It’s been a few years since I was last a student, but when I saw this book tag over on Nut Free Nerd, I just couldn’t resist!
1. Math- Which book left your head spinning in circles?
Pretty much anything by Michael Crichton is likely to spin my head round and round, leaving me in a scientifically-induced haze, but I love every minute of it! His characters are typically brilliant, the storylines are complex, and there is more than enough science to challenge even the most scientifically-minded readers.
2. English- Which book do you think has beautiful written expression?
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a master of elegant, evocative prose, and two of his novels, One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera are both perfect examples of beautiful written expressions.
“Madly in love after so many years of sterile complicity, they enjoyed the miracle of living each other as much at the table as in bed, and they grew to be so happy that even when they were two worn-out people they kept on blooming like little children and playing together like dogs.” – One Hundred Years of Solitude
3. Physics- Who is your favourite scientifically minded character?
I’m going to refer back to my old friend Mr. Crichton again! Dr. Alan Grant, one of the protagonist’s in Crichton’s novel Jurassic Park, is one of my favourite scientifically-minded characters. His passion for palaeontology is contagious, and unlike the film version of the character, the original Dr. Grant respects and appreciates children. Adults often question the value of studying the past – dinosaurs are long dead, after all, so what’s the point of wasting time and money digging their bones out of the ground? Children, however, typically haven’t lost their natural sense of wonder, and are often fascinated by dinosaurs, which Dr. Grant and I can both readily understand.
4. Chemistry- Who is your favourite literary couple?
I simple can’t pick just one couple, but one of my life-long favourite romantic pairings has always been Anne and Gilbert, the childhood sweethearts from L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series. A relationship that started with hair pulling and teasing in the classroom slowly and naturally developed into a lasting and loving partnership. Like countless Canadian girls, I grew up swooning and dreaming of one day discovering my very own Gilbert.
5. Biology- Who is your favourite book character?
My favourite book character? Only one?! Can’t choose, won’t choose, nope, nope, nope!
6. French- What is your favourite foreign book?
Why must you ask me to choose favourites! As a book lover, I can’t imagine simply picking a single favourite title. Instead I’ll select one that had a significant impact on me – the Russian novel Cancer Ward, which helped ignite my adolescent obsession with all things Russian. I actually wrote about Cancer Ward previous post.
7. Art- Have you ever judged a book by its cover, even if you weren’t meant to?!
Of course! There’s a reason that publishers (typically) put so much money, time and effort into creating book covers that will attract readers! I try to give books the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes I just can’t get past a terrible cover.
8. History- What was the last historical book you read?
I read a lot of historical titles, whether they’re historical fiction or narrative nonfiction titles. The last book I read that dealt with the past was Still Life : Adventures in Taxidermy, which looks at the art and science of taxidermy, from its roots in the past to its current iterations.
9. Geography- Which literary destination would you really like to visit?
This National Trust British Literary Tour sounds enchanting!
10. Drama- What’s a book that you think has a lot of over-dramatic hype?
I read The Girl on the Train for a book club and despised it. Absolutely despised it. Disliked the story, disliked the characters, disliked the writing, disliked the resolution. Absolutely, completely and utterly over-hyped.
So, what do you think of my choices? Which books would you have chosen? I’d love to hear your thoughts!