Questions 41-55 About Books and Reading

So we’ve reached the final set of questions. I think you’ll know just about all there is to know about me and books and reading once we finish this last bunch. But if you need to catch up, here are the links to the previous posts with the questions leading up to today’s post.

Monday.

Tuesday.

Wednesday.

Thursday.

All caught up? Perfect. Let’s see what else I have for you all. Fair warning, this is a little lengthy. As in my longest post I’ve written. But it’s okay. There are some great questions toward the end!

41. The longest you’ve gone without reading

Well I didn’t hardly read at all during middle or high school. I mean, those are like full time jobs. Where could I find the time? So I’ll just say I’m sure somewhere along the line I made it a full year without reading a book from start to finish that wasn’t assigned reading.

42. Name a book that you did not finish

Well up until very recently my list of DNFs was quite small. But then I just started reading some books I didn’t like. I’ll just mention the most recent one. A Wrinkle in Time. And it’s so short, but I hated it from page one.

43. What distracts you when you’re reading?

Everything. I’m almost always in silence when I read. Occasionally I’ll read with the TV on mute.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel

This is tough. I think I’ll have to declare a three-way tie. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. But the only thing is that I haven’t actually made it that far into the world of Harry. Those two are based solely off the movies because I think they were great. I’ve obviously read Catching Fire and saw the movie on release day and thought it was true to the book and better than the first.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation

The Great Gatsby (2013). When you see that cast you expect a pretty damn good movie to result, and it didn’t. I had this on my DVR for months and I finally started watching it a few weeks ago. To say that I was wildly disappointed would be an understatement. I just didn’t understand the crap music in the movie. And it won a freaking Oscar for it! Just didn’t like the final product that was adapting a great, great book.

46. The most money you’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time

I’ve never been one to buy a bunch of books at once. It’s expensive. And you all know I only read one book at a time. I’ve spent maybe $35 on Amazon at one time. And I think when my local Borders store was closing down I may have spent between $20-$30. I’ll never spend more than that at any one time. Makes no sense. I’m sorry I’m not rich like you.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?

Never. I read mostly series. And when I finish one I don’t even see what the next is about before buying it. I’ll literally read the back cover text of the book seconds before I start reading the book. I have no idea what the book is about until I’m ready to read it through. Just how I am. Skimming a book seems like stealing to me. Why not just go to Barnes and Noble everyday for a week and finish the whole book there? That’s what skimming is like to me.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book halfway through?

The story. The main character. The writing. Any number of things. One of the most recent books I stopped halfway through was because the author wrote entire chapters of description. These were like 25 page chapters of nothing but description. not only was that boring, but holy crap it was annoying. Give me some dialogue or action or something!

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

Whaa? I love books. More than non-book blogging people can possibly understand. You know how we randomly play out crazy “what-if” scenarios our heads to see if we’ll know how we’d react? Well I do that all the time. And very recently I thought of a house fire and what I might do. Guess what I came up with rather quickly? I’d break the window in my room by throwing my night stand out and then I’d grab one of those super heavy duty trash bags and just start throwing all my books in there as fast as possible. I think they’d all fit without ripping the bag. Then I’d throw them through the window and see what else is happening in the house. So yes, I keep my books organized because they’re my most prized possessions. Sure I have one on my bed and a few on my desk, but my shelves are perfect.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away after reading them?

Reread my answer to the previous question. Do you honestly think I would give away books if I’m over here talking about breaking windows and inhaling smoke just to save my books? No. Matter of fact, hell no. I will never give away any book I own. Even the ones I don’t like. And it really ticks me off to see that some people are willing to give away boxes and boxes of them. If there ever came a time in which I didn’t have enough room to keep all of my book, then I would throw away unnecessary furniture or I’d have them in storage or in the garage if it was climate controlled. I don’t care what you say, there will never be a valid reason for me to give away any one of my books. And when I’m older and dying I’ll probably leave them to someone in my family who vows not to ever give them away, in writing. If no one like that can be found, then I’d donate them to a library or charity. They’ll never just be given away. Rather serious answer there.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

Avoiding isn’t the correct term. There is only one type of book that I’ll never read. Erotica. Cause no. Even though there are several books I’m not interested in reading like Twilight, I would read those four books fifty times before ever reading erotica.

52. Name a book that made you angry

Crap. Plenty of books have made me emotional. But I really can’t think of one that made me angry. Honestly, I don’t get angry but in very specific circumstances. Books don’t fit the bill.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did

The Hunger Games. Shocker, right? It wasn’t that I didn’t expect to like it, it was that I had no idea what it was about or why the heck my brother had been telling me over and over to read it. It was one of those rare instances in which I went in with no expectations because we all know my take on recommending books. Just because he liked it didn’t mean I would. But hey, now I’m obsessed with the series and I’ve been introduced to my future wife in Jennifer Lawrence and I’ll likely be getting that mockingjay tattoo I told you all about.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I mean, we’ve all seen the first movie. And probably many of you have seen the second. I really thought this would be a great book. Roald Dahl is freaking beloved. But it wasn’t. It was not good at all. Oh well.

55. Favorite guilt-free pleasure reading

Nothing. I read whatever I want. Period.

Yeahhhh! All done! Any thoughts on the last bunch of questions? Or are you just ready for me to get back to my regular posts? Probably choice B. No worries. Monday shall be more normal.

Saturday Selects: The perfection we all know as Jennifer Lawrence

Each time I write one of these posts, I feel obligated to let the newbies to my blog in on what exactly they’re all about. My Saturday Selects series of posts occur on the first Saturday of each month and cover a topic that is unrelated to books that I feel like writing about. This time around I’m going to tell you all about the wonderful Jennifer Lawrence.

Now I sincerely hope that you need no further introduction besides her name, although I had one person comment on my About Me page just a couple of weeks ago congratulating me on my marriage to Jennifer. Folks, this is a dream and if it ever came true I’d leave all of you in a minute because I wouldn’t be able to spend more than eight seconds away from her side. So, since there are some people in the world who have no idea who one of the most famous actresses in the world is, let me rattle off a few of her major movies that most people would instantly recognize her from. X-Men: First Class. X-Men: Days of Future Past. The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. I really shouldn’t have to go any further. Silver Linings Playbook. American Hustle. Okay, there are a few more movies, but these are the big boys of the group. If you still have no idea who she is, then just leave now.

Let me tell you about how I came to fall in love with this woman. It was a dark and stormy night, wait, just kidding, It was 2012. I had just finished reading The Hunger Games just days before the movie’s release. Remember, before I read the book I had no idea what the series was about or that there was going to be a movie or anything at all. I just knew my brother kept telling me to read the damn thing. So I eventually did. I’ve finished the book and for some reason did a little Google searching about it and discover this smoking hot blonde who is set to be Katniss in the upcoming theatrical release. I had no idea who she was. I hadn’t seen the first X-Men movie, nor was there any name recognition. Guess what I did first? I texted my brother who had gotten me to read the book and told him that this Jennifer Lawrence person was NOT Katniss. Way too sexy. Way too sexy. Way too sexy. Okay, maybe I didn’t type it exactly like that, but it was something similar. I pictured Katniss as a girl who looked like she’d had a tough life. Who was rarely happy. And who was stronger than anyone I’d probably ever met. Jennifer Lawrence looked like she belonged on the cover of a magazine or something.

Oh but what a difference a movie makes. I saw the first movie on its release day, of course, and fell in love. Jennifer Lawrence was Katniss just as much as I’m me. I left the theater that day knowing what I had to do. I had to find out everything I possibly could about Jennifer Lawrence. And I have.

In my opinion, though I’m sure some of you may disagree, she doesn’t act how you might expect someone to act in her position. In a few short years she’s become a superstar in Hollywood. What I mean is that you can Google search any interview she’s done in recent years and she’s herself in every single one of them. She’s sarcastic, hilarious, obnoxious, and even blunt at times. She doesn’t act like she’s better than anyone, she makes fun of herself all the time, AND she’s a great actress. How can you not be in love with her?

The one thing that I’ve heard more recently than ever before is that perhaps we’re getting tired of her act. That she’s had her time as America’s sweetheart and now we’re moving on to someone who doesn’t act or speak the way she does. The name I’ve seen as her replacement is Lupita Nyong’o. I think she’s great, but no. If people want to claim that it’s all an act that has run out of steam with the public, then that’s fine. But let’s not forget that she’s as sure a bet as there is for consistently great acting performances. I don’t think we’ll be forgetting about her anytime soon.

If you’re wondering at my reaction to her Oscar win in 2013, this was it, “YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH.” No sarcasm or exaggeration. And yes, I was on my feet. Lastly, if I ever met her somehow, let me tell you what would happen. First, I would cry. Second, my heart would stop beating. Third, she would revive me using CPR. Then we’d get married and Mr. Hoult would be out of a female companion.

I’ll leave you with some pictures.

Oh my goodness. In looking for pictures of my main lady for you all, I found one of those things where they merge the faces of two people. It was her and Emma Watson and holy mother of perfection, I couldn’t look away!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously guys, tell me this last picture isn’t BEYOND any word there is to describe physical appearance. Stunning. Gorgeous. Breathtaking, Beautiful. Sexy. No. None of them are adequate. Simply perfection, in more ways than one.