Probably Mad, But Not Dangerous

1. Newspapers or magazines?
Well, I get all my news either online or on the radio, so definitely magazines.
2. Books-on-tape or regular books?
Usually regular books. I like the way the old ones smell (cause I'm weird like that), and like to mark 'em up, bend spines and pages, write in them - my books tend to acquire a weathered look.
Books-on-tape can be ok for long roadtrips.
3. Paperback or hardcover?
Paperback. I spend too much on books as it is.
4. Fiction or non-fiction?
Both. The bookcase in the living room is largely devoted to non-fiction; the one in the bedroom ontains mostly fiction. I tend to have one book of each going at any given time; I switch back and forth depending on my mood.
5. Sci-Fi/Fantasy or romance novels?
Definitely Sci-fi/fantasy. Dad brought me home a copy of The Hobbit when I was seven and that was pretty much it for me.
6. Borrow from library or buy books (either new or used)?
Again both. I have a need, a monkey on my back, that recquires me to get my greedy little monkey-hands on new books at a constant rate. Lately it's been the lovely Thomas Crane Library in Quincy, but used bookstores have been a favorite place since childhood.
7. Subscribe to magazines or buy on newsstand?
I currently have two subscriptions, both gifts, The New Yorker and Book Magazine.
8. Current best-sellers or classic literature?
Neither. I read a lot of history and a lot of genre fiction; if any are best-sellers it's coincedental. Occasionally I'll turn to a classic, though Hemingway and Kipling are long-time favorites.
9. Read books once, or re-read favorites every so often?
Certain books are like old friends - I need to catch up with them every so often.
10. Here in the U.S., we have two hot best-sellers...former First Lady Hillary Clinton's memoirs, and the new Harry Potter book (coming out June 21). If you had to read one, which one...Hillary or Harry? Why?
Definitely Harry. Because it will be a better read frankly.

Questions from This-or-That Tuesday

Completing the above list brought to my mind more of my peculiarities about books...

I'm usually reluctant and apprehensive to loan out my books, especially out-of-print or rare ones that I had trouble finding. Yes, it's silly to be possessive over material objects, but the fact is I'd loan a DVD or even my car to some one with much more ease of mind than I would a book.

So if I do loan you a book, it means you made the short list of People Dan Trusts.

I frequently give books as presents. Some would say that this indicates a lack of consideration or thought in my gift-giving process, but the opposite is true. Books are a huge part of my life and who I am; to me giving someone a book is a sign of affection, even love. It means I either thought the recipient would enjoy the book or the book I'm giving is important to me and I want to share it with the recipient.

If I give you a book and actually write something in it (which happens very rarely) then you may assume you are in the inner circle of Dandom and probably a friend for life. As noted, I do not do this often.

Since about 1990 or 1991 (I don't recall off the top of my head) I've kept a 'log' of all the books I read each year. Beyond a love of lists, I'm not sure why I do this. Probably a vague notion that just as Nick Hornby feels music is autobiographical (as explained in High Fidelity), so too are books. For any important occasion or landmark in my life, both good ones and bad ones, I can recall which books and what kind of books I was reading at the time.

When I travel - anywhere - I take a lot of reading material with me. Better to bring too much, I figure, than too come up short and experience the brain-freezing horror of having nothing to read. My hands shake as I type those words - having nothing to read was a condition I went in constant fear of as a wee 'un and I've made sure never to suffer from it again.

I absolutely love a well-written series of books, the more volumes the better. This also goes back to The Hobbit. I was enthralled with that book upon reading it and was freaking ecstatic when my Dad explained there was more books about Bilbo and hobbits and elves to be had. If reading a book is like going away, reading a series with the same characters is like returning to a favorite vacation spot.

My all-time favorite series of books? The Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian. Start with Master and Commander. Other recommendations? Well there's the Horatio Hornblower books by C.S. Forester (start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower); The Sacketts by Louis L'Amour (start with The Daybreakers - it's not the first chronologically but it's the best introduction to the series); The Lymond Chronicles (start with Game of Kings) and The House of Niccolo (start with Niccolo Rising) by Dorothy Dunnet; and A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin (start with A Game of Thrones). I will stop here before your eyes glaze over, my loyal half-dozen, although the nagging voice in my head is whispering about the ones I omitted. (What? No Chronicles of Narnia? For shame! And what about...) Be quiet voice!