Worming through books!!

I personally do not think of myself as a bookworm. For one, I have a bookworm tagged to an image of someone with thick horn-rimmed glasses buried behind a stack of thick books, slouched behind an even thicker one with the title “How to read more books in 24 hours”. Okay, well I exaggerated a bit there.

But anyway, I was kinda surprised that KittyCat tagged me with a very interesting meme, one that had me thinking, “How much of a bookworm do I think I am?”

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I don’t deny that I love reading books, but my problem now is finding time to indulge in this hobby. True, reading books denies the reader from visual gratification to a certain extent, but it allows the imagination to stretch to endless horizons.

I guess I developed a love for reading way back in my school days. Maybe it was peer pressure, maybe it was the sheer fun of completing a book, or maybe it was one of those “Kempen Membaca” that did the trick. … Nah. 😛

What are some books you read as a child?
Like many other little children, I loved Enid Blyton books. I was a huge fan of The Faraway Tree series, and I remember my parents took my brother and me to the library every Sunday after church. That’s where I would scour the library for “treasures”. I endeavored to complete reading the entire Faraway Tree series, and would willingly immerse myself in these books every minute I found. For some reason though, I never did like the Secret Seven or the Famous Five, preferring instead to read Nancy Drew and Dana Girls mysteries, and eventually the more intriguing Alfred Hitchcock ones.

Mills & Boon novels were never up my alley as well, I preferred Sidney Sheldon and Danielle Steele. Read one of Jackie Collins’ , but I didn’t like it.

What is your favourite genre?
Fiction, probably. With a hint of mystery or twist to the tale. John Grisham novels do this job really well, I’d say.

Do you have a favourite novel?
Not really. Most of the novels I have read, I just chuck them aside. I’m currently into light-hearted reads like Sophie Kinsella’s books, which I totally can relate to.

Where do you usually read?
When I was a little girl, I read almost anywhere. In the car, while in the restaurant, during ad breaks on TV…but now, even if I read, it’s mostly on the bed, right before I call it a night.

When do you usually read?
When I find the time to.

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
I try not to, because I tend not to finish one before moving on to another, but I can’t help it sometimes. Like now, I have about four books I am reading and referring to, some fiction and some non-fiction, and one in the pipeline ready for me to dive into when I find the time.

Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
Yup. For nonfiction, especially books for reference, I will flip to the parts that interest me first and read it through. Then I may or may not come back to it in future. For fiction, I just read through from start to end.  The place I read fiction and non-fiction is irrelevant.

Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
Now I buy most of my books. Used to borrow books as a kid though.

I hardly think twice when I am buying books and magazines nowadays, because I know I have a certain amount that is available to be used for income tax relief.

Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
Yes. And I desperately need a nice classy-looking bookshelf like the Billy to keep them all in.

If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
My son is currently into books with the theme of alphabets and numbers, but when he gets a little bit older, I would love to share the Enid Blyton series with him. They are so fascinating….. although I suspect his Daddy cannot wait to share with him the wonders of the world of comic books 😛

What are you reading now?
Fiction:
Evening is The Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan (simply absorbing and oh-so-excellent!) and Mercy by Jodi Picoult.

Non-Fiction:
Feeding your Baby & Toddler and Lunch Boxes & Snacks, both by Annabel Karmel

Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
I used to, for the Nancy Drew series. I don’t have any such list anymore.

What’s next?
Errrr….finish reading my current books first?  And oh, I am curious to find out if audio books deliver the same effect as reading them do.

What books would you like to reread?
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

Who are your favourite authors?
Enid Blyton, Sophie Kinsella and now of course, Preeta Samarasan 🙂

Now, would you guys be willing to share your reading habits with me (and the rest of the world)?

Rinnah
Paris
Audrey