Before I get on to this week’s Monday Meme (yeah, I know I’m late!) I just wanted to mention that today is Pink Shirt Day and I am wearing mine proudly! Although you can’t really see what the shirt says in these photos the intent is to show support against bullying. Poulet Koenkamp of Purple Moon has this shirt – and a guy’s version – at her store for a minimum donation of 10L. You may, of course, pay more and all proceeds are going to CKNW Orphans’ Fund in support of Boys & Girls Clubs Anti-Bullying programs. The shirts are transfer, so you can pick up a few to pass along to others. Big thanks to my lil Cao for bringing this to my attention. You can read more about it on her blog.

Now, on to the meme! It is all about books, which I think were my very first love affair. Miss Berry wants to know all about our reading habits. Here are the instructions:

Copy and paste the following questions and answers into your post, delete my answers and input your own. Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in the comments (of this post) so we can all come and see. If you create an image for this meme, feel free to share it in the Blog Memes Flickr Group.

1. Are you a bookworm? – I am. I panic if I don’t have a book to read, which is why I have read a lot of books more than once.

2. Which do you prefer: hardcover, paperback or electronic? – I am now a dedicated e-reader. I have a Kindle and have the Kindle app loaded onto my tablet and my phone. In fact, I probably read more from my phone than anything, a habit I picked up taking the train (one less thing to carry). That’s why I had to include this picture!

3. Which book is your favorite? – This is not an easy question! I love the written word, so it is difficult for me to choose just one. I guess I’ll go with “The Pickwick Papers” by Charles Dickens because it is the book that gave me a love of the classics.

4. Which children’s book is your favorite? – The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I have linked to a reading of this book by the author. There is just something so moving about this book and I have given a copy to all of my nieces and nephews, even though I didn’t discover it until I was an adult.

5. What’s the last book you’ve read? – I just finished “Bad Blood” by Dana Stabenow and I’m really pissed off with the way she ended it!

6. Name your top five favorite writers: – In no particular order, Charles Dickens, Sue Grafton, Dana Stabenow, Stieg Larsson and Jean M. Auel. With the exception of Dickens these authors write about recurring characters. I get invested in a person’s story and I want to know more.

7. Name a book that had a strong impact on you: – Believe it or not, “Pippi Longstocking” by Astrid Lindgren. It is the book that, as a child, gave me my love of reading. I wrote a book report on it in second grade because I wanted homework, like my sister. A few months ago my niece sent me a packet of papers that she found after my Mom passed away. That book report was one of the things Mom kept. Tears…so many tears.

8. Favorite & least favorite book genres? – I love classics and crime novels, particularly with strong female leads. My least favourite are formulaic bodice-rippers and fantasy.

9. Favorite & least favorite book-to-movie adaptions? – I can’t really think of a favourite book-to-movie adaptation. The book is always better. As for my least favourite, hands down, “The Shining” by Stephen King. I am not a fan of scary movies, but I actually laughed through that one.

10. Have you ever bought a book based on the cover alone? – Probably, but I can’t recall what it would be. I do frequently buy a book based on the author alone, though.

11. Where do you usually buy your books? – Since I read almost exclusively using the Kindle app I buy all of my books through Amazon.

12. Do you go to the library? – Not any more. But I grew up checking out the maximum number of books on each visit and I sometimes talked my sister into checking out one or two for me.

13. How many books do you own? – Actual paperback and hardbacks, I probably am down to a couple of hundred. I donated at least that many to a local second-hand bookstore when I moved two years ago. I have over 300 on my Kindle. That is another reason I love e-reading – I don’t have to worry about where to put them.

14. If you were to write a book about Second Life, which topic would you focus on? I would write about the ease with which people get to know others from all over the world. How people who would probably not give one another a second glance in real life become so close. I would have to include how Second Life gives people the opportunity to realise their dreams – even if it is in a virtual fashion. I guess I would in fact, be writing about the limitless possibilities Second Life offers.

Doing the pictures for this blog, I realised my love of reading carries over to my Second Life. I was spoiled for choice of items to use in these photos. Bookcases, stacks of books, magazines, single books, pose props, furniture…you name it, I had it! It is days like this that I love having an embarrassingly large inventory 😉

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Top: Purple Moon – :: PM :: Pink Shirt Day – Bullying Stops here by Poulet Koenkamp (minimum donation 10L)
Jeans: Maitreya Zipper-Skinny Jeans * S #4 by Onyx LeShelle
*Hat: JfL Hats – Kufi hat V.4 grey B by Johnfrancis Laville
*Shoes: fri.day – fri. – Lizzie.Slippers (Red) for Slink Flat Feet by Darling Monday (available at The Seraphim Social – ends Feb. 28th)
Necklace: Cae :: Promise :: Necklace by Caelan Hancroft
Earrings: Cae :: Promise :: Earrings by Caelan Hancroft
Ring: Cae :: Promise :: Ring by Caelan Hancroft
Hair: Amacci Hair Nicky ~ Sangria by Carina Larsen
Nail polish: Izzie’s – Slink Avatar Enhancement – FINGERNAILS (metallic) by Izzie Button
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Peach Lips MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Eye Makeup: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Smokey Eyes by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro
Hand & Feet appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand & Feet Appliers SK by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

*Book in hand: Frogstar – Lost in a Good Book #2 Elizabeth’s Journal RARE by Ravenna Rossini (gacha prize at The Seraphim Social – ends Feb. 28th)
Bookstack with coffee cup: {vespertine– bookstack}boxed by Amelie Knelstrom
TV bookcase: Alouette – Antique TV Bookcase (#2) by Scarlet Chandrayaan (gacha prize)
Dresser: Alouette – Bookshelf Drawers – Pink by Scarlet Chandrayaan
Books bookshelf: Alouette – Literal BOOKshelf (#4) by Scarlet Chandrayaan (gacha prize)
Large bookcase: LISP – Mesh – Jacob Bookcase with books by Pandora Popstar
Piggy Bank Bookshelf: LISP – Piggy Bank Bookshelves by Pandora Popstar
Sofa: floorplan. kitsch loveseat w/ pillows / audrey by Tegan Serin

Pose prop lying down: Flash Friendly Poses – Bookworm 5 RARE by Lashae Karsin (gacha prize) – Store closed
Pose on sofa + phone prop: aDORKable Poses: Call Me 8 by Adorkable Peapod