Books Survey

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Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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1.) If you could meet any living writer for lunch and have them autograph a book for you, who would it be? (Oh, go ahead and list a few others, why not?)
John Irving, Donna Tartt and Cormac McCarthy.

2.) What three first edition books are on your wish list?
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter- Carson McCullers
To Kill A Mockingbird- Harper Lee
The Grass Harp- Truman Capote

3.) Favorite book(s) set in the Midwest.
Gilead- Marilynne Robinson
Shoeless Joe- W.P. Kinsella
Lonesome Dove- Larry McMurtry

4.) Have you ever questioned the relevance of a particular book on a high school reading list? What book? If not, pick a book you'd add to list.
Yes, A Prayer For Owen Meany. Not because I think it's a substandard book but I am curious why our schools chose it.

5.) Name a book in your current TBR list
The Secret History and On Agate Hill.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Survey Part Three

1.) If you could meet any living writer for lunch and have them autograph a book for you, who would it be? (Oh, go ahead and list a few others, why not?)
I immediately thought of a Neil Gaiman interview in today's Guardian: his advice was never to meet your idols--they will likely no longer be your idols after such a meeting :) Nevertheless, if I have to answer this (and can't choose Mr. King, I presume) I'd go with Mr. Gaiman himself (and hopefully he'd bring along his wife, Amanda Palmer) to sign The Ocean At The End OF The Lane, and Margaret Atwood, to sign The Handmaid's Tale.

2.) What three first edition books are on your wish list?
I don't care much about stuff like that.

3.) Favorite book(s) set in the Midwest.
This was WAY tougher than I expected! I discovered a lot of my favorite books take place in the South, followed by the West and then the East Coast. For this one, I choose My Antonia (Willa Cather).

4.) Have you ever questioned the relevance of a particular book on a high school reading list? What book? If not, pick a book you'd add to list.
Hell yes! My senior high school son was offered three books on which to write his final senior report: The Hunger Games, some book written in text speech (emojis and abbreviations), and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Not being a foolish boy, he picked Huck. I was flabbergasted: one book written at a 7th grade level at best, and one absolute trashfire of a book. Don't get me wrong, The Hunger Games is a pretty good YA book, but for a senior in high school? Nope.

5.) Name a book in your current TBR list.
I have one review book open right now and two more to go, but of books I WANT to read? Far From The Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) and The Slow Waltz of Turtles (Katherine Pancol) are on the top of the stack. I'll see which one appeals when I finally get back to my list :)
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
9,760
60,662
60
Kentucky
Survey Part Three

1.) If you could meet any living writer for lunch and have them autograph a book for you, who would it be? (Oh, go ahead and list a few others, why not?)
I immediately thought of a Neil Gaiman interview in today's Guardian: his advice was never to meet your idols--they will likely no longer be your idols after such a meeting :) Nevertheless, if I have to answer this (and can't choose Mr. King, I presume) I'd go with Mr. Gaiman himself (and hopefully he'd bring along his wife, Amanda Palmer) to sign The Ocean At The End OF The Lane, and Margaret Atwood, to sign The Handmaid's Tale.

2.) What three first edition books are on your wish list?
I don't care much about stuff like that.

3.) Favorite book(s) set in the Midwest.
This was WAY tougher than I expected! I discovered a lot of my favorite books take place in the South, followed by the West and then the East Coast. For this one, I choose My Antonia (Willa Cather).

4.) Have you ever questioned the relevance of a particular book on a high school reading list? What book? If not, pick a book you'd add to list.
Hell yes! My senior high school son was offered three books on which to write his final senior report: The Hunger Games, some book written in text speech (emojis and abbreviations), and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Not being a foolish boy, he picked Huck. I was flabbergasted: one book written at a 7th grade level at best, and one absolute trashfire of a book. Don't get me wrong, The Hunger Games is a pretty good YA book, but for a senior in high school? Nope.

5.) Name a book in your current TBR list.
I have one review book open right now and two more to go, but of books I WANT to read? Far From The Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) and The Slow Waltz of Turtles (Katherine Pancol) are on the top of the stack. I'll see which one appeals when I finally get back to my list :)
Let me know how you like Far From the Madding Crowd. It's also in my TBR list on my Kindle.
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
1.) Longest book you've read. IT or The Stand

2.) Best book by foreign author. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

3.) Book you've probably recommended the most. I'm not sure that I've ever recommended a book

4.) Most heartbreaking book. A Child Called It

5.) A book others may be surprise you've read. He Chose The Nails

6.) A book you read because King recommended it. None that I know of

7.) Scariest non-horror novel. The Only Living Witness

8.) Book you thought you'd hate but ended up loving. (Someone recommended) the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson

9.) Best book featuring an animal. Flowers for Algernon

10.) Funniest book. (Fiction or Non-Fiction) Uncle John's Bathroom Reader

11.) Favorite book over a century old. Dracula

12.) Favorite Shakespeare play (or any play). Macbeth

13.) Favorite Speculative Fiction. Coma by Robin Cook

14.) Favorite Western. Not really my genre

15.) Book with best twist. (If you describe, please use spoilers, thanks.) Shutter Island
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
I want to read these, would you recommend? We had the full set. All I know is that they are about six siblings, each written from a different sibling's perspective.
I was very surprised that I liked them. They all have a Christian theme, but it's not an in your face kind of thing that makes you feel put off....more of just how it is for that family. The story of each sibling is very interesting.

If you decide to read them, start with Danger In The Shadows.....even though it's second in the series, it's a prequel to The Negotiator
 

hossenpepper

Don't worry. I have a permit!!!
Feb 5, 2010
12,897
32,897
Wonderland Avenue
1.) Longest book you've read. In page count, War and Peace. In experience, Moby Dick.

2.) Best book by foreign author. Tale of Two Cities or The Island of Dr. Moreau

3.) Book you've probably recommended the most. 11/22/63

4.) Most heartbreaking book. Where the Red Fern Grows

5.) A book others may be surprise you've read. The Sweet Valley High series

6.) A book you read because King recommended it. Blood Meridian (I also recommend this)

7.) Scariest non-horror novel. Ubik

8.) Book you thought you'd hate but ended up loving. (Someone recommended) The Help

9.) Best book featuring an animal. Animal Farm

10.) Funniest book. (Fiction or Non-Fiction) America: The Book (Teacher's Edition)

11.) Favorite book over a century old. The Prince

12.) Favorite Shakespeare play (or any play). A Midsummer Night's Dream

13.) Favorite Speculative Fiction. The River God or Aztec

14.) Favorite Western. 3:10 to Yuma or Deadwood

15.) Book with best twist. (If you describe, please use spoilers, thanks.) The Monkey's Paw
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
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I was very surprised that I liked them. They all have a Christian theme, but it's not an in your face kind of thing that makes you feel put off....more of just how it is for that family. The story of each sibling is very interesting.

If you decide to read them, start with Danger In The Shadows.....even though it's second in the series, it's a prequel to The Negotiator
This may be deja vu, lol...I feel like I asked you about this series before, but it could have been another member. I totally understand the 'in your face' Christian writers but I've found a few that I admire and appreciate. A few of these could be considered mainstream crossover writers: Charles Martin, Beth Webb Hart, and Lisa Samson. There is even a supernatural writer that pulls heavily from King's books, his name is T.L. Hines.
Thanks for the rec.
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
Book Survey: Part Deux

1.) Have you ever bonded with a friend or family member through a particular Stephen King novel? Which one? (I'm especially interested in hearing if you converted a non-horror reader). When I brought home The Stand, I sat it on the kitchen table for a lunch break. My Mom picked it up, and I didn't see it again until she finished it a week or so later.
I've recently bonded with several clients over our mutual love of SK. I even mark off extra appointment time for three of them so we can properly chat while they're in the salon.


2.) If you could live in a single book's universe, which would it be? I'd like to visit several, but I think I like living in mine

3.) Most shocking death of a character. (USE SPOILER. PLEASE PUT BOOK TITLE IN SPOILER). Not real sure

4.) Is there a book you'd never read again not because it was poorly written but because it overwhelmed you? (Example: too violent, taboo subject, or too painful). The Woman by Jack Ketchum or The House by Bentley Little

5.) Have you ever joined a bookclub? Consequently, did you discover a great book? Yep, joined a couple of book clubs.....Nope didn't discover anything great because of it

6.) Do you have a favorite sleuth or mystery series? (You may choose two).
Agent Pendergast series by Preston & Child.....I love the Pendergast character, he's a renegade FBI agent who doesn't want or need the money, and doesn't follow the rules

7.) What are your top three favorite short story writers? I like short stories in general, so it's hard to pick favorites. Someone more recent who I think is worth checking out is Brian James Freeman. I like his style......you'll find him at Cemetery Dance

8.) Is their a certain person you'd like to see pen a memoir? (Anyone that has never written a memoir). Not really

9.) Have you ever found a book left behind at a hotel or restaurant and took it and read it? No

10.) A recent trend was classic books with genre-bending plots. For instance, Pride and Prejudice with zombies. What book would you like to see rewritten with a similar outrageous twist? Vampires make everything better.....add vampires to any of them!
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
This may be deja vu, lol...I feel like I asked you about this series before, but it could have been another member. I totally understand the 'in your face' Christian writers but I've found a few that I admire and appreciate their books. A few of these could be considered mainstream crossover writers: Charles Martin, Beth Webb Hart, and Lisa Samson. There is even a supernatural writer that pulls heavily from King's books, his name is T.L. Hines.
Thanks for the rec.
I had the same feeling of deja vu...... I'm not sure if we've discussed these books before, but I know I've recommended them to someone here :biggrin-new:
I'll check out some of these authors......I like crossover writers.
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
1.) If you could meet any living writer for lunch and have them autograph a book for you, who would it be? (Oh, go ahead and list a few others, why not?)
Anne Rice, Joe Hill, Preston & Child

2.) What three first edition books are on your wish list?
None

3.) Favorite book(s) set in the Midwest.
I don't even know if I've read books set in the midwest

4.) Have you ever questioned the relevance of a particular book on a high school reading list? What book? If not, pick a book you'd add to list.
Yes! The Scarlet Letter and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner ....... I hated both of these books and wroted my final essay on both of them from the perspective of who cares. Of course, I graduated high school in the 80s so reading lists have changed since then.

5.) Name a book in your current TBR list
The Heroin Diaries
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
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1.) Which Stephen King book do you think it's time to read again?

2.) What's the last book you finished that you couldn't wait to recommend?

3.) What's your favorite Sherlock Holmes story?

4.) If you could live in a fictional town, where would you live? (I stole this question from Goodreads).

5.) What is the best book you've read set in a different country than yours?
 

Blake

Deleted User
Feb 18, 2013
4,191
17,479
1.) Which Stephen King book do you think it's time to read again?
Pet Sematary

2.) What's the last book you finished that you couldn't wait to recommend?
I'm reading a history book called The Fifties by David Halberstam which I like because he goes from politics to war to popular culture. Last night I was reading about how General Motors was the biggest corporation in the world back then and they had this guy called Harley Earle who was the chief car designer who designed the big cars with tail fins because he liked rocket ships and sharks.

3.) What's your favorite Sherlock Holmes story?
The hound of the Baskervilles.

4.) If you could live in a fictional town, where would you live? (I stole this question from Goodreads).
Tarantia(capital of Aquilonia)


5.) What is the best book you've read set in a different country than yours?
?
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
47
United States
Definitely not an "in your face Christian," but have you read any of Ted Dekker's books? He is stellar.
Yes, I like him. Also, Charles Martin is a talented writer who writes beautiful books set in the South. Try him if you can find his books at the library. I need to read the Dekker series Black, Red, White, and Green.
 
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morgan

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2010
29,353
104,579
North Dakota
Yes, I like him. Also, Charles Martin is a talented writer who writes beautiful books set in the South. Try him if you can find his books at the library. I need to read the Dekker series Black, Red, White, and Green.
I didn't finish that series, but my mom has read them several times. I seem to appreciate his stand-alone novels more.
 

Tery

Say hello to my fishy buddy
Moderator
Apr 12, 2006
15,304
44,712
Bremerton, Washington, United States
1.) Which Stephen King book do you think it's time to read again? Duma Key

2.) What's the last book you finished that you couldn't wait to recommend? The Dalai Lama's Cat

3.) What's your favorite Sherlock Holmes story? Hound of the Baskervilles

4.) If you could live in a fictional town, where would you live? (I stole this question from Goodreads). Sunnydale - the Hellmouth could be fun

5.) What is the best book you've read set in a different country than yours? Far and Wide by Neil Peart; a collection of essays about touring in Europe via motorcycle.