I really enjoyed reading the answers to last week’s question, and seeing which books have made a significant impact on you. The power of words, and the power of story, is truly incredible.

Ready for another question? Here we go…

Where do you love to read? Do you have a favorite chair, a favorite room, a favorite place…somewhere that inspires you to put everything else aside and pick up a book?

While it’s true that I’ll read just about anywhere and everywhere, there are a few places that bring me particular reading joy.

• Our swivel chairs by the window. We have two super-comfy swivel chairs that sit right in front of a huge window in our living room. I love those chairs. And I love to read in those chairs. I think it’s primarily a combination of their major comfortableness and the fact that they sit in the sunshine. There’s not much better than having a cup of coffee on the nearby end table, and being all curled up in one of those chairs with a good book.
• Bed. It doesn’t matter if it’s my bed, a guest bed at someone else’s house, or a hotel bed in Toronto. Reading before I fall asleep is something I’ve been doing as long as I can remember. My husband is the same way, and I love that our boys are following in our reading-before-sleeping footsteps. A good night’s rest is much more attainable if it’s preceded by a reading session.
• Outside. To be honest, I’m a little picky when it comes to being outside. I don’t like it to be too hot…or too cold. But when the weather is just right, I do like to take a book outside and read while the kids play. At our old house, we had a patio where I hung out, and at this house, we have a huge deck. Of course, we don’t have a bit of deck furniture yet, but when spring arrives, finding a great reading chair for the new deck will be one of my priorities!

Well, it seems that we are right around the halfway point of Fall Into Reading 2011. I can’t believe how quickly this challenge is speeding by! In honor of the fact that we’re halfway done, I have a little bonus question this week, for those of you who are participating in the challenge.

But first, our regular weekly reading question…

Is there a book that has had a tremendous impact on your life? One that made you look at life in a whole new way, or caused you to completely change something in your life?

As a Christian, I have to say that the Bible is the first book that comes to mind for me. It’s through the Bible that I see God’s love for me displayed and learn of His desire to save His children and redeem His creation. It’s in the Bible that I read of Jesus’ sacrifice, made so that our sins can be forgiven. Nothing is more profound or has had a greater impact on my life. And because it is God’s Word, the Bible continues to impact me, influence me, and transform me on a continual basis. By far, it is the most important book I have.

There are other books that have deeply impacted me as well. One of those is The Hiding Place, the true story of Corrie ten Boom and her family, and their experiences during World War II. The sacrifices they made and the faith they had left me humbled and challenged. Rarely does a week go by when I am not reminded in some way of something I read or learned in The Hiding Place.

What about you? What book has changed your life in some way?

Now for our bonus question…

How is your Fall Into Reading coming along? Are you on track? Ahead of schedule? Falling behind?

Confession: I’m not doing so well. Our move to a new house has utterly and completely derailed my good reading intentions. Oh, I’ve gotten some reading done, but not nearly enough. I’m overwhelmed with stacks of boxes, trying to figure out how to organize things here, and changing our address with 5,274 or so different companies, institutions, and magazine publishers.

So, I think I’ve finished four books, but my pace has gotten slower and slower. And with the holidays right around the corner, I’m not sure I’ll be able to catch up.

Let me know how you’re doing. Hope you’ve been able to read more than I have!

So last week we learned that while some of you are absolutely dedicated to reading every word, many of you skim…occasionally…when the situation or the book calls for it. Glad I’m not the only one!

Now for this week’s reading question…

When it comes to fiction, are you more of a “plot person” or a “character person”? If you had to choose, which concept would win out when it comes to picking and loving a book: plot or character?

I think we can all agree that the best books have well-developed, interesting characters AND absorbing plots. Good authors have learned that interesting characters can propel a great plot, and a well-structured plot can add to a character’s growth and believability. But the truth is, we don’t always get both.

My closest friends will not be surprised when I say that, if forced to choose, I’m a “plot person.” That doesn’t mean I don’t care about character development. (In fact, I’ve been known to quit halfway through a book that had characters I couldn’t stand or relate to.) But I’m much more likely to walk away from a book that goes nowhere (or gets there very, very slowly) than a book whose characters are a bit one-dimensional.

My preference shows in the fact that I love a good thriller. If you can keep me turning pages, wondering what will happen next, I can overlook a little inconsistency or shallowness of character. However, you can have the most incredible characters, revealing depth and growth and layers, but if nothing exciting is going on…well, I will really struggle to finish the book.

What about you? What’s more important? What aspect of a novel contributes more to your enjoyment of it (or lack thereof)? Plot or character?

I have to admit, it’s a bit of a relief to know that I’m not the only one with overloaded bookshelves and a large personal collection of books. Thanks for making me feel normal! It’s fun to think of all you book-lovers who, like me, have books stashed in pretty much every room of the house.

Ready for this week’s question? Here it is…

Do you skim? Or are you faithful to read every word?

I clearly remember the evening (early in our marriage) when I first confessed to my husband that I have been known to occasionally skim while reading. I assured him that I usually only skim when I’m reading fiction, and only in rare circumstances. For instance, if an author insists on veering off into lengthy and boring passages of description that add nothing to the plot and do not capture me with their beauty…I feel no guilt in skimming right over them. Or if I find myself in the middle of a book that infuriates me, frustrates me, or bores me to tears…in that case, I’ve been known to skim along, gleaning what few key points there are along the way, just to finally get to the end and discover the resolution of the plot.

My husband was shocked and did not approve. However, I’m happy to say that he has since come to accept my periodic tendency to skim what I deem unnecessary material.

I will also admit that there are times when I zone out while reading, and come to the end of a page or chapter, only to realize that I have no idea what I just read. When that happens, it’s usually time to put the book down. And if it happens with the same book repeatedly, it’s probably time to set that book aside for good.

What about you? Are you dedicated to reading every word (even the boring ones)? Or have you been known to skim over some passages?