The Terror of Knowing

I missed posting yesterday because I’m an idiot who frequently forgets what day it is, so here have Tag Thursday… on Friday. The fact it’s a Bank Holiday over here next Monday is throwing me all out of whack, please don’t question it and just go along with it. Ok? Ok! So today I bring you The Coffee Book Tag. I saw this this morning over on Kelly’s Rambles blog and though I’m not tagged I still wanted to join in because as I type I’m sipping on a freshly made cappuccino and I can’t get enough of it. (It helps that my workplace has a fancy af coffee machine that’s A+ 10/10 would recommend!)

1. Black Americano: A book that’s hard to get into but has hardcore fans.

I think it’s widely accepted that a lot of fantasy is hard to get into but, once you’re in, you’re in – I’m looking at you Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, and George R.R. Martin. However, I’d say, for me, what epitomises “hard to get into” and “hardcore fans” is probably Sarah J. Maas’ books. The ‘Throne of Glass’ series now has so many books that the fact I’ve only made it through the first two means I’ve fell behind, and, at the rate at which she churns them out, I’m unlikely to catch up. Do I want to anymore? I’m not sure- I’ve DNFed Heir of Fire on two separate occasions so, yes, maybe they’re a little hard for me to get into and stay into?

2. Peppermint Mocha: A book that gets more popular around Winter.

Without a doubt Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It’s a classic so you can feel accomplished for reading a classic but it’s also quite short so is less commitment than trying to read another Dickens like, I don’t know, Bleak House or The Pickwick Papers. Plus it’s seasonal so a lot of people host readalongs of it, or do buddy reads, during the holiday season. I wouldn’t say it’s the cheeriest of reads over Christmas but it sure is timely.

3. Hot Chocolate: Your favourite children’s book.

When I was a child my favourite books were The Worst Witch, Matilda, and a picture book called Lucy’s Quarrel. (I did a whole post about the childhood books that made me the reader I am today – it’s here, if you’re interested!) To list them all here would be redundant, I think, because I loved A LOT of books.

4. Double Espresso: A book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

I was SO worried about my babies in A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab. Partly because it was the final book in the trilogy, and partly because they KEEP looking for trouble, but mostly because Schwab has this way of making you feel ALL the feelings and then stomping all over the heart she’s just ripped from your chest – in the best way possible. I was tense throughout the entirety of the book which sure made for an interesting reading experience.

5. Starbucks: A book you see everywhere.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – for a good reason, I mean it’s top of the New York Times Bestseller list after all. I still haven’t picked it up because I’m not entirely sure I’m going to fully appreciate it or enjoy it but I know I SHOULD because it’s an important read and my reading taste is horrendously undiverse. Hopefully I’ll finally cave and buy it the next time I do see it, since I see it all the time. It’s getting kind of hard to ignore. And that’s a good thing.

6. That Hipster Coffee Shop: Give a book by an Indie author a shout out.

Can I shout out a poetry collection that I really loved? If so – Wishing For Birds by Elisabeth Hewer. It’s published by a small press so I think this ought to count and if not I’m twisting the rules! I used to follow the author on Tumblr of all things and I always thought the titbits of writing she posted (and her Les Mis fanfics) were beautifully written, but her debut poetry collection is just wonderful and lyrical and stunning – please check out my review if you’re interested.

7. Oops! I accidentally got Decaf: A book you expected more from.

I’ve already answered Sarah J. Maas for a book otherwise she’d be making an appearance here. I have to say The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. I’d heard some really, really great things about it but when I borrowed the audiobook via Overdrive a couple of weeks ago I just couldn’t get into it and ended up DNFing it which is weird because the premise sounded fun and it’s a middle-grade fantasy so relatively easy to read/listen to. Something just didn’t click and I didn’t find it very compelling at all; I was so disappointed that I just lost all interest in listening to it and stopped around the halfway point.

8. The Perfect Blend: A book/series that was bittersweet but ultimately satisfying.

Omg the Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom duology by Leigh Bardugo. It warmed me and broke my heart in equal measure and I LOVED it for it. I can’t praise this book enough, it was so very much my jam that I don’t think anything else will come close ever. (If that’s not a challenge then I don’t know what is.) I’m so sad this crazy gang only got 2 books together, but I’m sure (/I’m hoping) we haven’t seen the last of them in the Grishaverse.

9. A Cup of Tea: Your favourite classic.

I’m always tempted to say Persuasion by Jane Austen – it’s a slower, quieter read than Austen’s other novels but it really hit me. I’ve said it before and I will say it until the end of time – Wentworth’s letter > Darcy’s letter. FACT. This has reminded me of the fact that I need to re-read this soon just to check that I still love it (I’m sure I will).

10. Flat White: Your favourite book that isn’t a novel.

I find it hard to choose favourites but one of my favourite non-novel things I own is the art book for the Guillermo del Toro film Crimson Peak – and, no, the entirety of my love for it is decidedly not because the film stars Tom Hiddleston. (Though, not gonna lie, it doesn’t hurt BUT that’s not the main reason I love it, I swear!) The art book is so stunningly produced and published that it’s my favourite of the few coffee table-y books I own, the aesthetic from the film has been considered in EVERY SINGLE PAGE and it’s just stunningly beautiful. (Check out this flip-through video to see the dark prettiness!)

Well, that’s all folks! That was the Coffee Book Tag.
If you, like me, love your coffee like you love your oxygen then please consider yourself tagged. If you do participate in this tag be sure to link me to it in the comments below because I’d love to see your answers – I’m super nosy like that.
In the meantime, I’m going to get back to drinking this cappuccino.

Goodreads | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram