Book Meme

Gotten from So Many Books blog. somanybooksblog.com/ and www.ofbooksandbikes.wordpress.com If you are interested, please do this meme on your blog and connect me to your site so I can see your answers! Good luck, and it is fun.

1. Do you remember learning to read? How old were you? I don't remember learning how to read. I only remember knowing how to read. When I was 7, I received a cookbook (My First Cookbook, by Hamlyn Books) and a hardcover fairytale book - The Bluebird, for Christmas 1970. I adored both books, and began cooking recipes from the book shortly after (with varying degrees of success!) and still have The Bluebird, although it is missing the jacket. I do remember, as a very young child - say about 7? - sitting on floor with a book my mother had had as a child, filled with nursery rhymes, and reading the book, fascinated by the old pictures. It was from the 1930's or 1940's.

2. What do you find most challenging to read? Anything dry. Psychology, statistics (without a context, that is), math, books on economics, religious books.

3. What are your library habits? I love the library! Although I don't go as much now, it's because I want to own books now. So I go rarely - having two young kids also means I don't get to read as much, so while I borrow to the maximum, I rarely end up reading them all! and borrowing doesn't make sense since I don't always want to read what I have borrowed, right away. I used to do alot of borrowing and reading at the library. It is a good source for books that are out of print, and for trying authors that I am not sure about yet.

4. Have your library habits changed since you were younger? Oh yes. See above answer. For many years I read far more books borrowed from the library, than bought. And I go rarely now, due to time constraints and wanting to own my own books now.

5. How has blogging changed your reading life? Yes! even though I am new at this, already I have books to be read for next year that I might not have gotten around to reading, thanks to book blogs and reading challenges. I find out about other authors and books through what other people write. It's like having an online friend who I meet for tea and discuss books - not a book club, more an indepth (or not!) review of books with a book friend. And I greatly miss this in my life because I love books and so few people around me do. I love them anyway, and blogging has made me feel a larger part of the book-reading public.
6. What percentage of your books do you get from new book stores, second hand book stores, the library, online exchange sites, online retailers, other? 70% at new bookstores, the rest second hand.
7. How often do you read a book and not review it on your blog? What are your reasons for not blogging about a book?
Since I have just started my blog this fall, I have reviewed every book I have read since the beginning of Sept. Even if it's a few lines only.
8. What are your pet peeves about the way people treat books? Bending the corners, writing in them unless the book is going to be treasured and kept forever, and the idea of a book burning sends shivers down me.
9. Do you ever read for pleasure at work? yes! During my lunches, fairly often now. Not as much as I used to, because I go for my walks during lunch,if the weather permits. But I read if I can't go out, and sometimes if I take a short walk I can still fit reading in while I eat. Reading at lunch is something I have done for years, ever since school!
10. When you give people books as gifts, how do you decide what to give them?
I try to think of what kinds of books they like, and if I have read the book myself or can recommend the author. I hate giving books that won't be read, so I try to be careful and only give books to those who enjoy reading. People who don't read (and I know some!) get other gifts instead. Every year I have a favourite or two that I give to my mother and friends who read.

There, a bit more about me and my reading Habits.