15 Questions for Book Lovers [from Samantha]

Samantha over at Hello, abibliophobia posted 15 Questions for Book Lovers and I thought I’d answer these questions for fun right here. Go to her page and answer in the comments or post on your own blog. Happy reading!

1. What is the first book you read by your self? || This is an excellent question that I do not have the answer to. I just remember reading a lot of Judy Blume to my dad who often fell asleep. Poor guy.
2. Did your parents read to you before bed? If so, what did they read you? || As far as I know, yes. But I have no recollection or “favorite” childhood books to be honest. My memory of my childhood is so nonexistent, it saddens me really.
3. Name a movie that is better then the book. Doesn’t happen often. || Whoa. I actually don’t know if I know one that exists. I will say I enjoyed the movie version of The Spectacular Now but when I tried to read the book I wanted to throw it out a window. I never did get past the first few pages. So, that I suppose.
4. What was the worst movie adaptation of a book? || You know I am not a picky person so I think I’m not a good one to ask about this. I suppose I will say Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because I personally think it is the worst Harry Potter movie but the book was so fun and amazing.
5. Outdoor or indoor reading? || I will do either! I love reading poolside in the summer.
6. Book you’re most embarrassed to have never read? || So many. I haven’t read a lot of classics. I’m sad I have never read any Steinbeck but I am going to I promise. Just like every classic ever, really.
7. What is the most embarrassing book you have ever read? || Oh no, I am never embarrassed about what I read.
8. What was the worst book you ever read or stopped reading? || I already mentioned The Spectacular Now above but I hardly count that as a really big try, but i did give up on Uglies at about 100 pages in.
9. Would you rather read digital or paper books? || Paper always, but I do a fair amount of digital reading. I can’t pass up those deals! Especially on brand new books.
10. What character in a book would you like to sucker punch in the face? || Oh my gosh, great question. Remember when Adam was literally the worst to Juliette for awhile there (Shatter Me series)? i never wanted to punch someone so hard.
11. What character in a book would you like to be best friends with? || Definitely Cath from Fangirl. Rory and co. from the Shades of London series.
12. How many physical books do you own? || Oh God, I’m not counting but two bookcases full and then some.
13. What book do you want to make sure you read to your children? || Oh! I kind of love all the Tacky the Penguin books because it shows the importance of being yourself. Also always with Where the Wild Things Are and Harold and the Purple Crayon. Most importantly, I’ll read whatever interests them so they can foster a love of stories and books early.
14. What book describes you best? || Haha, probably Fangirl. I don’t think Cath and I are super similar but we share some traits.
15. What are you reading right now? || Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

What My True Love Gave to Me [Valentine’s Day Edition]

Friday was Valentine’s Day, and I admit that I was not very on top of it this year.

I feel like this year has just begun but it is already going too fast. I dropped the ball on Galentine’s Day and then really dropped the ball again the next day on Valentine’s Day. Oops.

However, I went to Green Apple Books right after work and picked up some books for my husband. I got him some books there for Christmas and since then have fell in love with the place. I don’t live in the city, which is good because I think I would spend all my paychecks there. For Christmas, I found books for him in the huge staff picks selection and went straight there for some books for Valentine’s Day. As usual, they did not disappoint.

My husband, Mike, has found a reformed love for all things nature thanks to his promise to himself to get out more and the legendary documentary film maker, Ken Burns. He wants to go to all the National Parks some day and I am more than happy to follow him there. As a writer himself, I found In the Sierra: Mountain Writings by Kenneth Rexroth. I’m sure Mike will be inspired to do his own poetry and prose for the parks he embarks upon. Along with that, I got him Suicide by Edouard Levé because Mike loves French literature and this book not only sounded heartbreaking and interesting, Levé took his own life a month after submitting the manuscript which adds even more intrigue.

But the book giving didn’t end there. Mike’s gifts to me were a few chocolate covered strawberries and An Abundance of Katherines by John Green because I am slowly making my way through all of Green’s work. The day after Valentine’s Day we went to Berkeley’s Books Inc. to browse and I finally found a copy of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi so I asked Mike if he would buy it for me. Valentine’s gift bonus! I have heard nothing but great things about this series that recently came to an end and I hear it is very steamy and as I write my own young adult novel, I try to find great YA romances who turn the heat up so I can see just how far I can go! I’m very excited for both of these books.

Recent gift givings between us have turned exclusively to books and I love it. He knows me better than anyone else and knows exactly what I will like. He knows what books I’m on the look out for and what authors intrigue me and he knows how to read the back of a book and see if I will like it. I think that… well, I just think it’s really neat.