Okay, so I’ve been seeing this 3o-day book challenge thing going around and I decided to try it out (anything to sooth a troubled mind that only wants to think about MFA programs sending out notices of acceptance but that really shouldn’t be thinking about that because oh god…oh god…oh god…ad infintum).
Looking over the list of the challenge, I thought “oh, that sounds quite fun” (we all know I’m a book nerd, don’t act so surprised). Then I thought “the one to make this better would be to do it all at once” (I say yes to instant gratification, apparently).
So, here goes:
The Rules…
Day 1: Favorite book
Can I possibly pick this? The answer is no. This changes all of the time. I could give you a list of what I term my “soul books:” but then you might know too much about me. So, I skip this one (see? I’m ALREADY cheating! On Number 1! I’m just cool like that.)
Day 2: Least favorite book
That I’ve ever read through? I’d have to say probably something by Jane Austen.
Day 3: Book that makes you laugh out loud
Apex Hides the Hurt By: Colson Whitehead, Me Talk Pretty One Day by: David Sedaris, Archer’s Goon by: Diana Wynne-Jones, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by: Douglas Adams, All Families are Psychotic by: Douglas Coupland, The Commitments by: Roddy Doyle.
Day 4: Book that makes you cry
As a defender of my stone-cold heart reputation, I scoff at this, while I’ve never cry-cried at a book, I have gotten teary-eyed at the last line of Lord of the Rings, the final battle in Harry Potter, the final scene of Of Mice and Men (but you would have to be the devil himself not to be moved by it).
Day 5: Book you wish you could live in
I don’t think I’d live in any, but I would visit Oz, Neverwhere, Unlundun, Hogwarts, and quite a few others.
Day 6: Favorite young adult book
Anything by Diana Wynne-Jones, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by: Terry Pratchett, Blitzcat by: Robert Westall, Unlundun by: China Mieville, The Graveyard Book by: Neil Gaiman.
Day 7: Book that you can quote/recite
The last lines of quite a few. Definitely whole passages of The Beach by: Alex Garland. Lines of dialogue from Harry Potter. certain passages from Ghosts and Lightning by: Trevor Byrne, Huge portions of Ffangs the Vampire Bat, some Calvino.
Day 8: Book that scares you
Hmmm…..I’ve never been consistently scared by a novel, but the short stories of MR James, “The Specialist’s Hat” by: Kelly Link, when I was younger Alvin Schwartz scary stories.
Day 9: Book that makes you sick
Like physically? What can this mean? Sick of the world? Then Beasts of No Nation by: Uzodinma Iweala (gorgeous book and completely traumatic to read).
Day 10: Book that changed your life
Several short stories: “The Twenty-Seventh Man” by: Nathan Englander, Bullet in the Brain” by: Tobias Wolff, and others.
Day 11: Book from your favorite author
Can’t pick a favorite author. Sorries!
Day 12: Book that is most like your life
Ha. Let’s see someone try to write my life. Okay, fine, I’ll answer, it’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Day 13: Book whose main character is most like you
Again, hmmm….I’d say I identify with the protagonist of The Little Friend by: Donna Tartt and Polly (sort of) of Fire and Hemlock. Also, Smaug,
Day 14: Book whose main character you want to marry
Yeesh, some of us have very certain plans to NEVER marry. And, seriously, this is just an odd question….I know the authors who would make excellent trophy husbands, though….
Day 15: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child
The Secret Garden
Day 16: Longest book you’ve read
Actually, I don’t know page length, here. The longest book I read at the youngest age though would have to be The Stand when I was ten. I read it when I was home sick in one twelve hour span. Talk about an experience.
Day 17: Shortest book you’ve read
Again, I’m not sure, about page length. Is this just a filler question?
Day 18: Book you’re most embarrassed to say you like
I would never be embarrassed for liking a book! That’s like being embarrassed about the people who you are in love with!
Day 19: Book that turned you on
Um, skipping with a *shudder*
Day 20: Book you’ve read the most number of times
Um, ha, there are so many I’ve read greater than 20 times. I reread things with a disturbing frequency. I can say that the top contenders for this position though are: books by Diana Wynne Jones, Harry Potter series, The Beach, Of Mice and Men, Le Morte D’Arthur, various fairy tales collections…
Day 21: Favorite picture book from childhood
Ffangs and Rumpelstiltskin (Paul O’Zelinsky version)
Day 22: Book you plan to read next
Finally, get around to The Hunger Games, the new Dan Chaon collection, the new Nathan Englander collection.
Day 23: Book you tell people you’ve read, but haven’t (or haven’t actually finished)
None. Honesty when it comes to books is always my only policy.
Day 24: Book that contains your favorite scene
Yeesh, I can’t pick one! Who could possibly pick just one scene???
Day 25: Favorite book you read in school
Goodness….I’m not sure.
Day 26: Favorite nonfiction book
Hoop Roots, Assassination Vacation (oh, Sarah Vowell, I love thee!), On Photography by: Susan Sontag, Jean Robert Houdin’s autobiography (though nonfiction should probably be applied loosely here)…
Day 27: Favorite fiction book
Yeah, like I’m going to pick.
Day 28: Last book you read
Mr. Fox by: Helen Oyeyemi.
Day 29: Book you’re currently reading
Rereading Heaney’s translation of Beowulf.
Day 30: Favorite coffee table book
I actually have to admit I don’t really know what a coffee table book is….Like an Art book? Then it would be the complete artwork of James C. Christensen or Donald Roller Wilson.
Pints And Cupcakes 