A Book Meme

I have been tagged by Janet, of On DC Rush Hour. Here are my results:

Hardback, Trade Paperback, or Mass Market Paperback?

I know it is a cop-out (hey, he said COP out… get it?), but it depends. I will buy hardbacks from the following authors without hesitation: S.M. Stirling; Harry Turtledove; David Weber; and John Varley. There are others whose work I will read in hardback if I don't want to wait for a paperback release, but that will depend on how I feel about the book, or how many pages there are. I won't buy a hardback book if there are fewer than 400 pages of regular sized type.

Amazon or brick and mortar?

Either. Amazon is great, especially if you are looking for something a bit more esoteric, but brick and mortar is a refuge for me. I love being around books and around others who read.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

Well, there is a Borders about 2 miles from my house, and three more within 15 Miles, but only one Barnes & Noble… which is also 15 miles away. Having said that, I must add that although we usually go to Borders, B&N makes a nice switch from time to time.

Bookmark or Dog Ear?

Bookmark. I get really… unpleasant about the ill-treatment of books… and don't even think about folding back the cover on that paperback!

Alphabetize by author, alphabetize by title, or random?

We sort by genre… or wherever there is space on our shelves.

Keep, throw away, or sell?

Keep the special stuff, give the rest to The Salvation Army. Throwing books away is a sin… except for Michael Chrichton's Sphere. It was so bad, that as soon as I finished it, I was compelled to rip it to shreds!

Keep dust jacket or toss it?

Keep, I use the flaps for bookmarks.

Read with dust jacket on, or remove it?

I leave it on… See the previous answer.

Short Story or Novel?

Either.

Collection (short stories by the same author) or Anthology (short stories by different authors)?

Anthologies, usually. Especially anthologies of science fiction short stories all told in a "universe" created by a different author, eg; several different authors writing stories about David Weber's Honor Harrington character.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?

I wouldn't be caught dead reading either of them, they just aren't me.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

Wherever I am when my chin bounces off of my chest for the third time.

"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once Upon a Time"?

I don't really read either of those sort of books, but I would probably have to go with a dark and stormy night. "Once upon a time conjures up images of talking cats, dragons, and elves. Can't stand that stuff.

Buy or borrow?

Unless we are talking about the public library, I am of the estimable Franklin's mind in this matter: "Neither a lender or a borrower be"

New or Used?

New.

Buying choice: Reviews, recommendations, or browse?

Usually by author… we science fiction people are very much devoted to our favorites, although I do browse quite a bit.

Tidy Ending or cliffhanger?

As long as the ending makes sense, it's fine.

Morning, afternoon, or evening reading?

Yes.

Standalone or series?

Either, but I do read a lot of series'

Favorite Book of which no one else has heard?

Birthright: "The Book of Man", Jerry Pournelle

Favorite books read last year?

Fiction: "At All Costs", by David Weber

Non-Fiction: "Enough", by Juan Williams and "God's Politics", by Jim Wallis

Favorite Books of All time:

Birthright: The Book of Man, Jerry Pournelle
Post Captain, Patrick O'Brian
Jumper, Steven Gould
Alternaties, Michael Kube-McDowell
Replay, Ken Grimwood
Starship Troopers, Robart A. Heinlein
Time Enough For Love, Robart A. Heinlein
Firestar, Michael Flynn
Conquistador, S.M. Stirling
Falkenberg's Legion (series), S.M. Stirling
Marching Through Georgia, S. M. Stirling
Roots, Alex Haley

...and that's just a start.

Tag?

Super Des, Middle Girl, and Anali