Another meme

As seen at the hidden side of a leaf (original source is Eva):

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

Water for Elephants comes to mind - I just can't bring myself to pick it u p. I've been burned too many times by lots of positive reviews that get my hopes up, I guess.

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

How about a nice dinner party, and I'll invite Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice (for lively conversation), Andrew Wiggin from Ender's Game (for deeper philosophy), and Harry Potter to protect us from the dark forces?

(Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): you are told you can’t die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?

Anything recent by John Grisham.

Come on, we’ve all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it?

The Odyssey - this was assigned for a college class, and I managed to not read it and still pass the exam.

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to ‘reread’ it that you haven’t? Which book?

Wuthering Heights - I have this on my shelf, but I've never read it. Of course I know the story, so that makes me think I've read it.

You’re interviewing for the post of Official Book Advisor to some VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why? (if you feel like you’d have to know the person, go ahead of personalise the VIP)

This is tough - I think Harry Potter, because it's so accessible, and has a good message about heroism and family as well.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?

Japanese, because I would like to someday go to Tokyo and be able to read the street signs.

A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?

Bellwether by Connie Willis - it never fails to amuse me.

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What’s one bookish thing you ‘discovered’ from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?

I've discovered so many books from reading other people's blogs - my TBR pile is always getting taller! It's good to be part of a community that enjoys books.

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.

It would have shelves on every wall, and big comfy chairs to sit in, with lots of light from windows and lamps. It would still have my mix of nice hardcovers and regular paperbacks, but they would be arranged by genre, I think. And there would be a designated place for books that I didn't want to keep but were ready to pass along to someone else. And there would be lots of chairs for friends!