Free Verse: Edgar Allan Poe

Cara at Ooh...Books has started a new meme on Wednesdays called FreeVerse to introduce poetry to new and old readers in a variety of ways.

I took my cue from Cara today and decided to post a YouTube video in which Christopher Walken reads Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven.

Check it out, feel free to leave your impressions, and please do check out Cara's Edgar Allan Poe reading by one of my favorites Vincent Price.



Don't forget Virtual Poetry Circle on Saturdays, every week. Check it out, come participate--no pressure, really!!  :)

Show Us Your Magnets!

After visiting Florinda's blogging space at Kittling Books, which generated tons of comments about her magnet collection, Florinda has challenged everyone to show off their magnets. Naturally, I obliged!



I love collecting magnets with animals on them, particularly from places I've visited. Some of my favorite magnets also incorporate another love of mine--photography--so you'll notice family members and friends on my magnets. Two of my favorites are the two cat magnets on the bottom left corner, which I've had for years. I sent away when I was a kid to have photos of my two cats--Puddy and Tat--put on refrigerator magnets. I could have left these with my mom, but they were my best buds when I was a kid, so I kept them with me.

On the right side, near the top is a giant stuff caribou from Caribou Coffee, which I love...his little hands are magnetic and I just couldn't resist sticking him on the fridge. You'll also note some hand painted goodies on the same side, which The Girl made me, and some made with yarn, which my great aunt in Colorado sent me when I was a kid.

I do have other magnets on the bottom part of the fridge, but I'm not showing that section because it is a mess. Maybe next time.

***
Don't forget my recent Examiner.com interviews with Kyle Semmel of the Writer's Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He talks about blogging and translation, here and here.

And my giveaways:

1. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (5 copies); TODAY!
2. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre (2 copies); Deadline August 14

7 Anecdotes About Reader-Me

I snagged this wonderful Meme from The Boston Bibliophile; read her post here.

1. I often bite off more than I can read when I accept review copies, but I am getting better and I will be catching up on these over the summer.

2. I am happiest reading new-to-me contemporary poets, who should definitely receive more publicity than they receive.

3. I love to browse bookstores, mostly chains near me. I can spend hours looking in the poetry section, mulling over which volumes to buy. That's in addition to the hours I've spent at the front of the store with the best sellers and the new fiction.

4. I remember many of the books I've read from high school until now, though on many occasions the title will escape me.

5. I love using those post-it tabs for passages I plan to use in my reviews, and I always end up with way more of them sticking out of the book than I planned on, which makes choosing the passages I do use all the more difficult.

6. I have a ton of bookmarks, most of them free, and they are usually in one book or another on my selves, in the review piles, or in books that I love and reread passages of after the book spends several dormant years on the shelf.

7. I love to read, but sometimes my reading is interrupted and it makes me irritated. My hubby hasn't quite learned to steer clear if I'm reading, and then he gets a tongue lashing when he interrupts. I still love him anyway.

Tell me 7 things about you as a reader.

***Giveaway Reminders***

5 Joanna Scott, author of Follow Me, books giveaway, here; Deadline May 4, 11:59 PM EST.

Giveaway for Eleanor Bluestein's Tea & Other Ayama Na Tales short story collection, here; Deadline is May 6, 2009, 11:59 PM EST.

1 copy of Rubber Side Down Edited by Jose Gouveia, here; Deadline is May 15 at 11:59 PM EST

Bookish Meme

I snagged this from The Boston Bibliophile and The Bookkitten:

1. Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback?
I also prefer trade paperbacks because I don't have to squint or necessarily wear my reading glasses. Sometimes its just not convenient to pull out those reading glasses on the Metro.

2. Barnes & Noble or Borders?
The B&Ns here are not that great around me, though I do like the one in Bethesda, Md., but I prefer my Borders because of the staff and the selection of books, music, and magazines. The staff is always helpful and courteous.

3. Bookmark or dog-ear?
I use a bookmark most of the time and post-it flags...I usually only dog-ear pages when I run out of post-it flags, which is a compliment to the book.

4. Amazon or brick and mortar?
Brick and mortar stores, though Amazon has its purposes, especially when I want something that is hard to find around here at a good price.

5. Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
Right now, its random because I don't have enough shelf space. When I get my new bookcases, which have to be custom made, I will probably group by genre.

6. Keep, throw away, or sell?
I keep a majority of the books I have, though I will giveaway some on my blog as a way to pass along some great books or books that didn't work for me, but would work for someone else. I never throw away books...I have donated some to the library system, though.

7. Keep dust jacket or toss it?
I love dust jackets.

8. Read with dust jacket or remove it?
I sometimes use the flaps as bookmarks, but I generally don't read them until I finish the book.

9. Short story or novel?
Mostly novels, but I love short stories when they are written well.

10. Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
neither

11. Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
I prefer to stop when I reach a chapter break, but I won't force myself to get there if my eyes will not stay open.

12. "It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?
"It was a dark and stormy night." is perfectly ominous...foreshadowing conflict, which I need for a novel to work for me.

13. Buy or borrow?
I do a combination of both...I borrow audiobooks from the library more than books, which I get from the store and other places.

14. New or used?
I don't discriminate when it comes to books.

15. Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?
Book reviews from bloggers, not official reviews. Recommendations and browsing are a close second.

16. Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Both, but the resolution has to fit the plot.

17. Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
M-F its afternoon through evening reading, Saturdays I prefer to read in the morning and afternoon, and Sunday its all day reading.

18. Stand-alone or series?
Again, I don't discriminate, but the series has to be good and continue to be so to hold my attention.

19. Favorite series?
Nancy Drew or Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles

20. Favorite children's book?
Cat in the Hat or Where the Sidewalk Never Ends

21. Favorite YA book?
Nancy Drew The Kachina Doll Mystery

22. Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux or Tuxedo Park, though I can't remember the author right now.

23. Favorite books read last year?
The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Black Flies, Testimony, The Road, Mr. Thundermug, Pemberley by the Sea, Gods Behaving Badly, Mr. Darcy's Diary, Cold Rock River, and The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

24. Favorite books of all time?
The Road, Phantom of the Opera, The Vampire Lestat, Hamlet, Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights

25. What are you reading right now?
An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell and Mainline to the Heart by Clive Matson

26. What are you reading next?
The Traitor's Wife by Susan Higginbotham

27. Favorite book to recommend to an eleven-year-old?
Nancy Drew Series

28. Favorite book to reread?
Pride & Prejudice

29. Do you ever smell books?
I do occasionally.

30. Do you ever read Primary source documents?
Sometimes. It really depends on my mood.

Wondrous Words Wednesday

Bermudaonion is sponsoring a new meme to introduce readers to Wondrous Words on Wednesdays, and this will be the first time I am participating. Yipee.

Here are the words I found in The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett:

1. Amanuensis: a writing assistant to conduct research and perform secretarial duties, though I didn't mark the page I found this on, so I can't tell you how Bennett used the word.

2. Solipsistic: someone who believes the theory of self can be proved to exist or extreme self-absorption

3. Opsimath: a person that continues or begins to learn later in life.

Although, most of these are defined in the novel.

***Don't forget my Arlene Ang, Secret Love Poems, giveaway***

For the Love of "W"

There's this crazy meme going around the blogosphere, and of course, I signed up! Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? assigned me the letter "W."

So here is my list of 10 things beginning with "W" that I love.


1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

2. Wellesley, Mass. (There is just something about this city that makes me calm and happy; memories)

3. Worcestershire Sauce because it is great to cook with, especially when I make hamburgers. I just love the taste.

4. Williamstown, Mass. (I've always wanted to go to college in this little town in the Berkshire Mountains, but I'm going to be visiting for a wedding, so at least I will have seen this place once.)

5. Westminster Abbey (Another place I have never been, but it has been on my to-do list for sometime since poets are buried here, like the great Geoffrey Chaucer, not to mention the monuments to Lord Byron and Shakespeare)

6. Waterfalls

7. Windows because you can stare out them at any time of day and see something new; You don't have to feel the bitter cold outside to "be" outside.

8. War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (movie, book, radio show)

9. (The) Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler (this is some fantastic cheese, and I just love Billy Idol's appearance and the music. Ahh, memories of 80s hair and songs. LOL)

10. West Side Story the musical and play (this retelling of Romeo and Juliet is fantastic, and I get sucked in when the movie musical is on television)


Now, I thought this letter would be hard, but there are a number of other things I could have listed here too, but these are the top 10. Now, it's your turn!

If you want to participate, leave a comment and I’ll assign you a random letter.

With that letter create your list of 10 things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and when people comment on your post, you must assign them a letter to keep the meme going.

6 Things I Love & Addiction

LadyVampire tagged me for this meme.

The Rules:

Link to the person who has tagged you. (CHECK)

Write down six things that make you happy. (CHECK)

Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it. (Nearly CHECK)

Then tell the person when your entry is complete. (Nearly CHECK)


6 Things that Make Me Happy:

1. Writing/Creativity

2. My Happy Dog and his lunacy

3. My husband's smile and goofiness

4. The Outdoors (hiking, etc.)

5. Photography

6. Friends and Just enjoying company


Consider yourself tagged:

1. Anna at Diary of an Eccentric
2. Jenn, Julie and Lisa of Girls Just Reading
3. Corinne of The Book Nest
4. Becca of The Inside Cover
5. Darla of Books & Other Thoughts
6. Tamara of Books by TJBaff


65%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Which Icon Are You?

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Grace!

You are a Grace -- "I need to understand the world."

Graces have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be independent, not clingy


• * Speak in a straightforward and brief manner


• * I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts


• * Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable


• * Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity


• * If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place


• * don't come on like a bulldozer


• * Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people's loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy

What I Like About Being a Grace
* standing back and viewing life objectively
* coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects
* my sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure
* not being caught up in material possessions and status
* being calm in a crisis

What's Hard About Being a Grace

• * being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world


• * feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all


• * being pressured to be with people when I don't want to be


• * watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally

Graces as Children Often

• * spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on


• * have a few special friends rather than many


• * are very bright and curious and do well in school


• * have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers


• * watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information


• * assume a poker face in order not to look afraid


• * are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict


• * feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected

Graces as Parents

• * are often kind, perceptive, and devoted


• * are sometimes authoritarian and demanding


• * may expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate


• * may be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Shakespeare Meme

I borrowed this meme from A Girl Walks into a Bookstore. Click on the link to check out her answers, and I would like to tag Anna, Jeannie, Ramya, Suey, and Dawn for this meme.

Feel free to join in even if I haven't tagged you.

1. What was your first introduction to William Shakespeare? Was it love or hate?

I began my own reading of Shakespeare long before we read it in high school in 9th grade, and I started with Hamlet. I love the tragedy of his plays and the complicated characters. I think it was in 7th or 8th grade we were introduced to the Taming of the Shrew before performing Romeo & Juliet in class in 9th grade.

2. Which Shakespeare plays have you been required to read?

Required Shakespeare in High School was Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, as well as Henry V and Richard III

Required Shakespeare in College was the same, plus Titus Andronicus, Othello, Julius Caesar, Antony & Cleopatra, Coriolanus, Troilus and Cressida, Timon of Athens.

This does not include the Shakespeare I've read on my own, nor his sonnets. Some of my favorites include The Merchant of Venice and As You Like It.

3. Do you think Shakespeare is important? Do you feel you are a “better” person for having read the bard?

Shakespeare is very important...he was one of the early masters. He should be taught in High School and College. you learn a great deal about plot points, character development, motivation, and humanity from his plays...even the comedies.

4. Do you have a favorite Shakespeare play?

Hamlet, hands down!

5. How do you feel about contemporary takes on Shakespeare? Adaptations of Shakespeare’s works with a more modern feel? (For example, the new line of Manga Shakespeare graphic novels, or novels like Something Rotten, Something Wicked, Enter Three Witches, Ophelia, etc.) Do you have a favorite you’d recommend?

I think as long as the modern adaptions--of which I can't recommend any because I know of none--stay true to Shakespeare's work but help contemporary readers understand them better, they are fine. However, I think they should never replace the original plays.

6. What’s your favorite movie version of a Shakespeare play?

Hamlet (1996) as portrayed by Kenneth Branagh and with the great Richard Attenborough.

I also love Much Ado About Nothing (1993) with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson--not to mention a young Kate Beckinsale.

Poet/Writer Meme--Vital Stats

Deborah at 32 Poems posted this meme a bit ago, and I thought it would be fund to adapt to the writers and book reviewers who read my site.

Simply copy the questions and answer them on your blog. I won't tag anyone, so it's up to you if you want to do it in the comments or in your own post.

Age when I decided I wanted to be a writer/poet/book reviewer: 6

Age when I wrote my first short story/review/poem: 10

Age when I first got my hands on a good word processor: 16

Age when I first submitted a short story/poem/review to a magazine: 15

Rejections prior to first short story/poem/review sale: Hasn't happened yet, unless you count review copies as payment.

Age when I sold my first short story/poem/review: See above.

Approximate number of short stories/poems/reviews sold: 1

Year I first published a book: Hasn't happened yet

Books published or delivered and in the pipeline: None

Number of titles in print: None

Age now: Not telling.

***Don't forget my giveaway for an inscribed copy of Matrimony by Joshua Henkin. Deadline is Dec. 21 and the contest is international.**

***Check out the winner of the Green Beauty Guide and an announcement about First Book.***

Bookworm Award, Who Me?!

Dar at Peeking Between the Pages gave me this award! And Luanne at A Bookworm's World!

The closest book to me right now is Scattered Leaves by Richard Roach, which will appear on Savvy Verse & Wit tomorrow for its tour date.

My instructions:

Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence, as well as two to five sentences following there.

From Richard Roach's Novel:

"After I finished and the marks of the autopsy were completely hidden, it was time to call the florist. Thank God, he didn't give me a hard time. He said he would send roses and lilies; they were her favorite.

Next, I called the office. Betty answered the phone, and I said, 'Hey there. What's happening?'"

Five people I'm tagging are:

1. Jeannie at I Like to Be Here When I Can
2. Shana at Literarily
3. Anna at Diary of an Eccentric
4. Natasha at Maw Books
5. Lenore at Presenting Lenore

Let's Do the iTunes Shuffle

1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put the artist after a dash following the song name.
5. Put any comments in brackets.
6. Tag some lucky people to spread the disease.

Here's my results:

How would you describe yourself? Don't Make Me Come to Vegas by Tori Amos (Hmm, not sure I know how I feel about this selection, though Tori is one of my favorites.)

How do you feel today? Horses by Tori Amos (I see a shuffle pattern emerging...is the shuffle broken??)

What is your life's purpose? The Most Wonderful Day of the Year by Burl Ives (Instrumental)

What is your motto? Schwere Traume by Sarah Brightman

What do you think about very often? Nothin But a Good Time by Poison

What is your life story? Summer of 69 (o god help me...)

What do you want to be when you grow up? Here's No Why by Smashing Pumpkins

What will you dance to at your wedding? 4 Degrees by Tool (If I had my way, possibly, but since the wedding was about 6 years ago and it was not even in the same genre of music...No)

What will they play at your funeral? Wandrin' Around by Carbon Leaf (That would be fantastic...keep that in mind people!)

What is your hobby/interest? Everlong by Foo Fighters

If you could do anything right now, what would it be? Bawitdaba by Kid Rock

What do you want most of all? I'm Going Slightly Mad by Queen (What on earth does this say...that I want to be nuts...I'm there already! LOL)

What is your greatest fear? Saying Goodbye to a Friend by Suzy Bogguss (Yes, this would be a fear!)

What is your darkest secret? Creep acoustic by Radiohead (O My)

What is your favorite thing in the world? Sistamamalover by Lenny Kravitz (of all the songs it could choose, it chooses this one! :) Aw, Lenny!)

If you could have one wish, what would you wish for? Dr. Lee, PhD by The Beastie Boys (Hmm, a song I don't listen to often.)

What is your theme song? I Just Want You by Ozzy Ozbourne (O yeah, you knew he would come up...how ironic that it would be this, my favorite song and one I was talking about with Anna today!)

The next time you hear this song (aside from now, that is), you must dance: Hey Baby by No Doubt (I'll only dance if Anna and her hubby join me and mine!)

What will you post this as? Since I've Been Lovin' You by Led Zepplin

I tag the following:

1. Anna of Diary of an Eccentric
2. Dar of Peeking Between the Pages
3. Shana at Literarily
4. Suey of It's All About Books
5. Alyce of At Home With Books
6. Iliana of BookGirl's Nightstand

That's it, unless anyone else wants to join in...Now get to it.

Sunday's 7 Random Bookish Things Tag

Wendi over at Wendi's Book Corner tagged me for the 7 Random Bookish Things Tag. So first I will give you the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you, and post the rules on your blog
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs
4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

Seven Bookish Things About Me:

1. I read almost all of my text books in college completely, even though some of them were very painful; The most memorable of the ones I didn't read was "The Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad; Anna at Diary of an Eccentric thought that if we read it out loud we could get through it together--no such luck.

2. I recently discovered Christopher Moore and just love his books. I'm on a mission to read them all.

3. One of my deepest obsessions is with The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux and all of its incarnations--movies and book spinoffs alike.

4. I really enjoy audio books on that early morning commute with my husband, especially books that have us laughing at 5 AM.

5. I became a book reviewed by chance and find myself more engrossed than ever; now if only I could get paid to do what I love.

6. I collect writing books that provide inspiration and guidance in the hope that I've missed something when tackling the novel, but I'm beginning to think the books are not going to help me much if I don't sit down and write something.

7. I love to make sure my books look well read, though not on the first read and not if I plan on giving them away as prizes on my blog...and especially if I borrow them from Anna or anyone else.

Ok, Who am I tagging? Here's the list of seven:

1. Anna at Diary of an Eccentric
2. Marvin at Free Spirit
3. Shana at Literarily
4. Naida at The Bookworm
5. Dar at Peeking Between the Pages
6. Rachel at Bitten by Books
7. Janel of Janel's Jumble

Also, here are some reminders about the latest Savvy Verse & Wit Contests:
(Deadlines are Nov. 5)

1. Win a copy of Black Flies by Shannon Burke

2. Win a copy of Life After Genius by M. Ann Jacoby

3. Win a copy of Lydia Bennet's Story by Jane Odiwe

Stay Tuned Tomorrow for my Interview with Nikki Giovanni, author and editor of Hip Hop Speaks to Children.

Vampire Thursday

My Friend Amy has declared this Vampire Thursday! How did she know that vampires are my favorite topic and often a subject of my short stories and novels. . . at least since I started watching Blood Ties and Moonlight, which have sadly come to an end.

Moonlight is coming out on DVD in January 2009, and you can be sure that it is on the top of my list. Want to see why? Here's a couple of yummy photos of the lead Vamp--Alex O'Loughlin, who portrays Mick St. John, a private investigator.

This is a behind the scenes photo I found of Alex O'Loughlin online. He's a hot Aussie! I do have another image from the show where he is vamped out. Yeah, you have to love a hot looking vampire.

Ok, so why are all the vampires on these television shows so hot? I guess when you are turned you are no longer ugly or average. Things certainly improve when you become a vampire.

As for my other vampire television show, Blood Ties, which is based upon a vampire series by Tanya Huff, the DVD release date is unknown. I hope the powers that be will release this other show as well. I do have a few images to share with you. Check out the lead vamp--Kyle Schmid, who portrays Henry Fitzroy, the bastard son of Henry VIII. Vicki Nelson, Christina Cox, is a private investigator with a degenerative eye disease, and Henry Fitzroy is a graphic novelist at least in the present day.

Have you had enough of my vampire television shows yet? I could go on and on...Another of my favorites is Forever Knight, with a lead vampire cop, Nick Knight, who only worked the graveyard shift and fell in love with the coroner.

Check out the video from the show.



I hope you enjoyed my vampire post today; I figured that many other bloggers would be talking books. One of my favorite vampire shows is based on a set of books, that counts right?! Have a great Halloween everyone!

Don't forget:

1 copy of Black Flies by Shannon Burke; Deadline is Nov. 5--check out my review.

2 copies (one for a U.S./Canada and one for an international winner) of Life After Genius by M. Ann Jacoby; Deadline is Nov. 5, check out the review and interview in the contest link.

2 copies (one for U.S./Canada and one for an international winner) of Lydia Bennet's Story by Jane Odiwe, check out the post for the contest and a guest post from Jane Odiwe tomorrow, Oct. 31; Happy Halloween. Deadline for that contest is Nov. 7.

My First Tuesday Thingers

Today's question from Marie, The Boston Bibliophile: Series. Do you collect any series? Do you read series books? Fantasy? Mystery? Science fiction? Religious? Other genre? Do you use the series feature in LT to help you find new books or figure out what you might be missing from a series?

My Series collections:

1. The Blood Books by Tanya Huff (I got hooked on these after watching the television show Blood Ties on Lifetime. I just had to get more of Henry!)


2. Anne Rice's Vampire novels (I haven't read all of them because I got discouraged with Blackwood Farm)


3. Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series (again vampires...hmm...is there a theme going on here?)


4. Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods (Oh, there definitely is a theme here...lol)

5. Alex Cross Series by James Patterson (though my mom has many of these books at her house)

6. Women's Murder Club Series by James Patterson

7. Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich (which my mom passed along to me and I haven't read yet; I got her hooked after reading Evanovich's How I Write)


I guess you can say that I buy books that are in a vampire series! I don't use LT to find them; I usually find them on the Internet or in the bookstore by accident. There may be other series that I own parts of, but these are the ones that are complete.

I really like the Sophie Kinsella Shopaholic series, but I borrowed those books from friends, though I wouldn't be opposed to buying the series.

***Don't forget to enter for your chance to win a copy of WingBeat by Marilyn Meredith.

My First Booking Through Thursday

This is the first time I've participated in Booking Through Thursday, but these questions peaked my interest. So here we go:

What was the last book you bought?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Name a book you have read MORE than once

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen; The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte; Phantom by Susan Kay

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux; I never thought that people could be so mean to one person or that being mean to person could turn them evil, along with other things. I was very naive when I first read this book in middle school.

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews

I choose books in a variety of ways; I either have recommendations from friends or fellow book bloggers, my mom, etc. Or I browse the library or bookstore reading the summaries to find one that snags my attention. On rare occasions I will even pick a book up based upon its cover.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Fiction, hands down.

What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?

Both are important for me. Without a gripping plot, I lose interest in the writing, and vice versa.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)

Elizabeth Bennett, Heathcliff, and Edward Cullen

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?

Madre by Nathan Leslie

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Poetry Home Repair Manual by Ted Kooser

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland; I finished it last night!

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?

Yes.

***Don't forget to enter my contest for A Grave in the Air

Email me at savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com if you are interested in receiving Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland in the mail.

The Secret Meme. . .

Monica at Monniblog peeked my curiosity with her secrete meme, so I had to ask her what the questions were, but that meant I had to answer them myself.

If you are curious enough to know the questions, you will have to email me for the questions. Here are the answers:

1. Dewey
2. Anna
3. Anita Shreve (I know not a blogger)
4. Wendy
5. Gayle
6. Nymeth
7. Natasha
8. Amy
9. Dar
10. Suey
11. Shana (with books)
12. Julie P.
13. J. Kaye
14. Monica
15. Carl V.
16. Amanda
17. Becky
18. Stephanie
19. Stephanie
20. Sher
21. Bethany
22. Iliana
23. Darla
24. Trish
25. Marie
26. Uh...no one?!
27. April
28. No idea...
29. uh, my non-blogging husband. . .
30. Write reviews that move you and they will move me.

Come play along. It makes you put your thinking cap on!

How about A Meme?!

Jill at The Magic Lasso tagged me for Six Weird Things About Me.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you (CHECK)
2. Post the rules on your blog (CHECK)
3. Write 6 random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself (CHECK)
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them (CHECK)
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog (I'll get to it)
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted. (CHECK)

I'm not sure that I want to share my oddities, but here we go.

1. I hate when people go into my purse without permission, and this includes my husband.
2. I hate cooking meals for one, and usually I will eat cheese
3. I adore art, but can't paint a stick figure
4. I always talk to my dog, though I'm sure he thinks I am crazy
5. I secretly enjoy watching Survivor even though I say I hate it and will never watch it again.
6. I've always wanted to play violin, professionally. I've never played.

Here are the six people I have tagged:

1. Anna at Diary of an Eccentric
2. Shana at Literarily
3. Dar at Peeking Between the Pages
4. Amy at My Friend Amy (Yes, I know she is taking a break)
5. J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog
6. Nymeth at Things Mean a Lot

Six Quirky Things About Me

I was tagged by Anna at Diary of an Eccentric, so here goes nothing.

Here are the rules:
1. Link the person(s) who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged

Here are my 6 quirky things:

1. I make plans and don't always follow through right away, sometimes not at all.

2. Sometimes I would rather be alone in the woods screaming

3. I write poems in my head while reading books

4. I love odd numbers, especially 21, 7, 3, and 5

5. I am fascinated with the paranormal

6. I am Olympics obsessed this summer...

6 Bloggers I tagged: (please don't feel obligated)

1. Marie at Boston Bibliophile

2. Suey at It's All About Books

3. Darla D at Books & Other Thoughts (though I know she is on vacation)

4. Katherine at A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore

5. Tina at BookShipper

6. Dar at Peeking Between the Pages

Book Buzz List...or Eye-Popping Reads

I was tagged by Book Escape.

List three categories of books. 3 MUST Read Books, 3 Keep Your Eyes on These, and 3 Look For These Soon. Keeping with the theme, I am going to tag at least 3 bloggers. They should put these same lists on their blog but SUBTRACT one book from each list and ADD one of their own. Then they should tag at least 3 more bloggers. It will be fun to see how the lists change as it goes around the blogosphere. Please come back to this post and leave a comment so I can see how the lists are changing as they go around the blogosphere. Since this is Book Buzz…please keep your lists to titles released in 2007-2009.

3 MUST Read Books:

1. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson (My Review)
2. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
3. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

3 to Keep Your Eyes On:

• Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer
• Blind Submission by Debra Ginsberg (My Review)
  
• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

3 Look For These Soon:

• Cross Country by James Patterson (Due in November; looks like the series will continue and this series is much better than the other co-authored books have been)
  
• The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran (Moran’s Nefertiti was great and I’m looking forward to the next book)
• The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti

Now, I’m supposed to pick three bloggers to join in.

1. It's All About Books (Suey)

2. Diary of an Eccentric (Anna)

3. Books & Other Thoughts (Darla D)