Redone Literature Survey

After a discussion about books with another ODer, I had mentioned this survey. I decided (mostly because I’m procrastinating going to work) to retake this. Because books rule! BOOKS!

What book are you reading now?
I’m reading two:
1. The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey (for work and frankly, it’s crap)
2. The Essential Kabbalah by Daniei C. Matt (which I am re-reading because I like the book)

What are your favorite books? [You can put specific books or genres or both.]
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The King James Version Bible
The Bhagavad-Gita (which I may have spelled wrong)
Tales of a Wayside Inn by H.W. Longfellow
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemmingway
Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac
The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov
The Dune Series by Frank Herbert
I’Ching
The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan
The Stainless-Steel Rat Series by Harry Harrison
The Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee
Anything by Franz Kafka
The Myth Series by Robert Lynn Aspren
The Hagakure
Bushido-Shoshinshu
The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher
1984 by George Orwell
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I’m going to stop now but the list goes on.

How did you learn to read? 
I’ve known how to read as long as I can remember. I don’t remember learning but I think it was my grandparents that taught me how. 

What foreign languages do you read?
I can read some Spanish and even less German but I’m working on it. 

What ‘s the funniest book you ever read?
The Myth Series by Robert Lynn Aspren

What books have changed the way you look at the world or the way you live your life?
The Bible, The Bhagavad-Gita, The Norse Sagas, The I’Ching, The Art of War, The Hagakure, Bushido-Shoshinshu, God Is A Verb by Rabbi David Cooper, Zen Guitar by Philip Tushio Sudo, Dharma Punx by Noah Levine

What books have affirmed what you believe about life or the way you look at things?
The Origin of Species by Darwin (Though the effect was the opposite of what you might think), Brave New World, A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking 

What books have you changed your mind about?
The Red Badge of Courage I first read it when I was about 10 or 11 and didn’t care for it. But somewhere around 16 or 17 I read it again and liked it. 

What are some of the scariest books you’ve ever read?
 "The Shining", "It", and "Misery" all by Stephen King

About how many books do you think you have you read in your life?
Somewhere between 500 and 600 by now.
 

About how many books do you own? 
I don’t know. Probably upwards of 200.
 

How many books per month do you usually borrow from the library? 
All  of my books are given to me, come from book fairs or are bought at Edwin McKay’s. (Or if I’m lucky I’ll find a book or two I like in the free section at Edwin McKay’s.) Rarely I’ll by one at Barnes and Noble. Been hitting a lot of random independent bookstores any time I go out of town.
 

How much would you say you’ve paid in library fines in your life? 
I paid 1 dollar to have my card replaced. That’s been it.

Do you read in bed?
Sometimes
 

Do you ever read while walking or driving? 
While walking.
 

OK, let’s get real. Where is the strangest place you’ve read a book?
Under a bridge. 

Do you listen to audio books? 
Sometimes. I love Matt Dillion’s reading of Kerouac’s On the Road. And Doctor Sax and the Great World Snake also by Kerouac. Actually, those are the only two audio books I own. 

Has anyone ever read aloud to you or you to them? Tell us more.
My mom did when I was a child and I’ve read aloud to my wife when she’s been sick.

What book was the most difficult to read?
War and Peace. I can’t remember who’s who long enough to make it through the whole book. I’ve finally gotten about 2/3 of the way through it…but then I lost track again. Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin is another one. It’s just so damn slow and boring and, I don’t know. I just get this vibe underlying it all that says, "Look at me! I’m writing an epic fantasy story! I am the greatest!" And I’m all, "Calm down, George! You’re no Tolkien. Hell, you aren’t even a Robert Jordan. Just chill."

Do you read every word of a book, or skip parts that don’t hold your interest?
 If it’s a book I’ve never read before, I read every word. If it’s a book I’m reading again, I may skim through parts.

What books do you keep intending to read but put off? 
Into the Wild
War and Peace
The Divine Comedy

There’s more but that’s all I can remember from the top of my head.

Do you buy new or used books, paperbacks or hardbacks, leather or collector’s items? 
All the above. I also get free books from some stores or from hand-me-downs and pass-alongs. 

How do you feel about writing in books, dog earing, etc 
Depends. I write notes in my Bible. I’ve got notes and passages underlined in the Bhagavad-Gita, The Art of War, The Hagakure and various study texts or may occasionally underline a passage in a book that speaks to me (my copy of Leaves of Grass by Whitman has several such places), but I don’t dog-ear pages.

What is the first book you remember reading
Haha! Big Max. Still have it somewhere. 

Do you lend your books?
Only if I REALLY trust you. And you swear a blood oath that I will get it back in the same condition I lent it to you in.

What were your favorite books when you were a child 
Peter Pan and Wendy
The Three Musketeers
The Foundation Trilogy
The Chronicles of

Narnia
Anything by W.E.B. Griffin

What children’s books do you most enjoy as an adult 
The Hobbit
The Chronicles of Narnia 
Peter Pan and Wendy

What books would you especially recommend to young people?
Any of the ones on that last list, the Bible, anything that actually interests them.

Do you ever read the ending first?
The only time I will do that if it’s a genre I like but an author I’ve never heard of. If the book looks interesting, I pick it up, I read the insert regarding what the books about, the Chapter titles, if any, and if I’m still not convinced about whether I want the book or not, I’ll read the last few paragraphs.

 

DUELLING BOOKS

Did you ever agree to read the book somebody was pushing on you
Rarely. I have to know that the person’s tastes are similiar to mine. If anyone else mentions "Oh I read such and such and I liked it" and they tell me what it is about and that’s the end of the conversation, then I’m more likely to read it. If someone goes on and on about a book, I won’t read it simply because my expectations of the book will far exceed the writer’s abilities. (That’s the reason I’ve never read a single Harry Potter book. And I made the mistake of reading the first Twilight book because it was so highly recommended.) The only exception to that is if I like the author’s other works.

Have you ever read a book more than once? If so, mention them and
why you read them more than once, please.
Several. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Series, The Art of War, the Hagakure, Bushido-Shoshinshu, The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, The Dark Tower Series, The Myth Series, Crime and Punishment, A Scanner Darkly. The list goes on. As to why, because they are great books.

What frequently recommended books have you been unable to finish?
The Divine Comedy (Haven’t gotten past Inferno) 

 

What favorite books of yours are extremely long?
 Crime and Punishment, The Lord of the Rings series, The Dark Tower series, The Wheel of Time Series and the Dragon Riders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey