What kind of book are you most comfortable reading?
Contemporary fiction -- novels or short stories. When left to my own devices I always buy and read contemporary fiction. I have to be prodded somehow or other -- sometimes gently and sometimes with force -- to read just about anything else. I realize I am somewhat limited.
What kind of book do you love to hate?
Oprah's picks! I don't hate Oprah, but there is something about her book club and most of the choices that really irk me. I can't explain it, but something about using the Oprah marketing machine to sell books really bothers me and immediately turns me off. Any other TV Show book club selection is the same kind of turn off for me.
What was the last book you surprised yourself by liking?
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. This was my most recent book club selection and I was interested in it, but only mildly. I ended up really loving this book and I'd like to read more by Achebe. It is really beautifully structured and written. It was a nice surprise.
What was the last book you surprised yourself by disliking?
PopCo by Scarlett Thomas. It sounded like a book I would love, it was recommended to me by a RA librarian, and it was chosen by my book club. It was just incredibly disappointing.
What would be the worst book to be marooned on a desert island with?
Right now I would have to say the book I am currently reading. It is Pretty Little Mistakes and I wasn't sure about it when I bought it, but I took a chance. It is a choose your own adventure type story and I used to love those when I was a kid so I was intrigued by one geared for female adults, but it sucks. I keep dying in 4 pages -- that would not be inspiring on a desert island. Next time I die, I am considering myself finished with the book.
What book would you take with you if you suspected you might be marooned in the near future?
I would have to take one of my husband's many, many survival books. It is one of his favorite genres. And I am not talking about the Worst Case Scenario books either, I am talking serious survival. Probably the one issued by the U.S. Army is the best choice.
What forces you to read outside your comfort zone?
Friends -- especially those who write amazing reviews on their blogs. And book club.
4 comments:
Oh, me too with Things Fall Apart. Was amazed by that wonderful book. And I'm wary of Oprah's book club books, too. Get very annoyed when she chooses one I've read and liked.
I loved Things Fall Apart too. But I've got PopCo on my shelves and now I'm not sure I'll like it ... and I agree that blogs get me out of my comfort zone very well!
Emily -- have you read any of his other books? If so, what do you recommend?
Dorothy -- I don't advise bothering with PopCo because I found it so disappointing. But if you do read it, let me know what you think. Maybe you'll see something I didn't.
Sorry, can't help you. Just as you did, I read that one, made a mental note that I needed to read more by him, and -- guess what? -- haven't.
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