The Guilty Reader

I was tagged for this by a fellow book bulimic, the lovely Lana at The Coles Camp Fire.

Have you ever re-gifted a book that you’ve been gifted? No I can’t say I have however I HAVE given away countless books over the years. I DID buy a book from a book club in England years ago that I thought was a book about Aleister Crowley who was considered a satanist and the epitome of wickedness (this was before Hitler et al)I was a devourer Of Dennis Wheatley books at the time and Crowley was mentioned a lot so when I saw a book about him I was fascinated. Well it turned out it wasn’t a book about him as much as a kind of Grimoire and it scared the begorrah out of me! So much so I couldn’t keep it and had to put it out of the house in the dustbin. I had nightmares about cursing the dustmen because of that bloody book!

Have you ever claimed to have read a book when you haven’t? Yup! It was that flaming AWFUL Magic Lamp crapola… And I’m proud of it too! It was the Godawful tripe we were forced to buy by an ex employer and read and write a review on in our own time. I resented it bitterly so I bought it because we had to take photos with it (why we didn’t have the brains to buy one copy and share it I don’t know!) I didn’t read it and I didn’t write a review. I shamelessly plagiarised reviews of it, smiled sweetly and thought “Bless you’re heart” like the true Southern Daughter I am at heart!!

Have you ever borrowed a book and not returned it? I’m ashamed to say yes I have. I kept my copy of To Kill A Mockingbird instead of handing it in when I was in school because I couldn’t bear to part with it. I also borrowed a book from the hospital library during a lengthy stay many years ago and kept that too. That was A Woman Of Cairo by Noel Barber.

Have you ever read a series out of order? Yes absolutely! I’ve found a series mid way through which is always fun knowing you can go back and forth. I re read books in series that I love all the time – absolutely out of order too! I jump to favourite bits without any remorse!

Have you ever spoiled a book for someone? Hush your mouth what a sin! I only do that with sports events! Ratface Wrinkle-Winkle was a big F1 racing fan back in the days when Maclaren and Ferrari dominated the sport. He was a total Maclaren fan as was I but he would sulk like a brat if Schuey or Barricello won. He’d been out working on a corporate event during one race so was going to watch it taped. He burst into the house yelling at me “Don’t tell me who won, I don’t want to know!” I replied “Okay!! But it wasn’t Mike or DC”.

That was when I learned just how long a sulk could last!

Have you ever skipped a chapter or a section of a book? Only on re reads. I’ve never been able to re read any of the death scenes in Harry Potter. They were harrowing enough the first time. I declare a pass for anyone who skips them.

Have you ever bad- mouthed a book you actually liked? No – why would you do that?