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BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS [So, finally, a week after the initial topic, I managed to take some time and
answer all of your answers  thank you for sharing. you all gave me some good ideas
for books to read in the future. There was always a healthy interest in the bookclub and in any bookdiscussion on this forum before. Since I last hung out here regularly there have been a lot of new orgers and I'm curious as to how many of them enjoy reading as much as some of us "older" orgers do. Although, by no means is this just a thread about new orgers' likes and dislikes it is a thread for everyone. Let's hear it from all booklovers on this forum. Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well? I do I love all my books and know most of them by heart
I feel comfortable having them around at home and feel relaxed whenever I can lounge into a comfy chair and read for hours. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? It's a hobby as long as I stay away from bookstores. But when I get into a 100 meter radius of one, my eyes glaze over and I can't see or hear anything anymore. I pity the people who go shopping with me sometimes because when I do decide to enter a bookstore it usually takes quite a while before I gather my senses again and leave. I once ended up in a bookstore on a first date and got so lost in the multitude of books that I forgot all about my date until 3 hours later. Needless to say, they had gone home by then...
Which is your favorit bookstore? In the Netherlands it's a tie between "Van Pierre" in Eindhoven and "The American Bookstore" in Amsterdam. I like the many floors of the American bookstore and the diversity they have on most of the categories. Their selection is wide and deep. "Van Pierre" is just a very nice spacious store with lots of things and a nice English section. Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? That would have to be Waterstone's in London, just off Picadily. I felt definite trousermovement when I entered that store LOL. It was just floor upon floor upon floor filled to the brim with so many incredible books that I burnt a whole month's salary in a matter of minutes. What's your favorit book of all time?  Probably still "The Master and Margarite" by Bulgakov.
It's clever, difficult, very witty and just off the chart. There isn't another book that could come close to this. What's the second favorit? "Wurthering Heights" by Emily Brontë. Just because it is the most incredible lovestory ever. It beats Romeo and Juliet to a pulp. In fact, it is so hauntingly claustrophobic and enveloping that it had me raptured for nearly a year before I was able to read any other books. Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? Since a week that would be "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. Charts an enormous array of topics and is written swiftly and witty with many surprising elements. A good runner up is still "No Logo" by Naomi Klein altho, ironically, it suffers from being over hyped right now. Do you like to read books about books? Yes I do. Books about authors and their body of work are the best! As Kramer said "who wouldn't want a coffeetable book about coffeetables that can actually turn INTO a coffeetable itself?" 
Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) That's a shared 1st place for Bulgakov and Rushdie. Their style differs a lot but they're both brilliant at what they do. Bulgakov makes me laugh and astounds me and Rushdie just hits me over the head with his knowledge of so many ranging subjects. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? If I'd be alowed to spend time alone in there, at night, with my coffee and cigarettes, than YES
Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? Come on, you know we've all done it! How many books do you own? I sold a lot of them last year and only kept the best ones that I will surely read again and again in time. I think I've got about 300 left at this point. Possibly 350 with the stored ones added. It could be less though. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? I think I'm well on my way to approaching 750 now. Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Probably Dickens. He would have so many stories to tell and you just know the man would be a hoot. He'd have me piss myself before second course, I'm sure. Oh and if anyone derails this thread again by starting some bullshit racist commenting I will severely kick their ass! thank you. [Edited 8/30/04 2:51am] and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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I can read! if sexy was a colour it would be red  | |
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REDBABY said: I can read!
than answer the bloody questionaire  and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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IstenSzek said: REDBABY said: I can read!
than answer the bloody questionaire It will take too long, now if you pay me, what I get at work, my hourly rate to answer your questionaire, I will gladly do it if sexy was a colour it would be red | |
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REDBABY said: IstenSzek said: than answer the bloody questionaire It will take too long, now if you pay me, what I get at work, my hourly rate to answer your questionaire, I will gladly do it well, that kind of depends on what kind of job you have. if you work at McDonalds we might be able to work some out. however, if you should turn out to be a high class prossy I think I'll have to pass on paying the hourly rate and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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i'm reading "colors insulting to nature" by cintra wilson right now. that's what you're asking, right? | |
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IstenSzek said: REDBABY said: It will take too long, now if you pay me, what I get at work, my hourly rate to answer your questionaire, I will gladly do it well, that kind of depends on what kind of job you have. if you work at McDonalds we might be able to work some out. however, if you should turn out to be a high class prossy I think I'll have to pass on paying the hourly rate I am a high class pro alright, and you couldnt afford me 
Professional Shoe Designer that is... if sexy was a colour it would be red | |
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IstenSzek said: Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well? Both. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? Just a hobby. Used to be an obsession. Which is your favorite bookstore? Any. Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? City Lights in San Francisco. What's your favorite book of all time? The Bible What's the second favorite? The Giver by Lois Lowry (for children)/To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (for adults) Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer Do you like to read books about books? Absolutely. Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) Raymond Carver because he gave fictional people real voices, real stories and you could feel his hurt and hope in every word he wrote. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? I'm married so that probably wouldn't go over too well. Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? No. How many books do you own? Never counted. I'd say around 300. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? I'm embarassed to admit that. Less than 100. Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Bill Murray. And yes, he wrote a book. "She made me glad to be a man" | |
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REDBABY said: IstenSzek said: well, that kind of depends on what kind of job you have. if you work at McDonalds we might be able to work some out. however, if you should turn out to be a high class prossy I think I'll have to pass on paying the hourly rate I am a high class pro alright, and you couldnt afford me
Professional Shoe Designer that is... Just fill out the questionaire or I'll rat on the authorities about that sweatshop beneath your apartment where u have all those poor pygmee working their ass off to get all those fetish shoes ready in time and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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IstenSzek said: REDBABY said: I am a high class pro alright, and you couldnt afford me
Professional Shoe Designer that is... Just fill out the questionaire or I'll rat on the authorities about that sweatshop beneath your apartment where u have all those poor pygmee working their ass off to get all those fetish shoes ready in time They are in China if sexy was a colour it would be red | |
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REDBABY said: IstenSzek said: Just fill out the questionaire or I'll rat on the authorities about that sweatshop beneath your apartment where u have all those poor pygmee working their ass off to get all those fetish shoes ready in time They are in China  and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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IstenSzek said: REDBABY said: They are in China  if sexy was a colour it would be red | |
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 hey sexy !
ah, don't fake it ! you are reading THE VAULT right now ! yes SIR! | |
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dawntreader said: hey sexy !
ah, don't fake it ! you are reading THE VAULT right now ! I wish I was. I'm at work now (still orging tho haha) and the book is still at home. I figured if I'd bring it to work I'd do absolutely nothing all day I miss it tho. I miss my little Vault baby  and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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Do you just like to read books or do you "collect" them as well?
To me, sadly books are just items. I treat them really scandalous. I do not really collect books by any writer. I have had many phases, mostly in the fantasy and SF section. Lately I try to read as much as I can by Jonathan Carroll, one of the better new weird writers. But I have found out that not all his books are as good as Sleeping In Flame. So I am ready to move onto another writer. I also keep an eye out for anything by Michael Cunningham. Oooh, and while posting further on I remembered suddenly I DO collect; children books by Annie MG Schidt (adventurous books about children that go against the establishment) and Thea Beckman (lots of historic novels). Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? It was a hobby, now on the point of becoming an unhealthy passion, as I have just started a job at Isten's favourite bookstore and I am already amassing a huge pile of books I want to buy as soon as I am through my trial period. It will be hard, because I will be so close to the source. Which is your favorit bookstore? I have two. The first is The American Book Center in Amsterda for the same reasons as Isten; their assortment is amazing; lots of specialist subjects bought by people who care. Shopping there is great too because of the people that work there. Ahem.... Second is W.H. Smith on Rue Rivoli in Paris, where I used to spent hours when I was missing my family and friends. The personnel was not as accomodating as my own store, but the books they carried kept me occupied. For hours. I miss buying my Sunday Times there and sitting in the Tulleries. Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? There is a little used bookstore that always has editions that make me wonder how the hell they found their way into my hands. I will not tell you where it is, hehehe. I am greedy. What's your favorite book of all time? That is In The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco, as it is a sort of book I thoroughly LOVE; it combines styles and is set in a time that always held my attention and is about subjects dear to my heart, told in a way that is hard to resist. And as I just remembered I collect children books I will also ad Kruistocht In Spijkerbroek by Thea Beckman, which would be translated into Crusades In Jeans, about a boy trasported to the Dark Ages to see knights, but ends up in the middle of a children's crusade. They just turned it into a movie that I am sure I do not want to see, but probaly will see in the end. What's the second favorite? I am much for reading for entertaining purposes; books that require lots of attention bug me. The one that entertained me most was probably The Lord Of The Rings by Tolkien. His mindspins kept me occupied a short but fruitful period in my life. Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? Hard one. Many books made an impression on me in the various stages throughout my life. The one that made the biggest impression was probably The Bible, as it had a huge impact on me as a young boy and taught me not to believe everything you read. But that is not fave, huh? Do you like to read books about books? Uhm. Seen a few. Most fun is On Writing by Stephen King. Even though I just like a few of his books, his way of telling his own story is endearing and fun. Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) Probably John Irving. I have a weaknes for that man and his writings. Many of the so called new weird writers borrow heavily of his way of creating characters stumbling through a series of mistakes that you cannot help but love. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? No. That would be silly. I would date them if they were interesting personalities caught in bodies I could love. That includes beerbellies. Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? Old books. New books stink. How many books do you own? Dunno. Like I said, I am not a real collector. For instance, I own lots of Tery Pratchett paperbacks, but that was just a phase. Still I do not like to part with books I feel I might want to re-read in the future. So just about 300 or so. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? Around 2000, but that is just an estimate. I am able to Quick Read, a way of reading three times quicker than normal, but that need dwindled in the last 13 years. When I was younger (around 8 to 15) I owned three library cards and used to borrow up to 15 books every two weeks, but not all fiction though. A quick calculation now points out that it might be waaay above 2000.... Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Again John Irving, as he is an amazing fellow. | |
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OMG!!! 
BUMP!!!!! I can't answer this now but I will later! Let's do the Book Club!! | |
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2the9s said: OMG!!!
BUMP!!!!! I can't answer this now but I will later! Let's do the Book Club!! I just knew you would be here! ^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect, it means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections... unknown | |
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Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well? I'm a much better book buyer than reader. ADD kills me. I've STARTED reading hundreds of books. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? Hobby/obsession. Most of my early 90's income went to various bookclubs and stores. I have boxes of books stored in my parents basement. I have more boxes of boxes stored with a friend in Hollywood. And although I'm a houseguest without much space right now, the 3 books I came with have grown in about 12. Which is your favorit bookstore? Tattered Cover in Denver. One of the few large, independent booksellers still around. Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? See above What's your favorit book of all time? A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving What's the second favorit? Like People in History by Felice Picano Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? Becoming A Man:Half a Life Story by Paul Monette Do you like to read books about books? Theoretically.
Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) John Irving. Because. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? Never say never. Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? Come on, you know we've all done it! (I'll keep Isten's response on that one!) How many books do you own? With having them stored in different places, and never having them all housed at the same place, I'm not sure. I'd guess in the 300-400 range. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? 100
Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? ???? John Irving, Paul Monette, to begin with... http://elmadartista.tumblr.com/ http://twitter.com/madartista | |
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Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well? mainly read - don't save all of them unless they look nice in my bookshelves or are important to me. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? hobby Which is your favorite bookstore? a beautiful place about a minute's walk from my house, and it is a real old traditional bookshop.  racks and racks of stuff out of print. however, though i love browsing through, i normally actually buy things at Waterstone's in central london.
Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? see above. What's your favorite book of all time? still Hamlet, i think, which is entirely predictable. leaving aside shakespeare, probably The Metaphysical Poets - a kick-ass compilation (though not enough John Donne  )
What's the second favorite? uhm, i'll list some more favourites: 1984 - Orwell, the name of the rose - umberto eco, birthday letters - ted hughes, Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte, The Old Curiosity Shop - Dickens, Sons and Lovers - Lawrence Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? oh so many, i'm a non-fiction addict. Some recent ones: Cries Unheard: the story of Mary Bell by Gitta Sereny (a tragic tale about a child murderer), The Age of Kali by William Dalrymple, Henry VIII, King and Court, by Alison Weir, Woody Allen - Complete Prose Do you like to read books about books? not really my scene Who's your favorite author? (and WHY?) Shakespeare (yawn, i know). Do i really have to say why?! I could (and do) get totally lost in the intelligence, beauty, perception and humour of his verse. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? i'd date a turd if it breathed. Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? good lord, no! How many books do you own? No idea. Several hundred. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? Shit loads. I have absolutely no idea. Hundreds. Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? I'm sorry, but i have no choice but to say Shakespeare. 
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my own addendum:
what books have I purchased most recently: The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night -- read it, loved it. The Reader -- Reading it, loving it Cracking the Code -- Perusing, interested THe Choker -- Picked it up this weekend, haven't started Pedro Almodovar:Interviews -- perusing, enjoying. http://elmadartista.tumblr.com/ http://twitter.com/madartista | |
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3bogs said: oh so many, i'm a non-fiction addict. Some recent ones: The Age of Kali [/i]by William Dalrymple[/i]
OMG!!
I just bought that like 3 days ago!! I LOVE travel writing!! Again, I can't stay!! | |
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Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well?
I used to collect them, but gave all of them, save a few to the old man downstairs. There was a time that I'd never loan a book out for fear it would come back with a broken spine or dog-eared pages... I liked them looking new. Still do, though I loan them out now. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? I do it now for enjoyment... recently got back into reading, simply to space out a bit. I went a year without picking one up. Used to be a very unhealthy obsession. I'd go through 2-5 a week there for a while. I'd spend the majority of my time reading, lounging on the chair, outdoors, in the tub, in bed... Which is your favorit bookstore? Your basic Border's. Nothing fancy about it. I don't like B & N, though. Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? I've never been into an amazing bookstore.
What's your favorit book of all time? I can't really say that I have a favorite anymore. I still own my favorite book as a child though. Max, The Dog That Refused To Die. Do you like to read books about books? No. Though, I can't say that I've ever read one, so who can say? Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) I dunno... Vonnegut is good, I also like Palahniuk and am finding that I really enjoy Burroughs. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? No... lol Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? I do it all the time, and not in private. Yes, the old ones are the best!
How many books do you own? Prior to my giving them to the man downstairs, it was around the high 600's. He took them to read and then to donate to the shelter, others that he wasn't interested in went directly to the shelter. Currently, I have roughly around 150 (favorite childhood books included). How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? I've read every book that I've owned, except for The Fountain Head, which is sitting on the shelf waiting for me. All in all, from like... being a child?! Well over 1,000... Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Judy Blume for helping me through puberty.  | |
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Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well?
I don’t collect anymore – I used to, but storage space became an issue, so I now only buy books I absolutely need to own. I’ve only purchased four books in the last year and a half – I go to the library instead. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? I usually just read to be informed on issues in which I’m interested. Which is your favorit bookstore? There are several decent used bookstores in my town that I browse from time to time…they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? ??? They’re just stores – nothing amazing about them. Of course, it depends on what you’re looking for in terms of specialization. I always look in the issues section to see how many Bernard Lewis and Milton Friedman titles are carried. If the store has more than five Noam Chomsky titles, I know I’m in the wrong place. What's your favorit book of all time? The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek – a perfect example of how “radical” views came to be the prevailing belief. What's the second favorit? Free to Choose by Milton Friedman Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? I listed two non-fiction books as my favourites above. I very rarely read fiction – most novels are just stories featuring people I don’t care about doing things I’m not interested in. If I have to list a favourite fiction title, I’ll choose London Fields by Martin Amis. Do you like to read books about books? Not especially, though I did enjoy the memoir Martin Amis published a few years back, which might fit under that umbrella Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) Richard Dawkins – because he makes difficult concepts understandable and writes brilliantly. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? No – but I would take advantage of the situation if it did occur. Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? ??? Smell books? I've never heard of such a thing... How many books do you own? Not too many – I unloaded quite a few of them for credit at a used store some time back. I’m sure I don’t have more than 35 these days, but they’re all keepers. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? Oh, I’ll say that I’ve read a book every two weeks on average since I finished high school – that might be understating things slightly, but I often only read specific chapters or sections of books that I’m interested in, so there are a lot of “partially read” titles in there as well…let’s call it 300 even . Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Mark Steyn – because he’s a great wit and the best political columnist on the face of the planet. [This message was edited Mon Aug 23 16:37:25 2004 by flipwilson] | |
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IstenSzek said: There was always a healthy interest in the bookclub and in any book discussion on this forum before. Since I last hung out here regularly there have been a
lot of new orgers and I'm curious as to how many of them enjoy reading as much as some of us "older" orgers do. A lot of people still talk about books! TheFrog for example! Although, by no means is this just a thread about new orgers' likes and dislikes
it is a thread for everyone. Aww that's hella nice! Let's hear it from all booklovers on this forum.
Orger Orger Orger! Book Book Book! Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well? I do I love all my books and know most of them by heart
I feel comfortable having them around at home and feel relaxed whenever I can lounge into a comfy chair and read for hours. I know most of mine by heart too! I love reading them and I love collecting. I have some valuable stuff, but mainly I like to try to own all of what an author has writtem (which is smetimes a problem lol) It's almost like collecting and reading are two separate activities. I don't feel I need to read every book I buy. I don't need to own a book to read it and enjoy it. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? It's a hobby as long as I stay away from bookstores. But when I get into a 100 meter radius of one, my eyes glaze over and I can't see or hear anything anymore. [/quote] Ever since I discovered www.bibliofind.com it has become an unhealthy obsession!
I pity the people who go shopping with me sometimes because when I do decide to enter a bookstore it usually takes quite a while before I gather my senses again and leave. Haha! I tell them to fuck off! Just kidding! I once ended up in a bookstore on a first date and got so lost in the multitude of books that I forgot all about my date until 3 hours later. Needless to say, they had gone home by then...
What did you wind up buying??
Which is your favorit bookstore? In the Netherlands it's a tie between "Van Pierre" in Eindhoven and "The American Bookstore" in Amsterdam. I like the many floors of the American bookstore and the diversity they have on most of the categories. Their selection is wide and deep. "Van Pierre" is just a very nice spacious store with lots of things and a nice English section. I'll have to check that out next time I am in the Netherlands! I love the Gotham Book Market! Right in the heart of the Diamond District! On like 47th or 46th street! (I forget which, though I could find it blinfolded!) Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? That would have to be Waterstone's in London, just off Picadily. I felt definite trousermovement when I entered that store LOL. It was just floor upon floor upon floor filled to the brim with so many incredible books that I burnt a whole month's salary in a matter of minutes. Hmmm I don't have an answer to that. The Strand is good for that kind of bingeing though! What's your favorit book of all time? Probably still "The Master and Margarite" by Bulgakov.
It's clever, difficult, very witty and just off the chart. There isn't another book that could come close to this. Either The Brothers Karamazov or Ulysses! What's the second favorit? "Wurthering Heights" by Emily Brontë. Just because it is the most incredible lovestory ever. It beats Romeo and Juliet to a pulp. In fact, it is so hauntingly claustrophobic and enveloping that it had me raptured for nearly a year before I was able to read any other books. The Vivisector by Patrick White or Moby Dick! Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? Since a week that would be "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. Charts an enormous array of topics and is written swiftly and witty with many surprising elements. A good runner up is still "No Logo" by Naomi Klein altho, ironically, it suffers from being over hyped right now. Black Lamb and Grey Falcon! Do you like to read books about books? Yes I do. Books about authors and their body of work are the best! As Kramer said "who wouldn't want a coffeetable book about coffeetables that can actually turn INTO a coffeetable itself?"
Yes! I even like to read books about how books are made, the history of books etc. Criticism can be a drag, but there are some great writers out there! Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) That's a shared 1st place for Bulgakov and Rushdie. Their style differs a lot but they're both brilliant at what they do. Bulgakov makes me laugh and astounds me and Rushdie just hits me over the head with his knowledge of so many ranging subjects. Ezra Pound or William Butler Yeats. Pound because of his fierce, almost psychotic belief in the power of ideas and art, and how he brings all sorts of disciplines into the same intellectual arena; Yeats because he writes the best poetry this side of Shakespeare and Donne. Sometimes better. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? If I'd be alowed to spend time alone in there, at night, with my coffee and cigarettes, than YES
No way man! They would always be trying to bogart my books! Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? Come on, you know we've all done it! Secretly?? Hell no! I do it out in the open. I can tell certain publishers by the smell their books give off! I don't buy books from people who were obviously smokers! How many books do you own? I sold a lot of them last year and only kept the best ones that I will surely read again and again in time. I think I've got about 300 left at this point. Possibly 350 with the stored ones added. It could be less though. I think over 2500. I've never counted exactly. Not counting journals, page proofs etc. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? I think I'm well on my way to approaching 750 now. I would have to try to count/estimate. I really don't know. I try to read 50 pages a day no matter what. That builds up after a while. Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Probably Dickens. He would have so many stories to tell and you just know the man would be a hoot. He'd have me piss myself before second course, I'm sure. Proust! But he would have to be dead, otherwise he would bore me too much! Haha! Just kidding! How about Walter Savage Landor. See if his real conversations are anything like his Imaginary ones! Oh and if anyone derails this thread again by starting some bullshit racist commenting I will severely kick their ass! Aussies are idiots! thank you. No! Thank you! | |
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Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well? I like to collect. It can get to be trouble. I own books I haven't read yet, and I still buy more. I've been known to buy a book just cause I like the presentation, the nice heavy paper it's printed on, the font, etc. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? It can get to be trouble, but I've kept myself in check lately. Which is your favorit bookstore? I don't have a favorite. Any bookstore will do. I did visit the American bookstore (I think) when I was in Amsterdam, and I loved it.
Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? It was in New York and I don't remember the name, I think it might have been Strands. Books for days. I also enjoyed visiting City Lights in San Francisco. What's your favorit book of all time? I have a copy of Rimbaud's Season in Hell that includes photographs by Mapplethorpe. It's my favorite book that I own. What's the second favorit? See, I can't really list favorites, though. I either liked a book or I didn't. I rarely rave about them. Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? I'm the same with non fiction. I like lots of 'em. The most recent non-fiction I really enjoyed was Bachelor Girls, which is a history of single women in the US from 1900 to today. Do you like to read books about books? Sure do.
Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) Ugh. The favorite thing again. I like Vonnegut and Nick Hornby and Anais Nin and well, all sorts of people. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? ummm... mayyyybbeeeee Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? 
How many books do you own? A lot. More than I have room for. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? No idea. I don't count. Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Anais Nin |
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Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well? I do not save any books. I pass them on to somebody else. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? A hobby although lately I haven't been reading as much. Which is your favorit bookstore? Public library Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? I'm not impressed by bookstores. What's your favorit book of all time? Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad What's the second favorit? The Bronx Zoo - Sparky Lyle Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? The Bronx Zoo or The Wrong Stuff - Bill Lee Do you like to read books about books? No Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) Bill Shakespeare Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? No - maybe a Hot librarian.
Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? Hmmmm... How many books do you own? 20 How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? It's easily in the thousands. Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Shakespeare | |
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Anxiety said: i'm reading "colors insulting to nature" by cintra wilson right now. that's what you're asking, right?
yes i was  and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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jillybean said: Which author would you most like to have dinner with
(dead or alive) ? Bill Murray. And yes, he wrote a book. 
have to look into that and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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gooeythehamster said: Do you just like to read books or do you "collect" them as well?
To me, sadly books are just items. I treat them really scandalous. I do not really collect books by any writer. I have had many phases, mostly in the fantasy and SF section. Lately I try to read as much as I can by Jonathan Carroll, one of the better new weird writers. But I have found out that not all his books are as good as Sleeping In Flame. So I am ready to move onto another writer. I also keep an eye out for anything by Michael Cunningham. Stop treating your books scandalously, right now I'll check out Jonathan Carroll in a
while because I'm starting to become more and more interested in 'new weird' writings. Is Jonathan Carroll by any chance 'family off....' ?? Oooh, and while posting further on I remembered suddenly I DO collect; children books by Annie MG Schidt (adventurous books about children that go against the establishment) and Thea Beckman (lots of historic novels). My parents always used to read those to me and my brother. Later on I always went to the public library after school to get me the books by Thea Beckman and others. That's how my whole obsession started. Roald Dahl was my "cross-over" into the adult section of the 'bieb' since I found out there was a whole nother section of him in that erea. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? It was a hobby, now on the point of becoming an unhealthy passion, as I have just started a job at Isten's favourite bookstore and I am already amassing a huge pile of books I want to buy as soon as I am through my trial period. It will be hard, because I will be so close to the source. Now that the pc-privé project is no longer an option, do you guys get a 'library privé' project? lol. I would run out of money faster than Prince ordering camells at 03:00 am. Which is your favorit bookstore? I have two. The first is The American Book Center in Amsterda for the same reasons as Isten; their assortment is amazing; lots of specialist subjects bought by people who care. Shopping there is great too because of the people that work there. Ahem.... Second is W.H. Smith on Rue Rivoli in Paris, where I used to spent hours when I was missing my family and friends. The personnel was not as accomodating as my own store, but the books they carried kept me occupied. For hours. I miss buying my Sunday Times there and sitting in the Tulleries. reading the sunday times at the Tulleries.
Which is the most amazing bookstore you ever visited? There is a little used bookstore that always has editions that make me wonder how the hell they found their way into my hands. I will not tell you where it is, hehehe. I am greedy. now, that's not right and you know it!
What's your favorite book of all time? That is In The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco, as it is a sort of book I thoroughly LOVE; it combines styles and is set in a time that always held my attention and is about subjects dear to my heart, told in a way that is hard to resist. Oh yes. That's one of the greatest books there is. It was actually the last book by Umberto Eco I read since everyone kept telling me how it was the best one and how the rest of his work pales in comparison. I don't know if I wouldn't have enjoyed the others [Faucolt's Pendulum, The Island of the Day Before, Baudolino] as much as I did now but I have to agree that The Name Of The Rose outshines them in momentum. Although, "The Island Of The Day Before" struck me on a very personal note and therefore remains more 'special' to me than all the others. And as I just remembered I collect children books I will also ad Kruistocht In Spijkerbroek by Thea Beckman, which would be translated into Crusades In Jeans, about a boy trasported to the Dark Ages to see knights, but ends up in the middle of a children's crusade. They just turned it into a movie that I am sure I do not want to see, but probaly will see in the end. What's the second favorite? I am much for reading for entertaining purposes; books that require lots of attention bug me. The one that entertained me most was probably The Lord Of The Rings by Tolkien. His mindspins kept me occupied a short but fruitful period in my life. Which is your favorit NON-Fiction book? Hard one. Many books made an impression on me in the various stages throughout my life. The one that made the biggest impression was probably The Bible, as it had a huge impact on me as a young boy and taught me not to believe everything you read. But that is not fave, huh? Do you like to read books about books? Uhm. Seen a few. Most fun is On Writing by Stephen King. Even though I just like a few of his books, his way of telling his own story is endearing and fun. Who's your favorit author? (and WHY?) Probably John Irving. I have a weaknes for that man and his writings. Many of the so called new weird writers borrow heavily of his way of creating characters stumbling through a series of mistakes that you cannot help but love. I'm ashamed to say that I just recently purchased my first two Irving books. I got them more by accident than by will. At "macro" where they only have a few books they were the only ones that seemed interesting enough that time round to buy. "Widow for a Year" and "A Son Of The Circus" are the ones I bought. I have yet to read them, but from the text on the back flap, "A Son Of The Circus" seems like a very cool and entertaining, weird story. Would you date someone who worked in or owned a bookstore just for the sole purpose of gaining access to millions of pages full of information and beautiful stories? No. That would be silly. I would date them if they were interesting personalities caught in bodies I could love. That includes beerbellies. Do you secretly smell your books (especially the old old ones)? Old books. New books stink. all books smell great! the old ones as well as the new ones. The old ones smell nice and aged and fumed. The new ones give u a buzz cuz the ink fumes fuck up your mind lol How many books do you own? Dunno. Like I said, I am not a real collector. For instance, I own lots of Tery Pratchett paperbacks, but that was just a phase. Still I do not like to part with books I feel I might want to re-read in the future. So just about 300 or so. How many would you roughly estimate you read up until now? Around 2000, but that is just an estimate. I am able to Quick Read, a way of reading three times quicker than normal, but that need dwindled in the last 13 years. When I was younger (around 8 to 15) I owned three library cards and used to borrow up to 15 books every two weeks, but not all fiction though. A quick calculation now points out that it might be waaay above 2000.... dajum, that's a lot. I wish I could read faster. But alas, I read meticulously slow. I usually need 1 hour for only 30 pages or something. The only books I seem to be able to read at breathtaking speed are Arnon Grunberg/Marek van der Jagt novels. Probably becuz they're so damn entertaining and witty. But even with those, I slow the pace down again cuz I want to absorb them properly and take time out to laugh at every paragraph. He's my fav duth writer of all time. Which author would you most like to have dinner with (dead or alive) ? Again John Irving, as he is an amazing fellow. and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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madartista said: Do you just like to read them or do you "collect" them as well? I'm a much better book buyer than reader. ADD kills me. I've STARTED reading hundreds of books. Is it just a hobby or a slightly unhealthy obsession? Hobby/obsession. Most of my early 90's income went to various bookclubs and stores. I have boxes of books stored in my parents basement. I have more boxes of boxes stored with a friend in Hollywood. And although I'm a houseguest without much space right now, the 3 books I came with have grown in about 12. I know what you mean. I just had to force myself to stop buying so many of them a while ago. Now, whenever I do buy two or three or four or five (lol) I don't file them until I have read them and try not to go out and buy more until I've finished all of them. In the past I just bought 20 new books for every single one I read. Then they just towered above me in my room, eyeing me and mumbling "you bastard, you bought us, now please read us instead of just fingering us"  and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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