Zoom It! #AtoZChallenge

Hi! I'm Masako Ara Maine Prado, a.k.a. Ara the Booksnake, and I am a PROUD BOOK NERD!!

I decided to end the A to Z Challenge by sharing a little something about myself. How I read, what I like to read, and who my favorite authors are. Yeesh, talk about pressure.

Okay, first things first. I am a FAST reader. See how I had to type that on all caps? Yeah, I had to emphasize it. I don't know if there's a term for people like me, I haven't Googled it yet (although I might later), but my reading speed is ridiculous. I can finish a 7-800 page book (one that I find interesting of course) in 4 uninterrupted hours or so. I have tried timing myself, so I know. Let me just clarify, I am not boasting. I'm not even proud of it. Why? There's a downside to this "condition" of mine. I may read very fast, but I don't retain that much memory of the scenes in the book after I read it. Sucks right? I have to read a novel about 3 times before I can accurately quote lines from it. Another negative effect is my incapibility of remembering which story belongs to what title and who the characters are. Unless it's a favorite of mine, that is. But I'm not kidding. It's the reason why I started The Booksnake Etc. to begin with. It serves as my ledger and monitors the books I've read, how the story goes, and if I liked them or not. I remember reading an article saying that you read as fast as you talk. That would explain a lot actually, considering I talk like I ate Eminem's songs for breakfast.

If you hang around here for a bit, you would instantly know which genre appeals to me the most. Did you say Romance? Yes? Then you would be correct. I read all kinds of books, but romantic stories and all its sub-genre are my go-to reads. People who know me are usually surprised when I tell them I'm a (secret) hopeless romantic. They tell me I don't look the part, that I seem like the kind of person who enjoys action-packed thriller/suspense books. Maybe even crime and mystery since I like watching TV series like Castle, Criminal Minds, Bones. 

For some reason, the kind of shows and movies I'm fond of watching are the ones I don't like reading about, and vice versa. I have no explanation for this whatsoever. 

Okay, let me iust have a moment to be 110% honest here (not that I was lying at any point before). I don't have a list of favorite authors. I haven't really given it much thought actually. Sure I have a few names that come to mind instantly like: Marian Tee, Lori Foster, Maya Banks, Emma Chase, Marie Harte, J.J. McAvoy. These are just a few of them, like I said. The thing is, if I make a list of authors I love, people might start doubting if they really are favorites. Because what does favoring someone mean? It means you put them on top of other authors. I am unable to do that. Not wired that way, sorry. If I like a book, I instantly consider the author a favorite. 

So where am I going with this? I have absolutely no idea. But I just want to close the A to Z Challenge 2015 with a part of me to share with my readers. It has been a fun 26 days.