On My Mind – 20 Questions Book Tag – 10/11/2018

OK…And now for something completely different!!  I’m almost a year into this Blog and I was tagged the other day for the very first time.  I’ve read so many of these posts but I guess I thought I’d never find myself writing one.  I’ve always written for myself…with only the rarest of exceptions, no external prompts.  Having said that, I’m kind of looking forward to seeing how this works out.

I was tagged by a blogger that I really enjoy – H.R.R. Gorman at “Let Me Tell You the Story of…” and the title is pretty self explanatory.

This tag was created by buydebook on Goodreads. You can find the post here!

1.  How Many Books Is Too Many Books In A Series?

No school solution here.  The answer is totally dependent on the quality of the series.  I’m very happy – eager even – to read through a 20+ book series like the Honor Harrington series by David Weber or the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher or the Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust so long as the main character, the world and the stories are compelling – generally has to have all three.  In fact, for a series like those, I never want them to end.  There are some, however, that just go on far too long – the author runs out of story or the characters get stale – like the Riftwar Cycle.  I’ve read through this massive series but all the joy went out of it somewhere around the halfway point.  Feist should have shut that one down about 10 books ago.

2.  How Do You Feel About Cliffhangers?

Not a big fan – I generally think they’re a cheap way to sell more books.  Each entrant in a series may serve as a component of a larger tale but they should also provide you with a measure of resolution – they should represent a whole unto themselves.  A series should earn its longevity not by ending with an artificially unfinished story but by serving up a consistently excellent supply of the elements listed above.

3.  Hardcover Or Paperback?

I haven’t bought a paperback in decades.  The question for me is hardcover or e-copy.  Any addition to my collection is always purchased in hardcover.  When I’m trying a new author or a new series, I always start with an e-copy.  If I fall in love with the author or the story, I’ll go back and purchase the hardcover so that I can place it on the shelf.  I’ll also sometimes double purchase – hardcover and e-copy – in the event that I want to read while traveling.  I learned long ago – when I was living overseas and traveling back and forth – that the last thing I wanted to lug around with me while traveling were physical copies of my books.

4.  Favorite Book?

At first blush – such a hard question but – on reflection – it’s easy.  I would have to go with “Lord Of The Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien.  I found LoTR at a pretty young age and it was a foundational read for me.  It was where my lifelong love for Fantasy began – one that’s persisted for over 45 years.  For many years, this was an annual Christmas read for me and I reread it as recently as 3 years ago.  If I could choose only one book to possess for the remainder of my life, it would be this one.  I’m still looking for that weekend when I’m home alone so that I can watch all three movies – back to back.  If there was a close second, it would likely be Dune by Frank Herbert.

5.  Least Favorite Book?

No such thing – there are plenty of books that I just haven’t enjoyed and you can find reviews for some of them here on my blog – but no read has been so bad that it would earn this distinction.  I can almost always find something I like – about almost any book.

6.  Love Triangles, Yes Or No?

I’ll leave this one to all those readers who love romantic novels – it’s never been a question I ever remember having had to grapple with over the course of my 45 years of reading.

7.  The Most Recent Book You Just Couldn’t Finish?

This one doesn’t apply.  If I read the 1st page, I feel like I owe it to the author and the book to finish.  I always finish any book I start.

8.  A Book You’re Currently Reading?

I just finished “Uncompromising Honor” by David Weber and went straight to “Exit Strategy” by Martha Wells.  Should finish it tonight so look for the review this weekend.  One thing you can count on though – I will once again complain bitterly about the fact that Wells and her publisher split Murderbot’s story up into 4 separately released novellas.  Pure, crassly commercial, exploitative decision on both their parts.

9.  Last Book You Recommended To Someone?

That would have to be “Uncompromising Honor” by David Weber, preceded by “Port Of Shadows” by Glen Cook – both wonderful reads.

10.  Oldest Book You’ve Read?

Technically, this would be “The Epic Of Gilgamesh”.  I think I’m safe here since it’s considered to be the earliest surviving work of literature.  It would be followed closely by “The Iliad”.  If you’re asking about the oldest physical book(s) in my collection, it would have to be the mint, 1910 complete 50 volume hardcover collection of The Harvard Classics that came to me from my grandfather.  Thanks to Mom and Paw Paw for this one.

11.  Newest Book You’ve Read?

It would either “Uncompromising Honor” by David Weber or “Exit Strategy” by Martha Wells.  I believe they were released on the same day last week.

12.  Favorite Author?

I’d have to bring this back to my favorite book – so J.R.R. Tolkien.  There is, however, a pretty fierce competition taking place within that second tier – Weber, Brust, Rothfuss, Martin, Erikson – et cetera, et cetera, et cetera – the road goes on forever and the party never ends.

13.  Buying Books Or Borrowing Books?

Buying – always buying.  I NEVER, EVER borrow or loan.  Books are too personal a possession for me and I’m a bit obsessive about their condition.  It’s a failing of mine but I simply don’t trust others with my books and – if I’m going to read it – I’m going to buy it.

14.  A Book You Dislike That Everyone Else Seems To Love?

There are plenty of these but I’ll pick one from 2018 to keep it simple – “The Poppy War” by R.F Kuang.  I don’t understand why so many people enjoyed this one.  I found it poorly written and poorly conceived.  To me, this one was painfully, unrelentingly mediocre.

15.  Bookmarks Or Dog-Ears?

Really?  REALLY?  REALLY?  Does this question even belong in an interrogatory for true readers?  Show me someone who’s willing to damage a book by dog-earing the pages and I’ll show you – at least in my opinion – someone undeserving of respect – for no other reason but that they may be shortening the life span of the book.

16.  A Book You Can Always Reread?

Again, back to earlier answers:  “Lord Of The Rings” by J.R.R Tolkien, “Dune” by Frank Herbert, “On Basilisk Station” by David Weber, “Gust Front” by John Ringo, “The Longest Day” by Cornelius Ryan, “The Histories” by Herodotus.  There are so many more but this is represents a pretty good cross-section.

17.  Can You Read While Listening To Music?

I can but prefer not to – when I’m reading I’m living inside my head – visualizing scenes from the book as I go.  Music won’t keep me from being able to do this but it can distract.

18.  One POV Or Multiple POVs?

I’m completely agnostic on this one – so long as it’s skillfully executed, I’ll enjoy either.

19.  Do You Read A Book In One Sitting Or Over Multiple Days?

This is a Past vs. Present question for me.  When I was young – many years ago – I used to be able to read a book in one sitting.  I can dimly remember those times – before I hit 30  – when I would read all night long – until the sun rose – until I finished whatever book I was reading.  It was fine then.  I could pull that kind of all nighter, jump out of bed, clean up and get to classes – no problem.  These days, if I lay down with a book, even an exceptional book, I give myself 30 minutes before I’m fast asleep.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve woken up in the middle of the night – lights still on – a book or my iPad laying across my nose.  It’s a joke with my wife – one of her favorites.  She’s even taken pictures of me in bed like that and texted them to me before rolling over and going to sleep herself – just so it could be waiting for me on my phone the next morning.  These days, it’s always over multiple days.  I’m just getting too old to do it any other way.

20.  Who Do You Tag?

This is hard for me – I’m writing a fair bit and I have a decent number of followers but a very small number of folks that are actively engaged – that read and like my posts or that send comments.  Most of those that do have likely done something like this already and I’d hate to create a feeling of obligation.  I’ll just leave it out there and see if anyone who sees this decides to take it on.  I’d love to see someone give it a try.  I’ve corresponded with some wonderful folk over the course of the last year and I’d love to get to know y’all better.

And…last but not least…thanks to you Mr. Gorman – for tagging me.  This was just a whole bunch of fun.  Hope you have as much fun reading as I did writing. 🙂

PS:  I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT MY REMARKS FOR THE RECORD

Cheers To All And Wishing Each And Every One Of You A Wonderful Weekend.

Brian