I found this in a 2014 thread, and thought we could revisit

[Bonnie G.]

Hi all,

I was looking to turn off notifications for a discussion (not from this group) and found this old thread with one of those questionnaires that were so popular on FB a decade ago. I am copying and pasting my original response with a strikethrough and correction for those answers that have changed. Hope others will jump on this bandwagon!


Author you’ve read the most books from: If we are counting romance novels, where I am likely to rip through series, I would guess Celeste Bradley or Lora Leigh (whose books are awful and also formulaic, but somehow still compelling.) For other literature, I would guess Phillip Roth or John Irving. I am going to guess from the 20th century in and not including children' books (because for sure Dr. Seuss would win) Elizabeth Strout, Kurt Vonnegut, John Updike, Jonathan Franzen, Philip Roth, John Steinbeck, Curtis Sittenfeld, Jennifer Egan, David Sedaris. For romance I am guessing no one is edging out Julia Quinn and Sarah MacLean for sheer number of books read.

Best sequel ever: I don't read a lot of things that could be called sequels. I am going to say a tie between Bring Up the Bodies, Ramona the Brave, and Rabbit Redux. I recently loved Hell Bent, I was a big fan of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead and for sure The Candy House.

Currently reading: Yay! An easy question. The Goldfinch and The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones. Romantic Comedy and Jacket Weather are my current reads.

Drink of choice while reading: Most often the answer is Crystal Light Peach Ice Tea or Raspberry Ice Tea, but a nice glass of Shiraz is a close second. (All still true and adding Lady Grey tea)

Ereader or physical book: Physical book. I like the feel and look and smell of ink on paper. I like audiobooks when I am driving, but rarely listen to books in the house. I love paper books, but about 90% of what I read now is Kindle, and I now do listen to audiobooks in the house.

Fictional character that you probably would have dated in high school: I like those smart, intense, troubled guys. I try to resist that pull as an adult, but in high school that was all I liked. Dally in The Outsiders would have ranked high, Nick from Deeper and George from A Room with a View also would have made it past first base. (Still stands and will add every Emily Henry male love interest.)

Glad you gave this book a chance: Anansi Boys. I generally dislike fantasy and scifi, so I resisted and was late to the Neil Gaiman bandwagon. I am now a huge fan, and have read most everything he has had a hand in, but Anansi Boys was the first and still one of my favorites. (4/13/2023: Still true and will add Ninth House)

Hidden gem book: I have too many of these to choose! I am not sure how hidden it is, but lot of people seem not to have heard of The Things They Carried, which I would put in my top 25 of the 20th. Also City of Thieves and Another Bullshit Night in Suck City. I still love those and will add a few recent books I loved (and one I am still reading but it feels like it belongs) Jacket Weather; After the Lights Go Out; We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America; G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century; Aurelia, Aurélia: A Memoir.

Important moment in your reading life: In kindergarten I read Caddie Woodlawn. The teacher made a huge deal out of this, and had me read part of it aloud to the class every day for a week. She also sent home a note and my parents paid me a lot of attention (not a common occurrence.) I am smiling as I type this. (Stickling with this one too. It was major!)

Just finished: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Highly recommended to those who like modern Japanese literature. Yesterday I finished Before I Let Go. Super angsty and quite good.

Kind of books you won’t read: Self help. People are not alike, and helping them with personal problems is not something that can be done in a book. I also will not read romances with werewolves. What is romantic about sex with a dog? Ick! (100% still accurate!)

Longest book you read: I think either A Suitable Boy, Infinite Jest,1Q84 or The Brothers Karamazov. Not sure which is the longest, but they all took a very long time. Infinite Jest took me about 3 months. (This is still true. I will add Mason & Dixon.

Major book hangover because of: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. My head was in that book for months after I read it. I read it years ago, and I still sometimes think about parts of it out of nowhere. It challenged all my assumptions about people and memory and history, and it taught me that after thousands of years of people writing, it is still possible to write a book that is absolutely different from everything that came before. This answer is still true, but I will go with a more recent book Mecca did not let me go for months.

Number of bookcases you own: I swap most of my books on paperbackswap or bookmooch and give some to the library, but still have 9 bookshelves, all full. Luckily I have a finished basement with the "library" not in the center of other things. I have an addiction to used book sales. When I answered this I had a 5 bedroom house in Atlanta. Now I have a 1 bedroom apartment in New York. The answer is now 3 plus a few pretty high stacks of books on the floor.

One book you’ve read multiple times: I almost never reread. The exceptions are Pride and Prejudice and Catch-22. also, every once in a while I will reread a book I did not like when I was younger to see if time and life have changed my opinions. I have been reading all of Faulkner which I hated in college and now adore. The same goes the other way reading books I loved as a teen or young adult -- do not read Catcher in the Rye after 30. It will be ruined for you. (still true!)

Preferred place to read: Anywhere really. (Still true!)

Quote that inspires you: "There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves." -- Will Rogers (4/13/2023: There are many other great ones, but this one is hard to argue with! I am going to let it stand. Also I will add from "Hell of a Book": “Laugh all you want, but I think learning to love yourself in a country where you’re told that you’re a plague on the economy, that you’re nothing but a prisoner in the making, that your life can be taken away from you at any moment and there’s nothing you can do about it — learning to love yourself in the middle of all of that? Hell, that’s a g--d---mn miracle.”)

Reading regret: Continuing to read Tom Perotta books when I have disliked every single one that I have ever read. I say I don't like him, and a friend invariably says I have to read some other Perotta book and it will change how I feel. I have now read 4. I am standing firm on not trying another.(4/13/2023: Standing firmly by this one, and adding a regret. A reread of A Catcher in the Rye was so stupid. I loved that book so much when I was 13 -- it was not made for grownups, and it ruined my initial reading experience.)

Series you started that you need to finish: I really don't read series books much but I guess The Marilynne Robinson Gilead books are sort of a series so I will say the new one, Lila which is next up since it is the December book for my IRL book group. Finished the Giliad books a long time ago. I have some romance series I follow so off the top of my head I will say the Talia Hibbert Brown Sisters series needs my attention. On the non-romance side I am excited for the rest of Franzen's A Key to All Mythologies trilogy. I freaking loved the first book, Crossroads.

Three of your all-time favourite books: Ugh! This is a Sophie's choice moment for me! I mentioned some of my favorites already, so I will leave those off this list and say A Prayer for Owen Meany, Going After Cacciato, and Middlesex but there are so many! (After I wrote this I realized I had not listed Kavelier & Clay and came back to fix that, but don't know which of the 3 I did list I should drop. I am so conflicted!) (4/13/2023: All of those books can stay on the list, there are others I might add, I would probably switch out Going After Cacciato for Matterhorn or The Things They Carried, maybe add The Corrections or The Trees? I don't know, there are 100 books I could list here and be equally happy with the list.)

Unapologetic fangirl for: Not really a fangirl type. If this is a guilty pleasure think I am going to say 50 Shades of Grey. I KNOW! I know its awful, and I hated the subconscious voice, but I loved the first book. Tore through it. Still no interest in the movie, and I could not even finish Twilight though I tried mightily, but 50SoG did it for me. Well the first half of this stands, I am still not much of a fangirl, but I am a disciple of Emily Henry and would read her shopping lists.

Very excited for this release: Kate Atkinson's sequel to Life After Life. Well that book, A God in Ruins, was amazing but my current pick is probably either City of Dreams or Happy Place and also the wife of one of my former students just published her first novel a couple weeks ago and I am excited to read that one too, Natural Beauty

Worst bookish habit: Forgetting I already bought something and ending up with 2 or 3 copies of the same book. (4/13/23: This is absolutely still my answer to this question!)

X marks the spot! Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book Absurdistan Blue Highways

Your last bookish purchase: Lila. Jacket Weather and no question it was worth it!

Zzz-snatcher. Which book kept you up way too late? Easy, last night it was The Goldfinch Romantic Comedy which I am still reading and it is FUN!

[Allie]

Author you’ve read the most books from: my guess was going to be David Sedaris, but Goodreads tells me I've read more by JK Rowling (11) and Jacqueline Winspear (9).

Best sequel ever: probably the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books, original Larssen ones.

Currently reading: The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller

Drink of choice while reading: Coffee, or water.

Ereader or physical book: Yes?

Fictional character that you probably would have dated in high school: Uh, I don't know, I'm not a person that inserts myself into stories or imagines myself with fictional characters. But I'm generally attracted to nice, smart guys, so probably the best friend in a lot of properties lol.

Glad you gave this book a chance: The Murderbot series. Not my usual thing at all, but I've been enjoying it immensely.

Hidden gem book: romance novellas by Shira Glassman and Jackie Lau

Important moment in your reading life: I know I've done my job because my toddler LOVES books and always wants just one more. He also hoards books in his daycare classroom.

Just finished: Murderbot #5.

Kind of books you won’t read: Anything where a child dies.

Longest book you read: Les Miserables, unabridged

Major book hangover because of: The Book Thief

Number of bookcases you own: 4 (including the one in my son's room)

One book you’ve read multiple times: Ella Enchanted

Preferred place to read: On a comfy chair, but I'll read anywhere.

Quote that inspires you: "What are you going to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver

Reading regret: Spending way too much time slogging through books I'm not enjoying instead of DNFing when I know it's not working.

Series you started that you need to finish: next Murderbot, though in general I'm not much of a straight-through-a-series reader.

Three of your all-time favourite books: The Shadow of the Wind, The Fault in Our Stars, The Tsar of Love and Techno

Unapologetic fangirl for: fake relationships romance.

Very excited for this release: I don't usually anticipate stuff that's not out yet, I've got too many things that are already published that I need to get to!

Worst bookish habit: I don't see the problem with dog-earing my own books...

X marks the spot! Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book: You Can't Eat Peanuts in Church and Other Little-Known Laws

Your last bookish purchase: I got Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld from Book of the Month for April.

Zzz-snatcher. Which book kept you up way too late? It's been a long time since I stayed up super late to read...

[Sarah]

Author you’ve read the most books from: Not going to fall down the rabbit hole counting titles, so I'll go with some of the authors who I've read through their available backlist and will read new releases from (sometimes without reading the blurb): Zoe York/Ainsley Booth, Mariana Zapata, Erin Nicholas, Lucy Score, Pippa Grant/Jamie Farrell, Claire Kingsley, Penny Reid, Kate Canterbary, Angela Casella, Rosalind James

Best sequel ever: I can't think of a true sequel that is above all others - I generally prefer a connected series though (see above authors for examples)

Currently reading: The Worst Wedding Date by Pippa Grant (Kindle Paperwhite); Cowboy Come Home by Carly Bloom (phone); Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai (paperback)

Drink of choice while reading: always water, but usually also have another drink too (coffee, tea, wine, sparkling water...)

Ereader or physical book: all of the above.

Fictional character that you probably would have dated in high school: no idea...

Glad you gave this book a chance: Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy. I wasn't really in a non-fiction mood, but it fit a prompt in the last Kindle Reading Challenge and ended up being the kind of history I really enjoy (focused, niche, told through a handful of participants).

Hidden gem book: So many of the self-pubbed romance authors I've found over the last ten years.

Important moment in your reading life: I can't remember not reading (and hope I don't), so I can't really pick one.

Just finished: Falling Inn Love by Erin Branscom

Kind of books you won’t read: Genre or category-wise, I'll read anything, but there are definitely tropes I don't enjoy or outright avoid. I've gotten very comfortable with DNFing too.

Longest book you read: The last 10ish years, an anthology or boxed set has been the longest; not sure for a single title - some just felt like they took forever to finish.

Major book hangover because of: The Mists of Avalon is the first book I remember rereading almost immediately after finishing.

Number of bookcases you own: The two in my office are the only true bookcases I own. I'm pretty sure we only have bracket + rail shelves in most rooms of the house, along with the modular cube wall my husband built for our home office.

One book you’ve read multiple times: Mariana Zapata's entire backlist; Rock Bottom Girl, By a Thread - Lucy Score; Marriage of Inconvenience - Penny Reid; The Shell Seekers - Rosamunde Pilcher

Preferred place to read: anywhere

Quote that inspires you: “For all that has been, Thanks. To all that shall be, Yes.” Dag Hammarskjold

Reading regret: Not letting myself DNF books I was not enjoying (when reading for myself).

Series you started that you need to finish: I don't know that I *need* to finish, but I have several fantasy series sitting on my shelf with books yet to be read (L.E. Modesitt - Saga of Recluse, Robert Jordan - Wheel of Time (after Brandon Sanderson took over)).

Three of your all-time favourite books: I don't really have true favorites, but my re-read list is a good start.

Unapologetic fangirl for: indie romance

Very excited for this release: Things We Left Behind (Knockemout #3) - Lucy Score

Worst bookish habit: Adding to my Kindle library when I already have more titles than I can read for the rest of my life

X marks the spot! Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Your last bookish purchase: my pledge for Penny Reid's Kickstarter (10th Anniversary of Knitting in the City series)

Zzz-snatcher. Which book kept you up way too late? Definitely a habit I'm trying to curb, but I stayed up too late on Monday finishing Sajni Patel's First Love, Take Two

[Alicia]

Author you’ve read the most books from: I read some fairly prolific authors! I think Terry Pratchett probably takes the biscuit though.

Best sequel ever: I agree with Sarah! I think of a sequel as a second self-contained work rather than a completely connected work and I can't really think of any.

Currently reading: Butter: A Celebration - A joyous immersion in all things butter, from an award-winning food writer A Dark History of Sugar

Drink of choice while reading: I don't really - I do most of my reading in bed, so maybe water.

Ereader or physical book: Ereader. Age is catching up to me and until I get a new prescription, I'm struggle a bit with physical books. Also, I don't sleep much so ereader under the covers is least disruptive to my husband.

Fictional character that you probably would have dated in high school: I didn't really date in high school!

Glad you gave this book a chance: The Magpie Lord - I resisted M/M for quite a while when I got back into reading romance. I didn't really feel it was appropriate for a cishet woman to read and a lot of the way people talked about the genre was uncomfortably fetishising. I still have some qualms but I am glad I gave it a shot because KJ Charles has become one of my favourite authors and indeed one of my favourite twitter follows.

Hidden gem book: As Sarah said: So many of the self-pubbed romance authors I've found over the last ten years.

Important moment in your reading life: Learning to read. I started fairly late (2nd grade, so I was 7) and I remember the frustration of it NOT MAKING SENSE and then suddenly a flashcard gelled.

Just finished: Miss Claus

Kind of books you won’t read: Horror. Thrillers. Anything described as a heartwarming true story. Anything that relies on sexual violence against women or children as a prime motivator for action.

Longest book you read: A Suitable Boy, I think

Major book hangover because of: I don't indulge them. I leap straight back in the saddle. And because I usually have several books on the go, with at least one non-fiction, I tend to read a bit of something completely different to come down gently.

Number of bookcases you own: 6. One of my aims for this year is to consolidate the number of physical books I have so I can get rid of one of them and rearrange the living room.

One book you’ve read multiple times: I re-read a lot. I used to read Shirley annually, but I got really pissed off at one of the characters about 20 years ago and haven't been able to look at it since.

Preferred place to read: bed

Quote that inspires you: “Reality doesn't impress me. I only believe in intoxication, in ecstasy, and when ordinary life shackles me, I escape, one way or another. No more walls" - Anais Nin. It's pretty much my approach to books. Almost certainly not what she was talking about but I really don't want context when it's her.

Reading regret: Being embarrassed about my taste in books.

Series you started that you need to finish: None that *I* need to finish but there are some that I would very much like the authors to finish.

Three of your all-time favourite books: I have a hard time playing favourites.

Unapologetic fangirl for: romance

Very excited for this release: The next Mary Robinette Kowal Lady Astronaut book

Worst bookish habit: Reading too fast and not savouring.

X marks the spot! Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book: Every Day in the Kitchen, Allan Campion and Michelle Curtis (I'm in the kitchen, so it's my cookbook case).

Your last bookish purchase: A Thief in the Night (new KJ Charles - which I haven't glommed because it's a follow up to my least favourite book of hers)

Zzz-snatcher. Which book kept you up way too late? Katharine Kerr's Deverry series was always a shocker for that because she writes really, really long chapters so every time I said "I'll just finish the chapter" and 2 hours later...

[Bonnie G.]

Fun reading these answers! It was also fun for me to read my old answers and see what had changed (sort of a lot!)

Alicia, I must know more about this butter book!

Also, I am apparently the only one who falls in love with characters in books and had been doing so since high school. Apparently I am stunted!

[Alicia]

The Butter book is a really deep dive into cooking with butter, but she's just a lovely writer.

I've been falling in love with characters but always more as a hero-worship thing, not as an actual potential boyfriend.

[Bonnie G.]

Alicia wrote: "The Butter book is a really deep dive into cooking with butter, but she's just a lovely writer.

I've been falling in love with characters but always more as a hero-worship thing, not as an actual ..."

I need to check out the butter book. I love to cook and l love butter and I love lovely writing. Seems perfect. Thanks for letting me know it exists!

My actual bfs and my book bfs generally have a lot in common, and never was that more true than it was with my HS bf. And this folks is why I am divorced :)

[Alicia]

I'm currently not really baking or cooking with much butter because my husband is having some health issues so the butter book is basically porn for me at this point!

[Bonnie G.]

Alicia wrote: "I'm currently not really baking or cooking with much butter because my husband is having some health issues so the butter book is basically porn for me at this point!"

LOL, butter is always kind of sexy and forbidden, and so very delicious, if potentially lethal. I had friends over recently and one is vegan so I made a dish that is usually loaded with butter but used Plant Butter instead, and it was not exactly the same but it was still good. There is still hope!