A-Z Book Survey

Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner posted a book survey last Friday and encouraged the rest of us book bloggers to join in on the fun! There are 26 topics in the survey, one for each letter of the alphabet.

Author you’ve read the most books from.
It’s most definitely Francine Pascal because I think I read the entire Sweet Valley Twins series as a child. I don’t read many book series now (the one exception being Harry Potter). If we discount book series, then it's probably Ernest Hemingway.

Best sequel ever.
I rarely read series, so I truly don’t have a response for this letter.

Currently reading.
I’m still working on The Palace of Curiosities by Rosie Garland. I have not been reading very much these past couple of weeks.

Drink of choice while reading.
Coffee. I rarely read without a mug of coffee beside me. It’s no surprise that I’m addicted to books and caffeine.

E-reader or physical book?
Physical books. I do all of my work/intern reading on my iPad, so I prefer physical books when I read for fun. The difference between physical and digital formats helps me separate work and play, which I think is necessary because I read so much on a daily basis.

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school.
Back when I read the Gossip Girl series, I had a book crush on Dan Humphry. Which is absolutely ridiculously (and sort of true to my real-life high school dating experience) when you know how his character develops throughout the books.

Glad you gave this book a chance.
Looking for Alaska by John Green. I was pleasantly surprised after not enjoying TFiOS.

Hidden gem book.
Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan is absolutely wonderful magical realism. Whenever I mention it to someone, they look at me with a blank stare.

Important moment in your reading life.
When my 3rd grade teacher recommended Danny the Champion of the World by Road Dahl. It was the first time I took something out from the school library that was different from everyone else and I’m pretty sure it’s where my passion for my books began. I loved that story.

Just finished.
Y by Marjorie Celona. I loved this one. Literary fiction about children always keep me interested.

Kinds of books you won’t read.
I don’t read romance. It’s not that I won’t read it, but I prefer books to have a plot beyond “boy meets girl,” “boy meets boy,” girl meets transgender boy,” etc.

Longest book you’ve ever read.
Goodreads tells me it’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. I’m perfectly okay with this because it’s my favourite book of the series.

Major book hangover because of…
I always have a “book hangover” after reading a great magical realism novel. After reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, nothing I read was good enough. Most recently, I felt this way after reading The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.

Number of bookcases you own.
We currently have three big bookcases of books that have already been read (and my collection of fairy tale anthologies). I also have a smaller bookcase for my to-read “pile” and three small shelves for the vintage books I collect for my Etsy store.

One book you have read multiple times.
I’ve read Wicked by Gregory Maguire more than any other book. I re-read it every December (usually), so it’s become a sort of tradition.

Preferred place to read.
At home, I have a reading chair (which is somehow starting to fall apart now). However, I do like reading books at coffee shops – as long as they’re not too loud.

Quote from a book you’ve read that inspires you.
“I believe in story.” It’s a quote from Gregory Maguire’s What-the-Dickens and it (obviously) left a big impression.

Reading regret.
I regret neglecting contemporary books while in university. I fell in love with a lot of classics over the four years, but missed out on most of the new releases.

Series you started and need to finish.
Almost every single one. I have a habit of reading the first book in a series and never continuing. I plan to read the rest of The Hunger Games soon and I’d like to read all of His Dark Materials (I’ve only read The Golden Compass).

Three of your all-time favourite books.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter.

Unapologetic fangirl for…
Fairy tale retellings. Magical realism. Short story collections.

Very excited for this release more than all the others.
Night Film by Marisha Pessl. I think about this book on a daily basis (excerpts, interviews with the author) and it’s not out until August 20th.

Worst bookish habit.
I write, underline, and highlight in my books all of the time. I also break the spines and dog-ear pages. I know these things bother a lot of book lovers, but I’m of the opinion that a book should look (and be) well-read.

X marks the spot: the 27th book on my shelf.
Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel.

Your latest book purchase.
The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer.

Zzz-snatcher book (latest book that kept you up way late).
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. Middle grade books are always addictive.