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faramir_boromir, the Book Meme
1. Total number of book I own.
Lots. In fact, lots and lots. On shelves and in boxes in both Toronto and Parry Sound. We're definitely talking several thousand, but beyond that I'm not even going to guess.
2. The last book I bought.
The catalogue for the Caravaggio exhibit at the National Gallery in London. Or if you don't think that counts, Primo Time, Antony Sher's memoir about doing a theatre piece on Primo Levi.
3. The last book I read.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman, which took me way too long to get around to reading, I know. I loved it, of course.
4. Five books that mean a lot to me.
I was going to just go with the classics, but everyone else has had lists that included The Three Musketeers and The Lord of the Rings, not to mention Little Women and Emma. And I'm sure Casino Royale popped up somewhere. (See how I worked all those in there.) But instead, I decided to pick some contemporary novels by writers I care about that not everyone might know. Along with a few ringers that, I hope, everyone has heard of.
The War for the Oaks, by Emma Bull
Bull expertly mixes the world of faerie with a modern urban setting to produce this wonderful story.
Swordspoint, by Ellen Kushner
This is like a Dumas novel, with sword masters who just happen to be gay. In other words, it's right up my alley
Trader, by Charles de Lint
De Lint is another purveyor of urban fantasy, a fellow Canadian, and a writer who is very dear to my heart indeed. I could have picked any of his books, but I find Trader lingers in my mind more strongly than his others.
The Sun, the Moon and the Stars, by Steven Brust
I love Brust's Taltos novels, but I think this is my favourite of his books. It's all about why people create, with a suitable amount of magic thrown into the mix.
The Chronoliths, by Robert Charles Wilson
Another Canadian writer, and another case where I could have picked any of his books. But I picked The Chronoliths because it's got an amazing concept--giant monoliths commemorating an as-yet-unknown warlord keep dropping in from the future--and Wilson's usual perfect examination of how the extraordinary affects ordinary lives.
And an honourable mention, because, damn, I wish I'd written this:
Warchild, by Karin Lowachee
A first novel about a space orphan who's caught in the middle of a war between humans and the alien race that took him in. If you haven't read it, do so immediately.
5. Tag five people to do this meme.
I doubt there's five people on my flist who haven't done this, but ifnsandik hasn't, I'd love to see her list.
faramir_boromir, the Book Meme1. Total number of book I own.
Lots. In fact, lots and lots. On shelves and in boxes in both Toronto and Parry Sound. We're definitely talking several thousand, but beyond that I'm not even going to guess.
2. The last book I bought.
The catalogue for the Caravaggio exhibit at the National Gallery in London. Or if you don't think that counts, Primo Time, Antony Sher's memoir about doing a theatre piece on Primo Levi.
3. The last book I read.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman, which took me way too long to get around to reading, I know. I loved it, of course.
4. Five books that mean a lot to me.
I was going to just go with the classics, but everyone else has had lists that included The Three Musketeers and The Lord of the Rings, not to mention Little Women and Emma. And I'm sure Casino Royale popped up somewhere. (See how I worked all those in there.) But instead, I decided to pick some contemporary novels by writers I care about that not everyone might know. Along with a few ringers that, I hope, everyone has heard of.
The War for the Oaks, by Emma Bull
Bull expertly mixes the world of faerie with a modern urban setting to produce this wonderful story.
Swordspoint, by Ellen Kushner
This is like a Dumas novel, with sword masters who just happen to be gay. In other words, it's right up my alley
Trader, by Charles de Lint
De Lint is another purveyor of urban fantasy, a fellow Canadian, and a writer who is very dear to my heart indeed. I could have picked any of his books, but I find Trader lingers in my mind more strongly than his others.
The Sun, the Moon and the Stars, by Steven Brust
I love Brust's Taltos novels, but I think this is my favourite of his books. It's all about why people create, with a suitable amount of magic thrown into the mix.
The Chronoliths, by Robert Charles Wilson
Another Canadian writer, and another case where I could have picked any of his books. But I picked The Chronoliths because it's got an amazing concept--giant monoliths commemorating an as-yet-unknown warlord keep dropping in from the future--and Wilson's usual perfect examination of how the extraordinary affects ordinary lives.
And an honourable mention, because, damn, I wish I'd written this:
Warchild, by Karin Lowachee
A first novel about a space orphan who's caught in the middle of a war between humans and the alien race that took him in. If you haven't read it, do so immediately.
5. Tag five people to do this meme.
I doubt there's five people on my flist who haven't done this, but if
nsandik hasn't, I'd love to see her list.
