Bookish Q & A - Lillelara

Tajana *sighs* posted the questions and Themis-Athena spread the word. FYI, I skipped a few of the questions (I didn´t feel like answering all of them). But this was a fun thing to do on a Sunday:

1. Currently Reading

2. Descripe the last scene you have read in as few words as possible. No character name or titles.

Five years ago one hostile civilization has annexed a peaceful one and now they are discussing some politics.

3. First book that had a major influence on you.

At my christening I received a beautiful danish edition of Hans Christian Andersens fairy tales as a gift and this book is one of my greatest book treasures.

Andersens fairy tales covers every aspect of human life and humanity. You can find sadness and loneliness in his tales, but also joy and hope. I have to reread some of his fairy tales, it´s been too long since I last read them.

4. Quick, you´re in desperate need for a fake name. What character name do you think of first?

Luisa Rey. Cloud Atlas is always on my mind.

6. Public library or personal library?

I guess personal library. But mainly because I don´t have that much time to go to the public library.

7.What is the most important part of a book, in your opinion?

Definitely the characters. It is not necessary that I like them, but I must be interested in them. Not being interested in any of the characters is a telltale sign, that this book is going to be a DNF.

8. Why are you reading the book you are currently reading?

The Stephen King book is this months club read in the KMK bookclub. As a teenager I read quite a few of Kings books and I really liked them. And I have never read one of Kings fantasy books, so I´m really looking forward reading this.

I read Ancillary Justice because of the variuos posts Familiar Diversions has posted. She definitely piqued my curiosity.

9. If you were to publish a book what (besides your real name) would you use for your author name?

I´m reading the question and one particular scene from the tv show Friends just pops up in my mind, which makes me crack up everytime even though it is not that funny. And I just don´t want to choose Holden McGroin as my author name (and I can´t think of any other name), so I am going to pass on this question.

10. Do you listen to music when you read? Make a mini playlist for one of your favorite books.

I´m not listening to music very often when I´m reading a book, but when I do I´m more of a orchestral music type of girl. Gabriel Faure´s Requiem, the Cloud-Atlas soundtrack, the orchestral pieces of the Sunshine soundtrack ... these are the things I tend to listen to whilst reading.

And I should not forget Thomas Bergersen, whose orchestral music is uplifting, inspiring, goosebump-inducing and so beautiful. If you are not familiar with his work you can listen to him here (Creation of Earth) and here (Final Frontier)

For the mini playlist I will stick with "The Martian" Mark Whatney and the Beatles collection of his fellow crewmate (although Whatney would love to have more diversity music-wise, being stuck alone on Mars and all that).

11. What book fandom do you affiliate yourself with the most?

I lacking the genetic information, which makes me want to particiate in any fandom whatsoever. Meaning: I don´t have a clue.

12. Tell one book story or memory (what you were wearing when you were reading something, someone saw you cry in public, you threw a book across the room and broke a window, etc.)

Instead of studying for my organic chemistry exam in my second semester I read the Lord of the Rings in about two weeks time. I made it through my exam, btw.

13. What character would be your best friend in real life?

Flavia de Luce. I would constantly chat with her about chemistry and poisons.

14. What do you think about movie/tv adaptations?

There are some really good movie/tv adaptions out there and I´m totally okay with the fact, that some things have to be changed in order to make the movie watchable and easier accesible for the audience.

Sometimes I even appreciate the changes, that has been made to the story. In the movie adaption of Cloud Atlas they changed Somni-451´s story. In the book Somnis story was a bleak one, while her story in the movie was sad, but full of hope and love. And they didn´t change the underlying message of Somnis narrative. This is one example, where I am fond of the changes they have made.

15. A character you like but you really, really shouldn't.

Tom Ripley. My favorite sociopath.

16. Do you loan your books?

Yes, I have no problem with that. All the people I know are treating books in a responsible way.

17. A movie or tv show you wish would have been a book

Danny Boyles "Sunshine". Great characters, a philosophical story and SciFi involving the sun as a kind of character. I would love to read a story like that.

18. A book that you think about and you cringe because of how terrible it was

Definitely. I´m still waiting for someone to put bleach on my brain, so that I will able to forget this filth.

19. Do you read from recommendations or whatever book catches your eye?

More from recommendations and from reading the blurbs. I´m hardly tempted to buy a book because of a cover.

20. An ending you wish you could change

I´m still mourning the death of these characters.

21. Favorite female protagonist.

Women tend to annoy me in books, but I like Lizzie Bennet.

22. Cute and fluffy or dramatic and deadly?

Dramatic and deadly, please. Cute and Fluffy is just plain boring (at least for me).

23. Scariest book you ever read

I can´t decide which one was scarier.

24. What qualities do you find annoying in a character?

Idiocy. I can´t stand characters, who are idiots or make idiotic decisions (especially when they are supposed to be some sort of superspy ... yes, I mean you James Bond).

25. Favorite villain