A Game of Tag (Book Survey).
Well... I've been officially called out. Lee over at studio-twenty-three tagged me for participation in a book questionnaire called "The Book Meme". I am assuming that the idea is for me to repond to the questions and then tag some other folks to give their answers. By the way, if you have any questions about memes (such as: "Does the transmission of this survey constitute a "meme"?"), refer to this link. And... (in the interest of self-promotion)... if you are interested, I referred to "memes" in this post.
And on to the questions...
1. ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
"Journey to the End of the Night" by Louis Ferdinand Celine. It's probably best that I don't delve too deeply into this.
2. ONE BOOK YOU HAVE READ MORE THAN ONCE?
Actually I make a habit of not doing this. In the last 12 years, I haven't re-read a single book. I have, however tried to get through jack Kerouac's "On the Road" three times. I simply can't get into Mexico.
3. ONE BOOK YOU WOULD WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND?
Some kind of survival guide, I would imagine. I guess it would depend upon what the conditions were on that island.
4. ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH?
I'd have to say, despite the fact that it might not reflect well upon me, that the above-mentioned book by Celine made me laugh out loud. So did another Celine book- "Death on the Installment Plan". Sounds like a laugh-riot, eh?
5. ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY?
Difficult.... hmmm. Did "The Circus Fire" by Stewart O'Nan make me cry. It was tragic. Maybe some sappy pulp by John Irving? For some reason I don't tend to remember the ones that make me weep. Actually, I don't know if graphic novels count, but "Hey,Wait..." by Jason made me cry. Of course this might sound ludicrous if you know that Jason uses cartoon rabbits as characters... but then again, if you know his work- then I know you'll understand.
6. ONE BOOK YOU WISH YOU HAD WRITTEN?
The Bible. What would that make me? It has certainly had a good shelf-life. I'd love to be quoted 2000 years from now by fanatics. Actually... I just wish that I had written a book. Alas... Maybe some day.
7. ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN?
I guess I can't say that I truly wish any book had not been written. Maybe some of the works by the Marquis de Sade? They are pretty much beyond any redemption. But even then... his works help define the margins of human behavior, and so serve a very real purpose.
8. ONE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING?
I make it a point to read one at a time. Now it's Kelleher and Van Nuys, "This is The Zodiac Speaking". Literate "true crime" is a guilty pleasure of mine. Unfortunately this does not quite meet that standard. I'll finish it anyway.
9. ONE BOOK YOU HAVE BEEN MEANING TO READ?
I've had Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" on my shelf for years, and have never cracked the spine. I'll get around to it, I'm sure. I've also heard that Mary Gaitskill is a good writer. I'll be on the lookout to pick up one of her books.
10. ONE BOOK YOU'RE GLAD YOU OWN?
I'm glad I own McSweeney's #13. I'm saving that. Man.. I have so many books, it's so hard to pick just a few. Definitely all the John Fante books I own.
11. ONE BOOK THAT MUST BE READ ALOUD?
e.e. cummings... umm.. just kidding. I don't know that there is a book that "MUST BE READ ALOUD". Maybe a bit of Roald Dahl around the campfire? J.P. Donleavy can be fun to read out loud. Hard to decide off the top of my head.
OK... now I guess I have to tag some folks. How about Sus at oranje (if you still read this)... John at the Digging Pitt (go ahead, don't be ashamed...)... dagrims over at "Oh Pun!... Says Me" (time for your monthly post!) and the Sassy Republican (if you ever have time). Chances are that I'm not going to be a big help in spreading this rash.
Jeez, I guess I have to make more blog-friends. Feel free to respond in the comments section if you don't have a blog.
And on to the questions...
1. ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
"Journey to the End of the Night" by Louis Ferdinand Celine. It's probably best that I don't delve too deeply into this.
2. ONE BOOK YOU HAVE READ MORE THAN ONCE?
Actually I make a habit of not doing this. In the last 12 years, I haven't re-read a single book. I have, however tried to get through jack Kerouac's "On the Road" three times. I simply can't get into Mexico.
3. ONE BOOK YOU WOULD WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND?
Some kind of survival guide, I would imagine. I guess it would depend upon what the conditions were on that island.
4. ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH?
I'd have to say, despite the fact that it might not reflect well upon me, that the above-mentioned book by Celine made me laugh out loud. So did another Celine book- "Death on the Installment Plan". Sounds like a laugh-riot, eh?
5. ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY?
Difficult.... hmmm. Did "The Circus Fire" by Stewart O'Nan make me cry. It was tragic. Maybe some sappy pulp by John Irving? For some reason I don't tend to remember the ones that make me weep. Actually, I don't know if graphic novels count, but "Hey,Wait..." by Jason made me cry. Of course this might sound ludicrous if you know that Jason uses cartoon rabbits as characters... but then again, if you know his work- then I know you'll understand.
6. ONE BOOK YOU WISH YOU HAD WRITTEN?
The Bible. What would that make me? It has certainly had a good shelf-life. I'd love to be quoted 2000 years from now by fanatics. Actually... I just wish that I had written a book. Alas... Maybe some day.
7. ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN?
I guess I can't say that I truly wish any book had not been written. Maybe some of the works by the Marquis de Sade? They are pretty much beyond any redemption. But even then... his works help define the margins of human behavior, and so serve a very real purpose.
8. ONE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING?
I make it a point to read one at a time. Now it's Kelleher and Van Nuys, "This is The Zodiac Speaking". Literate "true crime" is a guilty pleasure of mine. Unfortunately this does not quite meet that standard. I'll finish it anyway.
9. ONE BOOK YOU HAVE BEEN MEANING TO READ?
I've had Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" on my shelf for years, and have never cracked the spine. I'll get around to it, I'm sure. I've also heard that Mary Gaitskill is a good writer. I'll be on the lookout to pick up one of her books.
10. ONE BOOK YOU'RE GLAD YOU OWN?
I'm glad I own McSweeney's #13. I'm saving that. Man.. I have so many books, it's so hard to pick just a few. Definitely all the John Fante books I own.
11. ONE BOOK THAT MUST BE READ ALOUD?
e.e. cummings... umm.. just kidding. I don't know that there is a book that "MUST BE READ ALOUD". Maybe a bit of Roald Dahl around the campfire? J.P. Donleavy can be fun to read out loud. Hard to decide off the top of my head.
OK... now I guess I have to tag some folks. How about Sus at oranje (if you still read this)... John at the Digging Pitt (go ahead, don't be ashamed...)... dagrims over at "Oh Pun!... Says Me" (time for your monthly post!) and the Sassy Republican (if you ever have time). Chances are that I'm not going to be a big help in spreading this rash.
Jeez, I guess I have to make more blog-friends. Feel free to respond in the comments section if you don't have a blog.
posted by Merge Divide at 5:52 PM
4 Comments:
Oh I've got Gravity's Rainbow on the shelf too! Someday...
Thanks for playing!
Oh, as if I'd stopped reading your blog! Love the idea of this and of course I'll participate.
You got me! And you're kicking ass with Serendipity. Woo hoo!
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