What book(s) are you reading?
I have a number of books on the go at one time: beside my bed, beside the toilet, a couple at school on my desk, one in the car, one in my handbag (along with the latest Code-cracker book).
I can easily keep a number of storylines going at a time.
If a book is really good (like Vanda Symons' The Ring Master), I read nothing else but that book. Otherwise, I flit between a variety.
So, as of today, I am reading: prep by Curtis Sittenfeld because it was recommended and has won an award, Healing the Addictive Personality by Dr Lee Jampolsky because I just love all that stuff that's not good for me (pass the chocolate!), The Book Thief by Markus Zusak because it was recommended by someone who has my taste in books, The Silence of Fear by Denis Marin because I'm reviewing it, What's Happening to our Girls? by Maggie Hamilton because I have two daughters and need all the help I can get and From Afterwit to zemblanity by Simon Hertnon because it enriches my soul and makes me laugh, the Bible because I need to hear from the big guy as often as possible.
What's good about them?
They teach me stuff: how to bring up my girls in the 21st century; how to use cool words; how to love myself (gotta love the new-age gurus - seriously); because they are New Zealand literature and that is always a good thing; because someone said I should and I'm very obedient.
All but prep are useful and entertaining reads.
When do you read?
At night. While I'm waiting. During the holidays or weekend.
Reading is a critical part of my life, up there with being a good mother, wife and teacher.
Everything else comes AFTER reading.
Do you ever abandon a book you don't like?
Nope. I figure if I've started something, I better finish it.
Though I haven't finished The Poisonwood Bible yet, I will.
If I didn't like something and didn't finish it, there would be many books I would not have had change my way of thinking: I hated We need to Talk About Kevin and my husband kept saying "why don't you stop?" I'm so glad I didn't because the ending was amazing.
I am taking ages with prep because it's so, well, introspective.
But, hey, it won an award so it must be good. (Though, Life of Pi did, as well, and I so didn't get that story.)
What book should everyone read?
English classics (Bronte, Harding, Dickens). American classics (Twain, Miller, Hawthorne). Exotic classics: books from India, Asia, Pacifica.
New Zealand fiction (Frame, Gee, Shadbolt, Hume, Nixon, etc); New Zealand children's literature (Beale, Hill, West, McKenzie, Pulford, Lasenby, Falkner, Ford, Colston, Roxborogh?)
Is there a book you've been meaning to read?
More of Hardy, Bronte, Dickens, Twain, Miller, etc
How do you choose what you are going to read next?
Whatever comes from the ODT and the publications of writer friends. Plus any book which has been shortlisted for an award.
As an English teacher, I feel it is my duty to be kept abreast of the current literature.
- Tania Roxborogh's most recent publication is Space Gum.
