Book Meme

I found this via Michael over at eclecticism, who got it from Mike.

Hardback or Paperback?

I buy both with pretty equal regularity. I generally cannot wait long enough for my favorite authors to show up in paperback.

Highlight or Underline?

Generally, neither. When I do feel the need to do this, I will underline and make notes in the margins.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

Borders all the way. B&N is evil, and will only do when there is absolutely nothing else available.

Waldenbooks or B. Dalton?

We have a local Waldenbooks for when I am desperate for something to read and amazon.com takes too long.

Fantasy or Science Fiction?

I generally tend more to fantasy, especially when I was younger, but am getting more and more into stuff like Asimov, Heinlein, etc.

Horror or Suspense?

Generally, suspense. See below for comments on Stephen King.

Bookmark or Dog-Ear?

I hate people who dogear. I generally bookmark with the receipt.

Pen or Pencil?

Pen. I hate writing with a pencil.

Looseleaf or Notebook?

I prefer a bound notebook (it is the scientist in me). I absolutely abhor spiral bound stuff though.

Alphabetize: By Author or By Title?

Author. No other way to do it.

Dustjacket: On or Off?

Depends on the size of the book. In smaller books I use the jacket flap as a bookmark. In big ones I can't do that and remove the jacket.

Novella or Epic?

Short novels drive me nuts. Give me at least 500 pages. Anything else is a snack, with little time for good plot or character development.

Fiction or Non-fiction?

I read both with equal regularity. I enjoy fiction for relaxation, but find myself reading lots of non-fiction and having it have the same effect.

Historical Biography or Historical Romance?

Biography, definitely. Although not much of that...and none of the other.

A Few Pages per Sitting or Finish at Least a Chapter?

I can do either. No preference.

Short Story or Creative Non-fiction Essay?

See above with respect to novellas. I would much rather have the essay.

"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?

Again, I read a lot of both. Either works.

Buy or Borrow?

Buy. Amazon.com loves me, and I love it right back. Libraries are a great idea, and great places to visit, but it seems that most of what I want to read is either too obscure for a library or I'd be on a waiting list for most popular works. I work on several books at a time and would end up with big bucks in late fees if I did not purchase.

Book Reviews or Word of Mouth?

Both. Equally.

Lewis or Tolkien?

I like both.

E. B. White or A. A. Milne?

Milne, by a nose.

T. S. Eliot or e. e. cummings?

cummings, by a furlong.

Stephen King or Dean Koontz?

King, in a runaway. I've been reading King since I was about 12. Love his stuff, even the somewhat poorly written things. Koontz is too formulaic.

Hemingway of Faulkner?

Have read little of each, but I seem to remember liking Papa better.

Fitzgerald or Steinbeck?

No contest: Steinbeck, even if he is almost as depressing as Fitzgerald. Again, it has been a while for either though.

John Irving or John Updike?

Irving. Garp, Hotel NH, Owen Meany, Cider House. Although Irving's Rabbit stuff is good.

Homer or Plato?

Plato.

Geoffrey Chaucer or Edmund Spenser?

Canterbury Tales rocks, and I must admit I have no idea who Spenser is.

John Grisham or Scott Turow?

Grisham. I like Turow, and actually got to meet him once, but he takes longer to get stuff out.

J. K. Rowling or Lemony Snickett?

Potter rocks, and I have never read Snickett