So it seems--Dr. Smith tagged me last night to participate in a book meme that has been making the rounds. I'll do what I can, but I can never really do these things well, because there's so much I have forgotten. But, we'll give it a shot.
1. How many books have I owned? I don't know. Thousands? Still have stacks and stacks of them. And keep buying them. I'm like those little old ladies who keep cats.
2. The last book I bought was: Well, the last "book" I bought (in quotes, because it's not literature, but a technical manual) was a Haynes Volvo 240-series Repair Manual. Haven't gotten to read it yet, alas. The last literary sort of book I bought (sorta, it being not really a purchase by me, but by Miss Reba for my birthday) was Sun Tzu's Art of War. Still working on it.
3. The last book I finished was: I'm not sure, but I think it was Hampton Sides' Ghost Soldiers. This is supposedly some sort of a basis of an idea of a pitch of a story of an concept of a thought for the screenplay for an upcoming movie called The Great Raid. You can read a pre-release pre-review and commentary from noted moviemakers here.
4. What books made an impression on me? Well, the Bible (Jim posted his favorite version, and mine would have to be the ASV of 1901), and The World Book Encyclopedia (1959 Edition), and then everything else. I wish I could point to several out of all the books I've read over the years and be able to say with certainty that this one or that one had a profound influence on me, but it's hard to distinguish them, and they ALL had, and have, an influence on me. Maybe it would be easier with categories--I love history, especially military history and art history. I love architecture, and science, especially mechanical science. I tend to like straighforward storytelling in literature (no psycho mumbo-jumbo, no whodunnits, no bodice-rippers, just tell me the danged story and keep your plot points straight!), and humor, especially Twain and Thurber.
NOW THEN, who to tag next? I'm gonna tag Skinnydan--he needs something to take his mind off of computers. Heh.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at August 4, 2005 10:16 AMI wish I had remembered the World Book. then i would have ahd to mention a specific letter.
Posted by: jim at August 4, 2005 10:40 AMI always liked the A, and the S, and when I was feeling particularly adventuresome, there was the WXYZ volume.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 4, 2005 10:50 AMThe “S” was pretty thick and good. I always felt sorry for some like the “U”. Basically after Utah and Uranus U’re done.
Posted by: jim at August 4, 2005 11:04 AMI will, despite my better judgement.
Uranus is the end, isn't it?
Posted by: skinnydan at August 4, 2005 11:16 AMLuckily, U had T to keep it company, so you could learn about turkeys AND Uranus.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 4, 2005 11:18 AMLet the weird Google search referrals begin!
Posted by: Nate at August 4, 2005 01:04 PMOh, they won't come here. Will they?
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 4, 2005 01:09 PM