What's On The Shelf?

Kris Reisz recently posted a pic of his shiny new desk, and when I complained I couldn't read all the titles of the books on the shelf behind it, we discovered a mutual addiction - checking out other people's books by desperately trying to see the titles in the background of any pictures they post. After I whined, Kris was kind enough to make it easy, and post a photostream of his ShelfPorn™. Then he challenged us all to reveal our own stash.

I don't have the ambition to photograph all my shelves right now, but I did one and a half and pieced my pics together in a faux shelf, as Kris did. Since I have seven of these book cases, I figure eventually I'll photograph a few more, although one is filled with DVDs and video games from Playstation 2-3, XBox-XBox 360 (Christmas present from eldest child) and Wii. Entertainment is important in our house. You can never have too many copies of Halo, Battlefront, or Guitar Hero. (There's a damn good reason I'm not a musician...) So here are the contents of one and a half bookshelves residing in my dining room - since my laptop is on the table and I'm inherently lazy, I keep most of my need now research materials here. And if it seems a bit excessive, well... Amazon Prime is instant gratification for those of us living in remote areas. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it, like a Corgi on a treat.

As always, click the pic for the absurdly large image...

Poetry

More Poetry and War Psychology

History, Mythology, Strays

Byzantine and other history

Religion, Warfare, more History

Philosophy, Sociology, Science

some Fiction

Knitting, Printmaking, Art

Art and More Art

I haven't gotten to the psychology, architecture, adult education, more art books, and gaming tomes yet. That would require cleaning... Oh, and in case you didn't realize, there isn't a book on Corgis in sight. Imagine that...


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Historical Fiction Preference Meme

Since I liked this bandwagon, and there were no cybertags, threats, or cookies involved, I jumped on board.

Straight Historical, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Historical Romance, or Time Travel?
All of the above, although I'm not big on mysteries. If pressed, I'll admit to preferring Historical Fantasy above others.

Historical Figures as Main Characters or Purely Fictional Characters in Historical Settings as Main Characters?
I prefer purely fictional characters as the main characters, and historical figures as 'accessories'. Sometimes historical figures as main characters comes off as Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure … Depends on the author - My fallback position.

Hardback, Trade Paperback, or Mass Market Paperback?
I only buy hardbacks on a few select authors, and for research books. I prefer Trade paperback because I can actually still read the print. Mass Market, "This book will self destruct in 3 weeks" paperbacks are getting harder for me to read, text and binding wise.

Philippa Gregory or Margaret George?
Margaret George, mainly for Memoirs of Cleopatra, which can also double as a doorstop.

Amazon or Brick and Mortar?
Amazon, because I'm a 284 mile round trip away from a real brick and mortar store. (Note: Amazon Prime is a tool of the devil)

Bernard Cornwell or Sharon Penman?
Bernard Cornwell. He writes more in eras I'm interested in.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?
If I make my 284 mile trek to a real brick and mortar, Barnes and Noble is it. Of course it's the ONLY one there, so beggars can't be choosers.

First Historical Novel You Ever Remember Reading?
Hmm… Red Badge of Courage, Little House on the Prairie, and Last of the Mohicans in elementary school I think, The Winds of War in high school. Those are the ones that stand out. I'm not sure the Iliad and Odyssey count as history novels, besides, I read them as poetry. I read every WWII and Vietnam book I could get my hands on in high school. Now I'm trying to figure out where my ancient history obsession came from. Probably all those art history classes.

Alphabetize by Author, Alphabetize by Title, or Random?
Sorted by subject matter usually. Each subject to its own shelf. (I have LOTS of bookshelves.) No alphabetizing, A) because I can't care, and B) because my child once alphabetized my DVD collection and I could never find anything. I remember titles, not authors anyways.

Keep, Throw Away, or Sell?
Keep. I keep everything. Refer to my Pack Rat post of a few months back if you want gory details. You never know when a book will come in handy. Keep. Everything.

Jean Plaidy or Norah Lofts?
Neither. Not interested in the time periods they write about.

Read with Dust Jacket or Remove It?
Dust Jacket. Then I can use the flap as a bookmark.

Stop Reading When Tired or at Chapter Breaks?
When I get tired.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
Once upon a time.

Buy or Borrow?
I used to borrow from the library a lot, but they frown on writing in the margins. Now I buy almost everything, I can write tirades in the margins and not worry about the books being overdue, not to mention being on a first name basis with my UPS guy. He even brings my dogs biscuits.

Posie Graeme-Evans or Pamela Kaufman?
Neither.

Buying Choice: Book Reviews, Recommendations, or Browsing?
Reviews if they are comprehensive, browsing when available. Especially for non-fiction. Recommendations from a select few people who I trust. In other words, I am not an impulse buyer.

Dorothy Dunnett or Anya Seton?
Dorothy Dunnett just because she was so darn interesting.

Tidy Ending or Cliffhanger?
Tidy ending. I want closure with the characters in the novel. Hints of future problems/turmoil are okay, just make sure THIS book finishes, or I'm apt to never pick up another one in that series.

Sticking Close to Known Historical Fact, or Using Historical Fact as Wallpaper?
Close to the facts. Wallpaper is used to cover up flaws in the walls. *g*

Morning Reading, Afternoon Reading or Nighttime Reading?
What was the question?? I read from can see to can't see.

Series or Standalone?
Either. But a series has to have a plan, not resemble an endless wheel. *cough*

Favorite Book of Which Nobody Else Has Heard?
I'd say mine, but my ego's not that big this week. *g*
Count Belisarius by Robert Graves. What can I say, it's set in Byzantium.

Tagged by Scott, Who Needs A Good Thwacking

I've been Orc-cootied…errr, tagged by Scott Oden to name "5 Crazy Things About Me".

That's kinda tough. I'm not a very wild and crazy person. As a matter of fact, I'm downright boring, I think. So following Scott's lead, I went with quirky. And stupid. I can do quirky and stupid.

1. When I lived in Italy I passed on the chance to go to Egypt on my fall vacation… because it involved getting nine shots. Instead I took a train by myself up to Amsterdam to go see a painting. (Like that wasn't more dangerous?) Yeah, you heard me. A painting. Wheatfield with Crows. Hey, it was a Van Gogh. To reiterate, I skipped a side trip to Egypt to go visit the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum. Then I turned around on Christmas break and hitchhiked across Sicily to see Greek temples. What did I know, I was like, 20, okay?? Get off my back.
2. In the Army Corps of Engineers, my job was blowing things up. (To be fair, we built things too, but it wasn't as much fun). I like alien killing video games, or war/covert ops games. I read military history for fun. I love Rome- the TV program, the era, the Byzantine parts, the whole Empire ambiance. I have a purple belt in karate. I'm the most non violent person I know -- or I'm schizophrenic, I haven't quite figured it all out yet, but I also have a counterculture hippie side that is into Tarot, aromatherapy candles, and Buddhism. Go figure.
3. I never was comfortable giving people orders even though I was a military officer. I still don't. I'm far too polite. (I even say please and thank you to the dogs. They seem to appreciate it.) The problem with being polite is it comes back to bite you. I'm taking mean lessons. My best friend went so far as to give me a new motto, soon to be emblazoned on a coffee cup. "No good deed goes unpunished."
4. I like toys. Still. I have a collection of action figures, model planes, helicopters and cars in my office, including a 12 inch tall Sgt. Lee Ermey (Mail Call) action figure that spouts Marine talk, and Butters from South Park complete with Underpants Gnome. I also have Happy Meal toys, and a foot tall Spongebob Squarepants doll my son won in a crane grab. A hyena that laughs from the Discovery Store. Origami desk calendars. A set of scale model CAT construction equipment painted in military camouflage. LOTR action figures arranged in a cheerleader pyramid. (Elves on bottom) A stress ball in the shape of a grenade. A D&D campaign map as a mouse pad. You get the idea.
5. Much to my teenagers dismay, I can whoop their butts at Halo and Republic Commando. Yeah, I still play games. Mostly video games, but board games, chess, and RPG's when I find willing victims. I tried playing my oldest child's favorite video game, Katamari, but rolling the world up in a ball didn't do anything for me. Neither does youngest child favorite Need for Speed, Various Incarnations, although racing willy nilly through the streets in a muscle car being chased by cops does have its appeal. And he starts driving next year? *shudders* I prefer the simple game pleasures of frag grenades, assault rifles, and kamikaze charges. Who knew?

I hereby tag KC, Carla, and Linda. You're it. Go, girls!