty much impossible. So I went for well-loved, and in my current mood.
1. What is your name?
KJ
2. Do you read a lot?
Most people would say yes. But I don't read nearly as much as I used to.
3. What's your favorite genre?
Speculative Fiction
+++FANTASY AND SCI-FI+++
4. Do you prefer fantasy or science fiction?
Fantasy. I like sci-fi a lot, too, but I'm much pickier about it.
5. What's your favorite fantasy book/series?
I still have to say "A Song of Ice and Fire", but the Temeraire books are a very, *very* close second. Also the Amber books.
6. Who's your favorite fantasy author?
George R. R. Martin. Naomi Novik. Charles de Lint.
7. What's your favorite science fiction book/series?
Hmm, this is a harder pick. Maybe the Old Man's War books, maybe The Uplift series, maybe "Otherland" by Tad Williams.
8. Favorite sci-fi author?
John Scalzi, Connie Willis, David Brin.
+++MYSTERY, HORROR, AND THRILLER+++
9. Which do you refer: a puzzling mystery, or a terrifying thriller?
Thrillers. I'm not much of a mystery reader. Although I don't read many thrillers, either.
10. Do you have a favorite mystery novel?
Can I count "The Westing Game"?
11. A favorite horror novel?
"The Stand" by Stephen King
+++ROMANCE+++
12. do you read romance novels?
Sometimes. I go through phases. Lately, I haven't been, but sometimes I'll devour a dozen in a row.
13. How about gay romance novels?
Sure, although I haven't read many.
14. What is your favorite?
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Some (including the author) would argue that these aren't "really" romance, but I beg to differ.
+++CHILDREN'S AND YA+++
15. What's your favorite children's book?
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"
16. Is it the same book that was your favorite when you were a kid?
You know, I can't remember. Maybe not -- I was really into Richard Scarry and Dr. Seuss then.
17. What's your favorite YA book?
"The Westing Game", hands down
18. Did you actually read it as a young adult?
Yep. I think I was 10. I've read it at least once a year since.
19. In general, do you prefer children's books over grown-up books?
No. I enjoy a good YA novel, but I don't seek them out over "adult" books. Sometimes I think the line is pretty artificial, though.
+++CLASSICS AND GENERAL FICTION+++
20. What's your favorite classic novel?
Does "Little Women" count? Or maybe "East of Eden".
21. What about general fiction?
Maybe "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenidies. I don't often re-read non-genre fiction, but for that one, I made an exception.
22. What classic novel do you just *not* *get*?
I couldn't finish "Moll Flanders". Oooh, and "Lord of the Flies"! God I hated that book.
23. Do you have a favorite play or drama?
I don't really read drama.
24. What do you think of Shakespeare?
I enjoy his work, although I prefer seeing it performed to reading it.
25. Could you pick a favorite poem?
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot, maybe. I don't read that much poetry, but we read that one in AP English my senior year of HS, and it really resonated with me.
26. What about a favorite poetry collection?
The Complete T.S. Eliot and "The Portable Dorothy Parker".
27. Who's your favorite poet?
T.S. Eliot. Dorothy Parker. Dylan Thomas. Walt Whitman.
+++COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS+++
28. Do you read comics or graphic novels?
Yep. With a strong preference for graphic novels/bound collections.
29. Do you have a favorite series?
I'm going to be terribly predictable and pick Sandman. Other favorites include Love and Rockets, Scott Pilgrim, and Finder.
30. A favorite book?
"Brief Lives" (Sandman volume.... 6?)
+++SHORT STORIES AND NOVELLAS+++
31. Do you prefer short stories (short novels) over full-length novels?
No, generally I prefer novels.
32. What's your favorite short story?
I don't know that any short story sticks well enough to be counted as a favorite.
33. Favorite short story collection?
The Legends series (edited by Robert Silverberg, short stories written in established universes by sci-fi/fantasy authors)
34. Do you have a favorite short story author?
Neil Gaiman. I think he is a much stronger short fiction writer (what was Sandman, after all, if not a series of short stories?), although I have enjoyed some of his novels. (I also feel this way about Asimov, for the record. And Orson Scott Card (back when I still read his work).)
+++NONFICTION+++
35. What kind of nonfiction do you usually read?
Not much. I much prefer fiction. When I do read non-fiction, it's usually connected with feminist issues. I also enjoy good baseball writing and have recently gotten into reading about fandom.
36. Do you have a favorite nonfiction book?
Probably "Backlash". Dated but still (sadly) relevant.
37. Read any interesting biographies?
A few, although nothing comes to mind right now.
38. History books?
"The United States of Arugula" -- a history of foodie culture in the United States
39. Politics?
Most of the non-fiction I read has some political slant or another.
40. Religious texts?
Not so much any more. Books *about* religion can be pretty interesting, though.
41. How about books on mythology, fairy tales, or other cultural stories?
Yes, always interesting. I was particularly obsessed with Greek mythology as a kid. Although I prefer fiction based on these themes, generally.
+++ELEMENTS OF FICTION+++
42. What's the most important element of a novel? Plot? Characterization? Style? Themes? Happy ending?
Different novels are strong in different areas. As long as at least one or two of these elements are strong, and the writing is good enough to not get in the way, I'll be content. Happy ending not required -- I want the ending that's most true to the characters; sometimes that'll be happy, but not always.
43. What kind of plot interests you the most?
One that hangs together and makes sense for the world and the character.
44. What kind of characters usually appeal to you?
I agree withpenrynsdreams on this one: characters that are consistently written and developed. And, particularly in the area of male/female relations, ones that don't make me want to slap the characters and/or the creator.
45. What is your favorite book overall?
Impossible to choose. See above?
+++PASS IT ON+++
46. What's the last book you read?
"The Summer Tree" by Guy Gavriel Kay. The first book in The Finovar Tapestry, which is Kay's first series; I've read and loved a number of his other books, so I figured I should go back to the beginning. It was pretty good -- shows glimmers of the genius to come. I wish I had read it before the others, though; I might appreciate it more
47. What are you reading now?
"The Wandering Fire" by Guy Gavriel Kay -- book 2 in the aforementioned trilogy.
48. What are you going to read next?
If the end of "The Wandering Fire" is anything close to as much of a cliffhanger as that of "The Summer Tree", then it'll be "The Darkest Road" by Guy Gavriel Kay. If not, then probably "Little Brother" by Cory Doctorow.
49. Is there a book you would recommend to everyone on your friend's list?
When I do a reader's advisory, I tend to tailor it to the specific reader, and you all have such different tastes, I have to say no, not really. ;)
50. Tag five people to fill out this meme:
No tagging, so fill out if you like!
Also, obligatory link to my GoodReads profile.
penrynsdreams. It is also long. You have been warned.The questions ask a lot about "favorites" but every voracious reader knows that choosing a single "favorite", even in a genre, even if multiple authors/titles are allowed, is pretty much impossible. So I went for well-loved, and in my current mood.
1. What is your name?
KJ
2. Do you read a lot?
Most people would say yes. But I don't read nearly as much as I used to.
3. What's your favorite genre?
Speculative Fiction
+++FANTASY AND SCI-FI+++
4. Do you prefer fantasy or science fiction?
Fantasy. I like sci-fi a lot, too, but I'm much pickier about it.
5. What's your favorite fantasy book/series?
I still have to say "A Song of Ice and Fire", but the Temeraire books are a very, *very* close second. Also the Amber books.
6. Who's your favorite fantasy author?
George R. R. Martin. Naomi Novik. Charles de Lint.
7. What's your favorite science fiction book/series?
Hmm, this is a harder pick. Maybe the Old Man's War books, maybe The Uplift series, maybe "Otherland" by Tad Williams.
8. Favorite sci-fi author?
John Scalzi, Connie Willis, David Brin.
+++MYSTERY, HORROR, AND THRILLER+++
9. Which do you refer: a puzzling mystery, or a terrifying thriller?
Thrillers. I'm not much of a mystery reader. Although I don't read many thrillers, either.
10. Do you have a favorite mystery novel?
Can I count "The Westing Game"?
11. A favorite horror novel?
"The Stand" by Stephen King
+++ROMANCE+++
12. do you read romance novels?
Sometimes. I go through phases. Lately, I haven't been, but sometimes I'll devour a dozen in a row.
13. How about gay romance novels?
Sure, although I haven't read many.
14. What is your favorite?
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Some (including the author) would argue that these aren't "really" romance, but I beg to differ.
+++CHILDREN'S AND YA+++
15. What's your favorite children's book?
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"
16. Is it the same book that was your favorite when you were a kid?
You know, I can't remember. Maybe not -- I was really into Richard Scarry and Dr. Seuss then.
17. What's your favorite YA book?
"The Westing Game", hands down
18. Did you actually read it as a young adult?
Yep. I think I was 10. I've read it at least once a year since.
19. In general, do you prefer children's books over grown-up books?
No. I enjoy a good YA novel, but I don't seek them out over "adult" books. Sometimes I think the line is pretty artificial, though.
+++CLASSICS AND GENERAL FICTION+++
20. What's your favorite classic novel?
Does "Little Women" count? Or maybe "East of Eden".
21. What about general fiction?
Maybe "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenidies. I don't often re-read non-genre fiction, but for that one, I made an exception.
22. What classic novel do you just *not* *get*?
I couldn't finish "Moll Flanders". Oooh, and "Lord of the Flies"! God I hated that book.
23. Do you have a favorite play or drama?
I don't really read drama.
24. What do you think of Shakespeare?
I enjoy his work, although I prefer seeing it performed to reading it.
25. Could you pick a favorite poem?
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot, maybe. I don't read that much poetry, but we read that one in AP English my senior year of HS, and it really resonated with me.
26. What about a favorite poetry collection?
The Complete T.S. Eliot and "The Portable Dorothy Parker".
27. Who's your favorite poet?
T.S. Eliot. Dorothy Parker. Dylan Thomas. Walt Whitman.
+++COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS+++
28. Do you read comics or graphic novels?
Yep. With a strong preference for graphic novels/bound collections.
29. Do you have a favorite series?
I'm going to be terribly predictable and pick Sandman. Other favorites include Love and Rockets, Scott Pilgrim, and Finder.
30. A favorite book?
"Brief Lives" (Sandman volume.... 6?)
+++SHORT STORIES AND NOVELLAS+++
31. Do you prefer short stories (short novels) over full-length novels?
No, generally I prefer novels.
32. What's your favorite short story?
I don't know that any short story sticks well enough to be counted as a favorite.
33. Favorite short story collection?
The Legends series (edited by Robert Silverberg, short stories written in established universes by sci-fi/fantasy authors)
34. Do you have a favorite short story author?
Neil Gaiman. I think he is a much stronger short fiction writer (what was Sandman, after all, if not a series of short stories?), although I have enjoyed some of his novels. (I also feel this way about Asimov, for the record. And Orson Scott Card (back when I still read his work).)
+++NONFICTION+++
35. What kind of nonfiction do you usually read?
Not much. I much prefer fiction. When I do read non-fiction, it's usually connected with feminist issues. I also enjoy good baseball writing and have recently gotten into reading about fandom.
36. Do you have a favorite nonfiction book?
Probably "Backlash". Dated but still (sadly) relevant.
37. Read any interesting biographies?
A few, although nothing comes to mind right now.
38. History books?
"The United States of Arugula" -- a history of foodie culture in the United States
39. Politics?
Most of the non-fiction I read has some political slant or another.
40. Religious texts?
Not so much any more. Books *about* religion can be pretty interesting, though.
41. How about books on mythology, fairy tales, or other cultural stories?
Yes, always interesting. I was particularly obsessed with Greek mythology as a kid. Although I prefer fiction based on these themes, generally.
+++ELEMENTS OF FICTION+++
42. What's the most important element of a novel? Plot? Characterization? Style? Themes? Happy ending?
Different novels are strong in different areas. As long as at least one or two of these elements are strong, and the writing is good enough to not get in the way, I'll be content. Happy ending not required -- I want the ending that's most true to the characters; sometimes that'll be happy, but not always.
43. What kind of plot interests you the most?
One that hangs together and makes sense for the world and the character.
44. What kind of characters usually appeal to you?
I agree with
penrynsdreams on this one: characters that are consistently written and developed. And, particularly in the area of male/female relations, ones that don't make me want to slap the characters and/or the creator.45. What is your favorite book overall?
Impossible to choose. See above?
+++PASS IT ON+++
46. What's the last book you read?
"The Summer Tree" by Guy Gavriel Kay. The first book in The Finovar Tapestry, which is Kay's first series; I've read and loved a number of his other books, so I figured I should go back to the beginning. It was pretty good -- shows glimmers of the genius to come. I wish I had read it before the others, though; I might appreciate it more
47. What are you reading now?
"The Wandering Fire" by Guy Gavriel Kay -- book 2 in the aforementioned trilogy.
48. What are you going to read next?
If the end of "The Wandering Fire" is anything close to as much of a cliffhanger as that of "The Summer Tree", then it'll be "The Darkest Road" by Guy Gavriel Kay. If not, then probably "Little Brother" by Cory Doctorow.
49. Is there a book you would recommend to everyone on your friend's list?
When I do a reader's advisory, I tend to tailor it to the specific reader, and you all have such different tastes, I have to say no, not really. ;)
50. Tag five people to fill out this meme:
No tagging, so fill out if you like!
Also, obligatory link to my GoodReads profile.
no subject
no subject
It is definitely a fun meme but it did take forever to fill out. I started it last night and had to finish writing it up in the morning!
no subject
I don't think it's a meme for the terminally indecisive like me! *dithers over questions*
no subject