I accepted this challenge after reading The Magic Violinist‘s answers to these twenty book questions.
1. What book has been on your shelves the longest?
Hi. My name is Andrea, and I’m a bookaholic. My house is full of books. I have books I bought decades ago that I haven’t read yet. I couldn’t possibly tell you which one has been waiting the longest.
These are just the TBRs that are stacked on the floor of my office. I have more on my bookshelves all through the house, and more in closets…
2. What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next?
I usually have about five books in progress at any one time. Currently, I am reading Canon EOS Rebel T5/1200D for Dummies by Julie Adair King and Robert Correll; Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You’re Drowning in Your Daily Life by Jessica Abel; Good Poems collected by Garrison Keillor; Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen; and Tanabata Wish by Sara Fujimura. The last book I finished was The Serpent King by Jeffrey Zentner. I think I need to reread Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King next.
3. What book did everyone like, but you hated?
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Ugh! What an ugly world.
4. What book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t?
War and Peace.
5. Which book are you saving for retirement?I am retired, so all of them. Or none of them.
6. Last page: Do you read it first or wait until the end?
For goodness’ sake, each page in order, please.
7. Acknowledgements: Are they a waste of paper and ink or interesting?Because of my obsessive/compulsive characteristics, I have been reading the acknowledgments sections since I was a child, even before I knew what the word meant. As I writer, I find them fascinating.
8. Which book character would you switch places with?
I don’t know. I have a pretty terrific life.
9. Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life?
Heidi, by Johanna Spyri. I read it as a little girl (and saw the Shirley Temple movie) and read it to my daughter when she was little (it brought me to tears, because of Heidi’s childlike faith). It reminds me of my grandmother’s house in Germany.
10. Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.
My Bible study leaders gave me a copy of Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. At the time, I resisted reading it, but I’m so glad I finally relented.
11. Have you ever given away a book for a special reason to a special person?
Last January I attended a writers workshop where the featured presenter was Allen Arnold. While he was speaking, I kept thinking of Tom, a friend of mine who was struggling with finishing a book. Arnold’s message would have been so encouraging to Tom. So I bought two copies of his book The Story of With, one for me and one for Tom.
12. Which book has been with you the most places?
When I travel, I take my Kindle with me, so hundreds of books have accompanied me across the country and to the doctor’s office.
13. Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad two years later?I pretty much loved everything I can remember reading in high school.
14. Used or brand new?
Since I reread books I like over and over, used is not an issue. In fact, I like the idea of keeping preread copies in circulation. I donate books that I know I’ll never read again, and I’ll generally buy a used copy if I can find one, because it saves me money for more books. The exception is when one of my favorite authors (see the answer to question #19) has a new release. I can’t wait, so I buy new.
15. Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?
All of them. I am looking forward to the release of Origin.
17. A book that’s made you hungry?The Mitford series by Jan Karon. Some of the cakes sound to die for.
19. Most read authors?
Patricia Cornwell (for her Kay Scarpetta series), Sue Grafton, John Grisham (for the legal thrillers), and Janet Evanovich (for her Stephanie Plum numerical series).
20. Ship from two different books?
I don’t even know what this means.
Tag, you’re it! Answer some or all of these questions on your blog (give us a link!) or in the comments below.
ARHtistic License 