It’s been a long time since this made the rounds, but I’m finally getting around to going through this. Hey, whaddaya want from me? I’m a busy guy.
1. HOW MANY BOOKS IS TOO MANY IN A SERIES?
If the series is great, there can’t be too many books. But, if I look at a series I’ve never tried and it’s fifteen books long (Wheel of Time, anyone?), then I might be less likely to try it. And, it’s totally different if it’s a Jack Reacher-style standalone series, though, where you can read them in any order.
2. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CLIFFHANGERS?
In principle, I would say I don’t like them, but they sure are effective in pushing me forward. I love/hate when chapter cliffhangers keep me up past my bedtime. Cliffhangers at the end of books? I think you need to have some kind of resolution. As long as there’s not an abrupt end, and the book gives me a complete arc, it doesn’t have to answer all the questions. So, I guess they’re fine, depending on how much I liked the book.
3. HARDBACKS OR PAPERBACKS?
eBooks, baby. Stop killing those trees.
4. FAVORITE BOOK?
That’s a tough one. The Road by Cormac McCarthy, maybe? Lexicon by Max Barry? American Gods by Nail Gaiman? Don’t know if I can narrow it down to just one.
5. LEAST FAVORITE BOOK?
There have been plenty of books I’ve dropped into the DNF pile, but I’m not interested in saying bad things about other authors here. Spread love!
6. LOVE TRIANGLES: YES OR NO?
Ehh, no. I mean, if I love the book, it’s fine. I enjoyed Hunger Games not because of the love triangle, but I didn’t mind that it was there.
7. MOST RECENT BOOK YOU COULDN’T FINISH?
Again, I ain’t gonna say bad things about other authors. I try not to poop where I eat.
8. A BOOK YOU’RE CURRENTLY READING?
9. THE LAST BOOK YOU RECOMMENDED TO SOMEONE?
I’m always recommending certain books. Bird Box, Lexicon, Station Eleven… these are some favorites from the last couple years.
10. THE OLDEST BOOK YOU’VE EVER READ?
The Bible, I suppose? The oldest book I’ve held in my hands was a book on meditation recommended to me. It was about a hundred years old, and mostly fell apart while I was reading it. Can’t recall the title.
11. NEWEST BOOK YOU’VE READ?
I’m always on that new shit, bruh. Just kidding. As much as I try to stay up with newly-released fiction, I’m way far behind. My readers are much faster readers than me!
12. FAVORITE AUTHOR?
Judging by the number of his books I’ve read, you’d probably have to say Stephen King. But, I’m also a huge fan of Cormac McCarthy, Neil Gaiman, and Max Barry.
13. BUYING BOOKS OR BORROWING THEM?
Buy them, but generally on sale. A Kindle edition for $13.99? You gotta be kidding me. I like to make my books affordable.
14. A BOOK YOU DISLIKE THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO LOVE?
I won’t name any specific names, but a few years ago, I set out to read all the Pulitzer Prize winners. This was inspired by a friend of mine who did the same thing. While there were a few I really enjoyed (like Jennifer Egan’s A Visit From the Goon Squad), I couldn’t finish most of them. I guess I have to be in the mood for literary fiction.
15. BOOKMARKS OR DOG EARS?
Kindle, bruh. I told you that already.
16. A BOOK YOU CAN ALWAYS RE-READ?
I used to read Illusions by Richard Bach over and over, back when I was in my self-discovery twenties. Been a while though, so I may hate it now. Who knows?
17. CAN YOU READ WHILE LISTENING TO MUSIC?
Maybe if it’s instrumental, but if there are lyrics, can’t do it. Too distracting. My head is a pretty noisy place, so I prefer quiet, most of the time.
18. ONE POV OR MULTIPLE POVS?
For audiobooks, I definitely prefer one POV. Much easier to keep track, since I don’t always get to binge-listen. For an eBook, I’m fine with multiple POVs, as long as the author writes it well. Multiple POVs can be a great way to build suspense by switching back and forth.
19. DO YOU READ A BOOK IN ONE SITTING OR OVER MULTIPLE DAYS?
One sitting? I wish. I’m busy, bruh. Lucky if I get thirty minutes a day to read. Also, I don’t know why I keep saying bruh.
20. A BOOK YOU’VE READ SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE COVER?
People don’t like to admit that covers draw them in, because that old adage about judging a book by its cover. I’ve checked out plenty of books because they had attractive covers. The cover makes me stop scrolling, then read the description. If I like the description, I buy. Bing bang boom. Can’t recall any one specifically, tho…