What are you reading right now?

A booky meme which I was tagged by Becky for.

What are you reading right now?
The Book Thief. Use of Weapons. Hiding the Elephant. Essentially Richard’s book collection.
I normally only read one book at a time, but I went through a phase of not being able to pick up a book at all, so now I have lots of other people’s to catch up on. I’m sorry, I’m sorry!

Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?
Because of said reading absence, I’ll be taking a great pile of books with me on holiday next week, including some good old trash from Anita, and two Sebastian Faulks from Ruth. Engleby and Human Traces.

What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now?
None. I do have a book called Passing Time in the Loo, though. A freebie from a book fair which serves its purpose. I always read GQ in the bath. It just doesn’t live there.

What’s the worst thing you were ever forced to read?
Aside from the revoltingly dull feminist drivel I was forced to read as part of my degree, I would say perhaps the odd military history manuscript. Some people just can’t write for toffee. Like literary nails on a blackboard.

What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?
I don’t normally like recommending books to people because they are such a subjective choice. I always fear I’ll get it wrong. Imply I don’t understand them. Or display an appalling lack of taste in literature. However, there are three books which I feel have left a permanent stamp on me, and so would be the books I’d probably recommend, if anyone were to ask. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. The Time Traveller’s Wife. The Giving Tree.

Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don’t they?
I don’t currently belong to a library. I often consider it, seeing as I only live round the corner from one, but I just never seem to get through my current ‘to read’ pile before more are added.

Is there a book you absolutely love, but for some reason, people never think it sounds interesting, or maybe they read it and don’t like it at all?
Aside from my secret Jilly Cooper fetish - who I am sure many would say is a Marmite author - I am sure there are many books which I adore and lots of people would hate! Probably The Secret Life of Bees if I had to pick one.

Do you read books while you eat? While you bathe? While you watch movies or TV? While you listen to music? While you’re on the computer? While you’re having sex? While you’re driving?

While eating: Of course. Who doesn’t? Nothing quite like a Sunday morning with a good book and a peanut butter bagel. Aside from perhaps a half-naked Daniel Craig lying next to me, being showered with crumbs.

While bathing: Again, of course. Bubbles, book, bath. Sigh.

While watching movies or TV: No, no, no. These are three very separate things. Why read a book half-heartedly? No point in reading it at all.

While you listen to music: Not often. If I’m listening to a new CD I’m certainly listening to the lyrics and therefore would never be reading as well. Sometimes though, I just like having good music on in the background no matter what I’m doing.

While on the computer: No. Unless of course you count reading something like this…

While having sex: If this is even remotely a consideration, you should not be having sex with that person. Either train them to get better, or find a new one.

While you're driving: Despite many people’s mutterings that I’m a rather mad driver, ahem, I would never try to do this. Aside from the running theme through these responses that reading is all-encompassing, and therefore should not be juggled, I really don’t think it would be wise.

When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits?
Never. Not many children teased me when I was little.

What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?
The last Harry. I just had to know.