What Kind Of Book Reader Are You?

Fun!! What kind of book reader are you? Kevin wants to know.

Here are my answers. (It’s a multiple-choice thing.)

1) What is your favorite type of bookstore?
A. A large chain that is well lit, stuffed full of books, and has a café.
B. A dark, rather dusty, used bookstore full of mysterious and vaguely organized books.
C. A local independent bookstore that has books by local authors and coffee.

Well, I’m gonna have to go with A, as much as I don’t want to. I like the atmosphere of the dark dusty places, but I like knowing that I can get what I need in the big chain.

2) What would excite you more?
A. A brand new book by your favorite author.
B. Finding a classic you’ve been wanting to read.
C. Receiving a free book from a friend in the mail.

A, most definitely. Jeanette Winterson hasn’t written a good book in years, but I still buy them all because of how I felt about The Passion. I keep hoping! Any new book by A.S. Byatt is greeted by me with a shiver of excitement as well.

3) What’s your favorite format?
A. Novel
B. Short story
C. Poetry

A. Strangely enough, I think a good short story is far more rare than a good novel. It’s an incredibly challenging form – very few people are good at it. So I’m going with A.

4) Favorite format, part II.
A. Contemporary fiction.
B. Classic novels.
C. Genre (mystery, espionage, etc.)

I’m going with B.

5) Favorite format, part III (none of the above) Fiction or non?
A. Almost entirely fiction.
B. Almost entirely non-fiction.
C. A mix of both.

C.

6) Does the design and condition of the book matter?
A. Yes, I love a well designed book and keep mine in mint condition.
B. No, the words are what matter.
C. Yes and no, I appreciate good design and treat my books with respect but I am not obsessive about it.

I’m gonna go with C on this one.

I have had to buy different versions of the same damn book because I found the typeface grating, or too small, or whatever. Some books just feel good in your hands.

And, fortuitously, I bought what has ended up being one of my favorite books OF ALL TIME (Hopeful Monsters, by Nicholas Mosley) – without knowing a THING about it – because I liked the design of the book. Shallow? Perhaps. But in that particular case, SUCH good fortune. I should send the book designer a card.

7) On average how many books do you read a month?
A. I am lucky to read one.
B. I am dedicated. I read 4 or 5.
C. I am a fiend. I read 10 or more!

In between B and C.

8) Do you prefer to own or borrow?
A. There is a particular joy in owning a book. I have a large library.
B. Why spend money when you can read it for free? I use the public library.
C. Different tools for different job. I do both.

A. Sadly.

9) Where do you get (the majority) your book news?
A. Newspapers.
B. Magazines.
C. TV
D. Blogs.

A. I read the Sunday Book Review and the NY Times Review of Books religiously.

10) Are books a professional obsession?
A. Yes, I work in the field (writer, reviewer, publisher, teacher, etc.).
B. No, I do it for fun.
C. Kinda, I write the occasional review but have a regular job outside of books.

I guess I would say A. Not paid for writing as of yet, but I will be.