Dear Husband says I have too many books, but can that be possible?
1. Fiction what kind, detective novels, historical stuff, thrillers, romance????
These days my favorite books are young adult fantasy novels, like Inkspell and the Harry Potter and Artemis Fowle series. I also enjoy detective novels—Elizabeth George, P.D. James, Laurie King, Reginald Hill, and Ruth Rendell are among my favorite mystery writers.
2. When you get a really good book do you read it all in one chunk or savour it slowly?
Alas, I seem unable to savor but have to rush willy nilly through to the end.
3. Is there a book you keep returning to and why?
I have not had that sort of book for many years. When I was in my teens and twenties, I read Brideshead Revisited once a year. I loved the lyrical (some might say purple) prose and the romance of the story.
I do have favorite poets I will return to--Mary Oliver, Sylvia Plath, Charles Simic, Louise Gluck, Seamus Heaney, Anne Sexton, Emily Dickinson—but not necessarily any particular book.
4. Apart from the Bible which non-fiction book has influenced you the most?
I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, and there isn’t any one book that has affected me strongly. I think the books I’ve read most recently that have influenced my thinking have been on homeschooling. In particular, I’ve read a number of books on Charlotte Mason, including When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason’s Philosophy for Today. I have read a lot of books on homeschooling and I don’t remember all the titles, but they made me want to teach my kids. When that could happen, I don’t know. I also found Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn thought-provoking, although I’d really like to have a chat with him about practical applications.
I love the books by Ann Lammott, Donald Miller, Philip Yancey, and Kathleen Norris. Each of these authors has enriched my understanding of faith.
5. Describe a perfect place to read. ( could be anywhere!!!)
I like reading curled up on my sofa. I don’t usually like to be outside, because here it’s too hot and bright and there are too many insects. I hate being hot and I hate being in the sun. Sometimes I’ll sneak read in the parking lot of the daycare center just before I pick up my kids. Bad mom.
heehee! I "sneak read" pretty much everywhere--in the car (sometimes even at red lights--now who's bad?), in the office, waiting in line at the post office, waiting at the drive-thru at the bank, while I eat breakfast, while I brush my teeth, etc etc etc...
ReplyDeletegood play!
Definitely sneak reading. I always have a book (or 6) in my car for that reason!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of sneak reading, I've been bad and have been sneak reading everyone's Friday Five at work. Bad bad bad. I think I'll take notes tomorrow for my reading list.
ReplyDeleteBad Alice I take books with me too if standing in line or waiting.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Brideshead for the fifth time - and blogging as I go here. I never tire of it...
ReplyDeletehttp://brideshead.wordpress.com/
I'm a sneak reader, too, and I love Emily Dickinson.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only sneaky one. Sometimes I hide in the bathroom with a book.
ReplyDeletejohnos: I was so excited to visit your Brideshead blog. I hope you'll keep it up as you read. I will have to go out and get another copy, as I think mine finally fell apart.
sneak reading- always have a book with you excellent stuff!!
ReplyDeleteGraet play- as for Brideshead revisited- wow!
It's funny you mention Charles Simic. When I was an undergrad at the U of New Hampshire I saw a sign at Hamilton Smith referring to him as UNH's "poet in residence" and I remember thinking, "Yeah, right..." Just because I'd grown up twenty mins. from the campus I just assumed that if it was local it couldn't matter much!
ReplyDeleteSo I was pretty surprised when I learned he'd received a MacArthur Foundation grant...
I like his poetry for what it does, although it's not my favorite kind of poetry. But hearing him read adds to it - intersting voice and accent.
These memes are fun! And there's nothing wrong with reading in the parking lot!
ReplyDeleteHave you read the Lord Peter mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers?
Oh, and I've been thinking it was time to pick up Brideshead again and now that you've mentioned it in two posts, I'm taking that as a sign.
ReplyDeleteno, you cannot have too many books. But you can also give them away liberally too. LIke bookcrosser.
ReplyDeleteloved your list ... and like you I (almost) always have a book with me.
and for the zillionth time you are not a bad mom. My kids never wanted to leave daycare anyway so I did much the same and would time my arrival with one of their friends - so we could drag the girls especially out screaming. TS was never eager to leave either - but as the older one - he was less keen on protesting so would come when it seemed that I really meant it :)
bless you
It is not possible to have too many books.
ReplyDeleteBrideshead Revisited -- oh yes, yes, yes. I just discovered it this spring, have read it three times already . . . Really just about all the names you mention here are on my favorites lists, too. I find I have to leave books in places where I can't get to them if I expect to get anything done -- the current novel never goes with me to the office, for example . . . !
ReplyDeleteBeth
1. Young adult
ReplyDelete2. All in one chunk if I'm reading it for the first time; slowly if I've read it before
3. The Last Book In The Universe by Rodman Philbrick, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
4. Dreaming In Arabic by Jennifer L. Armstrong
5. Anywhere that's quiet