The Terror of Knowing

Welcome to another Thursday and another Tag Thursday! As we’re in the middle of Blogmas I thought I’d bring you another festive-themed book tag to stay in the Christmassy mood. I can’t believe we’re a mere four sleeps away from Christmas Day, that seems so crazy to me since I feel like December only just stared but, alas, here we are. Before I need to go away and have a semi-panic about the presents I still need to get, let’s get to the business of the day, the tag.

I found this via (and considered myself tagged by) the girls over at Thrice Read so let’s just dive on into the tag which is called The Joy of Christmas Book Tag!

1) Anticipation: The Christmas excitement is real, what book release(s) are you most anticipating?

I really should look at new book releases because I honestly have no idea what’s coming out soon, I’m so out of the loop. But how far in the future are we talking? Because I am highly anticipating Leigh Bardugo’s King of Scars though I’m not sure when it’s released. Likewise anything and everything V.E. Schwab and Samantha Shannon are scheduled to release, as per usual.

2) Christmas Songs & Carols: What book or author can you not help but sing it’s praises?

Well I think if you look at the answer above you will see some authors whose praises I cannot sing enough, in fact I’m rarely able to get through a book tag without alluding to a book written by one of them! Also this year I’ve been singing the praises of more non-fiction than I expected, specifically Amanda Palmer’s The Art of Asking and Adam Kay’s This Is Going to Hurt.

3) Gingerbread Houses: What book or series has wonderful world building?

I’m always spoilt for choice with these kinds of questions because so much of what I read is fantasy-based but I’m going to have to say George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. He does an amazing job of juggling so many characters and settings and every single one is unique and distinct so you can immediately picture what the landscape is like of, say, Winterfell or Highgarden.

But you know who builds a great setting not necessarily in terms of physical place but in terms of tone? Maggie Stiefvater in her The Raven Boy’s quartet. I can vividly “feel” her books which is quite unlike anything else I’ve ever read.

4) A Christmas Carol: Favorite classic or one that you want to read

I really enjoy a lot of classics so let’s just run down the list shall we? Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities; Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. And in terms of more modern classics I like Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (one of my all time faves) and, more recently, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something really obvious from this list…

I have a bunch of classics I want to get to soon too (once I’ve finally finished War and Peace): Moby Dick, Emma, Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, Doctor Zhivago, Les Miserables, Madame Bovary, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Cranford, Wives and Daughters, Far From the Madding Crowd… I could go on.

5) Christmas Sweets: What book would you love to receive for Christmas

If I don’t received the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban then I will be very disappointed indeed, especially since I’ve held off buying it myself because it’s a great kind of book to gift people and I thought my family would go for it for me. Ok fine confession time: I 100% know that my parents have got me this one for Christmas, so unless there is a very unlikely mixup with presents I should have my grubby little hands on it come. Christmas Day.

6) Candles in the Window: What book gives you that warm fuzzy feeling

It probably seems a stock answer for a large portion of the online book community, but I’m going to have to be a cliche and agree and say the Harry Potter series because, at this point, it’s pure nostalgia when I read it and it has become something of a comfort read that’s not short on the warm fuzzies.

7) Christmas Trees & Decorations: What are some of your favorite book covers?

Oh there are far too many to mention I’m sure so let’s just talk about which ones I’ve recently been lusting over, such as the cover for Jen Campbell’s The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night which I should be receiving for Christmas and I’m so excited about that. Also the stark Art Deco inspired cover for The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is like maybe 80% of why I even want to buy that book when it’s released next year.

It goes without saying I wish I owned more of the Penguin English Library, Penguin Clothbounds, and Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions because the cover designs for them are gorgeous.

8) Christmas Joy: What are some of your favorite things about Christmas And/Or some of your favorite Christmas memories?

I think what I like most about Christmas is the enforced ‘spending time with your family’ tradition. My family get along pretty well so it’s never one of those awkward dinners situation or anything but, despite everyone getting along pretty well, it can be really easy to just go for days, weeks, months without spending proper time with people. I like that Christmas kind of forces you to remember that you’re lucky to have your family and friends around you and you shouldn’t take it for granted.

On a purely base level I am also a big fan of a lot of the food associated with Christmas (pigs in blankets, stuffing, stollen, Christmas cake, yum yum) and how much time you’re expected to stay indoors and veg after a big meal, watching films or reading a book. That’s my jam, guys.

And on that very fine note (and not at all because I’m now so tempted to dig into a slab of Christmas cake) let’s end the tag here with me tagging anyone and everyone who wishes to join in! Spread the holiday cheer! And if you do the tag be sure to link me to because I’d love to take a peek at your answers.

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