Book Preferences

from Kwiz

Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror?

It is pretty dependent on the skill of the writer. I used to LOVE Stephen King's writing--well, technically, I still do--but now I find it way too creepy to be able to read. I like some fantasy, as long as it's not TOO fantastic. Ditto with scifi, as long as it's not too science-y.

Hardback or Trade paperback or Mass market paperback?

I don't really care, but they definitely have their places of importance. Paperbacks are de rigeur for traveling--I oce schlepped 13 hardcovers all over England for almost three weeks. I've learned from that. On the other hand, mass market books are awful for me to try to read in the bathtub or while curling my hair. There's virtually no way to brace them open, and the paper is unforgiving of moisture. Trade paperbacks are a little better, but only a little.

Amazon or Brick and Mortar?

If I know precisely what I want, I'll use Amazon, or if I need it to be shipped elsewhere. Otherwise, when I'm just browsing, or I need something today, I'll stop at Borders or the local indy store.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

Honestly, I feel I should put in a plug for the Independent Bookstores here. However, I do shop at Borders just because they have a bigger selection than my little town's little bookstore. Now I feel really disloyal, because the owner is a good friend.

Hitchhiker or Discworld?

I've never read the Hitchhiker series, and I think I've only read one of the Discworld books. I've heard rave reviews of both, from people who have been reliable in other recommendations I have read. I keep thinking I should pick up the first in each series and read it...and then something else pops up instead.

Bookmark or Dog-ear?

I've talked before about my penchant for using anything at hand as a bookmark: hairbrushes, envelopes, pencils, the Thwacker (that's what we call 'em at work), and even the occasional, actual bookmark. I do dog-ear pages of books at times, if they are mine (not library books) and if there is simply no other way to manage to mark the page in a reasonable way. For example, we have one of those Uncle John's Bathroom Readers (in the bathroom) and after picking it up multiple times and just opening at random, I finally started bending the corners of the pages that I've read. Someone else in the family is now marking the pages he has read with tiny pieces of clean toilet paper. I'm amused.

Asimov’s Science Fiction or Fantasy & Science Fiction?

I actually prefer Asimov's mysteries and some of his science books, and if you consider time travel "fantasy" I'm all over that genre.

Alphabetize by author, Alphabetize by title, or Random?

Heh. This is a BAD question to ask a librarian! What about arranging them by binding? Size? Color? Dewey? Library of Congress? And are we talking about the books (stored) on the bookshelves, or the books waiting to be read, by the side of the bed?
My books are in absolutely no order at home, except the cookbooks, which are at least all together, and the Bibles, ditto. Everything else is sort of in the order of appearance in our lives. The books waiting to be read are on a separate shelf, and I try to read them in the order they are due back at the library. That's not always very successful, but I do try.

Keep, Throw away or Sell?

I buy very few books except reference books or gifts. Once I've read a book, generally, I'd prefer to get rid of it. Early library-use training shows. I have purchased copies of books I really love--LIW sets, Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander," signed Earl Emersons--but pretty damn few.

Keep dust-jacket or Toss it?

It drives me NUTSO that at my library, the children's books have no dust jackets. This has been annoying me for as long as I've lived in the area. How do you know what a book is about if you can't read the blurb?! Luckily, we do keep them on the adult books.

On my own books, I use the dust jacket as a bookmark quite often (on those rare occasions when I purchase a hardcover book!), and they do protect the book at little from the elements.

Read with dustjacket or Remove it?

Woops, I jumped ahead a bit. If it's a library book, of course I keep it on. If it's mine, and it's a long book, I usually set it aside...or use it as a dustjacket.

Short story or Novel?

I never knew that there were actually people out there who don't like short stories. I like novels, too, mind you, but I have taken up the short story as my cause (I work with someone who doesn't like them) since I really do like being able to skip around inside a book sometimes.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?

OK, let's get this cleared up: you have to either ask "Harry Potter or the Baudelaires" or "J.K. Rowling or Lemony Snicket." Otherwise, it's clear you have no idea what you're talking about.
Though I've read a couple of the books about the Baudelaires, I have to say Harry Potter wins this handily. {chuckling at my own silliness here}

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

When the book falls on my face and wakes me up.... This depends on where I'm reading. Truthfully, it's been a long time since I've been able to choose where I fall asl... er, stop reading. Usually, I just stop wherever.

"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time?"

Hmmm, I like fairy tales, but I do read an awful lot of mysteries, which seems more "dark & stormy night"-like. (tho now I'm picturing the dark and stormy night with Brad & Janet and a "light, a light, in the darkness/Of everybody's life."

Buy or Borrow?

I only borrow from libraries, never from people. I know how hard it is to get books back to their proper owners in a timely manner. And of the hundreds of books I've read over the years, easily 85% or more have been library books.

Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation or Browse?

Unfortunately, I have discovered very few people whose recommendations work for me. I rely on book reviews and browsing, and I'm fortunate to have access to a real glut of both methods.

Lewis or Tolkien?

I'm assuming this is C.S. Lewis... Having only read The Hobbit once, about three years ago, compared to umpty-seven times through the Narnia series, I think my answer's pretty obvious.

Collection (short stories by the same author) or Anthology (short stories by different authors)?

Both have their drawbacks and their benefits. I guess I lean slightly toward anthologies.

Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?

Depends on the rest of the book, and the author. Some authors you just know are going to leave you hanging with parts of the story. Some authors are tidy-uppers. Most mysteries are by default sort of tidied up, but I do like those occasional ones that just stop. There was a P.D. James book (was it "Devices & Desires"??) that, on the last page or two, completely turned the story upside down. It was a wonderfully convoluted twist to an enjoyably complex story.

Morning reading, Afternoon reading or Nighttime reading?

If there's a light in the room, I'm good. I have discovered that it's quite difficult for me to read outside in bright sunlight anymore, however. boo-hoo

Standalone or Series?

I've sort of gone off series lately, though I still read my regular SUPER favorites. I'm reading a lot of standalones, which is refreshing. I'm sure I'll go back to my series again eventually, though.

New or used?

Oddly, I don't like used books (from bookstores) even though library books don't bother me at all. Actually, it's not odd at all: libraries keep their books clean (i.e. mold-free), and I've been in too many used bookstores where everything smelled damp and mildewy. Yuck. I do not want my books to smell of anything but ink and paper. It really, really upsets me when we get a library book back that's infused with cigarette smoke. I just want to smack the borrower with a STINK charge!

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?

Picked at random from my reading blog: Glass Soup, by Jonathan Carroll. It's a bizarre book about what happens after death, and what is reality, is it the same for everyone? Great cover art, too.

Top 5 favorite genre books of all time?

Children's: Laura Ingalls Wilder's "The Long Winter"
Religious/WWII: Corrie ten Boom's "The Hiding Place"
Serious Novel: Michael Ondaatje's "The English Patient"
Hysterically Funny: Janet Evanovich's "One for the Money" (or maybe "Two for the Show")
Time Travel: Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" (oh, boy, would I love to meet Jamie!)

Favorite genre series?

Did you notice I didn't really do a Mystery Series one above?? OK, I can't. There's Robert Parker's Spenser books (and his new Jesse Stone series, too). There's Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, Marcia Muller. There's P.D. James, Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Peters, Nevada Barr. There's Bill Pronzini's "Nameless" series. There are TOO DAMN MANY!

Currently Reading?

Only one, right now: The Sudoku Murder, by Shelley Freydont. I need to check out the ones on my desk at work tomorrow (er, today) so I don't run completely out of reading material.