A to Z Blogger Book Survey

Here's a collection of A-Z questions of your reading habits I found over at Too Much Free Time, proving that yes indeed he does. But I decided I could spare the time to give it a go too, for the sake of literacy.  And the children... do it for the children. 

Author you've read the most books from:

Edgar Rice Burroughs.  He wrote so many books, far more than most authors, and I read a majority of them. 

My father bought as many as he could when he was a kid and kept them all, giving me several boxes full of them when I a kid.  Boxes full of the Jungles of Africa, Mars, Venus, the Moon and Pellucidar, the center of the Earth.  I couldn't get enough. 

Best sequel ever:

Oh, tough one.  World Without End by Ken Follet. Pillars of the Earth was one of my favorite books and the sequel is right up there.  Great story, emotional roller coaster, gut-wrencher for what the characters go through. 

Currently reading:

A Dance of Dragons. George R.R. Martin.  Quite good, but I wish I hadn't had such a long break between this and the last book. 

Drink of choice whilst reading:

Um.. water? 98% of the time I drink water or fruit juice, and most of the time it's water, so.. water. 
Exciting huh?

E-reader or physical book:

Actual book.  I don't have an E-reader.  I also don't have a lot of time lately for reading, so I listen to a lot of unabridged audio books because I can do that while I work. 

Fictional character you would probably have dated in high school:

Wow.  You know, I'll admit, I was a bit shy, and a touch of a late-bloomer, but I did have a few real girlfriends.  

I didn't have a need to date fictional characters. 

Glad you gave this book a chance:

Dauntless. From 'The Lost Fleet' series by Jack Campbell.  

It was a bit repetitive with some phrases and needlessly rehashed the main character's motivational thought process, but overall it was a fun space opera with some good space fleet combats. 

Hidden book gem:

Lucifer. The Vertigo graphic novel series.  It may be a comic book, and so, chock full of pictures, but the story is interesting, characters are compelling, and full of big questions about the creation of myths, morality and personal choice. Really the story begins with the Sandman title Season of Mists.  Start with that, then go on with Lucifer.  Combining dozens of different mythologies into one tapestry, centered on Lucifer, who is probably the most dynamic and sympathetic character in Christian/Islamic mythology.  This needs to be made into an HBO series. If you find mythology, ancient history, philosophy or the origins of religions interesting, don't let the format of this story dissuade you from reading it... it has a lot to offer.  

Important moment in your book life:

Second grade class trip to the school library.  We were told 'find a book to check out'.  I saw a thick, old looking book, opened it, saw a cool map on the inside cover, and though I didn't know what a 'Hobbit' might be, I knew the book was the one I wanted, even if it was four times bigger than any book I'd read.  The teacher tried to talk me out of it, 'are you sure you want that one?' I did. And very glad I am that I was. 

Just finished:

Dies the Fire, by S.M. Stirling.  Fun book, may do a 'stories to paint by' about this soon.  

I prefer the Nantucket series (much more interesting) but this was entertaining.

Kind of book you won't read:

Computer Code Manuals, Self-Help drivel, Modern Political Opinion Trash, probably a lot more. 

Longest book you've read:

Probably one of the George R.R. Martin books. I think one of them edged over 1200 pages.

Major book hangover because of disappointing endings:

Lord of the Rings.  Not that it's ending wasn't good, just the fact that it did end, and I was disappointed it ended. 

Number of bookcases you own:

Five. Plus storage boxes. 

One book you've read multiple times:

Lord of the Rings.  Have read it a few times.  It's worth the re-read.

Preferred place to read:

On Vacation.  I love down-time, after exploring a new place, coming back to where I'm staying and relax with a novel.  At home there is always something that needs to be attended to, but on vacation, I feel much more free to enter another world.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:

Tolkien: 'Not all those who wander are lost'.  I hope he's right about that one, there might be hope for me yet. ;) 

Reading regret:

The half hour I devoted to attempting to read Dan Brown.  Maybe he has ideas that can make for fun movies:he should just sell his ideas to a screenplay writer.  But he can't write without it being painful to read. Just terrible.  I couldn't continue the book.  

Series you started and need to finish:

I need to get back to the Colleen McCullough Rome series.  Wonderful books. 

Three of your all-time favorite books:

1984  <- Link: (Covered this in detail before)

Lord of the Rings (yeah, I'm going to lump it in as one book. Try to stop me)

Pillars of the Earth

Unapologetic fanboy for:

Edgar Rice Burroughs, especially the Barsoom series.  

Grab your radium pistol and head to your flier, it's time for adventure. 

Very excited for this release:

Ack-Ack Macaque.  Already released, but I haven't had time to get it. 

A chimp pilot with a stogie and atomic zeppelins in World War II ? 

Yeah, that's worth some anticipation, I'll have to pick it up. 

Worst bookish habit:

Procrastination.  Easy for me to get busy in the middle of a book and not get back to it for too long.  

X marks the spot - Start at the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book:

Warriors of God. Richard the Lionheart & Saladin in the Third Crusade. by James Reston Jr.

Your latest book purchase:

It was a miniatures rules book, but I expect this means novel, so: 

The Eternal Savage, Nu of the Neocene. by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Saw a nice illustrated copy and it was a Burroughs I didn't have: win-win.

Zzz snatcher book (the last book that kept you up waaay too late:)

A Dance With Dragons.  Being the book I'm currently reading and that I read in late hours, that's going to be the latest culprit. 

.........................................

If you'd like to give this a spin yourself, here's a copy of the questions in easy copy format: 

Author you've read the most books from:

Best sequel ever:

Currently reading:

Drink of choice whilst reading:

E-reader or physical book:

Fictional character you would probably have dated in high school:

Glad you gave this book a chance:

Hidden book gem:

Important moment in your book life:

Just finished:

Kind of book you won't read:

Longest book you've read:

Major book hangover because of  disappointing endings:

Number of bookcases you own:

One book you've read multiple times:

Preferred place to read:

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:

Reading regret:

Series you started and need to finish:

Three of your all-time favorite books:

Unapologetic fanboy for:

Very excited for this release:

Worst bookish habit:

X marks the spot - Start at the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book:

Your latest book purchase:

Zzz snatcher book (the last book that kept you up waaay too late:)