Interview with The Book Lover: 50 Bookish Questions

As you all know, I am a big fan of reading so when I saw these questions on Kathleen’s blog, Kathleen Jowitt I knew I had to steal them (with her permission of course).

I then spent the next half an hour or so answering the questions and tormenting myself with the fact there are so many good books and not enough time to read them all.

1: What book did you last finish? When was that?

I’ve just finished On Writing by Stephen King. I’ve read it before, but it’s definitely worth a re-read now and again. I finished it the day before yesterday (which will be at least two weeks before this post goes live).

2: What are you currently reading?

BZRK by Michael Grant.

3: What book are you planning to read next?

BZRK Reloaded (the second book of the BZRK trilogy).

4: What was the last book you added to your TBR pile?

The Temp by Michelle Frances.

5: Which book did you last re-read?

On Writing by Stephen King. Prior to that it was Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin because I discovered there was a sequel.

6: Which book was the last one you really, really loved?

Vox by Christina Dalcher. It’s one of those that you know is going to stay with you for a long time after finishing it.

7: What was/were the last book/books you bought?

The Doll House by Phoebe Morgan, The Collector by Fiona Cummins and A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

8: Paperback or hardcover? Why?

Paperback. I often read laying down and I find paperbacks easier to hold.

9: YA, NA or Adult? Why?

I love YA and obviously I enjoy adult books too. I don’t think I’ve ever read any NA.

10: Sci-Fi or fantasy? Why?

Fantasy. Who wouldn’t choose a dragon over a time machine!

11: Classic or modern? Why?

Modern. I’ll probably get slated for saying this, but most of the classics are too full of fluff and filler. I think some of the literary professors have a bit of Emperor’s New Clothes syndrome when it comes to the classics.

12: Political memoirs or comedic memoirs?

Neither, but if I had to choose, probably political.

13: Name a book with a really bad movie/TV adaption

My Sister’s Keeper. Surely you only change the ending if it makes the movie better not worse?

14: Name a book where the movie/TV adaption actually was better than the original

I’m going to get slated again – Harry Potter.

15: What book changed your life?

I get asked this all the time, and while I’ve read books that have stayed with me, and perhaps changed my perception of a genre or author, I am yet to read a book which changed my life.

16: If you could bring three books to a deserted island which would you bring and why?

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel, The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty and Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin because they are three books I can re-read over and over again. I think this question is cruel though – there are so many more I would want to bring.

17: If you owned a bookshop what would you call it?

The Book Nook.

18: Which character from a book is the most like you?

My life is pretty boring to be honest, and any book written about it would be one I would avoid, so if it’s out there, I haven’t read it.

19: Which character from a book is the least like you?

I feel like this should have a deep and meaningful answer, but it really doesn’t. Does all of them count as an answer?

20: Best summer read?

The Dilemma by Abbie Taylor

21: Best winter read?

Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen

22: Pro or anti e-readers? Why?

I don’t like e-readers for myself as I love the smell and feel of a physical book, but I wouldn’t say I’m anti-eReader, they’re just not for me.

23: Book Depository or Amazon?

Amazon.

24: Do you prefer to buy books online or in a bookshop?

If I know I want a certain book, I prefer to buy them online so I don’t have to wait about until I’m near a bookshop. For browsing, definitely a bookshop.

25: If you could be a character from a book for just one day who would you be and why? (Bonus: any specific day in the story?)

Alice from Alice in Wonderland the day she goes to Wonderland. It would be one hell of an experience.

26: If you could be a character from a book for their entire life who would you be and why?

Not one in particular, but definitely a vampire for the immortality.

27: If you could change one thing about mainstream literature what would you change? (i.e. more diversity, better writing, better plot etc.)

Less female characters who are so dependent on male characters to save them!

28: How many books have you read so far this year?

Around fifty so far I think.

29: How do you sort your shelves? (i.e. by color, author, title etc.)

I want pretty little rainbow shelves, but I have far too many books for that. I have them in the storage unit under my bed, in cupboards, everywhere. I like series’ kept together, and other than that, they go where they will fit.

30: Who’s your favourite author?

Stephen King.

31: Who’s your favourite contemporary author?

Adele Parks.

32: Who’s your favourite fantasy author?

Veronica Roth.

33: Who’s your favourite Sci-Fi author?

I don’t read enough sci-fi to have a favourite, so I’m going to tell you my favourite YA author instead: Michael Grant.

34: List five OTPs

How bad is it that I had to Google this to find out what the hell it means? For any other dinosaurs out there, it means one true pairing so I’m assuming it’s the “in” way of saying couples you ship.

Mine are:

• Katniss and Gale (The Hunger Games)
• Four and Tris (Divergent)
• Harry and Luna (Harry Potter)
• Jo and Dean (The State We’re In)
• Klaus and Caroline (The Vampire Diaries/The Originals) and yes, I’m totally cheating here because I haven’t actually read the books.

35: Name a book you consider to be terribly underrated

The Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver. I have no idea why no one seems to have heard of this series.

36: Name a book you consider to be terribly overrated

50 Shades of Grey (Sylvia Day is a much better writer if you like this kind of book).

37: How many books are actually in your bookshelf/shelves right now?

There are 67 in my to read now pile (I know, help!), 53 in a pile waiting to be sorted, and well over 300 hundred scattered between cupboards and the bed storage unit (some of these I have already read though).

38: What language do you (most often) read in?

English.

39: Name one of your favourite childhood books

I’m torn between Matilda, The Witches and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

40: Name one of your favourite books from your teenage years

Remember Me, by Christopher Pike. His books and the Point Horror series were what got me into a life long love for the horror genre.

41: Do you own a library card? How often do you use it?

I do, but I haven’t used it in ages.

42: Which was the best book you had to read in school?

Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

43: Are you the kind of person who reads several books at once or the kind of person who can only read one book at a time?

I generally stick to one at a time but I will sometimes have one fiction and one non-fiction book on the go at the same time.

44: Do you like to listen to music when you read?

No, that would be so distracting.

45: What is your favourite thing to eat when you read?

I don’t usually eat when I’m reading.

46: What is your favourite thing to drink when you read?

Coffee – my go to drink for pretty much any occasion really.

47: What do you do to get out of a reading slump?

I have no idea; I’ve never been in one.

48: Where is your favourite place to read?

Laid in bed.

49: When is your favourite time to read?

At the end of the night when work is done and I finally switch off the laptop.

50: Why do you love to read?

I love being taken to another place or time and delving into the lives of the characters. I’ve always had a love for words and the images they can bring to life. Other people’s imaginations fascinate me, and reading is such a good glimpse into other people’s minds.

Thanks for letting me steal this Kathleen, I really enjoyed answering the questions.

Why not share your answers to some of the questions in the comments 🙂

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