As today’s MM is being held a bit differently than usual, I am answering a question from Matthew over at A Guy’s Moleskin Notebook. So my question is:
We all have favorite books. How do you determine what your favorites are? Do you favorites change?
This is a really great question, and it is one that I can answer with some ease.
Everybook that I have ever considered a favorite has grabbed a hold of me in some way or the other. I don’t mean that the story just sticks with me, most of the books I read stick with me in that respect. To become a favorite a book has to inspire me. A character does something that awe’s me, there’s some sort of huge event that shatter’s my emotions or beliefs. Perhaps theres something simply astounding about it. If any of the above happens, chances are its going on my favorites shelf.
As far as my favorites changing, that’s a no-go. Every book that I have chosen as a favorite over the years, no matter the reasons, my age, or if I would perceive it differently now stays a favorite. I say that because, as I get older, my reading patterns and interests change, and all the other jazz that goes along with that, at the one point in my past, that book being a favorite is what I wanted, so why go back on that? I choose to treasure the books I love for the long haul.
JUST A NOTE: When I went to post my answer to Matthew’s question I saw someone got there before I could, so I’m going to leave his answer and also answer Pooch from Yarn~Knit~Read~Lit question.
What are your thoughts about using a device such as Kindle or Nook for your personal reading?
I don’t actually have an (external) eReader yet, but I have been seriously considering getting one. I do have both the Barnes & Noble and the Borders desktop eReader installed on my computer though. I love eBooks, and I certainly have one heck of a collection on my ccomputer (over 700). Getting the Nook is a very real possibility in the near future for me I will say. My grandmother has a Kindle and adores it and one of my co-worker book loving friends has a Nook. She too professes love for her eReader. Seeing as how I’m a B&N junkie, I would have to go with the Nook, though.
With that, my question to the next commentor is:
Where do you shop for books? Do you stick to the big guys like Barnes & Noble and Borders or do you have a favorite mom & pop bookshop? Maybe you prefer an online store?
Among Stories 
My favorite books are the one that really stay with me for a long time. When I select my favorite reads at the end of the year, I usually choose the ones that stay with me, that I relish long after I put the books down.
I basically feel the same about favourites.
I primarily shop at the used bookstore two blocks from me. It’s the type of place where books are double stacked on shelves, piled into every nook & cranny, and occasionally tumble down while browsing. I love it. Usually I’ll check out other secondhand shoppes before heading to the big guys or online.
It’ll be nice having you along for the challenge. I think everyone should dig into science fiction (at least at some point), but I’m biased.
I can buy books from anywhere. Even used book stores. No problem there!
You can also answer my question at my Musing Mondays post!
I usually shop at both indy stores and the big chain ones. Most of my books come from the local goodwill store (like Value Village), or library book sales. But, I do buy from Chapters.ca, and Amazon.ca occasionally. I’ll very rarely go into the actual Chapters store… I’d be there more often if I lived closer to it. 😉
~MizB
I have to agree with those of you who like used bookstores. There’s one that I visit where there’s about 40 more books on a shelf than the general shelf capacity. Then there’s waist high piles of books that if you walk into them they tumble over and its like a book avalanche. Then when you sit down to stack them back up (and go through them while you’re at it), you find some book that you’ve been looking for for years or some random title or author you’ve never heard of. That’s the best.
I also have to confess to a serious Barnes & Noble problem that I have though. I blame this on the fact that Barnes & Noble is far less out of the way of my daily drive than my favorite used bookstore. I’m there about three times a week, whether its online or in the store.