Okie Dokie -- 32 Questions It Is

I got this meme off JLSHall's blog. She is a much more serious reader than I so her answers are going to sound much more intellectual than mine but I am going to give it a go.

1. What author do you own the most books by? I probably have owned more V.C. Andrews books in the past but they have gone on to other owners now. So, presently I have more Barbara Taylor Bradford or Maeve Binchy.

2. What book(s) do you own the most copies of? The Holy Bible.

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended in a preposition. Uh huh -- just not grammar feng shui.

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with? Blackie from "A Woman of Substance" although it isn't much of a secret because Blackie equals Liam Neeson and I read the book after I saw the movie.

5. What books have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children i.e. "Good Moon" does not count. Well, if "The Bumper Book" doesn't count then I would have to say "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson.

6. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old? I think probably "The Good Master" by Kate Seredy.

7. What was the worst book you have read in the past year? I haven't read any bad books because I make sure I like them before I start them.

8. What is the best book you have read in the last year? Again, they have all been good but, if I have to pick one, it would be "The Lace Reader".

9 If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be? I don't force people to do anything but I would suggest "The Lace Reader", "The Memory Keepers Daughter" and "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society".

10. Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature? Don't have a clue.

11. What book would you most like to see made into a movie. Well, for the most part I think movies made from books are pretty deplorable. If it could be done right, I would say that "The Lace Reader" has the most potential for being a good movie but, with that said, I think it could be really, really messed up.

12. What book would you least like to see made into a movie? No doubt -- "The Shroud of the Thwacker".

13. Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book or literary character. Uh, I don't dream of those things but I have had a couple of odd dreams about "Animal Crossing".

14. What was the most lowbrow book you have read recently? None.

15. What is the most difficult book you have ever read? Well, if we eliminate the World Literature textbook in college, I would have to say "London". It is not really difficult, just long and involved.

16. What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've ever seen? I don't think I have ever seen an obscure Shakesperian play. Most everything I have seen has been movies or televised stage plays but they have been the most well known plays.

17. Do you prefer the French or the Russians? I really don't like talking politics. If talking literature, I would have to say that I haven't read much of either.

18. Roth or Updike? Haven't read either.

19. David Sedaris or Dave Eggers. Who?

20. Shakespeare, Milton or Chaucer. Shakespeare.

21. Austen or Eliot? Since I don't know which Eliot you are talking about I would have to say Austen.

22. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading? I am not embarrassed by my reading but I would have to say that I wish I had read more American classics. By that I mean authors like Hemingway -- not just McMurtry although I enjoy McMurtry a great deal.

23. What is your favorite novel? Too many to choose from.

24. Play? Again.

25. Poem? I like "There is a Polar Bear in my Frigidaire" by Shel Silverstein and I am not being disrespectful or trying to be flip -- I really like it and used to get such a kick out of it when reading it to my kids.

26. Essay? I haven't read an essay since college. See what I mean about lack of intellectual reading?

27. Short Story? I have many favorites.

28. Work of nonfiction. Aside from the Bible, I have read a book on the rosary and now I am reading one on the saints.

29. Who is your favorite writer? This is difficult to answer because I have many. Jan Karon comes to mind first, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Maeve Binchy, Shirley Jackson and Grace Metalious.

30. Who is the most overrated writer alive today? The Harry Potter chick.

31. Who is your desert island book? It would have to be something by Jan Karon.

32. And, what are you reading right now? Aside from the saint book, I am reading "The Shroud of the Thwacker" (banging head against wall).

The Landscape Saga Continues

It is Monday, plants were supposed to be in but -- it rained which put everything back a day or two. So, here are the patio pics. It looks nice and is beginning to feel like it has always been there. It is sunny and clear now so maybe, just maybe, tomorrows photos will be a little more interesting.