Book Meme

[bearshorty]

1: Currently Reading
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman

2: Describe the last scene you read in as few words as possible. No character names or title.
A grumpy gentleman visits his servant, who just saved his life, to berate him for doing a spell.

3: First book that had a major influence on you
I can't just list one. There were many. So I will pick three most influential ones. First, short stories by Kyr Bulychev and other book is Alisa series. They are Russian sci-fi books for kids about a girl who lives at the end of the 21st century with her kosmozoologist father and has adventures. My love of sci-fi comes from those books. Second, Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart. It's the second book in her Merlin trilogy (well, there are 4 books really). My Dad only had book two and three in translation and he convinced me to read it when I was 13. I desire to study English history was born from reading this book. I already loved history more than any other subject but this book pointed firmly at England. I loved the premise of Merlin as just a very smart guy with visions. I found the first book in the library and it was my first major adult book I read in English. I was in US for a year by then and was just getting fluent. I was really proud of myself for being able to read it. And lastly, When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman, a historical novel about the reign on King Stephen in the 12th century and the Civil War that ensued. I was 15. It was summer and I was browsing the library. In just published shelf - there was this thick big book with a bright golden cover. I just picked it out randomly. Took it home and read it in three weeks. I didn't know at the time just how much research Penman does. Her books are pretty historically accurate and she definitely influenced how I see many English kings. This cemented my desire to study English medieval history. I still read all of her historical novels.

4: Quick, you're in desperate need of a fake name. What character name do you think of first?
Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility . I don't know why but it's been a fake name in my head for ages. First name can wary

5: Favorite series and why
Harry Potter, for sure. It was not just fun, since I got to read the first four books in 2001 and then the rest as they came out, but it also got me into fanfic and online fandom. And I met several good friends because of this series. I just love it. I also enjoy Dresden Files - fun read and I like the universe.

6: Public library or personal library?
Both. I love borrowing books from the library - treasure chest. When I was young I would go to the library a lot. And in my 20s. I don't have as much time now, although Tanya is getting older and we should go visit soon. I love getting ebooks in five minutes if I just want to read something and library has it in ebook format. I also like having books. My Dad has a nice personal library at home and I look suspiciously at homes with no bookselves. I always dreamed of having a library at home. It won't happen but I love my bookselves.

7: What is the most important part of a book, in your opinion?
Engaging story and interesting characters.

8: Why are you reading the book you're currently reading?
Last year there was a "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" TV show on BBC and many people on my list read the book and watched the show. I couldn't read much since I didn't want to be spoiled but it revived my interest in the book. I was curious about the book for a while and I usually like to read the book before watching the miniseries. So I put it on my reading list this year. And then one morning in May I needed something to read so I decided to finally tackle it. And Neil Gaiman non-fiction just came out and I got it for my birthday. I love his ideas and I'm trying to read an article from the book every night. It will take me a while. It feels like I'm savoring desert.

9: If you were to publish a book what (besides your real name) would you use for your author name?
I would use the initials of my name and my husband's last name (it's pretty ordinary English last name. I didn't change my name when I married).

10: Do you listen to music when you read?
No.

11: What book fandom do you affiliate yourself with the most?
Harry Potter for sure. I participate in Remus/Sirius fests throughout the year. I found fanfiction in the first place because of Harry Potter. There was an article in USA Today about it and it gave a few websites. I did read fanfic before, but I didn't realize that was it was. With Harry Potter I got into this world. And it changed my life.

12: Tell one book story or memory (what you were wearing when you were reading something, someone saw you cry in public, you threw a book across the room and broke a window, etc.)
When I was 6 years old, my Dad used to read to me every night. I learned how to read the previous year but I didn't really read by myself yet. One night my Dad claimed his throat was tired and he was going to sleep. The book was almost done. It was a book about this sneaky, sort of evil, otter who appears as a regular person to these kids. I really wanted to know what would happen so I picked up the book and finished by myself. After that I would read by myself at night, my Dad didn't read to me anymore.

13: What character would be your best friend in real life?
Eleanor Dashwood or Ann Elliot. I like my Jane Austen women. I could relate to both of them very much.

14: Favorite item of book merch
Ravenclaw stuff. I have a Ravenclaw baseball hat and T-shirt from Universal Studios Orlando, and a Ravenclaw patch. And a hat and socks that Bear got me for Christmas. My baseball hat is my favorite. I also love my Snape cup - Bear had to order it from Australia due to copyright laws. It was a picture of Snape and a quote "Moronic though some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an "Acceptable" in your O.W.L., or suffer my ...displeasure." (As a teacher I love this quote). I just went to look at my cup for the quote and noticed it was chipped. Argh. When did that happen. Well, it is still usable.

15: Post a shelfie.
My main bookcase is at my parents' house. And two other shelves of books. I do have shelves here at my place but they don't represent all my books. All my Harry Potters are at my parents, for example, and I have ebooks of them. Link to pics in my LJ post

16: Rant about anything book related
I don't really rant. Well, I really hated the last chapter of Ender's Game. It seemed so out of place and it soured me on the whole book. I really didn't want to read any more.

17: What do you think about movie/tv adaptations?
Depends. I like most of them and look forward to them. I love many movies and sometimes end up reading original book movie/tv was based on. I only read Lord of the Rings right before the 3rd movie and it was because I liked the other two movies. But there are select books for which I can't stand the idea of watching the adaptation. Books like "Atonement" and "Fault of Our Stars" for example, I just don't want to see it. The book is enough in itself.

18: Favorite booktuber(s)
I don't know what this means

19: Book that you call your child.
I don't think I have one.

20: A character you like but you really, really shouldn't.
Snape probably. He is not the best person but I really sympathize with him and love him.

21: Do you loan your books?
Only to Bear. And occasionally by accident. One time my friend and her Mom where staying at my parents' house. (Her Mom and my Mom are friends from school days). And she was looking for something to read and saw "Reading Lolita in Tehran" on my shelves. So she borrowed it. My Dad sort of gave the ok. But that book is a signed copy so I texted her to make sure she was careful with it. I did get it back. But generally, I don't have enough people to share book stuff with for them to borrow anything.

22: A movie or tv show you wish would have been a book
They are such different forms. Maybe "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" to get inside the characters' heads more.

23: Did your family or friends influence you to read when you were younger?
My Dad always read to me when I was a kid. He taught me to read. And he was always reading. So I was always reading. My grandfather is the same way except he prefers memoirs and biographies and detective stories. I got my love of sci-fi from my Dad. He also pointed to many books for me to read and insisted on some when I resisted his recommendations.

24: First book(s) you remember being obsessed with
I don't know. I was never super obsessed. The Tomek series was probably the first one I started putting myself in the book and creating further stories. I was doing fanfic before I knew what it was. But I don't remember really obsessing.

25: A book that you think about and you cringe because of how terrible it was
Dune - I really didn't like it. I hated all the characters.

26: Do you read from recommendations or whatever book catches your eye?
Usually recs. When I was younger, I would browse the library but now my list is already too long.

27: How/where do you purchase your books?
I mostly put them on my wishlist on Amazon so I can get my books as presents for either birthday or winter holidays. Or I borrow them in the library. I don't really just buy them.

28: An ending you wish you could change
Ender's Game. I hate that last chapter. And I don't throw the word around losely.

29: Favorite female protagonist.
Elizabeth Bennett. She's clever.

30: One book everyone should read
Good Omens

31: Do you day dream about your favorite books? If so, share one fantasy you have about them.
I would create a character in a book - like Tomek series. I wanted more girls there. I basically did Mary Sue when I was a kid. I wanted Tomek to have a twin sister or something to go on adventures with. Just more girls in the books.

32: OTP or NoTP?
I don't mind romance in books but they don't really take central stage. I leave my OTPs for TV mostly. But Remus/Sirius are my OTP if I had to pick one.

33: Cute and fluffy or dramatic and deadly?
Depends on my mood. I don't like thrillers but drama is nice obviously. And cute is good too.

34: Scariest book you ever read
Pet Cemetery by Stephen King. I'm not really into horror stories but I did go through a Stephen King phase as a kid. I read this book in Russian translation when I was maybe 9 or 10. I started reading in the morning and couldn't put it down. I finished it by the evening. And then I had nightmares that night. I learned my lesson not to read scare books all day.

35: What do you think of Ebooks
I love ebooks. My Kindle makes it easy to read a book while Tanya is napping or asleep, or to read on my commute. I also love the ease of borrowing from the library. Some books I prefer in hard copy but ebooks are certainly convenient.

36: Unpopular opinions
I think everyone should be entitled to like the book that they like (except Twilight or 50 Shades - those are terrible)

37: A book you are scared is not going to be all you hoped it would be
I don't think I hold any book is such a high regard before I read it. Maybe the next Dresden Files book. I want it to be worth all the wait for it.

38: What qualities do you find annoying in a character?
Not communicating properly. Just talk to other people about things.

39: Favorite villain
Cardinal Richelieu as depicted in Three Musketeers. He's pretty awesome. And manipulative. At school once I wrote a history paper on him based on how much I loved him in the books.

40: Has there ever been a book you wish you could un-read?
Not really. There were terrible books but there is no point of regretting it. There are a few fanfics I wish I could unread and scrub from my brain.