Stupid tagging...

With the shrieks of dramatic death, war and Hollywood carnage wailing in the background (Chris is watching that mess titled King Arthur -- oh, Ray Winstone and Stellan Skarsgard, what were you thinking?), I shall attempt to do this whole "Meme" thing. It's some elitist-y blog thing where people are challenged to create the same themes -- much like those questionnaire things sent round, with "What's your favourite drink?" and "Who's your hero?" sort of questions. This supposedly lets people know what you're like.

Huh.

This particular meme, of course, reeks of self-congratulatory book snobs looking to pigeon-hole bloggers according to their reading preferences. Much the same as movies, music, etc. Frankly, I'd rather a good, healthy dose of original questions. No one ever does anything perverse or actually embarrassing. Like kinks. Or strange things you've shoved in your orifaces. Or the most humiliating thing you were caught doing in public. Whether Tom Cruise really is gay. Etc.

Thus, I've been "tagged" to answer the damn thing. So I shall do so in my own style.

NUMBER OF BOOKS I OWN:
A lot. I write for a living. I have a degree in English. I don't trust people who don't read books. I trust even less the people with only one or two critic-friendly selections on their coffee tables. Anyway, the number is in the hundreds.

LAST BOOK I BOUGHT:
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Still haven't read it.

LAST BOOK I READ:
The last real book I read was No Crystal Stair by Mairuth Sarsfield. However, in faux movie-style books (read like watching a movie in your head), I've currently been re-reading the Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles for amusement.

FIVE BOOKS THAT MEAN A LOT TO ME:

1. The novel I'm currently working on.
Hopefully I'll be able to get some money from it and continue writing. Self-explanatory, really.

2. Sense And Sensibility by Jane Austen
But not for the reason you think. I mean, god love the woman, but this particular novel is where I hide money I'm trying to save. Best when I'm going on a trip to the UK and cram it full of newly purchased pounds. Obviously empty for quite some time.

3. The Log From The Sea Of Cortez by John Steinbeck (rare 1951 edition)
Aside from the love of Steinbeck I inherited from my grandfather, this book is actually worth something to me. About $400-$500 US, to be exact.

4. The Twits by Roald Dahl
If you have to ask, you don't get it. The chapter on beards says it all. Or the one on Bird Pie.

5. The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Bet you weren't expecting that one.


However, I shall refrain from tagging anyone. Likely because no else I know actually keeps a blog (or admits to it).