You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Year Long Main 2021
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Sarah's Survey 2017
Tasks:1. What is your name? (First, Last, Middle, Nickname) – Read a book that contains one of your names in some way – author, title, character.
2. What is your favourite sport? – Read a book that is either about your favourite sport or one of the characters plays that sport. You could also chose a book where the cover shows that sport.
4. Have you ever had a broken bone? – If yes, read a book with the word “Bone” in the title. If no, read a book about archeology (the character may be an archeologist, the book may be set in a museum, etc)
5. What is your favourite movie? – If the movie is an adaptation, read the book that inspired the movie. Or, read a book that is written by the same author. Or, read a book that has the same title. If the movie is not an adaptation, read a book with a similar theme or has the same title.
6. What is your favourite book? – Read it again. Or, read a book that has the same title. Or read a book by the same author. If you can’t find the same title, or the author only has the one book, go to the book page and click on “Readers Also Enjoyed”. Select a book from the list.
7. Pick a number between 1 and 10. – Select a series and read the book that corresponds to that number. Or, read a book with the number in the title.
8. What is your favourite holiday? – Read a book that is about that holiday, set during that holiday, or has the name in the title.
10. Are you right or left handed? – Read a book with that word in the title.
12. Do you have a pet? What is it? Don’t have a pet? Adopt a pet that someone in your immediate circle has (mother, brother, sister, friend, etc.) – Read a book featuring that type of pet. Or, read a book with that pet in the title.
13. What is your favourite type of food? (Chinese, Italian, Mexican, etc) – Read a book set in the country or region of choice. (Chinese – set in China, Italian – set in Italy, etc.) If you chose a type of food that is not specific to a country, what region would you find it prevalent? Read a book set in that region. For example – Seafood would be prevalent in the coastal areas of Canada, United States, among others.
18. What is your favourite season? – Read a book with either the season in the title, or set in that season.
19. What is your current desk top picture? – Interpret that desk top picture any way you like. Read a book that represents that interpretation. For example, mine is a magnified picture of a frozen soap bubble. I could interpret it as ice, or alien landscape, or bubble. I could read a book with “Ice” in the title, a book set on an alien planet, or has bubbles on the cover. The gophering could be endless on this one.
20. What is your preferred mode of transport? – Read a book with your selection on the cover, or in the title, or it plays a significant role in the book.
21. How many candles were on your last birthday cake? – Go to your TBR and order the shelf by number. Read the book that corresponds to your answer. If you picked “none” or “zero” as your answer, your number will be 100.
22. Have you been in an accident? – If yes, read a book set in a hospital, or with the word “accident” in title. If no, read a book that is a thriller, in which an accident is a high probability.
23. Do you prefer a shower or bath? – Read a book with your selected word in the title, or depicted on the cover.
24. Name a place you’d like to visit. – Read a book set in that location.
26. Do you prefer a car or truck? – Read a book with your selection on the cover or in the title.
30. Have you been to Europe? Where? – Read a book set in that location. If you haven’t been to Europe, read a book set in a European country you would like to visit.
31. If you could meet anyone famous, infamous, notorious… who would it be? – read a biography, autobiography, memoir, or historical fiction about that person. Or, read a book that is representative of that person.
34. What is your favourite animal (other than domestic pets)? – Read a book with that creature on the cover, in the title, or in the story.
36. If you had to lose one of the 5 senses, which would you prefer it to be? – Read a book with that word in the title, or read a book where a character is afflicted by that same loss.
40. What is your favourite fruit? – Read a book with that fruit on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that fruit is the colour of the cover.
42. Would you rather explore in space or undersea? – Read a book in that setting.
43. To what time period would you like to time travel? – Read a book either set in that time period, or published in that time period. Or, read a book about time travel where the character’s time travelled to that period.
44. Do you prefer shoes or bare feet? – Read a book where your selection is on the cover or in the title, or get creative and find a book that represents your choice.
46. What is your Zodiac sign? – This one is wide open. Read a book that represents your zodiac sign in some way. Mine is Sagittarius (the archer). I could read a book with Sagittarius in the title, Archer in the title, author named Archer, bow and arrow on the cover, horse on the cover, a Western with Indians (bow & arrow).
47. What is your height in inches? – Go to your TBR shelf and sort by number. Read the book that matches your answer. If you don’t have that many books on your TBR, select a listopia on a topic you are interested and read the book with the corresponding number to your height.
50. What language would you like to learn to speak? – Read a book that was translated from that language to one you do speak. Or, chose a book where a character speaks that language. For example, if you chose Gaelic, you could read any of the books in the Outlander series.
Completed ReadsHow to report completed reads:
When you complete a book for the challenge, you need to leave a new message in your personal thread explaining the following:
- a countdown of the badges you read - Part 1: 1/12, 2/12, 3/12, etc. If you are working on subsequent badges, you will need to preface with Part 2 or Part 3.
- the book you read, link to it and the cover
- the question it relates to
- an explanation as to how the book you chose relates to your answer to the question
Gophering Ideas:1. What is your name? Sarah, Jane, (plus surname. I've removed it so I don't come up in Google searches) Read a book that contains one of your names in some way – author, title, character. The Three, Someone Else's Skin, Sarah's Key
2. What is your favourite sport? Climbing Read a book that is either about your favourite sport or one of the characters plays that sport. You could also chose a book where the cover shows that sport.
3. What colour are your eyes? Blue Read a book where the colour of your eyes is the main colour of the cover, or the word is in the title. The Collapsing Empire COMPLETED
4. Have you ever had a broken bone? Yes Read a book with the word “Bone” in the title. The Bone Garden (library), Bag of Bones, The Bone Season (library)
5. What is your favourite movie? The Lord of the Rings Read the book that inspired the movie. Or, read a book that is written by the same author. Or, read a book that has the same title. The Fellowship of the Ring (library), The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrún
6. What is your favourite book? The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett Read it again. Or, read a book that has the same title. Or read a book by the same author. The Skull Throne COMPLETED
7. Pick a number between 1 and 10. 7 Select a series and read the book that corresponds to that number. Or, read a book with the number in the title. Seven Years in Tibet, Seveneves, A Brief History of Seven Killings (library), Frost Burned (would need to read books 5 & 6 first)
8. What is your favourite holiday? Christmas Read a book that is about that holiday, set during that holiday, or has the name in the title. A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Woman in Black, Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas: The Film, the Art, the Vision
9. What is your relationship status? Cohabiting Read a book with that word in the title, or where the main character or author shares that status. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will be representative? Hunter's Run COMPLETED
10. Are you right or left handed? Right Read a book with that word in the title.
11. What is your birthday month? October Read a book with the selected month in the title, or set during that month. Slade House COMPLETED
12. Do you have a pet? Guinea pig Read a book featuring that type of pet. Or, read a book with that pet in the title.
13. What is your favourite type of food? Indian Read a book set in the country or region of choice. The Girl in the Road
14. What is something you use daily? Kindle Read a book with that word in the title. Or, is on the cover. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will represent that item? Cyberpunk based on it being a technology product Snow Crash COMPLETED
15. What is your shoe size? 6 Select that number of books on your TBR, put them into the Fruit Machine (or another randomizer), and read the one that is selected. The Likeness COMPLETED
16. What is your favourite Ice cream flavour? Chocolate Read a book that either represents that flavour by the colour of the cover, or in the title. You may also chose a book that represents that flavour in some way. The Last Wish COMPLETED
17. What is your country of birth? England Read a book set in that country, or written by an author that was also born in that country. Norse Mythology COMPLETED
18. What is your favourite season? Autumn Read a book with either the season in the title, or set in that season. Relic
19. What is your current desk top picture? Icebergs, sea and mountains Interpret that desk top picture any way you like. Read a book that represents that interpretation. Set innNorway. Nemesis COMPLETED
20. What is your preferred mode of transport? Boat Read a book with your selection on the cover, or in the title, or it plays a significant role in the book. God of Vengeance, Ship Breaker
21. How many candles were on your last birthday cake? 21 Go to your TBR and order the shelf by number. Read the book that corresponds to your answer. Whispers Under Ground
22. Have you been in an accident? Yes Read a book set in a hospital, or with the word “accident” in title. The Accident (library), The Accident,The Bell Jar (library), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (library)
23. Do you prefer a shower or bath? Shower Read a book with your selected word in the title, or depicted on the cover. Psycho
24. Name a place you’d like to visit. Iceland Read a book set in that location. Silence of the Grave, I Remember You, Smilla's Sense of Snow (don't own any of these nor at library), Snowblind
25. What is your favourite genre? Fantasy Read a book in that genre. The Painted Man COMPLETED
26. Do you prefer a car or truck? Car Read a book with your selection on the cover or in the title. Down Among the Dead Men27. Do you have a tattoo? No Read a book with a tattoo on the cover, or represents a tattoo that you would want if you were to get one. Nimona COMPLETED
28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary? Contemporary Read a book published in 2000 – 2017 Angelfall COMPLETED
29. What is your favourite flower? Roses. Read a book with that selection on the cover or in the title. Or, read a book that you feel represents that flower in some way. I, Robot COMPLETED
30. Have you been to Europe? Where? Poland, Austria, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, The Netherlands. Read a book set in that location.
31. If you could meet anyone famous, infamous, notorious, who would it be? Aung San Suu Kyi and David Attenborough. Read a biography, autobiography, memoir, or historical fiction about that person. Or, a book representative of that person. David Attenborough's Life on Air: Memoirs of a Broadcaster (audio)
32. What is the feature on you are most often complimented? Smile Read a book with that feature on the cover or in the title. Dodger COMPLETED
33. Would you rather encounter a ghost, an alien, or neither?Alien Read a story with aliens in it. Old Man's War, Old Man's War COMPLETED
34. What is your favourite animal (other than domestic pets)? Otter Read a book with that creature on the cover, in the title, or in the story.
35. What type of holiday do you prefer? Islands/Coastal. Read a book in that setting or that represents your choice. Kafka on the Shore COMPLETED
36. If you had to lose one of the 5 senses, which would you prefer it to be? Smell Read a book with that word in the title, or read a book where a character is afflicted by that same loss. The Smell of Other People's Houses, odo in deep space 9 has no sense of smell.
37. Who is your favourite author? Stephen King Read either a book by that author, or a book recommended by that author. The Nix COMPLETED
38. Do you prefer tea, coffee, or water? Tea Read a book with the word in the title, or set in a country where that beverage is a huge export Snow Flower and the Secret Fan COMPLETED
39. What is your birthstone using the US 2016 listing: Tourmaline, Opal Read a book with that gemstone on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that gemstone is the colour of the cover. The Ghost Brigades COMPLETED
40. What is your favourite fruit? Mango Read a book with that fruit on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that fruit is the colour of the cover.
41. Issue you are passionate about Homelessness and sex industry/slavery/prostitution, Read a book where this issue is prominent or is represented in some way. It may be fiction or non-fiction. Replica COMPLETED
42. Would you rather explore in space or undersea? Undersea. Read a book in that setting. Sphere, Jaws, The Swarm, Depths, The Abyss, Shadow Divers
43. To what time period would you like to time travel? Viking era - 850 AD ish Read a book either set in that time period, or published in that time period. Or, read a book about time travel where the character’s time travelled to that period. The Pale Horseman (library), Swords of Good Men, God of Vengeance
44. Do you prefer shoes or barefeet? Barefoot Read a book where your selection is on the cover or in the title, or get creative and find a book that represents your choice. Half Way Home
45. Do you prefer green or black olives? Neither?Black Read a book with either a predominantly black cover (75%) The Butterfly Garden COMPLETED
46. What is your Zodiac sign? Libra Read a book that represents your zodiac sign in some way. A Monster Calls COMPLETED
47. What is your height in inches? 67 Go to your TBR shelf and sort by number. Read the book that matches your answer.
48. Who is someone you miss? My Granddad Read a book that represents that person in some way. Winter in Madrid (ww2)
49. What is your hobby? Boating, Reading Read a book that represents that hobby in some way. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry COMPLETED
50. What language would you like to learn to speak? German/Austrian Read a book that was translated from that language to one you do speak. Or, chose a book where a character speaks that language. Any of the books by Oliver Potzsch, Therapy
I've answered most of the questions but I'll come back tomorrow and answer the more difficult ones.
I've finished answering all my questions now. Some of them required a bit more thought.
I enjoyed reading your answers Sarah :)Do your guinea pigs also have individual names Sarah, or are they always just 'the pigs'?
They are not my Guinea pigs but belong to our friends who live in Austria. I'm adopting them for the purpose of the challenge. They call them The Pigs but they also have individual names but I can't remember them. Mainly because they are Austrian. They have trained them to lift their foot up, a bit like a dog, to get food and they also turn around on the spot for food. They are so cute. They live in this massive open plan area in their apartment which is any Guinea pigs dream I'm sure.
Oh, I missed the part about them being adopted. It's cool that they have them trained!
That is really cool. It's great that they have all that room to run around in as well. :)
Have you seen Vikings? It's shown on the History channel. I just saw that season 4 starts tonight. Can't wait!
Yes i have J'mom. It's how my viking obsession started. We've seen the first part of series 4. The second part starts this month i know. I didn't realise it was so soon though. I'm looking forward to it.
I am reading The Warded Man in 2017, I hope I'll like it as much as you do...Also, I've been watching "The Last Kingdom" and I am beginning being slightly obsessed too...
Yes I need to download The Last Kingdom too. I hope you enjoy The Painted Man. The Demon Cycle is my favourite series.
I think I knew you had watched Vikings from another discussion. Oh well.
I like your picks for real-life, contemporary people you'd like to meet. I also like that we have a shared interest in the Vikings and that time period. Though I decided it would be too scary to visit. Good point about space being cold, dark, and endless.
I certainly wouldn't want to meet any aliens like from the Sigourney Weaver movie, yikes!
I did pick space over undersea. I know I can visit undersea, but space is mostly inaccessible. I was thinking along the lines of being able to explore space under fantasy, ideal conditions from some future time, which I will time travel to : )
You've got some good gophering done. Way to go!
Regarding books you're considering...
I enjoyed Shadow Divers. Also The Luminaries tho it felt too overly constructed to me. The Left Hand of Darkness is an old, long-time favorite of mine. I think you would probably like Smilla's Sense of Snow.
I wish I'd chosen space as it would have been easier for me to find a book. I own many books set in space. Thanks for your comments TJ on the books I've listed. I'm not usually good with non fiction but Shadow Divers sounded like it might be interesting. I've had Left Hand on my kindle for ages. A shame I'm not left handed!
I've done a bit more gophering. I'm feeling ready to start the challenge.
Reading Snow Crash. Would cover eye colour (blue), kindle (cyber punk), boats, and contempory. So far. I'll decide once I'm finisbed which task it will go on.
Part 1: 1/12Nimona
Qu 27. Do you have a tattoo? No
I do not have a tattoo but i have wanted one for many years. But I've never been able to settle on what it is I exactly want. First it was a scorpion, then a frog, then a dragon, then a wolf, then birds, then a phoenix etc. etc. On the front cover of this book there are drawings of lots of different animals including wolves and dragons. The main character Nimona (view spoiler)
I really liked this graphic novel. It's targeted at the YA market but I really liked it. It's sweet in places, funny in others. I devoured it, pretty much in one sitting.
I like the way you connected Nimona to your answer for question 27. :)
Thanks Janice. I also thought that some of the small drawings on the front cover would make good tattoos. They are quite simple but well drawn and they wouldn't be so time consuming (and therefore painful) to have done.EDIT: you can't really see them in the small image but you cwn when you enlarge the cover.
I did enlarge the cover and saw the potential for tattoos of the drawings.
And sometimes simple is best for tattoos.
Rusalka wrote: "And sometimes simple is best for tattoos."I agree.
Part 1: 2/12Snow Crash
Qu 14. What is something you use daily? Kindle
The modern today is becoming very technology heavy. The kindle is a prime example, an electronic device on which we can read books. In fact it can store hundreds of books all in that one gadget. It's quite a wonder really when you think about it. Technology features heavily in cyberpunk books. I decided to read a book which was in the cyberpunk genre. In Snow Crash there were heaps of technological advances and gadgetry. The female main character Y.T was a Kourier and had an all singing all dancing skateboard with technology that kept her safe from other road users and people who might want to rob her delivery. People could also access a computer generated world called the metaverse via their computers and VR type goggles. You could even get this as a mobile device so you could login anywhere. And much more. EDIT: Also the male main character Hiro could access a whole library when he entered the metaverse and just had to ask a question and it would give the answer. A bit like Google but more advanced.
This was my second attempt at reading this book. The first time i tried the audiobook but i tot horribly lost and ended up abandoning it. So i read the print version this time. It wasn't the format that was the problem, just the complex world and confusion due to the genre (something I have only just come to realise after reading more books in the genre).
I'm glad you were able to finish it, and enjoy it, the second time through. I couldn't get through it and gave up. Maybe there'll be a second chance down the road for me too.
It is a complicated story with lots going on it it. I did really enjoy it but I think you have to be in the right mood for it.
I think the trick to getting through Snow Crash was to just keep reading, even when you were not sure things made sense. Usually things were clarified later. It also helped to have a reading buddy. I'm not sure I would have gotten through the whole book without Sarah.
I definitely wasn't in the right mood. It's an extremely busy time at work for me right now and I don't want to have to think too hard when I sit down with a book to relax.
We were pretty neck and neck. I think I'm getting used to reading books where I'm confused a lot of the time. Plodding on is a good strategy as is assuming things will become clear. With this book, i think it was purposely confusional.
No sure if you are still gophering, but I thought I'd let you know about some of the otter books I found in case you are interested. Tarka the Otter
The Wind in the Willows
Ring of Bright Water
And a few really obscure titles that just enthralled me with the weirdness of the descriptions:
Shaman which Wikipedia says has "A talking otter character. The otter people are in a side universe the protagonist visits, but it becomes one of the best she can access. The otters and company are core to this story." You have to see the cover of this one on amazon, it is 80's fantastic! https://www.amazon.com/Shaman-Sandra-...
Spellsinger which has "An anthropomorphic otter with a thick Cockney accent, a womanizer, a thief and a gambler who is the best friend and traveling companion of Jonathan Thomas Meriweather."
The Demon Breed is a sci-fi book with three "mutated and intelligent otters"
I found all of these titles here in case you are interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
Thanks KimeyDiann. You've done well gopering there. Or should I say ottering?! Shaman is very 80s I agree. Spellsinger looks cheesy too. Lol. But they could still be good. I'm liking the sound of The Demon Breed. I think it's the shortest too. It looks like most are out of print. No kindle versions except Spellsinger. And strangely most secondhand copies come from abroad. So there is definitely an otter in Wind in the Willows? I know i wondered about there being one but i wasn't sure. I knew about Tarka - it was the first book that came to mind.
They definitely have some strange descriptions. I'm pleased tgere are some otter books though. It's a tricky one.
Sarah, if you are looking for otter books, I read a good one a couple of months ago, Must Love Otters. Here is a link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks Casceil. I have some options then! :-)
Otter is listed as a character on the GR page for The Wind in the Willows so that is what I was going by. I forgot to list Must Love Otters, thanks for adding that one Casceil. Glad to see you liked it too!
I was disappointed in the lack of kindle versions too, but glad I found a few titles.
There's Ratty in Wind in Willows, who's a water rat. As a kid, I always thought that he was an otter as I knew what an otter is. Not sure if water rats are different to otters.
Wiki says Ratty was a water vole. I don't know if a water vole is different to a water rat is different to an otter.I'm your girl if you want to know the difference between a bilby and a bandicoot, but this is out of my league!
I've seen water voles on the canal. The have a more squashed face than a rat, chunkier, shorter body and a long tale. The face is the main difference though. I'm pretty sure they are called water rats too. Normal rats swim though very well so are easily mistaken as water voles. Water voles are endangered here because of the American Mink. We are so lucky on this canal to have quite a few water voles as there aren't many mink here. We did see a family of them further up the canal.Interesting that an otter is listed as a character in the wind in the willows.
Now otters are huge and are in no way rat like. Pretty sure they aren't rodents. They are well suited to the water. We saw one last year and when it surfaced it's coat almost looked seal like and how they move through the water reminds me of them too. The voles and rats are good in the water but you can tell they are land animals good in water whereas the otter is definitely a water animal.
I'm on my phone at the moment but I'll dig out some pictures of them all later.
I forgot to post pictures, so here they are:Otter:
Rat (i know you know what they look like but just for comparison, the nose in particular):
Water vole:
According to wiki, the term water rat is used to refer to various semiaquatic rodents, of which the UKs only one is the water vole. I guess they dont see rats as semiaquatic. Sure they can swim but they don't exactly live in or around the water as much. Apparently you guys have your own water rat in Aus - a false swamp/water rat?!
Apparently we have them in the lake and the creek that runs through the uni here. But I've only ever seen a massive real rat nomming on a dead fish last year. Welcome to Canberra.
The water voles are kinda cute though. And look like the illustrations in my book of Ratty.
Part 1: 3/12The Collapsing Empire
3. What colour are your eyes? Blue
I read this book because the cover is mainly blue, like my eyes. I also thought that with the roundness of the planets and whatever it is behind the main title, looks quite eye-like.
Oh, I never realised how cute otters are :-)
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Nemesis (other topics)Nemesis (other topics)
The Snowman (other topics)
Nemesis (other topics)
Nemesis (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Peter V. Brett (other topics)Tana French (other topics)
Peter V. Brett (other topics)
Stephen King (other topics)
Completed Books:
1. What is your name? (First, Last, Middle, Nickname – you only need to pick one if your prefer. Feel free to list them all.) Sarah, Jane, (plus surname. I've removed it so I don't come up in Google searches)
2. What is your favourite sport? Climbing
3. What colour are your eyes? Blue
4. Have you ever had a broken bone? Yes, little finger
5. What is your favourite movie? I love lots of movies. There are many I've seen numerous times which would suggest I like them more than others. But I wouldn't say I had one favourite. But I'm going to go with The Lord of the Rings as I still own the box set even after I got rid of the majority of my DVDs when we moved on to the boat.
6. What is your favourite book? The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
7. Pick a number between 1 and 10. 7
8. What is your favourite holiday? Christmas
9. What is your relationship status? Cohabiting
10. Are you right or left handed? Right
11. What is your birthday month? October
12. Do you have a pet? What is it? Don’t have a pet? Adopt a pet that someone in your immediate circle has (mother, brother, sister, friend, etc.) Adopted 3 Austrian guinea pigs (which we refer to as "The Pigs")
13. What is your favourite type of food? (Chinese, Italian, Mexican, etc) Indian
14. What is something you use daily? (brush, computer, car, get creative) Kindle
15. What is your shoe size? (No halves; roll up to next number) 6
16. What is your favourite Ice cream flavour? Chocolate
17. What is your country of birth? England
18. What is your favourite season? Autumn
19. What is your current desk top picture? Icebergs, sea and mountains - one of the Windows desktops. I set my partner on the task of finding where it is but to no avail. Annoyingly, all the other Windows desktops said where they were but not this one.
20. What is your preferred mode of transport? Boat
21. How many candles were on your last birthday cake? 21 - that was the last birthday cake with candles I had. I was in Grenada too. Tropical birthday cake :-)
22. Have you been in an accident? Yes
23. Do you prefer a shower or bath? Shower
24. Name a place you’d like to visit. Iceland
25. What is your favourite genre? Fantasy
26. Do you prefer a car or truck? Car
27. Do you have a tattoo? No, but am currently looking at designs etc.
28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary? Contemporary
29. What is your favourite flower? I tend to like any flowers which are still alive and attached to the plant. I do not like cut flowers. No particular favourite as such but I do really like Roses. Reminds me of my Grandad.
30. Have you been to Europe? Where? (If you live in Europe, specify country other than your own.) Yes. Poland, Austria, France, Croatia, Czech Republic. Also next weekend we're going to The Netherlands.
31. If you could meet anyone famous, infamous, notorious, who would it be? I'm going for one male and one female. Real people instead of my originally intended fictional characters. Aung San Suu Kyi because I think shes amazing. And David Attenborough so I can ask him all the questions I have about animals and the natural world.
32. What is the feature on you are most often complimented? This was tricky. Us Brits aren't big on compliments. Smile
33. Would you rather encounter a ghost, an alien, or neither? An alien, unless it's the type from the film with Sigourney Weaver
34. What is your favourite animal (other than domestic pets)? Otter
35. What type of holiday do you prefer? (Beach, Mountain, Camping, exotic, etc) Islands/Coastal. But to be honest, anywhere as long as I get to see different things, learn something interesting about where I am and get to experience a new culture.
36. If you had to lose one of the 5 senses, which would you prefer it to be? Smell
37. Who is your favourite author? As I've already mentioned Peter V Brett above with my favourite book, I'm going to go with another author. If I go with the author I've read the most books by (excluding long series), then I guess it has to be Stephen King
38. Do you prefer tea, coffee, or water? Tea, Rooibos
39. What is your birthstone using the US 2016 listing: (https://www.americangemsociety.org/en...) Tourmaline, Opal
40. What is your favourite fruit? Mango, fresh and dried
41. Issue you are passionate about (abortion, euthanasia, animal rights… etc) I'm passionate about a number of things but I'm going with the one which my partner identified when I mentioned this question. Homelessness. Also, during my trip to Amsterdam, I realised I felt very strongly about various issues linked to the sex industry/slavery/prostitution,
42. Would you rather explore in space or undersea? Undersea. I am a very curious person and undersea will have far more many things to look at and be interested in. I know what will be there. Whereas Space could just be dark, cold and endless.
43. To what time period would you like to time travel? Viking era - 850 AD ish
44. Do you prefer shoes or barefeet? Barefoot
45. Do you prefer green or black olives? Neither? I like both very much but Black just wins.
46. What is your Zodiac sign? Libra, although I'm on the cusp with Scorpio. Identify as a Libran though although I don't follow astrology at all.
47. What is your height in inches? 67
48. Who is someone you miss? My Granddad, Curl
49. What is your hobby? Boating, Reading
50. What language would you like to learn to speak? German/Austrian so that I can speak to my friends when I visit them.