Eva's Book Meme

I've been tagged by CoversGirl at Between the Covers for another meme. This one originated at Eva's A Striped Armchair. It's a fun one - here goes...

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I confess I haven't actually read any reviews of it, but I have had several friends tell me I should read it and everytime someone brings it up I inwardly cringe and just sort of say "hmmm..." so as not to offend anyone but to also escape having to commit to reading the book to appease the person. It just sounds way too New Age-y for me and I know the minute I start reading it I will be berating myself for ever agreeing to read it in the first place.

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?
Probably because I just read Plum Lucky, Stephanie Plum and her sidekick Lulu, and of course Grandma Mazur. Dinner at the Plum family home in the 'Burg would be perfect. I need to know these women in real life - there would never be a dull moment!

(Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): You are told you can’t die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
The only one coming to mind right now is Billy Budd by Herman Melville. I'm not even sure if this qualifies as a novel - it might be more of a novella although I can't remember now. I had to read this for my 11th grade English class and remember being so painfully bored by the book and the assignments that went with it that I wanted to throw a tantrum everytime I had to go to that class. Granted, this is going back about 16 years, but something tells me if I read it again now I would still find it unbearable.

Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it?
Probably Pride and Prejudice, although not intentionally. I think I feel like I know the story so well from all of the movie adaptations I have seen that it sounds like I might have read it, but not yet :) I assure you though, this is the year I will read it!

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to ‘reread’ it that you haven’t? Which book?
I don't think this has happened to me...I can usually remember which books I have read and haven't read. At least the ones that matter to me anyway.

You’ve been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why? (if you feel like you’d have to know the person, go ahead of personalise the VIP)
I would have to agree with CoversGirl here - a book of short stories would be the way to go. Then the person doesn't have to commit to anything more than 30 or 40 pages and might be more likely to finish it. Either that or Harry Potter book #1. Book #1 was still pretty slim and very entertaining - and if the person liked it they would then have 6 more to read.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
French. After 5 years of high school and college French I seem to have lost most comprehension of the language. But that doesn't stop me from "reading" my favorite magazine Marie Claire Idees. I mostly love it for the pictures, but it sure would be nice to be able to actually read all of the captions, articles, and craft instructions. I love that magazine. I'd also love to visit Paris and the French countryside again, this time understanding the language. I am sure it would be a very different experience.

A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
Little Women. Didn't even have to think about that one.

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What’s one bookish thing you ‘discovered’ from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art - anything)?
I've gotten more intrigued by the fantasy genre. Until recently I only dabbled in fantasy lit, now I find I have a greater appreciation for it.

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works?
Creaky floors, lots of built-in bookshelves, comfy leather chairs, the perfect window seat overlooking lush gardens, a kitty snoozing in the corner, a dog snoozing in the other corner, gourmet snacks and every book I've ever wanted to read and then some. I could go on and on, but this is a good starting point.

I won't tag anyone specifically for this, but if you're reading consider yourself tagged.