I Am What I Read

I found a book questionnaire over at Skolfröken (I think it was). I love books and I love questionnaires and lists so here goes...

1. Which was the latest book that you read?
"The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson. I really love Bill Bryson and have read probably 5 or 6 of his books!

2. Which book are you going to read next?
I have about 30 books on my shelves that I haven't read yet.... I'm quite the shopaholic when it comes to books but then don't get around to reading as much as I would want to, partly due to this blog (and reading other people's blogs) taking too much of my time... I have started "The Undercover Economist" but I think I need to read something fiction as well/instead.

3. Do you have more male or female authors among your books?
I have no idea actually, probably a mix. Whether the book is written by a man or a woman does not influence me when buying or reading a book.

4. When reading a book, do you count down the number of pages that you have left, or do you think "now I've read one fourth", "one third", "yes, half!", etc.?
Sometimes, but mostly if I'm bored with it. Although sometimes I don't want it to end, for example I wouldn't have minded "The Thunderbolt Kid" being much longer!

5. How do you choose what books to read? For example the cover, recommendations from friends, book reviews, bestseller lists, blogs, etc.?
I'm a member of a couple of book clubs (the kind that has a monthly magazine with a monthly book that you need to cancel if you don't want that month's delivery) and get recommendations from them. In addition to that I also listen to friends, read blogs and look at bestseller lists on different book selling sites. When I'm at the book store I'm quite influenced by the cover as well.

6. When does a book become too long?
Never in terms of number of pages, but pretty soon if it's boring.

7. Do you happily read in English (if it is the original language)?
This is a blog in English so I have to say yes. But actually it is true, it's always better to read books in their original language, the problem is that when it comes to the other languages I have studied (besides my mother tongue Swedish and my "second language" English), French and Spanish, my reading skills are not at the level that I would really appreciate the subleties of the language.

8. Which book was the most recent one you felt you just had to persuade ALL your friends to read?
I can't remember, I recommend a lot of books, but the ones I've really tried to "sell" in the last few years are "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson, "A Heartbreaking Work of a Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers, "Collapse" by Jared Diamond and "Bitterfittan" by Maria Sveland.

9. Can you put away a book without finishing it? If so, when do you give up?
No, I always feel that I have to complete it but I sometimes put it away for months before I make myself finish it. It feels very strange not to finish.

10. What genre is overrepresented in your bookcase, and which genres are completely missing?
Probably non-fiction current affairs or other facts books (such as Bill Bryson's science book or "The Undercover Economist". I don't have any fantasy books, unless you count "Harry Potter" but those are really Peter's book (they are still on my to read-list).