A-Z Book Survey

This survey was SO much fun to complete! Thanks to Rachel at My Wholesome Home for sharing it. 

A: Author you've read the most books by:  Jodi Picoult – I started reading her books when I was a senior in high school in 2006. Some of my favorites are My Sister’s Keeper, Plain Truth, Vanishing Acts, Nineteen Minutes, Lone Wolf, Between the Lines, and OF COURSE The Storyteller.

B: Best Sequel Ever: This one goes out to Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. It was my favorite book of the three and packed with so much action.

C: Currently Reading: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner is what I’m currently reading. It is book two of four in The Maze Runner series, which is a young adult series. The Maze Runner movie comes out this September!

D: Drink of Choice While Reading:  Hot chocolate! I especially enjoy the flavored ones, like mint dark chocolate or raspberry chocolate. If I’ve already had too much sugar, the next best thing is hot herbal tea. It’s amazing to cure up in pajama pants with a good book… while drinking something warm!

E: E-Reader or Physical Book?  I have a Nook Tablet, and while I enjoy its ease when traveling, I really do still love physical books. I almost forgot how much until reently. I had been reading so much on my Nook, and I read a couple books for work. It was WONDERFUL to hold the paperbacks in my hand and smell that euphoric ‘book smell’.

F: Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated in High School: This would have to be Four/Tobias from the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. He seems intelligent, athletic, and strong… yet he still has weaknesses.

G: Glad You Gave This Book a Chance: One book I almost didn’t read is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It just didn’t sound like it would be THAT good, but it ended up being PHENEOMENAL! I loved every minute of it, and I can’t wait to see it as a movie in December!

H: Hidden Gem Book: One of my favorite books of all time is one that many have never heard of: The Cage by Ruth Minsky Sender. I first read it in seventh grade and fell in love. I am so glad my teacher chose that book. It really sparked my interest for Holocaust literature. This is one you don’t want to miss.

I: Important Moment in Your Reading Life: Oh, there are so many to list. What about the fact that I used to complete multiple lists the library offered each summer as a child just because I loved reading so much? Or how I taught my younger brother how to read before he went to school? Or when I received my copy of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in ninth grade with the assignment to read the first chapter over the weekend, and instead I canceled all of my Friday night plans and read the entire novel in one sitting? THOSE are important reading moments that I will forever remember.

J: Just Finished: The Maze Runner by James Dashner – I read it for work because my 8t graders are reading it.

K: Kinds of Books You Wont Read: Romance novels. Enough said.

L: Longest Book You've Ever Read: Hands down, the longest book I’ve read is the Bible. I read the entire thing in 2012, and I felt a real sense of accomplishment when I {finally} made my way completely through.

M: Major Book Hangover Because Of:  The Book Thief by Markus Zusack – I fell in love with Liesel’s character right away, and I read this book FAST. When I finished, I was really upset. Sometimes, I think I’ll be upset when I finish a book, but then I’m fine. With this one, I thought of it often for MONTHS. In fact, I still do think of it often, and it’s been over three years since I read it. I’d love to re-read it soon.

 N: Number of Book Cases You Own: I have six… which seems excessive and is probably way too many for most people, but with Dan’s books and mine combined (he’s also a reader), we still have books overflowing off the shelves and hanging around in random places throughout the house.

O: One book you have read multiple times: This would have to be The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I first read it in high school, and I loved it. I read it again in college and saw so many things I didn’t pick up on the first time around. I recently re-read it, and it seems like I caught on to several more scenarios. I LOVE re-reading books.

P: Preferred place to read: There’s nothing like curling up in my bed with a good book, but I wish I had a better place to read. Dan has promised me to build me a cupula one day, so I can sit in the sunlight (or pouring rain or snow) and read with an amazing view of the outdoors. That will be my dream come true, and he’s wonderful.

Q: Quote That Inspires You/Gives You Feels From a Book You've Read: "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." -F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby)

R: Reading Regret: Allegiant, which is the third book in the Divergent trilogy – I just couldn’t get into it, despite having LOVED the previous two books. I was shocked (and kind of upset, to be honest) about a major plot event, and I think it would have been better if I had just chosen not to read it at all. It was a major bummer because I waited for this book to come out for MONTHS.

S: Series You Started But Still Need to Finish (All Books Are Out): This isn’t a true series, but I own all of the Dear America books and have only read about half of them. They were my favorite books growing up, and I had many of them saved from then. I knew I wanted a complete collection, so I made a list of what I needed to buy, and my wonderful fiancé (then boyfriend) bought the last few I needed to complete my set. I plan on reading through all of them (in chronological order) when he is in pilot training next year. I should be able to since they are written for elementary school girls.

T: Three of your Favorite Books: This one is really tough, but I chose three from my top 15 list. If I HAD to pick just three, I think I’d go with: The Book Thief by Markus Zusack, The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult, and The Giver by Lois Lowry.

U: Unapologetic Fangirl For:  Edward. Yes, THAT Edward. I don’t care how many people hate Twilight; I absolutely loved reading it my freshman year of college. It was like an escape from dorm life, and I read it a couple times that year. I’m not even ashamed. I like the glittery, sparkly vampire.

V: Very Excited for This Release More Than Others:  This book is already released… in fact, it has been for a while. But it’s one that I’m dying to read: The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel. It’s on my list to read this year, and I can’t wait until I get to it!

W: Worst Bookish Habits: I hate that when I start reading a new chapter in the evening, it often causes me to stay up late and lose precious sleep. It’s totally worth it for the adventures in the books I’m reading, but I wish I could make it a habit to read earlier.

X: X Marks the Spot - Start at the Top of Your Shelf and Pick the 27th Book:  Oh, this is a good one! My 27^th book on my book-shelf is Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, a great look at Mormon fundamentalism. I especially loved this book because Dan read it first when we were long distance, and then he mailed the book to me. It was fun and exciting talking to him about the book each night!

Y: Your Latest Book Purchase: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner… since that’s also what I’m currently reading.

Z: Zzzz-Snatcher Book - (The last book that kept you up way too late): This happens to me far too often, but the one book I can think of staying up WAY too late with is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I specifically remember sitting outside with a glass of wine reading it while Dan was out of the country. It was dark, but I was reading on my Nook, so it didn’t matter. Before I knew it, it was after midnight, and I was shocked! I just couldn’t put it down.

To see my comprehensive list of my top 15 favorite books of all time, check out THIS post.

• Do you read?
• What is your favorite type of book?
• Do you have a cool reading experience?