I Dare You Book Tag
Friday, May 11, 2018With the A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab discussion well underway I haven’t done many normal discussion posts or even a tag in a while. So instead of the usual book review that I had planned for today, I thought I’d do the I Dare You tag. I saw this tag over at The Well-Thumbed Reader. With all the tags I do, I don’t usually tag other people—I like to leave it open to all of you. If you like the tag and want to do it, go for it!
Which book has been on your shelf the longest?
The Fledgling Handbook 101 by P.C. Cast: I used to be obsessed with this series. However, I’m still not caught up in the House of Night series so I’m not sure when I’ll ever get to this. Still, the book is very tiny so I could probably finish it in an afternoon. There’s just so many other books.
Take Me There by Susane Colasanti: I purchased this one at Borders way back when. Remember Borders? I miss that bookstore. This must have been when I was going through a contemporary phase. Though, after reading City Love by the same author, I think this one will remain unread for a while.
Bitter End by Jennifer Brown: I absolutely adore Hate List so when I heard that Brown was publishing more books, I couldn’t have been happier. Aside from Shade Me, which I read last year, I haven’t read any of her other books. Though, I think I own most of them. Oops.
What is your current read, your last read, and the book you'll read next?
Current Read: Heartless by Marissa Meyer: In the beginning of the month, I read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll in anticipation of reading this one. I was really looking forward to Meyer’s new retelling. Despite capturing the whimsy of the classic, I’m just not drawn into the story. So far, I’m a bit disappointed.
Last Read: Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh: The review for this should be up quite soon. I loved it! I do spend a considerable amount during the review talking about how the marketing of a book can ruin the book. In this case, Flame in the Mist is marketed as a Mulan retelling and that’s not what you get. However, when readers look past that, the book is absolutely amazing!
Up Next: Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez: I am so excited to read this one! Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me an early copy. Sweet Black Waves releases in June and is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde through the eyes of Isolde’s lady-in-waiting. I guess it’s the month of retellings for me.
What book did everyone like, but you hated?
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness: Ever since I read Animal Farm, I just can’t stand talking animals in books.
And I Darken by Kiersten White: I’ve been seeing quite a lot of fans for this series and I just couldn’t get into this one. I have a full review explaining why but it just wasn’t for me.
What book do you keep telling yourself you'll read, but you probably won't?
Caraval by Stephanie Garber: This book is so hyped. I want to get on the hype wagon with everyone else but I’m just not sure if I’ll like it.
Which book are you saving for retirement?
I don’t tend to save books for any special occasion. I’m very much a mood reader so whenever I feel like it, I’ll pick up a book. Here are a few books I’ve been putting off because of the size or series commitment:
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin | Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas | The Diviners by Libba Bray
Last page: read it first or wait till the end?
I hate being spoiled so I tend to wait till the end. However, there are times that I’ll go and check how many pages are in the book and I’ll glance at the last sentence. The last sentence rarely gives anything away. When it does though, I always kick myself.
Acknowledgments: waste of paper and ink or interesting aside?
Most acknowledgments are very interesting! My favorite has got to be Libba Bray’s acknowledgments in Going Bovine. It was so interesting that the publisher decided to put it before the story. It’s about three pages and absolutely hilarious. If you can, I highly recommend finding a copy just to read her acknowledgments.
Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, place, or time)?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: I read this when I was on a camping trip with my brother. I remember being terrified at all the night noises in the woods while trying to separate that with Katniss and her time in the arena. I would say reading The Hunger Games in the woods really enhances the reading experience.
The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones: I read this so long ago that I don’t remember anything that happens in this book. Apparently, I gave it 4 stars. However, I do remember that this was the book I took on vacation with me when my family and I went to Hershey Park.
Name a book you acquired in an interesting way.
Way back when it first released, I was obsessed with the Twilight series. Who wasn’t? Originally, I borrowed the first book from my cousin and ended up loving it so much that I bought myself a copy. When New Moon came out, I jumped at the chance to get it at a midnight release party. Sometime after Breaking Dawn releasing, I noticed that my high school library still had not gotten a copy of the series. My librarian and I were very close and I would sometimes give her recommendations of what books to order. I suggested she get the Twilight series for the school and I let her borrow my copy of Twilight for her to read. She misplaced it and when she told me, I was devastated. Books aren’t cheap and I gave her when I my most favorite books at the time. After a month or two of owning the last three books in the series, my librarian got me a boxed set of the whole series for my birthday. So, now I own a whole box set of the Twilight series and extra copies of New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn.
Have you ever given away a book for a special reason to a special person?
When I was a freshman in college, I made quite a few friends. For no special reason, I decided to share a book with my future-roommate. I hadn’t read it yet, nor have I still, but the synopsis sounded like something she would enjoy. The book was Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. We’ve been out of college for a bit now but still keep in touch. I, recently, suggested she read Three Dark Crowns and she loved it. Don’t mind us, we’re just friends bonding over Blake’s work.
Which book has been with you the most places?
Honestly, I don’t know. I usually just bring along my current read wherever I go. When I finish the book, I keep it on my shelf—it doesn’t follow me. (That would be so strange if books could just follow you places. “How could you not read me yet? Where do you think you’re going?”
Any "required reading" you hated in high school that wasn't so bad two years later?
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: I read this book in high school and didn’t like it one bit. It was boring. The language was too flowery and that first chapter on the Custom House was the most skippable chapter I have ever read. When I read it again for a class in college, I didn’t mind it so much. I took my time with it and noticed some things I haven’t before. And when I visited the actual Custom House, that first chapter didn’t seem so bad.
What's the strangest item you've found in a book?
I’ve found random stickers in books which are rather annoying. I try to be so careful to not rip the page when pulling them up. Something a bit weird I’ve found: I get some of my books at used book stores. People in the community can come and donate their books to the store. I picked up a book there and when I went to read it, I found my business card in the book, marking someone else’s spot. How strange it that?
Used or brand new?
I do prefer brand new but if it’s gently used, it won’t kill me. Used books are usually much cheaper so that’s always a plus.
Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?
This question is so random. No, I haven’t read a Dan Brown book. I planned on reading The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons back in high school but I never got around to it. Now, I probably never will pick him up. I’m just not interested in his books anymore.
Have you ever seen a movie you liked better than the book?
P.S. I Love You: I just finished reading this book and it was such a disappointment. Mostly because I was expecting the magic of the movie. The movie is a cute travel romance where the protagonist goes to Ireland and follows letters from her passed husband. The book is already set in Ireland and it focuses much more on grieving her husband than finding new love.
I Am Legend: I would consider the movie to be a zombie movie, right? If you can believe it, the book by Richard Matheson is about vampires. The dog scene in the movie makes me cry buckets. And if I remember correctly, there’s no dog in the book.
Is there a book you think never should have been published?
I have never come across a book that shouldn’t have been published. Even if I don’t like a book, that doesn’t mean that everyone feels the same. This also goes along the lines of why I never rate books 1 star.
Have you ever read a book that's made you hungry, cookbooks excluded?
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han: Lara Jean was always baking something in this series. And all the goodies sounded delicious. For Christmas one year, I was inspired by the book to try my hand at making chai latte cookies which are so amazing!
These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly: At every single party, the characters got together and ate lemon tarts. The way they were described as just melting in your mouth sounded so good! And I don’t even like lemon desserts.
Heartless by Marissa Meyer: I’m currently reading this one but the main character wishes to open a bakery of her own so she’s constantly trying her hand at baking new treats. So far, she’s made lemon tarts and rose macarons which sound so decadent!
Who is the person whose book advice you always take?
Is it horrible that I don’t really have any one person? My mother and I have very different tastes. Recently, we did a buddy read on A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheenan and she ended up loving the book and I did not like it at all. I do, occasionally, read books that were suggested by other bloggers’ reviews.
What are you currently reading? What was the last book that made you hungry? Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?
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