Monday, October 01, 2007

Putting the "Me Me" in "Meme"

It's a funny thing about memes. Everybody pretends to hate them, and perhaps some people actually do, but then a few weeks or months pass and nobody tags you, and you start to feel a little sad. "What did I do?" you wonder. "Maybe I shouldn't have pretended to be so dismissive about memes. And can someone remind me again why they're called memes anyway?"

Fortunately,
Carrie has rescued me from this small human tragedy.

1. Hardcover or paperback, and why?

Paperback, because hardcovers really hurt if they land on your face when you fall asleep while reading.


2. If I were to own a book shop I would call it…

Books, Ink. If being twee is wrong, I don't want to be right.


3. My favorite quote from a book (mention the title) is…

From one of my favourite novels,
Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
"Most people think everybody feels about them much more violently than they actually do--they think other people's opinions of them swing through great arcs of approval or disapproval."
4. The author (alive or diseased) I would love to have lunch with would be…
No way I could ever do this. I get tongue-tied in normal human interactions. I don't need the added pressure of hero worship. But pretending that I'm a person completely devoid of social neuroses, I guess I'd have to say F. Scott Fitzgerald, since he wrote one of my favourite books and all. Maybe we could get drunk together. That would help.


5. If I was going to a deserted island and could only bring one book, except from the SAS survival guide, it would be…

You know, I've never found a satisfactory answer to this question. I've been in similar situations with camping trips or trips to non-English-speaking countries, where I knew I'd have to carefully plan which books to bring, and I've yet to find a book with the nigh-infinite ability to engage me. In a fit of desperation, I once even tried the Bible. No dice. I'm probably going to hell... which will probably be a lot like being on a desert island with nothing good to read.


6. I would love someone to invent a bookish gadget that…

Turns back time so I could read all night and then get a full night's sleep.


7. The smell of an old book reminds me of…

This crazy used book store that was right around the corner from Rusty's and my first apartment. It occupied every room in an old house, and the entire place had that old book smell. I always imagined the owner did, too, and I wondered if she minded the fact that, say, her hair would smell like old books even when she was away from the shop. Or maybe she liked it, kind of like when you go camping and days later you catch a whiff of woodsmoke on your jacket and it makes you extra happy for just a moment.


8. If I could be the lead character in a book (mention the title), it would be…

It'd be fun to be Jane Austen's Emma. She was flawed but charming, and she seemed to have a pretty nice life.


9. The most overestimated book of all times is…

Probably something really weighty and serious and important. In other words, something I haven't read and therefore can't comment on. That or a Harry Potter book.


10. I hate it when a book…

Sucks. I know that sounds like a facile answer, but I really do.

Oh, crap. I always forget that this is the part where I'm supposed to tag other people. Well, if you've been coming here for a while, you're familiar with my usual meme policy: consider yourself tagged if you'd like, but please post a link to your site in the comments so I can read your answers. And have a happy Monday!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

The author (alive or diseased) I would love to have lunch with would be…

Wait, alive or diseased? Is that supposed to be 'deceased'? It's pretty niche, to have to pick a diseased author. Would you really want to have lunch with them anyway? What if it was catching?

katherine m. miller said...

Lurker de-lurking. I read this and I was like "Meme about books? Sounds like good procrastination to meeeee." It's on my blog as such. [aside: blogger's being a bit impudent today]

Petunia said...

I did this meme a couple days ago. Love your answers about Emma and Harry Potter. And I think I've come up with a pretty good choice for the deserted island question.
http://educatingpetunia.blogspot.com/2007/09/bookish-meme.html

landismom said...

Paperback? Really?

And you think you know a persona...

Kaijsa said...

This was an excellent way to spend my reference desk shift. Thanks! Mine's at http://kaijsa.blogspot.com/2007/10/meme-time.html

LaneHat said...

Memes are fun! Hopefully, delurking to share mine is, too.

It's here: http://getalifelane.blogspot.com/2007/10/fun-book-themed-meme-from-50-books.html

That's a long link, hope the cut and paste works.

Muse of Ire said...

Here's mine. You always have the best toys!

http://museofire.blogspot.com/2007/10/oh-goody-another-bookish-meme.html

Dani said...

hello, i will do it on my blog - although it is in portuguese. but i will break the rules. love your blog by the way.
all best,

Hilda said...

Done! Thanks.

Amy Adams said...

I only wish mine was a funny as yours is. You can find it here: http://mistressofallevil.blogspot.com/2007/10/me-me-me-meme-books.html

Juan Gabriel Llorca said...

So tell me - how can I get MY blog mentioned on the CBC 'Canada Writes' web page as an exemplary 'blog? Hmmm?
Although, I must say, yours is a very intersting blog.

Dave said...

Holy shit, I love that Fitzgerald quote.

Back in the day, before I drowned myself in Jim Bean and apathy, I used to write down all the book quotes that I thought were brilliant. I've lost all of them now, but I sort of remember one of my favourites, which I think was from The Blind Assassin. It was something to the effect of "Write as if you'll never be read. Otherwise, you'll never tell the truth." Sorry for all the vaguery. See above re: booze and apathy.

Anonymous said...

Nice blog

Anonymous said...

good opinion on Harry potter

alyce said...

Don't have a blog so can't linkety link to it.

But one book gadget that I have always wanted is some sort of automatic page turner. It would need to come with a stand for use while the reader is laying down as well, natch.

So I can be all toasty under my covers and also reading.

Let me know if you create this. I'd be real appreciative-like.

Robin said...

Here's mine on my own budding blog...:)

http://inkcharmed.vox.com/library/post/some-essential-opinions-from-yours-truly-on-the-most-essential-thing--books-of-course.html

Robin

Essy said...

I always assumed it was pronounced "mem" like the French word for 'same' because a meme repeats itself over and over. But I've also heard it pronounced "meem" and "mee-mee", so who knows?

And don't listen to Landismom. It's always paperback. Hardbacks are no good for bed or bath reading.