Booking Through Thursday

We moved!

2007-05-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

Remember to go to BTT's new home for future questions. Deb will have this week's question(s) up soon, or already, depending on when you visit. ;-)

Attention, Attention!!!

2007-04-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Booking Through Thursday is moving and now has a new site over at Wordpress! Please come visit us at: http://btt2.wordpress.com/

We're all set up and ready for business, and hope you like the new look!

Be sure to update us in your Bloglines or Newsgator or whatever RSS reader you use--there'll be a new question on Thursday, and you won't want to miss it! The new feed is: http://btt2.wordpress.com/feed/

Seasonal reading

2007-04-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

Does what you read vary by the season? For instance, Do you read different kinds of books in the summer than the winter?
If so, do you break it down by genre, length of book, holiday, or...?

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

'Fess Up!

2007-04-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

Booking Through Thursday

Okay, there must be something you read that's a guilty pleasure . . . a Harlequin romance stashed under the mattress. A cheesy sci-fi book tucked in the back of the freezer. A celebrity biography, a phoned-in Western . . . something that you'd really rather not be spotted reading. Even just a novel if you're a die-hard non-fiction fan. Come on, confess. We won't hold it against you!

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Where Does the Time Go?

2007-04-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

Booking Through Thursday

Have you ever missed an important appointment because you have become so engrossed in a book you forgot the time or were up so late reading that you didn't wake up in time? Been late to work because you couldn't resist the temptation and left the house too late?

Suggested by Jacquie.

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Truly Biblical

2007-04-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

Booking Through Thursday

Just out of curiosity, as we enter into Passover and Easter season . . . have you ever read the Bible? Just the odd chapter or Psalm? The whole thing? (Or, almost the whole thing? It's some heavy reading, of course, and those "begats" get kind of tedious.)
If so, was it from religious motivation or from a literary perspective? Stuck with nothing else to read in a hotel room the Gideon's have visited? Any combination?
If not, why not? Against your religious principles? Too boring? Just not interested? Something you're planning on taking care of when you get marooned on a desert island?
And while we're on the subject . . . what about the other great religious works out there? Are they more to your liking?

Again, just curious! No flaming religious debates, please . . . Not that you folks would . . . but we're an equal-opportunity meme, open to any one of any creed, so long as they, you know, like to read . . .

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Location, Location, Location, Part 2

2007-03-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Booking Through Thursday

Where do you do most of your reading? Your favorite spot? (Show a picture, if you want to!)

(And yes, I understand that these might not be the same thing--your favorite spot could be the beach, but you do most of your reading at home . . . in which case, tell me about both!)

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Keeping it Short

2007-03-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

Booking Through Thursday

Short Stories? Or full-length novels?
And, what's your favorite source for short stories? (You know, if you read them.)

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Writing in Books, Part Three

2007-03-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

Booking Through Thursday

Speaking of writing in books, what about writing the entire thing? Do you write? Aspire to write? Dream about writing?
If you do write, do you do it for yourself, or because you hope to be published? (Or because you ARE published?)

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Lending Library

2007-03-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

Do you lend your books to other people? If so, any restrictions?
Do you borrow books from other people? (Friends or family—I'm not talking about the public library)
And, most importantly—do the books you lend/borrow get returned to their rightful owners??

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

But, Who's Counting?

2007-03-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

How many books would you say you read in an average month?
In a year?
Over the last five years?
The last 10?

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments--or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Writing in Books, Part Two

2007-02-22T07:43:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

A couple weeks ago, we asked about how you take care of your books, with one of the questions asking whether you write in your books. Well, what about books that are meant to be written in? Like, say, a journal or diary? Do you keep one? Obviously, if you're answering this, you have a blog--do you just let your blog be your journal? Or do you also keep one for private stuff also?

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments--or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Romance

2007-02-15T07:18:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

So, in honor of Valentine's Day . . .

Love stories? Yes or No?
If yes, "romances" as a genre? Or just, well, stories that have love stories? (Nobody's going to call "Pride & Prejudice" a "romance," right?)

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments--or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

TLC

2007-02-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

What kind of care do you take of your books? Let's review, shall we?

Are you careful with the spines? Or do you crack your books open to make them lay flat?
Do you use bookmarks? Or do you dog-ear the corners? If you do use bookmarks, do you use those fashionable metal ones? Or paper?
Do you write in your books? Ever? If you do, do you make small marks, or write in as much blank space as you can find? Pen or pencil? Highlighter? Your name on the front page?
Do you toss your books on the floor? Into bookbags? Or do you treat them tenderly, with respect?
Do you ever lay your book face-down, to save your place?
Um--water? Do you bathe with your books? Hold them with wet hands? Read out in the rain? Anything of that sort?
Are your books lined up on a bookshelf? Or crammed in any which way? Stacked on the floor?
Do you make a distinction--as regards book care--between hardcovers and paperbacks?
And, to recap? Naturally, you love all of your books, but how, exactly? Are your books loved in the battered way of a well-loved teddy bear, or like a cherished photo album or item of clothing that's used, appreciated, but carefully cared for?
Any additional comments?

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments--or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Habit-Forming

2007-02-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

What are your reading habits? Do you tend to read at specific times during the day, or does it vary from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute?

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments--or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

TBR

2007-01-25T07:50:00.000-08:00

How many unread books do you have in your house, right now? (Your own books, that is--not ones that belong to other family members--and not counting things like school books, if you have them.) Clearly, an estimate will do.
To the best of your recollection, what is the OLDEST unread book in your collection? How long has it been waiting?
Do your TBR books (that's "To Be Read," if you didn't know) haunt you, make you feel guilty that you haven't read them yet?

Oh, and library books don't count . . . not unless you absolutely don't have ANY other unread book except what you checked out last Tuesday.

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

1, 2, 3....

2007-01-18T04:39:00.000-08:00

The Page 123 Meme

Grab the book closest to you.
Open to page 123, look down to the 5th sentence.
Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog.
Include the title and the author's name.

If you feel so inclined, you can tag people once you've done yours... this WAS a meme, technically, but a fun one! My answers are already up, here.

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Keeping it Simple

2007-01-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

Let's keep it simple today:

What are you reading right now? (Well, obviously, you're reading THIS right now, perhaps I should have been more clear. What book(s) are you in the process of reading? (grin))

Let's Review, Shall We?

2007-01-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

So, now that 2006 is over . . . what were your favorite books of the year?

For the record, my own list can be found here.

I Hereby Resolve...

2006-12-28T05:57:00.000-08:00

Booking Through Thursday

Any New Year's Reading Resolutions? A certain number of books you want to read in 2007? Certain genres? Something from your TBR pile? Classics to read? Authors to try? Anything at all??

Holiday Reading

2006-12-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

Any favorite holiday books or stories that you like to read and reread this time of year? And if so, why? What makes it so special to you? Favorites from your childhood? (This is a perfectly good time of year for picture books--it's like watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special. Adults can "do" cartoons in December.)
(Psst. You can talk about favorite movies or tv specials, too, if you want, even though they're not about reading. You know, just this once.)

Can You Hear Me Now?

2006-12-14T04:37:00.000-08:00

Audio Books. Yes or No?

Location, Location, Location

2006-12-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

Do you like to keep your books nearby? Do you collect them? Pile, stack, shelve, hoard them? Or do you get rid of them, send them back to the library, give them away, once you've read them?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Nursery Rhymes

2006-11-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

They say that books read as a child make more of an impact on a person than books read at any other time in life. Are there any books that you particularly loved, that shaped the way you think when you were little? I'm not asking if you believed in fairies then but don't any more. I'm asking about patterns of thought, morality--something that made an impact.
And, of course, examples, please!
Also, did you read this book/these books more than once? Many times? Even if that's not a usual habit of yours?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

It's Thanksgiving here in the U.S. of A., and so we're taking this Thursday off . . . or at least, not asking about books.

But if you'd like to share what you're most thankful for this year, we'd be glad to hear it!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Reading Lists, Part Two

2006-11-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

So, last week we asked you if you kept a list of books that you're interested in, wanting to read, wanting to buy, etc. This week, we want to know--do you keep a list of the books you've READ?
If so, how? In a journal? A notebook? On the computer?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Reading list

2006-11-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

Mary wants to know...

Do you keep a list of books to read?
Where do you keep your list (computer, PDA, paper, etc.)?
How often do you refer to your list? Every time you go for a new book to read? When book shopping? Or?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

NaNoWriMo

2006-11-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, November 1st, began the annual NaNoWriMo challenge--where lots of marginally crazy people try to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. What do you think about that idea? Crazy? Inspired? Challenging?
Would you/Have you tried it yourself? In other years? (Or this one, in which case, shouldn't you be writing and not reading blogs?)
If you took away the time pressure, would you/have you tried writing a novel of your own?

(Hey, and for you knitters--there's a copy-cat, sweater version, too! NaNoSweMo. After the Knitting Olympics, knitting a sweater in a month doesn't sound so crazy.)

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Writing in books

2006-10-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Christine wants to know...

Do you make notes in books as you read them?
Why or why not?
If you do, do you make notes only in certain kinds of books or all of them?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Reading in bed

2006-10-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

Do you read in bed? For how long? Do you fall asleep reading? Will a good book keep you up all night?
Where do you keep your nighttime reading? Do you have a special table next to the bed? Are there many books there? Do you keep books there that you aren't reading (finished or unread)?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Short stories

2006-10-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

This week's questions were suggested by Xine, who no longer seems to have an account on Blogger, and I don't know where she went.

Do you read short stories?
Why or why not?
What do you like and dislike about short stories?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Surprise Endings

2006-10-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

Tell us about a book that you had to read, but didn't want to, but that you ended up liking. Something for school, perhaps? A book from your Mom for Christmas that she insisted on you reading? Something from a bookclub? But ultimately, a book that--against all expectation--you ended up liking, respecting, loving....
And, of course, why? What made this book resonate with you?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Bookends

2006-09-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

Do you own any bookends? If so, how many sets? If not, do you need or want any?
Which are your favorites? How long have you had them?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

But, Enough About Books....

2006-09-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

But, enough about books. . . what else do you read?? Magazines? Newspapers? Professional journals? Cereal boxes? Phone books? Purchase invoices? Homework? (Please be specific. There may be a test later.)

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Men and Women

2006-09-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

Do you tend to read more books written by one gender over the other? If so, which one? Men? Or women?
Is this a deliberate choice? Or just something that kind of happened?
And (without wanting to get too personal), is this your gender?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Comfort Zone or Not?

2006-09-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

We asked last week about what draws you to your favorite kind/genre of book. This week, we want to know--how often do you depart from that comfort zone? If you love mysteries, do you ever read fantasy? If you primarily read cookbooks, do you ever read a good romance?
How MUCH variety is there in your reading? Do you mostly stick to one type, with just the occasional toe-dip into a different style? Or do you generally read a variety of things, just, maybe more of your favorite style than anything else?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Motivation

2006-08-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

What is your favorite kind of reading? Novels? Biographies? Mathematical textbooks?
What do you like best about your favorite kind of reading? What keeps you coming back to that kind of book? Following a gripping story? Watching characters develop? Being educated about things and places you didn't know about? Letting your mind relax into someplace completely different?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Reading Geography

2006-08-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

So, last week, we asked if you ever feel compelled to cook or eat the kinds of food described in the books you read.

This week, the question is about the locations of the books.

Have you ever wanted to travel to a place described in a book?
Have you ever ACTUALLY travelled to a place because of the way it was described in a book?
And if so, did it live up to the expectations, feelings, emotions you expected from the book? Did you feel like Anne was going to come romping around the corner of Green Gables? Was it as if Jo was upstairs at Orchard House, scribbling on a story? Or was it just a museum, or just a city street? Like Abbey Road without the Beatles?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Eating your way through fiction

2006-08-17T02:30:00.000-07:00

This week's questions were inspired by Caroline. She can't read The Joy Luck Club without thinking of potstickers and wontons... And no, we're not talking about cookbooks here. Please leave those out of this discussion. ;-)

Do you enjoy books that have cooking or eating scenes in them?
Have you made or eaten anything that was inspired by a recipe or scene in a book?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Planning Ahead

2006-08-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Do you plan ahead for your reading? Work off of a to-be-read pile? A reading list? Or do you wing it, choose whatever you're in the mood for?
If you do plan ahead, how far ahead? Do you have two or three books waiting in queue? Or are you backed up by dozens of volumes waiting their turn?
If you do not plan ahead . . . well, never? What about if you're reading a series? Or someone gives you a book for a present?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Summer Reading

2006-08-03T00:42:00.000-07:00

Do your reading habits change for the summer months?
If so, how?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Ringing?

2006-07-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

We noticed last week what a disproportionate number of participants had Tolkien's Lord of the Rings either in their list of "most tattered" books or featured in the photos. So . . .

Have you read Lord of the Rings?
If so, how many times have you read it? Just once? Or so many you can't count?
If not, why not? Not your cup of tea?
And, while we're on the subject, did you see the Oscar-winning movie(s)? What did you think?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Imperfection

2006-07-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

What is most battered book in your collection? The one with loose pages, tattered corners, and page edges so soft that there's not even a risk of paper cuts anymore?
Why is this book so tattered? Is it that you love it so much that you've read it a zillion times? Is it a reference book you've used every day for the last seven years? Something your new puppy teethed on when you weren't looking?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Perfection

2006-07-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, here goes . . . my first set of questions. (Is stage fright normal for this kind of thing?)

What is the most pristine, perfect book in your collection? The one that looks like it's never been opened (and in fact may never have been)? Whose binding is uncracked, the corners still perfect?
Why is that book so perfect? Was it a gift? Is it a coffee table book too beautiful to use? Something you simply have no interest in and haven't bothered to open?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Happenings

2006-07-09T23:45:00.000-07:00

Deb has graciously agreed to help me out here in this meme by coming up with questions for you all to answer this week and in the future. Yippee! Not only is Deb a book junkie—as evidenced by her library of 2,760 books—but she is also a superb knitter, and mom to her sweet dog, Chappy. Make sure you check out her blog, especially if you're into lace knitting. Wow!

Thank you, Deb!!

Non-fiction

2006-07-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

This week's questions were suggested by Christine.

Do you read non-fiction books for pleasure, not counting books required for courses or for work?
If so, what areas of non-fiction interest you the most? If not, why not?
What are some of your favorite books from those areas?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Rereading

2006-06-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Wait! It's Thursday. Wholly cow. For being physically present, I've been emotionally elsewhere of late. Sorry this is late, but at this point I'm lucky to have remembered it at all. Gads.

This week's questions were suggested by Marie.

Do you ever reread your books?
If so, which ones? If not, why not?
Do you read the books the whole way through or pick through for favorite scenes?
What qualifies a book for the reread pile?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Abridged it?

2006-06-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

We haven't talked about abridged stories for a while. These questions were suggested by Xine.

Are abridgements a good introduction to long, boring classics, or a blight on literature?
If abridgements have their place, what is it?
Have you read any abridgements, or will you read any? Why or why not?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Characters

2006-06-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

This week's questions were suggested by Mary.

Which book character(s) would you...

Like to have dinner with?
Believe would be the best to help you out in a crisis?
Like to ask for an autograph?
Most identify with personally?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Skipping another week

2006-06-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to be in town this week, so I'm going to have to skip another week. Sorry, folks. I got some bad news about my dad last night, and have to go do family stuff. I hope to be posting here again on the fifteenth.

Best sellers from 1956

2006-06-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

Jeanne came across this list of previous years' best sellers, and thought it might be fun to base some of our questions on them. I thought I'd start with 1956, the year my parents got married.

In 1956, these were the top ten best sellers for the year. Have you read any of them?
1. Don't Go Near the Water, William Brinkley
2. The Last Hurrah, Edwin O'Connor
3. Peyton Place, Grace Metalious
4. Auntie Mame, Patrick Dennis
5. Eloise, Kay Thompson
6. Andersonville, MacKinlay Kantor
7. A Certain Smile, Françoise Sagan
8. The Tribe That Lost Its Head, Nicholas Monsarrat
9. The Mandarins, Simone de Beauvoir
10. Boon Island, Kenneth Roberts
Which ones have you read? Did you like them?
If you're like me and haven't read a single one, which ones have you heard of?
Will you be putting any of these books in your reading list?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a>

<a href="http://mathomhouse.typepad.com/bluestocking/">Jeanne</a> came across this list of <a href="http://www.caderbooks.com/bestintro.html">previous years' best sellers</a>, and thought it might be fun to base some of our questions on them.
<ol>
<li>In 1956, these were the top ten best sellers for the year. Have you read any of them?
 <ol>
 <li>Don't Go Near the Water, William Brinkley
 <li>The Last Hurrah, Edwin O'Connor
 <li>Peyton Place, Grace Metalious
 <li>Auntie Mame, Patrick Dennis
 <li>Eloise, Kay Thompson
 <li>Andersonville, MacKinlay Kantor
 <li>A Certain Smile, Françoise Sagan
 <li>The Tribe That Lost Its Head, Nicholas Monsarrat
 <li>The Mandarins, Simone de Beauvoir
 <li>Boon Island, Kenneth Roberts
 </ol>
Reply here </li>
<li>Which ones have you read? Did you like them? Reply here</li> 
<li>If you're like me and haven't read a single one, which ones have you heard of? Reply here</li>
<li>Will you be putting any of these books in your reading list? Reply here</li>
</ol>

Recent finishes

2006-05-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

We haven't done anything like this for a while, so here goes...

What are the last five books that you finished reading?
How long did it take you to read them?
Did you enjoy reading these books? Why or why not?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Meeting authors

2006-05-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

This week's questions were suggested by Cate.

Have you ever stumbled on a reading and found the author so charming you started reading their books? Or, have you ever met a formerly favorite author and stopped reading their works because of how they treated their fans?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Six degrees round robin

2006-04-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Jeanne suggested that we do this again, round robin style. I think it sounds like fun. It'll be interesting to see the book selections. I won't be here next week (see my blog for details, if you're so inclined), so see if you can keep this going for a couple of weeks. Here's what to do:

I'll start with a book, then the first person who comments uses my book as inspiration. Each person after that uses the book of the person above as their inspiration. There will be times when there's an overlap, with two or more people using the same book as their inspiration. When that happens, the next person will have their choice.

I hope that all make sense. If you need it said a little differently, see Jeanne's comment. Also, not required, but it would be nice if you link to the blog that inspired your book choice.

Since this one needs to go for a couple of weeks, feel free to play more than once!

The first book

I don't read classics as often as I should, but when I do I usually love them. One of my favorites is Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. My husband has a nice collection of leather-bound books, and it's his special edition of this book that I first read. It made the experience just that much more enjoyable for me. The smell of the leather, the fine gilt-edged pages, the beauty of the prose, the eerie feeling of the tale, all made my first sojourn into this wonderful story that much more special.

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Six degrees of booking

2006-04-20T04:46:00.000-07:00

This was suggested by Mary. If you need to, check out Mary's post to see what she did. Mary, since you already did this one, I think you should do it again with a new group of books. :-) I love this one. Great idea!

Connect any six books in your library to each other by any way you want. One book will remind you of another because the author's name is similar, a fictional character shows up in someone else's book, another author is talked about by characters in a book, maybe the same friend recommended both books, or whatever. Your list should be at least six books long. Books from a series count as one entry in your list.

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

Something nearby

2006-04-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm a day late. Sorry folks. Yesterday was just insane. We haven't done this one for a while, and last time it was rather fun.

Reach out a hand, and grab the book that is closest to you. Turn to page 231, or pick a page at random if the book isn't that long. Locate the first sentence of the last paragraph on that page.

Type the sentence here:
Does the sentence make sense out of context?
Does reading the sentence make you want to read the rest of the book? Why or why not?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

An interesting character

2006-04-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

This week's questions were suggested by Kim.

Do you have a favorite character(s)?
What book/author is he/she/it from?
Why do you like this person--what is it about the way he/she was written that drew you to them?
Is there something more you would like the author to tell you about them?

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A favorite author

2006-03-30T09:52:00.000-08:00

Pick one of your favorite authors.

What are some of your favorite books by this author?
Why do you like this author?
Have you read everything by this author? Why or why not?

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New authors

2006-03-23T07:31:00.000-08:00

Today's questions were suggested by Christine.

How do you decide to read a book by an author you haven't read before?
What sort of recommendations count most highly in making that decision?

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2006-03-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

This week's questions about self-help books are from Nicki.

Have you ever read a self-help book?
What do you think about self-help books in general?
Would you ever recommend a self-help book?

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Autographs

2006-03-09T08:26:00.000-08:00

This week's questions are from Cate.

Do you have any books that are signed by the author?
Do you have a story behind the autograph?

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Finishing

2006-03-02T00:15:00.000-08:00

Today's questions are from Marie, who's a relatively new blogger. Thank you!

Do you finish every book you start, no matter how bad it gets? Why?
Do you ever sneak-read the ending before you finish the book? If so, what about the book tends to cause you to do so?

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Collecting authors

2006-02-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

Today's questions were suggested by Cate.

Are you currently collecting any authors? Why?
Do you have all of their books? If not, why not?
Did you buy all the books in the collection at the same time, or did you buy a book here, a book there?
Have you actually read all the collection? If not, why not?

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Beautiful books

2006-02-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

This week's question, suggested by Jeanne, is here by popular demand. Thank you, ladies!

What is the most beautiful book you own?
In what way is it beautiful? Is it the illustrations, the binding, a combination of these, or something else?
How often do you look at it, browse through it, read it?

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Vacation reading

2006-02-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

How many books do you usually take with you on vacation? Too many? Too few? Do you still have room to pack clothes?
What kind of books do you read on vacation?
Do you read the same kind of books when you're on vacation as when you're at home?

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Lending

2006-02-02T04:29:00.000-08:00

This week's questions brought to you by Deb, reader extraordinaire. Thank you, Deb.

Do you lend your books to other people?
If so, do you get them back?
What do you do if they're not returned? Send the police? Stop speaking to the borrower? Storm the house and take them back?

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Multi-volume stories

2006-01-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking here of any story that is split into more than one volume, stories such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Rowling's Harry Potter volumes, Eddings' Belgariad, to name just a few. Christie's Hercule Perot stories do not count, nor do Gardner's Sherlock Holmes stories, as the reader can consume them in any order. Savvy?

Do you enjoy reading multi-volume stories?
Do you prefer the shorter stories that are done in two or three volumes, or do you willingly go for longer tales?
What do you like/dislike about these long tales?

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Reading report

2006-01-19T01:37:00.000-08:00

We're just wrapping up the third week of January. Wow. Already. Time to check in with your reading report.

Have you finished any books yet?
If you have, how many, what were they, how did you like them?
If not, why not? Are you currently reading anything that you just haven't finished yet?

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Celebrity books

2006-01-12T07:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a little something Nicki came up with. I don't think we've done this one before... Thanks, gf!

What do you think of celebrities who write biographies when they're only twenty-something?
Have you read any?
What about novels by people such as politicians? Are they just cashing in on their fame?
Should ghost-writing be allowed or should the true writer get the credit?

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A new year

2006-01-06T11:20:00.000-08:00

OMG. I completely forgot that yesterday was Thursday! Eek. Well, here's a little something to get you started... A day late.

Do you have a reading plan for the new year? Why or why not?
If you do, what is it?

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Ug

2005-12-30T03:22:00.000-08:00

Sorry, everyone. Off this week, too. I'm miserably sick with the flu. As soon as I can breathe again, I'm off to bed, where I belong...

Please hang with me. Have a great New Year's celebration, and I'll see you next year. :-)

Skipping a week

2005-12-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

Yup. With Mom arriving tomorrow to spend Christmas with us, all the prep for that, Christmas cooking, parties, etc., my plate is full enough. I'll be back after Christmas. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, or whatever else you celebrate. :-)

Seasonal stories

2005-12-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

What with Christmas coming and all...

Do you read Christmas-themed (or Hanukkah, or?) stories this time of year? If so, what kind (religious, mystery, etc.)?
Do you have any stories you traditionally read this time every year? If so, what? How did your tradition start?

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Wish list

2005-12-08T06:07:00.000-08:00

Jeanne thought that it might be nice to have something a little simpler for a change, and I have to agree. Thanks for your suggestions, Jeanne!

What's on your book/reading wish list?
What books are you giving this year?

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Lost in translation

2005-12-01T09:15:00.000-08:00

This week's questions brought to you by Renée.

Have you ever read a book in a language other than your native language?
If so, how would you describe your experience?
Have you ever read a book translated from another language into your native language?
Why or why not?
If so, how would you describe your experience?

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Biography

2005-11-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm back from vacation. Sorry about the lack of questions last week, but well, I had other things on my mind... ;-) This week's questions are brought to you by Nicki.

Biographies and autobiographies—do you read them?
If so, whose life story has inspired you most and why?
If not, why not?

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Movies from books

2005-11-10T02:04:00.000-08:00

A slight twist on last week's theme...

What book (or books) would you like to see made into a movie? Why?
What book (or books) would you definitely not want made into a movie?

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Books into movies

2005-11-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Jeanne suggested that we talk about books that have been made into movies. Great idea! Thank you, Jeanne.

When you think of books that have been made into movies, what one comes to mind first?
Did the movie really capture the feeling of the book?
What about other movies from books? Which movies do you feel really captured (or if you prefer, didn't capture) the feeling of the books they were based on?

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Fess up

2005-10-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

This week's questions suggested by Christine, who didn't leave a URL so I can't link to her! :-(

What books have you read that you hate to admit reading? (You can either limit this to recent reads or go way back in time. Your choice.)
Why?

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Book clubs

2005-10-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

I'm referring to the reading type of book club, where members all read the same book, then gather to discuss it.

Do you, or have you, ever belonged to a book club?
Why, or why not?
If you are in a book club, or were once, what did you like about it?
What did you dislike about the book club?

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How bad is bad?

2005-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Here's another set of questions from Nicki.

What's the worst book you've ever read?
What's the book you hated the most?
Is the answer the same to both questions? If not, why not?
Why was this book (or these books) so bad?

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Inconvenient

2005-10-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

The answers to last week's questions were fun to read, so I'm going to do the same thing this week, with a little spin on it. I want you to dig out a book that's in a hard-to-get-to spot, then answer the same questions about it. As an example, I'll get a book out of our library upstairs. Now, you'd think this would be easy, but this time it isn't. There's a bookcase in the corner behind the wingback chair. I have to move the chair to get to the lower shelves. To make it even more inconvenient, I'll reach down behind the floor lamp that's there and get something off the bottom shelf.

Go get a book that is in the most inconvenient place in your home.

What corner of your house did you dig this book out of?
What are the book's title and author?
Turn to page 127. Locate the third paragraph, first sentence. Type that sentence here:
Does the sentence make sense out of context?
Seeing it sitting here by itself, out of the book, is it funny? Sad? Strange? Does it make you want to explore its source?
Are you currently reading this book? Why?

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Nearby

2005-09-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm posting this a little early as I know right now I'm not going to be able to do it on Thursday. I'm borrowing the inspiration for this from something I saw in a blog about five or six months ago. So, here goes.

Pick up the book that is closest to where you're sitting right now.

What are the book's title and author?
Turn to page 127. Locate the third paragraph, first sentence. Type that sentence here:
Does the sentence make sense out of context?
Seeing it sitting here by itself, out of the book, is it funny? Sad? Strange? Does it make you want to explore its source?
Are you currently reading this book? Why?

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Abridged and edited

2005-09-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Another fun suggestion from Nicki. Lady, you are the bomb! If anyone has suggestions for the future, please let me know.

Are abridged books a good thing or just plain awful?
How about books that are edited to modernize them?
Is dated language part of the charm of a book or an irritation?
Have you ever read an abridged or edited version of a book?

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A few things

2005-09-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

A couple questions from Kim and Nicki...

What are your five favorite books of all time? Why did they make the list?
What's the earliest book you can remember? Do your family read? Who encouraged you to read?
Reference books—do you have any? Why do you have the ones you do? Do you use them?

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Dream library

2005-09-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

Kerry wants to know what your dream library is like. I think I'll expand on that a bit...

What kind of room is your dream library in (one wall of your living room, dedicated room, corner of the kitchen, etc.)?
What genre are most of your books?
Are the books all hard cover, paperback, leather, or mixed medium?

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Desert island

2005-09-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

Another suggestion from Nicki—the old desert island question. I don't know about you, but this one's always been difficult for me. I've always found it difficult to narrow it down to just a few books.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three books would you want to have with you?
Why?
Is this list different than it would have been ten years ago? How?

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Dinner party

2005-08-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

Today's questions brought to us by Nicki, who has come up with a ton of fun ideas, this being the first that struck me.

Which three authors would you invite to a dinner party (they can be dead)?
Why?
Would they get along?

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Ugh

2005-08-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry, folks, but my brain is completely in the wrong place today, and I have no ideas whatsoever. If I come up with something later on, I'll ask it, but don't hold your breath.

Desperately seeking ideas

If you have any suggestions, please share them with me. I'd love some input. I'll quite happily link to the blog of anyone suggesting something that I use.

The Belgariad

2005-08-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

There seem to be quite a few people in addition to me who have read David Eddings series, The Belgariad, multiple times. So, this week, a few questions about these books.

First, have you read this five-book series? If so, how many times?
What brings you back to read this story again?
Who are your favorite characters? Why?
If you could magically be a part of their saga, would you? Would you want to take the place of one of the characters, or be someone new?

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Fantasy anyone?

2005-08-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

Roger Zelazny's Amber series, J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings, David Eddings' Belgariad, and Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant trilogies, are all classic examples of fantasy. None of them are books either of my parents would ever consider reading. I've devoured them all... And more.

Do you like to read fantasy?
What's your favorite (or least favorite if you don't like the genre) thing about reading fantasy?
Do you prefer regular people placed in alternate realities, like the Thomas Covenant stories and the Amber books, or do you prefer the whole world to come from the author's imagination? Or something else?
Do you have a favorite author or theme that you go back to again and again?

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The knights of the round table

2005-08-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

Whether based in fact or fiction, the legends of King Arthur have been the inspiration for many novels including Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory, The Once and Future King by T. H. White, The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Arthurian Saga series by Mary Stewart, and even A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain, to name just a few.

Do you enjoy reading the legends of the King Arthur and the knights of the round table?
How long ago did you read them?
Will you ever read more of them or re-read any that you've read before?

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Celebrate freedom

2005-07-28T00:13:00.000-07:00

I bought a sweatshirt for my husband some years ago that says, "Celebrate freedom. Read a banned book." The shirt then goes on to list ten books that were currently banned somewhere in these United States. Here are a few examples: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Call of the Wild by Jack London, and Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. (For more information, see banned books online, and other sources.)

Have you ever knowingly read a banned book?
Have you read any of the books I listed above?
Knowing that the above books have been banned, would you read them now? Why?

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Children's books

2005-07-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

With J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince making its sensational debut last weekend I started thinking about children's books. There have been a lot of wonderful ones over the years, The Cat in the Hat, Where the Wild Things Are, Bambi, the Mother Westwind stories, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Chronicles of Prydain, Nancy Drew, and on and on.

As an adult, do you own children's books?
If you do, do you still read them even when there are no children around?
What were your favorites as a child? Now?

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Come again?

2005-07-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

Most stories are about people. Some authors are better with descriptions of places or things or weaving a tale than they are with character development. Some authors make the characters really come alive, seem like flesh and blood individuals with wills of their own, not merely the creation of someone's imagination.

What author that you remember having read does the best character development?
What book/series do you think is that author's shining work with regards to character development?
What was (were) your favorite character(s) in that book or series?
Do you ever find yourself really liking a character in a book that you're certain you would never be friends with in real life?
Do you ever re-read a book to visit a character because you miss him/her?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a>

Most stories are about people. Some authors are better with descriptions of places or things or weaving a tale than they are with character development. Some authors make the characters really come alive, seem like flesh and blood individuals with wills of their own, not merely the creation of someone's imagination.
<ol>
<li>What author that you remember having read does the best character development? Reply here</li>
<li>What book/series do you think is that author's shining work with regards to character development? Reply here</li>
<li>What was (were) your favorite character(s) in that book or series? Reply here</li>
<li>Do you ever find yourself really liking a character in a book that you're certain you would never be friends with in real life? Reply here</li>
<li>Do you ever re-read a book to visit a character because you miss him/her? Reply here</li>
</ol>

Coffee table books

2005-07-07T02:16:00.000-07:00

My own personal definition of a coffee table book is a book that is large, over-sized, has lots of pictures, is about a specific theme (e.g., Georgia O'Keeffe's 100 Flowers, steeple chasing, Disney Animation, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc.) and generally speaking not something that most people would sit down and read in an afternoon. Coffee table books are often displayed singly or in piles for the benefit of guests to peruse, to stimulate conversation, because they look good, or whatever.

Do you have any coffee table books?
Do you have one or two, or would you say you have a collection of them?
Do you keep them on your coffee table? If not, where?
What are they about?
Have you read them? All of them? None? Why?

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Detective qualities

2005-06-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Most people I know enjoy some sort of mystery stories. My mother-in-law loved police and courtroom procedurals. My mother likes detective fiction. There are also murder mysteries, general mysteries, and hard-boiled detective stories, with protagonists such as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, Amelia Peabody, Kinsey Millhone, Mamur Zapt, and Perry Mason to name a few.

Do you enjoy reading mysteries?
What's your favorite kind of mystery?
Do you like plenty of blood and guts, or do you prefer the details to be left to the reader's imagination?
Do you prefer mystery stories based in the author's time or in previous centuries?
Do you prefer mysteries based in your own country, or in distant lands?
Do you like to figure out the solution, or do you allow yourself to be carried away with the story?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a>
Most people I know enjoy some sort of mystery stories. My mother-in-law loved police and courtroom procedurals. My mother likes detective fiction. There are also murder mysteries, general mysteries, and hard-boiled detective stories, with protagonists such as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, Amelia Peabody, Kinsey Millhone, Mamur Zapt, and Perry Mason to name a few.
<ol>
<li>Do you enjoy reading mysteries? Answer</li>
<li>What's your favorite kind of mystery? Answer</li>
<li>Do you like plenty of blood and guts, or do you prefer the details to be left to the reader's imagination? Answer</li>
<li>Do you prefer mystery stories based in the author's time or in previous centuries? Answer</li>
<li>Do you prefer mysteries based in your own country, or in distant lands? Answer</li>
<li>Do you like to figure out the solution, or do you allow yourself to be carried away with the story? Answer</li>
</ol>

Series

2005-06-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Probably most books stand on their own. But a lot of them are part of a series. J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy comes immediately to mind, as well as Stephen R. Donaldson's Gap series, Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody series, and lots more.

Do you read books that are part of a series?
Do you collect all the books in the series before starting?
What if the series is brand new, and the only book that's been published so far is Book 1?
As subsequent books in the series are published, do you go back and re-read the preceding books?

How many?

2005-06-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Some people are like my uncle, and they read four or five books a week, every week. Some are like my father, and read four or five books in a year.

How many books do you read in a week? Month? Year?
What's the best book or series of books you've read so far this year?
What's the worst book you read this year? Did you finish it?

Format

2005-06-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

Some people, like my mother, only read paperback books. Others prefer hard cover books. Some read hard cover books because they come out first, but prefer paperbacks otherwise. And you?

Do you prefer to read hard cover or paperback books?
Why?
Do you read books in the other format anyway?