Amity: Reader's Interview (for want of a better name!)

I saw this "Reader's interview" on a blog and really enjoyed reading through it... I hope you enjoy my version of it! If you decide to do one as well, leave me a message to let me know - I would love to read yours! Oh... and thank you to Joy C. for encouraging me to do it! :)

1. Favorite childhood book? I can't put it down to one book, so I shall have to say the entire Little House on the Prairie series, but I also loved Rainbow Garden by Patricia St. John, and Madeline (to go right back to picture books!)

2. What are you reading right now? I am currently reading When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Kon-Tiki, and Elsie's Motherhood, although I haven't picked that one up for a while... :)

3. What books do you have on request at the library? I don't request books - I'm happy to wait til they come in. :D

4. Bad book habit? Reading lots of books all over the house and then going around and picking then up for weeks afterwards... and, yes, it happens...

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library? About four... or is it five???

6. Do you have an e-reader? I have a Kindle, but I prefer a hard cover book. Kindles are great for those really rare books that you can generally get from Amazon as an e-book for free. :)

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once? I have a tracked record of having so many books going at once that I never finish any of them... I have improved over time, though - I think...

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? Nope!

9. Least favourite book you read this year (so far)? Of 2013, it's a close call between Heart of Darkness and Labor's untold Story. Blergh! It was so dry and boring! Of 2014, probably Kon-Tiki. I only started it this afternoon, but I have read bits of it before, and well, it wasn't my favourite.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year? Of 2013, I can't remember everything I read but I think it is pretty safe to say that the Women of the West books by Janette Oke topped the list. I think I read about seven of them and I loved each one. Of 2014, I would have to pick The Wave by Todd Strasser. It is a fascinating true story about a teacher in the 1960's who recreated a the disciplined environment for his students, similar to that of the Nazi Youth, and how the whole experiment got out of hand.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? If I have the choice, I don't usually push myself much. Assigned reading is another matter...

12. What is your reading comfort zone? I am confortable with many different genres: I like Christian biographies, fiction stories, Christian "romances" (that is, the ones that truly do honor the Lord... sadly, many of them do not). I also enjoy a mystery every now and again, but I am not huge on sci-fi or fantasy, although some fantasy books are ok.

13. Can you read in the car? Sometimes. I don't usually because I can often get whopping headaches as a result, but if I remembered to bring my glasses, I might.

14. Favorite place to read? Anywhere that I can lounge around in front of or under a fan... :)

15. What is your policy on book lending? "Have you read this? Take it with you, and take you're time - I read it recently and don't need it at the moment... :)"

16. Do you ever dog-ear books? *is disgusted* No way!

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? Of course not!

18. Not even with text books? Nope.

19. What is your favourite language to read in? English... it suits me... ;)

20. What makes you love a book? One where I can relate to the character .. that's why I love Janette Oke books so much, because I can so relate to the girls and I cry for them and cheer for them when they are finally able to fulfill their vocation.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book? As soon as I hear someone mention something they enjoy, I immeadiately start thinking of books they might like. I'll tell them about said books, even if I didn't particularly enjoy them - each to their own!

22. Favorite genre? Classic literature

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did)? Ummm... Probably mystery. Last year, I bough a set of 25 Agatha Christie books which look awesome in the shelf, but I have only read about 3-4 of them. I don't really want them to 'smolder to dust away'.

24. Favourite biography? The Trapp Family Singers would have to be my first pick.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book? I... think... so... but I don't believe I finished it (it was about small businesses and get really boring...)

26. Favourite cookbook? I usually make up recipes or Google them, but my favourite actual cookbook would be Mrs. Beeton's Everyday Cookery and Housekeeping Book.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? We recently read aloud a biography of Isaac Newton. What a fascinating, godly man he was! His priority was Christ, and yet he achieved some of the greatest scientific feats in history.

28. Favorite reading snack? Dry roasted nuts with a cup of coffee. :)

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience. I'm not sure this has actually ever happened to me. The only thing I can think of that comes close is the fact that Jess and I have nearly opposite styles in taste - if she loves a book that I haven't yet read, I dread reading it at all...

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book? I never read critiques - I like my own opinion on a book because whether the 'experts' liked a book or not doesn't mean I will or won't like said book.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? It depends on what I'm condemning in the book. If it a matter of moral issues, I don't have any qualms about voicing them. If is just a style thing though, I try to keep my thoughts to myself so I don't cast a bad light on it for others.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which languages would you chose? I have always wanted to be able to read the Bible in the origianl Hebrew and Greek. I also think Latin and French would be really cool.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? Probably Heart of Darkness - I am suspicious of any book with print that requires binoculars to make head or tail of it. ;)

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? Some of the really big Dickens.

35. Favorite Poet? Banjo Paterson, followed by Robert Frost.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time? Somewhere between three and ten...

37. How often have you returned books to the library unread? WAY too often...

38. Favorite fictional character? I love Alex Rover from Nim's Island, and any one of the March Girls from Little Women and Anne from Anne of Green Gables Katy Carr from What Katy Did and...and...and...well, the list goes on!

39. Favourite fictional villain? That prize would have to go to Lady Catherine De Bugh from Pride and Prejudice. (Does she count as a villain!?)

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? Comfortable reading, like Janette Oke. :)

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading. Ummm... what kind of a question is that??? I can't say exactly...

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish. I may shock some die-hard Narnia fans, but I could not finish The Silver Chair, and I have not attempted any of the books beyond that in the series.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading? When someone is reading over my shoulder, or when I can hear someone else somewhere reading aloud something else.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel? I love the BBC adaption of Pride and Prejudice, and the Narnia movies save Prince Caspian *shudders*.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation? There have been a few... *thinks hard*... Stuart Little and Mary Poppins are nothing like the books, but the films improved them immensely so I can't say they were exactly disappointing... I think it would be Prince Caspian. I really didn't like the way they portrayed Aslan as an illusion that Lucy had, and the way Susan behaved was disgraceful!

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? I don't often buys books for myself, but my record would be $100 on a set of 25 Agatha Christie's.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it? I don't often do this, but sometimes I do just to see if it is happy (i.e. a wedding) or sad (i.e. a funeral) at the end!

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through? Inappropriate romance gets the bin for me... it also bugs me when kids don't show enough respect to their parents.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized? Well... I like to know where they are when I want them... is that the same thing???;)

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? Are you crazy! I keep them, of course!

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? I avoid most books by Francine Rivers and other "Christian" authors that looks suspicious on the back covers... (and don't pretend you don't know what I mean! ;) )

52. Name a book that made you angry. Any book that describes the mistreatment of children makes me angry.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did? Robinson Crusoe

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t? Swiss Family Robinson