Meme I Found on LiveJournal

I actually finished reading A Game of Thrones and started the second book in the series. I just haven't gotten around to writing a review of it yet. Meanwhile, I thought I'd do this meme, and this is the place to put it. The questions are pretty good for this sort of thing.

1. Favorite childhood book: I've never been good at favorites, as in picking just one, so let's just say the Nancy Drew series. Or maybe the Trixie Beldon books. Or, hmmm.... The Dana Girls mysteries. See what I mean? 
2. What are you reading right now? A Clash of Kings by G.R.R. Martin
3. What books do you have on request at the library? Uh, nothing. I don't borrow library books. I really haven't borrowed much since I was a kid, not even when I was working in libraries. I much prefer to buy.
4. Bad book habit? Not sure what this means. Reading books isn't a bad habit and I don't have any bad habits re: books/reading.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library? Nothing. See above.
6. Do you have an e-reader? I have a Kindle and usually use the Kindle app on my phone rather than the actual Kindle device. I like it for heavy books or books I don't know if I want to buy or for books not out in paperback yet that I really can't wait to read.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once? These days, one at a time, though when I was younger, I would be reading 2-3 books. If I get back to going to the gym, I'll be back reading two books at a time. And of course, I'm reading graphic novels and comics while reading non-graphic books, if that counts.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? Other than blogging about them, no.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?): Well, I read only the one, and loved it.
10. Favorite book you've read this year? The one I did read, A Game of Thrones by G.R.R. Martin.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? My comfort zone is rather large and I don't read fast, so I don't read a lot, but I do try new things based on good reviews. That's why I'm reading the A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series as I don't read much fantasy, but I loved the show, which I watched out of curiosity.
12. What is your reading comfort zone? Science fiction, mysteries, literary fiction, historical fiction, historical mysteries, suspense, thrillers, some fantasy, biographies, science, history mostly.
13. Can you read on the bus? Haven't been on a bus more than a few times in the last decade, was with someone so was busy chatting, but I'd think not. Buses are too noisy. I do read on the subway.
14. Favorite place to read? The den, the subway, the kitchen, the bathroom...
15. What is your policy on book lending? I don't borrow books and I hate lending them because they tend to come back worse for wear and I end up just replacing them, anyway.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books? No. I would never willingly damage a book.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? No. I did do that with textbooks I owned, uh, a few decades ago.
18. Not even with text books? See above.
19. What is your favorite language to read in? The only language I really know is English.
20. What makes you love a book? First thing, I have to love the characters. After that, it's all about what happens to them, what they do, the story, itself. After that, it helps for the book to be well written, a nice flowing style, that sort of thing, but I'm not fussy. I don't like finding too many errors or poor syntax. That can throw me out of a story.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book? If I like it, for the blog. If I like it and think the other person would like it, if recommending to an individual I know in real life.
22. Favorite genre? Science Fiction, literary mysteries
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?): Hmmmm..... Typically, I don't read genres because they don't appeal to me, ie romance and horror.
24. Favorite biography? Hmmmm.... If memoirs count, then The Liar's Club by Mary Karr. If not, then nothing comes to mind right now.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book? I don't think so, based on the usual definition of Self-Help.
26. Favorite cookbook? The only one I really use is The Joy of Cooking, and mostly for its chocolate chip cookies recipe.
27. Most inspirational book you've read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? Only read the one book so far, and I'd hardly call it inspirational, unless you're trying to win the Iron Throne. ;) But seriously, I don't really find books inspirational, just thought-provoking or entertaining, that sort of thing.
28. Favorite reading snack? I tend to not eat when I'm reading. Don't want to get the book or e-reader dirty.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience: I rarely pay attention to hype, but I did try John Grisham's The Firm because of all the hype and what a disappointment. After that, I read what I wanted and ignored hype.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book? I have no idea as I don't read many book reviews. I do choose some books because of positive reviews in "Publishers Weekly" or occasionally, "Entertainment Weekly," and tend to enjoy them, so I guess I agree most of the time.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? Since I'm fussy about what I read, to the point of skimming in the middle of a book by an author I'm not familiar with, which is why I love bookstores, I tend to enjoy most of what I read. If not, I either don't review the book or write a short review that says the book didn't do it for me and why.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose? None I can think of.
33. Most intimidating book you've ever read? Books don't intimidate me.
34. Most intimidating book you're too nervous to begin? Again, I'm not intimidated by books. I might not start a book that's really long until I know I have the time to devote to it, but that's about it.
35. Favorite poet? Not much of a poetry lover, so I'll go with Poe.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time? Again, I'm not a library user.
37. How often have you returned a book to the library unread? I once returned a book I hadn't gotten far into because I wasn't enjoying it and it was due. I can't read in the required borrowing time, which is another reason I don't borrow library books now.
38. Favorite fictional character? Mostly, from comic books. I've had a lifelong crush on Roy (Speedy/Arsenal/Red Arrow/Arsenal again) Harper. From books, I'm partial to Joan Vinge's Cat and Sarah Monette's Mildmay.
39. Favorite fictional villain? hmmmmmm..... I tend to not think of villains in that way.
40. Books I'm most likely to take on holiday? Whatever I'm currently reading.
41. The longest I've gone without reading: I dunno. A few days, maybe.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish: Caleb Carr's Angel of Darkness. Which was a surprise, since I loved his The Alienist. There were a couple of deadly dull science fiction books, too, but I don't remember the titles, or authors.
43. What distracts you easily when you're reading? TV, loud noises.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel? Hands down, To Kill a Mockingbird. More recently, I'll go with Hunger Games. And Game of Thrones is doing justice to the novels, too.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation? Probably something I haven't seen because I knew I'd be disappointed. ;)
46. The most money I've ever spent in the bookstore at one time? I don't remember. Over $100, probably. I tend to not buy more than I can carry, so it likely was a bunch of graphic novels I got in Forbidden Planet.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it? I skim a bit in the middle of books whose authors I'm not familiar with to see if I like their style. Can't say how often that is.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through? Complete boredom with it.
49. Do you like to keep your books organised? Yes. Mostly my books are in library order, but not quite as I have to fit them in wherever I can fit the right size shelves.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you've read them? I keep them, but I do week occasionally to make room for more. Those get donated or tossed.
51. Are there any books you've been avoiding? I don't actively avoid books. I actively seek out books I think I'd enjoy.
52. Name a book that made you angry: None. I'm fussy and am good at choosing what to read. There have been some non-fiction books about shameful events, or fiction based on shameful reality, that made me angry about the experiences of the people, but not angry at the book, if that's what you mean. Of course, no one title is coming to mind.
53. A book you didn't expect to like but did? None. I don't read books I don't think I'd like.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn't? Can't think of any. There were a couple of science fiction books about colonizing Mars, written by scientists, that turned out to be rather dull for fiction, but I can't remember the titles or authors.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? I mostly read for pleasure. Authors I can count on are Minette Walters for mysteries, Kate Atkinson.... Y'know, I'll just go with comic books for this. They're my go-to reading when I just want to relax.