15 things about books
Dec. 15th, 2005 09:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
affrecaI like this meme. I'm all chipper and relaxed now that my semester is done. All that is left is giving and grading finals for the kiddies. And enrolling for next semester.
I like books.
1. I remember not being able to read. This is a combination of actually being normal when it came to learning to read (kindergarten), and have memories that stretch back to 3 years old. I distinctly remember being jealous of Michael Blue because he could read a note on the door and he was just as old as I was.
2. I have a library. I think this is because my roomates don't want the collection in the living room, but the fourth bedroom is lined with bookshelves. I have four double-stacked bookcases of SF/F paperbacks, 2 bookcases of tall fiction (hardcovers, trade editions), 2 shelves of mysteries, and 2 bookcases of nonfiction. And they're all in alphabetical or LOC order. And then there is the shelf in my room of books I just bought or just finished reading. I have a problem. But if you're looking for anything in particular, just ask.
3. I love browsing used bookstores. I search them out. Small town ones are the best. I even found a English language used bookstore in Toyko, the Blue Parrot. It's about halfway between Harajaku and Shibuya. I also found one in Berlin.
4. I get great satisfaction about completing obscure series. I have all five books of the Children of Ynell (Shirley Rousseau Murphy). Great series, that I originally found in the YA adult section of the library. I've vaguely confused by that designation, as the series starts off with one of the 13 year old characters getting pregnant to avoid marriage. Great series, though. Also have the Pheonix Legacy trilogy and a Gift on the Shore by M.K. Wren. I didn't realize they were the same author until I finally got my collection alphabetized. Amazon used is cheating.
5. I cannot read Tolkien. I've tried for half my life. The only two times I've gotten anywhere were flying back from Europe (twice) and LotR was the only books I had with me that I had not already ready. Both attempts ended as soon as we landed, and I had access to my collection again.
6. I hate giving up books. I a note and my email address in all of the books I had to abandon while backpacking. I have yet to hear from them. I hope they are having a good time.
7. I had a researcher's card to Center for the Study of Science Fiction's special collection at KU when I was 12. Mom worked in the building, and convinced the librarians that I could be trusted. I could go into a small room and carefully read the paperbacks. I had no taste at this age, and read choose your own adventure Xanth and Pern novels.
8. In 5th grade we had to do a report on a specific author and read 3 or more books by him or her. I wanted to choose the author who I was enjoying at the time, Larry Niven. Teacher vetoed that idea. Paper was done on the one well known YA author I could stand, Scott O'dell.
9. While some of my politics are the fault of my parents, I also blame SF/F for my tolerance.
10. I learned way to much basic science and history from SF/F. I think I've done a pretty good job figuring out what was made up for the story, and what actually is true. Tidal forces - science, telepathy - made up. Alexander the Great conquering Egypt - true, Alexander the Great sun of the gods - made up.
11. I know to many people who think it would be cool to become a librarian, and then don't do anything about it. I'm one of them. Libraries are a source of calm and solace to a lot of smart children, and we carry around the fondness for years.
12. I have started cataloging my collection at least 5 times. After about 100 books I get bored. Library thing is probably the way to go. I should give him money for such a good idea.
13. I blame my decision to join the military on books. Sadly, my experience was more surreal then that. I just ran across my comment about seals.
14. I found Robin McKinley's Blue Sword and Hero and the Crown in my elementary school library around age 10. I'm rereading them. Those are the only two books I have loved as long. I do not want them to make a movie about either book.
15. The major genre besides SF/F I read is mysteries with strong female detectives. Sara Paretsky used to live in my college schol hall.
I like books.
1. I remember not being able to read. This is a combination of actually being normal when it came to learning to read (kindergarten), and have memories that stretch back to 3 years old. I distinctly remember being jealous of Michael Blue because he could read a note on the door and he was just as old as I was.
2. I have a library. I think this is because my roomates don't want the collection in the living room, but the fourth bedroom is lined with bookshelves. I have four double-stacked bookcases of SF/F paperbacks, 2 bookcases of tall fiction (hardcovers, trade editions), 2 shelves of mysteries, and 2 bookcases of nonfiction. And they're all in alphabetical or LOC order. And then there is the shelf in my room of books I just bought or just finished reading. I have a problem. But if you're looking for anything in particular, just ask.
3. I love browsing used bookstores. I search them out. Small town ones are the best. I even found a English language used bookstore in Toyko, the Blue Parrot. It's about halfway between Harajaku and Shibuya. I also found one in Berlin.
4. I get great satisfaction about completing obscure series. I have all five books of the Children of Ynell (Shirley Rousseau Murphy). Great series, that I originally found in the YA adult section of the library. I've vaguely confused by that designation, as the series starts off with one of the 13 year old characters getting pregnant to avoid marriage. Great series, though. Also have the Pheonix Legacy trilogy and a Gift on the Shore by M.K. Wren. I didn't realize they were the same author until I finally got my collection alphabetized. Amazon used is cheating.
5. I cannot read Tolkien. I've tried for half my life. The only two times I've gotten anywhere were flying back from Europe (twice) and LotR was the only books I had with me that I had not already ready. Both attempts ended as soon as we landed, and I had access to my collection again.
6. I hate giving up books. I a note and my email address in all of the books I had to abandon while backpacking. I have yet to hear from them. I hope they are having a good time.
7. I had a researcher's card to Center for the Study of Science Fiction's special collection at KU when I was 12. Mom worked in the building, and convinced the librarians that I could be trusted. I could go into a small room and carefully read the paperbacks. I had no taste at this age, and read choose your own adventure Xanth and Pern novels.
8. In 5th grade we had to do a report on a specific author and read 3 or more books by him or her. I wanted to choose the author who I was enjoying at the time, Larry Niven. Teacher vetoed that idea. Paper was done on the one well known YA author I could stand, Scott O'dell.
9. While some of my politics are the fault of my parents, I also blame SF/F for my tolerance.
10. I learned way to much basic science and history from SF/F. I think I've done a pretty good job figuring out what was made up for the story, and what actually is true. Tidal forces - science, telepathy - made up. Alexander the Great conquering Egypt - true, Alexander the Great sun of the gods - made up.
11. I know to many people who think it would be cool to become a librarian, and then don't do anything about it. I'm one of them. Libraries are a source of calm and solace to a lot of smart children, and we carry around the fondness for years.
12. I have started cataloging my collection at least 5 times. After about 100 books I get bored. Library thing is probably the way to go. I should give him money for such a good idea.
13. I blame my decision to join the military on books. Sadly, my experience was more surreal then that. I just ran across my comment about seals.
14. I found Robin McKinley's Blue Sword and Hero and the Crown in my elementary school library around age 10. I'm rereading them. Those are the only two books I have loved as long. I do not want them to make a movie about either book.
15. The major genre besides SF/F I read is mysteries with strong female detectives. Sara Paretsky used to live in my college schol hall.
