My bookish confessions

Having been tagged by Crime Thriller Girl @crimthrillgirl – after I basically bullied her into tagging me – here are my bookish secrets:

 

Have you ever damaged a book?

I am a clean book sociopath. I would gladly murder people who turn the corners of books (sorry, Crime Thriller Girl). When I was young I would put my favourite books into plastic covers to protect them. I still have 20 year old copies of Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park and Arthur C Clarke’s A Space Odyssey in pristine condition.

Have you ever damaged a borrowed book?

Just once. I fell down whilst reading a book a friend had lent me, tore the corner of the front cover right off. Couldn’t sleep for a week trying to think of how to break it to her. Bought her a new copy, naturally. And then she told me she really didn’t give a damn!

How long does it take you to read a book?

3-4 days. But currently reading last year’s breakout literary sensation A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara. All 700+ dense pages. No way am I finishing that beast in 3 days.

Books you haven’t finished?

I’m also a book masochist. Once I’ve started I will ALWAYS finish, even if I have to skim read to do it. And then I’ll stew for a week, building up an elemental rage at how hours have been taken out of my life by this drivel. Yep. I told you. Sociopath.

Hyped/Popular books you didn’t like?

Naked Lunch by William Burroughs. Supposedly a great novel of the century. Utter puerile rubbish. And I’ve said so before. Publicly.

Is there a book you wouldn’t tell anyone you were reading?

The next Game of Thrones novel, if George R.R. Martin sent me the only advance copy in the world. Because I wouldn’t want a million crazed Thrones fans breaking down my door, carrying my bruised and battered body to a pyre, then dancing Lord of the Flies fashion around my burning corpse.

Are you a fast/slow reader?

Fast.

Do you like to buddy read?

What the hell is a buddy read? Sounds seriously creepy, and a bit pervy. So, no. (And I’d probably like to stamp it out, whatever it is.)

Do you read better in your head/out loud?

In my head. Reading aloud should only be done by Sir Patrick Stewart or Sir Ian McKellen. Or maybe Sean Connery if you want every possible written accent converted to Scottish.

If you were only allowed to own one book, what would it be and why?

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. The ultimate crime novel. If you want to know how to write the perfect crime book, this is it. Memorable characters, a can’t put this down plot, and written to a literary standard. And, of course, Hannibal Lector.

Now it’s my turn to tag some people so I pick: Abir Mukherjee, A.A. Dhand and David Mark.

And while they’re putting together their confessions, be sure to check out what others in the chain such as @crimethrillgirl have already confessed to …

https://crimethrillergirl.com/2016/09/04/ctgs-bookish-confessions-amreading/

BTW … Since you’re here, why don’t you check out my new THE READING ELEPHANT BOOK CLUB for exclusive content, competitions, reading recommendations and much more.