Friday, September 22, 2006

A Book Meme That Died And Has Returned

I spent a ridiculously long time uploading photos for my first book meme and then everything locked up and went bazonkers. I lost the whole post. Bummer.

So, I'm going to try to do the meme for which lovely Lotus tagged me, sans images or links, and hope for the best. Here goes:

1. One book that changed your life?

This may sound like a strange title, but Little Visits With God--a children's devotional--probably had the greatest impact on my life and most likely helped turned me into an avid reader. The nightly reading of its brief devotionals was, in fact, pretty much the only time my mother sat still and spent some quality time with me and was a ritual that kept going for many years. I got so darned tired of the words, "Not now; I'm busy," that it's no wonder I came to love storytime so much.


2. One book you have read more than once?

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I love that book.


3. One book you would want on a desert island?

The SAS Survival Handbook. Because I'm bad enough at surviving in a kitchen. It's hard to imagine foraging on an island. I'd need help. Serious help.


4. One book that made you cry?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which is still my top read of 2006. An incredibly moving Holocaust tale, it had me reaching for the tissues numerous times.


5. One book that made you laugh?

Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About. I read parts of it whilst sitting in a waiting room at the doctor's office and had to suppress the laughter, but my shoulders were shaking so hard and all those snuffling noises I was trying to hold back just sounded ridiculous. Hopefully, nobody thought I was having a seizure.


6. One book you wish had been written?

Oh, geez, I don't know. One on how to really fix my life?


7. One book you wish hadn't been written?

Caribbean Cruising. I don't want to say why, since the words I'd have to use might cause me to get some bad hits, but . . . well, it's about a girl who is determined to lose her v**g**i*y before she heads off to college. Ridiculous the way s** is pushed on youngsters, these days, and I find it reprehensible that an adult would encourage such behavior via a young adult novel. Had the protagonist come to her senses, I would have been okay with the book; instead, she spent her time drinking heavily and searching for a stranger to sl**p with and ended up losing her v**g**i*y with the predictable guy-friend. I swapped the book, but when I did so I warned the mother who requested it of its subject matter and denouement, in case she wanted to use it as an example of what not to do. She was actually quite grateful.


8. One book you are currently reading?

Wegener's Jigsaw by Clare Dudman - so far, I'm impressed.


9. One book you've been meaning to read?

The Other Boleyn Girl. I've yet to read anything by Phillippa Gregory, but I think one of her books is coming up as a group read, soon.


I've seen this meme in so many blogs that I'm not sure there's anyone left who hasn't done it. So, I'll take the lazy way out and nominate anyone who reads this and hasn't been tagged.

Happy Friday!

15 comments:

  1. Hi Bookfool,

    I'm glad to read that THE BOOK THIEF is a top read of yours! I'm scheduled to read it in November with a book club...can't wait. :)

    I gave THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO a 3.5/5 and THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL a 3/5, but I think I'm in the minority on both counts. No pun intended.

    Happy Reading!

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  2. I'm constantly amazed reading these memes when I find that I recognise not one of the titles. But The Count of Monte Christo, I shall add to my list.

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  3. Our book club has chosen The Other Boleyn Girl for one of the upcoming months, so I'll join you in planning to read that one. My mother started it and said it's very good, and she's hardly ever wrong.

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  4. Joy,

    So far absolutely every review I've read about The Book Thief has been positive. I hope you love it! Neither of my boys has gotten into The Count of Monte Cristo and I'd so hoped my kids would enjoy it. I've loved all three of the Dumas titles I've read. If I don't like Phillippa Gregory, I'm in trouble. I have about 5 of her books stacked up, just because she's been so highly recommended!!

    Saaleha,

    I hope you like The Count of Monte Cristo. I've always been surprised at how many new titles I see in memes, also; and it's fascinating to read about each individual's taste and what books impacted their lives.

    Bellezza,

    I'm not sure which Gregory title is an upcoming read but The Other Boleyn Girl was probably the first one I heard about, so I'm anxious to read it. If it's not the group read title, maybe we can buddy read it together?

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  5. Hi, bookfool!

    Great choices! A couple of months ago I saw the "The Book Thief" prominently displayed at our local book store and I almost bought it, but I was just a little intimidated by the size - silly me! I will definitely have to look for it again.

    British royal history is my secret addiction (I've loved reading about their royals ever since I was in my early teens) so books by Phillipa Gregory always interest me. I would stay away from "The Virgin's Lover" however, it wasn't one of her best. I hope you enjoy "The Other Boleyn" girl, "The Boleyn Inheritance" is her new one.

    THanks so much for doing the meme, bookfool, it was really nice finding out more about which books are special to you.

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  6. Hi Lotus,

    I'm glad you enjoyed reading my meme - thanks so much for tagging me! I was kind of irritated that my original post with images wouldn't load, but it was really fun thinking about those questions.
    I usually avoid "fat books" because they're intimidating and take too much space. But, I'd read the most glowing review of The Book Thief and when I saw it I picked it up, read a little and was completely sucked in, so I bought it on the spot. And, I'm so glad I did. I found it absolutely mesmerizing, touching,horrifying . . . just an incredible read.

    I think I'd heard "The Virgin's Lover" was not great - thanks for the warning. I've really grown to love historical fiction, recently. I'm looking forward to reading Gregory.

    Thanks again for tagging me!!!!!

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  7. I, too, have a copy of The Book Thief. Just got it after reading a comment from Andi. I can't wait!! Hmmm, wonder which to read first...The Book Thief or The Thirteenth Tale...

    I'll add The Count of Monte Cristo to my 2nd Annual Classics Challenge list. :)

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  8. Les,

    That would be a hard decision if I hadn't read either, but I happen to know The Book Thief is amazing. Of course, I'm eager to get my mitts on The Thirteenth Tale because it's so hot, right now, in the blogging world.

    I hope you like The Count of Monte Cristo. I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts when you get around to reading it!!

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  9. The only problem with The Thirteenth Tale, which I haven't started yet, is that it IS so popular in the blogging world right now. I don't like to be so status quo, but rather a little on the edge. Now it feels like one "has" to read it, instead of one "wants" to.

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  10. Bellezza,

    Now I know I want to hang out with you! I usually dislike reading what everyone else is reading, also. But, if a title sounds like my cup of tea, I'll join in; and The Thirteenth Tale does sound interesting. I never feel obligated to join in; I read whatever floats my boat. :)

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  11. I'll tag myself, since I can't think of anything to talk about today.. lol

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  12. Angela,

    Thanks! I'll look forward to reading your meme!!

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  13. I've always liked reading big books. If I love the book, I'm sad when I finish. Since reading book blogs, however, I'm impatient to finish and get to the next book. I need to chill.

    I want to add a Phillippa Gregory book to my TBR list. The Book Theif is already there but at the end of the A to Z list. I'm adding The 13th Tale as well. By the time, I get done with A to Z, 13 will be passe', so I won't feel like such a follower. I want to read something different than everyone else, but what they are reading sounds so good.

    I read the Count of Monte Cristo in jr high and loved it.

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  14. Oh, Framed, have you heard the following quote?

    "You can't get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." -- C. S. Lewis

    Sounds just like what you said! I have this weird problem with wanting to rack up numbers in order to feel like I'm accomplishing something (poor Bookfool, in constant need of validation, must continuously count the chalk marks on her prison wall), but I do sometimes wish a book wouldn't end if I'm completely swept away. Otherwise, fat books just intimidate me.

    I've been wanting to read a Gregory book for a while, so I'm fine with the group read coming up - I can sometimes use the nudge - but, like you, I'm more the type who doesn't tend to follow along with what everyone else is reading. I'm fickle, for one thing. So, I'll read The Thirteenth Tale when it hollers at me and not until then. You never know; it could be next week or two months from now.

    There will always be books upon which the buzz sways me not one whit. The Kite Runner is a perfect example. I'm still not interested. I've picked it up and put it down numerous times. It just doesn't want me to read it, yet, and thus has not come home to roost in my TBRs.

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  15. Ooooh, but when you do read it (The Kite Runner), I think you'll be happy you did. It was such a wonderful book and NOTHING at all what I expected.

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