click photo to enlarge.
ParisB tagged me on this interesting meme over a week ago (see, told you I’m a terrible procrastinator!). Somehow, the word worm sends a chill down my spine, but I am indeed one when it comes to books. Here goes.
Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
Coming from a house of worms (so to speak, heh!), reading has played a big part in my life since, well, as long as I can remember. Books are the one thing in our house that is more populated than anything else. One of my fondest memories of childhood is my parents reading me one fairytale story after another. My father’s animated gestures that accompanied his story-telling are still vividly etched in my mind. Great times!
What are some books you read as a child?
Coming from a Chinese educated background, the books that I read in my early age are mostly in Chinese, with a few Enid Blyton’s books in between. Most of the books I read are about popular Chinese folktales. I also read a lot of China’s history and Chinese literature. Among the mountains of books are stories from the book One Thousand and One Nights as well. I guess that’s where I developed my vivid imaginations.
What is your favourite genre?
My favourite genres span across thriller, horror, Chinese literature, comedy and true crime(!!) just to name a few. From the likes of Stephen King to Sophie Kinsella. I love them all. No fantasy books though, I’m one of the rare people who doesn’t enjoy the Harry Potter series at all.
Do you have a favourite novel?
Without a doubt, The “Torrents” Trilogy《激流三部曲》from the great Chinese writer Ba Jin 巴金. the trilogy consists of ‘The Family《家》’, ‘Spring 春》’, and ‘Autumn《秋》’. I first read them back in high school as a requirement for my Chinese subject. The first volume ‘The Family’ is simply one of the best realism literature of all times. The series greatly depicted the struggles of the modern youth against the age old dominance of the incredibly feudal Confucian family system back in the 1930s. Ba Jin took over ten years to complete the three volumes. It is the early years of his life that fueled his denouncement against the ugly persecution and feudalism happening in that era. The trilogy totally blew my mind away and formed the fundamental core of my love for Chinese literature. For me, it will always be the great literature to read time and again. It is also one of the very few books that reaches deep into my heart and vibrates my world.
click photo to enlarge.
Where do you usually read?
Anywhere really. On the bus, plane, couch or in bed.
When do you usually read?
When I’m free of course, normally in the dead silence of night time or a relaxing afternoon.
Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
Sometimes, when I want a change of pace or emotion, I will stop and pick up a book of different genre. It rarely happens though, I like to finish a book in one go if possible.
Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
Not particularly. Only when I read nonfiction, I sometimes do some research online as well, to get a little more insight into the stories.
Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I am a little germophobic, so not really into borrowing books from the library. When I love a book, I just have to own it.
Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
If it turns out not to my liking then yes, I sell them online.
If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
No kids yet, but I will most definitely instill in them my love for Chinese folktales and literature. Especially those I read as a child.
click photo to enlarge.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading some of the books that I bought from my Taiwan trip back in February. I bought one whole box of them! LOL. Amongst them are series of books from 鄭華娟, the Taiwanese author cum singer/composer. She writes about her life in Germany with humour. Also re-reading Stephen King’s Carrie. This early creation of his is still my favourite.
Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Not really, which book I read really depends on my mood at the time. I keep a TBB (to be bought) list though. Heh.
What’s next?
Finish reading the books I bought from the Taiwan trip, over 20 of them.
What books would you like to reread?
If I have the time, some of the Stephen King’s classic, like The Shining. If you found the movie adaption creepy, wait till you read the book!
Who are your favourite authors?
So many of them! Ba Jin 巴金, Lu Xun 魯迅, Zhu Ziqing 朱自清, 鄭華娟, Stephen King, Sophie Kinsella, just to name a few.
In conclusion (eh, am I writing a thesis?!), books are a huge and crucial part of my life. Can’t live without them! So, what do you think? Wormy or not? 
Now, I’m interested to know about your reading habit,
sasha, che-cheh, zewt, gina and jeremy. Have fun!
Tags: books, favourite authors, meme, reading habit, reanding, tags
August 20th, 2008 at 4:40 am
I too came from a house filled with books, stuffed in every nook & cranny or stacked haphazardly. My father always had a book in his hands, wherever he went. It opened up worlds for me and of course i did a lot of adult reading too! lol.
CC: Is that all you do nowadays?! LOL
August 20th, 2008 at 5:52 am
In this day and age of hi-tech wizardry, of Wiis and PSPs, of Astro and myriad other digital distractions threatening to zap away precious time… it is heartening to know that good old book reading and using our imagination is still alive and well!!
Happy reading!
CC: Many people I know has gone on to digital reading (ie, ebook), but I still prefer the good old fashion. It’s just so pleasurable to hold a book in my hands.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:01 am
I used to read a lot but with the internet these days my passion for reading took a break. LOL. But I still read…
I don’t read Chinese too. And Sophie Kinsella is good! Hehe.
CC: She is so funny!
August 20th, 2008 at 6:58 am
*phew* what a long post this time!!! btw, did u took the photos of the books???
CC: Haha, glad you stuck around and read the whole post. Yes, those are part of my books collection.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:09 am
I grew up being a bookworm. Started reading my mum’s books when I was 3, and was hooked every since. That’s where most of my pocket money went. Ironically, now I can’t remember the last time I finish reading a whole book. *Hides head in shame*
CC: Pick up a book today! It’s never too late to rekindle that love.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Whoa lots of Chinese books! I am not good at the language, so I figure I must have missed out a lot of good deals.
I don’t like ebooks either. They make my eyes go black after a while. The sensation of holding a physical book is indescribable - something which makes one yearn for more.
CC: I read mostly Chinese books before college.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Wah…you read so many…even Chinese books? How I wish I know how to read Chinese…so many good books are in Chinese and I couldn’t read them. I remember all my Enid Blyton’s when I was in Primary. Now I mostly read historical romance. Easy on the mind. Haha!
Thanks for dropping by my blog. Cheers…
CC: Chinese educated till High school, didn’t really dive into English book until college. My English wasn’t good before that, still not that great. LOL
August 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am
i only read magz… it used to be readers digest, financial times.. now… since i know how to read men’s magz, i read only that
CC: I used to read reader digest too, but now not so much. Men’s magazines don’t require so much reading but ogling. LOL
August 20th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
That’s a lot of books! I only read books to pass my exam. Used to read mystery story books before.
CC: That’s only very small part of the collections, mountains of them still back home in Malaysia.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I think it’s great that you can read and enjoy both Chinese and English books of all sorts of genre.
Salute!
CC: Only because I’m Chinese educated. On the other hand, my command of English is not that great.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
i like mysteries and thrillers! Stephen King’s horror is a bit lengthy and long-winded to me, so ill just wait for his books to be adapted into movies like IT, Dreamcatcher and Rose Red :p. but yah, i understand reading and watching movies are entirely different kind of experience :p
CC: You can go for his short stories instead. Those are great too! Most of the movie adaptions of his books are not very good, with the exception of 1408 and The Shining (Stanley Kubrick’s version). I think it’s hard to adapt them into movies when the author himself has depicted them so greatly with his words.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Heh’ my husband threatens me few times to burn all my books if I don’t stop buying and adding books in the house. I decorate one room in our house as a library cum workroom where he can put his pc and work stuffs together with my arrays of bookshelves but somehow my books populates the room more than his things and he said to sit in the room was like waiting for Death to take his life away since he’s afraid the books might drown him if there’s an earthquake. Silly.
CC: By the time I move all my books over from Malaysia (god knows when that will be!), there won’t be any space left in my home office too. LOL.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
My daughter reads a lot. Must have bought at least half a dozen since I got to Sungai Petani. I used to…before, but getting lazy now. Prefer books with short stories. Guess my attention span isn’t that long anymore.
CC: A great habit she has. I read short stories when I don’t have time to finish a whole book. Prefer to read a book in one sitting.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I read a lot when I was small so I’m a worm too! Nowadays I read much less due to time constraint and also because busy blogging : ) I like to read inspirational books, new age books, and whodunnit books. I also sort of getting to love Malaysian books ie. written by Malaysian authors like Tash Aw, Lydia Teh and Tan Twan Eng.
CC: I read inspirational and whodunit books too. Bought 2 of Lydia Teh’s books when I was back early last year. Love her writing style!
August 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Hi, I’m Lil’ Ms Pinky and I’m a bookworm. I don’t ever plan to curb this habit, and if I were ever locked in a shopping mall, please please please please please let me stay inside the bookstore.
I used to go on book marathon reading, and I think one of these days I’m going to start another book marathon again.
PS: You take such beautiful pictures!
CC: I had that very thought before too! To be locked in a bookstore and read as much as I could all night long! LOL
Thanks for dropping by and your compliment. Hope to see you around.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I have a habit of reading books before I sleep. If I don’t, I can hardly fall asleep!!
CC: Nowadays I try not to read just before bedtime as it causes insomnia for me. I just can’t put down a good book and tend to read into wee hours of the mornings.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
i do try to read one book a month, be it a biography, a personal development book or those books on christianity. never too late to learn anything extra
CC: Good for you!
August 20th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
That’s quite a book collection you have there…and alot of Chinese books too!
I have quite a collection at home too..like a mini library.
CC: That’s just tip of the iceberg, most of the books are back in Malaysia. Mountains more as my parents are bookworms too!
August 20th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
(CC, to your earlier Q) I wish it was the only thing i do nowadays. Lately been kind of unhealthily addicted to blogs and blogging. LOL. Better start minding my business more before my clients find their way to the competition!
CC: Too much of anything can’t be good huh!
August 20th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Not many people reads nowadays, but I find reading is a very nice hobby.
CC: Indeed! Thanks for dropping by!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
i’m more a blog worm now.
CC: So am I!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
it’s good to have reading habit
CC: Yup, it’s great!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
So many books…
CC: There are many more!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I love reading and like you, started young with Enid Blyton. My fav time for reading is just before bedtime. Down side is if the book is really engrossing, I’m up to the wee hours in the morning coz I can’t put the book down until I finish
CC: I have the same problem, that’s why now I try not to read before bedtime. Don’t want to be anymore of a panda than now. LOL
August 20th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Can see you have a lot of old old books! I only have those magazines.. LOL
CC: Yup, I love it, the aged books just show how much I’ve been enjoying reading them.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Do you ever dream of writing a book someday?
CC: I used to, back in high school. Now I blog. LOL Thanks for reminding me of the dream I once had.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
It is good to have habit of reading. When I was young, I started off by reading comic.
CC: I read comic too! Doraemo and Kimdaichi are my favourites.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I dun quite like reading. But I prefer to write. BTW, I had transferred my blog to this new domain, http://lifeislikethat.com. Please update the link if had added me to your blogroll. My new feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/lifeislikethat/AHNd. Thanks
CC: Noted.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
i must try reading the one u suggested on stephen king! thanks~!
CC: Go for it! They come with cc’s seal of approval. LOL
August 20th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
nothing beats flipping physical pages eh? Good to know that you still enjoy reading. it’s almost a dying breed…. the people who read that is.
CC: Definitely, no amount of ebooks can replace the real ones.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Though reading in front of the computer display in any way is no match to holding a book in the hands, I still read ebooks. If I were to buy all the books I want to read then I’ll be very very poor. =p
LOL, not many people know how to appreciate 《家》《春》《秋》. I read those in primary school days. Looking at your list of favourite authors, I would be very much amazed if you are a Science / Engineering student.
CC: Yea, books can be quite expensive. You’re right, I’m no scientist or engineer. My job has something to do with creativity and thinking out of the box.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
That’s alot of reading
Hmm.. it’s not hard for me to pick my favourite book. I have only read like.. 5? and I don’t think Archie’s Double Digest counts. lol~
I should really start reading again
CC: It’s a habit that I’ll never give up.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Thanks for doing the tag! I’d never have known you came from a Chinese background and I would love to read those Chinese novels except when I see Chinese characters my brain freezes…
CC: You’re welcome. Thanks for tagging me! I had fun doing it and reminded myself how much I love reading.
I know how that feel. English used to freeze my brain too. LOL
August 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
cc: Thanks for tagging! I am gonna do this.. asap.. and Ms Lil Pinky - since you are a bookworm - I am going to tag you!
CC: You’re welcome. I look forward to read your wormy habit!
August 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Wow you’re more wormy than me! Hahaha
Thanks for tagging me.
I read a book or 2 from Sophie Kinsella before… but I don’t really like it. I used to read Stephen King too but got scared after 2 or 3 novels. Hahaha
I’m a fiction worm.
CC: I think the first of the shopaholic series is still the best of the bunch. Stephen King really knows how to create the whole atmosphere to scare us out of our wits! He is the best!
August 20th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
oh my, it’s been a long while since i’ve been tagged with a meme…
will do it soo, though i’m a procrastinator myself
interesting - so many of my friends (myself included) are fans of enid blyton and, to a certain extent, sophie kinsella too.
my biggest regret, though, is not being able to read chinese. must make it a point to get a chinese-reading gf to translate all those classics
CC: Take your time.
Gogogo, get yourself a free personal translator. LOL
August 21st, 2008 at 12:06 am
haha.. i never success read a thick story book.. and i think i never read story book! how wish if i meet u.. then i can ask u tell me story.. haha… i curious to know ur life, can we be fren, crazyfool2986@hotmail.com
CC: I’m a good reader, not that great a story teller. :D. Sure! Will look you up on msn.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:32 am
LoL i am same like you….always procrastinate the tags
sometimes until forgot lolz
CC: Haha, I think I still have a few tags that have been tossed in the back burner. Have to dig them out.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:40 am
I cannot read in moving vehicles. I will get headache :P. I love reading when i was in primary and high school but my reading habit started to fade away slowly as i entered college and university. Now, I only have time for technical books -_-. I am looking forward for the day when i finally have time to read novels and story books again :).
CC: Neither can I , get very dizzy after awhile. I hope you’ll find the passion once again.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:18 am
除了依然坚持看书
传统的信件在我心中也比邮件值得珍惜
CC: 我現在看書的速度沒以前快了。好想能回去那段看書看到天昏地暗的日子。
August 21st, 2008 at 2:50 am
[...] I’ve been tagged by cc. [...]
August 21st, 2008 at 4:10 am
I read probably 2-3 books each month, and like you the genre depends on my mood. I always want to read more non-fiction and personal development books, but am more drawn to fiction where my imagination can run free. My favorite time of year for reading is the fall around Halloween when I always want to read something of the horror genre.
CC: I’m more drawn to fiction too, where anything and everything is possible. It allows my imaginations to run wild. Thanks for visiting.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:16 am
I think I myself need to read a bit more so that my kids can learn from me. Reading is better than sticking in front of the stupid box.
CC: Yea, but a little entertaining from the box is what we need sometimes.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Very very interesting and High Five to a book lover
I love books and will not sell them, I hate it when I loan my books to friends they don’t bother to return it GRRrrrrr…..
I am so happy my elder daughter love reading just as much as I do too.
CC: YEAH! I absolutely will not sell my books collection. I also don’t really like to lend books to those who doesn’t know how to handle it properly. i treat my books like treasures. LOL
August 21st, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Reading is definitely the best hobby which can be done alone anytime and anywhere.
CC: Yup, it’s the best!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:30 am
i love reading too, i’m into non-fiction now, currently reading 2 in a go. eat, pray love by elizabeth gilbert, a must read. though a little late on catching on this jem, it’s worth it.
CC: It’s never too late to catch anything good.
Happy reading!
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:41 am
love books, and photos of books. they just leave a warm fuzzy feeling inside. =) am a big fan of fantasy (but not harry potter though). ever tried graphic novels? ultimate mindblowing (and eye candy) collection for me is ’sandman’ by neil gaiman.
CC: No, have thought about it, may give it a try sometime soon. Thanks for the recommendation.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I am crazy about books too. In fact I have a couple of books lined up to be read one after another. If I really really like it- I will buy it but lately I am trying to minimize accumulating stuff so I use a book exchange site called: http://www.bookmooch.com
It is an amazing site, I got almost new books and some well read ones too.
I am reading now “The White Masai” by Corrine Hoffman. It’s a story of a white woman who fell in love with a Masai Warrior in Africa.A great story of love and adventure.
CC: That’s a good program! Probably not for me though, I tend to have the desire to own every single book I love. LOL
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
lol.. yeahh you are a worm!! i don’t really have a reading habit anymore.
CC: Yea I am! Why not? Too busy?
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I read a lot during my school and uni days. Nowadays I still read, but mostly reading stuff online
CC: I find it hard to concentrate when I read online. Gotta be a book.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
And talking about reading, i prefer reading chinese novels than english novels. Cos the description in chinese novels are more lively, and the description is more flowery. I won’t get the same feelings when i read english novels
CC: You are so right! Exactly how I feel!
August 25th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
[...] CC wants to know how and what type of worm I am. So here goes… (nerdy worm ) [...]
August 25th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Yoohoo!!! I love Sophie Kinsella too!
CC: I’m reading The Shopaholic and Baby. Funny!
August 30th, 2008 at 10:54 am
[...] on August 30, 2008. Filed under: myself | Sometime ago, I was tagged by cc of http://www.quaintmelody.com and my apologies to her for having taken my sweet time to get down to it. Well, as they say, better [...]