Book Survey stolen from Elf Radio

And all I can do is read a book to stay awake
And it rips my life away, but it’s a great escape
      ~Blind Melon 

What was your favourite children’s book?

Hmmm….there are probably too many to name here.  When I was really little, I remembered loving Where the Wild Things Are, but I don’t have many memories of reading at such a young age.  The books I remember are the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary.  Those are still some of my favorites to the day especially Ramona Forever and Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

What book have you read over and over?

There are tons that I re-read all the time, but I’m guessing Remember me to Harold Square is probably one I’ve read the most.  It’s a kids book.  The Secret of the Seven Crows is probably a good second.

What was your favourite bedtime story?

As a kid, I’m sure I loved fairytales and I used to have these coloring books with fairytales.  As a kid, I loved Cinderella but I hate the story now.

Do you like to be read to?

Yes.  I used to love being read to when I was younger.  When I got older, I don’t think I’ve been read to.  But now I listen to books on CD which is like being read to and I LOVE it because I catch a lot more when I’m hearing it.

What’s your favourite fairytale?

Aladdin

What did your parents always read to you?

Thakurmar Jhooli which loosly translates to Grandmother’s Basket.  It’s old Bengali fairy tales.  I’ve been wanting to translate them to English now for a long time.  The stories are great and full of adventure.

What’s your favourite book?

Yeah right…like I can pick one.  Ok, if forced to, I’d say the Mahabharata but there are tons of other books I love just as much.

What book are you reading now?

The Memoirs of Helen of Troy : A Novel   It’s great so far.  It’s the story of Helen told from her perspective to her daughter Hermione.  I’ve always loved Greek Mythology, especially anything connected to the Trojan War so I’m enjoying it greatly.  Next I have The War at Troy.  I’m on a Trojan roll.

What book do you think best represents your life?

There’s a book called Born Confused that I totally love and can relate to in so many ways.  The same goes for a lot of The Namesake. 

What book would you like to live in, if possible?

Oh wow…let’s see.  I would love to live in the Harry Potter books but only if I was a witch…I couldn’t handle being a muggle…that would be like my boring life now.  Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, The Belgariad and Malorean….all of those would be great books to live in.  All of those are also fantasy books.

Did reading a book ever change your life?

Not a particular book…but just reading in general.  It takes me worlds I would never have known about otherwise.

Who is your literary hero or heroine?

Oh wow.  Too many to name, but I’ll try.  Atticus Finch.  Albus Dumbledore.  Ender Wiggins. Aragorn.  Arjun from the Mahabharata.    Wow…do I not have any heroines?  Hmm….Emma (Jane Austen’s), Jo March, Scarlett O’Hara.

What book always makes you happy to read?

 anything by Beverly Cleary or Judy Blume or Paula Danzinger

What book always makes you sad to read?

Hmmm…sad in a good way?  To Kill a Mockingbird

Who is your favourite author/poet?

Don’t know that I can name just one.  Orson Scott Card.  Jhumpa Lahiri.  Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.  Amy Tan.  Poets would be Wordsworth and Tagore

What is your favourite series?

Hmmm…asked a few years ago and I would have said The Wheel of Time but Jordan sucks and I’ve lost track of who all the characters are and grew bored with the series.  So probably the Ender’s series for Scott’s amazing story and writing and The Belgariad and Malorean just for pure fun…Eddings isn’t the greatest author, but he sure is a fun read.

Is the book always better than the movie?

99.9% of the time.  There are a few excpetions.  I’ll probably get killed for saying this but Lord of the Rings is one of them.  Tolkein’s writing style is so boring at times and reads like a boring history book.  I love the overall story, but the reading can get tedious.

What would be your pen name if you were an author?

I have one in mind, but I won’t say it…just in case I decide to write a book some day 🙂

Do you ever cry when you read a book?

Hell yes.  The last book I cried at was probably Half-blood Prince when Dumbledore died.

Do you like reading short stories?

Yes I do.

Do you have a favourite short story?

There are a bunch of Jhumpa Lahiri ones that I love but mostly Third and Final Continent and When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine.  Brokeback Mountain is also a really good short story.  There are a few I remember reading in high school and loving back then, but none of the names really come to mind now.  I think there was one called The Lady or the TIger and another one called A Mother in Mansfield but of course I don’t remember who wrote them and only remember a little about what they were about.  I just remember loving them back then.

What author can’t you stand?

Robert Jordan.  Pretentious jack ass that he is.  I don’t think he even knows what he’s doing any more.

Who do you wish you could write like?

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Jhumpa Lahiri, or Amy Tan

Do you still read books you used to like as a child?

All the time…stuff by Cleary and Blume, and Danzinger…those are my favortie kid/pre-

teen/teen authors.

If you could be any literary character, who would you be?

Polgara the Sorceress or  Jo March

If you could marry any literary character, who would you marry?

Attlicus Finch because he’s so wonderful with his kids and has great morals that he stands up for.
Silk from the David Eddings books because he’s just so hilarious and I bet he’d be fun.
Albus Dumbledore because he’s so damn brilliant! (Why are none of the professors married??

That’s probably all…most characters in books are so flawed…which is good because it makes them real.  But flawed in ways that would not make them appealing as a husband.