First of all, I have to quote the lovely and erudite Ms. Mental Multivitamin:

“In a perfect world, it is what I do all day long: Read. Talk about what I’m reading, what others are reading. Read about what I’m reading, what others are reading. Write, often about reading. Read some more. Sleep.”

1. What book (a classic?) do you hate? Oh, sad to say, I have several modern, twentieth century “classics” that I couldn’t stomach: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I read about a third of each of these novels, enough to be able to say I gave it a real chance.
Then, there are those two famous, acclaimed AMerican authors whose entire body of work I don’t much care for: John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway. I am intelligent enough to understand the attraction and the accolades; I just don’t share the love for either author. “Hate” may be a little too strong, but I wouldn’t give much more than a nickel for a novel by either man unless I was desperate for reading material. (I have been desperate before, and I have read my share of Steinbeck and Hemingway. I don’t have time for any more.)

2. To what extent do you judge people by what they read?
If any of the above are your favorites, I don’t judge you at all. I just figure you are privy to some information or understanding that I am not. If anything, I tend to judge myself lacking for not seeing what others see in various popular and acclaimed books.

3. What television series would you recommend as the literariest?
Literariest as in most thought-provoking: LOST or maybe John Adams (miniseries) or Pride and Prejudice (yes, the one with Colin Firth, of course).

4. Describe your ideal home library.
Bookcases line the walls from floor to ceiling. Couches and comfy chairs are in the middle. There’s at least one window with a window seat. I’ve always wanted a window seat. That’s about it.
I already have the floor to ceiling books. Our furnishings fall into the shabby-but-comfortable category. But I have no window seat.

5. Books or sex?
Really? Render unto Caesar. Each in its own place in its own time.

6. How do you decide what to read next?
I sort of wander around my house and look at the shelves, and then I look in my library basket. Then, I might check my Kindle to see what I have there that’s unread. And I just pick something.

7. How much do you talk about books in real life (outside of the blogging community)?
I talk about books a lot. Sometimes too much. I recommend books to people frequently. I give books to people. I try not to be obnoxious, but I probably am.