Questions about reading meme

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.17.2008

I stole this cool meme from The Surrendered Scribe (thanks, Julie!).

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

Both my parents love to read fiction, and so I came by my love of reading honestly. I remember sitting in the living room with my dad, the two of us just reading from our respective books.

Also, whenever Mom went to the hairdresser in town, Dad would take me and my brother to Ala Moana shopping center and we’d go to the bookstore! I always got to choose one book Dad would buy for me.

2. What are some books you read as a child?

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Dragonsong and Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey

3. What is your favorite genre?

Romance! But really, I read pretty much anything. I love a wide range of stories.

The only genre I have a hard time with is the really angsty women’s fiction stories, because they’re too emotionally painful for me to get through. I might enjoy the stories, but I’ll cry buckets and be depressed for several days after reading the book.

4. Do you have a favorite novel?

Persuasion by Jane Austen

5. Where do you usually read?

In my office in my ergonomic chair. I used to read in bed but it hurt my back.

6. When do you usually read?

Typically late at night, although if I’m reading for work (my writing), I’ll read during the day, too.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

Yup! Although usually not more than 3. And if it’s a good book, I’ll stick with it until it’s done, to the exclusion of all the other books I’m reading.

8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?

I usually enjoy “reading” nonfiction via audiobook. For some reason, it’s just more enjoyable to me and I get more out of it if I listen to a nonfiction book while I’m walking the dog or doing something else rather mindless.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?

I buy most of them. In fact, lately I’ve been buying them on ebook whenever possible because I can then knit and read at the same time—all I have to do is hit a button to turn the page.

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?

Even the books I like, I will usually give away (except the ebooks, which I can’t give away) because I like to “spread the love.” There are very few books I keep.

Some exceptions are classics in nice bindings, my Betty Neels and Grace Livingston Hill novels, my Harry Potter books, and a few Regency romances and other books I loved so much I would read them again.

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them?

No children, but I have given Christian fiction to the kids at my church to read. Unfortunately, not many of them are fiction readers, but several like speculative fiction and fantasy, and some suspense.

I enjoy introducing them to new authors and new stories to challenge their thinking and imaginations.

12. What are you reading now?

Steeple Hill Love Inspired romances from the last 2 years, because I’m researching the Love Inspired line.

I want to write a proposal for Steeple Hill, and since they target a very specific readership, I want to make sure I thoroughly understand the types of heroes and heroines, plots, villains, and endings they’ve published recently.

I also want to get a “feel” for the general atmosphere of the line and the writing.

13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?

I’m ashamed to admit it’s in the thousands. They’re mostly Regency romances I picked up at GoodWill or yard sales (I mean, who can resist books for a buck or 25 cents?) and a few writing craft books I’ve been meaning to get around to.

14. What’s next?

After the Love Inspired stories, I’ll probably try to get into some books I need to read for review, like It’s All About Us by Shelley Adina, Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy, After the Kiss by Suzanne Enoch, Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs, Sunset by Karen Kingsbury, Demon by Tosca Lee, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser,
Shade by John Olson, and The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi.

15. What books would you like to reread?

I reread Jane Austen quite regularly, especially via audiobook. Ditto for Harry Potter.

16. Who are your favorite authors?

Jane Austen, naturally!

I have so many authors on my auto-buy list, it’s too long to list. But I’ll list a few of the newer authors in case it piques someone’s interest who’s looking to try a new voice:

Shelley Adina
Robin Caroll
Mary Connealy
Janet Dean (her debut novel comes out in September)
Meredith Efken
Debby Giusti
Tosca Lee
Julie Lessman
Cara Putman
Missy Tippens
M.L. Tyndall
Cheryl Wyatt

Your turn! Do this meme on your blog and leave a link in the comments!