book meme

Now, as a reward for finally writing that review, I can do the book meme, for which I was tagged by both of the wonderful Post-doc and Dr. Brazen Hussy.

1. One book that changed your life?

Like Ceresina, I had trouble thinking of a book that actually changed my life. I love books, obviously, but I don't know how much they actually affect my real life. If I had changed my life based on something I'd learned from fiction, it probably would've been a good thing.
Instead, the only book I came up with was this one: Shy Children, Phobic Adults (or possibly there was a different one I read first, but it was something similar at least). It was on display in the "recently returned" section at the local library when I was 18-ish and luckily the library had self-checkout machines or I never would've borrowed it. Before I read that book, I thought I was just a socially-incompetent freak who never had anything to say and was going to be alone and miserable forever. I didn't realise there were other people who were terrified of talking to people in the same way. After reading the book, I looked up more information about social anxiety online, and I think that was the first time I encountered the shyness support groups I later joined, although I was too scared to even write anything then.
As I read about other people's experiences and treatment programs, I started to be hopeful that maybe I could stop being so miserable and lonely, too, but unfortunately, my "real" life isn't that dramatically different to how it was then, but I have gained a whole online life, which has been almost entirely a good thing.

2. One book you have read more than once?

How about the book I've read the most times? That would be A Solitary Blue by Cynthia Voigt. I've written about this book before, but when I went to find the post, I realised that not drawing attention to the archives was a good idea...

3. One book you would want on a desert island?

The complete Tillerman series (including A Solitary Blue)? I don't think that's been collected in one volume, sadly... The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams, perhaps. Or maybe Jane Austen would be better, or Winnie the Pooh. Could I arrange to have all of these bound into one enormous volume (with the rest of Douglas Adams' books added in)?

4. One book that made you laugh?

Anything by Douglas Adams. I tried reading other humourous science fiction/fantasy to make up for my withdrawal since he didn't write enough books, but while I enjoyed some other authors (eg Terry Pratchett, Tom Holt) when I was 14, none of the others have lasted.

5. One book that made you cry?

The Time-Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger. Also, Last Chance to See, by Douglas Adams. I just left Dr Brazen Hussy's answers there because they're true for me, too. I also just read the Book Thief, which had me sobbing even more than the Time-Traveler's Wife.
Really, though, almost anything will make me cry.

6. One book you wish had been written?

The rest of The Salmon of Doubt. A Meg and Calvin book.

Updated: I forgot to also copy Shrinky's answer. I want a book about "me", too. One that doesn't skip from the awkward stage I can relate to, directly to the (reasonably) happily ever after ending. I want the instructions in the middle!

7. One book you wish had never been written?

This one (I could do without the whole genre, actually)

8. One book you are currently reading?

The Beginner's Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize by Peter Doherty. It was a Christmas present from my mum and it's taken me this long to start it, because I'm not particularly inspired by it. I went to the library today, though, so I have a nice new stack of books to choose from. Next might be The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar (amazon includes Neil Gaiman as an author, but there's no mention of him on the copy I have here).

9. One book you have been meaning to read?

My holds list at the library includes I'm Not the New Me by Wendy McClure and Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. I still have the first book of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle on my shelf, too.

10. Now tag five people:

I listed more than one book for almost every answer; can that make up for not tagging people? No?
I hate tagging people, but I love being tagged, so I guess I should try. So, you're it, wolfa, sheepish (you can have an extension since you're on holiday), galaxy, sftr (if I tag you will you come back out of hiding?) and whoever else wants to do it.