I've noticed lots of memes making the rounds lately, so not to be left out, I thought I'd pick one to answer as well. I grabbed this meme from Stefanie. Some of the questions look familiar, but depending on the day, my answers tend to change, so here goes.
Do you remember how you developed a love of reading? My mom used to work in an elementary school library, and she would occasionally bring me to work with her when I was too little to be at school myself. I have vague recollections of the library, and even better ones of eating lunch (or butter sandwiches and cartons of milk) in the lunchroom with the other (big) kids. My mom also took me and my sisters to the library often. I would love to know what books I borrowed from the library as a kid. I remember some, but too many have long since faded in my mind. Surely that's where my love of libraries and books started.
What are some books you loved as a child? We had an illustrated Treasure Island that I remember looking at (not sure if I ever read it back then). I loved The Boxcar Children, and Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew, of course, as well as Patricia Coombs's Dorrie the Witch books (which are mostly out of print and I wish I could find). I also remember reading Encyclopedia Brown mysteries. When I was a bit older I loved anything by Judy Blume.
What is your favorite genre? I read lots of historical fiction as well as mysteries.
Do you have a favorite novel? I don't think I can pick just one. Sometimes it's just the last book that I really, really enjoyed.
Where do you usually read? I read mostly on the bus coming to and going from work as well as while walking on the treadmill or riding the stationary bike. I, of course, prefer stretching out on the sofa or in bed and relaxing while reading, but that doesn't always happen.
When do you usually read? Whenever I can fit it in during the day. I read on my breaks and at lunch when I'm working. I read right before and after work on my bus rides and while exercising. I wish I could read more at night, but usually I am so tired in the evenings I don't get very far in my book before I fall asleep. I spend time on my (slow) computer at home at night, though sometimes I will take a night off from the web if I am close to finishing a book and would rather read instead.
Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time? I think we all know the answer to that one. I generally have a stack started and tend to rotate reading a few every day.
Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? I'm a very slow nonfiction reader. I love nonfiction, but given a choice I will pick up a novel rather than a nonfiction book. I'm trying to get into the habit this summer of reading a little nonfiction every day, however. So many NF book look so good, but they are so full of details it takes me a while to process everything.
Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out from the library? Yes. All of the above actually (though I rarely borrow them from friends or family). I buy lots of books, but then I borrow lots of them, too. The borrowed books have due dates so they usually get preferential treatment. I also mooch them!
Do you keep most of the books you buy? I wish I was better and weeding and recycling books, but I do usually keep most of the books I buy. If I liked it, I have a hard time parting with it. If I really didn't like the book or think I really will never read it again, I will put it up for mooching. The thing with getting rid of books--I never know when I'll be interested in a subject again and I've more than once sold a book only to want to read again later.
If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? I don't have kids, but I do buy my niece books. When she was younger I bought her lots of Dr. Seuss books. Lately it's been Pippi Longstocking, Charlotte's Web, The Secret Garden, The Little Princess and the Anne of Green Gables books. Lots of books I missed reading when I was younger.
What are you reading now? I mentioned my current reads here. I hope to finish Poppy Adams's The Sister in the next couple of days. I've always been working on Bibi Gaston's The Loveliest Woman in America: A Tragic Actress, Her Lost Diaries, and Her Granddaughter's Search for Home, which I've really been enjoying. It's a meandering biography, but meandering in a good way. My other current reads are on my right sidebar.
Do you keep a To Be Read List? Well, sort of. It's more of a mental list as I have lists of books I want to read all over the place. Usually as I am nearing the end of the book I'm already contemplating what I want to read next. In many cases (though not always) the book is chosen long before I've turned the last page on the book in hand.
What’s next? I'll definitely be reading Georges Simenon's The Bar on the Seine soon. I'll probably also be picking one of these library books when I finish The Sister. I'll be reading Fanny Fern's Ruth Hall for the Slaves and Tobias Wolff's Old School for Cornflower's book group sometime in the next month.
What books would you like to re-read? I don't reread as much as I would like to. One of my favorite books to read over and over is Joanne Harris's Chocolat and a few of Clare Chambers's novels are complete comfort reads to me that I could happily go back to again and again.
Who are your favorite authors? Too many to mention, I think. A few that come to mind are Kate Chopin, Margaret Atwood, Jane Austen, Wilkie Collins, Jacqueline Winspear, Elizabeth George, Daphne du Maurier, Deanna Raybourn, Elizabeth Taylor, Mary Wesley, Barbara Pym....
One of these days I WILL read a Clare Chambers book. I get the feeling I'd enjoy them a bunch too. Oh and did you have a hard time finding Ruth Hall? I went to four bookstores and no one had it... I did find it on Amazon so am just now waiting for it!
Posted by: iliana | July 16, 2008 at 04:53 PM
I just posted my meme answer at my new blog. I think we have a decent amount in common as to what we read and like -- as if it's not enough that I found someone else that loves Wilkie Collins. Check it out!
Posted by: kristen m. | July 16, 2008 at 06:10 PM
What a wonderful story about your mom taking you to the school library when you were small! And now you work in a library too. I'd say it definitely had an influence on your love of reading :)
Posted by: Stefanie | July 16, 2008 at 07:46 PM
Iliana--I think you would enjoy Clare Chamber's work as well! I lucked out on the Ruth Hall book--it is one that I bought at one of the last library sales on a whim. I never would have found it here locally otherwise.
Kristen--Thanks--I'll check out your meme answers, too. It's always nice to find a fellow Wilkie Collins fan!
Stefanie--I'm not sure how often she took me, but I remember going and thinking how cool it was to be there. My parents pretty much left it up to me what to choose to read, but they always made sure I had access to lots of books--always a good thing!
Posted by: Danielle | July 16, 2008 at 09:29 PM
I see what you mean about Chocolat - I've just finished reading it for the first time and it's definitely one I'll read again.
Posted by: BooksPlease | July 17, 2008 at 12:40 AM
It's always fun reading these memes. I'm looking forward to reading Chocolat for the first time, and I like all the favourite authors you list!
Posted by: litlove | July 17, 2008 at 03:17 AM
Recycling - come visit me one day. I will teach you how to let go without too many tears.
Posted by: Isabel | July 17, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Very fun! I like reading nonfiction, but I do find it hard to take in all the facts sometimes, so I read it slowly too, unless it's more of a narrative. If I don't read it slowly, I know I won't remember it, although the chances of me not remembering it are pretty good no matter what ... sigh.
Posted by: Dorothy W. | July 17, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Oh, this is fun. I think I'll still it for my blog. It's always interesting to me to hear about people's reading interests - I love finding out what I do and don't have in common with other readers.
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on The Sister. It's an interesting book.
Posted by: Susan | July 17, 2008 at 03:23 PM
I enjoyed reading your answers. You get an impressive amount of reading done considering you're always multi-tasking. I have a hard time reading anything besides magazines on the bike/treadmill. I don't know who Clare Chambers is...must rectify that.
Posted by: Tara | July 17, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Participated here:
http://cozynook.blogspot.com/2008/07/book-meme.html
As for the Dorrie books, see if this link works:
http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?author=patricia+coombs&title=dorrie&lang=en&submit=Begin+search&new_used=*&destination=us¤cy=USD&binding=*&isbn=&keywords=&minprice=&maxprice=&classic=on&mode=advanced&st=sr&ac=qr
Posted by: LindaY | July 17, 2008 at 07:12 PM
BooksPlease--I'm glad you liked it, too!
Litlove--I think you'll like Joanne Harris, if you've not yet read her. You should also try Gentlemen and Players, too!
Isabel--You are very good at recycling, aren't you! Maybe someday...
Dorothy--I think writing about NF has helped me remember a bit more than normal, but I still forget way too much as well. And I'm moving particularly slowly on the bio I'm reading right now. I think that's also partly why I must choose fiction more often--more gratification at actually finishing something relatively quickly.
Susan--I really enjoyed The Sister--very unusual. I think I have more questions now than anoswers, though.
Tara--I think books are the only thing that gets me walking every day. It feels good to walk, but sometimes it feels good to be lazy, too! I think you'd like Clare Chambers--I've enjoyed her books.
Linda--Thanks--I'll go read your answers, too. These area always great fun to read. And thanks for the Dorrie link--I used to have several of those books, but I think they got recycled--given away or thrown out--a pity!!
Posted by: Danielle | July 18, 2008 at 03:17 PM