Everyone knows I'm a sucker for a good meme, and I couldn't ignore this one I found over at So Many Books.

Here we go.

1. Name the singer/band/performer you are most embarrassed to admit you actually paid good money to see in concert.

My first concert was quite embarrassing, although my mother paid for it, not me. It was the Monkees reunion tour, and I was dismayed to see that Davy Jones was not as young as I had thought he was. It was still a good concert – although my most vivid memory from that night is of the girl who sat in front of me: she had a braid in her hair and annoyingly bobbed her head to EVERY. SINGLE. song. Plus, she blocked my view of the stage. Stupid bobbing head.

2. Which reality TV show have you watched more than once (come on. I don’t believe you if you say “none,” unless you don’t own a TV)?

Yay! I love being tagged with memes, and this time Michelle over at Bookworm got me with two. First, I have to tell you six things about me.

Hm. This is turning out to be more difficult than I thought. I can think of only that which is already known, or that which I don't want to be known.

MUST THINK.

1. I haven't ever watched Dirty Dancing all the way through.

2. I love scary movies but "torture porn" (that is, movies like Hostel and Saw) makes me cry. I like my fright to be based entirely on that which is improbable, such as zombies and people that can't die, like Michael Meyers.

3. I hate leaving the house since I am often afraid I left something on or plugged in, etc. and will therefore burn my house down and kill my numerous pets.

4. Speaking of my pets, I have three dogs and a cat. I almost adopted another kitten this weekend (it was rescued from being put down) but I just can't afford another one. I'm sure someone adopted him after I left though; he was just too precious.

I just found this meme on Ticket to Anywhere, a bookblog I recently discovered. She found this meme on LibraryThing's blog.

The following is a list of the top 106 books tagged as “unread” on LibraryThing. I’ve divided them up into categories.

Let’s see how I do.

UNOWNED AND UNREAD
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Emma by Jane Austen
Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
Lady Chatterley's lover by D.H. Lawrence
Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

This was begun by Simon at Stuck-in-a-book, but I saw it first at A Work in Progress. Upon a bit of research, I see that many others have given this a go; Juxtabook, LizzySiddal, Kirsty, Iliana, and Litlove, among others.

The goal of this is to list favourite authors according to last name (with a representative fave book as well). Here's mine, though with the caveat that it was really difficult to fit everyone in. I kept thinking of more authors with names beginning with the letters I'd already filled, and how can a decision be made between two or four or eight favourites? But I finally chose a few, and have included some of the children's books I've loved for a long time. This meme provided much entertaining rumination over the past couple of days, so thanks Simon!

Austen, Jane / Pride and Prejudice

I found this meme on negative reviews over at the hidden side of a leaf and thought it was interesting. Then I googled "grumpy" and found this grumpy cookie. Now that's what I call kismet.

But damn I could go for a grumpy cookie right about now. Hell, I'd even take a happy cookie.

1. When you dislike a book, do you say so in your blog? Why or why not?

Absolutely, because I believe that books – whether good or bad – should evoke a visceral reaction in the reader. The worst reaction I could have is one of total apathy. In fact, I’d have to say that some of my best reviews were for books I didn’t like.

2. Do you temper your feelings about books you didn’t like, so as not to completely slam them? Why or why not?

I was tagged by Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin?' for this meme which originated here:

As I read yet another book review of a memoir this weekend, my husband told me that I should write one. I said that my story would be much too short and rather boring so when I ran across the following book I decided it was just my speed. A six word memoir! Written by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I was Expecting: Six Word Memoirs by Famous and Obscure is a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were- For Sale: baby shoes, never worn. There’s a video on Amazon with examples from the book, it sounds like a fun read! I’d like to start a six word memoir meme and here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir

1. The drive is often the best thing about traveling.
2. I love a good snuggle with my husband when I'm cold.
3. I often use pasta when I am cooking.
4. I'm reading Little Women right now; I love it.

All other things (like price and storage space) being equal, given a choice in a perfect world, would you rather have paperbacks in your library? Or hardcovers? And why?
Paperback. I am not really a book collector. I read books and then trade them away only keeping books that I know I will re-read. I am also not a huge re-reader so a book must be outstanding for me to decide to keep it. Therefore, having hardcover is not of the most importance to me. A simple reading copy is acceptable.

Another aspect is that I find paperbacks much more comfortable to hold while reading.

Finally, portability is also important and I find hardcovers too big and bulky to take with me easily. So, definitely paperback.

I've been tagged by Antipodean Owl to catch up on a few memes making the rounds at the moment. They are all quite entertaining to read on others' blogs so here is my go:

What else do you do to pass the leisure time?

What do I do when not reading? Well...blogging, writing (creative writing, journals, and letters to many penpals), sewing - though not as much as I used to do. I spend a lot of time cooking, as I find that very relaxing and creative. I talk to my sisters on the phone a few hours a week all together, and hang out with my funky sister-in-law and her husband. Mostly, though, I just like hanging around the house, puttering, with my husband; we chat, cook together, do housework (oh, wait, no, that's just him...), play Scrabble, watch a bit of tv - all those things that somehow contrive to use up any of the time I might have left over after reading.

123 Meme:

So the rules for this one are:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
2. Open the book to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Post the next three sentences.

Teddy from So Many Precious Books, So Little Time gave me this award last week. I was swamped and didn't have time to acknowledge it but I am so honored to receive it. Thanks so much Teddy. I love your blog too. I have already given a list of some of the blogs I visit regularly but the truth is, I love all my blogging buddies. So everyone go visit my blogroll, why doncha?

Okay, even I can’t read ALL the time, so I’m guessing that you folks might voluntarily shut the covers from time to time as well… What else do you do with your leisure to pass the time? Walk the dog? Knit? Run marathons? Construct grandfather clocks? Collect eggshells?

I never seem to find enough free time but when I do, I try to read. I recently started listening to audiobooks on my iPod so that I am "reading" even when I am doing things.

I enjoy listening to music quite a bit and I love to watch movies. I DVR some TV shows and I enjoy watching those. I love web-surfing and blog-hopping and I would love to eventually get into web design.

I love to play games. Not video games(except Tetris) but board games and card games.

I like to cook(but only when I feel like it), try new restaurants, go for walks, browse malls and bookshops, and go for drives.

I was given this award by two of my blogging friends, Rhinoa and Wendy. I should have responded to this a long time ago but I have been sick and am just starting to feel better. Most people have already been given this award but I will still post a list of the 10 blogs that make my day not including Rhinoa and Wendy's which, of course, do make my day. So here they are:

3M(Michelle) at 1 More Chapter- 3M is an avid reader and we share a lot of the same tastes. I have gotten several great recommendations from her. She is one of my prime enablers for feeding my challenge addiction. Plus, I love the design of her blog.

I just had to do this meme created by the ever-prolific Eva. I've seen brilliant answers from so many people, so had to think about it myself.

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

I think I'd say The Time Traveller's Wife; I want to read it! But I can't seem to bring myself to even open it -- it's as if I fear it won't be as good as every single review I'd read. I own it. I feel pleased looking at it, but it's as if there's a force field around it repulsing my hand.

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

Jill at The Magic Lasso tagged me for this meme, so here goes!

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

Moby Dick. Honestly, the whole whale thing just holds no interest for me and several people have told me its just booooooring.

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

Harry, Ron and Hermione and of course, we would be involved in some rip-roaring adventure.

Booking Through Thursday

What’s your favorite book that nobody else has heard of? You know, not Little Women or Huckleberry Finn, not the latest best-seller . . . whether they’ve read them or not, everybody “knows” those books. I’m talking about the best book that, when you tell people that you love it, they go, “Huh? Never heard of it?”

I found this meme posted at A Fraternity of Dreamers. Kookie had such fun answers that she inspired me to give it a shot. Here goes:

What kind of soap is in your shower right now?
Ivory(DH), B&BW Rice Flower& Shea(Me), B&BW Exotic Coconut(DD),
Old Spice Red Zone(Sons)

Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No

1. The last compliment I got was from my husband; he/she said I was doing great on a project I have undertaken.
2. I'm reading The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer.
3. I woke up today and thought T.G.I.F!!!!!!!

How much do reviews (good and bad) affect your choice of reading?

It honestly depends on who is doing the reviewing. If it is a person that I know shares similar tastes with me then I tend to pay more attention to their reviews.

If you see a bad review of a book you wanted to read, do you still read it?

1. My favorite song of 2007 was "The Face of Love" by Sanctus Real.
2. I'm most tempted not to do housework by reading a book.
3. Today I want to stay home and relax.
4. The last thing I took a picture of was my daughter.

How did you come across your favorite author(s)? Recommended by a friend? Stumbled across at a bookstore? A book given to you as a gift?

Some of my favorites have been introduced to me by fellow bloggers. For instance, I discovered William Kent Krueger and Michael Connelly by participating in the Book Awards Challenge. Fortunately, both are prolific writers and I have many more books to look forward to.

Last week we talked about the books you liked best from 2007. So this week, what with it being a new year, and all, we’re looking forward….

What new books are you looking forward to most in 2008?

Ummm.....all of them. See the picture below. Seriously? Okay....read on.

Something new being published this year?

It’s an old question, but a good one . . . What were your favorite books this year?

1. Snow is fun until Christmas but then I am ready for it to melt.
2. I'm looking forward to things slowing down just a wee bit so I can enjoy time with friends and family.
3. Books are the best present ever! (Just in case my family is reading!) ;)
4. One of my favorite old tv shows is M*A*S*H .
5. I'm done with maternity clothes?!? (First thing that came to mind, sorry)

What fiction book (or books) would you nominate to be the best new book published in 2007?
(Older books that you read for the first time in 2007 don’t count.)
Hmmm...I would have to say:

The Blood of Flowers - Anita Amirrezvani
A Thousand Splendid Suns- Khaled Hosseini
Rises the Night - Colleen Gleason

That's a pretty eclectic mix but they were all excellent books.

What non-fiction book (or books) would you nominate to be the best new book published in 2007?

Do you use any of the online book-cataloguing sites, like Library Thing or Shelfari? Why or why not? (Or . . . do you have absolutely no idea what I’m talking to?? (grin))

Here's a meme I saw Danielle and Kate do this week, and it is intriguing to look back at this time of year, so I'll give it a go also. The purpose of this one is to post the first lines from each month's first post, and see what results.

January: Audrey Thomas' Graven Images is one of those books that just appeared in my collection somehow; I was intrigued enough to read it, even though I'd never heard of it.

Friday Fill-In #49
1. I love the nostalgia surrounding Christmas.
2. Blue is/are my favorite color(s) for the Christmas tree lights.
3. The non-existent candles in the window have non-existent bulbs.
4. A Christmas Story (You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!) is one of my most favorite Christmas movies.
5. My favorite Christmas lyric(s) is/are

Stephanie tagged me for a meme today. It looks like a lot of fun so here goes:

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Shopping! My youngest son would have been about 10 months old, my daughter about 3 and oldest son 6. So, Christmas would have been a big deal to them.
2. Packing because we moved in Feb 1998.
3. Getting ready for Christmas programs
4. Homeschooling 3 kids. (Not much has changed there!)
5. I was reading very little (can you imagine!) <---copied Stephanie's answer.

5 Things on my T0-Do List today:
1. Walk
2. Fix dinner.
3. Finish the mountain of laundry.
4. Clean up from dinner while dh runs the kids to choir practice.
5. Go to adult choir practice.

5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Help several local charities and churches.
2. Buy a 100 acres of wooded land, build a house and plop it right in the middle.

Do you have a favourite book, now out of print, that you would like to see become available again?

I have had several favorites that were OOP. Fortunately, so far, I have been able to obtain a reasonably-priced, used copy.Hopefully my luck will continue. :)