Fun Book Survey

Here's a super long survey that a girl I follow on tumblr named Lynsey posted that I had some time doing. Let me know what you're reading right now! :) x

1. Favorite childhood book?

Harry Potter by Jo Rowling and Holes by Louis Sachar.

2. What are you reading right now?

Shades of Grey by Jason Fforde.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

I don't use the library. Never really did, really. I always liked having my own books, as I enjoyed marking them up/highlighting/etc. 

4. Bad book habit?

Starting and not finishing. Awful. 

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

None.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

Just got a Kindle last week because books are too expensive in this country and it just isn't practical for me to have loads of books while I'm over here, even if I'll be here for a few years. The less, the better, much to my dismay. But I really like the Kindle!

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

I prefer one at a time, but I have a habit of reading two or three. 

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

Well, my blog is not devoted solely to books. But since checking out more book blogs and finding the booktubers community and things, it's reinvigorated my excitement for reading :)

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)

I haven't read enough books this year to have a least favourite, as it's only February, haha.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

I suppose not too often, but there are just so many books in the genres I like, that I like to stay on top of new books in those genres and such.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

YA, fantasy, sci-fi and bits of adult fiction here & there.

13. Can you read on the bus?

It's sort of hard on London buses, as they tend to be really jerky, but trains, definitely! 

14. Favorite place to read?

Long train rides, my bed or my couch back at my parents house in Seattle.

15. What is your policy on book lending?

I love sharing books. 

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

Not really, no. Unless it's a paperback and not something I love a lot or anything. 

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

Yup, but mostly I highlight.

18. Not even with text books?

…Still yes :P

19. What is your favorite language to read in?

English. I’m not bilingual, unfortunately.

20. What makes you love a book?

The characters. Or really, really good backstory. For instance, while I didn't find the characters in The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson particularly compelling, I adore the story and history so much that I love the book.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

Friends, hearing about it more than once, videos/blogs/etc.

22. Favorite genre?

YA fiction, especially dystopian. I was terrible at keeping up with releases last year and so it's SO incredibly thrilling to see how the genre has grown over the last couple of years when I've been "away," so to speak. The genre used to be so small and it's growth is daunting, but exciting. 

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)

Historical fiction.

24. Favorite biography?

I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles. I read loads of Elizabeth I biographies when I was about 14 and this one I remember fondly. 

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?

Not that I can recall. 

26. Favorite cookbook?

I usually just use blogs for recipes, if I'm honest. My mom has a few that I've used, but nothing I cant think of.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I really haven't read enough books this year for this survey, if I'm honest. :P

28. Favorite reading snack?

Goldfish crackers, probably. Though I can't really get those here. Anything that doesn't make my fingers dirty/gross. I tend to 

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.

A lot of the time, the hype has come after I read the books and made up my mind (HP, Twilight, The Hunger Games, etc.) But Confessions of a Shopaholic was so incredibly infuriating to me and I don't understand the appeal. I can watch a 20 minute fashion haul video, but that book was painful. :P

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?

I don't read critic reviews, really. 

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

I am really good at knowing what I like, so I don't read a lot of books I don't like. Therefore, I luckily rarely feel the need to give negative reviews. 

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?

French, or Russian. French just because it's a more practical language in general, though I'd love to read some Chekhov in the original Russian.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? 

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, especially because I was quite young.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I really didn't like the show, but I've still heard great reviews of the books and I'd like to read them one day. 

35. Favorite Poet?

I do sound so uncultured when I say this, but I'm not a huge fan of poetry. I did a play about Dylan Thomas' life, so I grew fond of his writing, but other than that, I generally stay away from poetry. I'm awful, I know. It's just not a form of story-telling I enjoy.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?

None.

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?

Yes! I just searched for it because I couldn't remember the full title. But it's The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill. I was so upset when I realised I had my libraries copy after leaving primary school, but I never returned it. Still have it back home. 

38. Favorite fictional character? 

Please refer to this blog post. 

39. Favorite fictional villain?

Sauron and Voldemort.

40. Books you’re most likely to bring on vacation?

Some of the YA in my to-read list.

41. The longest you’ve gone without reading.

God, too long. Last year, I went a couple months. 

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

More like a series, but (don't yell at me) Phillip Pullman's Northern Lights trilogy. I'm going to try again after I get through some of the YA titles I've got backlogged, but yeah. Read the first one, it took me like multiple start overs and have just never continued. 

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

Just my thoughts. Or thinking about things I "have to do" on the internet. 

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

Lord of the Rings, Atonement and Hugo. Also the Princess Diaries because those books were PAINFUL and I couldn't put up with her whinging past the first one, while I adore the film.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?

Into the Wild and Goblet of Fire. Ugh. I am not a stickler for the details in adaptions, it's all about the feeling and spirit of the book. The Into the Wild film was turned into an annoying romance with Kristen what-are-facial-expressions Stewart and just lacked the spirit of the book. Goblet of Fire was legitimately a film bulleted list of *some* of the major events in the book. The graveyard scene was alright, though I am in love with backstory and that was missing a lot, but just the rest was so bad. 

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?

God, when I was younger and my family was more well off, my mom would take me to Barns and Noble and just randomly spend like $100 on new books. She has always been a huge reader and was such a massive support in that area, always buying me new worlds to fall into :) 

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?

Never. I read the blurb and make the first page before making a decision in a shop. Though I tend to go in knowing what I want, to prevent spending too much!

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

Lack of commitment to the characters or just a really slow, nongripping plot. 

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

I have about fifteen books here, so just by size. At home, I reorganised all of the time. I would put authors together and then vaguely by genre, the size within each shelf.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

Keep, but lend.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

Not that I know of. Though I find Cassandra Clare books unappealing because of her history re: the Harry Potter fandom, as I remember that whole thing pretty clearly. (For more information, read Harry: A History by Melissa Anelli.) I just can't disassociate her from that. 

52. Name a book that made you angry.

Breaking Dawn. Though, I'll be honest, I didn't really actively dislike it, because that would be more than the book deserved and I read it, thought it was awful and moved on. Mostly I'm just angry that shit like that could get published and sell so much.

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

I don't think I've ever gone into a book not expecting to like it. I don't waste my time on things I don't think I'll enjoy, haha.

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

One Day. I liked some of it the writing, but I just found the characters really whiny. 

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

I never really feel guilty about liking books. I think that as long as I am reading and experiencing new forms of writing, new styles, meeting new characters, than it's worth it. 

Train journeys this year: 6.
Flights this year: 1. 

Videos posted this year: 10.