Icon addition and new survey
Apr. 20th, 2003 12:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yendiFirst, I've swapped out my old Freakazoid icon for this one (courtesy of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
taraljc).
Second, a book survey, ganked fromtheferrett
What books are your comfort reading - the ones you slink back to in times of stress?
Good Omens, Guards! Guards!, and the various Swamp Thing and Sandman graphic novels I own. The former are just damned fun, and the latter are solid, enjoyable reads that also read quickly.
What was your favorite book as a child, and why?
Either Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or the John Christopher Tripod books. Couldn't tell you why for either one. Both were just the ones I re-read the most often.
What was your favorite book as an adolescent, and why?
The early Piers Anthony Xanth books (because I was an adolescent, and smack dab in the target audience), and, later on, most of Robert Heinlein's Future History books (because I was still an adolescent, and thus wanted lots of sex, but I wanted better writing, too).
What is the most-unread category of books gathering dust on your bookshelf - the books you've bought but just never got around to reading?
My various finance and economics books.
What kind of books would you like to say you read, but never do?
Biographies. I love general history, and I'm fascinated by the lives of folks like George Washington, Einstein, etc, but I can never really bring myself to sit and read 700-page tracts about them.
What's the oddest book you ever read?
Hmm. Tough question. Maybe something by e.e. cummings? Or Joyce's Ulysses, maybe.
What's the book you were never able to get through, despite the recommendations of people you respect?
Liketheferret, I consider LotR vastly overrated, but since I actually did make it through the series, I don't think that counts. So far, I'd have to say that China Miéville's Perdido Street Station is the highest on the list.
What's the book it took you a couple of tries to get into, but was as good as people promised once you finally made it?
Neil Barrett, Jr.'s The Prophecy Machine, and Northanger Abbey.
What's your favorite short story... Or do you even have one?
Oy. I've got lots, but remembering them offhand is always tough. So this'll be incomplete. But for starters:
"I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream," By Harlan Ellison. I consider it the greatest short story of the century. Also the most brutal.
"Nightfall," by Asimov.
"The Luck of Roaring Camp," by Bret Harte, the most under-appreciated writer of the last 150 years.
"Green Tea," Le Fanu. One of the best horror tales ever.
"The Cask of Amontillado," by Poe. Although any of his stories will do.
Almost anything by Doyle or O'Henry. Or any of the above-named authors, actually.
The desert island. Three books (and collected works don't count; if you want Lord of the Rings, it'll cost you all three slots). Go.
I'd find a way to swim to safety.
But barring that:
Good Omens (eminently re-readable, and I'd need a pick-me-up), by Pratchett and Gaiman.
Santiago, by Mike Resnick. My favorite adventure tale of all time.
A good joke book. I'd need it.
taraljc).Second, a book survey, ganked from
theferrettWhat books are your comfort reading - the ones you slink back to in times of stress?
Good Omens, Guards! Guards!, and the various Swamp Thing and Sandman graphic novels I own. The former are just damned fun, and the latter are solid, enjoyable reads that also read quickly.
What was your favorite book as a child, and why?
Either Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or the John Christopher Tripod books. Couldn't tell you why for either one. Both were just the ones I re-read the most often.
What was your favorite book as an adolescent, and why?
The early Piers Anthony Xanth books (because I was an adolescent, and smack dab in the target audience), and, later on, most of Robert Heinlein's Future History books (because I was still an adolescent, and thus wanted lots of sex, but I wanted better writing, too).
What is the most-unread category of books gathering dust on your bookshelf - the books you've bought but just never got around to reading?
My various finance and economics books.
What kind of books would you like to say you read, but never do?
Biographies. I love general history, and I'm fascinated by the lives of folks like George Washington, Einstein, etc, but I can never really bring myself to sit and read 700-page tracts about them.
What's the oddest book you ever read?
Hmm. Tough question. Maybe something by e.e. cummings? Or Joyce's Ulysses, maybe.
What's the book you were never able to get through, despite the recommendations of people you respect?
Like
theferret, I consider LotR vastly overrated, but since I actually did make it through the series, I don't think that counts. So far, I'd have to say that China Miéville's Perdido Street Station is the highest on the list. What's the book it took you a couple of tries to get into, but was as good as people promised once you finally made it?
Neil Barrett, Jr.'s The Prophecy Machine, and Northanger Abbey.
What's your favorite short story... Or do you even have one?
Oy. I've got lots, but remembering them offhand is always tough. So this'll be incomplete. But for starters:
"I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream," By Harlan Ellison. I consider it the greatest short story of the century. Also the most brutal.
"Nightfall," by Asimov.
"The Luck of Roaring Camp," by Bret Harte, the most under-appreciated writer of the last 150 years.
"Green Tea," Le Fanu. One of the best horror tales ever.
"The Cask of Amontillado," by Poe. Although any of his stories will do.
Almost anything by Doyle or O'Henry. Or any of the above-named authors, actually.
The desert island. Three books (and collected works don't count; if you want Lord of the Rings, it'll cost you all three slots). Go.
I'd find a way to swim to safety.
But barring that:
Good Omens (eminently re-readable, and I'd need a pick-me-up), by Pratchett and Gaiman.
Santiago, by Mike Resnick. My favorite adventure tale of all time.
A good joke book. I'd need it.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-20 11:28 am (UTC)You should also have a Dexter icon for the normal posts.
Unwilly
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Date: 2003-04-20 12:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-20 11:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-20 12:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-20 08:26 pm (UTC)Thank you! Yet another person who thinks so. Not only one of the best short stories that I know about, but one best TITLES that I can think of, too. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-20 11:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-20 11:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-21 10:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-21 05:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-21 05:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-21 09:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-21 10:39 am (UTC)