I enjoy doing some memes, especially those that relate to my interests. Seems of late though, that most of the memes I do are from Bev at Funny the World. This one is no exception (although some of the memes that Mountain Mama has done look interesting…).

Anyway… here goes!

Do you like to read?

Only job contracts. No, seriously– as Bev put it, “Is the Pope Catholic?” I’ve been reading since as long as I can remember. There are five overflowing bookshelves in this place, and an additional 20 or so boxes of books in storage. Someday I’ll probably have enough inventory to open my own bookstore without needing to add additional books!

What is your favorite book?

This is a subjective question (but most, if not all, meme questions are subjective!). Some of my favorites include To Kill A Mockingbird, Addie Pray, and Time and Again. I also enjoy graphic novels, and my favorite so far is the Sandman series, by Neil Gaiman. In the genre of historical fiction, I highly recommend Robert Graves’ I, Claudius (if you like soap operas, but feel guilty for reading the latest summer beach book trash, read this book. You’ll look intelligent, yet still get your fill of scandal and intrigue).

Who is your favorite author?

I don’t have a single favorite, though I did read just about everything John Steinbeck has written. I also like Larry McMurtry, and keep meaning to pick up his latest body of work, “The Berrybender Narratives,” of which Sin Killer is the first. I really like Isabel Allende’s work as well. John Irving’s stuff is pretty good too.

Are you the kind of person who peeks at the end of a book to see how it turns out?

NO. I can’t imagine anyone who considers themselves a serious reader doing this.

Do you hate it when they turn a book into a film?

Yes, I do. Partly because they always end up either leaving quite a bit out, or distorting the plot in an attempt to make it more marketable. The other reason is because when I read a book, I get a visual image, a picture, in my head of how the characters look. If a movie is made, and I see the movie, often it destroys that imagery.

Has a book ever changed your life? How?

A work of fiction? No. Nonfiction? Yes. Richard Wydick’s Plain English for Lawyers (a book I need to re-read again soon!) taught me how to write better, and become more conscious of the need to edit. I’ve read many influential books, or books that encouraged me to read more on a certain subject, but nothing that was life-altering.

Do you tend to borrow books from the library or do you prefer to buy them?

I tend to borrow them, for two major reasons: first, I notice I tend to finish a book faster if I know it’s due, and second, I don’t have the budget to run out and buy every book I’d love to have. Plus there’s always the issue of storage space… Five overflowing bookshelves doesn’t help!

Which book are you planning on reading next?

Several. I don’t “plan,” but there are quite a few books on the shelves I’ve been meaning to either start or finish. One is Paddy Ladd’s tome on Deafhood, Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood. Another is my “beach book” for this year, Anne Rice’s Feast of All Saints. I did a similar book meme over a year ago, and I still haven’t gotten around to Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, which tells you just how much I read these days… (to be fair, I read a lot of magazines)

That’s it for this one. See you next meme!