What's the biggest book you've read recently? Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. I read the eBook (4697 pages of medium font), but the paperback edition contains 896 pages!
What's the lightest, most "fluff" kind of book you've read recently? Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich. Nobody gets me laughing like Stephanie Plum and her gang.
Which do you prefer?
Paperbacks, hardcover, or eBooks? When I seriously began reading (buying) novels in the early ‘90s I preferred softcover. When I quit buying novels and started patronizing the public library I learned that hardcovers were more comfortable for me to hold and use my book light with. When my sister gave me her 1st generation iPod touch and a gift certificate to eReader.com for Christmas in 2008 I discovered the absolute joys of reading eBooks. An iPod can hold thousands of books. I don't need a book light or even my reading glasses because the font size, color, and background are all easy to customize. You can highlight text, add notes, and search for words. I will always love books but when it comes to novels I would prefer all of them to be digital.
Fiction or Nonfiction? Definitely fiction. I look to books as an escape.
Poetry or prose? Prose.
History or historical fiction? I like reading both but prefer historical fiction. My memory is so deficient that I cannot remember anything. I would rather read for enjoyment and not recall what I read than read to learn and not remember a thing.
Series or stand-alones? I enjoy both but have found series to be more enjoyable. Some characters deserve to be re-visited over and over.
Classics or best sellers? Definitely best sellers. I have trouble with the language in the classics. I get so bewildered that I cannot enjoy them.
Lurid, fruity prose or straight-forward, basic prose? Straightforward every time. I loved reading Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Charlotte Brontë because of their beautiful "way with words" but I had to re-read portions over and over to truly understand what they had written.
Plots or Stream-of-Consciousness? A good plot is what keeps me turning the pages.
Long books or short? Long. If they are page-turners!
Illustrated or non-illustrated? Well, I LOVE my illustrated maritime books. My favorites have photographs on every page with captions rather than page after page of text.
Borrowed or owned? I don't mind borrowing from the public library but I never ask to borrow a book from an individual.
New or used? The whole book store experience used to make me feel almost euphoric. I loved opening a pristine book knowing that I was the first to read it. I'm still that way with library books. I think being the first person to check out a book is...comforting? The pleasure I get reading eBooks on my iPod (4th gen) is the absolute best though. It is a technological marvel with almost limitless possibilities. I am not an app addict, but I do have 7 different book/reading apps. ;>)
Do you keep all your unread books together? I have gorgeous oak barrister bookcases that used to house all of my books. Those cases are now filled with DVDs. Our previous home had built-in bookshelves. Our current home has only 3 bookshelves in a closet. When we moved here I gave away every last novel I had. My husband's are in the office. My daughter has two 5-shelf book cases in her room. My maritime, cookbooks, and other reference books are in that closet in my study. My history/genealogy books are on my desk. My Twilight movie books are in a dresser drawer. I used to have a "to-be-read" (TBR) drawer filled with books. Now there are only 2 paperback books in there. It also holds my bookmark collection and a few promotional author/book items. I am able to do a simple search of my Book Collector database to find my "to be read" books.
What unusual/niche books do you read? I am enthralled with ocean liners. The classic and beautiful ladies of the early 20th century, particularly the Titanic. However, I am smitten with the modern marvel, Queen Mary 2. I currently have 22 maritime books, most of which I purchased through eBay Sellers and the bargain area of book stores. If I had any budget for it I would be scouring eBay for many more books about the grand dames of the ocean. Pictorials are particular favorites of mine.