Sunday, November 02, 2008

A meme: simply because I wanted to look all literary and clever too. Be gone you with your jeers of ‘try hard’!

What was the last book you bought?
Pamela by Samuel Richardson - 18th century bodice ripper. Well, sort of. It’s not the book I was intending to buy while I stood browsing but you how those shelves of Penguin Classics suck you in.

Name a book you have read more than once
The Jane Austen books, Harry Potter…and most of the children’s books I own – rereading The Outsiders was great fun, On Equilibrium – John Ralston Saul, I do a lot of rereading so I guess most of my bookshelf.

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life?
A doubt a single book has done that. However, I was thinking about this as I read someone else’s answer and I realised that while a single book hasn’t changed my outlook books in general have changed the way I see life. Reading and humour and humorous takes on life give me a lightness that is not necessarily natural to my character. Or maybe that’s just growing up.

How do you choose a book? eg by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews?
All of those things; though I rarely buy a book unless I’ve read the first page based on the theory that if I find the first page unreadable it’s unlikely I’ll manage the whole book. I also buy books because I think I ought to read certain things – I suspect this makes me both immature and a snob.

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?
I read a lot more fiction than non-fiction but I can’t say that I really prefer one to the other. Lately, all I can read is fiction my mind isn’t coping with too much thought all that well.

What's more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
I often don’t notice the plot if the writing is beautiful and I often don’t notice the writing if the plot is gripping. Each has their own merits.

Most loved/memorable character
Oh dear, I’m bound to be caned for this one. The only character who
(characters are who, aren’t they?) I can think of right now is Neville Longbottom. I like a good nerdy little underdog – what can I say?

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
*investigates floor beside bed* The Death of Napoleon Simon Leys and Seven Poor Men of Sydney Christina Stead. They’re awfully dusty too.

What was the last book that you read?
The last book I read that wasn’t a reread was The Quincunx Charles Pallister.

Have you ever given up on a book halfway in?
Constantly. I will forever remain one third of the way through Anna Karenina. Oh well.

12 comments:

JahTeh said...

Nerds forever, but I just love Neville and can't wait to see him in battle.
Cedric Diggory is starring in one of those pop vampire books made into a movie.

Shelley said...

Oh gods, if they cut Neville's big moment I'm taking to the streets in protest! Cedric's best moment was three seconds after death.

Miles McClagan said...

If I did this, it would trail into an embarrassing trail of sports biographies and pop culture trails, since I supress my inner book worm...I blame the limited selection at my local bookmobile...

TimT said...

Henry Fielding disliked 'Pamela' so much that he wrote one of the original parodies, 'Shamela'. I've read 'Shamela' but not 'Pamela'.

Shelley said...

Miles, I'm sure it would be utterly charming and would stick it right up the snobs.

Tim, you're quite welcome to my copy when I'm done.

Anonymous said...

In a world of Yossarians and Finches and Durdens you pick Neville Longbottom? You are hereby caned.

Looooooooser!

Shelley said...

Finch?

I'd defend myself, Mark, but, well, I can't be arsed and I really have no defence. Oh well. So, your version of pretentious literary meme is..?

Anonymous said...

Oh, you want me to do it? OK but later.

Anonymous said...

FB says it's your birthday soon, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (Sorry I lost your email so I had to comment you.)

High Power Rocketry said...

: )

Anonymous said...

Yeah, yr site is even more boring than mine lately.

Shelley said...

Yeah, yeah.