Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Blame... er... Thanks to Holly

Holly over on Book Binge started this voluntary meme a couple of weeks ago. Since then, I've been meaning to post this but never got around to it. My bad.

Now I must finish cleaning and organizing my office ::shudders:: and it may be DAYS before I finish. Of course with my luck lately, I'll probably end up back in the hospital from all the dust induced sneezing fits. Where're those Sons of Destiny cleaning spells when you need them?!

Contemporary, Historical, or Paranormal?

Paranormal, paranormal, paranormal-- probably 80% of what I read, and I'm including fantasy in that group. Followed by historical. Contemps, not so much. And the contemps I do read tend to be m/m.

Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?

My credit cards prefer mmp, but really, it doesn't matter all that much. If I want the book bad enough, I'll buy it. Although there are some series I only buy as audio books. And a couple of series that I buy as hardback, paperback, audio book AND ebook! Obsessed? Who me?

Heyer or Austen?

This may get me kicked out of Romancelandia, but I've never read either one.

Amazon or Brick and Mortar?

Amazon for research, but I honestly prefer the immediate gratification of brick and mortar.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

Waldens when I have time to hoof the mall. It has more of a hometown type of feel. Otherwise Borders just because we don't have any other bookstores around here.

Woodiwiss or Lindsay?

I read both long ago. And while I no longer read either one, I guess I have to answer Lindsay just because I used to read more of hers.

First romance novel you ever remember reading?

I don't remember the first true romance novel. But I can point to Little Women as the likely source for my love of historical romance.

Alphabetize by author Alphabetize by title or random?

Since I'm trying to get organized, depending on where they are shelved, stacked, etc., they are a mix of random, alphabetized by author, and/or grouped by author.

My goal is to get them set up by author, then by published date, or in the case of an author with multiple series, published date within each series.

I'm also toying with the idea of organizing by genre (my definitions of them anyway), then author. That way I can select a re-read based on what I'm in the mood for.

Keep, Throw Away or Sell?

As far as I know, I have every single book I've ever bought as an adult, and quite a few of the ones I had as a kid, too. I'm going to TRY to weed a few out as I get organized. Keyword there is TRY, cuz I know damn well I'll start reading each one again just to make sure I want to give it away. But TOSS it? ACK!

Read with dustjacket or remove it?

I prefer to leave them on. They usually get a bit tattered, but then again, I'm one of those people that dog-ears pages *collective gasp all over Romancelandia*, so pristine isn't one of my priorities.

Sookie Stackhouse or Anita Blake?

Anita Blake

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

Since many authors write little mini-cliffhangers at the end of chapters, I seldom am able to stop there. So I usually stop mid-chapter.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?

"Once upon a time..." Odd that a paranormal reader would say that? Not really when you consider I also love the dark fantasies so much.

Crusie or SEP?

Never read SEP, read a few Cruisies which helped me come to the conclusion that contemps just aren't my flavor.

Buy or Borrow?

Buy-- I'm a hoarder.

Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation or Browse?

All three, I tend to research books.

Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?

Tidy ending. I LOVE epilogues. Even with series, I prefer that there is a mini HEA or summary-- some kind of "winding down" at the end. Having said that though, a cliffhanger is not a deal breaker by any means.

Morning reading, Afternoon reading or Nighttime reading?

Anytime, anywhere. I pick up a book and I'm gone.

Series or standalone?

Both. Although I have to admit that, after reading a good standalone, I often hope that the author turns it into a series, or at least a trilogy.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?

My answer used to be A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis (Black Lace). But, with its recent re-release and with Black Lace being more readily available over here, I think readers on this side of the pond are now discovering just how remarkable AGW is.

So I'll have to go with Across the Sea by Irene Maillol. Her first and only book, not perfect, but in this epic erotic fantasy saga she managed to instinctually use techniques, such as POV shifts, that even more experienced authors have muddied up.

Since this is a voluntary meme, I'm not tagging anyone. But feel free to answer here or, if you answer on your own blog, let me know in the comments.

19 comments:

Holly said...

I love that there are so many hoarders out there. :P

I don't dog ear my books, but I don't pay real close attention to the condition of them, either.

Bev(QB) said...

I know people that barely open a book when reading it so they won't crackle the spine. I suppose if I was planning on selling them someday I'd care too. Besides authors say they love it when readers bring well read books to signings!

See, I'm all about keeping authors happy-- I hoard books and they are slightly abused! ;-D

LVLM(Leah) said...

What is a meme exactly? I can surmise from this post, but have seen the word before and don't know what it is.

I remember some author saying that she loved it when readers had really creased books. It meant that they really enjoyed it. I used to try and keep books nice, but since I heard that, I don't anymore. In fact, I keep opening it wider so it's easier to read.

I've been known to dog ear as well. Well, what to do? LOL

Bev(QB) said...

Well, I think in the most general terms, an internet meme is anything that gets passed around through blogs, boards, emails, etc.

But the way I usually see it is as some kind of "breadcrumb" tag game. For example, that Thinking Blogger Award was a meme (click on the "award" on my right sidebar). I was tagged by Ann Aguirre/Annie Dean. And I then tagged others who could then tag others, etc.

But what Holly started was a voluntary meme, meaning she didn't tag specific people but instead encouraged anyone who was interested to do it and then post in her comments that they had.

In this case, you followed the breadcrumbs, too. But instead of specific people who were tagged, you read the comments and follow those breadcrumbs.

I sure hope that makes sense!

Holly said...

: in blogspeak, an idea that is spread from blog to blog

: an internet information generator, especially of random or contentless information

(Etymology : meme : derived from the Greek mimëma, 'something imitated', by Richard Dawkins in 1976)


That's from the Urban Dictionary. To be specific, a thought or bought of random information that's passed on from one place to the next.

Bev,
I've never understood that whole, "keep it perfect" mentality. Even beyond what authors say, I buy books for the enjoyment of reading. How can I enjoy reading them if I'm paranoid about leaving a crease in the spine? Dumb. LOL

Anonymous said...

I read hardbacks with the dustjacket on, but I also have a large selection pack of Brodart mylar covers, and my new hardbacks get a condom as soon as they arrive.

http://www.shopbrodart.com/site_pages/bjc/default.htm

Anonymous said...

Heyer or Austen?

This may get me kicked out of Romancelandia, but I've never read either one.

HEATHEN!


Sookie Stackhouse or Anita Blake?

Anita Blake

WITH BAD TASTE!



Crusie or SEP?

Never read SEP, read a few Cruisies which helped me come to the conclusion that contemps just aren't my flavor.

CLUELESS!

Heh..not really... but the Anita one has me in serious doubt of your err... taste level... Its ok, I have a few guilty pleasures which would pretty much make people question my...err... taste level...

Wytherin

Bev(QB) said...

Oh LAWDY, Jules! Not only are your books organized AND in LibraryThing, but now you're telling me that you are so anal that you buy book condoms for them?!! WOW! I'm not sure if I admire you, envy you, or am slightly afraid of you! hee

Now, Wytherin, one of these days, you and I are going to find a book or maybe even an entire series that we actually have the exact same opinion on!

Wait--- do you read KMM's Fever series?

Jules Jones said...

I use my pretty things hard, and I want them to look pretty for as long as possible. Besides, I might want to sell them when they no longer amuse me, and they'll fetch a higher price if they look in good condition. Condoms it is.

Though if you think I'm organised, I should really take a picture of the bookcases and the way the TBR piles are threatening to escape.

Anonymous said...

Now, Wytherin, one of these days, you and I are going to find a book or maybe even an entire series that we actually have the exact same opinion on!

Wait--- do you read KMM's Fever series


GRRRR!!! I used to love KMM, and loved her highlander series (one of my guilty pleasures)... but the fever series pisses me off, because while I don't MIND a continuing series, I want each book fairly self contained... I never liked those serials where at the end of the cliffhanger of an episode, its "tune in next week to see whether XXX buys the farm."

With a book, or a movie its even worse, because you have months to wait...

How about Patricia Briggs, Mercy Thompson series?

wytherin

Bev(QB) said...

Jules, there's our biggest difference right there--- I am a book hoarder and feel ill at the thought of getting rid of any books. Hell, I still even have most of the Dr. Seuss books I collected as a kid!

Wytherin! YES!! I ADORE Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series and cannot wait for the Charles and Anna spin-offs!

My favorite thing about Mercy? When threatened, her first instinct isn't to fight, it's to turn into a fox and run the hell away! That endearing habit of hers is such a refreshing change from most of the kick-butt heroines in UF. Carrie Vaughn's Kitty books are too-- you read those?

As for KMM's Fever series, normally I'd be with you on the cliffhangers. I really do prefer SOME resolution or "winding down" at the end of each book in a continuing series. However, I consider the Fever series to be a master's class in the use of First Person POV. It's just brilliant! So I can forgive the cliffhanger endings--- even the one that irked the hell outta me at the end of Bloodfever.

BTW, I'm LMAO at you saying you loved KMM's Highlander series. There's a whole buffet of snark chow in those, but damned if I don't love them, too. Particularly the audio books and Phil Gigante's un-freakin-believable narration.

So that's TWO we both adore. Hmmm... any we both love to make fun of? How about Lori Foster writing as L.L. Foster- you read Servant: The Awakening? Or how about Sunny? Making fun of her is one of my favorite pastimes!

Jules Jones said...

I'm a book hoarder too, but I have been told rather firmly that no, I may not buy any more bookcases, and no, I may not leave the dead trees in piles on the floor in lieu of bookcases. So a couple of items are now on Amazon (as in, the ones that are actually worth something and that I realistically don't expect to read again). I'd been using the mylar covers for my own benefit, but it did occur to me that if I'm going to sell off any of the books they'll probably do better if they remain in good condition.

Anonymous said...

Mercy is a coyote, not a fox...lol, nitpicky that I am... I like that when the big bad comes that while Mercy may win, its not for sure, and she doesn't pull some new metaphysical power out of her hoo ha, sometimes its just luck, or the big bad underestimating her... I love also that bad things DO happen to her, but it doesn't seem to define her... There is a lot of life lessons there, and it rings true for me too.

I do like the Kitty books..

As far as snark, the Jr WArd books are a buffet for me, I still read them though (though the last one really messed with me, too many changing plotlines, I read the book 3 times in 3 different tracks just so I could get it all, I am a linear girl, I guess)... Never read the LL Foster books, maybe I will check one out of the library. Sunnys books, well... hmmm... let me just say that I never get beyond the first chapter...

Other authors in paranormals I like.. I just read a Kresley Cole that was not perfect, but a lot of fun. I like Eileen Wilks(some more than others)... Karen Chance is hit or miss. I love the Kelley Armstrong "Women of the Otherworld" series... I truly enjoyed the Undead, Unwed series by MJD until about book 5..

Oh yeah, KMM highlander books are full of snarkage, virgin heroines,etc, but I still like them.. Especially Adams story..

wytherin

Anonymous said...

I probably would be a book hoarder, but moving a lot when I was younger kind of knocked that out of me... I keep books that I reread over and over, but otherwise, I go through my book shelves every year and ask myself, Did I reread it? Will I this year? and if not, I pass them on for others to enjoy..

Now there are some books, that I have multiple copies of, because I love them so much...

wytherin

Bev(QB) said...

"Mercy is a coyote, not a fox"
DOH! I knew that! This is why I should not type when I'm half asleep. Like now. Which means I've no idea what stupid shit might spew from my fingertips next.

Oh good grief--- don't actually READ the L.L. Foster until you've read my review! GAK!

As for Sunny, I never understood why people who hate the LKH books still read them, yet damned if I don't EAGERLY read and pick apart each new Sunny release!! Karma is a quirky bitch. LOL

I DO read Kresley Cole and enjoy them while I'm reading them, but I honestly completely forget them once I put the book down. I like Kelley Armstrong, although the heroine in the last one, Hope, just wasn't interesting enough to be a lead character.

What about Kim Harrison? I have to admit that her books would be a whole lot more enjoyable to me if she'd kill off Ivy-- I cannot stand her and never could!

The MJD Betsey series, like Charlaine Harris' Sookie series, never caught my interest until I started listening to them as audio books. The narrators really bring them alive for me.

Let's see, I've not read much Karen Chance and only a couple Eileen Wilks.

But Adam's story, KMM's The Immortal Highlander, is my next audio book (I read the print book years ago). I'm going to go through some serious Phil Gigante (the narrator) withdrawals when I've finished that audio series.

Okay, so now we've found a few authors we agree on-- both positive and negative. So now I'm wondering who else (besides LKH) we DISAGREE on:

-I think Bertrice Small is a goddess. Which seems to leave me in the minority here in Romancelandia since all the cool girls make fun of her.
-The Singh books don't trip my trigger.
-I refer to Lara Adrian's Midnight Breeds as the Black Dagger Carpathians.
-I STILL read Christine Feehan even though I vow to drop her Carpathian series. Hell, I even buy them in hardcover!
-I run away from nearly all demon centered books, particularly if the demons are the good guys. Although there are a couple I read because I started them before demons became the new vampires. ICK!

Anonymous said...

I liked the first 2 Kim Harrison books, but soon she left me behind. I am not as big on witch stuff, I have noticed.



-I think Bertrice Small is a goddess. Which seems to leave me in the minority here in Romancelandia since all the cool girls make fun of her.

I used to enjoy her books, and still will read them(library),they are snarky, but then I still read Johanna Lindsay even though I see their flaws. I can see why you would like Small, she is very angsty, anita is angsty too..

-The Singh books don't trip my trigger.

Now those I really like.

-I refer to Lara Adrian's Midnight Breeds as the Black Dagger Carpathians.

With the huge buzz, I read a few of these.. They didn't trip my trigger...

-I STILL read Christine Feehan even though I vow to drop her Carpathian series. Hell, I even buy them in hardcover!

She lost me several books ago. I still love some of her first ones, Dark Symphany being my favorite (and I seem to be in a minority there)... I still check in on her Mind series, but I don't buy them anymore either. Never liked her witch series. Her biggest problem is she set up her Carpathians in such a narrow way that the books all kind of run together, because the Men are so similiar.. I think thats why I like Byrons story because he didn't react like most Carpathians and his herione was not the sexual innocent who only came alive at her lifemates touch.

-I run away from nearly all demon centered books, particularly if the demons are the good guys. Although there are a couple I read because I started them before demons became the new vampires. ICK!

Funny you should bring that up. I don't care for most demon books either (although I loved Ann Bishops Sebastian). I bought the Meljean Brooks Demon Angel book and just can't seem to get into it. I find I also don't love Succubus and those kinds of books for the most part either (again, I did like the way Ann Bishop did it, in Belladona and Sebastien, but I think it was a testament to her writing style, also the "earth" they inhabited wasn't a Judeo Christian model so there wasn't the heaven and hell stuff that would make me uncomfortable.)...

As for Sunny, I never understood why people who hate the LKH books still read them, yet damned if I don't EAGERLY read and pick apart each new Sunny release!! Karma is a quirky bitch. LOL


lol, see, I think for some LKH is still the author they love to snark on. but I have noticed from hanging out on "anti LKH" boards that a lot of them haven't even bothered to read the latest book. They hate has turned to apathy, like mine has (although I went from hate to apathy in one book, and didn't bother continuing to read them after ID)

Wytherin

Bev(QB) said...

Wytherin, Feehan's Ghostwalkers series started out with a LOT of promise, but the last couple I read were starting to become Carpathians: The Special Ops Years since she started centering them on the omnipotent bad guy and the soul mate/life mate themes. I haven't read the most recent, Predatory Game, because I decided to turn this into an audio only series.

Having said all that though, she did introduce a new element into the last Carpathian book that will hopefully reinvigorate the series. I couldn't stand the female lead in that one, but the story itself was interesting, provided Feehan follows thru with it and doesn't clip its wings like she did with the jaguars.

I read the first couple of her witch series, but they were just too much like a contemp story with a little woo-woo added. Besides, there's very few witch stories that I enjoy.

Holly said...

starting to become Carpathians: The Special Ops Years

haha! Bev, I've never seen it put so well! Although I think they were like that from the beginning.

Anonymous said...

I hadn't read any of the Mind games since the first 3,(skimmed the next few) but read the last one ( I think) because I liked Calhouns character in the first book... The fated mates shite was so frickin bad.. Your right, it was very Carpathian and frankly its one of my least favorite parts of the Carpathian books, because it limits the free will and story options..

I think its almost to the point anymore that I worry about any books that become long running series.. Its get to feeling more like a franchise, rather than individual stories...

Kind of like the Stephanie Plum series. Frankly they all run together after awhile..

wytherin