Book Blowout Mini-Challenge

Well the July Book Blowout Challenge is off and running, and Mrs. S has already set up a mini-challenge for us! Here are my responses:

Describe yourself in one sentence: A life-long bibliophile, animal-lover and crafter who needs to figure out how to dump the day job and have more time for the books, animals and crafts! :)

What book will you start the challenge with? I'm reading K.I.A. by Thomas Holland and listening on my mp3 player to The Blue Hour by T. Jefferson Parker.

Where is your favorite place to read? Weather permitting it is on my front porch in the swing.

What is your favorite book of all time? This question is too hard because a lot of books have influenced and changed me as a reader - all in different ways. For example, when I was very young The Mouse and the Motorcycle really got me hooked on reading. It's the book I can remember being my first favorite that I could read for myself. Gone With the Wind was pivotal for me in junior high school. In high school, A Tale of Two Cities initiated my love for British Literature which was my concentration in college. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Divine Comedy rocked my college world. I carried my love of Cuckoo's Nest over to my high school teaching career, where it was one of my favorite books to teach. In the subsequent years, I discovered Pat Conroy. Most of his work made a lasting impact on me, but The Lords of Discipline was just...WOW! And most recently, The Monkey's Raincoat sparked my love for crime/mystery/suspense fiction. No one is more special than another to me - they are all extremely significant and must collectively be considered my favorites of all time.

Remind us all of your challenge target: 8