Scooter Chronicles

This one was done previously by Mr. SamuraiFrog. And you must be WARNED that if you look at his meme, the header of his blog, meaning the very top of his blog, has a picture of a woman in a state of dress that may offend some. Her back is turned, but it is not something you might want to look at when in the company of those who might not want or should not see it.

1.) What author do you own the most books by?

Neil Gaiman by far. The strength of that is his Sandman series. I have two copies of the series. A ten book version in trade paperback, and a four book version in leatherbound hardcover. On top of that, I believe I have a copy of most every non-graphic book he has had published. (Though a few of them were ruined in the minor flood.)

2.) What book do you own the most copies of?

The Bible. I have an NLT version, a King James version, and NIV copy given to me by my friend Jeff, a beat up copy that someone I used to work with gave me, and a huge copy that I can’t remember who gave to me.

3.) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

As much as I read, and try to use good grammar, I didn’t even notice, or really even care if I did notice.

4.) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

I haven’t really ever felt that much towards a character, but Jehane bet Ishak from “The Lions of Al-Rassan” and Claire from “The Time Traveler’s Wife” are probably the closest prospects.

5.) What book have you read the most times in your life?

“Fahrenheit 451″ by Ray Bradbury. It’s the only one I have read more then once, and it was only twice. I have a few others I would like to read again. “Dune” by Frank Herbert will be the next though, no matter what.

6.) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

Didn’t really have one back then. I wasn’t a big reader when I was younger.

7.) What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?

“Tours of the Black Clock” by Steve Erickson. I actually didn’t finish it. Only got two thirds through. It was a muddled mess at times. If I need to use a book that I actually finished, it would be “Icefields” by Thomas Wharton. However, with that book, the reason I would call it worst was a matter of taste and interest.

8.) What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?

“A Soldier of the Great War” by Mark Helprin. A vast epic tale of one man and his world around him. Very close behind it are “Last Dragon” by J. M. McDermott and “Palimpsest” by Catherynne M. Valente.

9.) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?

I am not going to tag anyone. But I think the best book to “force” on people would be “The Time Traveler’s Wife” because it can be enjoyed by many varied tastes.

10.) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

I have only read one book by him, but it might be time for Philip Roth to finally win. And I hope that Michael Chabon wins at some point, too. Though again there, I have only read one of his books as well.

11.) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

Somtimes, or maybe even most of the time, movies ruin the magic of a great book. So there is nothing I really would want to see made into a movie. Though I will go and see “The Time Traveler’s Wife” when it hits the theaters this summer.

12.) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

“The Lions of Al-Rassan” by Guy Gavriel Kay. Heard it has been bounced around Hollywood for a while. I hope no one ever makes this incredibly wonderful book into a hacked movie. The worst rumor involving this book/movie is that Tom Cruise would be in it. That would be the ultimate horror movie in my opinion.

13.) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

I have never had a dream involving any of these.

14.) What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?

I don’t really know if it would be considered as such, but possibly “Notice” by Heather Lewis, because it had a lot of sex, and quite “rude”, if that is a way to describe it. It was a rather disturbing book, and might actually be considered good for looking into the damaged psyche of someone.

15.) What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?

I never finished “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco for that very reason. My brain hurt so much trying to get through the first 100 pages. If a completed book is needed, the I would say “Neuromancer” by William Gibson. It was filled with jargon that I had a hard time understanding. And it was poorly written. Gibson is hailed as a great sci-fi writer, and for being the father of cyberpunk. And this book was the start of it all and considered a classic. But the man certainly didn’t have any chops back then, or needed a much better editor.

16.) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?

I have only seen one, and it is one of the most popular, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

17.) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

I have not read either, but have a few of the Russians’ works on my “to be read” pile, like “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, “Doctor Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak, “Dead Souls” by Nikolai Gogol, and I have always wanted to read “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy and “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov.

18.) Roth or Updike?

Have always wanted to read Updike’s “Rabbit” stories, but haven’t. As I mentioned, I have only read one by Roth, that being “The Great American Novel”. I hope to read more of both when time allows. I have a feeling I might like Updike more.

19.) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

I have read neither, and as of right now don’t have the urge to read either. (Though I do like Sedaris’ sister’s work as an actress.)

20.) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

All three interest me, to a point, but I can’t understand anything they write.

21.) Austen or Eliot?

I haven’t even felt the urge to read Austen. As for Eliot though, I need to read “Silas Marner” since Marcia and her sister Catherine wrote a musical based on the novel.

22.) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

From around the time I got divorced in 1996 to 2001. I didn’t read anything. Not sure it’s embarassing. I just didn’t have the time to read, due to work.

23.) What is your favorite novel?

“The Lions of Al-Rassan” by Guy Gavriel Kay still ranks as my favorite.

24.) Play?

Don’t read these, or see many.

25.) Poem?

I don’t have a poem that I would list as my favorite. I have read little. It is something that I would like to be able to say that I do, and sound intelligent when talking about them. But facts are facts. Most I can’t seem to grasp.

26.) Essay?

Not sure what I have read that might fall into this category.

27.) Short story?

I had at one point read a few short story collections, and only two really stick out. “The Wedding Present” by Neil Gaiman, in his collection “Smoke and Mirrors”, though hidden within the “Introduction” of the book. And “Singing My Sister Down” by Margo Lanagan in her collection “Black Juice”. Both are heartbreaking / dark stories.

28.) Work of non-fiction?

Probably “Eight Men Out” by Elliot Asinof. The only surprise here should be that it isn’t a hockey book. I haven’t read much non-fiction. Actually, since starting this blog, only this book and “The Audacity of Hope” by then Senator Barack Obama is the extent of my non-fiction reading. I still have those three biographies, from different points of his life, of Theodore Roosevelt to read. And I recently mooched a copy of “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking.

29.) Who is your favorite writer?

Guy Gavriel Kay is right now. I have only read three books by him, but all three were filled with beautiful prose, deep characters, and a wonderful engaging story. I made mention a week or so back that the three books I read by Matt Ruff weren’t home runs, but all were solid base hits, and I might even call one of them a double. Kay’s three books were not only home runs, they were tape measure type, grand slam, walk-offs. Well, “Tigana” might not have been a grand slam, but still a walk-off home run.

30.) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Dan Brown. “Angels and Demons” should be a good movie, because that is how the book is written. I heard that “The DaVinci Code” was much the same way. Flat characters. Fourth grade reading level prose. Sure, you can eat these up and be entertained. But he certainly isn’t a great writer.

31.) What is your desert island book?

I really can’t choose one. I would probably want a collection of short stories for variety. Or one of my various copies of the Bible.

32.) And … what are you reading right now?

“Iron Council” by China Mieville.