༺ Bookshelf Challenge ༻

I’ll keep this short and sweet. Kristin from Sew Technicolor answered this interesting book-related tag on her blog, and {needless to say as you probably already know, but any who…} I love books! So here I am, and here it is ~ the Bookshelf Challenge.

1. Is there a book that you really want to read but haven't because you know that it will make you cry?

No. There are movies I am told will “definitely make you cry!! You shouldn’t go see it in the cinema!”  Haha!  So I haven’t seen the latest “Les Misérables” movie because: all the tears. The book, however, I am about one third of the way through.  I will read it all, but it is taking me a while as I keep putting it down and getting distracted.  (*≧ω≦)

2. Pick one book that helped introduce you to a new genre.

Hmmm… That IS a good question.  I’d say “Last of The Breed” by Louis L’Amour.  That book introduced me to my favourite western novel author which was definitely a new genre for me at the time. I think I was maybe fifteen when I first read it?

3. Find a book that you want to re-read.

Is this supposed to be hard?   …… (๑￫ . ￩)

Well, I suppose it is hard to pick just one!

You see, I am a massive re-reader. If I love a book, I commit to it like I’m in a long term relationship. ❤ It’s on my shelf forever, and I will always come back and re-read it at some point. Some of my favourite books I’ve re-read over ten or fifteen times, and my super favourites? Well, I read them so much they’ll start falling apart at the seams ~ literally!

Right now, I’m probably in the mood to re-read J.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of The Rings” Trilogy. 

4. Is there a book series you read but wish you hadn't?

Maybe not a whole series, because if I don’t like too much of any part of a series I won’t read it anymore.  But there are plenty of books I wish I hadn’t read. And I really can’t remember any titles because I’ve tried my best to forget all about them….  (¬_¬)

5. If your house were burning down and all of your family and pets were safe, which book would you go back inside to save?

Ahhhh!  This reminds me of the scene from “Inkheart” where they are pulling books out of a personal library and burning them… I was practically in tears along with the main character. It was just so tragic!

But I’d have to say my Bible. It’s the most important book in my life, and along with a lot of personal notes that I have in it, I know that I’d want to have the reassurance that only comes from hearing God speak through His Word after such a life changing ~ although metaphorical{!} ~ event.

6. Is there one book on your bookshelf that brings back fond memories?

Again, only one?

Let’s see…. 

I think my collection of Award Pony Books.  There are six titles, and my Mom and Dad gave me the first four when I was eight or nine for high achievements in my schooling. I still remember unwrapping these books at our local park in Armadale; it was autumn and the poplars where scattering golden leaves everywhere.  

I also remember I had to go play at the park rather than starting to read the books there and then!  As far as I know, these where the first books I’d been given for my own, although we had plenty to share on the family book shelves. Or maybe it was just the fact that it was such a special occasion.  I don’t know, but I do remember these as my first gift of books. (✿◠‿◠)

7. Find a book that has inspired you the most.

Fiction or non-fiction? This is an important distinction, because non-fiction is easy ~ The Holy Bible.

Fiction, now that’s a trickier beast. There are quite a few books that inspire me, and I love each one for different reasons… I’ll pick “And Love Forever New” by Dorothy Black though because of this amazing quote:

“And then, because Jacqueline was staunch and truehearted and young enough to be an idealist even if she hardly knew the word – she set up one of the voiceless cries from the heart with are the realest prayers the human heart ever utters…

…having already learned the first, the foundation lesson of loving…

‘Teach me Lord
To give and not count the cost
To fight and not heed the wounds
To toil and not ask for rest
To labour and not to ask reward’

Her fresh lips murmured the words half-aloud.”

What thoughts about love and life!  It’s a constant inspiration to me.

8. Do you have any autographed books?

No, sadly.  My own book doesn’t count right??   ԅ(≖‿≖ ԅ)…. Heheh.

9. Find the book that you have owned the longest.

That would be the ones I mentioned above ~ the Award Pony Books.

10. Is there a book by an author that you never imagined that you would read or enjoy?

“The Host” by Stephanie Meyer.

This one was a huge surprise to me. I never thought I would like this book at. all.  But it’s really, really good!  In fact, it’s become one of my favourite books.

“The Host” is one of the special books that it is really good to have an open mind toward before you decide you don’t like it.  You can watch the movie on Netflix if you want a taste before you dive in ~ but believe me when I say the book is far better than the movie!

I hope you enjoyed this little Q&A, and of course, I tag anyone else who would like to play along. I would really like to hear about the books that have inspired you, or that you didn’t like, or even those that made you cry…  ╮( ＾-＾)╭  I might just find a new favourite!

So please leave links to your posts in the comments down below and I’ll try to read all of your answers to this fun challenge.  Or you can just tell me straight out ~ that’s good too.

xox,

bonita

༺ ♡ ༻

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༺ Long Time Love Affair ༻

 
When I saw this cute bibliophile post by Jessica of Chronically Vintage, I knew I simply had to join in with my own version of the post.

I just adore books {as mentioned here and as you might tell from my 'Currently’ posts!} and this really is a delightful questionnaire that explores the different way each book lover might enjoy their reading experiences.

 
Do you snack while you read? If so, what is your favorite reading snack?

Frequently ~ some of my books are always talking about the delicious food they are eating and it makes me soooo hungry. I’m looking at you Brain Jacques’ Redwall series!

I wouldn’t say I have a favorite snack, I’ll eat anything I feel like ~ cookies are quite frequent however.

What is your favourite drink while reading?

Tea naturally! Green teas of all flavors, and the ever amazing French Earl Grey. Mmmm.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

I would never write in novels, but I am forever making notes and underlines in my non-fiction books. Only in pencil! For some reason that seems to make it less of a heinous crime.  (~ ヮ •)

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

I used be very guilty of leaving my books open facedown to keep my place ~ my mother would tell me not to ~ “You’ll break the spine!” ~ but I would be in such a hurry that I wouldn’t care.

As I’ve gotten older and collected more and more vintage books that just fall apart when you read them, let alone opening them wide, or heaven forbid! Laying them facedown! Well, now I use bookmarks. I’m still in a hurry though, so that can be anything from a hair band, to a tissue, to a leaf! Anything small and flat will do.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?

Mostly fiction I’m afraid. I would love to read more non-fiction on subjects I’d like to learn about, but I really have to be in exactly the right mood for that, so it doesn’t happen very often at all. If I do read non-fiction, it is most likely to be some kind of book on horses ~ training, dressage, stable management, etc.

Are you the kind of person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

Who wants to stop in the middle of the chapter?? Ahh! If it’s a book I have read many times over {and I have quite a lot of those!}, I can stop in the middle of the chapter, because I know what’s coming next.

But if it’s a new book, or one I haven’t read in a while and I’m really into it; I’m hard pressed to put it down, even at the chapter ends.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?

Oh yes. I have read some absolute trash; without even meaning to, and one time I was just so disgusted with the rubbish the author had written that I tossed the book across the room, than promptly tossed it into the recycling bin. I try to only read books that are uplifting, or that make you think in a good way. I don’t have time for dirty, insipid or stupid books.

Hahah, that makes me sound so stuck up and pretentious! °(◕ o ◕)°  I don’t think that I am, I’m just super fussy about what I consider to be a good book. I also know that I am very eclectic with my literature choices.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?

I try too! I love learning about new words. Etymology absolutely fascinates me ~ language, vernacular and the origin of words is one of my deep interests. 

What are you currently reading?

”Mattimeo – A Tale of Redwall” by Brian Jacques

What is the last book you bought?

Mary Grant Bruce’s “Back to Billabong” for the Kindle. I rarely buy new hardcopy books, but I will thrift books like they are going out of style. {Which they sort of are! (TT Д  TT) }

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?

I can read more than one book at a time, but I really don’t like too, and generally won’t. Even if I have to finish a book I don’t want to read to read the one I do.

Do you have a favourite time/place to read?

Any time of the day will do for me, but the best place to read is somewhere cozy ~ preferably a couch, near a window with the sun streaming in. Yes, I’m part cat.

Do you prefer series books or stand-alones?

A bit of both actually. If the story is really good, but I don’t like the rest of the author’s writing, I usually like a stand-alone, but as I tend to get very attached to certain authors and characters, I probably mostly prefer series because I just want to read more.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?

Mmm, not so much. Like I previously mentioned, I’m so eclectic with my taste, I tend to stay away from recommendations, because most people don’t read what I do.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author's last name, etc.)

By genre, then series, or author, and that’s as far as it goes. I have too many books to get really fussy, and not enough bookshelves to spread them all out.

N.B: After talking so much about eclectic reading choices, I sort of felt I needed to answer one more question, so I added it on…

What kinds of books do you like to read and who are your favorite authors from those genres?

• Regency romances ~ Georgette Heyer
• Quirky/humorous Science Fiction ~ Terry Pratchett
• Pony books ~ Josephine Pullein-Thompson & Monica Edwards
• Classics ~ L. M. Montgomery & J.R. Tolkien
• Children’s Classics ~ Hugh Lofting

I hope you have enjoyed this little Q&A, and please do write up your own answers if you are so inclined. I would love to read about your reading habits, so don’t forget to leave a link if you post.  ヾ(＾-＾)ノ

xox,

bonita

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