Booking Through Thursday

What have you been reading lately?

I have been reading Romances lately. Nothing much to write about. I read the romances and forget the stories, if we call them that, promptly and then go to the next. Sometimes one just needs mindless stuff, and this is one of those times!

Booking Through Love Stories

No, no, I’m not asking if you like romances … what I want to know is what is it about stories that you love? Is it the stories themselves? The people? The plot twists?

I have been reading almost exclusively romances since September 2014. I suppose the feel good factor in the ending motivates one to keep on reading romances.

Some also have good plots going, some are about the main characters and plot twists are must to keep ones interest intact throughout.

Over the months, I have read Michelle Reid, Lynne Graham, Sarah Morgan, Susan Napier , Julia James and lot more. I find I like strong heroines and very emotonal plots. I can't stand a cruel hero. That is one reason I don't like Sara Craven.

I also like Brenda Joyce for plots, Diana Palmer for strong, responsible heroes.

Booking through Format

All other things being equal, what is your favorite format for reading? Hardcover? Paperback? New book? Old book? Leather-bound first edition? E-book?

All other things being equal, I go for paperbacks. Those are easy to carry and lighter in weight. When I read a hardcover, my arms ache by the sheer weight of it. I know Hardcovers preserve well. However, paperbacks give us a certain flexibility.
I can read paperbacks any place, that is, even in bed.

Frankly, now my library is mix of both. I have old leather bound hardcovers which are priceless. I have inherited these books from my maternal grandfather. Even though yellowing, those smell great too. I buy hardcovers of those books, which I want to keep forever. 

I go for paperback editions simply because they cost less, as of now. As we book lovers know, we have to go for the practical aspects too.

I do read E-books too but prefer print books. Anytime!

Booking through R-Rated

How do you feel about explicit detail in your reading? Whether language, sex, violence, situations and so on … does it bother you? Faze you at all? Or do you just read everything without it bothering you?

I am not bothered about violence in moderation but I cannot read explicit details about the way serial killers go about a victim. I also cannot stand bad language. I do not think the four lettered words need to be used everywhere. Some writers do not know where to draw the line. 

I prefer not to read books with porn as their main agenda. I read a couple of erotica recently and I am not going to repeat that any time soon...

I prefer novels to nurture my mind, heart and soul. And explicit anything fails to do that.

Booking Through Extremes

What’s the furthest you’ve ever gone to get something to read? (Think extremes as well as miles—wrangling a ride from a stranger to a distant bookstore just to get the newest book from a favorite author?) If your absolute favorite author (living or dead) was coming out with a brand new book tomorrow, how far would you go, what would you do to get a copy?

I have not gone to extremes till date for any book. I am rather laid back in my attitude. I prefer things to cool down before I pick a popular book. I don't think things will change for me. 

I am glad to see BOOKING THROUGH THURSDAY!!!

Booking Through Plot or Characters

Which is more important when you read — the actual story or the characters? I’ve read books with great plots, but two-dimensional characters, and I’ve read multi-layered characters stuck in clunky stories, and I’m sure you have, too. So which would you rather focus on, if you couldn’t have both?

When I reading a crime fiction novel, plot is important for me. Without a strong plot, ant crime fiction novel can fall apart. However, one needs good characters to hold our interest. For classics and literary fiction, I prefer the characters to take precedence. Plot becomes secondary.  

I would prefer characters to plot........

Booking Through Mark-Ups

Do you write in your books? Highlight? Make notes? Or do you like to keep your copies as pristine as possible?

When in school and college, I used to mark in my text books. I wrote, highlighted and made notes in the margins. You name it, I did it. I still do it in the copy of my text books that I teach to my students.

But for novels, poetry books, I do not do any of the above. I do not even dog ear the books. I like my novels and poetry books pristine!

Booking through Re-reading

Did you, for example, reread more as a child and your access to new books was limited by how often you could convince your mother to take you to the library? Has the economy affected your access so that you’re forced to reread more often now? Have you grown to look at old books as old friends so that you’re happy to spend time with them rather than rushing the next new thing?

I seldom reread now. There are too many books to read and too less time. I prefer to read new books rather than visiting old ones. But there are times when I go back to reread a favourite page or two!!

Booking Through Fanfiction

What do you think of fanfiction? In general—do you think it’s a fun thing or a trespass on an author/producer’s world? And of course, obviously specific authors have very firm and very differing opinions about this, yet it’s getting more popular and more mainstream all the time. Do you ever read or write it yourself?

I am not much into fanfiction. I don't read it and writing it out of question. Maybe if someone offered me a book better than the original, I might consider reading it!

Booking Through Cold and Wet

For most of the east coast, at least, it’s a wintry, snowy day today, so … How do you like to spend your snow days? Feel free to gloss over the obligatory parts like shoveling unless you LIKE it. We’re talking ideal, best way to spend a snow day kind of thoughts, here.

For those of you who live in places where snow days simply don’t happen? Feel free to substitute “snow” with “rain” and think about the kind of days when you just want to cuddle up inside where it’s warm and dry.

Where I live, we do not have snow. The winter is not that severe. It does not fall below 2 degree celsius. Never ever. But due to fog and mist, we like to stay indoors. Drinking hot beverages and watching TV. And reading. I prefer that to anything. This Jan, it was too cold to go out. That is one reason, I could read 19 novels.

Booking Through Multi-Tasking

Do you do other things while you read? Watch TV? Cook? Brush your teeth? Knit?

I do lot of other things while I read. 

a) I watch TV/listen to music. 

b) I grade papers.

c) I cook.

d) I clean.

e) I talk on the phone.

Booking Through Equality

All other things (writing quality, story, etc), which would you rather read?

1. Something written by a man or a woman?

My preferred genre is crime fiction. If a novel is good, it does not matter if it is written by a man or a woman. Nowadays, one can find a lot of women crime fiction writer. I do not choose a Crime Fiction by the gender of the author. 

2. Something with a male or female protagonist?

Let me put it this way. I love Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson. I also love Lisbeth Salander. Period.

3. Something funny or something tragic?

It depends on my mood. 

4. Something short or something long with many parts?

I prefer something long with many parts, even in short stories.

5. Something simple or something layered?

Layered, of course!

Booking Through Otherwise

Outside of books, what’s your favorite thing to read? Newspapers? Magazines? Blogs? Fanfiction? Specific websites?

I read a lot of mathematical puzzle books. I love solving puzzles. I also read cook books although I don't cook that much. I devour books related to Physics. I have subscribed to a lot of news blog. I read most of those. When I am not reading novels, I continue with my other reading! 

Booking Through Pointed

Which is better (or preferred) … stories with multiple character points of view? Or stories that stick to just one or two at most? And, why?

I prefer stories with just one or two at most point(s) of view. That way, there is less confusion. When there are multiple points of view, I tend to get sidetracked and have to go back. Two many points of view sometimes create unnecessary diversions or leave too many loose ends. 

Booking Through Imagery

How much do you visualize when you read? Do you imagine faces for the characters? Can you see the locations in your mind’s eye? Or do you just plunge ahead with the story, letting the imagery fall to the wayside?

When I am reading, I visualize a whole movie. Every character and scene plays out in my mind. I have a rich imagination and I also add on to what I am reading! Without imagery, reading goes flat. In other words, it does not make any sense to me if we cannot play it out in our minds! 

Booking Through Quality or Quantity

Which is more important? Quality for your reading? Or quantity?

Quality wins hands down. I prefer good books even if that means reading less. Why should I waste my time read trash? Some books do help in increasing the numbers but are those books worth it? 

I say, NO!!

Booking Through Tragedy Or Comedy

All other things being equal (good writing, enthralling story, etc), which would you rather read—something serious, angsty, and tragic? Or something light, fluffy, and fun? Or a blend of both? (Since, really, isn’t that how real life works?)

I prefer serious stuff. The kind of books which arouse my emotions. Angst is part of life and we all identify with it. Reading about it touches us.

Fluffy may make us smile but it does not make us think.

The header on my blog says:

"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us." Franz Kafka

And I do believe in that. Period.

Booking through Persons

Do you have a preference between “person” in the books you read? Do you prefer third-person to first-person? Or don’t you care? And … why??

I do not really have a preference for third person, first person or alternative persons. If the story line is good, I can read any of the above. If the narration is good, then I can read it any way. It really depends on the plot and the characters. 

Having said that, I like Historical Fiction in third person. Somehow it makes more impact for me. 

Booking Through Moving

What kind of moving experiences have you had with your books? (Or, just in general if you’ve got good Moving Day stories–and who doesn’t?) Did having to pack and move your books cause any changes in your book-collecting habits? Make you wish you had everything on an e-reader? Feel free to discuss! 

In 2008, we had to move to our present place. At that time I owned around 4000+ books. This place is bigger than the previous house but I decided to cull my collection. I sorted through my collection and gave away 1500 odd books to various places, local library, old age home and children's home. No, I was not sad to part with those books as I knew many would enjoy those as I had done. 

Moving 2500+ books was no mean task. And rearranging was also not easy but I am glad I did. Yes, I have added around 300+ novels but I do not regret it at all.....

I do not wish for an e-reader. Nothing is as pleasurable as holding a print copy!! 

Booking Through Summer Reading

Do your reading habits change in the summer? Do you take your books outside more? Do you curl up in the air conditioning? Do you read fluff instead of serious books? Are you too busy playing in the sun or gardening or whatever to read much at all?

My reading habit remains the same all through the year. That is for genre. But I do get more time to read in summer. Even if I take a vacation, I carry books, as most readers do. I do other stuff as well but my reading remains intact.