Surprise Endings

1. 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....
2. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> <ol> <li>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.... </li> <li>And, of course, why? What made this book resonate with you?</li> </ol>

Bookends

1. Do you own any bookends? If so, how many sets? If not, do you need or want any?
2. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> <ol> <li><em>Do you own any bookends? If so, how many sets? If not, do you need or want any? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Which are your favorites? How long have you had them? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

But, Enough About Books....

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.

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

Men and Women

1. Do you tend to read more books written by one gender over the other? If so, which one? Men? Or women?
2. Is this a deliberate choice? Or just something that kind of happened?
3. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> <ol> <li><em>Do you tend to read more books written by one gender over the other? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>If so, which one? Men? Or women? Is this a deliberate choice? Or just something that kind of happened? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>And (without wanting to get too personal), is this <em>your</em> gender? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Comfort Zone or Not?

1. 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?
2. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> <ol> <li><em>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? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>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? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Motivation

1. What is your favorite kind of reading? Novels? Biographies? Mathematical textbooks?
2. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> <ol> <li><em>What is your favorite kind of reading? Novels? Biographies? Mathematical textbooks? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>What do you like <em>best</em> 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?</em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Reading Geography

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.

1. Have you ever wanted to travel to a place described in a book?
2. Have you ever ACTUALLY travelled to a place because of the way it was described in a book?
3. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> <ol> <li><em>Have you ever wanted to travel to a place described in a book? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Have you ever ACTUALLY travelled to a place because of the way it was described in a book? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>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? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Eating your way through fiction

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. ;-)

1. Do you enjoy books that have cooking or eating scenes in them?
2. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p>This week's questions were inspired by <a href="http://karolineknits.blogspot.com/">Caroline</a>. She can't read <em>The Joy Luck Club</em> without thinking of potstickers and wontons... And no, we're not talking about cookbooks here. Please leave those out of this discussion. ;-) <ol> <li><em>Do you enjoy books that have cooking or eating scenes in them? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Have you made or eaten anything that was inspired by a recipe or scene in a non-cooking book? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Planning Ahead

1. 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?
2. 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?
3. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> <ol> <li><em>Do you plan ahead for your reading? Work off of a to-be-read pile? A reading list? Or do you wing it, chooe whatever you're in the mood for? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>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? </em>Reply here</li> <li>If you do not plan ahead . . . well, <span style="font-style:italic;">never</span>? What about if you're reading a series? Or someone gives you a book for a present?</li> </ol>

Summer Reading

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

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> <p> <ol> <li><em>Do your reading habits change for the summer months? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>If so, how? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Ringing?

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 . . .

1. Have you read Lord of the Rings?
2. If so, how many times have you read it? Just once? Or so many you can't count?
3. If not, why not? Not your cup of tea?
4. 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.

<br /><a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com/">Booking Through Thursday</a><br /><p><br /> <ol><br /><li><em>Have you read Lord of the Rings? </em>Reply here</li><br /> <li><em>If so, how many times have you read it? Just once? Or so many you can't count? </em>Reply here</li><br /> <li><em>If not, why not? Not your cup of tea? </em>Reply here</li><br /> <li><em>And, while we're on the subject, did you see the Oscar-winning movie(s)? What did you think? </em>Reply here</li><br /> </ol>

Imperfection

1. 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?
2. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <ol> <li><em>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? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>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? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Perfection

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

1. 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?
2. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> <ol> <li><em>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?</em>Reply here</li> <li><em>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? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Happenings

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

This week's questions were suggested by Christine.

1. Do you read non-fiction books for pleasure, not counting books required for courses or for work?
2. If so, what areas of non-fiction interest you the most? If not, why not?
3. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> This week's questions were suggested by <a href="http://xinef.livejournal.com/">Christine</a>. <ol> <li><em>Do you read non-fiction books for pleasure, not counting books required for courses or for work?</em>Reply here</li> <li><em>If so, what areas of non-fiction interest you the most? If not, why not? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>What are some of your favorite (or least favorite) books from those areas? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Rereading

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.

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

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> <p>This week's questions were suggested by <a href="http://knittale.blogspot.com/">Marie</a>. <ol> <li><em>Do you ever reread your books? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>If so, which ones? If not, why not? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Do you read the books the whole way through or pick through for favorite scenes? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>What qualifies a book for the reread pile? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Abridged it?

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

1. Are abridgements a good introduction to long, boring classics, or a blight on literature?
2. If abridgements have their place, what is it?
3. 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.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> We haven't talked about abridged stories for a while. These questions were suggested by <a href="http://xinef.livejournal.com/">Xine</a>. <ol> <li><em>Are abridgements a good introduction to long, boring classics, or a blight on literature? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>If abridgements have their place, what is it? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Have you read any abridgements, or will you read any? Why or why not? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Characters

This week's questions were suggested by Mary.

Which book character(s) would you...

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

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> <p> This week's questions were suggested by <a href="http://ltuande.blogspot.com/">Mary</a>. <p> Which book character(s) would you...<ol> <li><em>Like to have dinner with? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Believe would be the best to help you out in a crisis? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Like to ask for an autograph? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Most identify with personally? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Skipping another week

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

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.

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