1. Favorite childhood book
When I was really little, Chrysanthumum by Kevin Henkes. It's a beautiful story!
2. What are you reading right now?
Divergent by Veronica Roth and Tiny Pretty Things by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra and Winter by Marissa Meyer.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Sherwood Nation by Benjamin Parzybok.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Sherwood Nation by Benjamin Parzybok.
4. Bad book habit?
I eat while I read. I also don't own a lot of bookmarks, so I set a book down open with something on it, or upside down with its pages splayed.
I eat while I read. I also don't own a lot of bookmarks, so I set a book down open with something on it, or upside down with its pages splayed.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
It's a long list, so here are a few: Fairest by Marissa Meyer, Pirate Emperor by Kai Meyer, and Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff.
It's a long list, so here are a few: Fairest by Marissa Meyer, Pirate Emperor by Kai Meyer, and Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
I do not, but I have the Kindle app. I have Enchanted by Alethea Kontis and The Princess Bride by William Goldman on it, since they're both classics I love to reread.
I do not, but I have the Kindle app. I have Enchanted by Alethea Kontis and The Princess Bride by William Goldman on it, since they're both classics I love to reread.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
Several at once: usually one for school, one that's new, and several that happen to be next to my bed and I just reread randomly to calm myself down before bed.
Several at once: usually one for school, one that's new, and several that happen to be next to my bed and I just reread randomly to calm myself down before bed.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Yes, actually. I think more about the characters and themes, and how I'd review the book. I read more first books of series rather than rereading, though I certainly still do that a lot.
Yes, actually. I think more about the characters and themes, and how I'd review the book. I read more first books of series rather than rereading, though I certainly still do that a lot.
9. Least favorite book you read this year so far?
That's super hard. I don't hate many books. Anthem by Ayn Rand, I think.
That's super hard. I don't hate many books. Anthem by Ayn Rand, I think.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
Winter by Marissa Meyer. I would fangirl crazily here but this is a really long post already; I'll just say it's an absolutely divine ending to a series and perfect endings for characters I love.
Winter by Marissa Meyer. I would fangirl crazily here but this is a really long post already; I'll just say it's an absolutely divine ending to a series and perfect endings for characters I love.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Anything, everything.
13. Can you read in the car?
Yes. I can even read by the light of a phone in the car. I only get headaches (and not major ones) if I read for more than an hour on winding roads.
Yes. I can even read by the light of a phone in the car. I only get headaches (and not major ones) if I read for more than an hour on winding roads.
14. Favorite place to read?
In the car, actually. Because you can't do much else, so you might as well read and find another world while you're traveling!
In the car, actually. Because you can't do much else, so you might as well read and find another world while you're traveling!
15. What is your policy on book lending?
All the time. I love books with splayed-out pages and broken spines, and it feels so readerly to have them. I have a copy of Bluestar's Prophecy that was lent to four different people and is certainly well loved, and I recently lent out my The Sword of Summer to a friend.
All the time. I love books with splayed-out pages and broken spines, and it feels so readerly to have them. I have a copy of Bluestar's Prophecy that was lent to four different people and is certainly well loved, and I recently lent out my The Sword of Summer to a friend.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
No. I do break the spines, though, if I know I'm going to love them. Also see #4.
No. I do break the spines, though, if I know I'm going to love them. Also see #4.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Yep. For school. I've come to love it, except when I feel it's messy. But the books I reread, I reread even if they have messy annotations.
Yep. For school. I've come to love it, except when I feel it's messy. But the books I reread, I reread even if they have messy annotations.
18. Not even with textbooks?
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
I only am fluent in English.
I only am fluent in English.
20. What makes you love a book?
Great characters, humor, worldbuilding, and ideas.
Great characters, humor, worldbuilding, and ideas.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
Same as #20.
Same as #20.
22. Favorite genre?
Sci-fi, but I have a weakness for any kind of genre remix: fairy tale/sci-fi, history/sci-fi, classic/fantasy, et cetera.
Sci-fi, but I have a weakness for any kind of genre remix: fairy tale/sci-fi, history/sci-fi, classic/fantasy, et cetera.
23. Genre you rarely read but wish you did?
History, I think. I'd like to find mainstream history that makes things interesting. Books like 1492 are interesting, but I'd like non-minority history to be that fun to read.
History, I think. I'd like to find mainstream history that makes things interesting. Books like 1492 are interesting, but I'd like non-minority history to be that fun to read.
24. Favorite biography?
My Life With the Saints by James Martin if that counts; otherwise Mother Teresa by Maya Gold.
My Life With the Saints by James Martin if that counts; otherwise Mother Teresa by Maya Gold.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
26. Favorite cookbook?
The Test Kitchen Cookbook. It has a ton of cool side notes about the science!
The Test Kitchen Cookbook. It has a ton of cool side notes about the science!
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
28. Favorite reading snack?
Popcorn or shrimp chips or gummy bears. Yummmmm.
Popcorn or shrimp chips or gummy bears. Yummmmm.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
The Sword of Summer. To be honest, it didn't /get/ that much hype, I just was expecting a lot from it, since Rick Riordan's other books are awesome. And it's not bad... I just expected more. And the cultural appropriation didn't help. Although my standards may be too high.
The Sword of Summer. To be honest, it didn't /get/ that much hype, I just was expecting a lot from it, since Rick Riordan's other books are awesome. And it's not bad... I just expected more. And the cultural appropriation didn't help. Although my standards may be too high.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Pretty often. I think I actually like more books than the critics do.
Pretty often. I think I actually like more books than the critics do.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I'm pretty stingy with bad reviews. Three is very low in my opinion, and most books I review get a 5.
I'm pretty stingy with bad reviews. Three is very low in my opinion, and most books I review get a 5.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
35. Favorite poet?
e. e. cummings, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, or Emily Dickinson. Yes, I'm very indecisive.
e. e. cummings, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, or Emily Dickinson. Yes, I'm very indecisive.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
About seven to ten. Right now I have 22, though. I went on a library spree.
About seven to ten. Right now I have 22, though. I went on a library spree.
37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?
I used to, a lot, but now that I have more time to read, only about one to three books a year.
I used to, a lot, but now that I have more time to read, only about one to three books a year.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Linh Cinder or Luna Lovegood. See #35 about being indecisive.
Linh Cinder or Luna Lovegood. See #35 about being indecisive.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
I don't have a particular favorite, I guess. Maybe Queen Levana from The Lunar Chronicles.
I don't have a particular favorite, I guess. Maybe Queen Levana from The Lunar Chronicles.
41. The longest you’ve gone without reading?
I don't know. Maybe... 3 weeks?
I don't know. Maybe... 3 weeks?
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Not much, actually, but really really bright sunlight or windy roads.
Not much, actually, but really really bright sunlight or windy roads.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
I haven't watched many, so I'll say the Harry Potter books.
I haven't watched many, so I'll say the Harry Potter books.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
I haven't watched enough, and I love Harry Potter, so none.
I haven't watched enough, and I love Harry Potter, so none.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
I don't spend a lot of time or money in bookstores specifically. My library has book sales, though, so I've bought about 5 books at one time... but they were pretty cheap. Maybe $7 altogether? But the most I've spent on one book was $22.99 on Winter by Marissa Meyer, which I preordered.
I don't spend a lot of time or money in bookstores specifically. My library has book sales, though, so I've bought about 5 books at one time... but they were pretty cheap. Maybe $7 altogether? But the most I've spent on one book was $22.99 on Winter by Marissa Meyer, which I preordered.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I rarely do.
I rarely do.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book halfway through?
Often when they're inappropriate. See question 42.
Often when they're inappropriate. See question 42.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Yes. I am pretty Type A about this. I have shelves for nonfiction, fiction, crafts and other guidebooks, boxed sets, and textbooks. They started out organized by author last name and have drifted apart, but they are still on their categorized shelves!
Yes. I am pretty Type A about this. I have shelves for nonfiction, fiction, crafts and other guidebooks, boxed sets, and textbooks. They started out organized by author last name and have drifted apart, but they are still on their categorized shelves!
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep most of my books. However, I have given away some of the ones like "The Adventures of Super Penguin" because... well.
I keep most of my books. However, I have given away some of the ones like "The Adventures of Super Penguin" because... well.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. But now I kind of want to read it so I can attack it like a good Potterhead while still following John Green's advice that "I hereby do solemnly pledge not to praise or criticize books I have not read."
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. But now I kind of want to read it so I can attack it like a good Potterhead while still following John Green's advice that "I hereby do solemnly pledge not to praise or criticize books I have not read."
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Anthem by Ayn Rand. See #54 below.
Anthem by Ayn Rand. See #54 below.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. I am now a fervent John Green fan but at that time I'd only read TFiOS and the teen-y-ness of Abundance of Katherines put me off. However, I really love the central message of the story.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. I am now a fervent John Green fan but at that time I'd only read TFiOS and the teen-y-ness of Abundance of Katherines put me off. However, I really love the central message of the story.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Anthem by Ayn Rand. I'd read The Fountainhead before and liked it, but Anthem isn't chiming with me.
Anthem by Ayn Rand. I'd read The Fountainhead before and liked it, but Anthem isn't chiming with me.
55. Favorite guilt-free pleasure reading?
Graphic novels and comics. I recommend Page by Paige, Sisters, and The Rise of Scourge.
Happy reading! What are your favorites? Answer these questions on your own blog!
~Citali
