Spaghettipie tagged me for this meme. It’s a little bit like an interview with myself. I have some questions for all of you readers at the end, so skip down if you don’t care about my answers.
1. What’s the one book or writing project you haven’t yet written but still hope to?
I’m writing it now. Which really means that I’m trying to finish up my freelance editing and clear my calendar to devote myself fully to the idea. It also means I’m a bit superstitious about sharing the idea with others. I’ll just say it involves zombies.
2. If you had one entire day in which to do nothing but read, what book would you start with?
I’ve really been wanting to read Mark D. Roberts’ book Can We Trust the Gospels? If I had a whole day. What is more likely, though, is that I’ll have snatches of time that require something more escapist. On my nightstand right now, I have Tolkein, Lovecraft, and Harry Potter.
3. What was your first writing “instrument†(besides pen and paper)?
These pens: “uniball vision fine” and a Mead (or Mead style) notebook that is stitched together.
4. What’s your best guess as to how many books you read in a month?
I read about 3-4 closely. I speed read another 3-4. I skim others.
5. What’s your favorite writing “machine†you’ve ever owned?
Any laptop not connected to the internet. Perferably one that boots quickly. Then I use a USB port to take files off.
6. Think historical fiction: what’s your favorite time period in which to read? (And if you don’t read historical fiction–shame on you.)
Well, shame on me then.
7. What’s the one book you remember most clearly from your youth (childhood or teens)?
I read so much as a kid, it’s really hard to say. Reading Tolkein while I was in Germany was really intense. I actually spent some time in the appendices. I also read The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.
I read Lord of the Flies three times when I was in the 8th grade. Weird, huh?
I read Narnia over and over and over. I tried to read Thomas Covenant when I was in the 6th grade, but it was too hard. Later as a college student, I remember that series affecting my mood while I read it.
I also used to read Hardy Boys and The Three Investigators. I loved the Dungeons and Dragons Choose Your Own Adventures. I loved Piers Anthony’s Xanth series so much I sent him a fan letter and he responded. That was cool.
My questions for you readers (both of you). Rather than tag folks for the whole meme, here’s two questions. What are you reading now? What book do you remember from childhood?
August 13th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Zombies– cool. My kids want me to write them a book about swamp monters and flying horses
August 13th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Communication for a Change by Andy Stanley
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
August 13th, 2007 at 11:01 am
I’m reading JI Packard and just finished The Bark of the Bog Owl-awesome read!
Childhood reading:Archives of Anthropos series, and The Princess and Curdie.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
My daughter reads Narnia over and over too (ah, the lure of Lewis!)
As for me, I’m reading…
-Zondervan’s Genesis commentary
-Zondervan’s Luke commentary
-The Jesus Creed
-Austerlitz
-Stronger than You Think
-Harvest of Hope
-Sabbath Keeping
-Evil and the Justice of God
-The Long Exile
-Grapevine
Okay, so how can I be reading all these? I keep skipping from one to another. The best ones win, until they get read from cover to cover, then the others move up the line unless I add new ones that overtake them. (Case in point, I never finished The Long Tail. It was shallow, not well-rounded. So now it’s back at the library!)
August 13th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Bob, you should! I like swamp monsters, too.
Matthew, I have heard about Andy Stanley in various places. Maybe I should check him out. N. T. Wright is on your upcoming list, I see. He’s fantastic!
Eve, J. I. Packer is awesome. He comes out to Laity Lodge all the time. His teaching on the woman at the well was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.
L.L., you win the ADD reader award! I have times like that too. Usually when I’m looking for a good book and not finding one.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
I’m reading -
The Long Tail
God Entranced Vision of All Things
Church History in Plain Language
All three are really good… earlier this summer, I finished Blink and Jesus Creed as well.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
The Path of Celtic Prayer, by Calvin Miller: Inspirational
A number of business books– good stuff, but rather dry.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
ESI, The Long Tail is super fun. I loved that book. Church History in Plain Language sounds really interesting.
Steve, Celtic Prayer sounds interesting. My mum is Irish. I’m with you on the dryness of business books. Though Long Tail wasn’t dry at all. I think that qualifies as business, right?
August 15th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Yea! You did the writing meme. I found it quite interesting, and am enjoying seeing what others are reading (although it’s making my list grow quite long).
I’m currently reading:
The Emotionally Healthy Church - Peter Scazzero
Life Together - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Feathers from my Nest - Beth Moore
August 17th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Evil and the Justice of God, N.T. Wright
Exclusion and Embrace, Miroslav Volf
Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity, Lauren Winner
The Message Bible, Eugene Peterson
childhood: Kenneth Taylor’s Bible story book, called something like, Pictures for Little Eyes, had a good retelling of a Bible story for children. Mom read them to us kids.
August 18th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Spaghettipie, I need to read Bonhoeffer. I’ve only read excerpts.
Ted, ditto on Miroslav Volf. That man is a genius. How is Lauren Winner’s book?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Marcus, I really like it and think it worth the read. And I think it can be very helpful to many. At the same time she is rightfully humble in that some of this is her opinion, though I think it’s an informed, well thought out one. And what I like most is that she really tries to engrain her thinking in the theology of Scripture and the church.
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:06 am
aaaaah…. those Choose Your Own Adventure books are the BEST! I have had the good fortune of finding some of the originals at Half Price Books for our son, and he loves them too.
The best part of being a parent is getting to re-read all of your favorite childhood books with your kids!