A little housekeeping for those who interested in my apple dessert recipe that I promised to post last Thursday: it’s coming. It’s delicious (seriously, the frosting is amazing) but … the pictures were not fabulous and I judge a recipe by how much the picture makes me drool or wanna lick the screen. Ugly food pictures make me wrinkle my nose in distaste, so I can’t imagine they tempt others either. Yes, I know this is like judging a book by its cover; sometimes it works and sometimes you get tricked! Ugly can be yummy!
However, the pictures embarrassed me, so I’m making it for a weekend gathering and attempting some new pictures. Fingers crossed, I’ll get some decent pictures! I initially planned a more personal post today but the thought of writing it exhausted me. And if it wore me out, would you really want to read it? Maybe, maybe not. Since I’m really trying to get back into the rhythm of regular posting, I snatched this short, fun questionnaire from Audrey’s Show Us Your Books post last week, which suited my mood better.
Some Bookish Questions and Answers
Even though my reading mojo is seriously lacking, I still love books and always find people’s reading habits/philosophies fascinating. I hope you do too!
Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
All of the above. And to be completely honest, I’m still not 100% clear on the difference between trade paperback versus mass market paperback. I read all books in all shapes and forms; no book prejudice here!
Amazon or brick and mortar?
Both. I used to be strictly brick and mortar and now it depends. Mostly I buy wherever it’s the cheapest but sometimes Amazon is the only place to find older or more obscure books.
Locally owned bookshop or big name chain store?
I love to support Mom and Pop businesses but most bookstores are big name chains by me.
Bookmark or dog-ear?
Oy. I’m gonna get some hate with this one: dog-ear. #SorryNotSorry
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
Seriously? Random. If I’m feeling sassy, I might organize my books by author in random order but that’s even pushing it for me. It just makes me proud when I actually put books back on the shelf instead of scattered throughout my apartment.
Keep, throw away, or sell?
I reread my favorite books but … I have limited space living in a small apartment so every few years I purge (and typically donate my books), which makes me so sad. It’s not that I mind passing a book to a good home, but it makes me a tad grumpy that I can’t keep it because I’m book greedy and a bit of a book hoarder.
Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keep, unless I manage to destroy it somehow. Has happened. 😀
Read with dust jacket or remove it?
On, unless it’s annoying the piss out of me. Has happened. 😀
Short story or novel?
Novel.
Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?
Collection. I’ve never had much success with anthologies. I like one or two stories and the rest are duds to me.
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
What? Stop reading? Do I look like a wimp to you? Read until done!! Seriously, though, chapters. Otherwise this old coot gets confused.
“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
Both. Well, if the “Once upon a time” is setting up a fantasy, then yes but not so much if it’s a romance-only.
Buy or borrow?
Both. I love owning my favorite books but lately I borrow more from the library than purchase. Beyond being kind to my wallet, I’m more willing to read beyond my “go-to” books and experiment with new authors and genres when I’m not risking my hard-earned cash on a book I might hate.
New or used?
Both.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
It depends. Sometimes I enjoy a good cliffhanger or an ambiguous ending. But it needs to be well-done and not stupid or gimmicky. I’ve been known to throw a book due to lame endings. Also, the Scooby-Doo in me will bark up a storm if a mystery doesn’t answer whodunit. I’m okay (sort of) if justice doesn’t get served but I gotta know who did it.
Morning, afternoon or nighttime reading?
Nighttime and weekend afternoons in bed with Max snuggled next to me.
Single volume or series?
Both. And I adore finding a great series!
Favorite series?
So many: Harry Potter by JK Rowling, In Death by J.D. Robb, The Hollows by Kim Harrison, Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, The Hunger Games by Susanna Collins and Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs.
Favorite books read last year?
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, The Mothers by Britt Bennett, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.
Favorite books of all time?
Yikes! So much pressure. Well, HP of course. Treachery In Death by J.D. Robb (it’s my favorite out of 47 books!), Changes by Jim Butcher and ???? (I have more but seriously blanking at the moment).
Your Turn
So what’s your favorite book(s) of all time or answer another question from above. Feel free to grab the questions too and play along on your blog!
Tanya
I’m so glad you answered the questions! I love learning about other people’s book preferences. I don’t mind people who dog-ear. Hopefully it’s your own books, though. LOL
I think I’m in the minority with anthologies… And I honestly can’t imagine my bookshelf NOT organized by author’s last names… HAHA!
I am endlessly fascinated by people’s reading habits and why they love or don’t certain books. Well, I most definitely dog ear my own books and … don’t hate me … also library books. I am not offended by dog-eared books (makes me think they have been loved) so I don’t think about how my dog-earing a library book might bother the next reader. Very selfish, Tanya!
Oh man, I think it’s a major miracle if I put books by the same author in the same area!
HAHA – you’ve thrown a book because of an ending. I love that. Have felt that same emotion.
You dog-ear! haha – that made me laugh because I did sort of gasp a little – but hey, if its your book, go for it.
I dont know the different either with the trade / mass paperback. I’m going to have to Google that now
I take personal offense to bad endings, especially when they absolutely ruin what has been a good-to-decent book. GRRRRRR!!
Well, I have been known to dog-ear books that are not my own, because I assumed everyone dog-eared and no one minded. Now I know it’s kinda of big deal to some people. I’m gonna try to be a bit more conscious of it, but I won’t make any promises because I’m old and forgetful! 😀
I admit I gasped a little as well that you dog-ear books, lol! Ha, ha, ha. To each their own, right? I am strictly a “bookmark” person. Also, my books are all alphabetized. I am an organizational junkie as well as a bit OCD. Well, that’s enough about me, lol. Therapy session over! 😀 😀
I always misplace bookmarks so I’ve never really gotten into using them. Maybe I need to try harder! LOL! I am the least OCD person so putting books back on a book shelf is a huge win in my home! Always happy to be your therapist, especially your book therapist!
Heck yes I’m stealing this post idea! Image too 🙂
And mass-market paperbacks are the smaller sized ones, like the ones you find in the airport.
Okay, that makes sense. It always confused me. I probably read a fair amount of them because they tend to be the cheapest and I am cheap. Errr … I assume mass market is what Target sells or is that trade paperback? To be fair, these days I mostly borrow from the library because that the cheapest and it’s a block away from my home!
Go for it!
I dog ear books all the time. I won’t if it isn’t mine but my books get beat up! I don’t even care! I love this, definitely using it on my blog as well!
Yay, someone else dog-ears books! It’s not just me! My books get beat-up too and I don’t mind either. In fact, it’s a point of pride with me. My most beat-up books are my most beloved books!