Books - A Meme

Sunday, November 23, 2008
I got nothing for this Sunday, so I'm stealing from Vince and Ilya and continuing a meme on Books.

We love books. Yes, we do, precious.

What was the last book you bought?
Lamb, by Christopher Moore. I checked out the audio book of A Dirty Job at the library on Steve's recommendation, and enjoyed it tremendously. Then a few other folks I know recommended Lamb, and I decided to try it. Christopher Moore is funny, funny guy.

Name a book you have read MORE than once
Many, many books. Especially when I was younger, including Anne McCaffrey's Pern series, Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan universe, and Heinlein's entire catalog. Plus the Preston/Childs Pendergast series and a bunch more...

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. I read this as a directionless teen, and it made me think, really think, about what my citizenship meant at its fundamental level. It also subsequently informed my military service. Another was Something to Die For by James Webb. It helped me to distinguish and define my military service in light of the fact that most politicians don't give a rat's ass about our military men and women.

How do you choose a book? (E.g. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews?)
Author and recommendations from friends. I don't typically care much about reviews.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Both, although I do lean a bit towards fiction. My audio book queue has about as many fiction as non-fiction. I try to alternate between the two. Paper books are typically fiction.

What’s more important in a novel, beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
Both. A gripping plot will not forgive crappy craft (cough, JRRT, cough), but beautiful writing doesn't matter if I don't give a shit about the characters.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
Maureen Smith, Lazarus Long, Miles Vorkosigan, Jane Sagan, Bean, Aloysius Pendergast, Bink. Really, I could go on all day...

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
Lamb, by Christopher Moore (paper) and Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews (audio book)

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
The Assault on Reason by Al Gore. I finished it sometime last week, thank whatever gods you believe in. Mr. Gore has some good points and some interesting ideas, and gods know I'm not a fan of GWB, but a book length screed against the administration was not compelling reading (actually listening in this case).

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
Yes, I have. If it fails to grab me by a third or half-way through, out it goes. Out, I say! Life is too short, and my bookcase is too full, to waste valuable reading time on tripe.

2 comments:

Janiece said...

Finished Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon.

I've moved on to The Future of Freedom by Fareed Zakaria.

Nathan said...

Christopher Moore is one of those authors who make me run out and buy everything they've ever written.