Jamie's A-to-Z Survey (finally!)

Aaaaaages ago, Jamie did this awesome post called the "A to Z Survey," and I loved it and wanted to get in on the fun and share my A-to-Zs with you. I finally got around to starting a response last fall, and got about 1/2 way through before the Dark Ages that was the end of 2013, when everything got pushed to the side and forgotten about.
But I knew I wanted to circle back around to this one, 'cause I still find it really interesting and fun. So even though it's been forever since Jamie's original post, here's my response to the

Because it was started in October and just now finished, the answers are a bit of a mix of old stuff and new... It was kinda fun for me to look back on, actually! Anyway, check it out, let me know what you think, and let me know the answers to some of your faves in the comments!

Author you’ve read the most books from:

 Mine is listed as Kaoru Mori, but I'm sure if we're being strictly literal, it'd be someone like RL Stine or Christopher Pike, or any number of series authors I read as a kid. I'm okay with going with Kaoru, though - I love her, and have read her manga multiple times. (I mean, Victorian maids? What's not to love?!)

Best Sequel Ever:

Hmm. I think I'd have to go with Days of Blood and Starlight, which not only made me love it (surprisingly more than DOSAB), but also felt like exactly what it needed to be. No sophomore slump there!

Currently Reading:

I'm in the middle of roughly a million things (sort of. Maybe.), so: almost done with Demonglass and Sorrow's Knot, have started The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland... and should probably have finished one of them up, but then this happened:


What's a girl to do?
Edit: This post was started in October, and I don't want to change many of my answers from then, but this book has long since been finished and loved. I am now currently reading this.

Drink of Choice While Reading:

To be honest, if I'm engaged in the book, any drink will probably go forgotten. But if I do have something to drink with my book, it probably has to match in some way. Certain books need tea, Fall books need hot cocoa, etc.

Fun side note, for my bookclub, we rotated who brought snacks/drinks each month, and for my month, when we read Poison Study, I made "Pick Your Poison" mixed drinks. I made a bunch of different fruit purees and concoctions, and all kinds of additives, and we added them to green-tinged lemonade. Yum! They were stored in vials and test tubes labeled with the names of poisons from the book; it was really neat, one of my favorite bookish moments. We recreated this when we brought Maria to town and had a dinner with her - only we added alcohol and served them in jolly-roger votives as shot glasses. ;)

E-reader or Physical Book?

I don't have an e-reader, so... I do want to get one, though, but I'll likely still prefer physical copies. 1) I'm prone to migraines, so screens aren't always my friend. 2) Nothing can replace the feel, smell or look of a Real Book.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Actually dated? Probably no one, because I am a hermit. Secretly pined for? George Cooper. I've said before, George and Gilbert Blythe were my first lit crushes, and they're both crushes that never died. 

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Oh! I have lots of these. But a few have become fast favorites & go-to recommendations, like Jellicoe Road (which I had a number of people push, but none more steadfastly than Ashley) and Daughter of the Forest (which I almost gave up on, if not for the praises of another Ashley. Guess I should learn to trust Ashleys...)

Hidden Gem Book:

Titan Magic. 
The Princess Curse. 
Kindred. 
Madapple. 
Sun & Moon, Ice & Snow.
I could go on...

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

Well, I already talked about the Maria V. Snyder moment; that was pretty cool. But I think probably the most powerful moment is one I've talked about before, so I'll just send you there. (It's after the review)

Just Finished:

Captive, which was...interesting. I'll be reviewing it soon. (Ok, so that was the answer when I started this post, which shows you how long ago that was, since I reviewed Captive back in November... NOW the book I've just finished is our WednesdayYA pick, Shatter Me.)

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I try to be fairly open-minded and not absolutely forbid myself any types of books - you never know what you're going to like, and something you're dead-set against may surprise you. But there are certainly types of books that just hold no appeal for me. I'm  not religious, so heavy-handed religious fiction does nothing for me (which isn't to say I don't like the use of religions or religious elements in books, as I actually find them fascinating. I guess what doesn't appeal to me is didactic and formulaic morality tales. Ugh.); I'm also not a big fan of Vapid Bitch fiction (Gossip Girl, etc.) - watching things like that on occasion is fine and even amusing, but reading it makes me want to hurt things.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

*easy way to find this out. Go to your Goodreads “read” list, and use the sort function to sort by number of pages

Setting aside boxed sets and massive anthologies from my college courses, Goodreads tells me it's The Count of Monte Cristo, which is somehow well over 1000 pages, what? Clearly I blocked this fact out of my head, 'cause that doesn't sound at all right. But I had a much higher big book tolerance as a teen, so maybe I liked that it was massive.
I would have bet on an Anne Rice book, and it would have been a good bet, as my #2 biggest was The Witching Hour, and hells yes, that book is a beast. And no, no it does not need to be the 1200+ pages that it is. It was good, but... damn.

Major book hangover because of:

Hmm. I tend to hop into bed with the next book as soon as the previous book-relationship ends. I don't do a lot of dwelling, generally, and I think I block it out a bit when one really sends me for a loop.
I know I kept thinking about Jellicoe Road for days (and still do), and I know I keep calling Daughter of the Forest in the middle of the night, begging it to take me back...

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Er... 5 in my room (and then there are stacks of books in my closet, and a tote of them under my bed, and another tote or two in the basement), and then 2 more cases throughout the house, but they have other things on them, too.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Only one? I guess Pride & Prejudice has been reread the most, but Anne of Green Gables gives it a run for its money.

Preferred Place To Read:

Outside in nice weather, in a super hot bath in winter, and in my bed anytime.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

Oh jeez. I am a quote freak and hoarde them like crazy, but anytime someone asks me for one, I go blank...

I guess I'll go with The Letter.

Reading Regret:

I try to live without regrets, actually.

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

So many. There are tons that I've been meaning to get back around to, some that I'm unsure on, a few that I desperately want to finish, but are just competing with too many other desperate reads - and then some, like the Chaos Walking series, which I just can't bring myself to finish, 'cause then it will be over! The final book, Monsters of Men, has no joke been on my shelves since well-before it came out in the US, and I pick it up ridiculously frequently and tell myself I'm going to read it...soon...before putting it back and blithely going about my life in ignorance. That book is going to bring me pain, I know it.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

I've already mentioned them multiple times, actually. P&P, Anne of Green Gables, and Daughter of the Forest.

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Um, fairy tales and Jane.
But beyond that, it's a potentially endless list.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Dreams of Gods and Monsters.
Castle Behind Thorns.
Again, I'm bad with picking one thing, and this list could be endless.

Worst Bookish Habit:

I still dog-ear if I'm desperate. Not to keep my place, but to mark a quote if I don't have any post-it flags nearby.  I also risk the unfortunate drowning deaths of a lot of my books, as I frequently read in the tub. (But this is better than when I was a kid and would TOTALLY READ IN THE SHOWER, WHAT WAS I THINKING?)

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

One of my favorites:

Your latest book purchase:

Last to make it onto my shelves can be found here, but I'm currently awaiting the arrival of an impromptu mini-spree, which included All Unquiet Things, Brimstone, Wildwood and Roses & Bones.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

This thing of beauty:

Alright, guys, I know this was a lengthy one, but what are your thoughts? Neat survey, right? Between The Perpetual Page-Turner and The Broke & the Bookish, Jamie kinda leaves me in awe with her awesome ideas and general engagingness. 
Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments - or if you've done this survey, let me know! And feel free to tell me some of YOUR answers while you're here! =D