Tagged by Jay (Book Survey)
Tuesday, 15 August 2006 19:07![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
druidspellOkay, to start off with a little bit about me.
I read a lot, but I mostly read fantasy. I like historic fiction, speculative fiction, alternate history/present/future stories, and children's books from the Victorian era. This is only the smallest sampling of books that I've read and remembered, because frankly, I can't remember all the books that I've read.
So. On with the show.
1. One book that changed your life:
Good Lord, how do I choose? Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic: Tris' Book, because it deals with how you never really know your kin, and how you can save your friends and your home, and still lose part of yourself. C.E. Murphy's Urban Shaman, because you can only run so far from yourself before you hit another battlefield. Mercedes Lackey's Arrows of the Queen because that's the book that really got me started on fantasy. How to Write Sci-Fi and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card, for the fact that I learned more about world-building and setting up a plot from this book than I learned from any creative writing class.
2. One book you've read more than once:
I've read LOTS of books more than once, but here's a short list:
The Bookstore Mouse by Peggy Christian. It was just so well-thought out, and written and printed in a great style.
The Juniper Game by Sherryl Jordan, which is probably the book that I've read most often--at least fifteen times.
The Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens quartets by Tamora Pierce. I've actually learned as much about control and ways to work energy through those books as I have from Mommy.
Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey, because it broke my heart.
3. One book you would want on a desert island:
Something from the Nightside, Agents of Light and Darkness, Nightingale's Lament (all by Simon R. Green). I love the universe, I love the characters, and I love the way that the author writes--dark and funny, and the focus is on the mystery and the characters.
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop, because I get more out of those books every time that I read them.
The Tir Alainn Trilogy, also by Anne Bishop, for the same reasons I want the BJT.
The Jungle Book and related tales by Rudyard Kipling. Yes, he was a condescending ass, and gave us the lovely concept of "white man's burden", but the man had a real talent for storytelling.
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, even though I did my senior research paper on these books. I could still read them over and over.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. There's something about this book that grabs me every time.
4. One book that made you laugh:
Agents of Light and Darkness, because the interaction between John and Suzie cracks my shit up.
Street Magic by Michael Reaves--the main characters interactions with one another were excellent, and I'd never read anything like it when I picked it off my sister's shelf at 11.
Gypsyworld by Julian F. Thompson--they're kidnapped and taken to an alternate reality by gypsies, for god's sake.
5. One book that made you cry:
Julie Reece Deaver's Say Goodnight, Gracie
Death Be Not Proud: A Memoir by John Gunther
Magic's Price, Arrow's Fall, Burning Brightly, Take A Thief all by Mercedes Lackey. Especially Burning Brightly.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. The movie was good. The book is ten thousand times better.
6. One book you wish had been written:
A book written by me--the story of Avali, Soldar, et al, preferably.
7. One book you wish had never been written:
Mein Kampf. A lot of things could have potentially not happened, had that book never been written.
8. One book you are currently reading:
Patricia McKillip's Od Magic. I'm not sure if I like the book, but it challenges me; I don't particularly like the style so far, but I want to know what happens.
9. One book you have been meaning to read:
Wars of the Irish Kings by David W. McCullough
This Land Was Theirs by Wendell H. Oswalt
Any of my books by Llewellyn or Scott Cunningham.
Divine Right's Trip by Gurney Norman, my creative writing professor. He gave me the book as a gift after our session talking about my stories, and I'd really like to read what he's written.
10. One book you wish you had never read:
All of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time saga. I despise Robert Jordan, because in my opinion, he's sold his integrity as a writer to make money (not a bad goal) at the expense of the quality of his writing.
11. One author you believe everyone should read at least once:
Orson Scott Card, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jennifer Roberson, Kelly Armstrong, C.E. Murphy, Chris Crutcher, Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis
12. Five to ten books you would recommend to others:
Hart's Hope by Orson Scott Card--most people have never heard of this book, but it's a really worthwhile investment if you do read it
The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip, because it's a beautiful story
A City in Winter by Mark Helprin--I read it without knowing that there was a book before it, so it stands on its own fairly well.
Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel. The books are long, and they're filled with detail, but the author painstakingly researched the series, and the work really shines through.
If I Pay Thee Not in Gold by Piers Anthony and Mercedes Lackey--This is one of the few fantasy stories by Piers Anthony that I enjoyed.
Tatham Mound by Piers Anthony--I really enjoyed this look at speculative Native American history.
Urban Shaman and the sequel Thunderbird Falls by C.E. Murphy
Staying Fat for Sarah Burnes by Chris Crutcher
Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
I read a lot, but I mostly read fantasy. I like historic fiction, speculative fiction, alternate history/present/future stories, and children's books from the Victorian era. This is only the smallest sampling of books that I've read and remembered, because frankly, I can't remember all the books that I've read.
So. On with the show.
1. One book that changed your life:
Good Lord, how do I choose? Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic: Tris' Book, because it deals with how you never really know your kin, and how you can save your friends and your home, and still lose part of yourself. C.E. Murphy's Urban Shaman, because you can only run so far from yourself before you hit another battlefield. Mercedes Lackey's Arrows of the Queen because that's the book that really got me started on fantasy. How to Write Sci-Fi and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card, for the fact that I learned more about world-building and setting up a plot from this book than I learned from any creative writing class.
2. One book you've read more than once:
I've read LOTS of books more than once, but here's a short list:
The Bookstore Mouse by Peggy Christian. It was just so well-thought out, and written and printed in a great style.
The Juniper Game by Sherryl Jordan, which is probably the book that I've read most often--at least fifteen times.
The Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens quartets by Tamora Pierce. I've actually learned as much about control and ways to work energy through those books as I have from Mommy.
Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey, because it broke my heart.
3. One book you would want on a desert island:
Something from the Nightside, Agents of Light and Darkness, Nightingale's Lament (all by Simon R. Green). I love the universe, I love the characters, and I love the way that the author writes--dark and funny, and the focus is on the mystery and the characters.
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop, because I get more out of those books every time that I read them.
The Tir Alainn Trilogy, also by Anne Bishop, for the same reasons I want the BJT.
The Jungle Book and related tales by Rudyard Kipling. Yes, he was a condescending ass, and gave us the lovely concept of "white man's burden", but the man had a real talent for storytelling.
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, even though I did my senior research paper on these books. I could still read them over and over.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. There's something about this book that grabs me every time.
4. One book that made you laugh:
Agents of Light and Darkness, because the interaction between John and Suzie cracks my shit up.
Street Magic by Michael Reaves--the main characters interactions with one another were excellent, and I'd never read anything like it when I picked it off my sister's shelf at 11.
Gypsyworld by Julian F. Thompson--they're kidnapped and taken to an alternate reality by gypsies, for god's sake.
5. One book that made you cry:
Julie Reece Deaver's Say Goodnight, Gracie
Death Be Not Proud: A Memoir by John Gunther
Magic's Price, Arrow's Fall, Burning Brightly, Take A Thief all by Mercedes Lackey. Especially Burning Brightly.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. The movie was good. The book is ten thousand times better.
6. One book you wish had been written:
A book written by me--the story of Avali, Soldar, et al, preferably.
7. One book you wish had never been written:
Mein Kampf. A lot of things could have potentially not happened, had that book never been written.
8. One book you are currently reading:
Patricia McKillip's Od Magic. I'm not sure if I like the book, but it challenges me; I don't particularly like the style so far, but I want to know what happens.
9. One book you have been meaning to read:
Wars of the Irish Kings by David W. McCullough
This Land Was Theirs by Wendell H. Oswalt
Any of my books by Llewellyn or Scott Cunningham.
Divine Right's Trip by Gurney Norman, my creative writing professor. He gave me the book as a gift after our session talking about my stories, and I'd really like to read what he's written.
10. One book you wish you had never read:
All of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time saga. I despise Robert Jordan, because in my opinion, he's sold his integrity as a writer to make money (not a bad goal) at the expense of the quality of his writing.
11. One author you believe everyone should read at least once:
Orson Scott Card, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jennifer Roberson, Kelly Armstrong, C.E. Murphy, Chris Crutcher, Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis
12. Five to ten books you would recommend to others:
Hart's Hope by Orson Scott Card--most people have never heard of this book, but it's a really worthwhile investment if you do read it
The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip, because it's a beautiful story
A City in Winter by Mark Helprin--I read it without knowing that there was a book before it, so it stands on its own fairly well.
Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel. The books are long, and they're filled with detail, but the author painstakingly researched the series, and the work really shines through.
If I Pay Thee Not in Gold by Piers Anthony and Mercedes Lackey--This is one of the few fantasy stories by Piers Anthony that I enjoyed.
Tatham Mound by Piers Anthony--I really enjoyed this look at speculative Native American history.
Urban Shaman and the sequel Thunderbird Falls by C.E. Murphy
Staying Fat for Sarah Burnes by Chris Crutcher
Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
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totally off topic
16/8/06 20:34 (UTC)Re: totally off topic
17/8/06 00:50 (UTC)I believe the answer I am looking for is "HELL YES."
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Re: totally off topic
17/8/06 02:34 (UTC)