The Animal Crossing Book Tag

I was not tagged to do this, but as soon as I saw this on Anna from My Bookish Dream’s blog, I knew I absolutely had to do it! I have been a massive Animal Crossing fan since I was a little kid, so there is no way I could pass this one up. Anna is one of my blogger besties and she runs an absolutely wonderful blog so please go check out her responses to this tag as well as her blog in general! 😀

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THE RULES:

• Please link back to the original creator of the tag, Bookish Things and Tea.

• Answer the following Animal Crossing themed book questions.

• Feel free to use graphics, but be sure to credit Bookish Things and Tea.

• Tag some friends to spread the love!

The graphics that I’m using are from the creator of this tag so all the credit for them goes to her!

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Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – Not that this is going to be a surprise to anyone at this point in my blogging life, but I’ve decided to choose two books instead of one for this question! Rebecca is one of my all-time favorite movies, however, I’ve never actually read the novel. It is definitely at the top of my classics TBR. Flowers for Algernon is one that I’ve heard tons about over the years, but my dad is the one who really sold me on it. He loves this book and really wants me to read it and I definitely plan on doing that soon!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling – In terms of people’s favorite Harry Potter novels, I always feel like I’m in the minority with this one because I have not come across many people who liked the second one the best. There’s something about this plot that really clicks with me and I like how surprisingly dark and serious many parts of it are for a middle grade novel. So, Chamber of Secrets is my absolute favorite book of my absolute favorite series and it also happens to be a second book—voila!

(Honorable Mention: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle – While doing this tag, I realized that I don’t have a lot of favorite books that are actually set in large cities, even fictional ones. This, though, is one of my all-time favorite classics and London is most definitely a large city!

The Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren – This is a very recent read I just got to do last month for a blog tour with Penguin Teen and I absolutely loved it. Honestly, it’s one of those novels that gets even better the more I think about it. The Virtue of Sin is an extremely interesting story that details the dangers of cults as well as the strength women have while fighting for the rights and treatment they deserve. This appealed to both the book nerd and the psychology nerd in me. I would very highly recommend giving this a try!

(Honorable Mention: The Hunt for the Mad Wolf’s Daughter by Diane Magras)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – Yes, I picked two again…but I have an excuse! I cannot think back on my childhood—on my favorite novels that pushed me to become the reader that I am today—and not think of both of these as one. The way they helped to create my passion for literature, turned me into a writer, fueled the fantasy worlds I would escape to in my mind when life became a bit too noisy. What these books have done to my life is more incredible than words can describe.

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb – There was no doubt in my mind that I would have to use this for my answer here. This novel is not only just rich with characters; it is rich with everything. This is such a beautifully told fantasy with a highly detailed and well-constructed world. Filled with a massive variety of colorful characters who leap off the page and intriguing storylines of politics, conspiracy, companionship, and a touch of romance, this is by far one of the best novels I’ve ever read.

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad – I apologize in advance to anyone who likes this novel…but I absolutely cannot stand it. The story is not for me and the writing…um, yeah…that’s a rant I will save you from today! This is genuinely the only book that I have ever read in my entire life where I’ve come away without a single positive thing to say about it. And, lucky me, I have had to study it multiple times in school! 😛

Circe by Madeline Miller – I read this novel last year when it came out and absolutely fell in love with it. It very quickly became one of my favorite novels of all time. My experience with it was even more special because I got to meet Madeline Miller and hear her speak about Circe very shortly after I finished it. This is a beautiful and captivating tale following the witch-goddess Circe. It is an enchanting retelling of Greek mythology and I cannot recommend it highly enough (which is why I keep psyching myself out of reviewing it!).

I tag:

YOU! 😀

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Currently Reading Tag

Wow! It has been ages since I last did a book tag and I’ve been missing them so much! I love getting this more personal experience of chatting with all of you wonderful bookish people! 😀 ❤

I’ve been pushing out a lot of reviews lately, but I promise I’ll be mixing it up with these more casual, chatty posts from now on! And boy, do I have a lot of tags to catch up on! Like this one, which I found through the lovely Zezee from Zezee with Books! So let’s jump right in!

How many books do you usually read at once?

I used to be a stickler about not picking up another book until I was completely finished with the one I was currently reading, but that’s gone completely out the window at this point! Typically, I try not to read more than two or three books at once, but now that I’ve discovered the joy of audiobooks, that can sometimes raise the count to four or more! My younger self is cringing… 😛

If you’re reading more than one book at a time, how do you decide when to switch to reading the other book? (Do you read a certain amount of pages in each?)

Usually I either set a chapter goal for the day in each book or spend a day on one then the next day on another, etc. In some (thankfully) rare situations, if I’m struggling through a book that I’m not really liking, I’ll take breaks when I need to and pick up something else just so I don’t fall into a slump.

Do you ever switch bookmarks while you’re part way through a book?

No, I don’t think I’ve actually ever done that before. It’s possible that I have if I happened to lose the bookmark I was using, but I can’t remember it if I did! Though I do have the world’s worst memory (ahem…another reason I shouldn’t be reading more than one book at a time)!

Where do you keep the book you’re currently reading?

I keep it next to me on top of the stack of TBR books that are currently functioning as a nightstand…Yeah, I may or may not be having a little bit of a space problem…

What time of day do you spend the most time reading?

I primarily read in the afternoon or early evening depending on the day. Sometimes I’ll read in bed right before I go to sleep, but that tends to end up being a very unproductive reading session! 😛

How long do you typically read for in one go?

That’s a tough one to answer because it varies so much depending on the day, the book, my mood, etc. I’d say on average I try to read in at least two hour chunks, but back in my younger years, I have been known to go on for 8+ hours! I’d love to have that kind of laser focus now—would definitely help to cut down my massive TBR pile!

Do you read hard covers with the dust jacket on or off?

Definitely with the dust jacket off. First of all, it’s more comfortable to hold the book without it. And second, that dust jacket must not be ruined! It must stay safely out of harm’s way until that book is finished!

Which position do you mainly use to read?

I like to move around my position and, if possible, my location, if I’m spending a lot of time reading. My most typical positions would be sitting on my floor, in bed either leaning back or lying on my stomach, and—at times—lying strangely on my back…

Do you take the book you’re currently reading with you everywhere you go?

Absolutely! I never leave home without a book or my kindle. You never know when you’re going to get a chance to read!

How often do you update your progress in the book you’re currently reading on Goodreads?

I typically try to update it after every reading session. However, I can occasionally forget to do that for days.

I Tag:

Heather @ The Sassy Book Geek

Anna @ My Bookish Dream

The Orang-utan Librarian

Richard @ The Humpo Show

Emma @ The Terror of Knowing

lilkadykitty

And I’m going to tag a few of my most recent followers! Welcome to the blog, you guys, and thank you so much for following! ❤

Cassie @ Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile

Destiny @ Howling Libraries

Joie @ Rainy Days and Lattes

Marina @ A Makeshift Library

My Library and Other Mischief

The Playlist Shuffle Tag

I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so today’s post is a bit of a short and random one. I wasn’t specifically tagged to do this, but I’ve seen it floating about the Internet, and was inspired by a few of my blogger buddies to do this.

Just like I love seeing what books are on other people’s shelves, I also absolutely love finding out what songs/artists/bands are on other people’s playlists! So I figured this would be a fun, quick post to do to give you a brief glance at my playlist. Now, mine is EXTREMELY eclectic, and this doesn’t even begin to show that, but here’s a little peek into what I listen to!

Also, make sure to check out these awesome people that inspired me to do this tag:

Anna @ My Bookish Dream

The Orang-utan Librarian

Beth @ Reading Every Night

List the first 15 songs that come on shuffle (no skipping):

Alan Walker – Faded

Like I Do – Thomas Jonak

Heathens – Twenty One Pilots

Caro Emerald – That Man

Rogue – Adventure Time

Starship – We Built This City

Immediate Music – World on a String

Muse – Uprising

Two Steps from Hell – Winterspell

Immediate Music – Tales of the Electric Romeo

Fall Out Boy – This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race

Muse – Hysteria

Keane – Strangeland

The Offspring – The Kids Aren’t Alright

Mozart – Recordare

BONUS (because it came on next and is one of my all-time favorites): Panic at the Disco – Nicotine

What are some songs you guys have been listening to lately? Some of your favorites? Or randomly shuffle through your playlist and let me know in the comments what comes up!

Fall Activities Book Tag

I was tagged to do the Fall Activities Book Tag by my wonderful friend Heather from The Sassy Book Geek. Thank you so much for the tag! Please make sure you guys head over and check out her amazing blog (and give her a follow while you’re at it!) 😀

This tag was originally created by Ashley from Dreaming Through Literature, so also make sure to go check out her post as well!

Apple Picking: A book on your TBR that looks so delicious you can’t wait to take a bite out of it.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff and Timekeeper by Tara Sim

I couldn’t decide between the two—they are both so tempting! First of all, Nevernight is quite appropriate for this particular tag because Heather was the one who recommended the book to me. I just got my copy in the mail recently and the need to pick it up is strong! Timekeeper isn’t coming out until the beginning of next month, but then I got approved for an ARC! Basically, these are probably going to be my next two reads!

Corn Maze: A book that’s so much fun to get lost in.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

I enjoy getting lost in any of the Sherlock Holmes novels, but this is my favorite of the series. These novels are extremely easy to get immersed in on so many levels. There’s brilliant, captivating writing, intriguingly plotted and absorbing mysteries—they are perfect for curling up and enjoying on a cold, fall day!

Click here to read my full review!

Haunted Houses: A book that scared you silly.

The Shining by Stephen King

Despite the fact that I love reading spooky stories, I’ve never actually been really creeped out by any. The closest I ever came to getting really scared while reading was with The Shining—things get pretty damn freaky! Stephen King is a total master of the horror genre.

Pumpkin Patch: The latest book you picked up (purchased).

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

This sounded like it would be such a sweet and unique read, so I just had to get myself a copy. I expect to be reading and reviewing this one fairly soon!

Scenic Drives: A book that is lyrically beautiful.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

This book. This. Book. Every single thing about A Monster Calls is absolutely beautiful, but Patrick Ness’s incredible, lyrical writing is the star of the show.

Click here to read my full review!

Pumpkin Carving: A book you didn’t like and wouldn’t mind carving up.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

This book had SO much potential, but ended up being one of the slowest and most painfully boring reads I have ever had. Now let me just say, never in a million years would I ever carve up a book, no matter how much I dislike it! But let’s just say, if I had a copy of this book and for some reason could not keep it in pristine condition…or if it were to be sucked into a black hole…yeah, not going to be too disappointed by that.

Click here to read my full review!

Hiking: A book that was a highly enjoyable romp.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I love absolutely everything about this novel…and absolutely everything about Mr. Rochester…*ahem* um…I mean the fantastic writing and…um…compelling underlying themes… Seriously though, this is one of my favorite classics and I adored studying it in school.

Drinking Apple Cider: A sweet book to curl up under the covers with.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

This was one of my absolute favorite childhood stories, and it most definitely is a sweet story to snuggle under the covers with (something I did on many a night!). It’s such an adorable, fun, easy to love story—plus it’s a total book lover’s book as well!

Jumping In A Leaf Pile: A book that reminds you of your childhood.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

and

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

This was another I couldn’t choose just one for, though neither of these are probably particularly surprising! Both of these series in general remind me of my childhood, but these are my personal favorites of those series—and they make me feel especially nostalgic!

Scary Movie Night: Your favorite spooky read.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Again, I’ve never found a novel that really scares me too much, but this is definitely one creepy story. And it’s creepy in a different way from the typical fall/Halloween time reads with ghosts and monsters (the non-human kind, at least!). It’s one of my favorite classics of all time and honestly a perfect story to read this time of year!

Bonus! Costume Party: A book with an eclectic cast of characters.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

I’ve read so many wonderful stories with incredibly eclectic casts, but this is one that will always really stick in my mind. This novel holds a very wide variety of vividly portrayed and well-developed characters that truly drive the story. Every single aspect of Vicious is wonderful, but these unique characters really remain with you well after you’ve finished reading.

Click here to read my full review!

I Tag:

Anna @ My Bookish Dream

Jen @ J.N. Cahill

Fran @ Nightjar’s Jar of Books

Cheyenne @ Cheyenne Raphael Writes

Sam @ One Bookish Girl

Nagina @ OhBookish

Ola @ Ola Reads Books

The Great British Bake Off Book Tag

I have wanted to do this tag for a while now, and since the newest season started this week, I figured this would be the perfect time to do it! I discovered The Great British Bake Off a couple of years ago and binged watched the first four seasons in about week! I do live in the US, so it can be hard to keep up with the show, but it is one of my favorites of all time and I’m so excited about this new season!

This tag was originally created by Jack from Reading With Jack, and I discovered it through Sam from Sam’s Nonsense.

CAKE: The cake has sunk in the middle. Pick a book that didn’t rise to your expectations.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

This novel was pitched as being sort of like the “found footage” of literature (made clear from the start that it is fictional). On top of that, it was interspersed with artwork and photography, as the biography was about an artist. That sounded absolutely awesome, so naturally, I had very high hopes for it. Oh boy, what a letdown it was. The art aspect was fantastic, but the actual text of the novel was like reading transcripts of interviews rather than an actual biography. Very boring, very paperwork-esque, and so disappointing.

Click here to check out my full review!

BISCUITS: Once you’ve eaten one, you’re hungry for more and each time you eat another, they get more and more delicious. Pick a book series or trilogy that got progressively better.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Throughout my life so far, I’ve mostly read standalones, so this was sort of hard to come up with an answer for. I’m not actually finished with The Lunar Chronicles series yet, but it’s the only series I can think of to fit this question. I enjoyed Cinder, and Scarlet—which is the only other book I’ve read so far—was even better. Most people say this continues to be the case through the rest of the series, so I’m excited to continue!

BREAD: Kneading dough requires hard work and determination. Pick a book that you put off reading for ages and needed a lot of determination to pick up.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Even though I already knew I loved the television series, I put off picking up this novel for ages because of its (and all the other books in the series’) size. However, I finally got up the courage this summer and started it while I was traveling. I’ve been reading it in very short bursts lately because I have a lot of review copies to catch up on, but I (unsurprisingly) love it so far. I’m looking forward to getting through the rest of it and continuing on with the series when I can.

DESSERTS: Foreign deserts such as crème brûlée and Spanische Windtorte are on the menu. Pick a book set in a foreign country.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

I’ve read a lot of books set in foreign countries, but this novel is by far one of my favorites of all time. It is such an important and meaningful read with absolutely beautiful writing to boot. If you have not read this yet, I very highly recommend it.

ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS: Not usually used, but surprisingly good. Pick a book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read but ended up loving.

Wolf by Kelly Oliver

This is primarily a crime novel, so that’s not an unusual genre for me, but this also falls into the category of feminist literature, which is not something I would typically go for. Don’t get me wrong, I’m clearly a feminist, so I don’t avoid it due to disagreeing with the perspective—rather, I find that it can get a bit over-the-top sometimes. I prefer when a heroine is a bit subtler in their strength and it’s not all constantly in your face girl power (if that makes any sense). Show rather than tell! However, Kelly Oliver did a solid job with it in this novel. There were a few exaggerated moments, but nothing I couldn’t get past, and I ended up really enjoying the story. Review to come soon!

PASTRY: Shortcrust pastry can crumble easily. Pick a character who you initially liked, but as you read more and more, your relationship with them crumbled apart.

Mare Barrow from Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I’m not sure if this one technically counts because I didn’t really like Mare at any point in the novel—but this is the closest I could get. I definitely liked her more at the start of the novel than at the end. She very quickly got on my nerves—which is unfortunate seeing as she is the narrator—and things continued to go downhill for us…

Click here to check out my full review!

VICTORIAN/OLD-FASHIONED BAKES: Recipes from the past that still taste delicious today. Pick your favorite classic novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I was trying to think up an unpredictable answer for this one, but…here we are again. This really is my favorite classic, and it definitely “still tastes delicious” every time I devour it! 🙂

PATISSERIE: You’re eating a chocolate éclair but there’s barely any filling inside. Pick a book that lacked substance and fell flat.

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

I think most of you know by now that, though I am totally a hopeless romantic, romance is not my preferred genre to read. However, I have occasionally found some hidden gems. This was not one. It had an interesting and unique premise—boasting fourteen different viewpoints—but it ended up falling flat for me. This main selling point turned out to be the novel’s biggest weakness as it failed to allow the author to create any sort of depth in the characters or plot, instead causing a very disjointed feeling.

Click here to check out my full review!

CHOCOLATE: Chocolate is a comfort food for many people. Pick a book you could read again and again and still find comforting.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Obviously I have to choose my go-to cozy read! These mysteries never fail to give me the book nerd warm fuzzies. ❤

Click here to check out my full review!

THE GRAND FINAL: Everyone is out to impress with extravagant show-stoppers! Pick your favorite book of the year so far that really impressed you.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I’ve had incredibly good luck reading-wise so far, and have read a number of truly amazing books. But I don’t think anything quite tops The Book Thief for me yet. It took me years to get to, but I finally did and I’m so glad—it was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.

I Tag:

Everyone! I’m not sure who is a fan of this show, so I’m not going to tag anyone specific. But if you like GBBO (or this tag!), then consider yourself officially tagged! 😀

The Reader Confession Tag

I was tagged to do the Reader Confession Tag by my two blogger besties—Heather from The Sassy Book Geek and Anna from My Bookish Dream! Anna and Heather are not only incredible book bloggers, but also two of the kindest people ever. I love these girls and their blogs so much and I know you guys will too! You should totally already be following them, but if you’re not, please make sure you stop by and check out both of their wonderful blogs!

1. Have you ever damaged a book?

I may have done when I was little, but to the best of my recollection (and by looking at the books I currently own), I haven’t damaged any of my books. I may be just a tad bit overprotective of my books, so they typically stay in very good condition. 😛

2. Have you ever damaged a borrowed book?

I can say with complete certainty that I’ve never ever damaged a borrowed book!

3. How long does it take you to read a book?

This depends on: a. the book, b. my schedule, c. my stress/fatigue/distraction level. Lately, I’ve been in a bit of a slump, so I’m not at all up to my usual amount of reading. However, if mostly all of these factors are in my favor, I can get through a normal 300-500 page book in two or three days, and on average I would say I read three to four books a week.

4. Books that you haven’t finished?

I barely ever stop in the middle of books even if I hate them, so my DNF list from over the years is pretty small:

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Dead Rules by Randy Russell

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

5. Hyped/Popular books you didn’t like?

I admit, I don’t really rush to read a lot of hyped/popular books (though I do sometimes)—I’m always pretty wary about hype. I am extremely picky about the hyped books I do pick up, so a lot of times, I end up really enjoying all the ones I read. However, I can think of a couple over the years that weren’t a big hit with me. The Twilight series for one was just never my cup of tea, and recently Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard sort of failed to meet my expectations for it.

6. Is there a book you wouldn’t tell anyone you were reading?

Nah, I don’t think so. I don’t really care what people think of what I’m reading—I’ll read whatever the heck I want, thank you very much!

7. How many books do you own?

I don’t have an exact number but I would say, between my physical library and my Kindle books, I have…brace yourselves…probably about 800 books, maybe a bit more.

8.Are you a fast reader or a slow reader?

I’m never sure what to say when asked this question. I tend to think of myself as a fairly slow reader because it feels that way to me when I’m reading. But then I end up get through books in a reasonably short amount of time, especially if I’m really enjoying them—and like I said earlier, I can many times read three to four books in a week. So I’m not really sure what I am because it fluctuates…I’m delightfully quirky! 😛

9. Do you like to buddy read?

I LOVE to buddy read! One of my favorite things in the world next to reading books is talking about them. I used to do it all the time with my friends when I was little and now I’ve been getting the chance to do buddy reads with my fellow book blogger friends. Reading is fun no matter what, but nothing compares to the experience of reading and discussing a book with someone else, whether you end up enjoying the book or not. It’s nice to have another person to compare thoughts with and to think about the story in ways you might not necessarily have considered on your own. Also, if you both really enjoy the book, it can be pretty fun to fangirl with someone else!

10. Do you read better in your head or out loud?

I read SO much better in my head! I’m absolutely terrible at reading out loud—I get all shy and awkward and tongue-tied. I used to hate to be told to read out loud in school. And in terms of actual reading comprehension, that’s basically nonexistent for me when I’m reading out loud! 😛

11. If you were only allowed to own one book, what would it be and why?

I would definitely choose The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Not only is it one of my favorite novels of all time, but also, since it’s a collection of short stories, it doesn’t feel quite as repetitive when you are rereading it over and over again. And honestly, this is just one of those “cozy reads” for me, so I love immersing myself in it! 🙂

I Tag:

Jessica @ The Awkward Book Blogger

Aubrey @ If Mermaids Wore Suspenders

Emily @ Rose Read

Fran @ Nightjar’s Jar of Books

SSJTimeLord

Zezee @ Zezee with Books

Michelle @ Book Adventures

Fatima @ NoteablePad

Cheyenne @ Cheyenne Raphael Writes

The Olympics Book Tag

I was tagged to do the Olympics Book Tag by the wonderful Richard from The Humpo Show. Richard is an absolutely fantastic blogger who writes a wide variety of very interesting posts about both books and films, so please make sure to stop over and check out his blog.

I have been enjoying watching the Olympics so much this year—in fact I am watching them while I’m writing this up—so this is definitely a very fitting tag to do right now! I did the seven from Richard’s tag and tacked on three other topics I found at the end.

100m | A book you have raced through.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Not only is this by far the most gorgeous novel I have ever read in my life, I also absolutely sped through it. It’s not a long book and, on top of that, it was so captivating there was no way I was going to put it down before I turned that final page. It only took me about an hour and a half at most to read this, which is pretty fast for a generally slow reader like myself!

Michael Phelps | The best book you’ve ever read.

 

It is incredibly difficult to think of just one book that is best out of the hundreds I’ve read throughout the years. It would probably be a three-way tie between A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. All three of these books are so unique compared to each other in all types of ways, and I love them all for different reasons—it would be impossible to say that one is better than the others.

Synchronized Diving | A perfect couple.

Percabeth

In trying to answer this, I realized just how few books I’ve read that actually involve romance and couples—to any extent, but at least between main characters. But I do have one particular favorite, and I am in complete agreement with Richard. Percabeth is the best!

Simone Biles | A short and sweet book.

The Little Android by Marissa Meyer

This is a novella that Meyer wrote in the same world as The Lunar Chronicles series. As the name suggests, it is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, and I found it to be such a quick and truly enjoyable read. In just a short time, she packs this story with a huge range of emotion, staying true to the original tale by Hans Christian Andersen while putting her own unique twist on it. Though it was a sad story, overall, it was an incredible short and sweet read.

Rugby 7s | A tough book you struggled to finish.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

In terms of the text and writing itself, this is not a difficult book to read. However, I just could not get into this novel—despite absolutely loving Divergent—and I ended up really not enjoying Insurgent much at all. Everything I loved about Divergent was missing from the sequel, and I somehow could not manage to connect with the characters in the same way. It took me almost a month of on and off reading to finally finish it, compared to the four days in a row it took with the first.

Golf | A new genre outside of your comfort zone.

Romance/Young Adult Romance

Though I am totally a hopeless romantic, for some reason, the romance genre is not a favorite of mine, and these two novels—The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and Love and Other Unknown Variables—were way out of my comfort zone. However, I found them both to contain a lot of serious subjects that were dealt with in an intelligent and mature way, and I ended up thoroughly enjoying both. While these books have a concentration on romance, there is also a good amount of attention given to different types of love, such as that of friendships and the relationships between family members. Neither novel falls victim to the clichés of many that have a focus on romance, particularly those that are young adult.

Heptathlon | The best series.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Like I’m sure many people would, I am going to agree with Richard on his choice once again and say Harry Potter is the absolute best series of all time. There is so much to adore about this novel—so much for people of any age to connect with. It’s hard not to enjoy immersing yourself in this magical world. For me, it was just such a huge part of my childhood and played an important role in the discovery of my passion for writing and storytelling. I know that there is no way that any series could top this one for me.

Gymnastics | A book with a lot of plot twists.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I think if you look up the meaning of “plot twist” you just get a picture of Gillian Flynn. She is the master of making complex and twisted plots, and Gone Girl is completely packed with examples of this. It’s a beautiful portrayal of Flynn’s skill as a writer and her ability to captivate and constantly shock her readers. Even though I had been spoiled on a bit of this novel before reading it, I was still in utter disbelief through most of the story.

Swimming | A book that made you sob.

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander

I very rarely ever cry while reading books, watching movies, anything like that. A Monster Calls is probably the book that I cried over the most out of everything I’ve read, but since I’ve already used that twice, I figured I should choose a new book. Love and Other Unknown Variables was a novel that took me completely by surprise in terms of how much I ended up enjoying it, and it totally made me bawl my eyes out!

Trampoline | A childhood favorite.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Next to Harry Potter, the Narnia series pretty much defines my childhood as a book nerd. A favorite of my mom’s when she was a kid, she passed them down to me and I completely fell in love with these stories. I have many fond memories of reading these books over and over again, never getting tired of them. And of course, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is my favorite in the series!

I Tag:

Lashaan and Trang @ Bookidote

The Orang-utan Librarian

Ellie @ Ellie’s Bookshelf

…and anyone else who wants to do this, I tag you! 😀

A-Z Bookish Survey

I found this survey through my friend and fellow blogger, Jen over at J.N. Cahill, and she found this through Sarah Sunbeemz’s Booktube channel. Jen is an amazing writer, so please head on over and check out her blog. Also, make sure to go check out Sarah’s video as well! 🙂

On to the survey!

A — Author You’ve Read The Most Books From:

At the moment, that would be a tie between J.K. Rowling and C.S. Lewis. However, my copy of The Cursed Child just arrived, so I believe this will be changing in a few days!

B — Best Sequel Ever:

Catching Fire, hands down! And I’m even passing up using my favorite Harry Potter novel, Chamber of Secrets, because it’s just that amazing.

C — Currently Reading:

I’m in the middle of a couple of books right now, but my primary read is It’s All Fun and Games by Dave Barrett.

D — Drink of Choice While Reading:

Usually tea or water. Sometimes a fruit smoothie can be a nice drink while reading.

E — E-Reader or Physical Book?:

While I do love my Kindle and I’ve definitely gotten more into the habit of using it in the last year or so, I will always choose physical books over e-books. Nothing can compare to a physical edition.

F — Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated in High School:

Definitely Neville Longbottom. He will forever be my first and favorite book boyfriend!

G — Glad You Gave this Book a Chance:

The Giver by Lois Lowry. I first read it some time in middle school and absolutely hated it. Then, given how many of my friends enjoyed it when they read it in their late teens/early 20s, I decided to give it another go, and oh boy am I glad I did. It was fantastic!

H — Hidden Gem Book:

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander. This was a book that was way out of my typical reading comfort zone, but I picked it up on a whim and ended up really enjoying it.

I — Important Moment in Your Reading Life:

This is going to be a very common answer, but I have to say discovering/starting the Harry Potter series for the first time. This is a series that has inspired me in countless ways, turning me into not only an avid reader, but a writer as well. I owe a lot to this series.

J — Just Finished:

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

K– Kinds of Books You Won’t Read?:

Erotica. I have nothing against the genre or anyone who likes to read it—it’s just not my thing.

L –Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (according to my Goodreads shelf!).

M — Major Book Hangover:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. I don’t get book hangovers frequently, but this gave me a huge one!

N — Number of Bookshelves You Own:

Zero…embarrassing for a book nerd, I know! I promise, I will fix that soon!

O — One Book You’ve Read Multiple Times:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

P — Preferred Place to Read:

I love to just curl up in my bed with a good book. Reading at the beach is pretty nice too, though… 🙂

Q — Quote that Inspires You and Gives You All the Feels:

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” – Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

R — Reading Regret:

The massive amount of book to movie adaptations that have been coming out lately have made me realize that there are a bunch of pretty well-known children’s books/series (ex. The BFG, Percy Jackson, etc…) that I regret not reading back when I was a kid. I have read or plan to read many now, but I wish that I could have had that experience of reading them through younger eyes.

S — Series You’ve Started and Need to Finish:

Way too many! I would say my top ones right now are The Lunar Chronicles, the Legend trilogy, and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

T — Three of Your All Time Favorite Books:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle.

U –Unapologetic Fangirl/boy for:

Gillian Flynn. As I have said before, she is my spirit animal. 😛

V — Very Excited for this Release More than Anything:

Since The Cursed Child is already here, I’ll go with Heartless by Marissa Meyer.

W — Worst Bookish Habit

Like many other book nerds out there, one of my worst bookish habits is buying too many books before reading the ones already in my TBR pile! I do this far too often, and now my pile is a mountain!

X — X Marks the Spot–Start at the top of your shelf and pick the 27th book off it:

Since I don’t actually have physical shelves, I’m going to use my Goodreads shelf of owned books, set to alphabetical by author. So my 27^th book would be The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury.

Y — Your Latest Book Purchase:

I just did a huge book haul post since I went on a bit of a shopping spree recently, but I guess my latest purchase would be Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel.

Z — The Zzzzzzzzzzzzz Snatcher Book (Book That Kept You From Sleeping):

When I was a kid, any of the Harry Potter or Narnia series. But the most recent novel that kept me up all night was The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

Anyone count how many times I referenced Harry Potter, Narnia, or To Kill a Mockingbird? 😛

I’m not going to tag anyone specific to do this, but this survey was incredibly fun to fill out, so I highly recommend giving it a go. If you have done this survey or decide to do it, make sure you leave a link for me in the comments so I can come check out your post!

-Ariana

3 Days, 3 Quotes Tag – Day 3

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I’m currently traveling, so this is a scheduled post. At this point, I’m uncertain what my ability to access the Internet will be like while I’m gone, so I may not be able to respond to comments right away. I’ll definitely be back with regular access to the blog next week! 🙂

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I was tagged by three lovely book bloggers—T.K. Lawrence @ Read It or Not Reviews, Emma @ The Terror of Knowing and Becca @ Shih Tzu Book Reviews—to do the 3 Days, 3 Quotes tag! If you’ve been around this blog for a while, you’ll already know how much I adore quotes. Thank you guys so much for tagging me! Make sure you all take some time to go check out all of their blogs. 🙂 ❤

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”

– Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

I Tag:

SSJTimeLord

Loreva @ La Book Dreamer

Aralyn @ Paper Addictions & Magic

3 Days, 3 Quotes Tag – Day 2

____________________________________________________________________

I’m currently traveling, so this is a scheduled post. At this point, I’m uncertain what my ability to access the Internet will be like while I’m gone, so I may not be able to respond to comments right away. I’ll definitely be back with regular access to the blog next week! 🙂

____________________________________________________________________

I was tagged by three lovely book bloggers—T.K. Lawrence @ Read It or Not Reviews, Emma @ The Terror of Knowing and Becca @ Shih Tzu Book Reviews—to do the 3 Days, 3 Quotes tag! If you’ve been around this blog for a while, you’ll already know how much I adore quotes. Thank you guys so much for tagging me! Make sure you all take some time to go check out all of their blogs. 🙂 ❤

“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then what remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

– Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

I Tag:

Drew @ TheTattooedBookGeek

Diana @ Voices In My Head

Ara @ The Bookish Agenda