intertext | Book Meme

gillo (among others) originally posted this, and I couldn't do it then because it was end of term and I was too busy. I was reminded of it today, so now that I do have time, here goes. These things are always fun.

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
It depends. I have a hierarchy of "buy in hardcover; buy in paperback; buy in trade paperback" throw in also "buy from sf bookclub" I do tend to buy books, period, rather than get them from the library - I don't spend much money on clothes, but I do buy books. Authors can fluctuate up and down in the ranks - Guy Gavriel Kay was "instantly, buy in hardcover" until his last few, now he's wait for the paperback. Robin McKinley is still "buy in hardcover"; DWJ is "buy in hardcover." Most "litfic" and mysteries and other types of books I buy in paperback.

Amazon or brick and mortar?
It depends. If I want something specific and my local bookstore doesn't have it, Amazon. Amazon.ca first, then Amazon.com, even Amazon.co.uk for a new British book if necessary. I like to support independent bookstores if I can, and I'm lucky that I have a great one near where I live and handily situated on my way home from work.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?
In Canada we don't have that choice; it would be Chapters versus Indigo except that now they're both owned by the same company, and in any case we don't have an Indigo in Victoria. I don't have any real objection to Chapters, but see entry above.

Bookmark or dog-ear?
EEEEK! Bookmark of course. I would never never never dog-ear a book. My mother used to beat me (not really, but scold me fiercely) if I left a book lying turned face downward, or cracked the spine of a paperback... Also, I collect bookmarks; I probably own about a thousand of them so I have lots to choose from.

Alphabetise by author or alphabetise by title or random?
Well, sort of vaguely alphabetically by different category. So I have all my litfic together by author, and all my poetry together by author, and all my sf/fantasy etc etc.

Keep, throw away, or sell?
Keep, sometimes donate to local charity booksale, but only after long years of indecision.

Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keep.

Short story or novel?
Mostly novels, but I like good short stories.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Harry Potter

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
At chapter breaks when tired.

"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?
"Once upon a time"

Buy or borrow?
More often buy than borrow, but will borrow, and sometimes buy afterwards. As a child I used to read first from library then buy in paperback with pocket money.

New or used?
New, if possible, but will buy used if no other edition is available, or if it is a "first" of some loved book.

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?
Any of the above. A good review might make me look for something, or a recommendation from a trusted other reader. Browsing works well, too.

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Would prefer tidy ending, but you don't get many of those if you're a fantasy fan :)

Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
More nighttime than any of the others, but any are possible.

Stand-alone or series?
Both

Favorite series?
Bujold's Vorkosigans, The Riddle Master trilogy

Favorite children's book?
That's a tough one. I think my idea of the perfect children's book is Elizabeth Goudge's A Little White Horse, but it's only one of many of my personal faves. Howl's Moving Castle, though I didn't read it as a child.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Ann Lawrence, The Half Brothers

Favorite books read last year?
So far, Cormac McArthy's The Road beats every other book I've read in the past while into a cocked hat. For fantasy, maybe Privilege of the Sword

Favorite books of all time?
The Lord of the Rings, Ulysses, Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana

Least favorite book you finished last year?
Can't really think. Mark Haddon's new book left me feeling pretty meh.

What are you reading right now?
The Sharing Knife by Lois McMaster Bujold (it's good! I'm liking it a lot)

What are you reading next?
I think I'm going to read

papersky's Farthing - I have it on my "to read" shelf.

Favorite book to recommend to an eleven-year-old?
Probably something by DWJ

Favorite book to reread?
One of any number of books, but perhaps Howl's Moving Castle. But I have a whole list of great comfort reading that can be relied on to make me happy.

Do you ever smell books?
Absolutely. And the specific smell of certain books is extremely evocative. And the smell of libraries.