Book meme thing

Paulie (trustedhippy_fd) tagged me (the bastard). So I've got to do a book meme. OK, easy, I love books. Only, um, I have to choose one, for each. Ah, bugger. This may take awhile. However, before that, an answer to his question:

I've been meaning to write a post here asking if anyone else has found it a lot harder to read decent fiction since they started blogging?

Yes, yes, and thrice yes. The more I've been writing and reading online,t he less time I spend reading books. I used to avarage a book a week, sometimes one a day. Currently, I'm at less than one a month, and the too read pile is huge.

I'm reading more, I'm better informed, I'm aware of every theory about the latest news story (including most of the crackpot ones), but actual, real, books?

Example. An entry from over a year ago. That book I quoted from? I bought it in the Xmas sales in 2004. It looks immense, it's from one of my favourite authors. Still in the pile next to the bed. Still unread. Sure, I've bought, and read, other books since then, but 18 months after purchase, an Iain M Banks hardback sits there unloved. Ah well. Anyway, to arms my friends, to arms...

( A list of books, and why I like em )

10. Five others that you’d like to do this
Ah, bugger. OK. Chris devils_kitchen and Chris strange_stuff. paulatpingu, faeriecween and susannah_banana

And anyone else that wants to.