Friday 8 November 2013

A-Z Blogger book survey

I noticed this on Conrad Kinch's splendid blog.  So here are my answers:

Author you've read the most books from:
I have read the whole Bond series several times.  They are a delight - well written and very atmospheric.  Many of mine  - all paperbacks - were originally owned by my father's father so are pretty damn old!

Best sequel ever:

Currently reading:

Drink of choice whilst reading:
Tea (plenty of milk - no sugar), wine (white, red, rose in order of preference)


E-reader or physical book:
Real book!  That said, I do have a Kindle app on my iPad.

Fictional character you would probably have dated in high school:
Sorry - dating a fictional character never crossed my mind!

Glad you gave this book a chance:
Don't need a whole book on the Versailles treaty?  Neither did I- but it's a damn good read.
Hidden book gem:
Bought on the spur of the moment a couple of years ago.  As the cover note says: "The restless ruler of an obscure Central European state plots a coup against himself and escapes to Venice in search of 'real' experience.  There he falls in with a team of con-men and ends up, to his own surprise, impersonating himself."

Important moment in your book life:
 AWG was (quite literally) a game changer for me.  The first evidence I had that cocking about with toys wasn't just for kids.  It is pleasing to see this book available again - complete with contributions from me!

Just finished:

Kind of book you won't read:
I really don't get on with goblins and/or spacemen type 'fantasy'.

Longest book you've read:
Not sure - probably Lord Bored of the Rings.  I found it mostly pretty tedious.

Major book hangover because of disappointing endings: 
I tried a few of Douglas Reeman's novels but found them rather formulaic and predictable.

Number of bookcases you own:

Nine - mostly beefy 2-metre tall types.

One book you've read multiple times:
 I even have one of these:
As with all of these categories, I've avoided nominating reference type books - of which I have rather a lot!


Preferred place to read:
Bed/armchair/sofa.  Even sometimes in my car (when parked!)

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:
"Worry is a dividend paid to disaster before it is due."  James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Reading regret:
Not having time to read more!
Series you started and need to finish:
See 'Z' below....

Three of your all-time favourite books:
If you only read one WW2 book this should be it!
Many of Sharpe's characters were based on real staff at what is now Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.  Some of whom were still there when I was a student....
I've not actually re-read this for a few years now as my copies (of this and The King's War) are falling apart!

Unapologetic fanboy for:
Alistair Horne.

Very excited for this release:

Caesar's Heirs: Wolves in the Forum by John Bassett.   Due out in March 2014.


Worst bookish habit:
Er, buying books?

X marks the spot - Start at the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book: 
I had to randomly choose (using dice of course!) a bookcase.

Your latest book purchase:


Zzz snatcher book (the last book that kept you up waaay too late:)

11 comments:

tradgardmastare said...

John Biggins writes terrific stuff.Great stories imparting fascinating information too.Main reason for starting to collect Army White and Army White (republican)and inspiration to continue doing so...

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Pleased and surprise to find more books I need to read before I die ;)

Question is:
Is Conway's 1947 to 1995 book of ships worth getting ahead of 'other things'?

Other than the 1982 Falklands War and Cold War (ship collections I don't yet have in 1/3000) what could I use it for?

Tim Gow said...

Stu Rat
I've been aware of it - but as you can see I've had plenty other stuff to read!

Tim Gow said...

Tradgardmastare
Agreed sir!

Tim Gow said...

Geordie
I suppose it depends what the 'other things' are! I'm sure you'd find it useful, especially given that you need to live till you're 197 to read all these new book recommendations.....

Conrad Kinch said...

That is a respectable number of bookshelves to own. I'm currently convincing Mrs Kinch that every room in the house should have it's own bookcase.

Will we be seeing any air wargames in the near future?

Russell Phillips said...

Some interesting choices. I recently discovered that A Sailor of Austria has three sequels. The first two are pretty good, but I gave up on the last one :-(

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

Agreed on Reeman (and his alter-ego Alexander Kent) but also Fleming; I remember reading the entire series avidly as a young teenager in Oz...

Tim Gow said...

Conrad Kinch
Maybe if you put them all in one room she wouldn't notice?
I have an idea for an AWG which may see the light of day next month.

Tim Gow said...

Russell Phillips
Given that they can be read in any order I think we need to know which one you gave up on!

Tim Gow said...

Steve-the-wargamer
Great minds eh?