Booking Through Thursday: Picking And Choosing

This week’s Booking Through Thursday asks two questions:

“‘Overall, what factor most influences your choice of your next read?’

and

‘What is it that makes you want to read a book by an author you have never read before?'”

I guess the factor that most influences my choice of next read would be my mood. If I’m feeling down a quick comfort read is what I need. And if I’m feeling particularly energetic then I tackle books that are from genres unfamiliar to me or books of a chunkier variety. Challenges I’m participating in may also influence me.

The thing that makes me want to read a book by an author I have never read before is the genre of the book. If its a Golden Age mystery, a cosy mystery or a classic than I’ll read it even if I’m not familiar with the author.

Booking Through Thursday: One Or Many?

This week’s Booking Through Thursday asks:

“Series or Stand-alone?“

I prefer stand-alones to series, although I have enjoyed reading a series or two from time to time. The Harry Potter series for example. But I mostly favour stand-alones. I have read all of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books and almost all of her Hercule Poirot books but they can be read as stand-alones in my opinion so I don’t think they count as series.

Booking Through Thursday: First Teacher

This week’s Booking Through Thursday asks:

“Who taught you to read?“

It was my mom. My memory is kind of hazy because I learned to read kind of early. But I do remember my mom reading really colourful fairytale books to me. There were four among them that I really loved, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Thumbelina. I would make her read those again and again. As far as I remember it is from those books that I first became familiar with the different alphabets, words, their pronunciations; etc. Soon I was reading on my own.

Booking Through Thursday: Pet Names

This week’s Booking Through Thursday asks:

“Do you have any pet that has a name inspired by your readings?

If not, what would you pick if you DID?

Do any of your friends have book-based names for their pets? (Or their children?)”

I do not have a pet. If I had one it would have to be a cat as I am a cat person. I think I would name it after Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights or Pip from Great Expectations.

I don’t know of anyone giving their children book based names. I have heard that one of my mom’s great uncles fell in love with his wife because her name was the same as one of his favourite literary heroines.

Booking Through Thursday: In Or Out?

This week’s Booking Through Thursday asks:

“Do you consider yourself an extrovert or an introvert?“

I am introvert to the point that people may actually find me weird. As kid I was bullied and often belittled by people who were close to me. These experiences left me feeling awkward about myself and uncomfortable about sharing my feelings with anyone. I have real trouble talking to strangers and adjusting to new places. Once I get comfortable though I can be just like anyone else. But even then I am very guarded about my personal life and don’t often share what’s on my mind with anyone.

That is exactly what made me become a reader. I relied heavily on the fictional worlds created by books, TV shows and movie. I sought refuge and felt secured in them.

In real life my job has opened me up a bit. Having to deal with students and fellow teachers around the university has made me more voluble than before. The internet has also helped make my life much richer. Blogging and being involved in other activities have made me less of a loner. Now I can talk about the things I love without fear.