books, books, books!
taken from dubdew. ok she didn't tag me but i couldn't resist!
1. One book you have read more than once
Uh, in my heyday as angsty pre-teen: most of the Sweet Valley Senior Year collection. Also all the Enid Blyton's "Secret Island" series, as well as many trashy Christopher Pike books. Recently: Harry Potter from Goblet of Fire onwards.
Usually I don't read books more than once, unless they're very guilty trashy pleasures...for when i feel like being mindlessly entertained for awhile, and i know where to go to avoid being disapppointed. Because for books that really touch something in you, i think that you can't really repeat that experience of reading it for the first time...those kinds of books, after you finish them you wish you could erase all memory of it so you can read it again and relish every moment again. but bar that, rereading really no point.
2. One book you would want on a desert island
Jon Stewart and the Daily Show gang's America (the book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy's Inaction. for giggles. endless hours of navel-gazing supplied by their discussion questions eg "Why do you think the Framers make the Constitution so soul-crushingly boring?". And when the despair and hunger/thirst start setting in, those lewd pics of the supreme court justices are gonna be a right pick-me-up.
3. One book that made you laugh
Everything written by David Sedaris. And I mean laugh so hard you're gonna piss your pants kind of laugh. The giggle to yourself, bite your knuckles in public places kind of laugh. And just when you think he can't get any funnier, one hears his live readings. ohhh, that impression of The Rooster's accent is just phenomenal. "That Jesus, he be nice!"
4. One book that made you cry
Tuesdays with Morrie. And then I felt very dirty afterwards.
5. One book you wish you had written
Uhm too many to narrow down:
Elizabeth Wurtzel's Prozac Nation (specifically - not her other books because they get kind of crappy)
Michael Chabon's Mysteries of Pittsburgh and Wonder Boys: who else could make an aimless, freeloading bisexual and a pothead over-the-hill writer so easy to empathise with?
Dave Eggers: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius INDEED. I want to be his best friend!!!
all because of their elegant and unpretentious writing. so talented! sigh. if only i could squeeze out one sentence of that calibre.
6. One book you wish had never been written
uh..the only book i can really recall hating in recent years is Twiggy's biography. She is so full of herself i could not believe it. Another thing I cannot believe is that I was free enough to go read Twiggy's biography.
7. One book you are currently reading
Uh, Out of Africa by Karen Blixen. Ever since my sister raved about it. Am progressing at snail-like pace. Have come to conclusion that one must have gone to Africa (like my sister just did) to enjoy it.
8. One book you have been meaning to read
Too many: top of the list right now is Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis. Unfortunately it has been top of the list for a year now.
Also, the LOTR trilogy. But I just can't get past the Shire!
9. One book that changed your life
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Journey across Italy, India and Indonesia. no, not serious fiction. yes, self-help kind of shit. shut up! i loved it. and it was paradigm-shifting. (no, i am not ashamed of my capacity to heartswell uncritically.)
1. One book you have read more than once
Uh, in my heyday as angsty pre-teen: most of the Sweet Valley Senior Year collection. Also all the Enid Blyton's "Secret Island" series, as well as many trashy Christopher Pike books. Recently: Harry Potter from Goblet of Fire onwards.
Usually I don't read books more than once, unless they're very guilty trashy pleasures...for when i feel like being mindlessly entertained for awhile, and i know where to go to avoid being disapppointed. Because for books that really touch something in you, i think that you can't really repeat that experience of reading it for the first time...those kinds of books, after you finish them you wish you could erase all memory of it so you can read it again and relish every moment again. but bar that, rereading really no point.
2. One book you would want on a desert island
Jon Stewart and the Daily Show gang's America (the book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy's Inaction. for giggles. endless hours of navel-gazing supplied by their discussion questions eg "Why do you think the Framers make the Constitution so soul-crushingly boring?". And when the despair and hunger/thirst start setting in, those lewd pics of the supreme court justices are gonna be a right pick-me-up.
3. One book that made you laugh
Everything written by David Sedaris. And I mean laugh so hard you're gonna piss your pants kind of laugh. The giggle to yourself, bite your knuckles in public places kind of laugh. And just when you think he can't get any funnier, one hears his live readings. ohhh, that impression of The Rooster's accent is just phenomenal. "That Jesus, he be nice!"
4. One book that made you cry
Tuesdays with Morrie. And then I felt very dirty afterwards.
5. One book you wish you had written
Uhm too many to narrow down:
Elizabeth Wurtzel's Prozac Nation (specifically - not her other books because they get kind of crappy)
Michael Chabon's Mysteries of Pittsburgh and Wonder Boys: who else could make an aimless, freeloading bisexual and a pothead over-the-hill writer so easy to empathise with?
Dave Eggers: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius INDEED. I want to be his best friend!!!
all because of their elegant and unpretentious writing. so talented! sigh. if only i could squeeze out one sentence of that calibre.
6. One book you wish had never been written
uh..the only book i can really recall hating in recent years is Twiggy's biography. She is so full of herself i could not believe it. Another thing I cannot believe is that I was free enough to go read Twiggy's biography.
7. One book you are currently reading
Uh, Out of Africa by Karen Blixen. Ever since my sister raved about it. Am progressing at snail-like pace. Have come to conclusion that one must have gone to Africa (like my sister just did) to enjoy it.
8. One book you have been meaning to read
Too many: top of the list right now is Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis. Unfortunately it has been top of the list for a year now.
Also, the LOTR trilogy. But I just can't get past the Shire!
9. One book that changed your life
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Journey across Italy, India and Indonesia. no, not serious fiction. yes, self-help kind of shit. shut up! i loved it. and it was paradigm-shifting. (no, i am not ashamed of my capacity to heartswell uncritically.)
