A to Z Bookish Survey

Has anybody else found that book tags are not only a delightful thing to take part in, but probably the best fall back when you haven’t taken the time to write an actual review? Love ’em. I thought this one would be fun after I saw it on The Girl Who Read Too Much. Feel free to comment, or complete the survey yourself!

A: Author You’ve Read the Most Books From

Elizabeth Peters. I was obsessed with the “Amelia Peabody” Series throughout most of middle and high school. Altogether there are about 19 books in that series, and I’ve read a few of her other novels as well.

B: Best sequel ever

One of my absolute favorite sequels is Perfection, the 2nd book in the “Neighbor From Hell” series. It’s hilariously funny, but it was also one of the first books I ever read that had a slightly chubby heroine. I thought this was so refreshing to show that you don’t have to be model pretty to find love.

C: Currently reading

Well, I’m currently listening to the 6th Outlander book, which seems to be a never-ending tale of boredom. In addition to that, I’m reading Double Dare by R. L. Mathewson.

D: Drink of choice while reading

If it’s the weekend and I actually managed to get myself out of bed in the morning I’ll make a nice pot of coffee with some sickeningly sweet creamer.

E: E-reader or physical book

Ah, the debate of all debates. Personally, I think my Kindle is one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. I’m not dissing on physical books or anything, but I just find the e-reader to be so convenient. You can literally take thousands of books with you wherever you go.

F: Fictional character you probably would’ve dated in high school

Well, considering I never dated anyone in high school I can’t really answer this question.

G: Glad you gave this book a chance

The Hunger Games! When I first saw the trailer for the movie I thought, meh, that doesn’t look like my thing. But then my mom said she was going to read the series, and wanted me to read it at the same time. I gave it a try thinking it’d be nice if we could compare notes. I finished all three books in the series before she even started book 1.

H: A hidden gem book

Both Sides of Love by Kimberly Wenzler. An emotional read, and some absolutely amazing characters.

I: Important moment in your reading life

When I finished reading The Hunger Games in Chinese. That was pretty cool.

J: Just finished

Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid. Absolutely blew me away.

K: Kinds of books you won’t read

Horror. I don’t like feeling anxious or scared.

L: Longest book you’ve ever read

As of right now, that honor goes to Les Miserables at 1,463 pages. Definitely made me miserable, that’s for sure. However, as soon as I finish listening to the dread that is the 6th Outlander book, the title will be transferred to this 1,488 page piece of crap.

M: Major book hangover because of

I don’t really understand what this means. If it’s supposed to mean that the end of a book was so crazy it left you reeling the next day, then that honor would go to Adoptive Personality by Cassandra Scearce. One of the craziest endings ever!!

N: Number of bookcases you own

Two, and up until a few weeks ago they really didn’t have any books on them. More of a collection of knickknacks, decorations and photo albums. That’s the joy of e-readers, they’re space savers!! But that all changed after I went to BookExpo America. Now I have more physical books than I’ve had in years.

O: One book you’ve read multiple times

I read Pride and Prejudice twice, and Crocodile on the Sandbank twice. I think the only books I’ve ever read over and over were children’s books and fairy tales when I was a kid.

P: Preferred place to read

The beach, or my chaise lounge at home.

Q: Quote that inspires you or gives you all the feels

Don’t hate me, but a quote that inspires me doesn’t come from a book, but rather the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. “Never lose your childish innocence. It’s the most important thing.”

R: Reading regret

I missed my window of opportunity on Harry Potter. I never got into it as a kid, and now I just have no desire.

S: Series that you’ve started and needed to finish

There are a few of these, including the “Driven” trilogy, the “Hunger Games” trilogy, and the “Bronze Horseman” trilogy. Hmm, there seems to be a pattern here.

T: Three of your all time favorite books

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters. I think I’ve mentioned each book at least once now as the answer for another question.

U: Unapologetic fan girl for

Romance novels in general! If you’re looking for something specific though that would have to be the “Neighbor from Hell” series. So freakin’ funny. The “On Dublin Street” and “Billionaire Boys Club” series are up there too.

V: Very excited for this release

One Night with a Billionaire by Jessica Clare. I am so excited because I absolutely adore this series, but it’s the last book in the series, so I’m also dreading it’s release. I don’t want it to end!!

W: Worst bookish habit

I can really become a hermit when I get into a good book. I might stay in bed for the majority of Saturday and Sunday mornings reading my Kindle, and I’ll tell myself once I finish this chapter I’ll go for a run or to the grocery store. Next thing I know I’ve gained 5 pounds and the only thing left in my refrigerator is a bottle of coconut rum.

X: X marks the spot pick the 27 book on your shelf

All I Want by J. Daniels. Hmm, I don’t even remember getting that one.

Y: Your latest book purchase

Until July by Aurora Rose Reynolds. I loved the Until series, and am so excited that there are branch off novels to the series.

Z: ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late)

I was on vacation, and even though my family had planned to get up really early the next day for a morning walk on the beach, I just couldn’t put Beautiful Secret by Christina Lauren down. I’m slightly obsessed with this series.

Book Tag: Would you Rather

I found this little ditty on lifeofafemalebibliophile, and although our answers differ greatly, I was rather inspired by the tag. Enjoy!

Would you rather only read trilogies or only read stand-alones?

I’m gonna have to go with stand-alones on this one. I’ve found that so many trilogies follow a very distinct pattern. Well, romance trilogies anyway. Our lovebirds meet in book one, but have some kind of kerfuffle which causes them to break up at the end. They reignite their passions in book 2, which usually ends with our female lead getting pregnant. Book 3 has the happily ever after with a wedding and lots of babies. I feel like stand-alones are more likely to have some surprises here and there.

Would you rather only read male or female authors?

Female. I haven’t come across many male romance novel authors. I also find that female authors are more likely to have a female lead who isn’t model pretty, or stick-thin, and might be referred to as average. It’s refreshing.

Would you rather shop at Barnes and Noble or Amazon?

Without a doubt this would have to be Amazon. They have a huge selection which is usually cheaper. Also, I hate when I have to browse through the romance section at Barnes and Noble. I’m always the only person in that section, and I feel like a weirdo. Heaven forbid an employee asks if I need help finding something.

Would you rather books were made into TV shows or movies?

I definitely understand the appeal of books being made into TV shows. Outlander is the perfect example. However, I think I would still choose movies. In the fall I watch, on average, about 15 TV shows a week. I don’t need to add another one to the list.

Would you rather read only 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?

Reading only 5 pages per day sounds like a form of torture. Why would you choose this?

Would you rather be a professional author or reviewer?

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I could never sit and organize my thoughts into a cohesive plot or novel. So instead I just critique those who can in a 1200 word book review. It’s a lot of fun! All joking aside though, I like to see my reviews as a form of advice. Basically, should you read this book or shouldn’t you, and here’s a few reasons why.

Would you rather be a librarian or a bookseller?

Oh this is a tough one. Probably a librarian. I love to alphabetize things, and I’d be able to yell at people who were being too loud. I also feel like booksellers would have to deal with annoying customers who just want to sit and drink coffee all day, without ever actually buying anything. Actually, can I just be a bouncer at a bookstore?!

Would you rather read only your favorite genre, or every other genre but your favorite?

What the hell kind of a question is this? Why would I choose to never read my favorite genre? The best thing about romance novels is that they can be so varied. They might just tell a love story, or have an action component, mystery, fantasy etc. Romance can incorporate other genres as well, so you can’t ever really get bored. At least, I haven’t!

Would you rather only read ebooks or physical books?

Ebooks! I love that I can take thousands of books with me wherever I go, and never have to worry about finishing one without having another immediately on hand. I also travel a ton, so it’s nice that my suitcase has extra room for souvenirs rather than the usual 15 extra pounds needed for physical books.

Feel free to use this tag on your own blog!

Book Tag: Reader Problems

I know the typical rule of thumb is to participate in a book tag when someone actually tags you in it. Well, I didn’t feel like writing a review today, and I came across this tag about 50 different times in my reader feed, so I stole it! If you’re upset that I broke some kind of book tag etiquette, then you should probably get out more.

1. You  have  20,000  books  on  your  TBR.  How  in  the  world  do  you  decide  what  to  read  next?  

Ha, this is actually pretty accurate. I’m weird when it comes to picking out what book to read next. If nothing is really calling out to me I’ll just go alphabetically down my TBR list. There are other times where I’ll want to try and clear out some series from my list, so I’ll focus on whichever series has the fewest amount of books left.

2. You’re  halfway  through  a  book  and  you’re  just  not  loving  it.  Do  you  quit  or  are  you  committed?

I see it through to the end baby! Me not finishing a book is as rare as me not finishing a pizza. It just doesn’t happen. Even if the book totally sucks I feel like I need to read it all to make an informed decision.

3. The  end  of  the  year  is  coming  and  you’re  so  close,  but  so  far  away  on  your  Goodreads  reading  challenge.  Do  you  try  to  catch  up  and  how?

I’ve never done a Goodreads reading challenge, and the one year I set a reading goal for myself I exceeded it by about 200 books. That being said, I suppose if I was ever in this situation I would become a complete and total hermit on the weekends, with no TV allowed until I met my goal. Assuming new episodes of Outlander weren’t playing of course. Otherwise that would be my designated one hour break.

4. The  covers  of  a  series  you  love  do.  not.  match.  How  do  you  cope?

I don’t know what this means. I have a Kindle, so I rarely ever see a book’s cover.

5. Everyone  and  their  mother  loves  a  book  you  really  don’t  like.  Who  do  you  bond  with  over  shared  feelings?

Isn’t that what you all are for?

6. You’re  reading  a  book  and  you  are  about  to  start  crying  in  public.  How  do  you  deal?

This has happened to me. It sucks. I balled like a baby, with actual heaving sobs. I usually try and use a combination of hiding behind my hair, and covering my chin with my hand so it looks as though I’m deep in thought.

7. A  sequel  of  a  book  you  loved  just  came  out,  but  you’ve  forgotten  a  lot  from  the  prior  novel.  Will  you  re-read  the  book?  Skip  the  sequel?  Try  to  find  a  synopsis  on  Goodreads?  Cry  in  frustration?!?!?!?

I basically go through this every time I start a new Outlander book. Thankfully, there are some great Wikipedia summaries for Outlander, and for other books I would definitely go to a Goodreads synopsis over skipping the sequel entirely. Would anybody out there seriously just skip it? If so, I think we’d all like an explanation.

8. You  do  not  want  anyone.  ANYONE.  borrowing  your  books.  How  do  you  politely  tell  people  nope  when  they  ask?

There are three universal truths in my life: I don’t share my food, I don’t share my umbrella when it rains, and I don’t lend people books. God, I sound like a real bitch! I can’t help it though, as I’ve gotten books back on 2 separate occasions where the cover had been completely ripped off. Now that I think about it, both occasions were actually my mom! Don’t try and deny it mom, you know it’s true, I can list the books for you if you want. Sorry, what was the question? Oh yeah, “Sorry, I don’t lend people books. I’ve had bad experiences in the past”.

9. Reading  ADD.  You’ve  picked  up  and  put  down  5  books  in  the  last  month.  How  do  you  get  over  your  reading  slump?

This doesn’t happen. There are times when I get bored with a book, so I’ll start another one, and then alternate between the two every other chapter. This technique was vital when I read the 5th Outlander book. Although, instead of reading one chapter of another book, I would just read an entire book, and then read another section of Outlander. Very effective.

10. There  are  so  many  new  books  coming  out  that  you’re  dying  to  read!  How  many  do  you  actually  buy?

This is a tough one. I hate spending a lot of money on books, so I’d probably add them all to my Amazon wish list and wait to have a shopping spree at Christmas when I get gift cards. This way I’m forced to actually read the thousands of books I already have on my Kindle!

11. After  you’ve  bought  the  new  books  you  can’t  wait  to  get  to,  how  long  do  they  sit  on  your  shelf  before  you  get  to  them?

I’ll either read it right away, or it’ll sit around untouched for months, and months, and months. Wow, the life of a book kind of sucks.

If this tag interested you, have at it!