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Jul
09
My Love Affair With Books
2008 at 2pm Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
I bumped into this book meme over at Julia’s Book Corner and thought I’d use it as a “getting to know me” post, since I’m relatively new to the blogging world.
1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
–In the same way that I can’t pinpoint the moment I fell in love with my husband, I can’t remember how I developed a love for reading. It’s just always been there. My parents read to me constantly, and when I was able to read on my own, I’d hide under my covers with a flashlight after bedtime. My little sister loved the outdoors and was always begging me to come outside and play, but in the oppressive Kansas heat and humidity–especially in August–the air conditioned comfort of my couch and the company of a good book always sounded better. Reading has always been a part of my life, and the more I get of it, the more I want.
What are some books you read as a child?
–A better question would be what didn’t I read. I loved Dr. Seuss, Amelia Bedelia, and Frog and Toad. As I got a little older, The Babysitter’s Club became an obsession. I’d walk over to my friend Kate’s house, and we’d sit in her sunroom eating chips & salsa and talking about the latest edition. During my ‘tween years, I must have read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret fifteen times. I couldn’t wait to get my period and have breasts the size of tennis balls.
What is your favorite genre?
–I prefer literary fiction, memoir, and random, interesting nonfiction. I can’t really get into romance, sci-fi, mystery, or history. I also don’t care much for chick lit.
Do you have a favorite novel?
–What a cruel question! I have several favorites, and the Top 5 list changes based on what kind of mood I’m in and what I’ve been reading recently. A Prayer for Owen Meany has been a favorite for many years, and I love The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Most recently, The Gargoyle earned a place on my favorites list, and I think The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society could be a good contender as well.
Where do you usually read?
–I read pretty much anywhere and everywhere. At home, I curl up on the right side of the couch during the day or prop up on my favorite pillow in bed at night. I read during my lunch break at work, anytime I’m waiting somewhere (at the doctor’s office, the mechanic, etc.), in the airport, on planes, in between heats at my niece & nephew’s swim meet. You get the picture. My favorite out-of-town reading spot is my in-laws’ front porch.
When do you usually read?
–I read whenever I get the chance. My daily reading routine includes about an hour when I first get home from work, 30-45 minutes before bed, and another hour or two in between, just depending on what’s going on and whether there’s anything I want to catch on TV. I usually spend most of the day on Sunday reading on the couch with my basset hound Millie.
Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
–Nope. I usually just read one book at a time becuase I found that if I had more than one going, I started to confuse details and conflate storylines, and it was generally pretty chaotic. However, I minored in English in college and managed to keep my school books straight while always have a leisure-reading book on the side.
Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
–Not really. I write in all of my books, but I probably make more notes in nonfiction books. That’s the only difference I can really think of.
Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library
I buy almost all of the books I read because I like to write in them and make notes for later. Occasionally, I’ll take advantage of my store’s employee book loan program and check out a new release I want to read immediately but can’t justify buying yet due to the size of my TBR pile. I also trade books with a few friends, but if I like the ones they send, I almost always end up buying my own copy.
Do you keep most of the books you buy?
–Yes. Again, because I write and make notes in books, I like to keep them for re-reading and future use. This really came in handy when I wanted quotes from many of my favorite books for various uses in my wedding.
If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
–I don’t have kids, but I do have 4 nieces and 3 nephews, and I love reading with them. Junie B. Jones is very popular with the girls, and my 9-year-old nephew loves the Mike Lupica sports books. The book I most look forward to sharing with them (and maybe with my kids someday) is The Giver by Lois Lowry. I loved it at 13, and again at 23, and I’ll probably continue to reread it every few years.
What are you reading now?
–Right now I’m reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
–Yes. I tend to buy a lot of books (big surprise there), and I also accumulate ARCs and books I receive as gifts, so I always have a TBR pile at home (housed in a cute cubby in my bedside table). Right now, there are 18 books on the pile. I also keep a list on my desktop of TBRs so I’ll have plenty to choose from when the next shopping trip rolls around. I think there are 50ish books there right now.
What’s next?
–Next is an ARC of The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. I’ve been hearing wonderful things about it and can’t wait to get started.
What books would you like to reread?
–There are so many. I reread The Catcher in the Rye and The Great Gatsby every year or two. I’d love to go back through many of the classics I read in high school and college and gain a new appreciation for them.
Who are your favorite authors?
–in no particular order: John Irving, Toni Morrison, David Sedaris, Jhumpa Lahiri…there are so many more. Andrew Davidson is a good contender, but we’ll have to see what he comes out with after The Gargoyle.
Love this meme!