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My Preferences… Book-wise

After writing and posting every day (well almost), last month, I decided to take it a bit easy in May. Only 2 posts in 10 days is a testimony of the fact that I took it a bit too easy. Today, when I was keen to write something, a cycle of a blank page followed by keying in of a few sentences which were erased soon by the backspace key followed by a blank page stared back at me. It seems that the grey cells have gone for an extended vacation. For such dull and uninspiring days, Memes work best for me. I came across this fun and interesting Book Preference Meme, here. So, here I go with my preferences… book-wise!

  • Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror?

I read all these genres. But if I were to pick one from these three, then it would be Horror.

  • Hardback or Trade paperback or Mass market paperback?

Trade paperback are easy to carry and read. Though Hardbacks look great in my library cupboard.

  • Amazon or Brick and Mortar?

Amazon without a doubt!

  • Barnes & Noble or Borders?

Barnes & Noble. Have bought books and CDs for Aaryan from this giant. Borders has closed down now and they never had a store in India!

  • Bookmark or Dog-ear?

Always a bookmark. Hate Dog-ears!

  • Asimov’s Science Fiction or Fantasy & Science Fiction?

I haven’t read Asimov, so Fantasy and Science fiction it will be for me.

  • Alphabetize by author, Alphabetize by title, or Random?

Random

  • Keep, Throw away or Sell?

Keep. Will never be able to throw away a book. And never sold a book too.

  • Keep dust-jacket or Toss it?

Keep. They look great!

  • Read with dust-jacket or Remove it?

Remove it while reading!

  • Short story or Novel?

Both, depending on the mood and time.

  • Stop reading when tired or at Chapter breaks?

For a not so great book, I stop whenever the words stop registering. But with interesting books, I always stop reading when the chapter ends.

  • “It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time?”

It was a dark and stormy night… comes with a lot of interesting possibilities.

  • Buy or Borrow?

Buy, always! Since I don’t lend my books, so I don’t borrow either.

  • Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation or Browse?

Usually book reviews from fellow blogger friends.

  • Collection (short stories by the same author) or Anthology (short stories by different authors)?

Collection, as you are familiar with the author’s writing style. In an Anthology, there could be some black sheep but then you get to read some amazing new authors/stories too.

  • Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?

It doesn’t matter as long as the book is well written.

  • Morning reading, Afternoon reading or Night-time reading?

Anytime is a good time to read books.

  • Standalone or Series?

I prefer standalone books. I don’t mind series though, but then I prefer to read the series in quick succession without much time gap interval.

  • Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?

Nobody? Now that’s a bit far-fetched!

  • Favorite genre series?

Harry Potter series. That reminds me that I must pick this series once again and read all at one go. I also liked Clifton Chronicles by Jeffery Archer, though I have read just 2 from this series.

  • Currently Reading?

The Wedding Trousseau and Other Short Stories By Ankita Sharma and Story of Tublu by Jahid Akhtar. Both the books are written by fellow bloggers.

What are some of your preferences book-wise?

46 Responses

  1. I’ll try to add one favorite book of mine that nobody else might have heard: RELIC (forgot the author’s name). When I read it during 12th Standard Holidays, I was AMAZED. Not sure if the book will have the same effect on me now!

    Destination Infinity

    1. Go ahead and take this up! I know what you mean. If a series book can be read as a standalone book, it is great. If the book ends with a plausible ending, you can just leave it at that without reading the other books in the series!

  2. Hmmm, interesting as I had never heard of a meme post before! Great idea! 😉
    My answers would match a lot of yours; however, I do not like horror. You brought me a memory of me dog earring books when I was a lot younger. 😉 <3

    1. Memes are great way to hide the writer’s block which affects me quite frequently 😀 Go ahead and pick it up whenever you are low on ideas, Elly 🙂 Dog ears… aah… we all did that as kids… Thank God, we learnt! 🙂

  3. Great post after a break..
    My choices are almost same as yours..bookmarks, reading anytime during the day, keeping books, paper backs..
    These days I have got my hands at “The Professional” by Subroto Bagchi and what a book it is..Loving it! 🙂

    1. Glad that we are on the same page regarding books, Parul. I have heard of this book, now that you mention it too, I must check it out!

  4. I just love books whether on Kindle for travelling or paperback. I just eat them up. Recently bought The Corrections: Jonathan Frantzen at book sale and am loving it, though have several others on the go …

  5. Let us know your opinion of the books you’re currently reading!
    I’m sure you definitely wanted a break and some lighthearted posts after the marathon blogging you did!!

    1. Sure, will share the reviews soon. Oh yes, it is a bliss to not to think about story ideas and blogs to visit, all the time 😀

  6. I found myself nodding to most of your answers…i would do the same…but putting down a book that is good is so difficult…at the end of each chapter i promise myself that the next chapter will be the last for the day…and the promise continues till i am unable to postpone my other commitments further!!! I have even chided myself sometimes…”come on put the book down and get going….” 🙂

    1. Such books are simply amazing and that reminds me that it’s been a while since I read such a compelling and an engaging book! 🙄

  7. I had no idea you liked horror! 😯
    What’s the difference between Trade paperback and Mass market paperback?
    I must DEFINITELY steal this meme for my blog too! 😀 😆 😛

    1. Oh, I like to read all genres! 😀
      Trade paperback would have better binding and good paper quality than mass market paperback. And thus they are priced a bit higher than the mass market paperbacks!

    1. Aah! You are wise one, Kathy! I still have miles to go before I reach that state of mind! 😛

  8. I never heard of Brick and Mortar or Borders.

    When I was little, I was taught that folding down the corner of a book page was disrespectful to the author. And since I wanted to be an author, I never did it since! 🙂

    Write with Fey

    1. Google tells me that Borders closed down in 2011!
      Dog ears… disrespectful to the author… that’s interesting… never thought that way. Just thought that it spoils the look of the book! Love your resolve, Chrys 🙂

    1. Aah! Learnt the hard way, Sreesha! Have lost so many books, so it’s no lending and no borrowing for me! I have a stick-on note on my library cupboard stating the same. Sounds rude, but then that’s the only way to not let your books hijacked! 😀

  9. That was a well deserved break though, Shilpa! This was a fun post to read – have not done one like this, but my answers would not be so different from yours… However, I would be able to give books away (excepts my treasures)- and I am not a big fan of horrors either. Felt I got to know you a bit more through your answers also- that was fun:-)

    1. Aah! I guess, after the hectic April, we all needed this break! Thanks Eli, glad you enjoyed reading this post! 🙂

  10. I am driving through on the A to Z Road Trip. When I first started blogging I did a lot of memes. This is a good one. Love reading! Mostly now I read all of my books on my Nook Color. So easy!

    1. Thanks for coming over from the A to Z Road Trip, Paula. Isnt that a fab initiative! Aah! Memes are saviors when writer’s block hits me 😛
      Oh yes, e-books offer great convenience in every way! 🙂

  11. A very well deserved break, Shilpa. And I love how you’ve created such an interactive topic from those questions. As for, I am no longer genre specific. Except horror perhaps. I read the blurb and if I like, I find the book. If it’s too expensive or I can get an e-version easier, I go ahead and order it. Of course, it saves the trouble of the ‘lending and never getting back’.

    1. Oh, this break was very much needed! 😛
      I used to pick books after reading the blurb, but have found so many books where there’s a big difference in what the blurb promises and how the story unfolds/ is written. So, usually recommendations/reviews from like minded friends work best for me! Oh yes, e-books are best solution for ‘lending and never getting back’ syndrome! 😀

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