The gray sky is matching the gray siding on the buildings outside my window. The person forecasting the weather is wearing a gray suit and as I look at my hands I realize I’m  even wearing my favorite long sleeved t-shirt from my daughter’s track days and yes, it’s gray. Too gray a day for a list of links my 5 readers don’t link to, so I’m going to do something really radical this morning. I’m going to follow a meme. Yes, a meme! I found it on Helen’s  Book  Blog earlier this week and I think it’ll be a nice change from all the gray. OK, here goes “The Reading Habits Meme”.

Do you snack while you read? If so, favourite reading snack:
I don’t snack while I read. I often consider it but, I prefer just me and the book.

What is your favourite drink while reading?
Water or hot tea, sometimes, but not too often.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
I haven’t done this in a while. I may do it as I read more of the books for my summer workshop, or as I read Bluest Eye for an upcoming roundtable. I tend to mark if I have a specific purpose for reading.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open.
Dog ears if I don’t have a bookmark and will be moving the book. If I can leave it in the same place until I pick it up again, I’ll lay it flat open. My preferred marker is a bookmark. I collect bookmarks when I travel and love the memories they give me while reading.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?
It used to be strictly fiction, but I really enjoy nonfic as well these days.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
It depends on where I’m reading. If I’m at home, sitting still, I’ll tend to go to the end of the chapter. However, if I need to do something, am in the car or waiting in line I can stop anywhere. If it’s a really good book, I can stop anywhere. I won’t rush to the end of the chapter!

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
Do people do that?? It’s just a book!

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
I used to keep a dictionary next to my bed so that I could look words up. I haven’t done it in a while.

What are you currently reading?
The Most Southern Place on Earth: The Mississippi Delta and the Roots of Regional Identity (it’s sitting right here!) and Good Enough.

What is the last book you bought?
The Most Southern Place on Earth: The Mississippi Delta and the Roots of Regional Identity; The Bluest Eye; This Delta This Land by Mikki Saikku

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
I used to be a one at a time reader. Now, I have one book at home, one on my desk at work that I read while waiting for my computer to come up or while eating lunch and I have one in my purse. I love long lines because they’re a chance to read!

Do you have a favourite time/place to read?
I don’t have a favorite place. Maybe I would get more reading done if I did.

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
I prefer stand alone. There are too many books to read to get caught up in a series! I did stick with the #1 Ladies Detective Agency for a while. I got tired of the redundancy, the characters did really develop when I knew the author had the skill and the character he created was so awesome that she should have grown more.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
I often find myself mentioning the last book I read in conversation. When recommending books, I try to give the reader (usually students) what I think they will like. I very seldom recommend a book just because I liked it or just finished it. I’ll only do that if I know I’m talking to someone who might really like it.

How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.)
The books downstairs are nonfic by country/world region.

OK, it’s by topic.

My quilting books are in one place, next to my women’s issues. Education/librarian books are together, YA fic in one place, as are signed books and spirituality. I’ve got one really random bookcase, I think they’re TBR, adult fic and I don’t know what else! Within the topics they’re not really organized.