A-Z Book Survey

I found this thanks to Li, the original survey creator is Jamie @ the Perpetual Page-Turner 🙂

Author you’ve read the most books from:

I’m going to guess that it is Laurell K Hamilton as there are currently 23 books in her Anita Blake series, 8 Merry Gentry novels and various other books of hers that I have read and then there are the Marvel Comics as well. So, all in all, we’re looking at over 30 books 🙂

Best Sequel Ever:

Oh wow, this is a hard question. I read a lot of series and trilogies – basically after the first book I tend to get hooked and devour everything else. I can’t actually pick just one, so narrowing it down, I have four. Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet – books 2, 3 & 4 were all amazing and I have re-read them so many times. Next up is Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel Legacy series, namely books 2 and 3 about Phedre (Kushiel’s Chosen and Kushiel’s Avatar). They literally rocked my world. Those two are probably the top 2 for different reasons, so neither is first nor second, both equal 🙂

The next one is relatively new to my bookshelf – Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles. Chris and I are just devouring all of these books right now. Each book is amazing, each following book manages to get even better. Then finally there is Gail Z Martin’s Chronicle of the Necromancer series. I was blown away by the first book and the sequels again were just amazing, brilliant writing.

Generally, any series you see me reading on my Good Reads account must have a decent sequel because otherwise, I’d have given up after the first or second book.

Currently Reading:

• Dates from Hell (Anthology)
• Tricked (Kevin Hearne)
• Goddess of the Sea ( P. C. Cast)

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Anything, I don’t have a particular drink associated with reading.

E-reader or Physical Book?

Sadly, physical problems with my hands mean that holding books is quite painful and carrying them even more so. So e-reader wins for me right now.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Ha… Where do I start?! Probably Jonathan of Comte or George Cooper from Tamora Pierce’s Tortall series.

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

This could apply to any book I’ve ever picked up, really. So many incredible authors started with just trying one book, and now I have/want to read everything by them.

Hidden Gem Book:

Anything by Marianne Curley or Catherine Fisher. Curley is an Australian author and Fisher is British, so both tend to kinda get lost amongst all the well-known authors. I always find their work to be unique and fascinating. They’re both fantasy/sci-fi/magic genres, but they do tend to mix and match a lot.

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

I didn’t recognise this until applying for my English literature degree at the University of Glasgow, and I had to think about WHY I wanted to study that course. I realised then that the most important moment of my reading life was due to my dad. When I was a kid he read Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine with me and from that moment the world of fantasy opened for me. It was my first introduction to the world of literature where anything could happen, anything was possible, and it has influenced me as a reader and a writer.

Just Finished:

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare.

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I have to have some elements of fantasy or supernatural in my books. So anything just historical, or just romantic doesn’t interest me. Crime I love as TV shows, but as a reader, it doesn’t interest me. The only exception is some classics; I love Alexandre Dumas and the Bronte sisters.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

I honestly have no idea! Probably something non-fiction for one of my degrees, or Lord of the Rings. Maybe Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift or   As I was writing this I realised what specific book claims this title, well books as there are two, and I can’t be bothered to check their length 😛 Both were for comparative literature. One is The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (which also wins the weirdest book I’ve ever read award as well) and the second is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez.

Major book hangover because of:

Probably one of my current books; Goddess of the Sea by P C Cast. I’m kind of enjoying it and want to know what happens, however, I’m having some major issues getting into it as well.

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Two (only one is for books, the other is for DVDs) and I think there are at least 2 big crates full of books under the bed 😛 That isn’t including my digital shelf aka my Kindle 😉

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Alanna, the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce.

Preferred Place To Read:

I can read anywhere; in bed, sitting at my desk, or while travelling. Give me a book that I enjoy, and I’m lost in it for hours.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

A couple from Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel Legacy series which helped me grow as a person in many ways:

“Love as thou Wilt.”

“All knowledge is worth having.”

“That which yields is not always weak.”

“When Love cast me out, it was Cruelty who took pity upon me.”

Reading Regret:

Possibly not reading some books sooner? Although I’ve promptly caught up to date 😉 As is the case with Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and Gods of Olympus novels. And not having enough time to read all the books I want to read!

Series You Started And Need To Finish (all books are out in series):

Most of them are ongoing, so I’m either working my way through or waiting for the next book. I did just start the Mortal Instruments series, though, and so I’ve got the rest of that. I think I’m also one or two books behind on Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel legacy series (it’s comprised of three trilogies, I’m on the third trilogy but have not completed it).

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

• Old Magic by Marianne Curley
• Hounded by Michael Hearne
• Survivor’s Quest (Star Wars) by Timothy Zahn

Just three is evil by the way 😛

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Laurell K Hamilton’s novels, Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel Legacy, Anything by Marianne Curley and L.J. Smith, Percy Jackson, Tamora Pierce’s Tortall series, Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series… hell I could keep going for ages!

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Probably the next Heroes of Olympus book, House of Hades by Rick Riordan. It’s out a day before my birthday, so guess what list that’s going on! The way the last book ended… to say it was a cliffhanger is the understatement of the century. GIVE ME IT NOW!

Worst Bookish Habit:

Probably ignoring everyone and everything while reading. My mum banned me from reading books in the kitchen before dinner/while dinner was being prepared because she’d ask me stuff, and I’d just totally ignore her. Chris would probably say I have no ability not to squee or talk about books I’m excited about.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Kushiel’s Scion by Jacqueline Carey, is the first book on the second shelf. The top shelf is dedicated to all my Laurell K Hamilton books, so yeah she’s definitely my most-read author!

Your latest book purchase:

City of Bones and City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments books 1 & 2) by Cassandra Clare. We knew the movie was coming out, so we got them to read it before seeing it.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Oh, wow… most likely one of the Anita Blake books by Laurell K Hamilton. I was ill at the time and was reading three books a day, I was hooked. Nowadays, it tends to be MOST books I’m reading for pleasure 😉