I’ve been tagged, thanks to dirtylibrarian.
Total number of books I’ve owned I gave away most of my books two years ago when I moved to this apartment. I think I’m down to about 250. At one point it was probably 600. I am on a book diet until the current crop of children (three of them) finish college (2009). That means I only get to buy books I absolutely need to mark up for research. Everything else has to come from the library.
Last book I bought Defenders of Liberty: African Americans in the Revolutionary War by Lt. Col. Michael Lanning.
Last book I read Idoru by William Gibson. I returned this to the library without finishing it. Just could not get into the story. I recently read his Pattern Recognition which was much easier to follow.
Last book I finished Last Car to Elysian Fields by James Lee Burke. I go on kicks where I find a mystery author I like, then obsessively read everything that author has written. Burke sets his mysteries in southern Louisiana. They are often tied to racial incidents which happened two generations earlier. He is great at describing setting, and has a fun cast of secondary characters. He also has some trademark descriptions which seem to show up in every single story, which amuses me. Right now I’m reading Yellow Dog by Martin Amis. I love all of his stuff.
Five books that mean a lot to me: 5? *sighs*
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block. When I first read this I said to myself “You’re allowed to do this in a book?” It changed everything for me.
Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life by Elizabeth George. I love her fiction and have learned massive amounts from this writing guide.
Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. Masterful and heart-wrenching. Taught me about blending humor with tragedy.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Childhood favorite and old friend.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Contains all the tools I use every day.
If you fill out this meme (which is kind of like a quiz, if you’ve never seen the word before), leave a link to yours in the comments section. I want to see what books are important to you guys.
I’m back in PA where it is hot and humid and I’m already cranky about it. Today’s goal is an absurdly high number of words to be written in the WIP. Might also go to the gym to deal with my crankiness.
In non-cranky, non-book news, BH and I had a blast in Syracuse Saturday night. Details and info about a great band tomorrow.
Oh, and I keep forgetting to report this. I saw a porcupine. A real one. A real, live one bumbling down the side of the road. It was neat.