BTT: meme time

What was the last book you bought?

The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick.  I have read exactly one of Chadwick’s books before and I liked it enough that I am bowing to the will of the masses and purchasing more.  Apparently she writes really good medieval historical fiction.  I’ll check out this claim soon enough.

Name a book you have read MORE than once

There are many, many, many.  Probably my most read adult book is Jane Eyre.

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?

Not really.  Actually, they probably have and I just can’t remember.  I think sometimes reading a book shifts the world just a little bit, not enough to fundamentally change anything but enough to have an effect.  The most recent was The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews

I choose them based on recommendations mostly these days.  I go by similar authors, ratings, awards, or books I have heard of and would like to evaluate for myself.  I try to avoid reviews and summaries and love to go into books knowing absolutely nothing about the contents.  I do sometimes read reviews, but generally the time between I pick up a book and when I actually read it is long enough for me to forget what the review said, except for a “good” or “bad”.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?

I prefer fiction but I like non-fiction too.  It just takes me forever to read non-fiction.  I’ve had two going for a couple of months and haven’t finished them yet, for example.  Still working on it.  I’ve probably read about 30-40 fiction novels in that time.

What’s more important in a novel – beautiful writing or a gripping plot?

Um, both?  Plot is actually one of my least important considerations.  I like it when the plot’s going, but I’m okay with a slow, nothing is actually happening plot too if the characters and atmosphere are good.  So I guess I vote writing, but I think both.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)

Well, this is a tough choice.  The obvious favorites: Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, Jane Eyre, Stevens (Remains of the Day), Eowyn (LotR).  More obscure are Joscelin and Phedre from the Kushiel’s Legacy series.

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?

I don’t have a nightstand at the moment actually.  I haven’t decided what to read next.  I think it may be Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell.  I also have to read Descartes’ Bones by Russell Shorto and The Fire by Katherine Neville in the near future.

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?

I just finished The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell.  Such a funny book!  And very relevant right now.

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?

I gave up on The Gunslinger by Stephen King at least twice.  I finished it eventually, so maybe it doesn’t count for this question.  I also gave up on The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett, which I hope to pick up again once my Latin is better, the first book of Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast trilogy, Wicked by Gregory Maguire, and I think that’s about it for fiction.  In my entire library.  I really don’t like those books.

Feel free to steal this meme, or better yet participate over on the Booking Through Thursday post.