The Liebster Award x 2

Hi there everyone!

So thanks to the wonderful Martin over at http://www.aprettywonderfulbook.wordpress.com and the amazing Ashley at http://www.ashleyreadsit.wordpress.com, I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award not once, but twice, which means two sets of great questions to answer!

Here’s a bit about the award and how the whole process works:

What does the word Liebster mean? Liebster is German for sweet, favorite and dearest. (aww).

The Liebster Award is an award for bloggers. It helps to discover new blogs and to build a sense of community in the blogging world!

The Rules

1. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you.

2. Answer the 11 questions the blogger gives you.

3. Nominate 11 bloggers that you think are deserving of the award.

4. Let the bloggers know you nominated them.

5. Give them 11 questions of your own.

Here are my answers to Martin‘s questions:

If you could live in any fictional town, which would it be?
I would choose one of the Eggs, east or west from The Great Gatsby. There’s something beautiful and haunting about these corners of town during that era that make them so attractive to me. Perhaps it’s how the story plays out, who knows.

Which fictional character would you most like to meet?
Off the top of my head, Henry de Tamble from The Time Traveler’s Wife. Why? Because I have so many questions for him. The whys, and hows are obvious but my questions go deeper. How did it feel to constantly, and unknowingly, leave the woman he loved for endless periods of time? How did it feel to not know? How did it feel to know? The list goes on and on and on, and there are many other characters I’d love to meet. I get overly involved with my characters, and so I think I’d want to meet most of them.

Which book would you like to see made into a movie, and who would play the main characters?
This is a fantastic question because I’m not big on movies made from books. They usually disappoint. Off the top of my head, I’m going to choose Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden. This story is about World War One and First Nations. It’s fiction, and it’s intense, but it’s a must read. Xavier, the main character, would be played by Nathaniel Arcand, a Native Canadian actor who played Scott the vet in Heartland for a very long time.

Do you have any ‘must buy’ authors or do you always check the synopsis before buying?
Here’s the truth: If you purchase anything written by Edward Rutherfurd, you will not be disappointed. His books are huge though, so beware. Also, a big Ken Follett, and Erich Segal fan.

If you eat out, do you always order a trusty favourite or do you spend ages looking through the menu?
I’m a bit of a foodie, so I like to try new things, and get the opinions of the waitstaff on what’s good and recommended at the restaurant. However, when a craving calls, trusty favourite it is.

If you could be a character in a book, which genre would you want to be in?
Historical fiction, hands down. Not only do I want a story of my own, I want other things to happen that matter – real events.

Which country have you always wanted to visit but not had the chance?
All of the countries. Seriously. I’ve never been anywhere. I guess atop my list are Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Russia.

Have you been sorted on Pottermore, and if so, which house are you in? And are you happy with your house?
Oh my jesus – I didn’t know about Pottermore! I’m being sorted as we speak. Heeere we go! Gosh, I’m way too excited about this!! I got Hufflepuff, which is not a bad thing, but of course I wanted to join Harry!

When is your favourite time to read? During the day or at night in bed?
All of the times! It’s always time for a book. I read everywhere too!

Do you have any books you have more than one copy of?
Yes! Shake Hands with the Devil by Romeo Dallaire. One is a hardcover autographed copy and one is a paperback. I’m sure there are others, but that stands out at the moment. I’m not only into reading, but collecting.

Have you ever bought a book just because you liked the cover?
Not specifically. However, I’m a big fan of colourful books as I arrange my shelves in a rainbow pattern.

Thanks again, Martin! Now here are my answers to Ashley’s questions!

What is the best book you have read so far in 2016?
Hands down above all us – The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew. If you read this, carefully, it has the power to change you. Kinew is brilliant.

Which character do you identify with the most?
This varies, truly. I always try to connect with one character in every book I read. One character I really related to (to get into my childhood) was Fern from Charlotte’s Web. Inside me, although I’m 28-years-old, I’m still that hopeful, playful little girl, just like Fern.

What book has made you laugh out loud?
Most books get all of my reactions. I tend to be very visually emotional – if something’s funny I laugh, if it’s sad I cry. These aren’t just characters to me, I think a book and a reader take on a sort of friendship and a closeness until they’re separated. I’m a big fan of stand-up comedy and what makes funny people become so funny, so a lot of these. It takes a lot of strength and intelligence to stand up in front of thousands, or even hundreds of people and then proceed to make them laugh. For this I’ll list two favourites: Seriously, I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres and Call Me Russell by Russell Peters.

Whose writing style do you enjoy the most?
Edward Rutherfurd!! The man is magic with words. He can sweep you off into so many different worlds and decades. You really become one with his stories. The involvement is a necessary dedication, though. These aren’t short reads, but epic sagas of times long ago lost.

French fries or salad on the side?
My brain says salad and my stomach says fries. More often than not, my brain wins, but sometimes by stomach wins. Hello, McDonald’s french fries, nice to see you again.

Which fictional setting would you never want to live in?
I’m going to go with anything Stephen King ever concocted in his twisted, beautiful mind. Oh, and L.A. No matter who writes about L.A. as their “fictional setting” there are a series of assholes. Seriously, though.

Can you name a book that references song titles?
Eleanor Rigby! Book by Douglas Coupland, songs by The Beatles. (See? I learned something in high school.)

Speaking of music, do you wear sunglasses at night?
Only so I can, so I can – forget my name while you collect your claim! ♪ ♪

What book genre did you use to not care for but have recently gotten into?
I’ll give almost anything a chance, however, I’m not into the old romances, though I really want to sit down and read Gone With the Wind. Let’s leave this question up in the air, and we’ll see how it goes.

What is your favourite book to movie adaptation?
Love Story. Book by Erich Segal. The movie was made in the 1970s starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw. This book had a massive impact on me. I read it usually once a year, and I re-soak up every word. The key to it being my favourite book to movie adaptation is simple: the screenplay was written by Erich Segal. Almost none of the dialogue, or happenings change. Everything is just the way it should be. The chemistry between the actors is just what you’d imagine it’d be. To me, it’s just perfect.

Are you into graphic novels? If so, which ones?
Simply: not really. I’m not a fan of having my images supplied. I have a very vivid and exciting imagination and I love to see how far it can take me. However, during my last semester of my history degree I read a graphic novel called Safe Area Gorazde by the talented Joe Sacco. This is the true story of the treacherous war that happened in Yugoslavia in the 1990s. It is a micro-history. That is, an on the ground history that takes place in only one small town – Gorazde, in Eastern Bosnia. Sacco left America for Gorazde because of the war – to bring the stories of the people home. And yeah – you guessed it. Things were not as the media liked to report. Stunning read.

So, here goes. Here are my 11 QUESTIONS!

1. You’re stranded for an entire year. You can only have two books. Which do you bring?
2. Where do you buy your books? Do you buy from a specific site, store? Used?
3. How do you treat your books? Do you collect, read and get rid of, borrow from the library?
4. Where’s your favourite place to read?
5. How old were you when you discovered your passion for reading?
6. Have you ever had a fictional crush? If so, who?
7. What is your favourite children’s book?
8. Who is the most inspirational character you’ve discovered, and why?
9. Has a book ever made you cry? Which?
10. If someone were to ask you “What should I read?” what would be the one book you immediately suggest without a second thought?
11. What’s your favourite book that is set outside of North America and Europe?

I’d like the nominate the following bloggers to answer my questions! Happy reading, everyone.

Nominees (I know there are supposed to be 11 but I’m rather new at this.)

Yvo at https://melovebooks.wordpress.com/

Caitlin at https://shelfiepodcast.wordpress.com/

Jaed at https://bibliophilewanderlustblog.wordpress.com/

Candace at https://literarydust.wordpress.com/

Chloe at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

 

Anyone else that wants to join in to do this, feel free! I love reading the answers.