Borrowed from SamuraiFrog

1) What author do you own the most books by?

I think it must be Valerie Martin. I’ve read 8 out of her 9 novels and 1 of her short story collections.

I’ve read 9 of Alexander McCall Smith’s books from the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series, but I’ve given most of them away to charity shops. If I kept all the books I’ve ever purchased, I wouldn’t have anywhere to sleep.

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

I don’t buy multiple copies (well I did once in error). I’m not into collecting first editions or anything like that; I just like to read for pleasure. I used to have a couple of bibles, but I’m not sure if I gave one away.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

Nah.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Edward Cullen… Only kidding, who in their right mind would want a soppy stalker vampire boyfriend with cold sparkly skin?

I’ve always had a thing for George Cooper, the King of Thieves from the Alanna books by Tamora Pierce. He’s attractive, charismatic and always handy in a fight.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

Probably the first Alanna book.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

I’m not sure, it was probably a Judy Blume book. Maybe Forever.

7) What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?

Playing the Game by Belle de Jour was quite boring.

What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?

I recently finished Mystery Man by Bateman, and a book has never made me laugh so much. It’s got it all; mystery, murder, romance and an unbelievably neurotic narrator.

9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?

Probably Mystery Man, but I’m not sure that everyone would enjoy the dark humour as much as I did.

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

Haruki Murakami

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

Firmin by Sam Savage. An uplifting tale of a special mouse who loves books and movies. It would make a lovely silent short movie.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

Nothing comes to mind, maybe another Dan Brown book.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

I can’t think of any.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?

Groove, Bang, And Jive Around by Steve Cannon is the filthiest novel I’ve ever read.

15) What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?

I had a really hard time finishing Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?

I’ve seen Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew, and I studied and acted in Julius Caesar in school.

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

I don’t have any preference.

18) Roth or Updike?

I haven’t read either of them.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

I haven’t read either of them.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

I’ve only read Shakespeare.

21) Austen or Eliot?

I’ve only read Austen, but I’d like to try some Eliot.

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

I feel like I should read more classic and literary fiction.

23) What is your favorite novel?

Chocolat by Joanne Harris.

24) Play?

Macbeth

25) Poem?

I don’t have one.

26) Essay?

I don’t have one.

27) Short story?

Parvati by Umi Sinha, from the Getting Even collection of revenge stories.

28) Work of non-fiction?

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. He makes marathon-running sound pretty appealing.

29) Who is your favorite writer?

Haruki Murakami and Valerie Martin would have to arm wrestle for it.

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Probably Stephanie Meyer. She’s a competent writer, but her Twilight novels would be 100% better if she developed her characters more and tightened up her prose.

31) What is your desert island book?

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami.

32) And … what are you reading right now?

I’m between books right now. A couple of hours ago I finished Black Widow by Jessie Keane, an intense crime novel about a mother searching for her kidnapped daughter.

Written by PJ | Posted in reading

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