About Sarah

The Honeyman & I

So, I’m Sarah. I’m 25, and I work at a transportation company as a security guard-type person, which gives me some time to do what I love – read! I live with my boyfriend of 5 years (otherwise referred to as “honeyman” or his actual name, Treland) in a wonderful apartment. We had 2 African dwarf frogs, Jin and Mugen, but Mugen passed away in February 2012 Poor little guy. In May of 2012, we became the happy “parents” of a little grey kitty that we named Gabby.  

Gabby

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library? Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, Stardust by Neil Gaiman, and some Maroon 5 cds.

6. Do you have an e-reader? NOOOOOOO. Screw e-readers.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once? Usually one at a time, it’s just more enjoyable that way. Lately though I might have two or three going at the same time, although I usually end up ditching one all together.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? Not really.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?) Jam by Yahtzee Croshaw. Which is a shame because I was really looking forward to it. But I’ve also only read 3 books so far this year, so…

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year (so far)? Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookshelf.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? Well, I don’t know… the only things I wouldn’t feel comfortable reading is some right-wing propaganda stuff. I don’t think I could manage to get through a Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck book. I’d feel awkward if people saw me reading something of that nature (or any political propaganda book, right or left), and reading something so heavily right-wing would probably just piss me off.

12. What is your reading comfort zone? I’ll read almost anything – I’ll read fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, YA, fantasy, romance, children’s, humor, etc. And though they’re not something I usually read just cause I don’t prefer them, I’ll read mystery and westerns.

13. Can you read on the bus? YUP. But haven’t had to in years.

14. Favorite place to read? Bathtub, the recliner, work, my car…

15. What is your policy on book lending? I’ll lend a book to someone if I trust them. And if it’s not a particularly special book to me. And of course I write it down in a little journal, the name of the book, person borrowing, and date.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books? No, I usually have a bookmark nearby.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? Yes, sometimes. Usually in classics, if it’s a cheap MM copy. Oh and absolutely in non-fiction books, especially if the reading is particularly intense or challening. I make a lot of notes and underlines.

18. Not even with text books? Oh yeah, I did that all the time in school. Highlighting EVERYWHERE.

19. What is your favorite language to read in? English. It’s the only one I can read.

20. What makes you love a book? A captivating story, characters I can connect to, good writing, etc…

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book? I usually don’t bother recommending a book to friends / family unless I think it’s something that they would like. For instance, my sister really likes paranormal and chick lit, so I’m not going to suggest some heavy non-fiction book to her.

22. Favorite genre? Fiction. That’s as specific as I can be, because I love sci-fi, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, modern fiction, etc…

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?) I just wish I read more non-fiction.

24. Favorite biography? The Autobiography of Malcolm X. One of my top ten favorite books, actually.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book? I’ve read It’s Called a Break-Up Because It’s Broken. It’s funny, but has good advice to remember.

26. Favorite cookbook? The Pioneer Woman. AWESOME recipes.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores by Jen Campbell. It makes me want to work around books again so badly.

28. Favorite reading snack? I’m a total foodie, so pretty much anything. However, there’s something really satisfying about eating some soup, bread, and a glass of milk while reading.

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience. Twilight. I wish I had read it before it got so uber-annoyingly-popular. I read it last year and admit it’s not as bad as I thought, but the hype still ruined it for me.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book? I don’t know, because I try not to read a WHOLE lotta reviews / critiques about books before I read them. I like to form my own opinions. Also, I hardly ever read like professional critics from newspapers and stuff.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? Not bad. If I don’t like a book, I don’t like a book. I’m allowed to have an opinion.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose? Italian. I don’t know why.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? Pride and Prejudice. It was the first old-language-y classic I ever read. Also, In Search of the Multiverse because I knew NOTHING about the realm of quantum physics.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? War and Peace. I don’t know if I’ll ever even try that.

35. Favorite poet? Kahlil Gibran and Saul Williams.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time? Anywhere from 1-10 ish.

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread? At least half of them go back unread. I’m so bad about that. I’m going to try to rent less and focus on reading the books I have.

38. Favorite fictional character? There is absolutely no way I can pick just one. Or three. So here’s my top ten:
Claire Fraser
Jamie Fraser
Heathcliff
Min Dobbs
Kvothe
Lucy Valentine
Joshua & Biff
Tatiana & Alexander

39. Favorite fictional villain? Heathcliff. He’s the best bad guy. Oh and of course Lord Voldy.

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? Anything by Jennifer Crusie. I love her romance novels.

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading. A week or two? When I was on unemployment like 4 years ago, I spent a lot of time being social or creative, so I didn’t read as often.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish. When God Was A Woman. It’s a really interesting book about how deities were originally female, but the author’s lack of good punctuation and the fact that she NEVER cited her sources was just too frustrating.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading? If I’m at home, it’s my honeyman or Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. If I’m at work, it’s the fact that I’m too tired, or too busy taking phone calls.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel? The Time Traveler’s Wife, or Marley and Me. I like both better than the books. Also, The Notebook.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation? The Other Boleyn Girl, by far. Eric Bana was NOT a good pick for Henry VIII, even though he’s awesome. And Henry VIII never raped Anne in the book. WTF.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? I think $80. Although I know I spent a whole lotta money when Waldenbooks closed – I was working there, and was able to put a TON of stuff on hold until it went on sale like 75% off.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it? Rarely. I don’t want to spoil anything.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through? Frustrating characters, or if it’s really boring.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized? Yes. They’re on my four big bookshelves kind of by genres: romance, poetry, children’s, sci-fi / fantasy, classics, favorites, and general fiction, science, biographies, and history/politics, and then on the revolving bookshelf there are various to-read books that I want to get to sooner rather than later.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? I keep them, unless I absolutely hate it. Or eventually if I’m purging I get rid of the ones that were only so-so.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? The Fault in Our Stars, Gone Girl, The Night Circus. Basically anything that’s been really popular lately.

52. Name a book that made you angry. Water for Elephants, and Dead Witch Walking.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did? Twilight I guess. I gave it 4 stars. But don’t plan to read the rest, cause I can just watch the movies.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t? Dead Witch Walking. The actual setting of the story has so much promise, but I can’t stand the main character.

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? I don’t feel guilty about any book that I read. I read total just-for-fun books, usually referred to as fluff or brain candy, but I never feel bad about it.