1. Favorite childhood book?
Either Green Eggs and Ham or It Happened On Mulberry Street by Dr. Suess.
2. What are you reading right now? Cyndere's Midnight by Jeffery Overstreet
3. What books do you have on request at the library? Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund and The Staff and the Sword series by Patrick W. Carr. I've already read all of the latter but I thought that this series would be an excellent addition to my library.
4. Bad book habit?
Every book that looks even moderately good that I see on the shelf at the library, I check out. I never read all of them. Sometimes, I check out the same book more than once because I didn't read it last time I had it. If you see a book you think you might like but have checked out before but never read, I urge you to give it another chance. For instance, I checked out Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl three times before I actually read it. And now I love her books!
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland, Cyndere's Midnight, Raven's Ladder, and The Ale Boy's Feast all by Jeffery Overstreet.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Yes, I have a Kindle.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
Almost always just one at a time. But I usually read a book in about three days. If a book lasts more than a week with me then that probably means I'm bored with it.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Not really. I think I'm more pressed to finish books sometimes to write the review. But a blog hasn't really changed anything for me.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far)?
I really dislike being mean to authors so I'm not going to say.
10. Favorite book you've read this year?
A Draw of Kings by Patrick W. Carr. I've already read it and written the review but haven't published it here yet. I'm scheduled to be part of a blog tour. I'm publishing that particular review on March 16. Look for it!
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
I love Christian romance. And I've really started to like Christian fantasy. I also read a mystery every now and then. However, I rarely venture into the secular world of reading. There are some very popular series today. One looked particularly good so I looked up a Christian review. It was ridiculous all the swearing and immorality that was in it. So, unless I know for certain that the book will not take the Lord's name in vain or shock me with unnecessary worldliness, I'm not going to read it.
13. Can you read in the car?
Yes! I'm about the only one in my family who never gets carsick. I love reading in the car. Especially on vacations.
14. Favorite place to read?
Anywhere I can find a quiet place. Usually, that's my room.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I'll lend a book to someone if they'll return it. If they don't, no big deal. I have a lot of books.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Sometimes. If they belong to me. But never if the book is the library's.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
No.
18. Not even with text books?
If you're talking about text books for school, then yes. I do often. I always loose any notes I take in a notebook. It's easier just to write the information down in the book.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
I'm only fluent in English. I know some Spanish, but I don't think I could read an entire book in it.
20. What makes you love a book?
Complex characters with depth. Life and death situations. Plots with twists I never saw coming. And, especially, books with spiritual depths that teach a profound lesson and resound in my mind and heart. A book with all these elements are rare and far-between, but that is always what I search for.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
The entertainment the book provided as well as the development of the characters and the depth of the plot.
22. Favorite genre?
Christian Romance.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did)?
Mystery. I've discovered some good mystery authors, but since it isn't my favorite genre, I haven't really sought those authors' books out.
24. Favorite biography?
I really enjoyed Still Lolo. Though that might be more of an autobiography.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
No.
26. Favorite cookbook?
I don't cook.
27. Most inspirational book you've read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
28. Favorite reading snack?
A Hershey's chocolate bar. Or anything chocolate, really
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Have you ever read Jen Turano? The covers of her books are adorable and promising. Her book A Talent for Trouble was all over Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc. I was really disappointed when I read it. In other words, the covers are worth more than the novel itself.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Almost never. Except for a select few authors.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I really don't like to publish a negative review unless I am obligated to. I'm an author, and as an author I know how I would feel if somebody posted a negative review on my book.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Spanish.
35. Favorite Poet?
Mmmm. That's hard. I really like Alexander Pope and Emily Dickenson as well as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Robert Frost is good too...
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Anywhere from 6-10. Sometimes more. I'm learning to moderate myself. Sort of.
37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?
A lot. Maybe 1/4 of the books I check out don't get read.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Sajah in Lights of the Veil by Patty Metzer. Not a book anybody would know. But it's one of my favorites. I've read it six or seven times.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Mr. Chance Macy in Born of Persuasion. If he even is a villain...
41. The longest I've gone without reading.
Maybe a month when I was editing my book When Dreams Fail. But, even then, I read my Bible every day. So I'm not sure if that counts.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I don't know exactly why. I just really, really didn't like it.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
If the book's good...nothing.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightly. Even if it doesn't match the novel exactly.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Love Comes Softly. It's a nice movie, but I read the book first. That kind of ruined it for me.
46. The most money I've ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
I rarely buy books from a bookstore. I think $7.00 is the most I've ever spent. Maybe. And that was at a book sale at my library so I'm not sure if that counts.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Several times. I love flipping through the pages, catching a sentence here and there. It gives me a feel for the overall story and gets me interested.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Taking the Lord's name in vain, immorality, etc. However, I've rarely stopped reading a book as I don't read secular fiction.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
No. I have books beneath my bed, haphazardly on a shelf in my room, and in a box out in the garage. There's not really enough space in my house to have an organized place for my books.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you've read them?
I like to keep them. Occasionally, I'll give one away.
51. Are there any books you've been avoiding?
Several. I read some books by a couple of authors and decided to not waste my time in the future. Why? Because I already know what is going to happen in the book. Some authors write the same thing over and over again only changing the names and slightly altering the plot.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Any book with a redundant idea that I've read 1,000 times before. Like a governess falling in love with her employer etc.
Please.
That plot belongs to Jane Eyre alone.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury. I had never read one of her books before that one. I decided to read This Side of Heaven to see why everybody liked her so much. I was determined that there was nothing special about her books. In my experience, if an author writes dozens upon dozens of books, those books loose their originality. However, Karen Kingsbury proved me wrong. I really enjoyed This Side of Heaven. Even though it was really sad.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
I really expected to like Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke and her daughter Laurel Oke Logan. However, if fell short of my expectations.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading time ?
In the evening, when everybody else is sleeping.