Thanks to BBAW, I've added all kinds of new book blogs to my Google reader. I spied this fun meme on Sandy's blog, You've GOTTA Read This. Since no one IRL cares this much about my reading habits, I thought I'd share my answers with you. I love to get a glimpse into other people's book-related OCD, so let me know if you've done this one on your blog.

Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback? I prefer hardback books, just because they're so ... substantial. They feel good in my hands, ya know? They're also expensive, so I usually buy trade paperbacks. For some reason, I'm not big on mass market paperbacks. I'm not sure why that is. I'll have to discuss that one with my therapist ...

Waterstones, Borders or Amazon? I've never heard of Waterstones (is it in the U.K.?), but I'm a little too familiar with the last two. Borders is my bookstore of choice, because (1) it's close and (2) the coupons and Borders Bucks get me every time. I actually don't buy a lot of books off Amazon, although I do all my pre-ordering through them.

Bookmark or dog-ear? Dog ear? *gasp* Who would do such a thing? I bookmark, baby. I do, however, have a bad habit of leaving books open, facedown on tables, couch arms, my desk, etc. The practice makes my book-lovin', retired librarian MIL shudder.

Amazon or brick-and-mortar? Evidently, I'm not a very patient person (just ask my kids), because I prefer a brick-and-mortar store over Amazon. There's just something about being able to see, touch and skim through a book that makes me prefer IRL buying encounters.

Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random? I was that nerdy kid who alphabetized her CDs. Books are another matter. My bookshelves (which don't contain any ARCs or review books - they're in another spot) are kinda sorta organized. I have shelves for adult fiction, YA fiction, LDS fiction, LDS non-fiction, dieting/health books (I have a lot of those), homemaking/craft/organizing manuals, parenting, etc. My fiction shelves are double and triple stacked. Either I need to start weeding or I need more bookshelves. I'm thinking the latter.

Keep, throw away, or sell? Throw away?? What kind of savage are you? I actually answered this question in a recent post. In a nutshell: I keep the books I love, donate those I don't to the library and my kids' elementary school, and store ARCs in a box in my garage since I'm not sure what else to do with them. I've only trashed one book. It was really, really, really bad.

Keep dust jacket or toss it? *Shudder* Dust jackets remain on at all times. I repeat, on at al times. Remind me never to loan you a book.

Short story or novel? I avoid short stories like the plague. Novels only, please.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? HP wins every time, although I like Lemony Snicket, too. I'm somewhere in the middle of the Unfortunate Events series. I love Snicket's voice, but I'm getting a little tired of the redundant plots.

Buy or borrow? Both. I love to buy books, but they cost a lot of moola, which I don't always have on hand. Therefore, I wait until there's a sale, I have a coupon, or I have Border Bucks. If all of these things happen at the same time, I do a dance of joy. Then, I head to Borders.

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse? Good question. Usually I have an idea of what I'm going to buy before I head into a bookstore. Not always, though. I'd say 90% of the books I buy have been recommended to me either by an IRL friend or through a review on a blog, in a magazine, or on the Internet somewhere. About 10% of the time, I pick up whatever looks interesting.

Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Call me old-fashioned, but I love me a happily-ever-after. Actually, I don't like stories that end perfectly - I just want the finale to be satisfying. Give me twists, turns, cliffhangers, whatever, but make the ending ring true. That's all I ask.

Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading? I have to choose? Tell me it ain't so! I read whenever and wherever I can - in bed, in the car (while waiting, not driving), in the bathtub, laying in bed, while I eat, while feeding the baby, while on hold,
etc.

Stand-alone or series? Either. I love series', because I love "knowing" characters well, but I'm also delighted by standalones. So, I guess my answer's really, both.

Favorite series? I have a million: HP; Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan books; Grace Valley by Robyn Carr; Virgin River by Robyn Carr; Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series; Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani; tons and tons.

Favorite children’s book? Hm. I'm too indecisive to have just one favorite. I like so many: Little Women; Anne of Green Gables; I Love You, Forever (makes me cry every time); Green Eggs and Ham; The Polar Express; Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes; tons.

Favorite YA book? The Hunger Games comes to mind. Also, The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak.

Favorite books read last year? I can barely remember what I read this year, let alone last year. The Hunger Games probably.

Favorite books of all time? I'm going to go classic with Little Women, Gone With the Wind, Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre.

Favorite book to recommend to an 11-year-old? If you happen to have an almost 11-year-old boy like I do, I'd recommend A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket; the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books; and anything by Gordon Korman. If your kid is a little more ambitious in his reading than mine is, I'd definitely suggest Mr. Harry Potter.

Favorite book to re-read? I rarely re-read books. The only book I've read more than once is The Book of Mormon. And picture books. I'd go with the picture books if I were you. Kidding, kidding.

Do you ever smell books? I'm not sure you can help smelling books. I happen to love the scent - old, new, doesn't matter, I love that book-y scent. I agree with Sandy - someone should make book-scented air freshener. And perfume!

Do you ever read primary source documents like letters or diaries? You mean like Anne Frank? Or primary source documents that aren't actually books? Yes to the first, no to the second - unless they were written by family members.

What are you reading right now? An ARC of Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani. It's her first YA novel, and I don't think it has anything to do with Italians. It already seems as if it's missing something ... My bathroom read is Diane Mott Davidson's Catering to Nobody. Obviously, I don't spend enough time in there (do I need more fiber in my diet?) because it's taking me forever to read this one. It's just okay.

What are you reading next? I was just debating that. I've had Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke out for months, so I need to get to it. I've also got a mountain of review books, many of which I'm dying to read. Then, there's Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, which I finally got from the library. Decisions, decisions ...

If you're dying to dish about your reading habits, I'm dying to listen. Really. Just do the meme, already.

Is anyone else missing Jay Leno on The Tonight Show? I don't know what it is about Conan O'Brien, but I'm just not that into him. Quirky little leprechauns aren't my thing, apparently. I know Jay's going to be back on tv very soon - in the meantime, I'm boycotting O'Brien on principle. And because he bugs me. Anyway, one of the features I liked best on Jay's show was "Headlines." He read funny snippets from newspapers, bulletins, signs, etc. - lines full of grammatical errors, misspellings, and idiotic comments. If you, like me, are missing "Headlines," try this new book on for size: I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar by Sharon Eliza Nichols (available September 29 - the book, that is, not Sharon). The blogger and law student has collected dozens of error-filled signs into a collection sure to send grammar snobs into fits of laughter.

From the classic "Kids With Gas Eat Free" sign to bizarre spellings ("Bokay for $5") to "apostrophe catastrophes" ("Mow'in Joe's Lawn Cutting") - this book documents it all. Since most of Nichols' examples have to do with punctuation errors, they're more embarrassing than funny, although there are some downright hilarious signs (like the "peonies" example on Page 31). Nichols' commentary is sometimes witty, sometimes ... not so much. Luckily, most of the signage speaks (poorly) for itself.

Now, I don't know that punctuation errors and "creative" spellings technically come under the grammar umbrella, but they are pretty entertaining, if only because they help English majors (like myself) feel superior. I did get a little tired of Nichols' numerous examples of its/it's, their/there/they're, your/you're mistakes - they're only sometimes funny. Pathetic is more like it.

I love the idea of this book, I just thought it would be more humorous. I don't know how Jay finds such gems for his segments. Nichols' version doesn't come close, but it will do in a pinch. It's instructive, anyway. After all, gooder grammar doesnt come naturally to most folks - its a learned kind of thing. No what I mien?

If you want to connect with other grammar snobs, check out the I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar Facebook group.

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: I'm not sure how Hollywood would make a movie out of this one, but there is a little bit of profanity and one reference to, um, "peonies."

(Book image from Barnes & Noble)

Avoid Catching Fire? Are you kidding? It's the hottest book in town. Everyone's reading it. Yes, yes, I know. But, really, you shouldn't. Why not, you ask? Is it:

Boring? No, not for minute.

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence

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In my excitement over Catching Fire, I somehow forgot to mention Michelle's awesomeness. I don't know if she designed these buttons herself or what, but aren't they fun? It made me laugh, especially since Laura mentioned how much the Gale-Katniss-Peeta thing reminded her of a certain vampire-teenage girl-werewolf triangle. If you want to show your love, click here and steal some buttons for yourself. Click around while you're there - she's up for a BBAW nomination, and would no doubt appreciate your vote.

BTW: I vote Gale. I also vote Edward. What does that say about me? Hmmm ...