15 "By the Book" questions

Just having some fun!

How have your reading tastes changed over time? I used to be a bit snobbier I think, especially in regards to romance novels (which I now adore). I also don't have the reading stamina that I used to. For instance, I used to read and reread an epic fantasy series with epic page counts, but now I prefer a quick read and/or an audiobook
What’s the last great book you read? A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
The last book that made you laugh? Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson
What book did you feel as if you were supposed to like, and didn’t? Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
You’re organizing a literary dinner party. Which three writers, dead or alive, do you invite? Ursula K. Le Guin, Mary Shelley, and Kimberly Lemming
Who is your favorite fictional hero or heroine? Difficult to say, but probably Alanna of Trebond in The Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce
Your favorite antihero or villain? Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar (from Neverwhere)
What book have you recommended the most over the years? Neverwhere by (the disappointingly terrible) Neil Gaiman (I don't recommend it anymore)
Which genres do you especially enjoy reading? YA, fantasy, romance, and true crime
What kind of reader were you as a child? It honestly took me a while to take off with reading, and I struggled a bit with spelling as a kid (I still do sometimes haha). I liked a few series like The Magic Treehouse and Cam Jansen. Eventually, I also joined the Harry Potter crowd.
What’s the best book you’ve ever received as a gift? Probably Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind (gifted to me by my brother), since it is the book that turned me on to epic fantasy
Are there any classic novels that you only recently read for the first time? Not sure what "classic" exactly means, but I relatively recently read the graphic novel adaptation of Kindred by Octavia Butler
What’s your favorite book no one else has heard of? Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
Do you count any books as guilty pleasures? I definitely used to, but I've mostly gotten past this I think
Describe your ideal reading experience (when, where, what, how): Probably early evening while it's raining while on a nook that's in a window (with a fluffy blanket and pillows, of course). I'd like someone else around, but not talking. I'd like a warm mug of hot cocoa, and my dog cuddled up and sleeping beside me. I'd like to be reading a shorter, but engaging romantasy with some high stakes. The book would be physical, but maybe some soft music is playing to add some ambiance

(Prompt by Kimisha Cassidy but also The New York Times)

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