Eva's Book Meme

I got tagged for this one by John who mildly threatened to stop reading my blog if I didn't respond. Actually, he'll keep reading because I'm 2/3s of the way through with another Carol Shields book, and I'm sure he's curious to read the review. He got it from Eva at A Striped Armchair. Anyway, here it is:

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

I've had The Road on my TBR list for awhile but every time I got to pick it up, I can't even face the cover. I actually left one copy in Hawaii and had to mooch a second, which I still haven't read.

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

1. Clara Trueba from The House of the Spirits because I'd love to experience her incredible abilities.

2. Rachel from The Poisonwood Bible to experience her vapidness.

3. Liesel Meminger from The Book Thief because her spirit astounded me.

Obviously, we'd have a ladies tea because I think this group would kill each other on a deserted island!

(Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): you are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it's past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?

I'd have to say Smilla's Sense of Snow which my husband gave me to be nice. I really hated the first twenty pages, and think it would be misery to read the whole thing.

Come on, we've all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you've read, when in fact you've been nowhere near it?

I'm drawing a blank on this one. If I haven't read it, I'm usually honest about it. There are classics which I can't finish, but that's not the same thing.

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to 'reread' it that you haven't? Which book?

I tend to get the plots of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility mixed up. I have read them both, but when I read reviews of them I can't keep them straight.

You've been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who's not a big reader). What's the first book you'd recommend and why? (if you feel like you'd have to know the person, go ahead of personalise the VIP)

I'd have to hand them a copy of The Book Thief because it's sense of humanity is amazing. I'm probably thinking of a VIP who is also a world leader. Maybe they need to think more and react less.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?

Spanish! I'd love to read Isabel Allende without translation.

A mischievious fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?

Wow, there are a lot of choices. I could reread The House of the Spirits, The World According to Garp, Paula, or The Book Thief anytime!

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What's one bookish thing you 'discovered' from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?

I don't think I've discovered any new genres, but I have found authors. Carol Shields is one of the people I've read because of book blogs. I don't think I would have found The Book Thief on my own either. I've found that book blogging has pushed me out of the comfortable mystery genre and gotten me to read many more things. Thanks to everyone for that!

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she's granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.

I don't think it would be about the books, but the place. I'd love to have a reading room. I'm picturing a few bookshelves, a great cozy chair with a table next to it, a tall reading lamp, and a door for quiet and privacy. That would be a dream come true.

I guess I'm supposed to tag some people so CJ, Literary Feline, Presbyterian Gal, and Alison consider yourselves tagged!