Stefanie tagged me for a meme, and how, on a pleasant Friday evening, can I resist such a thing? You’ll find the source of the meme at Kimbooktu.
- Hardcover or paperback, and why? Either one. What I really hate are mass market paperbacks. I’ve read a number of people complaining about trade paperbacks and how expensive they are and how they are just a way to make more money, but I’m willing to pay a bit more for a book that falls open easily and has decent font size and margins.
- If I were to own a book shop I would call it… Black Dog Books. Hobgoblin and I have discussed this fantasy a number of times and have it all worked out; of course we’d have to name it after Muttboy who would be a shop fixture, and ideally we’d have an adjoining bike shop called Black Dog Bikes.
- My favorite quote from a book (mention the title) is… I don’t have one! I’m not a quotation collector.
- The author (alive or dead) I would love to have lunch with would be… Jane Austen. We would sit around, sip tea, and make fun of the other customers.
- If I was going to a deserted island and could only bring one book, except for the SAS survival guide, it would be… Probably the collected works of Shakespeare or the Bible. I’d want something rich and long and full of things to think about. That’s a boring answer, I’m afraid, but it’s the truth.
- I would love someone to invent a bookish gadget that… would allow me to do a word search in every book I’ve got. You can look up words in books online, of course, but what about when I’m reading a regular book and am desperately trying to find a particular passage?
- The smell of an old book reminds me of… Hanging out in libraries, studying and doing research. Or hanging out in used book stores trying to decide what I should buy.
- If I could be the lead character in a book (mention the title), it would be… Well, right now (my answer to this would change from day to day) I’d kind of like to be Maisie Dobbs from Jacqueline Winspear’s mystery novels. She’s so intelligent and intuitive both; she understands how people work and she’s expert at getting them to reveal their secrets.
- The most overestimated book of all time is… The Da Vinci Code. It strikes me that with so many people living on earth right now, and with a decent percentage of them having read and liked the thing, my claim might well be true.
- I hate it when a book… gives away too much of the plot, either on the back cover, the inside jacket, or in the introduction. How could publishing people do this?
I’m tagging whoever would like to do this one!
Of Books and Bicycles 
Gosh, Dorothy, I have to just agree with you down the line on most of your choices! I love the idea of Black Dog books — and the mascot!
I’ll have to take up this meme myself, after I post on the Horror Short Story Short Challenge.
LikeLike
Oh, Maisie Dobbs. Yes! And I agree: what is it with (some) publishing people (and also some book reviewers) when it comes to giving away plot?
LikeLike
Black Dog Books, I love it! And of course there would have to be a bike shop attached. Your description of you and Jane sipping tea and making fun of the other customers made me laugh. Too perfect!
LikeLike
I started with the same answer for #9 but it was turning into a rant and I’ve already been there, debunked that. I’m glad someone mentioned it, though.
LikeLike
I like the name for your bookstore–that’s great. That’s funny we both chose Maisie Dobbs, but she is a great character, so not surprising! I couldn’t think of a book for #9, but I think you’re right about it–way too over the top! I like your idea for #6, but I bet you could do that with eBooks. Of course I still thing eBooks are just not the same as regular old paper. Great answers.
LikeLike
I love the idea of Black Dog Books (& Bikes). I had Jane Austen in mind for luncheon as well, but went with Flannery O’Connor. Both would be entertaining!
LikeLike
LK — oh, I hope you do the meme — it’s a fun one. And Muttboy really needs his own bookstore to hang out in; he’d have so much fun greeting the customers.
Emily — I’m SO grateful when introduction writers tell you there are spoilers ahead, or, better yet, don’t include any.
Stefanie — people seem to like the book shop name — I think this means we need to open it!
Sylvia — I’m glad to help out 🙂
Danielle — yeah, that would be one advantage of ebooks, but I’m really not interested in them. But I could use one to look up what I wanted, and that would make it easier to find the corresponding page in the real book.
Jenclair — indeed, both would be fabulous to have lunch with!
LikeLike
Black dog books! I love that! I think I may do this meme soon…
LikeLike
Oh do give it a try Hepzibah — it’s lots of fun 🙂
LikeLike
I haven’t read Da Vinci code because I find its basic premise and approach repugnant; however, I discussed it (and the sequel) with my bookaholic niece. It sounded like it was well written from a detail and internal consistency perspective. I think Harry Potter may be more overrated. While she creates lovely vignettes; the internal inconsistencies drive me nuts.
LikeLike
Those are great answers! I’m also not a fan of the mass market size books. Trade paperbacks are my favorites. I still need to do this meme.
LikeLike