Marisol Nierva-Magnano, Reader of the Week for July 28th!
How do you choose the books you read?
Most of my friends are avid readers so many times we'll just exchange books, so whatever they're reading, I usually end up sampling. Sometimes I'll look at the NY Times Best Seller List just to see what has come out or if any of my favorite authors have anything new; other times I'll come across interesting titles that are mentioned in magazine articles and I'll give those a try. But I think my favorite way to choose books is to go to the library and just browse through the titles/cover jacket summaries in the "New Books" collection. If the pickings are slim there, I'll go to a particular genre section and start looking at titles there!
Do you have a favorite genre?
Deep character development mysteries, biographies, and historical fiction are my initial go-to genres but I also like cookbooks, "self-help" and how-to books ….I guess I don't really have a favorite!
What is your favorite book?
Hmmm, that's hard to say; it's like being asked to pick your favorite child (which is why I only have one)! I would have to say the book that affected me the most, recently, would be Noel Tichy's Control Your Destiny or Someone Else Will. It's a treatise on the transformational management style of Jack Welch during his tenure at GE. I had to read it for one of my grad classes but ended up really savoring it instead of reading merely for content. Many of the leadership lessons can be applied to everyday life, such as "Face reality as it is, not as it was, or as you wish it were" and my personal favorite, "Change before you have to." But, for pure joy and entertainment, my favorite(s) this summer were Sophie Kinsella's shopaholic series, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. What shopper wouldn't fall in love with a (visiting British) character who reasons, "Foreign money does not count, so you can spend as much as you like"?
Where do you do your reading?
Wherever I can! If I have one spare minute, I'll spend it reading so even if I'm stuck somewhere waiting in line, you'll see me scrambling to look around for something to read if I don't happen to have a book with me. I even keep a book or two in the trunk of my car just in case I get caught waiting for my teenager. But what really cracks my family up is that I especially like to read when I'm watching TV or a video; bet you can guess why actually going out to a movie isn't one of my most favorite activities! Just to make sure I get my daily reading fix, I have even been known to hide behind a locked bathroom door.
Michele Kinney, Reader of the Week for July 21st!
How do you choose the books you read?
I definitely judge books by their cover and read accordingly. Sometimes it's a hit, sometimes a miss- I like taking chances. I like Penguin books too, they usually publish the good stuff. And I always take a good recommendation. Also, I have this habit of buying books from used bookstores, thrift stores and garage sales (interesting title/cover or the little penguin symbol is a must) and storing them on my bookshelf until a later date when I'm perusing my collection and realize "hey! I haven't read that yet".
Do you have a favorite genre?
Is "Good" a genre?
What is your favorite book?
Do we ever have just one favorite?
I like books that make me laugh, books that make me cry, and books that make me think. I especially like the books that make me do all three. That would include (almost) anything by David Sedaris or Bill Bryson, The Phantom Tollbooth, Love in the Time of Cholera, A Star Called Henry, Angle of Repose, anything by Jon Krakauer, Lolita, all the Cormac McCarthy I've read, the list goes on.
From this summer I'd have to say Neil Gaiman's Absolute Sandman Volume 1 and Louise Brooks' Lulu in Hollywood.
Where do you do your reading?
In bed, right before I go to sleep (which can be a problem if the book is particularly engrossing) and on the bus to work. And sometimes in the morning at the table with my tea. Or on the couch with my cats curled up next to me. And in the break room on lunch break. Basically wherever I get the chance.
Kira Luna, Reader of the Week for July 14th!
How do you choose the books you read?
I've been living out of a few suitcases this past year, so it is absolutely necessary to keep any material possessions to a minimum. With that said, I have one strict criteria for the books that I read: they must be borrowed from a library or friend. I just love the interlibrary loan system at UCSD!
When choosing something to read, the subject matter is by far the most important factor that I take into consideration. When I hear about a new topic, I look it up in the library catalog and see what gems come up. As long as I feel like I am learning something useful or interesting, I am not too concerned with the quality of the writing or author recognition.
Do you have a favorite genre?
Non-fiction, please. I also love most edge-of-the-seat mystery novels or any descriptive biography or memoir.
What is your favorite book?
For me, reading is most rewarding when it makes me take a good, hard look at my life and the privileges that I have. It's gotta hit me with a reality check. I enjoyed Born to Die in Medellin , Material World: A Global Family Portrait, Chicano!, Border-Line Personalities, and Fast Food Nation.
Where do you do your reading?
Due to time constraints, I usually find that most of my daily reading comes in the form of articles sent to me by family or friends. I usually read such articles directly from a computer screen or flip through them as I grab a bite to eat. During the summer, I like to set aside time to read each night as I wind down for bed. Since I don't have a bedside lamp, I rigged up a device that allows me to pull a string connected to the light switch when I start to nod off. This way, I can read up until the very last minute!
David Schmitt., Reader of the Week for July 7th!
How do you choose the books you read?
I have chosen books in about every way possible: I read books recommended by friends, I read books that happen to catch my eye at Border's or in the library, I read books from Amazon "You might also like" suggestions, I read books on "100 Best" lists, I read more books by a certain author after I've liked one book by them, I read classic books that I've heard about my whole life but never read, I read books before movies come out because the book is better... etc. If it looks interesting to me, I'll read it.
Do you have a favorite genre?
Romance, romance, romance! Actually, no. Most of my favorite books aren't easily classified in one genre, but I've liked books from most genres in the past.
What is your favorite book?
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Before that, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.
Where do you do your reading?
Anywhere, but lately I do most of it on the Coaster.
Heather Kane., Reader of the Week for June 30th!
How do you choose the books you read?
I usually chose books for different reasons. Sometimes I get a great recommendation. Sometimes I want to experience a different culture and search by country. Sometimes I get so jazzed about an author that I read every book they've ever written. Sometimes I just like to walk into the library, smell that musty odor and walk row by row, running my finger along spines until I see a title that speaks to me. I always like the anticipation of opening that book for the first time - not knowing what I'm going to find inside!
Do you have a favorite genre?
I stick to fiction for the most part, unless I'm trying to learn crocheting. I just like to read something completely out of the author's brain or experiences - something completely foreign to me that makes me think. I also like how certain authors can speak to the heart and do it in such a poetic way - describing something I see every day and making it sound like a poem.
What is your favorite book?
It's so hard to pick a favorite book (or a favorite song...movie...rock star). It's usually one of the last books I read. I used to be obsessed with W. Somerset Maugham in high school because it made me look so smart. Then I went and read all the Anne River Siddons' books. I think that the book that has had the most impact on me was I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. It just was so different from anything else I had read or experienced and made me appreciate what I had (even though I was an angst-ridden teenager at the time).
Where do you do your reading?
I do most of my reading on the bus. I live up in Carlsbad and take the bus to work every day. That means I've got a lot of time to pour into a book (and it helps me ignore the crazy people yelling at themselves). I have to admit that I'm a TV junkie so I don't really get any reading done unless I'm trapped on a bus or a plane (or a train or a...).
I've really enjoyed my "world tour" through literature this summer. As Isak Dinesen said "I've always been a mental traveler." I hope to read all the reviews from this summer and have a shelf-full of books for my reading list!
Cesar Figueroa, Reader of the Week for June 23rd!
How do you choose the books you read?
I base the books I read by book reviews, and by paying attention to what my favorite authors are reading. I also try to read books that try to capture the essence of people, books that will inspire me to be better, or will make me appreciate the people around me and the life that I have.
Do you have a favorite genre?
I really like graphic novels because, much to many conventional reader's popular belief, they are a true literary art form. Comic books aren't just funny papers anymore. They have matured and have allowed traditional authors to experiment with their crafts in a visual sense. Some of the authors that have been doing this lately have been Stephen King with his Dark Tower Series, Jodi Piccoult has contributed her perspective, recently, to the Wonder Woman franchise, and authors like Brad Meltzer and Neil Gaiman have re-invented the way we look at traditional characters like Green Arrow, the Sandman, and the Justice League of America.
What is your favorite book?
I have many favorites, but my favorite book that I have read this summer has been Neil Gaiman's Absolute Sandman (vol. 1). I couldn't put the book down. It re-creates and re-invents and established mythology and takes it to a whole different level. The intricacy of the plotting from its first chapter and how he re-integrates these characters throughout the book reminds me of the feeling that I had at the end of watching the Sixth Sense by M. Night Shyamalan.
Where do you do your reading?
I do my reading whenever and wherever I can, it is usually done on the weekends. I work full-time and go to school full-time so participating in the Summer Reading program has allowed me to take advantage of the books that I always wanted to read, but didn't have time to during the academic year.
Louie T. Bassett Esq., Reader of the Week for June 16th!
How do you choose the books you read?
First I taste them. Are they sweet or tart, spicy or just a bit on the sublime. Then I smell them- shut my eyes and let the odor tickle my nose. Is it a pleasant aroma or just way too stinky! Is it like that new car smell? Ummm. How does it feel - soft and fuzzy, harsh yet not too raspy, something I could hold close? Do I want to keep it at arm's length or just put it in the trash? Of course, I'm always a sucker for a pretty face...
Do you have a favorite genre?
I like fiction especially mysteries. I like books set in the Pacific Northwest, southern California, or anything outdoors. I always like to learn more about gardening, plants, horticulture and such. I think it behooves all of us to learn more about where we live or where we grew up, what used to be there, the peoples that may have inhabited the area and once again the fauna. Sometimes random titles catch my eye and this will lead me in a new direction of readings.
What is your favorite book?
This is so-o very hard to say. If you've read any of my recent reviews, you know I really liked Ruby Fruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown. I liked Chiefs back when Stuart Woods still cared about his writing even though I still read everything new he writes. I really loved William Tapply's Bitch Creek, Lord of the Flies was striking when I read it (no, I didn't and don't want to see the movie), The Secret Garden, all of Sherlock Holmes stories (only PBS does it justice on the screen), Alice in Wonderland, Democracy in America, The Sunset Western Garden Book, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Gardens by the New York Botanical Gardens (yes, I own the entire set), Dana Stabanow, Sue Henry, Joanne Fluke is a hoot, Nevada Barr, CJ Box is really up and coming and who couldn't like anything written by Janet Evanovich. If you haven't read Marley and Me well, you're just really missing out... Whew, I'm out of breath. I just don't know what my favorite book or my favorite author is. All I know is that I just luv 'um all!
Where do you do your reading?
I read here
I read there
I read just about everywhere.
Find me in my house
Find me in my yard
Find me at the beach
Find me at my desk
Always reading, reading everywhere.
I read there
I read here
I read I read I read
And then
I read some more!
Be it big
Be it small
I read it,
Good or bad
I will read it.
I just love
To read it
Read it, read it,
Read it all!
Lea Burgess-Carland, Reader of the Week for June 9th!
I have such fond memories from childhood of participating in the Summer Reading Program at school. I loved the challenge of filling up my reading card and then winning the sweet, sweet reward of a Pizza Hut pan pizza. I loved being at the park during the hot Kansas summer, waiting for the BookMobile to arrive, and then searching the shelves for something that caught my eye. Perhaps I would pick up the next Judy Blume book , which were my very favorite at the time. Today I am just as thrilled to participate in UCSD's Summer Reading Program. I like to think it gives me the youthful glow of a ten year old.
How do you choose the books you read?
I have a slightly obsessive personality that comes out when choosing books. Typically I'll stumble upon a book by some chance or miracle that makes my whole body tingle with excitement. This was the case with The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Ten Little Indians by Sherman Alexie, and most recently Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Once that happens with a particular author I get totally hooked on their work. I get so obsessed with it that I can barely bring myself to read anyone else. I eat up everything they have written as quickly as possible, devouring every word, and then have a major crash once I've gone through it all. After I have gone through all the books written by the author of my current obsession, I usually just wander around listlessly looking through the digital bookshelves of Amazon until someone new comes my way.
Do you have a favorite genre?
My favorite genre is dystopian fiction. The best dystopian novels weave together elements of history, fantasy, science-fiction, politics and physiology in a way that creates terrifying worlds, just one or two steps away from our own. I look at what the U.S government is doing today, and how willing people are to give up their rights in hope for a small sense of security and think, "really? Have you not read 1984?".
I also love classic fantasy like the Chronicles of Narnia and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Those are the types of novels that one can read throughout their whole life and get a new meaning from it every time, every time discovering something deeper and yet more magical.
What is your favorite book?
Picking just one is too hard, so I'll do my top five. My top five includes: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy , Oryx and Crake, Peter Pan, Parable of the Talents, and A Brave New World. Ask me next week and I'll probably say something different.
Where do you do your reading?
If I really want to pamper myself I will run a bubble bath and stay in for hours reading a good book. Usually, though, I just read in bed at night before I go to sleep.
Scott Parish, Reader of the Week for June 2nd!
Greetings intrepid readers,
It is a great honor to wear the Reader of the Week mantle for a second consecutive year. May all your summer literary excursions be filled with adventure and intrigue!
How do you choose the books you read?
Well, since I try to avoid books that suck at all costs, I choose very carefully. Usually this involves a complicated ritual that includes ice cream, incense and garbage can lids. If that fails I usually consult the oracles of Shelfari and Amazon in search of guidance. Curious? View my shelf at http://www.shelfari.com/lander/shelf.
Do you have a favorite genre?
At the moment, my favorite genre is Books that Make You Go Hmmmm? Like The Raw Shark Texts, which I just read (read my review). I still wake up some mornings and go, hmmm?
What is your favorite book?
Last year it was Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. This year I'm going to have to go with Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing.
Where do you do your reading?
I do my reading in a box.
I do my reading with a fox.
I do my reading in a house.
I do my reading with a mouse.
I do my reading here or there.
I do my reading anywhere.
Sophear Chin , Reader of the Week for May 26th!
How do you choose the books you read?
I usually just pick something from my bookcase that I haven't read before. It's a little of a bad habit I have, there's this amazing little bookstore next to my house and every time I stop by I have to buy at least four or five books. I actually just hit the 400 mark in my little collection, so I've got all types of books I have but haven't yet read. These include many classics by Dickens to Austen, fantasy books by Robert Jordan, Japanese manga, and James Patterson thrillers.
Do you have a favorite genre?
Nope, not really. I'll read pretty much anything that holds my interest. I do have a slight preference for fantasy though. I love Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series. Being able to enter a new and magical world where wizards and hobbits can exist is pretty amazing.
What is your favorite book?
I've got a lot of them, it's really hard to choose. I would have to say Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and then try to defend myself. I loved this book before it became popular and then turned into a movie. Elizabeth Bennet was a personal hero of mine. She was so witty and clever, she really didn't need a man to complete her, but Mr. Darcy didn't turn out to be too shabby.
Where do you do your reading?
Wherever I can hide and not be found. Reading is a guilty pleasure of mine. I'm a math major so I can't even justify my little reading sessions by saying it'll help with my writing. I read every chance I can get, waiting in line, waiting for the shuttle (which can take forever sometimes), in the shuttle, or when I'm taking a break from writing proofs.
Alicia LaPalme, Reader of the Week for May 19th!
How do you choose the books you read?
I typically find new books by just wandering around bookstores - I can spend endless hours roaming the aisles at Borders. I scan the shelves and look for titles that grab my attention. I also keep a "to-read" list going at all times - when I get a recommendation or see a book online that looks interesting I jot it down.
Do you have a favorite genre?
Right now I really like memoirs. It's fascinating to me, seeing into other people's pasts. Currently I'm reading Miss American Pie by Margaret Sartor - it's a collection of her diaries from the age of 13 to 18, she grew up in the deep south in the 1970's. I'm also reading Reconciliation, a memoir by the late Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistani Peoples Party - it's amazing.
What is your favorite book?
There have been far too many books that I've loved to pick a favorite! Some that I've loved so much that I've read them several times are The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Saffron Skies by Leslie Lokko, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Where do you do your reading?
I don't have a particular reading spot, just wherever and whenever I can!
I am a third year History/Political Science major and Economics minor here at UCSD and this is my third time being a participant in the summer reading contest.
I don't really have a method to choosing what books I want to read. I usually go into Barnes & Noble or go onto Amazon.com, browse a little bit, find something interesting and say "Ooooo! I should read that."
I guess my favorite genre is History and biographies of important historical and political figures like Jefferson, Hamilton, Lincoln, Roosevelt, etc. If I do read fiction, it is typically a Star Wars book or something that caught my eye.
Although I read only Government Documents for the Summer Reading Contest, my reading interests are many and varied. My favorite genre remains Sci-Fi/Fantasy but I have been known to delve into Medieval mystery, historical fiction, art history/illustration (Celtic, Medieval, and Renaissance). My favorite book of all time is "The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer" as printed by The Kelmscott Press in 1896 including illustrations by Edward Burne-Jones.
My reading choices during the summer mainly stem from what comes across my desk. Having worked with GovDocs for nine years I can happily say that it is not a genre that becomes boring over time. What better way to stay informed than to read the publications put out by local, state, federal, and international government agencies. They're not all dull, monotonous hearings.
I have only one rule that I live by when I read: if the first chapter doesn't make me want to read the second chapter I put down the book and pick up another. There are so many books and so little time to read them. Why waste it?!
