Booking Through Thursday (1)

I didn't actually know this meme existed until today. I'm pretty excited about finding a new one. Check out the website and answer these questions yourself! (It's long, so make sure you have time to finish it.)

1. Favorite childhood book?
I'm pretty sure I wore out a copy of The Mare on the Hill by Thomas Locker. I loved the pretty pictures.

2. What are you reading right now?
I am currently reading Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings

3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Actually, nothing. Since I work here, I can always get my hands on the books I want :).

4. Bad book habit?
I only dog-ear pages when my bookmarks are missing... so... none?

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Several things:
* Three volumes of the Cirque du Freak graphic novel
* The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
* Maximum Ride volume 2 graphic novel
* Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (a book of short stories)
* Model: a Memoir by Cheryl Diamond
* Pretty Tough by Liz Tigelaar
* X Isle by Steve Augard
* Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
* A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
* Clover (omnibus) by CLAMP

6. Do you have an e-reader?
Nope. I don't think my reading habits are cut out for that.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
One at a time. I need to be one track minded.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I don't think so. I've got more reading goals, but not so much my actual reading habits.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
The Pack by LM Preston

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
I have to pick just one?! Uhm... The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. But I loved many of them!

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I like to try - though my "to be read" pile is mostly stuff in my zone. And the ones outside of it just sit there for quite a while.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?
All young adult (which I'm not willing to leave), but fiction... and even more specifically, urban fantasy and chick lit.

13. Can you read on the bus?
Uhm, no. But I can read on the train - which is reason #576 that I take the train. :)

14. Favorite place to read?
Do I have a favorite place?? I'm not sure. In bed? Wherever is the most comfortable? I dunno.

15. What is your policy on book lending?
I like to do it. Usually it's to family and people I really trust (because I want them to come back to me). And, of course, as a librarian I technically lend books ALL the time :).

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Not really... unless I have to.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
I only ever did that with text books.

18. Not even with text books?
Same answer - yes, I wrote in the margins of my text books.

19. What is your favorite language to read in?
Uhm, English. That's because I don't know any other languages!

20. What makes you love a book?
It's a combination of things. It has to be something that is written really well and has an easy feel to it - even if the story is heavy. I like when it's an original idea... or has a strong stance on something. I love books that are just effortless. Ones that make me wish I were reading it when I'm doing something else.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
That's a hard question. I recommend books all day long. I recommend based on what customers want. If I'm recommending it to someone just because I love it, it's based more on the reasons I listed for loving a book. There have only been a few books that I've pushed into someone's hands who didn't know what was coming :).

22. Favorite genre?
YA - fantasy, chick lit, retold fairy tales, some historical fiction, contemporary lit... need I go on? YA covers it.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Well, I'd say YA nonfiction. Or more specifically, biographies.

24. Favorite biography?
Speaking of biographies... I've only read a few, but I loved iraqigirl that was based on a blog. Very insightful.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Not that I can recall.

26. Favorite cookbook?
I don't have one, because I don't read them.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto - a beautiful book written by a teen... very inspiring!

28. Favorite reading snack?
I am, admittedly, a candy-holic. So set me down with a good book and some twizzlers, and I'll be happy for a few hours.

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Twilight. Hands down. Absolutely ruined and I'm sick of hearing about it.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Well, I read lots of reviews and stuff on books. There have only been a few times where I really disagreed with those reviews. Usually it's when I have a strong opinion one way or the other on the book.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I don't like doing it, but I will. I like to think that I can find something I liked about a book - and not have a completely negative review. But I don't want to sugar coat it either.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
I have no idea. Uhm... French? That's just a shot in the dark.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
I don't know that I find books intimidating. but if I did, it would be a classic. Something like Little Women or something.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Erm. I'm going to say none.

35. Favorite Poet?
I actually don't read poetry. Perhaps I should, but I've never really gotten into it.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Around 10 or so. Unfortunately I could have up to 50... but I'll never get that many!

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
I think I've only done that a couple of times. Ever. But I've got one or two right now that I'm thinking about returning.

38. Favorite fictional character?
I recently finished reading Halo by Alexandra Adornetto - and I loved Bethany. She was a wonderful character.

39. Favorite fictional villain?
I'm going to agree with someone I read who did this earlier and say Voldemort. I mean, how much better of a villian can you get?!

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Mostly chick lit or not heavy books :). Things that are not so thick.

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
well, during college I didn't really read anything that was outside of school work. So... years?! :)

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
I try not to leave any books unfinished once I've started them. So... none?

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Not much. Especially when the book is good. I guess loud talkers around me... maybe that.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
This is going to sound lame, but I love the latest Pride and Prejudice adaptation. It's the one with Keira Knightly in it (that could be why I loved it).

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Eragon. Hands down. I was really excited about it because I loved the books so much, but the film is no where NEAR the book. It doesn't even feel like the same story in some parts.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
I try not to buy books. I mean, I work in a library, so I shouldn't have to, right?! I'd say I've probably spent $100 before.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Not too often. I may read the first page or so. And definitely the summary in the back. But I try not to skim too much.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Nothing, really. I guess maybe a release of a huge exciting book (Harry Potter, Hunger Games, etc). But I would never stop altogether.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
I like to, yes. I don't have the room to do that, though. It's more of a pile situation at home. Of course, I organize books for a living... so... yeah.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
Depends on the book. There are a few things that I want to hang on to. Lots of the arcs I get will be given to kids as soon as I finish. We have a big thing at the end of the summer where we give away tons of books to the teens. It's kinda rewarding.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Sure. Yeah. I don't know that avoiding is the right word... but ones I'm not planning on reading.

52. Name a book that made you angry.
Sigh. I recently read Things I Know About Love by Kate Le Vann and got really angry at the ending. It just... threw me off and I wasn't a fan. But I know others are. :)

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner. It was recommended to me by a coworker and I really wasn't sure if it was quite in my wheelhouse. But I'm glad I did!

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
I don't think I've had any of those. I mean, I can usually find something to like about a story. So it's not exactly something I expect of any book.

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Chick lit. Period. So fun :).