It’s Tag Thursday time! (Just look at all that alliteration, huh?) Tag Thursday completely isn’t a thing on the Internet but I have decided to try to post any tags I want to do on Thursdays because… well because it begins with a T too. Is that sufficient explanation? I think so, let’s get down to business…
This week I bring you The Ultimate Book Tag. I saw this recently over on Thrice Read and it seems like fun so I thought I’d give it a go myself.
1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?
Absolutely, yes. Although, the only car I’ve ever tested it out in was driven by my dad and I have a sneaking suspicion my dad’s driving style just makes me feel sick since I’ve never felt generally car sick whilst riding in anyone else’s car but his. Sorry, padre. Curiously enough though, I’m fine reading on trains now, I think I just forced myself past nausea because I wanted to read.
2. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
I struggle with this question because most authors have their own distinct voice. However, I would say Neil Gaiman and/or Maggie Stiefvater. Both have very compelling and magical writing styles, completely unlike anything I’ve read before, and I would say they’re very distinct so that they just do not work for some people whilst others love them.
3. Harry Potter series or the Twilight saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.
Harry Potter. 3 points to defend my answer? Ok…
- It’s a freaking wizard school in Scotland that teaches a generation of wizards that co-exist alongside us muggles. (That completely beats sparkly vampires. Sorry Edward)
- Remus Lupin (HP‘s portrayal of werewolves shits all over Twilight‘s. Sorry Jacob.)
- Hermione Granger (I’m not even going to bother comparing her to something/someone in Twilight because I mean, come on.)
I don’t even hate Twilight, I really enjoyed the first book when I read it and I will defend anyone who wants to read it to get into reading. But also I still feel traumatised by the knowledge that Edward fucked Bella so hard she hit her head and blacked out and then she had his little half-human/half-vampire baby and he got it out of her womb by biting the amniotic sac. It’s been years since I read it and I still remember it vividly… it haunts my nightmares…
4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is in it (besides books)?
Isn’t every bag a book bag? I know I sure check that at least a paperback book could be stuffed into any bag I’m considering buying.
5. Do you smell your books?
If they’re new, yes; new book smell is legitimately a thing and they should definitely sell that as a candle (I know they already do).
6. Books with or without little illustrations.
If the illustration has a purpose then sure, why not? I can’t say any particularly spring to mind though, apart from A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Chronicles of Narnia books. Oh and Dickens’ books.
7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
I didn’t have a sudden omg realisation after the fact… I knew Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss was terrible quality writing from the moment I started it but, you know what? It didn’t hamper my enjoyment one bit. It’s trash but by god it’s compelling trash. 5/5 would recommend.
8. What is the thinnest book on your shelf?
Probably one of the Penguin Little Black Classics I have, like Antigone or Goblin Market.
9. What is the thickest book on your shelf?
Not counting anthologies from university, I presume Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace since it’s a good 1400 pages. Les Misérables is also somewhere around that 1400 mark I think – it’s not called The Brick for nothing.
10. When did you get into reading?
I don’t really remember a time when I wasn’t into reading; reading is always something that was encouraged by my mother. I still have one of my favourite picture books from childhood – Lucy’s Quarrel by Jennifer Northway. I also used to love Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl books when I was younger and I’m sure they were some of the first things I read/enjoyed by myself.
11. What is your favourite classic book?
I’m a sucker for a bit of Austen, Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion are firm favourites. In terms of 19th century classics, I really enjoy North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (but I’m under no illusions that the BBC miniseries doesn’t help, hello Richard Armitage as Mr Thornton). Frankenstein is also really good, but I do wonder if it’s the concepts of it I enjoy more than the actual execution – I loved discussing it in my Romantic literature class but I’m not sure I’d recreationally enjoy it. I’m not sure if it counts as a modern classic or not but Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca is one of my all-time favourite books so it definitely deserves a mention here.
12. In school what was your best subject?
Take a wild guess? Yep, that’s right, the girl who went and studied English literature at university was really good at English – omg what a shocker.
whispers wait why does this tag skip from question 12 to question 15?
15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
You know, most of the people who would buy me books would know me well enough to know if I hated something with a passion. But in the highly unlikely event of this scenario happening, I would probably read it again, just to make sure I did actually hate it. There’s a possibility I might not hate it that time round and also if someone gifts me a book, chances are they like it themselves or they put a lot of thought into the choice of book, so I owe it to their thoughtful present to give it a shot.
16. What is your favourite word?
I have a lot of favourite words but as soon as someone says ‘quick, what’s your favourite word?!’ it’s like the entire dictionary has been erased from my head.
Uh…
‘Plethora’ is a pretty satisfying word to say, I suppose??? As is ‘cacophony’ but, you know, life doesn’t often present you with the opportunity to use the word ‘cacophony’ without getting funny looks from people.
17. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb?
I literally do not understand this question… like… doesn’t that depend what you think constitutes a ‘dork’ or ‘dweeb’? I presume I’m a ‘nerd’, that seems the closest to ‘swot’ which is a delightfully English synonym that still cuts deeply thanks to years of secondary school taunts. Aaah school.
18. Vampires or fairies? Why?
I feel like both have had recent resurgences. Do you remember when you couldn’t browse the YA section without seeing the latest Vampire Academy-esque knock off? And then, more recently, everything has to have some kind of underground fairy or faerie society where faeries are actually badass and/or seductive? cough A Court of Thorns and Roses cough
But I mean, gun to my head, vampires.
19. Shapeshifters or angels? Why?
Well obv shapeshifters. Is there even a contest here?
20. And finally: full on romance books or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in?
I next to never read specifically romance books, in fact I’m struggling to think of a single one. Given my penchant for fantasy I will always pick an action-packed SFF book with a sprinkling of love scenes (or just unresolved sexual tension tbh) over a straight-up romance book. Give me the magic first, then we can talk about people kissing.
Well, there we have it, folks, that was The Ultimate Book Tag. If you would like to do this tag, please consider yourself officially tagged by yours truly. If you do the tag please do link me to it below because it’s fun to see other people’s answers, especially if you vehemently disagree with me. (No, seriously, I live for that.)
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The Terror of Knowing 