MALU's Literature Challenge (Top Ten Non Fiction Books)

Member Name: litefoot

Product:	Top Ten Non Fiction Books
Date:	01/08/05 (220 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I love to read...

Disadvantages: but not a wide variety

*This is a Q & A challenge originally set by MALU. It is not in the correct category but this is where the other 23 challenge opinions are placed (going back to 2003) so it should be OK.*

THE LITERATURE CHALLENGE

Question: what is your favourite genre?

Answer: Sci-fi, without question. It's the genre I read most in my youth. Although when I say genre, I mean tons and tons of Doctor Who novels and very little else. Over 150 of them in fact, novels of all the tv stories, about 130 pages long, and I love them. I've read them over and over again and nothing else compares. Yes, you did read that correctly.
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Q: do you read the classics, i.e., the great authors of the 18th and 19th century?

A: Not since school. There were two and these were both part of the English G.C.S.E. course: Great Expectations and Pride and Prejudice. The narrative style of both I just couldn't enjoy and so have steered clear of the classics ever since *awaits gasps of horror from various Dooyoo-ers*. That's just the way it is, I'm afraid. Don't even get me started on Shakespeare.

Rather pathetic, eh? It doesn't say much for me I know, but give me a copy of Doctor Who and the Horror of Fang Rock and I'm happy.
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Q: Are you interested in thrillers?

A: No, not unless you count Agatha Christie novels? Not really thrillers. The last such book I read was Allan Fulsom's The Day After Tomorrow, a very lengthy 700 pages, and it struggled to hold any interest.
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Q: What about horror stories?

A: Again no... can't think of a single horror story that I've ever read. Not even Stephen King.
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Q: Do you read Science Fiction?

A: Yes and no. The aforementioned Doctor Who books, Star Trek, Quantum Leap, Babylon 5... yes you have guessed correctly, my reading of the genre is limited to TV tie ins. However I haven't read any mainstream sci-fi, like Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Pullman, Tolkien (OK, that's fantasy), you name it.
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Q: How many Harry Potter books have you read?

A: Zero. Huzzah, I enjoyed saying that! I am the only person in the UK who has survived the onslaught. Mum, many friends, they all try and persuade me to read at leat one and they have failed abysmally. The films are a different kettle of fish. They are mostly enjoyable and unlike everyone else, I don't know what is going to happen because I haven't read the books (Azkahban was my favourite of the three, before you ask).
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Q: Have you ever read and enjoyed biographies or autobiographies?

A: Quite a few, although there's another sci-fi TV theme here because they are the books written by the cast members of Star Trek. These were published during the 1990s almost at the same time for some reason (did they see how much money William 'Kirk' Shatner got out of his books, which were published first, and all wanted a piece of the pie?) For the most part they make for a good read. Shatner's books focused only on Star Trek and are the best of the bunch, although later claims suggest they were factually inaccurate. The late James 'Scotty' Doohan's book was good because he doesn't beat around the bush with his opinions (i.e. on Shatner). Graham McCann's biography of Morecambe and Wise was pretty interesting stuff too.
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Q: Do you remember any of the books you read and loved as a child?

A: Many, and I have kept them. The Giant Jam Sandwich brings back fond memories, as does the best Mr Men book, Mr Mischief. Every night I had a look outside my bedroom window to see if he was outside causing mischief. The local library was full of Asterix and Tintin books so naturally I was a regular visitor there. And of course all those Doctor Who books.
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Q: Have you reread these books as a grown-up?

A: Many times, particularly the Asterix and Tintin books which are just as funny to me now as an adult as when I was reading them aged 9! Viewed through an adult's eyes you see jokes that you didn't notice at a young age (such things go completely over your head, like a British Druid being called Valuaddetax). And the Doctor Who books still get re-re-read... are you getting bored of hearing about them now?
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Q: Is there a book of which you can say it has influenced you?

A: Not really. Maybe you could say that growing up on Doctor Who books by Terrance Dicks (the best of the authors, and he wrote over a third of them) has made me prefer plot driven stories as opposed to character driven novels that meander endlessly and bore me to tears. What can I say, no patience.
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Q: Which are your favourite authors?

A: Easy.. Agatha Christie and Terrance Dicks. They both keep the plot rolling along without resorting to pages and pages of description, or what is going on in a character's head. Christie's books made me fall in love with whodunits. She writes them so well and was incredibly clever to come up with the plots she did ('One, Two, Buckle My Shoe' being a good example).
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Q: Which book would you take with you on a desert island?

A: A tough one. A search on Amazon revealed no 'The Complete Asterix' or 'The Complete Tintin' mammoth volumes (why, for goodness sake?! You'd think someone would have come up with that idea). The Who novels are a bit short for a long stay on a desert island, I'd like something you can dip in and out of. It would have to be the highly amusing 'Doctor Who: The Discontinuity Guide' - an irreverent look at the series from it's first story in 1963 to the last in 1989. Each TV story is described under headings such as 'fluffs' (line mistakes), goofs (plot developments that just don't make sense, or on-screen blunders [a very unconvincing blue cloth hanging behind a landrover.. perhaps a CSO backing with no CSO?]), double entendres ("Care for a blow?"), fashion victims, technobabble, and my favourite, dialogue disasters ("The backblast backlash'll bounce back and destroy everything!"). In short a highly amusing book that I can happily return to again and again for a good chuckle.
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Q: What is your attitude towards translations?

A: I don't think I've ever come across one, unless, ah yes, the Bible would count, wouldn't it? I was brought up on the Good News edition, which some people don't like because apparently it isn't true enough to the original translation.
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Q: Do you buy your books/get them from the library/borrow them from friends/steal them?

A: Depends. I usually wait until Christmas/birthday comes around and give people a list of books to buy. If there is one in particular I can't wait for, I'll go out and buy it providing it isn't too expensive. The library is a good option too, as there is always something to go at. I don't borrow from friends and have never stolen a book either, sorry to disappoint anyone hoping that this review might become more interesting to read. fear not, the end is nigh...
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Q: When you buy books, do you prefer hardcover editions or pocket books?

A: Well, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Pocket books are pretty small and will fit in my coat, so i can take them with me and read on the train, in a car, wherever. Hardbacks are too large (and of course they take up more room on the shelf!). On the other hand, paperbacks get worn very easily (spine creases, cover creases etc) and I like my books to stay in excellent condition. - which means having to read a book in such a way that prevents creasing. No such problem with the hardbacks (they don't get creased).

OK, OK, I'll say paperbacks because they're smaller and I can carry them more easily.
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Q: Have you ever tried Audio Books?

A: Once or twice, and I am not keen. Audio books are usually 'abridged' (ie chunks of the book have been cut out) so if I've already read the book, I don't want to hear a short version. It's a good medium for short stories as these are short enough to fit on to tape or CD. Recently I heard the Miss Marple story 'The Blue Geranium' read by Joan Hickson which wasn't bad. But I'd much rather read the book instead!

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'This challenge was originally set by MALU, please join in, read other people's entries and pass the challenge on to another bookworm!'

Summary: Litefoot revals just how much of a geek he is