Leslie's Omnibus: Book Your Ticket

I tripped over this meme at the Llama Butchers' joint, and just couldn't resist:

1. A book that made you cry:
Marley & Me : Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog – There’s something wrong with you if this book doesn’t rip your heart out.

2. A book that scared you: Audrey Rose – I stopped reading scary books after that. They give me nightmares, and it’s just not worth it.

3. A book that made you laugh: Why Cucumbers Are Better Than Men – It was right after my divorce went through, and provided a huge belly laugh when I needed it most.

4. A book that disgusted you: The Bonfire of the Vanities – Not a single character with a redeeming quality anywhere.

5. A book you loved in elementary school: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler – This was given to me by my dad’s younger sister, who loves books as much as I do. I must have read this one at least a dozen times.

6. A book you loved in middle school: The Crystal Cave : Book One of the Arthurian Saga – Thus began my love affair with all things Arthurian.

7. A book you loved in high school: A Separate Peace – This book grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let go.

8. A book you loved in college: Paradise Lost – I took a graduate level seminar when I should have been taking a linguistics requirement course, instead. Yes – I always did go my own way.

9. A book that challenged your identity or your faith: When Bad Things Happen to Good People – A dear friend of mine from high school committed suicide and I nearly lost my faith in God. This wonderful book really challenged what I had been taught – and questioned – about religion.

10. A series that you love: I’ve read everything by or about James Herriot that I could get my hands on. The “Bean” series by Orson Scott Card. Robert Caro’s 4-part biography of Lyndon Baines Johnson. (I’m still waiting for the presidential years. Please hurry it up, Mr. Caro!) The Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin. The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. The Cliff Janeway series by John Dunning. Many, many more.

11. Your favorite horror book: That’s an oxymoron.

12. Your favorite science-fiction book: Ender’s Game – Don’t ever mistake this for a kid’s book. In fact, I just sent a copy to my nephew, who’s suddenly developed a real love of reading. Yippee!

13. Your favorite fantasy book(s): Aside from the Game of Throne books? The whole “Kushiel” series. Sex. Relion. Politics. Beautiful.

14. Your favorite mystery book: The Secret of the Mansion, not because it’s great literature, but because it hooked me on the genre. Closely followed by Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, Judy Bolton, Harriet the Spy and more, who taught me that girls could be smart and brave at a time when we were brought up to be cute and obedient.

15. Your favorite biography: Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker's War, 1941-1945 – Yes, I know it's an autobiography, but it’s a phenomenal read.