NYT By the Book Quiz

Last week over at The Marmelade Gypsy the author/artist answered the New York Times "By The Book" questionnaire that is used when interviewing authors.  Her answers were marvelous and quite revealing of her personality, like and dislikes. She also challenged her readers to answer the questionnaire.

Though my publishing history is not worthy of a New York Times quiz, more like Senior Times monthly, I'm up for the challenge.  Quizzes like this, in my personal opinion, help us with self-reflection. Have you ever thought you believed something but when you actually verbalize it in a conversation; hear the words for the first time are dismayed or even shocked by them?

I often feel like Erkle! "Did I say that?"

Here goes!

What books are on your nightstand?

Sadly, there are presently no books at my bedside! Almost everything in the bedroom is in boxes in another bedroom. We just finished painting the room, and I am just waxing my bedside chest that I painted a soft baby blue.

When not packed away, the books that are almost always within arms reach are:
Untie The Strong Woman by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss
The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyers
My journal by me!
 
I might add that there is usually an issue or two of the magazine "Where Women Create." Looking for inspiration to get my studio functioning more as a studio and less as a storage unit!

What are you reading right now?

Typically I have two or three books going, two non-fiction and a good novel. True confession, reading is my addiction. I would take a good book over a glass of wine or cheesecake every time! That is why I am currently only reading The Road To Character by David Brooks. Interesting delve into our culture's virtues (or lack, thereof) and how values and virtues are nurtured. Good book but easy enough to put down when I know that the first coat of what ever I'm painting is dry enough for next coat, or sanding, or gazing upon proudly!

What was the last great book you read? 

I reread Do You Quantum Think by Dianne Collins. She helps the reader recognize their personal "paths of least resistance," the comfort ruts we dive into when life and change challenge us. It has helped me to give up allegiance to past reactions and responses and open up to the world of infinite possibilities. Sounds woo-woo but, I swear, it isn't. It would be by my bedside but I keep a copy of it within reach in the living room and an extra copy on the bookshelf to give to anyone who will take it. I love, love, love this book. I think I may have already given at least a dozen copies out.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng is a show stopper in human drama. You won't be able to put it down, except to maybe reach for another tissue. Not a book to be read if you are already in a winter funk, wait for sunshine.

What do you read for solace? For escape? For sheer pleasure?

Definition of solace: "comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness". 

I often pick up the nearest copy of Do You Quantum Think if I find myself back in the well-trodden ditch of distress! I might pick up Byron Katie's Loving What Is.


For escape or pleasure? Remember my reading addiction is severe! I love the escape from reality of Sarah Addison Allen, Elin Hildebrand, Ruth Ware, Linda Frances Lee, Maria Goodin, Kristen Hannah, John Grishom, Micheal Chricton, Tom Clancy, Tom Robbins.

If I really want to escape for 8 to 10 hours, I grab a Robin Carr book. I guess one would call it Beach Fiction! Best read on a towel, on a beach, under a large brim hat, holding a glass of wine or a cold beer!

Dean Koontz was once a favorite but now I just stick to his Odd Thomas books. My imagination is way too developed to read Koontz or King on a regular basis.


 What are your favorite books on a favorite subject?

My favorite subject? Really? With all the universe has to offer how can one choose a favorite?  Maybe I can narrow it down to a couple. I am intrigued by human psychology, wisdom books, philosophy and metaphysics.  The Gift of Change/Marianne Williamson, The Gift of Imperfection/Brene Brown, Untie The Strong Woman/Women Who Run With Wolves/Clarissa Pinkola Estes, The Magical Approach/Jane Roberts, Behold The Spirit/Alan Watts.

Just because I love to cook (usually without a recipe, just my nose and memory) but when I do find a cookbook that speaks to me, visually stimulates my senses, I fall in love with it. So Rustic Spanish/Williams & Sonoma! Yum!

What are your favorite genres and which don't you particularly like?

Covered most of my favorites. I have to say that I usually avoid Jodi Picoult unless I am in a really good place emotionally. Her books are heavy hitting.

I don't mind Thriller but totally avoid Horror, Science Fiction (really, you would think that by now all extraterrestrial life would know not to invade earth. It's a no win scenario!).  I strongly dislike books about the South (except for Gone With The Wind, which I read every year from age of 10 to maybe 16), Downton Abbey era, or about English Kings and Queens from the 1400's through today.

Jeez, Louise, this questionnaire is long...didn't seem as long reading it as doing it!

What book do you think is overrated or just don't like?


Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good by Jan Karon! Everyone on Goodreads raved about it. I tossed it after 80 or 90 pages. Absolutely nothing happened...ever! Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes; I just don't get it.

How do you like to read? Paper or electronic? Morning or Night? Where do you like to read?

Addict, remember. Paper and electronic! Morning, Noon and Night! Where? Wherever there are words to read!

What's the best book you ever received as a gift?

A boyfriend gave me a copy of Wind in the Willows when I was 16. I cherish it.

My dad gave me Women Who Run With Wolves years ago. Just handed it to me one day and said it reminded him of me! I cherish that one, too.

What kind of reader were you as a child? Which childhood books and authors stick with you most.

Voracious reader! Loved Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys. I read every book that my folks had. Pissed Mom off that I read Aldous Huxley's Brave New World when I was nine! (Hey, it was two days before we could get to the library, and it was winter in Colorado! What's a kid supposed to do?)

Two books stand out. One was Tiger, Tiger. Not Margaux Fargoso's nor is it Rudyard Kipling's follow-up to Jungle Book.  It was a sweet book about a mother tiger and her cubs, their lives and struggle for survival. It was probably written in the 50's, had a green cover. I can't find it anywhere.

The other, No Children, No Pets by Marion Holland was a book that I just really related to and can remember the story, the sketches, the scenes. Good book.

From the age of 7 or 8, there were several books that I read at least once every year; Black Beauty, Little Women, Eight Cousins and Gone With The Wind.

Who would you like to write your life story?


I would like Sarah Addison Allen to write my life story. Her books are brimming with magical, mystical things. Through the ups and downs of life, I've discovered that magic does exist. I see angels and auras, I know things or see things that other's don't. I would prefer that my life story include the numinous and ethereal side of life's journey, not just the physical and emotional.

Ta Da! It's done. If any of you actually read this whole thing, Wow! I don't know that I would have read much beyond the second question. It did crack open a couple of windows for me and now I know why I easily relate to Brene Brown's Gift of Imperfections!