Calling all Bibliophiles!

[isayhello]

Great thread, Tsuyoiko!

• How many books do you read in a year?

• 
  Many, around 40, 50... Reading is such a great way of relaxing but at the same time experiencing something great.
  

  [*]Where do you get books? Buy? Borrow? Steal?

  My mom and dad sort of collect books, so most of what I've read I've gotten from them. They've got all the classics, as well as odd books too. It's great to have parents who read a lot, cause they can recommend books to you and also discuss them with you.
  I also steal books from my friends... whenever I'm at their place, I take a book However I always give them their book back after I've read it, and I'm sure they do the same thing when they're at my place
  

  [*]Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?

  both
  

  [*]Who are your favourite writers?

  John Steinbeck, Gustave Flaubert, Kafka, Baudelaire (ok, he was more of a poet), Voltaire, Rosseau, Goethe, Douglas Coupland... phew, there are soo many... I tend to like the writers from the 18th and 19th century the most.
  

  [*]What was the last book you read?

  The Catcher in the Rye (for the fourth time! )
  

  [*]What are you reading now?

  I'm doing research on childrens books, since I'm currently writing one myself. I read the Brothers Grimm's Tales. They're all soo great. Very classical.
  

  [*]Did a book change your life?

  Hm... I got greatly influenced by ''Madame Bovary'', by Flaubert. It was a great book that I could really recognize my own feelings in. ''The Catcher in the Rye'' has also change me, maybe inspire me to do what I want, instead of what my parents want...? ''Lord of the Flies'' left me stunned, I remember, cause I was sort of young when I read it. I liked it, but also found it horrible.
  

  [*]Is there a book you are ashamed to admit you enjoyed?

  ... I'm not a fantasy-sort-of-girl, and tent to be unimpressed by all that stuff. However, I've read George RR Martins books from the serie ''A song of ice and fire'' and I can't say they were bad. I actually found them quite enjoyable. (And I don't frown upon Lord of the Rings either)
  

  [*]What is your first memory of books?

  All childrens books we had when I was a child influenced me greatly. I sometimes fear they influenced me too much. I can't seem to snap out of my fairytale world...
  

  [*]Is there a book you couldn't finish?

I sure there are lots of books I never finished. I DID finish Crime and Punishment by Dostojevskij, as well as War and Peace by Tolstoj, but I must admit they were HEAVY as a ton of bricks (That's... a swedish saying about a book, for it to be as a 'brick', I dunno if that works in english but MEH!) The Russians are very grave, serious, and hard-read. They're very talented writers, but their litterature is too harsh for me, I think. However, I think everyone should read them once!

 

[Tsuyoiko]

John Steinbeck, Gustave Flaubert, Kafka, Baudelaire (ok, he was more of a poet), Voltaire, Rosseau, Goethe, Douglas Coupland... phew, there are soo many... I tend to like the writers from the 18th and 19th century the most.

Wow, that's some list! I'm humbled ☝

... I'm not a fantasy-sort-of-girl, and tent to be unimpressed by all that stuff. However, I've read George RR Martins books from the serie ''A song of ice and fire'' and I can't say they were bad. I actually found them quite enjoyable.

Me neither - I find it cheesy. George is my husband's favourite writer - he just finished A Feast For Crows. He is a fan to the point of sending fanmail - which George always answers, bless him.

I DID finish Crime and Punishment by Dostojevskij

Top book gets another mention! Good for you!

 

[Mycernius]

I sure there are lots of books I never finished. I DID finish Crime and Punishment by Dostojevskij, as well as War and Peace by Tolstoj, but I must admit they were HEAVY as a ton of bricks (That's... a swedish saying about a book, for it to be as a 'brick', I dunno if that works in english but MEH!) The Russians are very grave, serious, and hard-read. They're very talented writers, but their litterature is too harsh for me, I think. However, I think everyone should read them once!

Tolstoy is one of my fav authors from classical pieces. It took me about 6 weeks to read War and Peace, but it was worth it. Give you an idea on how heavy it is. It took me 6 weeks to read all six books from Frank Herberts Dune series, and they aren't exactly light reading. Gogols Dead Souls is a funny book and should be read.

 

[lastmagi]

isayhello: that's quite a resume you have there! I'm jealous.

Mycernius: Man, it took me forever to finish Children of Dune, and I didn't even get much of what was going on. I wish I was a better reader.

 

[Mycernius]

isayhello: that's quite a resume you have there! I'm jealous.

Mycernius: Man, it took me forever to finish Children of Dune, and I didn't even get much of what was going on. I wish I was a better reader.

That one seems to be the sticking point for most people. My brother and father have never made it past Children. Have you read the new series from the Dune universe by Brian Herbert and Kevin J.Anderson? Their style is easier to read than Franks was, but I think they have done a good job and helped expand the Dune universe. Apparently Brian has quite a few notes that his father made and is working from them to produce these new series.

 

[lastmagi]

I just bought Children of Dune from a nearby bookstore, so I'm starting it over again. Of course, I "cheated" since I watched the miniseries, which, while a bit inaccurate due to TV adaptation purposes, at least helped me visualize things that I had trouble before (no specific examples in mind). Mm.... In starting over and reading again, I'm starting to gain a newfound appreciation for Frank Herbert.

And yeah, one of my friends gave me one of those books a few years back, but I never got a chance to sit down and read it. Maybe once I finish the whole Dune series. I'm glad to hear the authors being so faithful to Frank Herbert's original design.

 

[Kinsao]

I read War and Peace, but I can't remember how long it took me - must have been about 14 years ago. ☝ I enjoyed it! (Except for the bit at the end, which I found became tedious - well, I was only about 12 years at the time! - but I was determined to finish the whole thing.)

I really want to re-read Anna Karenina now, because I recently went to see a play of it.

I'm not really into fantasy, either. I read the first of the Dune series but wasn't inspired to read more... And I have to admit that although I read all the LOTR series I don't actually like them that much. Don't know why... they just don't appeal.

 

[Flashjeff]

Well, here's my two cents (devalued after inflation):

How many books do you read in a year?

Two, if I'm lucky. When I was in the Navy and stationed on ships, it was usually two a week. Ironically, I read more manga than anything else.

Where do you get books? Buy? Borrow? Steal?

B.Dalton, Waldenbooks. They both have an excellent selection of books....and manga!

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?

Non-fiction. Sci-fi, men's action, horror

Who are your favourite writers?

When I do read, usually Stephen King. He's always been a favorite. I could read his books over and over and never get bored.

What was the last book you read?

"A Sunday Pilgrimage" by Anthony Gargano, a sports radio talk show host here in Philly. The book chronicled the fans of the Philadelphia Eagles and their adventure to Jacksonville for Super Bowl 39 against the New England Patriots. A fun read.

What are you reading now?

Nothing right now. I'm kinda backed up on my manga.

Did a book change your life?

Can't say that was the case.

Is there a book you are ashamed to admit you enjoyed?

Hmm! Nope.

What is your first memory of books?

"Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Suess. I faintly remember that as the first ever book my mom read to me. I recall having liked that a lot.

Is there a book you couldn't finish

For some damn fool reason, I tried reading "The Art of War" back during my Navy days, but found it boring, so I never finished it.

Well, that's it for me. I know, boring stuff, but that's me all over!

 

[Tsuyoiko]

I just finished Brighton Rock by Graham Greene. It was very cleverly written. At first I found the repetition in it irritating, until I realised what it meant. I think Greene was trying to convey Pinkie's preoccupation with his recent misdemeanours by using repetition to keep casting your mind back to what has just happened. That's the effect it had on me. And I like the comment at the end - the priest tells a story of a man who lived his life in mortal sin because he couldn't stand the thought of anyone being damned if he wasn't damned himself. The priest suggests that that man is a saint.

 

[Kinsao]

I like Brighton Rock as well.
I was lucky enough to get the chance to see the original film of it last year, too. It was good, but I couldn't stand the way they destroyed that wonderfully bitter ending - aaaghh! Sentimental film makers!

I finished Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami - I really enjoyed it. Hehe, I was thinking that having only an extremely basic knowledge of Japanese language enabled me to read some of the symbolism of the names of some characters... then had the thought that of course I don't know the kanji that were used for them... so... I could have been reading a meaning that really wasn't there...

Anyway, I hope to get hold of a copy of Anna Karenina soon to have a re-read.

 

[lastmagi]

Today I got in the mail my order for 15 used books, so I'm excited to read them. Unfortunately, this week is finals week, so I shouldn't really....

But once I'm done with studies! I got some good books and some books I got out of simple impulse while browsing through the online store I got them from. A Rousseau reader, Macchiavelli's The Prince, Thomas More's Utopia, some psychology books, some fantasy books, including some by C J Cherryh, and of course, the Dune books from Frank Herbert that I had already read but had always wanted to own for myself. Oh man...