I’ve read 73 books so far this year. I’m averaging 12 books a month, which is pretty good, all things considered. But then, books have always been an escape for me, so perhaps that isn’t so impressive after all.

If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that I love to read. And even that understates my relationships with books.

I started reading at the age of four (apparently because I’d memorized “Green Eggs and Ham”). I don’t remember a time when I couldn’t read. I don’t even remember being read to–but I have plenty of memories of being stretched out with a book in my hands.

I love mysteries from an early age: Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon, and then I received “The Complete Sherlock Holmes” and WHAM, I wanted more. Soon after, I caught part of “A Caribbean Mystery” (this was 1983, so I would have been 13). I initially noticed the show because Jameson Parker was in it, and I loved Simon & Simon. But I quickly shifted my attention to Helen Hayes playing Miss Marple. What a marvelous character! What a marvelous actress!

And then I was off, devouring every single Agatha Christie I could get my hands on. But Miss Marple is still my favorite, and “A Caribbean Mystery” still holds a special place for me.

In junior high school I started reading through my parent’s bookshelves, going primarily for the action/adventure/mystery. I loved “The Odessa File” and sought out more Frederick Forsyth at the library. (I read “Roots” during this time, as well as all the James Baldwin on my parents shelves, but my it was mysteries I sought out.

But let’s not forget fantasy. I read “The Hobbit” when I was in elementary school, and up through my thirties tended to re-read it every year. I also read “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” when I was junior high, as well as the book adaptations of the Star Wars books.

Then I got my driver’s license, and gained the ability to escape the house and although I still read, I stopped devouring books, as I much preferred to be out of the house to home and reading.

Fast forward to my second year in college. I was given a copy of David Eddings‘ Belgariad, and suddenly I snatching up fantasy left and right. Two books at this point became favorites: Marion Zimmer Bradley‘s “The Mists of Avalon” and Mercedes Lackey‘s “By the Sword.” I adored reading books with strong female characters, and that’s been my penchant ever since. (I would say about half my fantasy books have main characters that are strong women.)

On the recommendation of friends, I quickly branched out to Guy Gavriel Kay and then Sean Russell.

Then at some point in there I discovered Robert B Parker‘s Spenser series, and then JA Jance.

Then several years ago I found my book Nirvana: they started combining fantasy and mystery. The first was Steven Brust‘s Vlad series. Simon R. Green remains a favorite. But soon followed Jim Butcher and quite soon I discovered Paula Briggs and remembered Tanya Huff. Fantasy and mystery with strong female characters? Awesome!

I could go on and on, but that’s a post for another day. Here’s some of my reading history, over the next couple weeks perhaps I’ll discuss some of the things I’m reading now that I absolutely love.

What was the last book you bought?
The last new book that came into the house was Fables Volume 11, by Bill Willingham et al.
My last Amazon order was The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri, Lucifer’s Shadow by David Hewson, Hellboy Vol. 8: Darkness Calls by Mike Mignola

Name a book you have read MORE than once
A book? Just one? Craziness! Here are some of the more frequently re-read: The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Hobbit by JRR Tolkein, The Phoenix Guard by Steven Brust, the Belgariad by David Eddings, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman. Plus there are a bunch of books I can’t wait to reread.

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
Everything I read teaches me something new, and every time I learn, my life is changed.

How do you choose a book? (E.g. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews?)
Yes.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Yes.

What’s more important in a novel, beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
Yes.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
Going back to my childhood, it’s probably a toss-up between Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple. Otherwise, it’s probably the character in the series I’m currently reading, or the last book I read that I loved.

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
Now, the books on my nightstand are way different from the books strewn throughout the house that I read throughout the day.
The Histories by Herodotus (I will finish this book), Healing Anger by the Dalai Lama, Faerie Tales ed Martin H. Greenberg, Latin American Folktales ed by John Bierhorst, Russian Folk Belief, A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, The Path to Tranquility by the Dalai Lama, Vellum by Hal Duncan.
Of course some of these I haven’t read in a year or more, but still they’re there.

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
Today I finished The City of Falling Angels by John Brendt and Hellboy 8 Darkness Calls by Mike Mignola.

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
Repeatedly. But I’ll also finish a book out of sheer stubbornness (see Herodotus).

(via Janiece)

So, as previously mentioned, I read a lot while I was sick. Eleven books in a week, in fact.

Of course, even though I’ve returned to work, we haven’t gone back to the gym, so I’ve got more time in the evenings to read.

So what have I been reading? A little of this and a little of that.

I’m finishing up Donna Leon’s Commisario Guido Brunetti series. I’ve really enjoyed this series, particularly spending time in Venice. Brunetti loves Venice, so I enjoy it when he’ll suddenly stop and look and the beauty of the city around him. And of course crime, justice, and politics in Italy are so different from what you read about in American police mysteries.

I’ve also been reading Hellboy and B.P.R.D. comics. Of the two, I prefer the Hellboy comics, although both are good. I really enjoy Hellboy’s attitude towards life. And with both comics, I tend to prefer Mike Mignola’s collection of stories rather than the volumes that are a single contained story. This may in part be due to my natural love of short stories, but I think that in some ways the shorter format makes the stories a little tighter. Regardless, they’re a lot of fun.

I also read (and re-read) several books by Nina Kiriki Hoffman. I adore her characters and her writing. She write a lot about teenage characters and coming of age stories, but don’t let that keep you away from her writing, because her stories are solid, and although her young adults can be a bit angsty, its usually with a good dose of humor.

And I read some other books, but you can wander over to my book blog and check those out for yourself if you’re curious.

Now you must excuse me, but I’m in the middle of and Emma Bull book, and would like to return to it.

And maybe take a nap as well.

Yup, I’ve finally reached the hundred book point for the year–the only good thing about being home sick.

I’ve read an average of ten books a month this year, with the 18 books in October offsetting September’s pitiful showing of only 4 books. Still behind my reading as compared to 2005 and 2006, but there’s been a lot going on since the summer of 2006, and I haven’t always had the time I’d like to read.

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