I stole this reading habits survey from Mish over at Stage and Canvas and plopped my own answers in. Reminds me of the old days of endless myspace surveys…
1. How old were you when you learned how to read?
I was four, and I’ve been reading ever since.
2. Were you a big reader growing up?
Not like I am now, because I used to spend tons of time playing basketball and soccer.
3. Are there any books that left a big impression on you as a kid?
Roald Dahls books. I lived on his books in elementary school, reading some of them several times over.
4. Favourite genres? (Do you read mainly fiction or non-fiction? Do you have a soft spot for horror, sci-fi, or romance?)
Iwill read anything, but true crime and social science, classics, psychological suspence, non-fiction – memoir style, and recently romance are my favorites.
5. Top 5 favourite authors.
Tom Perrotta, Ann Rule, Jane Austen, Nora Roberts, William S. Burroughs.
6. Top 5 favourite books.
I couldn’t pick just five, but a random five of my favorites are Pride and Prejudice, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Abstinence Teacher, The Odyssey, and Mennonite in a Little Black Dress.
7. Where do you prefer to read?
Sprawled on the couch, curled up in bed, on the dock at Northwest Park (when the weather is nice), laying in the grass, and in the mountains of Vermont.
8. Do you like to eat or drink something while you read? If so, what are your foods and beverages of choice?
I don’t generally eat a lot when I read, but I’m always drinking something when I read, usually coffee or water.
9. What do you typically wear when you read? (I swear, I don’t mean this in a dirty way. My mind is a pure as the first snow of the year – before it gets contaminated by dog poo and engine exhaust, that is. ) Casual wear? Pyjamas? Jeans? Something more elaborate and stylish?
If I’m home, comfy shorts and a t-shirt, if I’m out and about, jeans and a t-shirt.
10. On average, how many books do you read a month?
Depends, in the last two and a half months I’ve read 49 books, but during school I read much less. Maybe 5 to 10 books in addition to my school reading.
11. How do you get hold of the books? Do you buy them at a bookstore, visit an online store, borrow from a friend or family member, or do you use the library?
I buy books like a mad-woman. I’m awful about book buying – not just awful, but like world-endingly cannot put a cap on my book buying addiction. Any extra money I have goes to buying books. Sometimes I go to used bookstores, mostly though I go to Barnes & Noble or B & N online.
12. Paperback or hardcover?
Generally paperbacks, but there are some books that I won’t wait for paperback release and I buy hardcover.
13. At what point do you give up on a book?
I generally don’t. Even if I’m not loving a book, I need to know how it turns out, otherwise I’ll get all ancy about not knowing what happens.
14. How do you find about new books and authors?
Friends and family, the book blogging community, goodreads, Barnes & Noble and Borders, and various book newsletters I get via email.
15. Best reading-related memory?
Even though the actual event didn’t involve any reading, it would be seeing Henry Rollins spoken word. And that event counts on my rules because he’s an author and did mention, albeit briefly, something about one of his books.
16. Worst reading-related memory?
Steinbeck in high school.
17. What was the last book(s) you bought?
Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin, Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis, Broken by Shiloh Walker, and Germinal by Emile Zola.
18. What was the last book you checked out from the library?
A Most Wanted Man by John le Carré.
19. On average, how many hours a week do you spend reading?
I’d say about 30 hours.
20. Are you a fast or slow reader?
By some standards I’m fast, by others slow. What I’m reading also has an effect on how quickly I get through a book.
21. Do you sometimes read more than one book at the time?
I bounce from book to book constantly. So quite regularly I am reading more than one book at a time.
22. Are you what Stephen King refers to as a Constant Reader, or are there periods where you don’t read at all?
I’m constantly reading, whether its school related or purely for my own satisfaction.
23. What’s the longest you’ve gone without reading?
If I said I hadn’t gone more than a day I’d be lying, so I will admit that I have gone half a week or so without reading, but thats generally only when things are bonkers at work.
Among Stories 
What did you like about The Perks of Being a Wallflower? I found it in a freebie bin ages ago but haven’t gotten around to it. I’ve heard a few thoughts about it, but not enough to move it up on the reading list.
I never got into soccer or basketball and played one season of the latter as training for volleyball.
Honestly, I loved everything about it. The first time I read it I was in high school and I found myself really relating to Charlie. The book explores so many different aspects of growing up, partying and drug use, sexuality, abuse, and home life. The end of the book pretty much had me in tears. I absolutely love the way the book was written. The book is in the form of letters to an anonymous reader, Charlie and all the other names of characters are different than their real name to protect identities. Everything has just stuck with me, and I can still read this book over and over. There’s actually one scene in here that embedded itself so deep into my mind I got a tattoo inspired by it.
I’m awful and demanding about it too! I make my friends read it, but they all love it so I don’t feel as bad about it as I might.
But, I’m thinking I’ve probably scared some people away now with my pro-The Perks of Being a Wallflower rant.
Good thing I don’t scare easily. That kind of impression, tatt included, makes me think I’ll actually get around to Wallflower sooner than later. Thanks.
Yesss! Another score for Perks!
Hahaha.