Booking Through Thursday!

I’ve seen this series of questions floating around the ‘net the last few days, and thought it looked like a good one for us!

What was the last book you bought?
Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman, since than, books I ordered a bit ago have come.

Name a book you have read MORE than once
Ghost World, the graphic novel

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
Not that i can think of

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews
I'm first attracted to the cover and then the summary usually, if the summary doesn't get me it goes back on the shelf. If I read a review of a book over and over again from different sources and it seems interesting it usually sticks in the front of my mind.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Fiction

What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
Plot over writing

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
That's a hard one!  Off the top of my head I'll say Harry Potter!

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
The Wordy Shipmates and My Husband's Sweethearts

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
Loose Girl, finished it last night!

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
Off the top of my head, I gave up on The Bell Jar closer to the end then the half-way point. I remember taking a whole summer to read it and then giving up because it was too depressing. That was sometime in high school!