Friday Fun

Sunday at Ciao Domenica tagged me to participate in this questionnaire:

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE WRITER AND IF SO WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK BY THAT WRITER?

Oh, goodness. I really don't know that I do! I read a lot of Charles Dickens, but I don't always like his books (The Old Curiosity Shop and Hard Times are particular un-favorites). I read a lot of Agatha Christie, but I always get mad at her for employing the deus ex machina. I really like Evelyn Waugh, but he can be a bit depressing. I have a lot of favorite books, but not really any single author whose overall writing I really really love.

I do like everything I've read (so far, at least) by Molière and Richard Brinsley Sheridan, so I guess I have a couple of favorite playwrights!

IF THERE WERE FOUR PEOPLE FROM ANY TIME PERIOD YOU COULD INVITE TO DINNER WHO WOULD THEY BE?

I've thought about this for days now and I know I'd like to invite Lucretius and Voltaire. I always have trouble with the next two. "Am I being too pretentious?" I ask myself. "Would that person be entertaining at dinner?" Perhaps I would just like four of my friends? Is that an option?



DO YOU LIKE TO COOK?  DO YOU LIKE TO ENTERTAIN AT HOME?  IF THE ANSWER IS YES, WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE ENTERTAINMENT AND COOKBOOK AUTHORS?

I like to eat, which isn't quite the same as liking cooking! I sometimes have to bribe myself to get in the kitchen and get to work. I usually listen to NPR or BBC4 or CDs to get myself through it! I enjoy that.

I do like having people over. Even if it is a tad bit more work, it's always worth it. I'd never invited people for lunch until we had friends over for St. Patrick's Day--that was really fun and a nice change from cocktail or dinner parties. I would also like to say that our friends are really awesome for not mocking me when I take dozens of photos of the food!

My favorite cookbook authors are Jane Grigson, Laura Mason, Rose Prince, Nika Hazelton, Julia Child and Nigella Lawson, but I've probably forgotten several.

ARE YOU IN A BOOK CLUB?  WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU HAVE READ RECENTLY?

I tried being in a French book club at our local bookstore, but I got tired of rebuying and rereading books I'd read to get my French degree and hadn't enjoyed the first time! I hate to say it, but I'm not much of a fan of French lit. I like French theatre and philosophy, but have never found a French novel I really loved.

I just reread one of my favorite books (or pair of books) ever--Nancy Mitford's Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. I read it every year. Stay tuned for more on that in later posts.

WHAT ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE DO YOU GO TO WHEN YOU WANT TO RELAX?  DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE NOOK FOR READING OR DAYDREAMING?

My reading nook

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PART OF THE WORLD.   WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR HOME TOWN?

Wichita, frankly, is not very exciting. It's a good thing I'm such a homebody! However, I do like to go to movies at the Orpheum, we have several good antique stores and a pretty decent zoo. There are otters. I love otters.

WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED FORM OF EXERCISE -- WALKING, YOGA, THE GYM, OR OTHER?

Definitely just walking. I've never been a particularly active person (hate sweating!), but I do love to walk, which is part of the reason I really love our neighborhood. It was developed in the 1910s and 1920s and there are so many trees and a wonderful park and beautiful houses, which all make for a pleasant walk! I'd still like to live somewhere much more walkable. I infinitely prefer walking to driving.

I always try to like yoga, because I think being that flexible would be pretty awesome. Unfortunately, I don't ever want to do it. Same thing with a lot of other exercise regimes. If I have to force myself to do it, it's not going to happen. Life's too short.

HAVE YOU EVER WRITTEN OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO WRITE A SHORT STORY, MEMOIR OR A NOVEL?

I haven't written any fiction since elementary school. I always think being a novelist sounds appealing, though. Perhaps I could be the next Barbara Cartland?

ARE YOU A GARDENER, OR ARE YOU A GARDEN ADMIRER?  YOU CAN BE BOTH!

Just an admirer. Everything I attempt to garden dies. I like the idea of gardening, but turns out I don't like it in practice. I'm fine with the watering, but I always manage to put off weeding or anything that requires any actual work (or getting dirty). Consequently, everything dies. My husband and I got really excited about square-foot gardening and we did all the planning and started on the physical labor and gave up. I'd still like to have homegrown produce but I think I'd have to have a gardener.

WHEN YOU TRAVEL, DO YOU LIKE TO GO TO A CITY OR THE COUNTRYSIDE?

Countryside is great as long as we're talking anything quaint and pretty. If we're talking pack up a tent and camp somewhere in the middle of nowhere, that is not OK. As you may have gathered, I'm not "outdoorsy." I love visiting big cities, but I do enjoy little towns and villages, as well.

WHAT WOULD YOUR DREAM CELEBRATION BE FOR A BIG BIRTHDAY?

Fireworks--all white. I've made Paul promise that I'll have them for my 40th (gives him lots of time to save up provided he hasn't forgotten already). Also, I'd like lots of really good champagne.

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How about you, dear reader? Any thoughts on these subjects? Discuss in the comments!