Book Meme

Kelly over at Big A little a borrowed this book meme, and requested that the kidlitosphere respond. Here are my answers:

1. One book that changed your life?

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand.

2. One book you have read more than once?

I re-read Pride and Prejudice every couple of years. But I've re-read many, many children's books from my childhood, most recently The Four-Story Mistake, by Elizabeth Enright.

3. One book you would want on a desert island?

I'll have to go with Pride and Prejudice here, too.

4. One book that made you laugh?

So many choices... Most recently, Happy Kid! Also RULES by Cynthia Lord.

5. One book that made you cry?

Most recently, Yellow Star, by Jennifer Roy. I also always cry at the end of Anne of Green Gables.

6. One book you wish had been written?

I can't really think of anything here. But I do wish that Harry Potter 7 would be published soon.

7. One book you wish had never been written?

Kiss the Girls, by James Patterson. It's a serial killer/predator novel set at Duke, where I did my undergrad degree. While I couldn't help finishing it (because it was compelling), it made my skin crawl. I did really like Patterson's Maximum Ride, however, so I'm not holding it against him.

8. One book you are currently reading?

Happy Kid! by Gail Gauthier. I'm also about to read Wizards at War by Diane Duane.

9. One book you have been meaning to read?

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud.

10. Now tag 5 people.

Oh, I think that everyone has been virtually tagged by Kelly already. But if you do decide to play, drop a note in the comments.

UPDATE: This meme has really taken off among the kidlitosphere. You can find a pretty comprehensive list of posts at Big A little a. A couple that I ran across that I didn't see on Kelly's list can be found at:

• Original Content (Gail Gauthier's blog); and
• What Adrienne Thinks About That

Comments

[Kelly]

Thanks, Jen! I'm linking you up now.
I'm happy to see you arrived home safely and had a great trip.

I know the first audio version of "Amulet" didn't win you over, but listen again! You'll fall under the spell, I swear :)

[MIchele]

You liked Maximum Ride ?? Oh dear ! I'm sorry to say I didn't think all that much of it - all plot and no characterisation...

[Jen Robinson]

Well, Michele, if we all liked all of the same things, it would be boring. Sometimes I'm in the mood for something that's mainly plot, as long as the characters are interesting (though I'll admit that they aren't all that well-developed).

And yes, Kelly, I will get to Amulet soon. I bought the paper copy to try that. But I've been reluctant to take it on a trip, in case I don't like it, so I need it to be a time that I'm home for a little bit. Thanks for the meme!

[Becky Levine]

I have picked up Amulet about six times and read the first page, then put it back down again. Not sure why--just isn't catching me. Of course, I did that a few years ago with Inkheart, then absolutely fell in love with it several months ago. I'll persist...

Becky

[Becky Levine]

Just put my choices up on my blog: http://beckylevine.livejournal.com

[Gail Gauthier]

Glad you're enjoying Happy Kid!, Jen. Or at least laughing at it.

I'm going to try to the book meme this evening. It will probably take me all afternoon to come up with answers to 6 and 7.

[adrienne]

My mother really likes James Patterson, but I read Kiss the Girls and decided his work is just way too disturbing for me. I'm a huge horror fan, so I'm not sure what about that book in particular did me in. I saw James Patterson speak about Maximum Ride (which I haven't read) at ALA last year, and I was struck by how normal -- and even nerdy -- he seemed.

Incidentally, I'd forgotten that Kiss the Girls was set at Duke. I have a friend starting a new job there next week. I'm totally going to have to send her a copy....