A to Z – My Book Shelf

I saw this on Vandy’s blog The Testosterone Three & Me a long, long time ago, and had it bookmarked to do myself some day… and today’s the day!

Author you read the most books from: Hmmm…I’d have to say from a glance at my book shelf that the author I’ve read the most is Nicholas Sparks. However, I think I’ve kind of “grown out” of him & his books, as I haven’t really been wowed by any of his novels in the past ten years. Not sure why I keep buying them, actually!

Best Sequel ever: I’ve read a lot of series in the past few years, but I think my all-time favourite sequel (at least, I think you can call it that) – was Something Blue by Emily Giffin, the follow-up to Something Borrowed. I loved Giffin’s first novel and the characters she created, so the “sequel” involving most of the same cast was equally enjoyable.

Currently Reading: The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay (our next book club selection), as well as The Body Book by Cameron Diaz. I don’t usually have more than one book on the go, but these are two completely different genres, so I’m bouncing back and forth.

Drink of choice while reading: Water. I always have a big cup of cold water at my side. In the winter, I do enjoy cozying up in a quilt with a steamy mug of tea or hot chocolate to read, but even then, the cup of water is ever-present.

E-reader or Physical book: Physical book. I haven’t been won over by the e-readers yet. I love the smell of books, and I love holding them. I foresee eventually being forced into an e-reader (and I know they certainly have their advantages!) – but it makes me sad to think of no more real books. I’ll hold out as long as I can.

Fictional character you would have actually dated in high school: Oh, I’m always falling in love with the leading man in books I read! Most recently, the one that has fictionally “wooed” me was from Where We Belong by Emily Giffin. The story revolves around Marian, a successful career woman who gave up a baby for adoption when she was 18. That now-teenaged daughter, Kirby, finds her birth mother, thus turning Marian’s life upside down and unraveling many repressed memories from her teen years, and the boy she was in love with – Conrad Knight. Conrad was right up Jill’s alley, folks. The chapter when Marian goes back in time and describes falling in love with him and the romantic summer they spent together was pure bliss for me. Then when Marian and Kirby seek out now-adult-Conrad, we discover he’s still just as wonderful now as he was then. *sigh* Oh, and of course, he was a sexy musician. SWOON!

Glad you gave this book a chance: Okay, this is going to sound lame, but… Twilight by Stephenie Meyers. I swore up and down in the midst of the Twilight frenzie that I was NOT going to get sucked in by those dumb books. And I was NEVER going to fall in love with a sparkly vampire. Ermm… think again, Jill. The days I spent tangled up in Edward Cullen were total fictional heaven. I read only a few pages of a friend’s copy of the book, and I was hooked. Sign me up for the box set, the midnight movie premieres, the DVD’s… I did it all.  I even wore a Burger King crown with Edward and Jacob on it.  And I don’t regret one second of any of it.

Hidden gem book: The one that jumps out at me is Kit’s Law by Donna Morrisey. My Aunt Marion gifted me this novel for my birthday years ago, and it’s not one I ever would have picked out for myself – but only a few pages in, I was enthralled in the story of young Kit and her mentally handicapped mother Josie, living in a secluded Newfoundland village, and the secrets that swirl around them. I don’t suppose it’s really a “hidden gem”, as it’s a critically-acclaimed piece of Canadian fiction by a highly-touted Canadian author, but it was all new to me, and I loved it.

Important moment in your reading life: I can’t think of an exact moment – but whatever age it was that I started reading “chapter” books. The Baby-Sitters Club, Sweet Valley High, and RL Stine’s Goosebumps books opened up a whole new world to me. I don’t think I’ve been without a book on the go since then.

Just finished: The last book I finished (that was a few weeks ago) was Jack of All Trades by Charlene Graham, a memoir by a local woman on the life, dreams and accomplishments of her late husband, Jack Graham. I worked one summer for Jack when I was in my late teens, and have heard many of the great things he did while acting as mayor of a neighbouring community, so it was really fascinating to learn more about him through the eyes of his wife. I really enjoyed it.

Kinds of books you won't read: At this point, I wouldn’t really rule out anything, because in the recent past I’ve discovered fantastic reads that were genres I never imagined I’d like. I don’t like anything too gory and gruesome anymore, though. I need to be able to sleep at night.

Longest book you've read: Probably something by Stephen King. Some of those books are monstrosities (no pun intended!) – I read The Stand the winter of 2013 and it took me months. It was so, so, so long.

Major book hangover because of: They keep coming up in my answers, but I have to go with Twilight again. I was so wrapped up in that series that I felt like I’d never find another book to love that much ever again…

Number of bookcases you own: Kind of hard to answer… 2 official book cases, I guess, but books find themselves in many places in my house… Plus, my mom still has tons of my books on her shelves at home.

One book you've read multiple times: Strangely, I rarely read a book more than once (although I’m known for watching movies over and over and over again!) – but there’s this one little old Harlequin romance… I can’t even remember what it’s called, or who it’s by, but I stole it from my mom when I was a teen, and I have read it twice since then. It’s been a few years, though – I should really dig it out again! Just a light, fun read, with characters that stuck with me and a feel-good predictable love story.

Preferred place to read: The big blue armchair in my living room, the back deck in my Adirondack chair, or in bed.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:  It’s not exactly a warm and fuzzy quote, but it was from a book I read for a college literary course – the book was  called A Scientific Romance by Ronald Wright.  It wasn’t really my favourite book ever, but when I read this passage, it jumped out at me _ it so resonated with me - and I immediately wrote it down: 

Why is the echo richer than the source, and time remembered always grief?  People come and go, and you hardly notice how you feel, what you feel.  Then one day when you least expect it, remembrance slips like a blade into the heart: what you did and didn’t do, said and didn’t say; and suddenly you fall down into a cold and sunken place with only regrets for company, there gutted by sorrow and remorse and left to die.

Reading regret: Recently, that would be Don’t Go by Lisa Scottoline – I bought it at a local school’s book fair to support them, and the blurb on the back sounded interesting… but it was terrible. I forced my way through it, but the whole time, I was thinking, “Man, I hate this book. I can’t wait to be done it so I can read something else!!!” It was so sickly dramatic that you felt like screaming. I mean, the guy’s wife dies after accidentally stabbing herself in a “kitchen accident’ while he is overseas serving as a surgeon in the army, and then he comes home and drops his baby at his wife’s funeral? Like, come on now. And seriously, that was just the start of it! Soap operas pale in comparison to the over-the-top drama in this book. I’ve wasted some time on some silly reads over the years, trust me, but this one took the cake.

Series you started and need to finish (all books are out in series): The Divergent series – I read the first two, but haven’t gotten to the third one yet. I guess part of the problem is that I loved the first book, but was less enthused with the second. Not sure if the third is worth it.

Three of your all time favorite books:  I honestly don’t know if I can choose!  I need more time to think about this one!  But off the top of my head:  Twilight by Stephenie Meyers, Crow Lake by Mary Lawson, and Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

  

Unapologetic fan-girl for: Twilight and 50 Shades. I don’t regret or apologize for anything that wraps me up and takes me away to a different world for a little while – and those series’ did that for me. I was completely tied up in them while reading them.

Very excited for this release more than all the others:  I never really keep up on what books are being released… but somewhat book-related, I’m very excited to see the 50 Shades movie in February! ;)

Worst bookish habit:  Not being able to give them away… I mean, I already confessed that I rarely read a book twice, but somehow, I can’t ever give them away.  Even the ones I didn’t really like.  Also, I buy too many.  Especially when I’m at a used book sale.  My shelves are jammed with books I haven’t had a chance to read yet… But I love my collection!

X marks the spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:  A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews.  As I recall, a book club selection that nobody liked but me… it was darkly humorous and quirky and I enjoyed it.

Your latest book purchase: The Body Book by Cameron Diaz – it was my birthday gift to myself. Not the sort of book I would normally spring for, but because one of my goals for this year is to develop a better relationship with food and continue working on maintaining weight loss, it seemed a good idea to get started with a resource like this one. (Oh, OK – here’s the truth: I saw her pimping her book on Jimmy Fallon. And Jimmy could sell me anything.)

ZZZ snatcher book (the book that kept you up WAY late): Once again, gotta go with Twilight. I wish it was something more profound, more “elite” – but fact of the matter is, when I was reading the Twilight books, I’d climb into bed and tell myself, “Just one chapter” – and the next thing I’d know, it would be after midnight. If I’m still up reading, not head-bobbing, at midnight? Then you know this kid is totally enamoured by the book. I’ve read some really great books since then – but none that have ever kept me up reading into the wee hours of the morning like that book.

Feel free to steal this and do it yourself if you’re a book lover! :)