The Book Lover Survey

For some reason or another I've never done a 'tag' post, which is quite strange as I quite like reading them and they're a really nice and simple idea. I spotted this tag over on Jennie's blog Sail Boat, and thought that I'd jump on board (pun highly intended). Jennie's blog is also one that I've been reading for years, which tends to make me feel a bit stalkerish, but I do love her photography and her pet rabbit. So cute!

Anyway, away from the fangirling and onto the tag!

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I remember my parents reading to me before bed when I was very young, and then as my reading skills grew I began to get impatient with them and just started reading on my own. I think it just took off from there and I began to devour books. I looked forward to trips to the local library and would take out lots of books from the school library too. Some of my friends have mentioned in the past that my family home isn't as full of books as they would have thought, and that's because my family have always been a big champion of libraries and borrowing books. And that scene in Beauty and the Beast where he gives her the library? Yep, that's my favourite bit. Libraries are pretty damn magical, and that's why whenever I hear about another one being forced to close, I get a little bit sad. Boo to the government. Maybe I should make a placard?

Where do you usually read?
I love reading in bed. So comfy and the best place to wind down, unless you're reading a really exciting book and you just can't put it down so you end up reading into the early hours. Many a tired morning has been made from reading until 3am.

I actually found it really difficult to read in other places during my English degree, as I would just associate reading with lying on my bed relaxing. Sitting in a hard chair in the freezing or boiling hot library (depending on what mood it was in) was a challenge, especially when I had to analyse the writing instead of just enjoy it.

Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?
When I was at uni I got used to reading a few books at a time (and pretending that I'd read a few too!), but outside of studying I just like to have one book on the go, otherwise one gets neglected or I forget what's happening in the storyline.

What is your favourite genre?
Definitely dystopian fiction or books with really big themes in them like, WHAT IS LIFE? and such. I love the His Dark Materials trilogy for the whole religion/science debate and basically anything Margaret Atwood writes. For she is god.

Is there a genre you will not read?
Any book that has a pastel coloured cover, so basically chick lit. I've tried reading a few and they just tend to be too fluffy for me or I get annoyed with the main character.

Do you have a favourite book?
Oooh, a difficult question. This has definitely changed quite a few times as others have come in and bumped my previous favourites off the top spot. I have some favourites that I haven't read again for fear of not liking them anymore (Northern Lights) but this if my current list of all time top favourites - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Grapes of Wrath, Kafka on the Shore, The Poisonwood Bible, Never Let me Go, Oryx and Crake, and Brave New World. But there's probably more...

What is your least favourite book?
Oooh I've read a few stinkers over the years of my degree (sorry English lecturers), but I've also subjected myself to a few ones that were also pretty awful in my eyes. So much so that I wrote a blog post about them!

What is the longest book you have ever?
When I was at school I would deliberately choose books by their thickness, and the thicker the better. I think I was just being a show-off, as I thought that the big books would make me look more intelligent. Some of my favourite books are pretty hefty though like The Grapes of Wrath and The Poisonwood Bible, but I think the biggest might have been one of the Harry Potters - probably Order of the Phoenix. But that just means you get to stay in the world of the story that little bit longer.

What was the last book you bought?
I took a trip to Oxfam the other day to look for some books for the #bloggerbookswap that I'm taking part in and ended up buying one for myself. Such are the hazards of entering a bookshop. I'm actually on a book ban as I have a ridiculous amount of books that I've never read sat on my shelf, but I picked up Girl, Interrupted as I'd been meaning to read it for some time after watching the film. And the book is always better than the film. Unless it's Atonement.

Do you prefer library books or buying books?
I think I've already mentioned this, but I really do like borrowing books and libraries are so important to so many communities and towns. Plus, when you borrow books you get to enjoy all the little quirks that come with a library book, like seeing who last checked it out, (curse you barcodes for taking this small pleasure away!) or where they've stopped and folded down the corner of a page.

What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading a book of short stories about roller derby called Derby Shorts. Yes, it has an amazing pun for a title. I think I'll do a review on it too as it combines my two loves at the moment. Although I am keen to get started on Girl, Interrupted.


Let me know if you're going to do this tag too, as I really enjoy reading about what other people love about books!