Tagged!

By Gwen. *grumble grumble*

Actually, it’s kind of a fun one, so here goes (complete with pretty pictures, because I liked how Gwen did hers. I love book covers.)

1. Total number of books I own.

Oh, Jeeeeeezus. Okay, this is an estimate, because I’m just counting up the books on a couple of shelves, then multiplying by the number of shelves I have, because they’re all equally stuffed, then subtracting some for the textbooks and hardbacks that take up more room, then adding the estimated number piled on desks, window sills, tables, in the bathroom, and in boxes. *does math* 2,700.

2. Last book I bought.

Well, I made an Amazon order, so it was multiple books (just enough to get Super Saver Shipping, because I’m way too lazy to apply for Amazon Prime 😀 )

Caressed by Ice. I’ve already read (and loved) an e-ARC, but I wanted a hold-in-my-hands copy. And that way my sister can read it, too.

Riding the Storm. Again, this is another one I’ve already read an e-ARC (hee, Missy and I are reading it together; we’re working on that post) but I got a copy for realz.

If His Kiss Is Wicked. I’ve got a ton of Jo Goodman in my TBR, but the recent review over at Dear Author made me move her up in the pile. It was the excerpt of the dialogue that did it (because the cover, unfortunately, would probably have sent me scurrying away. I think Nathan Kamp is the hotness, but full face-on covers like that freak me out.)

Moon Called. I’ve heard a billion things about this book, but hadn’t yet picked it up (I have issues with first person a lot of the time, so I was wary). Then I read Patricia Briggs short story in the On the Prowl anthology, and caved.

Touch of Darkness. I haven’t had a chance to read the first book in this series yet, but my sister was very, very, very angry with me after the infamous Visa incident (you still have a chance to win a copy of The Serpent Prince, by the way, if you comment on that thread) because I’d picked it up at B&N then put it back down, so when I was making the order from Amazon, I added it. I’d have eventually gotten it anyway, though.

3. Last book I read.

On the Prowl. My husband made fun of the cover, but I kind of like it. Actually, I guess I’m still in the middle of reading it, because after I read Patricia Briggs’s, I felt totally inadequate as a novella writer and then cried in my pillow until I fell asleep. (Hee, actually, I started re-reading The Serpent Prince). Does that count as a ‘last book read’ if I’ve only finished one of the stories so far? If not, the last full book I read was Jaci Burton’s Hunting the Demon, and I liked it even better than the first.

4. Five books that mean a lot to me.

The Last Unicorn. If I could take only one book to a desert isle, it would be this one. I love the prose, love the characters, love everything about it. This is also one of my “oh god, I’m stuck in a writing rut and just feeling absolutely no inspiration to write” book; I pick it up, and it’s like the very motion of the words on the page unstick me.

The Grapes of Wrath. The story rips me apart, in a good way. From the opening to the end, I just can’t look away, so I’m careful about picking it up. Hell, I can’t even freaking think about it without tearing up, so I’m moving on to the next one, right freaking now.

Only Lover by Carole Mortimer. Missy and I have talked about this book before. It’s not really a good book, but it means a lot because it was the first romance I read. I’m still addicted to Harlequin Presents, too.

Trixie Belden (the entire series). Ah, the teenaged Trixie, who solved mysteries, who was a horse-mad tomboy, who called her mother “Moms”, who traveled all over the place, who had a best friend named Honey and a love interest named Jim … I still love you.

They Were Brave and Bold. This was an elementary school reader from the 50s, much like Friends Far and Near, or a couple of others. It included stories like Paul Bunyan, Stormy Stormalong, Finn McCoul, The White Cat (my favorite — it’s a version of Cherry, the Frog Princess, I think) Sinbad, and a ton of other tales. This is also the book I’ve spent more money on than any other. I lost my copy in a fire, and as soon as I realized what could be done online with used books stores around 1998 or so, I searched the ‘net for a copy. Now, I can apparently get one for, um, a dollar — but honestly, I would have paid just about any amount to have this book again. These stories are ALWAYS in my head as I’m writing.

5. Tag five other people.

Maili
crankyreader
Unicorn Beverly
…anyone else missing?