It’s been a minute since I’ve really discussed books on here, mostly because I’ve been so busy doing other things that reading has fallen by the wayside. But no more, here, have a book tag.
I found this via Pinterest, actually. I didn’t mean to get it from there (I avoid Pinterest on the best of days, but things happen). Apparenlty this one has been around for nearly ten years now, so it’s been a minute. It’s pretty popular on Youtube, but of course, I’ve over here right now, so yeah.
I have some time set aside today to work on this, so let’s knock out all… 25?! Ok. All 25 questions. Here we go.
1. Do you get sick wile reading in the car?
No, not at all, luckily. I’ve always been someone who has had their face in a book or a computer screen when in the car, so it never bothered me. Heck, when I was twelve, my Mom and I drove from Florida all the way to Maine one summer, and I read the entire Little House on the Prairie series in the car. It was wonderful!
2. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
The book at immediately comes to mind is the Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. The writing style is filled with various cliches that are then brought to life in the prose. There’s just something about it that has helped shaped me, not just as a writer, but as a person. (I still say “don’t jump to the Island of Conclusions.”)
3. Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.
Ok, look. I can go with the series with the problematic author, or the poorly written trash. I’ll take Harry Potter, because while the author has become problematic, the series shaped my life in ways I could never truly and completely describe. It helped create a bridge between my mom and I after my Dad’s death, and also helped me get friends time and again. It introduced me to the fanfiction world. And honestly, even now it sticks in my mind. It’s a success story, even if there is a few large craters in the road now.
4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is in it (besides books…)?
So, pre-pandemic, I didn’t carry a purse. I purchased a messenger-style camera bag off of Amazon and used that to hold what would normally be in a purse, as well as my notebook, several pens, PSVita or Nintendo Switch (depending on the day), keys, Pocky (I’m a chiche recovering anime nerd, bite me), and whatever else I needed. Right now I only use a small purse because I’m just going in and out of stores quickly, instead of going to work, stores, book club, etc.
5. Do you smell your books?
Um. No. Acutally I don’t. I’ve never understood the whole “new book smell” thing. It’s not something I do.
6. Books with or without little illustrations?
It doesn’t bother me either way. I normally don’t really notice illustrations, but when they are there, I’m curious to see what the artist has chosen to highlight. Besides, I grew up reading comic books as well as novels. Illustrations have every reason to be in books, even for adults.
7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
I’m going to stay away from the normal, popular answers and go with something off the wall. Wilder Girls by Rory Power was the first B&N YA Book Club book I ever read. When I first read it, I really enjoyed it. But as I was sitting back and thinking about it later (before the club meeting), I realized there were some problematic elements to it. The book club actually helped me articulate those issues that I couldn’t seem to put into words. It was… enlightning to say the least.
8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
I have a few! The funniest was a conversation I walked into, after a Girl Scout meeting. I had to have been about ten. Mom was with all the other moms, and they were complaning about us girls staying up way too late. Mom didn’t realize that the other moms menat that the girls were up watching TV. She thought they were like me, sitting by my night light and reading late into the night. When she realized it, she couldn’t help but laugh.
The other was when I managed to flat out embarrass my kindergarden teacher’s aide. We had to break into little reading groups, and once a week we were with the aide. I hated it, because the books were so simple, and I was already reading the Boxcar Children and the Babysitter’s Club, not ten to twenty page simple books. When the aide asked us which book each one of us were up to (there were… 20 I believe), everyone had pointed to the middle of the stick. I just held up which ever book I had with me. She didn’t believe me, so I started reading aloud. And yes, I did stumble on a few words, but still. I had learned to read by the time I was three. It was important in my household.
9. What is the thinnest book on your shelf?
If we ignore graphic novels and comics, I think that would be The Tales of Beetle the Bard. I actually have never read it. It was a gift from a former coworker’s wife, after he passed away unexpectively. It’s annotated by him, and I don’t ever want to ruin it. So I keep it safe, but I don’t touch it.
10. What is the thickest book on your shelf?
The Chronicles of Narnia. I have a paperback edition that included all the books. The pages are so thin that it’s almost unreadable.
11. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
Yes, I do write. Currently I’m working on a passion project that I’ve barely hinted at on this blog (mostly because I don’t want to lose my drive for it). I’m also a fanfic writer, currently moving between fandoms. I’d love to be a published author in the future, if the cards are dealt that way to me one day.
12. When did you get into reading?
This is another multi-answer question. I learned to read at three. I started enjoying it while I was in second grade, mostly because showing up my horrible teacher was a treat. By middle school, I’d read through the library, as well as the local public library (before Mom got us banned due to a mistake on their part. That’s a whole other story.). After college, when I got burned out from reading and writing, I didn’t get back into it until moving to California, because I really didn’t like the people at my job, and books kept them from talking to me.
13. What is your favorite classic book?
I’m terrible. I don’t have one. I’m not a fan of the classics. It has nothing to do with the contents. It’s the writing style. I’m so used to the modern style, that I just can’t read it. I’ve tried. The closest I have gotten was reading Far From the Madding Crowd last year, and that was a struggle. That’s not to say that I don’t respect classics, becasue I do. And I love that so many people love them too. I’m just not one of them.
14. In school, was your best subject Language Arts/English?
Kinda? See, the problem is, I got good grades in most of my classes. I just didn’t get along with my English teachers. I can get pretty opinionated and passionate about things I love, and hearing teachers knock that down could set me off. I was always careful to toe the line, but I wouldn’t be able to say I scored A’s because I ran my mouth too much.
15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated… what would you do?
This has happened to me before! I was gracious and accepted the gift… and the next time I had the oppertunity, I donated it to a local shelter. I never told the gift giver. It wasn’t her fault, and at least she made an effort. If people ask me what type of book I want for a present, I usually give titles, or just say gift card. It’s safer that way.
16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?
In this day and age? There’s too damn many to count. The problem is, the YA community has become satricated with both Magical books, as well as dystopian stories. But I think for this question, I’ll go with the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. It’s a series of novellas that are based in a school, with children who have gone through “doorways” to other worlds, and returned changed and different. It’s a really cool concept.
17. What is a bad habit you always do while filming while blogging?
(Edited because I’m not filming this). I get distracted. A lot. I’ll start working on a post, then maybe stop to check Twitter, then AO3, then work on a post again, then change the music, then go to bed… And completely forget what I was working on.
How I’m trying to break this is by only working on one thing at a time. My phone is on a book shelf, currently, and the music is in another tab that I can’t touch without leaving this screen. If I do everything in one sitting, I can get it done faster, and more coheriantly.
18. What is your favorite word?
I don’t really have one. There are a lot of words that I love, but I don’t have just one favorite. (Ten years ago, this answer would have been “literally”.)
19. Are you a nerd or a geek?
There’s a difference? Screw it, I’m a geek. And a nerd. I’m forever reading, or writing, or watching a show and getting into fandom. It’s how I’ve shaped portions of my personality.
20. Vampires or Fairies? Why?
… I don’t really have an opinion anymore. I’ve kinda been burned out on fantasy and mythical creatures lately. But honestly, I’ll go with the classic werewolf, because I’m nothing if not cliche.
21. Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?
… Really? I didn’t look ahead at these questions, and now I regret it. Um, shapeshifters. I’m burned on the angelic stuff.
22. Spirits or Werewolves? Why?
Le sigh. Werewolves. I don’t like ghosts.
23. Zombies or Vampires? Why?
Vampires. Mostly becasue The Walking Dead killed zombies for me.
24. Love Triangle or Forbidden Love?
This is a tough one, becaseu both are great, but also suck. Love triangles are fun, but I always end up rooting for the underdog who never gets the “point” of the triangle. Forbidden love is also fun, but it sucks, becasue there’s always that moment when you realize that the love can’t work.
I’ll stick with enemies-to-lovers.
25. AND FINALLY: Full on romance books or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in?
Bring me action! I need drama, I need fighting, I need a plot that doesn’t just revolve around romance. It’s fine if it’s there, but I don’t usually like it if that’s the central plot. It gets really boring to me, most of the time.
And that’s it! Besides those four questions that could have been combined into one, this was a lot of fun, and a total inversion to the tags I’ve done before. I’ll keep my eyes open for some that aren’t book-based and give them a whirl one of these days.
Until next time!
