Friday 25 October 2013

A to Z Blogger Book Survey

Seen this on a few blogs today quite interesting so though I'd give it a go.

Author You've Read The Most Books From.



 Looking back this quite surprised me. I was expecting it to be either Stephen Perry Terry Pratchett or R.A Salvatore but its actually Dan Abnett. I've read and loved all of his Warhammer 40K novels. The Ghosts story arcs. The Eisenhorn and Ravenor Trilogy's!




Best Sequel Ever.
I can't really answer this one as there are so many amazing books that I've read its really tricky to choose.
I'm going to pick Day by Day Armageddon: Beyond Exile by J.L.Bourne a zombie survivor story its just had some neat unexpected twists in it. 



Currently Reading.


Into my fantasy novels at the moment working my way through the Forgotten realms themes books. The latest is The Black Bouquet part of the Rogues series written by Richard Lee Byers They aren't really linked other than the fact they are based around thieves and all seem to be written by various authors. I don't mind at all really. Its giving me ideas for my next faction anyhow.

Drink of Choice Whilst Reading.


I don't have to be reading in particular I just drink buckets of the stuff. One sugar let it stew for two minutes and just a spot of milk ahhhh perfect sluuuuurrrrp!!!

E-Reader or Physical Book.



I do like physical books when possible but also own a kindle. I'm a prolific reader and often read a novel once or twice a year depending on the mood. Sadly I no longer have the space to keep all my books out and they are stored in various boxes in the loft that get rotated down depending on the theme of the month. 

The Library is great for borrowing physical books as well as being free but it does take a while to get my kind of books from them especially if its part of a series which can be annoying as often by the time it comes back from loan from someone else I'm in the mood for other topics.

In February as a Valentines/Late Anniversary present I got given a kindle which if I'm honest I wasn't sure about at first. But have grown to love it as the years gone by. Many classic books are free via Amazon and various other books sites. It also fits in my coat perfectly so it gets taken everywhere!

So it has to be both!

Fictional Character I Would of Dated In High School
Not sure what to say to this one really. I had my fair share of Girlfriends during high school. If I had to pick a chick from a book to date it would have to be 

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance.
Forging The Darksword by Margaret Weis and Tracey Hickman. This is a strange one I got bought this book waaaaay back in 1989 for Christmas off my Mum and dad. We only had one TV in our house back then so most nights was spent reading by torchlight after bedtime trying not to get caught by mum and dad.

Anyway I never could get into this book it style of writing I think was to advanced for 10 year old me to grasp so it got stored away until 1996 when I left school and got bored of my Super Nintendo and started reading again. Glad I kept it as I ended uploving it and buying the two follow on books!


Hidden Book Gem.
City of Ravens by Richard Baker. Randomly bought off Ebay in a forgotten realms book lot one Christmas day (sad I know but I got it really cheap) Fantastic book, Ancient magic, Rogues, Swashbuckling, various villains mischievous dopplegangers. Highly memorable characters. I've got to have read this book at least 15 times in the past few years it so much fun!


Important Moment in Your Book Life.
I got a lot of support and encouragement to read when I was young from my Mom. Great memories of coming home from school everyday and sitting at the dinner table reading my books from school to her. I have many fond memories of the Starpol books which really set off the imagination. 


Just Finished.
The Alablaster Staff by Edward Bolme. First book listed in the Rogues series I love the Forgotten Realms universe its so diverse and divided into so many different settings and peoples. Really enjoyed this book and a first I've read by this particular author.


Kind of Books You Won't Read.
Biographies, Self help books, Love stories (you know the ones I mean!)

Longest Book I've Read.
I was going to say The Lord of the Rings Trilogy but that is of course 3 books! I'd have to say 'The Passage' by Justin Cronin.


Major Book Hangover Because of Disappointing Endings.
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman I read this book twice. The final part of the trilogy and even now I still don't get WTF happened at the end of it! It really bugs me when things appear rushed to get it released if It had been polished it would of been a fine ending to the trilogy.


Number of Bookcases Owned.
At Present none I used have two in my office. But I no longer have one being now the youngests bedroom. I have many Nappy Boxes full of books in the loft :(

One Book You've Read Multiple Times.
I re-read many of my books. It would probably have to be 'I Am Legend' by Richard Matheson. I can't say why its short but I just enjoy reading this iconic piece of fiction.


Preferred Places to Read.
In bed, at the park,on holiday at the beach, in the car (I travel about as an engineer) anywhere really love my Kindle for this very reason!



Quote that Inspires you/Give you all the feels from a book you've read.



"You want to be careful with these. When they say every flavour, they mean every flavour - you know you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get Spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a bogey- flavoured one once."

Ron Weasley 'The Sorcerors Stone'

Reading Regret.
Never finishing the Eragon series I read books one and two and never got round to reading the third I watched the movie and sadly it killed my interest completely. I may have to return and start again with them at some point perhaps especially now I've just noticed book 4 is out.



Series you started and need to finish.
Charlie Higson's 'The Enemy series' need get 'The Fallen' the fifth book asap fantastic series.


Three of your all time favourite books.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.


Aliens Earth Hive.

Guards Guards 

Unapologetic Fanboy For.
The Young Bond series by Charlie Higson. Excellent fun novels.


Very Excited for this release.


Fifth part in the enemy series it was getting really interesting in the fourth book hints at what has happened was beginning to emerge!

Worst Bookish Habit.
Reading 2-3 books at the same time (well not all at once) usually different periods/genres as well lol

X Marks the spot - Start at the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book.

Dam sorry don't have a book shelf myself. If I choose the kids shelf then its Hairy Maclary's Bone by Lynley Dodd. One of my favourite bedtime books for reading to my little ones.




Your Latest Book Purchase.

By Royal Command by Daniel Higson. I borrowed all of the young bond books from the library first time I read them with the intention of buying them later. Picked up this one from 'The Works' for £1.00 but when got to the counter it was reduced to 50p bargain!


ZZZZZZ Snatcher book (The Last book that kept you waaaay up late).

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I used to work a lot of Out of Hours and having been called out late one night I popped into an ASDA on the way home for some food only to find it was the night they released this book. (Coincidence honestly) Anyway picked one up sat in the car and read a chapter. Read more when I got home and before I knew it I'd read 10 chapters and it was 4am ooops!



Fancy a go yourself heres the list in east to copy format.

Author you've read the most books from:
Best sequel ever:
Currently reading:
Drink of choice whilst reading:
E-reader or physical book:
Fictional character you would probably have dated in high school:
Glad you gave this book a chance:
Hidden book gem:
Important moment in your book life:
Just finished:
Kind of book you won't read:
Longest book you've read:
Major book hangover because of  disappointing endings:
Number of bookcases you own:
One book you've read multiple times:
Preferred place to read:
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:
Reading regret:
Series you started and need to finish:
Three of your all-time favorite books:
Unapologetic fanboy for:
Very excited for this release:
Worst bookish habit:
X marks the spot - Start at the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book:
Your latest book purchase:
Zzz snatcher book (the last book that kept you up waaay too late:)

14 comments:

  1. I have seen this list floating about on a few other blogs. I admire you for taking part, but I feel the world and my sanity need not examine my reading habits. Although it has given me some quiet contemplation.

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  2. I've actually translated ERAGON 4 for the readers in my country, and trust me, you're not missing anything by not reading it :) I felt like I gave birth to five babies before I finished it :) Extremely drawn out and boring....

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    1. I really liked the first/second book if I'm honest. But the way the did the movie just killed my interest stone dead.

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  3. Interesting survey and some surprising results there from your good self - (Harry Potter ? Really ?)
    I have to assume that the survey only covered Fiction as there's not a single mention of any rule-books or non-fiction in your whole list !
    As for myself I have very few fiction books, so the survey would be mostly useless to detect my likes and dislikes etc.

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    1. This is just me personally. So others have different genre selections I don't read history/science/factual based stuff its not to my tastes. When I read I want to loose myself in my imagination. Far to much horrible shit goes on in this world for me to want to read about it.

      I may borrow a historical book from the library for a bit of background reading but I wouldn't buy them space being the main reason. Plus I love going to the library with the kids and choosing books I wouldn't normally buy.. I only have maybe 10 physical rulebooks and the rest are either printouts or PDF. I can't explain why but I they just don't feel like books to me. They let me act out my fiction that I read.

      I enjoyed the Harry Potters perhaps that is a bit childish but they are better than the movies the world its set in to me is brilliant.

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  4. That was very informative, Simon and I commend you for giving it a go. However, it is not something I'd wish too do myself.

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    1. It was fun and I surprised myself with some of the answers if i'm honest ;)

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  5. This was a surprising post I had not seen this survey before. I second your Harry Potter enjoyment an ex girlfriend got me to read them, I was pleasantly surprised.

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    1. See another believer! It took me longer than expected as I had to do some real thinking lol

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  6. Now this is something I very well may post I love reading so I think I may give it a go. Thanks.

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  7. Lots of stuff I haven't read before. I did read one of the forgotten realms books once, kind of just jumped into the middle of a story line, so wasn't always clear on the history but it was a lot better than I expected it would be, since you never know what you'll get with franchise motivated books, novelizations, etc, but it was a lot better than some stand alone books I'd read.

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    Replies
    1. Some are great some not so good. I think some of the series can be odd especially when there written by 3-5 different Authors.

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