Sunday, May 31, 2009

The Literary Notes Meme

Found on Danielle's A Work in Progress, this meme looked like an interesting (and long) one but I think it has a few good questions for book bloggers.

What author do you own the most books by? I'm sure it's Agatha Christie ... apparently I have 58 of her books. Then probably Elizabeth Peters ... 26. I have 17 books in the Wizard of Oz series but they are by two different authors. Those are the biggest bunches and then I have a few authors in the five to ten range.

What book do you own the most copies of? I have two copies of Gone With the Wind (a newer one bought when my original copy became too battered), two of The Wizard of Oz (one is annotated), two copies of The Brothers Karamazov (a paperback and a beautiful old copy found at a used bookstore), two sets of The Complete Sherlock Holmes, and I think we have three or four copies of Atlas Shrugged around the house.

Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? Maybe a little bit but I'm not a big grammar nazi.

What fictional character are you secretly in love with? I've always been a Rhett Butler girl.

What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children)? I think probably Gone With the Wind ... the last time I remember counting was seven and I think I read it again once or twice after that. The Harry Potter series is up there too because I would re-read all the previous books when a new one came out and also David Copperfield which I think I've read maybe four or five times.

What was your favourite book when you were ten years old? The Secret Garden was probably one of them but I have always read so many books that I can't even remember.

What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? I think it was Drood.

What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? I would say either The Graveyard Book or Rebecca ... or maybe The Mysterious Benedict Society. Or 84, Charing Cross Road. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society? I've read quite a few really good books this past year.

If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be? I wouldn't do that. Book tastes are very personal and I don't think there's one book out there that would suit everyone.

Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature? I have no idea. I'm sure it will be an international author that I have barely heard of.

What book would you most like to see made into a movie? The Graveyard Book would make a really fascinating movie if it was made well.

What book would you least like to see made into a movie? Probably The Eyre Affair. The sense of humor wouldn't translate and it would just be one of those bizarre Terry Gilliam bombs or something.

Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character. I don't know of one. I tend to forget my dreams shortly after I wake up or definitely by the end of the day.

What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult? Hmm ... I guess one of the recent romances that I got for review. It wasn't bad though!

What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? Probably The Iliad. It's just so dry and long and I'm not a big fan of war.

What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen? I think I've only ever seen Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew. Well, and maybe a high school performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Nothing very obscure.

Do you prefer the French or the Russians? Right now, probably the Russians. They are so angsty!

Roth or Updike? I don't really plan on reading either.

David Sedaris or Dave Eggers? I haven't read either one yet.

Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer? Definitely Shakespeare. I didn't really enjoy Milton or Chaucer.

Austen or Eliot? Austen, although I enjoy Eliot.

What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading? I'm not embarrassed because there is always more time to read but I've been wanting to try Terry Pratchett lately.

What is your favorite novel? This is a totally impossible question. It might be David Copperfield.

Play? The Importance of Being Earnest, definitely!

Poem? The Raven ... you can't go wrong with that one.

Essay? I have no idea.

Short story? I think I will have to go with Oscar Wilde again and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Work of nonfiction? Hmm ... The Double Helix?

Who is your favourite writer? Another impossible question but I could say Charles Dickens and it wouldn't be a lie.

Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Dan Brown? Stephenie Meyer? Anyone who writes books with little substance that become bestsellers.

What is your desert island book? Probably The Eyre Affair because I would need a good laugh if I was stuck on an island with one book.

And… what are you reading right now? The Glassblower of Murano (an ARC).

Wow ... that was a long one!

Waiting for the judgment,
K

3 comments:

  1. Your copy had a lot more questions than mine did. Probably okay because I had a hard enough time with the short version.

    I was wondering if you liked The Eyre Affair until I saw that you would take it to that desert island. I thought it was great fun. I think you'll probably like Pratchett.

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  2. You know I have never read any Agatha Christie. Which book of hers do you recommend starting off with?

    Everyone has just been gaga over Drood it seems. I have not read it because I tend not to read a book when everyone else does (I get sick of reading the reviews). But it is interesting you did not care for it. I will look to see if you reviewed it.

    I like your blog. I am subscribed to it now!

    Thanks for coming and visiting my blog and linking to yours!

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  3. Booklogged -- Now it's a goal of mine to start reading Pratchett this summer!

    Rebecca -- Glad to have you visit! I would recommend And Then There Were None for a first Agatha because it's spooky and has no recurring characters. Thanks for the visit!

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