Because someone has to represent literate guys in this group…

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?

Usually mass market paperback, if I like it I usually pick up a hardback edition to keep in the collection.

Online or brick and mortar?

Buy online, browse brick and mortar usually.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

I like the atmosphere of Barnes and Noble better, however lately we’ve been going to Borders because my wife gets a lot of reward coupons there.

Bookmark or dogear?

This one is an interesting one… early in my life, I used to dogear all the time. Late in high school, something changed and I stopped doing that opting for a less marring approach. I tend to like things in pristine condition as much as possible, so I don’t like leaving permanent marks.

Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?

If I’m sorting, its alphabetical by author. Usually I’m not sorting.

Keep, throw away, or sell?

Keep them. Throwing away a book actually seems wrong to me. On occasion, I will sell some older books that I don’t read or don’t need, but its usually in a garage sale type of scenario. I’d rather someone else get the goodness out of them than throw them in some dump.

Keep dustjacket or toss it?

Keep it, see above comments regarding keeping things in good shape.

Read with dustjacket or remove it?

I used to read it with the dustjacket, but then I realized that it was usually a lot easier not to. So now I take the dustjacket off and put it somewhere safe while I read the book, and then put it back on later. Unless I need a bookmark, then I leave it on and use the flaps as a bookmark.

Short story or novel?

Novel, usually. I like more setup than most short stories give.

Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?

Collections, because I like consistency. Usually in anthologies you get a few authors that you don’t care much about, or changes in subject or voice that I just don’t like.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?

Harry Potter. Tasha turned me on to these after the fourth book was out and I devoured them in a summer. After that I have read each new book immediately when it comes out… that reminds me that we have to reserve our Deathly Hallows soon.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

Chapter Breaks, slightly obsessive about such things.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?

Depends on the story, really. If this question implies “do you like thrillers, or fairy tales”, I will vote for both.

Buy or Borrow?

Usually buy, but only after strong recommendation or prior knowledge of the author. I’ve borrowed books from friends before, but I’m horrible about reading on the implied timeframe that comes with borrowing a book… it kind’ve has to be on my own terms when I can get into a story and sometimes that takes awhile.

New or used?

New. I don’t like other people’s hobo fingers all over my books before I get to read them. The only time I’ll buy used is if I’m buying a first edition or other rare collectible edition that I can’t find new.

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?

Recommendation, usually. I trust my friends not to waste a few days of my precious free time with crap that I won’t enjoy. I don’t trust random editors, or book covers not to mislead me.

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?

There is room for both. I agree with … if it’s a cliffhanger there had better be a sequel coming.

Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading?

Nighttime, mostly. Work takes up the other two timeslots.

Stand-alone or series?

I like giant epics, so series.

Favorite series?

The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R Tolkein

Favorite children’s book?

Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?

The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect, by Roger Williams.

This is a bleak look at what humanity would become if artificial intelligence were to become so powerful that it could provide for humanity’s every whim. A warning though… it is very Not Safe For Work and contains adult themes of violence, sexual situations, and some Disturbing Things. The book is available to read entirely online and is very excellent.

I was exposed to this through my college class on Forward Looking Computing, where we explored singularity theory and artificial intelligence.

Favorite books read last year?

I started Arthur C. Clarke’s Space Odyssey series, but never finished 2001… I get distracted easily sometimes.

Favorite books of all time?

As previously stated, The Lord of the Rings. If I had to pick one book, it would be The Return of the King.

Least favorite book you finished last year?

I don’t finish books that I don’t like. So none.

What are you reading right now?

Nothing aside from blogs, web usability books, and websites lately.