I dont do Meme's very often but the lovely author David Llewellyn sent me this one on facebook, apparently he thinks I am a 'literary geek' which is quite flattering, so as running very short on time today to write the review that Memoirs of a Midget deserves I thought I would put this up so you can learn more about my reading history, do it yourself and then I can learn more about yours. Go on have a go, how can you resist a Meme about books?
1) What author do you own the most books by?
It would have to be Daphne Du Maurier, followed swiftly by Ann Tyler, Stella Duffy, Susan Hill, Kate Atkinson and of course the legendary, but guilty pleasure, Tess Gerritsen… all ladies interesting. Oh no add Ian McEwan read lots of his.
2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, I have one copy I read and re-read and two copies that are rare and pristine.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Should it?
4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
I don’t tend to fall in love with characters more with places and era’s. At the moment I am very much in love with the 1930’s.
5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children; i.e., Goodnight Moon does not count)?
I am not a big re-reader. I have read Rebecca a few times and Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Lady Audley’s Secret and Patrick Suskind’s Pefume twice.
6) What was your favourite book when you were ten years old?
The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis, and still rates quite highly.
7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
Hmmm… I don’t like negative reviews as everyone thinks of books differently and has different tastes. I may take away something very different from a book you read and love. Also I think reading timing comes into play I might just not have been in the mood for that book at that exact time.
8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
Probably To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee though I could have said about five.
9) If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
Hmmm it would be a toss up between Rebecca by Daphne or The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
Oh now you are asking… can dead people win it? Oh... I would actually like Margaret Atwood to win it, and yes I know she is very much alive.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Any books that I wouldn’t want to read that way I can’t be disappointed or have Keira Knightly ruin one of my favourite characters etc.
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Any of my favourites for the above reason, mind you Hitchcock’s version of Rebecca is wonderful.
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I haven’t had any… yet.
14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
The Bitch by Jackie Collins, I just had to try it. I don’t like the term lowbrow though, well all read different things in different moods.
15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
Having just read The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood I am tempted to say that. You have to work really hard at that book but it definitely pays off. Not a book you can read half heartedly.
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
I don’t really like Shakespeare; I blame schools and there force feeding of him over and over again.
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I am gonna sit on the fence and say both.
18) Roth or Updike?
Updike but only for The Witches of Eastwick.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Sedaris but only because I have never heard of Eggers.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
I have explained about Shakespeare the other two I haven’t tried yet.
21) Austen or Eliot?
Austen but only as havent read Eliot yet, god this questionnaire is making me feel like an inadequate reader!
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Classics I would say which I am slowly but surely rectifying.
23) What is your favourite novel?
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Such a dark moody novel, very me.
24) Play?
An Inspector Calls.
25) Poem?
Something from Gargling With Jelly by Brian Pattern.
26) Essay?
Anything by a Mitford.
27) Short story?
Ali Smith is the queen of short stories but actually Sophie Hannah’s The Octopus Nest is wonderful!
28) Work of nonfiction?
The Mitford’s: Letters Between Six Sisters. Wonderful wit, encapsulates a huge amount of time, and follows family drama through all those involved.
29) Who is your favourite writer?
Du Maurier I would have to say clinches it for me; as yet I haven’t read a book by her I didn’t like.
30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Hmmm, Stephanie Meyer apart from that I couldn’t say I might change my mind and be won over.
31) What is your desert island book?
Possibly The Bible, have never read any of it.
32) And... what are you reading right now?
Just finishing Memoirs of a Midget by Walter de la Mare, I thought it was a brand new piece of fiction but it’s from 1920 and has been reissued. Going to start Penelope Fitzgerald’s Offshore next am having a Man Booker winner phase.
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9 comments:
So you don't like Kiera Knightly's period pieces, huh? I can't say I am a big fan myself. I was warned strongly not to watch her in Pride & Prejudice...I chose the A&E version myself. Hey, if you feel like an inadequate reader when answering these questions, I won't tell you how I would look. I will just prefer to read everyone else's answers and keep my idiocy to myself!
My horrible university tutor totally robbed me of my love of Shakespeare so I can sympathise with you there! I really enjoyed this meme although I have to be completely honest and own up to not having heard of either Sedaris or Eggers!
You don't have to be dead to win the Nobel. Saramago has won and he is very much alive.
Great questions - I may have to steal them for later in the week!
I wish I liked Shakespeare, but it is just too much like hard work for me.
I had only heard of a couple of the Nobel prize nominees, so wouldn't have a clue who should win, but if I think about it too long then i just want to add more books to the TBR pile, and there are enough books there already!
Sandy - As much as I hate to slag off a fellow Brit she barely does more than pout - actually she is very good in the film about Bob Dylan with Sienna Miller, credit where credit is due.
Dot - I honestly swear British education pushes the wonders of Shakespeare so hard down our throats it puts people off forever. My sister is 10 and they have started Shakespeare already! Jackie agrees too.
Candy - I also realised Doris Lessing won and shes alive too! I havent read any of hers, I would like to.
Jackie - Maybe Nobel winners is another challenge for us... well one day!?! Ha!
Jackie -
Ok, I've ditched Blind Assassin and picked up Time Travelers Wife, just couldn't be doing with all that story within a story lark. Perhaps another day.
You can't sit on the fence when asked Russians or French? Come on, Simon!!
Great quiz - I'll be giving it a go later this week!
And now I have done the quiz!
Oh have just seen this Simon T thanks for popping this up!
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