Never judge a book by its movie. - J.W. Eagan

[birdienl]

01. A fictional character you identify with and why
02. Your earliest memory of reading or being read to
03. Your favourite book aged 9 ½, or 13 ¾, whichever you remember best.
04. The book that’s been on your shelves the longest.
05. A book you acquired in some interesting way
06. A book with a story for you, that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time).
07. What fictional character are you (secretly) in love with
08. The last book you acquired, and how (begged, bought, borrowed?)
09. Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next.
10. What author do you own the most books by and why?
11. Do you own multiple copies of any book? What are they? Why do you have multiple copies?
12. Book borrowing – do you use the library? Do you prefer to try before you buy? What about lending your books to friends? Are you a good borrower, do you remember to return books?
13. Do you reread a lot? Why (not)? Name a book you have reread many times.
14. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
15. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
16. Adaptation: What book would you most like to see made into a film? Do you like to read the book first or see the film? Any books you have read after seeing the film version?
17. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
18. Your favourite book series & your favourite book out of that series
19. Your favourite picture, junior fiction and Young Adult books
20. Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
21. A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
22. Your "comfort" book
23. Favourite book cover including a picture!
24. Favourite fictional relationship (romantic, friendship, familial)
25. Most annoying character ever
26. Most quotable novel or 5 of your favourite quotes from any books.
27. Any five books from your "to be read" stack. What makes you select a book for your “to be read” stack?
28. Some firsts: First book you remember loving/being obsessed with. First book that made you cry. First book you gave to someone else as a gift.
29. Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
30. The End: do you prefer everything tied up or to be able to 'make up your own mind'? What is the worst ending to a book you have read? And the best? (careful, spoiler tags!)

15. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?

Yes, I recommend. In fact, I think I've already made one of my LJ friends look up some books thanks to this very meme.... But force someone to read a book? I don't think that works very well, you've got to read a book because you like it and people I know like so many different type of books.

But oke, I would 'persuade' all my Christian friends to read Arena by Karen Hancock. It's a beautiful allegorical tale in a very well written 'other' world. Secondly, all my friends who like classic literature but shy away from Thomas Hardy, please read Far from the madding crowd. It's not, I repeat not terribly depressing, but a wonderful story of a strong woman finding her place in a world dominated by men and, after a few mistakes, also finds a good man to love.

16. Adaptation: What book would you most like to see made into a film? Do you like to read the book first or see the film? Any books you have read after seeing the film version?

I would really like to see the Civil War trilogy by Lynn Austin made into a good movie or miniseries. Interesting historical setting, great female main characters, romance, it could be great!

I usually like to read the book first and then see the film, but I'm not a purist in this. I've happily read many books after seeing the movie.


17. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?

The Silmarrillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. For those of you who do not know, it's a collection of Tolkien's writings about Middle Earth taking place before The Lord of the Rings. It has some very interesting and moving stories, but a large part of it is dry history with lots and lots of names, all looking a bit alike...

Also, Eline Vere by Louis Couperus. This 19th century work of Dutch literature I read during secondary school. It's 300 pages of pure misery, reading how the 'heroine' slowly gets more and more unhappy and dies in the end. I've not read Tess of the D'Ubervilles yet, but I think Eline Vere can easily compete with her for the title 'Most unhappy heroine'!