How many times have you participated in CBR? Has it changed the way you read?
CBR10 is my fourth go-round. Participating has definitely changed the way that I read! I read more, I read more deeply, and I also read more boldly. I am more open now about being (1) an avid reader and (2) loving the books that I love. As a happy result of being more forthcoming, I’m now in a book club and a regular book exchange. That’s big for me. CBR has enriched my life!
How many chapters do you give a book to hook you before you give up?
I usually give both print and audiobooks about an hour before I decide whether I’m in or out. If it’s a series I like or an author I trust, I’ll give the book a little longer. I think of it as “deciding whether a book is for me or not” rather than “giving up”. There’s no shame in choosing to read something else! That being said, books can help you grow, so don’t be afraid to try something new!
Do you read to your kids? If so, what?
Yes! My kids are one and three. I try to read in front of them a lot so that they see there’s more to life than looking at your tv or your phone. If I’m reading a magazine like Texas Monthly, we’ll sit together and look through all the pictures and name all the things they know. My favorite kid books to read are Little Blue Truck and Mother Bruce. One is about taking care of your neighbors, and the other is all about the grumpy love of a dad.
What three books would you take with you if you were about to be stranded on a desert island?
I’d want a mix of utility and entertainment, so I’d go with a Bible (New Living Translation), the U.S. Army Survival Manual, and one of the Library of America’s giant Raymond Chandler volumes. Chandler’s characters and writing are endlessly entertaining to me, so I wouldn’t have any problem rereading him.
If you were to get a book-related tattoo, what would it be? (Or if you already have one, what does it say?)
A sketch of a card catalog on my neck. The Dewey Decimal System on my forearm. Maybe the Book It logo from when I was in elementary school and got a free Pizza Hut pizza every six week for reading. I do have several tattoos, but probably wouldn’t get a book-related tattoo because my reading tastes change so much.
Who’s your favorite left-handed author/artist?
The awesome thing about this question is that so many creative types are left-handed that I can basically say anyone and I’d be correct. Jimi Hendrix is probably my favorite because his left-handedness helped create his sound – the way he strung his guitar and formed chords and everything.
Anything else?
Get in the habit of using CBR’s Amazon links when you buy stuff online. It only takes a couple seconds, but you can help raise money to fight cancer! I started doing CBR in honor of my (now) wife’s mother, who died of cancer about ten years ago. The American Cancer Society did so much for her and my wife’s family during that difficult time. In fact, our wedding guest gifts were donations to ACS. CBR is another way that we can all give to that great organization!
(Note from Mswas – both the Little Blue Truck and Mother Bruce links here and above are CBR Amazon affiliate links, so go to town! The CBR Buyhole is always available too.)
