GREETINGS STRANGERS!
It’s time for another tag! Please tell me that one of you is thrilled by this.
‘waits’
‘coughs’
‘quickly starts talking again’
I was graciously tagged by Rebekah A. Morris of Read Another Page – and there were all kinds of delightful questions for me to answer. So are you ready? Let’s get started!
1. Name a book you’re embarrassed to say you haven’t read yet.
Wow, there’s quite a few. There is no quick or simple answer to this question. Hmm. Let me pick one off the top of my bean. Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
2. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever used as a bookmark?
A library card. It was missing for days and I couldn’t find it. Whoops! ‘hugs library card’ My BABY, I’ll never do that to you again, I promise!
Now, I’ll have to answer the rest of these tags after I go look for my library card . . .
3. Look at your bookshelf. What’s the first book you see with a yellow spine?
I’ll just pick the first five.
Henry Reeds Babysitting Service: by Keith Robertson.
Rat Patrol: Desert Danger: by David King. (by the way – the book is so-so but the TV show is great! Just so you know.
The Princess Test by Gail: by Carson Levine.
Those High Green Hills: by Jan Karon
Paddington Helps Out: by Michael Bond.
4. If you could have one new book from a deceased author, who would it be?
Oh . . . BOY!
I would want another Narnia book from C.S. Lewis. EASIEST. QUESTION. EVAH!
5. Name an author who deserves more readership.
Constance Savery. SECOND. EASIEST. QUESTION. EVAH! Constance Savery was a remarkable English writer, who wrote true Christian classics, full of amazing characters, believable dialogue and plots that hit you right in the heart. Her books are truly so of the most beautiful books I have ever read and could ever hope to read.
6. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Random piece of paper – I rarely mark my books with anything – I usually just remember my place, but when I do mark a book – it is completely random. A piece of paper, a library card, a flyer, the tail of my stuffed monkey . . . anything will do.
7. Can you stop anywhere in a book or do you have to finish the chapter?
It depends on the book. 90 % of the time, I can stop anywhere. But there are a few rare books that make me want to read ‘just one more chapter’. Translated that means is that I’m not budging from my chair until I finish! Eating and sleeping become optional – but fortunately for me, (I suppose) – that rarely happens.
8. One book at a time or several?
I usually read five to ten books a time. No big deal!
9. Do you read ahead or skip pages?
‘smirks’ I skip. I skip big time. I skip VERY big time! ‘examines nails casually’ Unlike many of you, I am not bound to the spoiler monster. This widespread fear of spoilers cannot TOUCH me!
I LOVE spoilers. I just like them, and I’m kind of contrary, and I think the fact that so many people DON’T like them makes me like them even more. 🙂
And I’ll come completely clean. I’m an emotional person and I can be deeply effected – for good or bad – by what I read. A long time ago, I picked up a book by an author I loved and skimmed through it, only to look at the last page and see that the main character committed suicide – that was the last sentence of the book. That shock left such a lasting impression on me, I’ve skipped ever since. I read the first few chapters of a book to see if I want to continue, than skim a head – and if it’s poor – I just skip to the end to see how it finished.
Every once and awhile, I’ll pick up a book that is so amazingly good that I won’t skip – a book that is so well written I’ll invest in it enough to let it surprise me. But it has to be a pretty good book to do that! if you want to know what some of those books are, ask me in the comments!
10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
I don’t like breaking spines – that would be like breaking my friends back! Okay, not that bad – but I try not to do that. Of course, I own a lot of old second hand books and they come to me with broken backs. ‘pats books lovingly’ There, there, sweet babies – it will be all right.
11. What books do you regret reading?
Oh dear – there’s quite a few but one that comes instantly to mind is Pride and Prejudice. It took me two months to read through that thing and it was not only physically painful, it was a complete waste of time.
I have NEVER read anything quite so . . . hmm . . . I’d better not say anything else.
Okay, please don’t hate me, P&P fans! Even more importantly, please don’t stone me! Getting hit with rocks (even virtual ones) is definitely one of my least favorite things. I dislike it even more than I disliked Pride and – oops! Never mind.
Um . . . we’ll all still part as friends – right?
12. On average, how many books do you read per year?
I only recently started counting . . . maybe 60 to a 100 per year? I really don’t know. I started counting this year, so ask me this question again three years from now! Hopefully, I’ll still be here. If the Pride and Prejudice fans have gotten to me first.
13. What book can you read hundreds of times and never get tired of?
THAT IS THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION! I’ll just name the first one of MANY that comes to mind – the Penderwicks on Gardham Street. I love that book.
14. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a book?
Hmm…that God is my loving father. Until I read Michael Phillips, A God To Call Father, there were so many things about my relationship with God that weren’t sinking down into my heart. I knew them in my head, but not in my heart. That book broke past a barrier in my mind and reached my heart. God loves me with a wild, unreserved, undignified, unrestrained love – He’s crazy about me. That is a truly humbling and staggering thought. It’s overwhelming.
15. What is the most recent book you’ve read?
The last book I read was ‘Make Way For Ducklings’ by Robert McCloskey. And YES – a picture book IS a REAL book.
16. What quote from any book will you never forget? Why is it significant?
Again, I’ll just pick the first one that comes to mind. “I call all times soon.” Aslan – The Chronicles of Narnia. Why is it significant? Hmm . . . well, everything Aslan says reminds me of God and that’s significant. Plus, my family and I quote that line, teasingly, to one another when we’re asking each other when something will happen.
17. How many books do you own?
I only have an estimate – over 500 . . . how much, I’m not sure – sorry! And about 40 ebooks. I know – IT’S NOT ENOUGH! I need more books. Give me more books. Gimme, gimme, gimme…
18. In the past year, what is the greatest book you’ve read?
I’m afraid I can’t remember what books I read in 2016. I can tell you what the greatest book is that I’ve read so far in 2017! But even that isn’t easy – THAT IS NOT EASY AT ALL. But one of the hands-down, best stories I have read of 2017 is actually a novella, “Out of the Tomb” by Ashley Stangl, one of the five stories contained in Five Magic Spindles. ‘Out of the Tomb” was mind-boggling good, I was actually speechless when I finished it – or at least unintelligible – it was so beautiful, original and . . . ‘shivers’ . . . WOW. It was a good story.
We have no reached the end of the questions. ‘static’
Now – ONTO THE TACKLING! I do love tackling people!
Oops – excuse me – I meant TAGGING! That’s right, tagging.
I tag . . .
Tracey at Adventure Awaits.
Blessing Counter at Counting Your Blessings One By One.
Mary at Sunshine And Scribblings.
Seneca at Christ, Chocolate and Chickens.
Kellyn at Reveries.
Victoria at Ruffles and Grace.
Karyssa at Gotta Have Coffee.
Lydia at Noveltea.
Natalie at Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens.
Maggie at My Attic Corner.
Jonathan at Fishing 4 Ideas.
Paul at Project Blank Page
And any other blogger that wants to do this tag!
Happy tackling! 🙂
the list of questions –
1. Name a book you’re embarrassed to say you haven’t read yet.
2. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever used as a bookmark?
3. Look at your bookshelf. What’s the first book you see with a yellow spine?
4. If you could have one new book from a deceased author, who would it be?
5. Name an author who deserves more readership.
6. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
7. Can you stop anywhere in a book or do you have to finish the chapter?
8. One book at a time or several?
9. Do you read ahead or skip pages?
10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
11. What books do you regret reading?
12. On average, how many books do you read per year?
13. What book can you read hundreds of times and never get tired of?
14. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a book?
15. What is the most recent book you’ve read?
16. What quote from any book will you never forget? Why is it significant?
17. How many books do you own?
18. In the past year, what is the greatest book you’ve read?
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Two notes to thou, O cruel-writing-inducing friend…
De website for my blog changed to the other option on the poll, http://3candme.weebly.com/, so if you could change your link pwease? Zat would be grand. And- one humiliating question- do I just answer these questions or is there a new set by you?
Hmmm – zat is funny – when I click ze link – it goes straight to your blog. ‘scratches head’ Sorry – Seneca, I’m not sure if something is peculiar here or not.
Oops – SORRY – Yes! (don’t be humiliated)
You just answer all the same questions. I’ll post them at the bottom to make it easier to copy them over – if you chose to do the tag! 🙂
Your link goes to http://senecaisbars.wixsite.com/website, which had been abandoned until I can figure out how to re-enter my account. As you can see, it is still in full Christmas regalia. My other one- that I’d like it to go to- is 3candme.weebly.com. I zink.
Hopefully.
‘gives Mary a huge hug’ I know you won’t, my dear friend! Hahaha! That’s right. RAISINS. ‘raises eyebrows’
They don’t make any difference to me, either! 🙂
THESE HIGH GREEN HILLS!!! *swoons* ♥️
Constance Savery without a doubt!! I was just researching where to buy her books . . .No where, apparently. 🙁
That Benedict Cumberbatch gif. . . XD
Did you like Make Way for Ducklings!?!?!?!?
And like Mary said, we spoiler-monster-possessed-people still love you. 😉 ?
Those High Green Hills is probably my favorite Jan Karon book!
I’m so happy you’re a Constance Savery fan . . . don’t give up! Keep checking Ebay, Amazon and Abebooks – they’re on there!
I KNOW – I was happy for the excuse to use that gif – haha!
Hahahaha! Awww – thank you! And I still love you no-spoiler monsters! LOL!
Sarah Grace wonders where to buy Constance Savery titles. The two books in print, “Enemy Brothers” and “The Reb and the Redcoats”, can be obtained from Bethlehem Books, the publisher, but there are usually multiple listings online. About two thirds of her titles are available from AbeBooks, which is my favorite source of used books.
Hello Mr. Schonblom.
I have been following your website (constancesavery.com) avidly for some time – although I must admit I’m not sure how you located my little blog – thank you so much for commenting! 😀
I actually bought a copy of Reb and the Redcoats for Sarah Grace and have convinced her to read Enemy Brothers. 🙂 I’m glad Bethlehem Books has republished those, at least – although I wish they would turn their attention to the rest of Constance Savery’s gems.
I love shopping at AbeBooks! – and am slowly looking for CS deals – although, sadly – Dark House On the Moss (a favorite that I borrowed through a inter-library loan program) is never available for purchase.
Hello Allison (Do you mind? Call me Eric). Because Savery is a neglected author, there aren’t too many references to her on Google, so your blog was right there for me to find. Somewhere else on your site I left information about the biography that I published on what would have been Savery’s 120th birthday: “Another Lady”, a Kindle eBook available on Amazon.com if you type “Schonblom” or “Another Lady” in the search box.
I have books to lend, but not to sell. Are there a couple titles I can lend to you? I will need a postal address to do so. There’s no obligation to buy my biography.