My Reading Preferences #SlimTurns3

As the blog Slim Expectations turns 3, they have celebrated with a blogging contest filled with a whole lot of prompts (including themes and pictures) to choose from and write about. And yes, nestled in that list is a picture of a person reading a book.

Now, I realize that my hair is not long and blonde like in the picture but I figure it is a good enough segue for me to try out this 'readers tag' I came across awhile ago. So here it is, a chance to know a little more about me and my reading habits.

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?

I tend to be the driver these days but while I can read on planes or trains, I don't think I would be comfortable in a car.

2. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?

John Connolly for his style of 'Poetic painting of Pain'. That is one way to describe his Charlie Parker detective series. He tells dark stories where no one is safe but his prose is almost mystical. You feel the sorrow and loneliness that engulfs the protagonist and characters. You see the world they see as though it were painted, not written.

3. Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.

Jeez, Harry Potter surely.
a) So many life lessons hidden in allegories and sub-plots.
b) Characters that were better fleshed out and never just black or white.
c) Exciting books, all of them, which could be read by children and adults alike.

4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is it in (besides books…)?

I read mostly from the Kindle app on my mobile these days.

5. Do you smell your books?

My mobile smells fine, thank you.

6. Books with or without little illustrations?

I wouldn't mind illustrations. Those are probably better as real copies rather than Kindle versions though.

7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing? (Ex. I read Twilight before I read HP and thought the writing was amazing but read HP and now think Twilight is a little bit of a joke.)

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. I liked it reading it the first time as a kid. Thoroughly bored when I read it growing up.

8. What is the thinnest book on your shelf?

Messiah's Handbook: Reminders for the Advanced Soul by Richard Bach.

9. What is the thickest book on your shelf?

IT and THE STAND by Stephen King

10. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?

I can proudly say yes to the first one. I have been published quite a few times including winning Season 1 AND 2 of Write India. Do I see myself becoming a full-time author? No.

11. When did you get into reading?

Reading newspapers like Gulf News and Khaleej Times as a small kid in Dubai. Must have been 5 to 6 years old!

12. What is your favorite classic book?

Does Sherlock Holmes qualify as a classic?

13. In school was your best subject Language Arts/English?

Both.

14. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated…what would you do?

I have a cupboard full of just novels. Rest assured, this would find a place in there.

15. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?

The Divergent series? Not really into it.

16. What is a bad habit you always do (besides rambling) while blogging?

Rambling is actually one of my worst habits. I take 500 words to write a 300 word blogpost. But mainly, it would be procrastination. I have the ideas in my head but am lazy at times to type it down.

17. What is your favorite word?

Kintsugi, right now.

18. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?

Dork.

19. Vampires or Fairies? Why?

Vampires any day. After all, everyone know fairies are just make believe. (What? Why are you looking at me that way?)
But vampire-lore offers so much more depth to me. I've read up a lot about it and you'd be surprised how closely our own Indian vampire tales connect to tales from Romania, Malaysia and so many far off places. How did we all have such similar concepts at a time when we were barely connected to each other centuries ago?

20. Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?

After watching the show Supernatural, it has to be Angels. Again, that show fleshed out the concept of what it is being an angel, the devil (nothing more than a fallen angel) and the sacrifices in being an angel. Do you remember that last scene in the movie 'City of Angels'? That too comes to mind.

21. Spirits or Werewolves? Why?

Spirits. I love ghost stories and all the possibilities - good ghosts, bad ghosts, lost ghosts.

22. Zombies or Vampires?

Still vampires.

23. Love Triangle or Forbidden Love

Forbidden love! Forbidden love!

24. AND FINALLY: Full on romance books or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in?

Of the two, action packed with some romance.

Authors note:

This post is a part of Blog Birthday celebrations contest hosted by Zainab and Geethica
Feel free to let me know what you thought of my choices in the comments section below.