Book meme!
1) What author do you own the most books by?
Stephen King. Mostly old paper backs that I acquired all through high school. Soon they will be donated and no longer taking up room in my house.
2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Hmmm...I have a couple copies of White Noise, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Girl With Curious Hair and Catch-22. I would only have one copy of each but I gave copies to my lady when we first started dating and now we have two copies of each.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
WTF is a preposition?
4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
It wouldn't be a secret if I told.
It wouldn't be a secret if I told.
5) What book have you read the most times in your life?
Maybe Forrest Gump, totally different from the movie. Well not "totally", but pretty different, more fun for sure. Doesn't take itself so seriously. Or Fight Club. Or maybe White Noise.
Maybe Forrest Gump, totally different from the movie. Well not "totally", but pretty different, more fun for sure. Doesn't take itself so seriously. Or Fight Club. Or maybe White Noise.
6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
My Side of the Mountain. I probably read that book two times a year for three or four years. I should pickup a copy and re-read it.
My Side of the Mountain. I probably read that book two times a year for three or four years. I should pickup a copy and re-read it.
7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
I just finished a terribly boring book, Founding Brothers. After I finished it I found out it won a Pulitzer. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
I just finished a terribly boring book, Founding Brothers. After I finished it I found out it won a Pulitzer. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
To Kill a Mockingbird. Changed my life.
To Kill a Mockingbird. Changed my life.
9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Probably To Kill a Mockingbird
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?
I think David Foster Wallace should win every literature award. The man was a certifiable genius. I've been going over some of this other work preparing to dive into his opus Infinite Jest and am constantly struck by his brilliance. But since he's gone I'm gonna say it should go to my next favorite author, Jhumpa Lahiri. Or Maybe Cormac McCarthy. Did you read The Road? Shit, man. I still can't shake that book.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Of the books I've read recently...Invisible Man (Ellison, not Wells) Or maybe Manhunt.12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
I dunno. Actually, now that I think of it, Invisible Man.
I dunno. Actually, now that I think of it, Invisible Man.
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I don't think I've had any dreams like that. If I do, I'll get back to you.
14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
Certainly the Twilight series, but if I had to pick one out it would have to be Breaking Dawn. Total trash.
15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
Hmmm....Actually finished? I don't know. I listen to audioboooks, the difficultly level isn't as high as reading a book. I'm starting an unabridged, 63 hour reading of Atlas Shrugged pretty soon. I imagine that will be pretty difficult.
Hmmm....Actually finished? I don't know. I listen to audioboooks, the difficultly level isn't as high as reading a book. I'm starting an unabridged, 63 hour reading of Atlas Shrugged pretty soon. I imagine that will be pretty difficult.
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
I've only seen the basics, nothing obscure.
I've only seen the basics, nothing obscure.
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
Not sure. I haven't read any Russians so I can't compare.
Not sure. I haven't read any Russians so I can't compare.
18) Roth or Updike?
Roth? Philip Roth? I haven't read it yet but I've got a copy of American Pastoral waiting for me. I haven't read any Updike. Can't say.
Roth? Philip Roth? I haven't read it yet but I've got a copy of American Pastoral waiting for me. I haven't read any Updike. Can't say.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Haven't read either. Can't compare.
Haven't read either. Can't compare.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
I dunno. I read all three in high school and enjoyed them. No preference at this point in time.
I dunno. I read all three in high school and enjoyed them. No preference at this point in time.
21) Austen or Eliot?
I'm gonna have to go with Austen.
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
What kind of measuring stick are we using? I feel like my reading gap is big enough to drive a Kris Kristofferson's Convoy through but to other people I might be extremely well read.
What kind of measuring stick are we using? I feel like my reading gap is big enough to drive a Kris Kristofferson's Convoy through but to other people I might be extremely well read.
23) What is your favorite novel?
Of all time? I can only pick one? I'm gonna have to go with To Kill A Mocking Bird.
Of all time? I can only pick one? I'm gonna have to go with To Kill A Mocking Bird.
24) Play?
Hmmm...straight play? No singing? I don't have one. It's on my list of things to do. See more plays. If we want to talk musicals just pick anything by Sondheim I'll be there.
Hmmm...straight play? No singing? I don't have one. It's on my list of things to do. See more plays. If we want to talk musicals just pick anything by Sondheim I'll be there.
25) Poem?
Uhhhh....yeah. Do people have favorite poems? On Friday and portions of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" started coming back to me so lets go with that. Or the only other poem I remember from highschool "Sonnet #18". "Shall I compare thee to a summers day?"
Uhhhh....yeah. Do people have favorite poems? On Friday and portions of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" started coming back to me so lets go with that. Or the only other poem I remember from highschool "Sonnet #18". "Shall I compare thee to a summers day?"
26) Essay?
"A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" by David Foster Wallace
"A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" by David Foster Wallace
27) Short story?
I'm torn. I'm in love with Jhumpa Lahiri right now, so I'd picked "This Blessed House" or "Sexy" or maybe "The third and final Continent" from her first book. But at the same time my boy David Foster Wallace has done some kickass short stories. Just from his first book there are two totally awesome stories "Little Expressionless Animals" in which Alex Trebek sports a button that says "Pat Sajak looks like a badger" and "Lyndon" a fictional account of life with LBJ. I've posted a portion of "Lyndon" on my blog before (here).
Gun to my head, I pick "Lyndon".
Gun to my head, I pick "Lyndon".
28) Work of non-fiction?
For right now, Descartes Bones. Really set me on a path thinking about life, philosophy and science.
For right now, Descartes Bones. Really set me on a path thinking about life, philosophy and science.
29) Who is your favorite writer?
Like I said before, I'm in love with Jhumpa Lahiri right now so let's say it's her. (Jhumpa, are you out there? Will you marry me?) On the all time list would be: Jhumpa, David Foster Wallace, Hunter S. Thompson & Cormac McCarthy.
Like I said before, I'm in love with Jhumpa Lahiri right now so let's say it's her. (Jhumpa, are you out there? Will you marry me?) On the all time list would be: Jhumpa, David Foster Wallace, Hunter S. Thompson & Cormac McCarthy.
30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
I'm not into Gladwell. I don't think his ideas are all that original.
31) What is your desert island book?
I like the answer that Steve Betz & Joie gave: "Can't I just bring a Kindle?"
I like the answer that Steve Betz & Joie gave: "Can't I just bring a Kindle?"
32) And ... what are you reading right now?
Unaccustomed Earth by my future wife, Ms. Lahiri.
Comments
I agree with you that Breaking Dawn was probably the worst in the series, but I think I still hated New Moon more because I just couldn't stand Jacob.
Okay, I can't remember if I've ever talked to you about this or not, but I'm always desperate to find people who love Gilmore Girls and have read White Noise so I can ask: Have you ever noticed that Maury and Babette on GG are surprisingly physically similar to the descriptions of Maury and Babbette in White Noise?! (Well, Babette is at least... I can't remember much about Maury atm.) Sorry if we've had this discussion. :)