Wednesday, April 15, 2009

A Book Geek Quiz

Okeey doke - by now many of you are plugged in to Facebook and know the drill for the many Facebook Quizes that continually pop up - "Copy the questions into your own note, answer the questions, and tag any friends who would appreciate the quiz."

Patti O'Brien tagged me and has since posted this on her blog and Lesa Holstine has it posted at her blog. I tagged a bunch of people, and decided it would be fun to post it as Lesa suggested. And - maybe some of you will want to post it at your blogs.

Some of us (ME!) are crazy about lists. And some of us (ME!) think these little tests are fun. I can't resist them. I was a sucker for the little tests in Cosmo and Seventeen when I was a teenager, and haven't stopped taking them yet.

So. Here we go - chime in and tell us your answers; here's mine.

1) What author do you own the most books by?
Not sure how many without getting up to check, but - all Margaret Maron's books (both of her series, stand-alones and anthologies), all the James Lee Burke Dave Robicheaux, and all the Spenser novels. If it's a series I like, I probably have them all.





2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Ann Fairbairn's FIVE SMOOTH STONES, Pat Conroy's BEACH MUSIC, Laurie King's FOLLY.




3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
No.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Just one?! Mike Chapman and Armand Gamache.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children)?
Ann Fairbairn's FIVE SMOOTH STONES.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
Probably a Nancy Drew OR Kay Thompson's ELOISE.


"I am Eloise. I am six. I am a city child. I live at the Plaza."


7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
Hard to say 'cause if I'm not enjoying a book, I won't finish it.

8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
Just one?! How 'bout Louise Penny's series.





9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
You know - I just can't do the "one" thing. See the three books I've listed above - Five Smooth Stones, Folly and Beach Music.

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
I'm going to go along with Patti's answer - I don't seem to read what is usually nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
I'm usually disappointed with the transition from book to movie, so probably none. But. A couple of noted exceptions. I thought the "Ya Ya Sisterhood" was very well done. And I thought "Fried Green Tomatoes" was done exceptionally well.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?


13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I really don't recall ever dreaming about a writer, book or literary character.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
Lowbrow?!!! Whoa - one gal's lowbrow might be another gal's treasure! I'm not above grabbing an occasional bodice ripper; if that's what might be meant by "lowbrow."

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
Civil War on Race Street, The Civil Rights Movement in Cambridge, Maryland by Peter B. Levy (written about the town where I was born and raised. heartbreaking).




16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
Although I've read most of Shakespeare, I've actually seen very little performed, but is there any Shakespeare that can be called "obscure?"

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I like Lesa's and Patti's answers to this one: "Neither. Give me Americans, British or Canadians."

18) Roth or Updike?
Neither. I guess I should try again? big sigh.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Sedaris.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Shakespeare.

21) Austen or Eliot?
Austen.

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Self help and I'm sure I could use some!

23) What is your favorite novel?
Five Smooth Stones by Ann Fairbairn. (surprise!!)

24) Play?
"Bell, Book and Candle."

25) Poem?
Kim Addonizio's The Red Dress (or what do women want)

26) Essay?
I'm coming up blank here. I do though always enjoy reading Anna Quindlen's work.

27) And... what are you reading right now?
AUNT DIMITY SLAYS THE DRAGON by Nancy Atherton



28) What's the best title for a book ever (you don't have to like the book).
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. (that title just cracks me up! and - i liked the book).



5 comments:

Carol Murdock said...

I'm not one for lists or being tagged Kaye but I will say I purchased Five Smooth Stones on your advice, haven't gotten to it yet but you really have me curious about it now!!!
Carol

PS...Captive Witness was my fav
Nancy Drew but loved The Secret of The Old Clock too!

Auntie Knickers said...

My husband was in a production of Bell, Book and Candle just a couple of months ago! He played Sidney Redlitch, the drunken writer. Had a lot of fun. Oddly or not, it's also one of the films my daughters and I have to watch around Christmas time.

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Carol - I cannot wait to hear what you think of FSS! And,I've been meaning to drop you a note to tell you this. We're going to the beach for a week next month - a MUCH needed week away. I'm taking THE HELP with me. I have picked it up a couple of times, but put it back down 'cause I want totally uninterrupted time to read it. I'll let you know what I think when I finish, but I know I'm going to love it.

Nikki, hi!! I had totally forgotten about your husband being in Bell, Book and Candle!! And you know, now that you mention this, it IS the perfect Christmas movie, isn't it?! I just love it. And it had PERFECT casting, don't you think?

Auntie Knickers said...

I did it on my blog, about all I was good for today.

Lesa said...

Amazing how we love Armand Gamache, isn't it? I'm with you, Kaye. I love these quizzes.