30 Days of Books: Part 1
21 Aug
So I think something light and ridiculous is called for. Seeing as my “somewhat obsolete intellectual equipment”* is taxed to the limit between a certain bet (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE), organizing my Philadelphia research, the upcoming release of The Red Penny Papers, and soon, preparations for Context 23, well, I think a meme is called for, more specifically.
Amanda Pillar has been doing this awesome 30 Days of Books one, and I’ve been sort of messing with it for a while now. So let’s pretend I started it on the 15th or so, and am now going to do it five days at a time. I spam enough as it is. Here’s the deal, for anyone else who wants to have a bash:
30 Days of Books
Day 01 – A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just freaking end already (or both!)
Day 02 – A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about
Day 03 – The best book you’ve read in the last 12 months
Day 04 – Your favorite book or series ever
Day 05 – A book or series you hate
Day 06 – Favorite book of your favorite series OR your favorite book of all time
Day 07 – Least favorite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
Day 08 – A book everyone should read at least once
Day 09 – Best scene ever
Day 10 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 – A book that disappointed you
Day 12 – A book or series of books you’ve watched more than five times
Day 13 – Favorite childhood book OR current favorite YA book (or both!)
Day 14 – Favorite character in a book (of any sex or gender)
Day 15 – Your “comfort” book
Day 16 – Favorite poem or collection of poetry
Day 17 – Favorite story or collection of stories (short stories, novellas, novelettes, etc.)
Day 18 – Favorite beginning scene in a book
Day 19 – Favorite book cover (bonus points for posting an image!)
Day 20 – Favorite kiss
Day 21 – Favorite romantic/sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 22 – Favorite non-sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 23 – Most annoying character ever
Day 24 – Best quote from a novel
Day 25 – Any five books from your “to be read” stack
Day 26 – OMG WTF? OR most irritating/awful/annoying book ending
Day 27 – If a book contains ______, you will always read it (and a book or books that contain it)!
Day 28 – First favorite book or series obsession
Day 29 – Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
Day 30 – What book are you reading right now?
So here goes!
Day 01 – A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just freaking end already (or both!)
Call me super predictable, but I’m ready for about 7 more Harry Potter books. I know, I know, best to leave the party while you’re having fun, but I miss them something fierce. JK Rowling is a great writer, a brilliant worldbuilder, and so good with character. (Except when it comes to Draco Malfoy, who as it turned out was just a foil for Harry all along after all. *sadface*)
Day 02 – A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about
Vanity Fair. I don’t get why Thackeray isn’t more popular nowadays. When I’m reading him, I think I like him better than Dickens. (Then I stop and think, no, that’s not possible. Then I read more Thackeray and realize that yes, it is.) It’s got to be the birth of the modern novel as we know it. After all, it’s called: “Vanity Fair: A Novel Without A Hero”.
Day 03 – The best book you’ve read in the last 12 months
Drood by Dan Simmons. Speaking of Dickens and Thackeray, who are both characters therein, though the former far, far more than the latter for obvious reasons. In truth, I think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.
This is also an example of exactly the sort of book I want to write when I grow up. I don’t honestly believe myself capable in my heart of hearts, but the mere fact of its existence makes me want to work–hm, I already want to work my ass off for it. Well it makes the desire that much more intense, let’s say.
Day 04 – Your favorite book or series ever
My favorite story ever is the one related by Sir Thomas Malory in Le Morte D’Arthur. It’s this incredibly deft amalgam of scattered and varied French, German, English, Irish, and of course Welsh mythologies into a single beautiful whole. Perfect, no, of course not–but as near as an Arthurian Legend can come, to my eyes.
Day 05 – A book or series you hate
I really dislike Tom Clancy. That Jack Ryan stuff bores me to tears. Can I get a character, please?
*Quoting one of my favorite characters from television, Yes, Prime Minister‘s Sir Humphrey Appleby. I love him because he embodies yet another excellent quote, this time from Ben Franklin in HBO’s John Adams: “The English love a good insult, Mr. Adams. It’s their only measure of a man’s sincerity.”
How’s that for a convoluted attribution?
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Now playing: The Charlatans – Feeling Holy
via FoxyTunes
Your answers so far confirms your status as The Biggest Nerd I Know!
I mean that respectfully, of course. I might have to do this meme – I love talking about books – though I’ll skip #20 and 21.
Favorite kiss? I don’t remember anyone kissing in any of my books. This lookes like a fun meme. I may have to give it a shot as well.
There is nothing I like talking about more, Mike. And I’m very pleased to be the Biggest Nerd You Know!
And you know something, both Jeremy and Mike, I can’t think of a single kiss either. For someone who reads as much random ass romance as I, you’d think I’d come up with something…
But yes, yay, join the fun!
I’m so going to flunk 10bythen but it has forced my butt to send at least one thing out so I clas that as a win.
More Harry Potter – I second that.
The following are a few things you should know about Jack Ryan before you pass judgement on Tom Clancy:
- Jack Ryan, a West Point grad, made millions as a stock broker before giving it all up to teach (at West Point, no less).
- Much as he loved to educate young minds on military strategy, he answered the call of duty & went to work for the CIA, taking a huge salary cut in the process
- Sir John (as he later became) saved a Duke on a visit to London and single-handedly destroyed an Irish terrorist group
- He was however human & had his faults. His only weakness was cigarettes. Clancy’s depiction of his fight with this horrible addiction was touching & inspiring.
- He was a loving husband and dad who lived with his family on a romantic mansion overlooking the Chesapeake.
NOW tell me that Tom Clancy does not write good characters. Jack Ryan is as complicated as characters get!
Cate, let’s write her a letter and get her to do a few more, huh? Maaaan.
Balaji, HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh god, very funny. You jerk, people are going to think you’re serious…
Can’t stop laughing. ROMANTIC MANSION my ass. You are so many kinds of wrong–I’ll give you TOUCHING AND INSPIRING.