The Fifty Bookish Questions Book Tag

I love doing posts like this. I found this from Arctic Books, and I thought this would be a fun way for y’all to understand my reading habit and why I pick certain books. Let’s get started!

1. What was the last book you read?

The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One. I really enjoyed that collection. You can see my post about it here.

2. Was it a good one?

I thought so.

3. What made it good?

I loved how it made me think about current social issues.

4. Would you recommend it to other people?

I definitely would.

5. How often do you read?

Not as often as I’d like. Having a two-year-old prevents that sometimes.

6. Do you like to read?

LOVE.

7.What was the last bad book you read?

I don’t know if it was bad per se, but I wasn’t the hugest fan of Breaking the Glass Slipper.

8. What made you dislike it?

Just wasn’t my jam.

9. Do you wish to be a writer?

Eh? I have a book idea in mind, but I don’t really know if I’m going to go through with it. For now, I’m really happy with blogging.

10. Has any book ever influenced you greatly?

Some books that have really touched me are The Princess Saves Herself in This One, The Alchemist, and Carry On Warrior.

11. Do you read fan fiction?

Nope.

12. Do you write fan fiction?

Nope.

13. What’s your favorite book?

Trying to pick a favorite is like trying to pick your favorite child. It’s impossible.

14. What’s your least favorite book?

Moby Dick. I hate Melville.

15. Do you prefer physical books or ready on a device (like a kindle)?

I love both for different reasons. Physical books are just so satisfying. My Kindle allows me to read with a kid on my lap.

16. When did you learn to read?

I think a little before kindergarten.

17. What is your favorite book you had to read in school?

There were so many! But if I have to choose one, I think it would be The Bell Jar.

18. What is your favorite book series?

Harry Potter for sure.

19. Who is your favorite author?

Fiction: don’t really think I can pick one.

Non fiction: Brittany Gibbons

20. What is your favorite genre?

Either fantasy or historical fiction.

21. Who is your favorite character in a book series?

Hermione and Matilda. I really connected and identified with both of them.

22. Has a book ever transported you somewhere else?

Don’t they all?

23.Which book do you wish had a sequel?

Everything, Everything. It was so sweet!

24. Which book do you wish DIDN’T have a sequel?

Twilight or Fifty Shades of Gray. I was never a fan of either series.

25. How long does it take you to read a book?

If I can be left alone and read, a couple days. If I have a crazy kid and husband to deal with, it could take FOREVER.

26. Do you like when books become movies?

Sometimes. Some adaptations are amazing, while others are just ok.

27. Which book was ruined by its movie adaptation?

I think Ender’s Game. I wasn’t a fan.

28. Which movie has done a book justice?

I feel the Lord of the Rings series were pretty spot on.

29. Do you read newspapers?

No, but I should.

30. Do you read magazines?

From time to time.

31. Do you prefer newspapers or magazines?

Probably magazines.

32. Do you read while in bed?

It’s one of my preferred spots.

33. Do you read while on the toilet?

You gotta do what you gotta do.

34. Do you read while in the car?

If it’s a long car ride, yes. Books helped me survive the 13-hour trips to Michigan.

35. Do you read while in the bath?

Haven’t tried it.

36. Are you a fast reader?

When a book has really captured my interest, yes.

37. Are you a slow reader?

When I have lots of distractions, yes.

38. Where is your favorite place to read?

Probably on my couch under a blanket.

39. Is it hard for you to concentrate while you read?

Sometimes.

40. Do you need a room to be silent while you read?

I would prefer it to be quiet.

41. Who gave you your love for reading?

Probably my dad.

42. What book is next on your list to read?

I’m currently reading Quackery, but after that I don’t really know.

43. When did you start to read chapter books?

Kindergarten.

44. Who is your favorite children’s book author?

Roald Dahl.

45. Which author would you most want to interview?

JK Rowling for sure.

46. Which author do you think you’d be friends with?

Brittany Gibbons. She’s a badass and super funny.

47. What book have you reread the most?

Either the Harry Potter series or The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

48. Which books do you consider “classics”?

Books that have stood the test of time and are still relevant today.

49. Which books do you think should be taught in every school?

ALL THE BOOKS.

50. Which books should be banned from all schools?

NONE OF THE BOOKS.

Do you agree/disagree with my answers? Fill this out for yourself!

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

In case you’ve been under a rock (or caught by Devil’s Snare), you’ve probably heard that a new Harry Potter mobile game came out. I was so excited to hear about this. I was on the waiting list, I was on the email notification list, I was dedicated. So when it came out, you bet I downloaded it and started playing immediately.

I love that you get to build your character to look like you…but hate the fact that some accessories cost a lot of in-game money. 100 gems for glasses?! I did the best I could with the tools I had.

During the Sorting Ceremony, instead of taking a personality quiz a la Pottermore, you get to pick your house. Naturally, I chose Hufflepuff…and I’m glad I did. The Common Room is exactly how I imagined it to be. It’s so warm and cozy. It reminds me of a hobbit house with the round doors and all the sunlight. I wish this were real so I could actually be in there!

You’ll soon come across the most annoying part of the game. You’re going along, trying to complete missions (you have to tap the screen in order to use energy)…

…and then you’re completely out of energy. You run out rather quickly. Sometimes each activity takes 4 or 5 energy to complete. Energy replenishes itself every 4 minutes, but each activity is timed, so if you run out of time you have to redo the task.

I think I’m willing to deal with the annoying parts of the game just to have another Harry Potter experience.

Have you downloaded the game yet?

Library Haul v.1

Brace yourselves…

I just got a library card.

Before you judge me too harshly, please know that I’ve had one before, just not for where I’m living now. I had one when I was a kid. So it’s not as bad as it sounds!

I was pleasantly surprised that my small library branch had some new releases, and I gladly snatched them up.

• Heartless: This was the one I was the most excited about. I mean, I had the release date in my calendar, so it’s kinda important to me.
• Jane Steele: I fell in love with the cover, and when I saw that is was a retelling of Jane Eyre, I was sold.
• Little Bee: The little blurb at the beginning of the book got me on this one.

Any recommendations for my next trip?

Fictional Crushes

Everyone gets attached to characters. Sometimes you identify with them, sometimes you see them as your best friends…other times you have crushes on them. Now I know, they’re not real. However, both of these guys have qualities that I love about them. I tried looking for these qualities when I was dating, and I personally think I lucked out with my husband. 🙂

Mr. Darcy

Colin Firth will always be my Darcy.

I don’t know if I have more of a crush on Mr. Darcy or Colin Firth. *swoon*

I think what I love most about Darcy is his transformation. At the beginning, he’s so stubborn and arrogant (although I do have a soft spot for that personality type). As the story progresses, you see him soften up to Lizzie. He becomes a better man by knowing her. I don’t need my real man to transform himself for me, but I really love what love can do to a person. I also really enjoy his and Lizzie’s relationship. They challenge each other intellectually. They can have meaningful conversations. There’s more to their relationship than good looks.

Ron Weasley

Weasley is my king.

I love Won-Won. I love his loyalty and his goofiness. I love that he’s oblivious to a lot of things, but he also notices the important things in life. Granted, I kinda hated him in Deathly Hallows when he left, but when he came back all was well again. I love how he and Hermione are total opposites, but I think that’s what works for them. She makes him work hard and he makes her relax. I love a balanced relationship. 

Who are your literary crushes?

Read Your Birth Year

I know it’s a little crazy to think of books to read for next year, but you know me. I’m a little crazy. I came up with a fun reading challenge! Ready? It’s…

READ YOUR BIRTH YEAR!

Every month of 2017, I’ll be reading a book that was published in my birth year, 1989. I’ve already picked them out. Here’s my schedule:

January: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry	July: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
February: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan	August: Hyperion by Dan Simmons
March: Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George	September: A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters by Julian Barnes
April: Geek Love by Katherine Dunn	October: The Dark Half by Stephen King
May: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving	November: The Mummy by Anne Rice
June: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro	December: Midnight by Dean Koontz

I’m hoping this is going to be fun and doable. What I’d LOVE to do is be able to go to the library and get these every month, but with the baby and my work schedule I don’t really know how it’s going to be. But I’m going to try! And that means more reviews!

If you have any suggestions for other books, let me know!

Does anyone else want to do this challenge with me? Let’s link up!

Best Things About Being a Bookworm

As long as I can remember, I’ve always been a bookworm. I think it stems from the fact that my dad reads a lot and I’m an only child. I was the kid who had a flashlight under the covers while I read at night. My parents would actually ground me from books when I was in trouble! I can’t imagine myself any other way. These are the reasons I love being a bookworm:

You always have something to do.

You can never really be bored. I always carry a book in my purse, just in case I find myself with extra time. Right now I try to read on my lunch breaks. It’s not much, but I can at least get 30 minutes of reading in. I need to fit it in where I can!

It’s fun to organize my collection.

I have a TON of books. I have so many, they live in piles all over my house. Right now I’m trying to organize them in some sort of way. I’m currently doing it alphabetically, but now I’m thinking I might want to sort them alphabetically by genre…and then I need to get more bookshelves…it’s a never-ending process, but I really enjoy it.

You’re able to have great conversations.

I love that reading exposes you to new viewpoints. I know for me, whenever I learn something new, I have to tell someone about it. Usually new knowledge starts a great conversation or debate, which I love.

You’re able to think more critically.

I appreciate any book that gets me to think. Granted, sometimes I read so I don’t have to think, but the ones where I do think are wonderful. I love digging deeper into the text to see what other messages the author has hidden in plain sight. It feels like a scavenger hunt to me, and I want to find the prize. Plus, I get to learn more about the author’s influences and time period along the way.

You learn about a variety of topics.

This goes hand in hand with having great conversations. I love learning new things. Lately, since I don’t have any school required reading, I’m able to pick educational books that pique my interest. Recently I’ve read a book about the history of poison as a murder weapon. I also want to read Stiff (a book about cadavers) and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (which is about cremation). I’m just a teensy bit morbid.

You’re able to explore the world without leaving the house.

Books can take you to a variety of places, real or imaginary. Thanks to books, I’ve been to Wonderland, Hogwarts, Panem, Australia, Afghanistan, England, outer space, the Shire, and many more places. I can’t wait to visit more!

You’re never alone.

Even in my loneliest times, with a book I was never really alone. I could always go to my trusty copy of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and visit Charlie and Sam, or pick up any Harry Potter book and see what the trio was up to.

So tell me: what do you like about being a bookworm?

Literary Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Do you need a last-minute costume for a party tonight? Wanna show off your literary nerdiness with it? I have some ideas that might help you out!

• Boo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird: I think it would be funny to be rather literal with this costume. Dress up as a ghost and give out presents to everyone.
• Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland: This is a costume you can easily pick up from your local party supply store, but if you want to be lazy/DIY about it, you can dress up as a queen, cut out paper hearts, and glue them all over yourself.
• Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter: This would be super easy. I always imagine Hester in either a black or brown dress with her hair pulled back in a bun. Cut out a red paper “A”, pin it on to you, and you’re good to go.
• Any character from a Jane Austen novel: I think a period piece would be really fun to do. You could always go a little modern with it and add some zombie makeup if you want to be a character from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

If you’re going with a friend or significant other:

• Gatsby and Daisy from The Great Gatsby: This is just an excuse to wear a flapper dress and drink martinis…but I’m sure you won’t mind that.
• An old man and the letter “C” or the ocean for The Old Man and the Sea: Kinda punny, but I like it.

Do you have any suggestions for Halloween costumes?

Everyone be safe!

Giving the Gift of Bookish

Holiday season is rapidly approaching, and I bet you’re wondering what to get your bookish friends. No? Just me? Well then…just in case you needed some gift ideas, I’ve found some great book-related gifts that are sure to be winners.*

Book Pencil Caddy

A friend of mine purchased this, and she adores it. It’s cute and functional. Keep in mind, though, that it is a touch small. She had to buy two in order for it to work for her. Find it here.

I Would Rather Be Reading Tank

I love tank tops. Granted, I never wear them by themselves, but I love them all the same. I would totally pair this with a cardigan and skirt for a fun business-casual outfit. Grab it here.

William Shakespeare Quote Print

Hubby and I decided that we’re going to make one room in our house a library, and we’re only going to decorate it with book-related items. This print would fit in nicely. I’d also love it in my son’s room! Buy it here.

WORD NERD Post Earrings

I ADORE earrings. I don’t change out most of my jewelry, but I love to have fun with earrings. I don’t have many nerdy earrings, so this might have to be in my jewelry box soon. Make it yours.

Harry Potter Inspired Mason Jar Lamp 

I want all the lamps from this seller. They’re absolutely gorgeous. I have no clue how they do it, but I just want them all. Get it NOW.

What are you planning on gifting this holiday season?

*Note: none of these people know who I am. This is not a sponsored post. I just really like their stuff and want it all. Also, I don’t own these photos. I took them from their respective sites. All photo credits go to them. 

Kindle Review

Well, it’s been a hot minute since I got my Kindle Paperwhite. I was always Team Real Book. I was like, “Real books don’t need batteries” and “An ereader doesn’t look good on your bookshelf.” While both of these points are totally true, there are some benefits to owning a Kindle (or any ereader).

• It’s portable. 

I really love reading. Sometimes I read multiple books at a time. The Kindle allows me to have a ton of books with me at once. Plus, they keep track of where I am so I can pick up right where I left off.

• You can get a pretty cover. 

Whenever I get a new electronic device, I have to customize it almost immediately. I have to get a case, stickers…something to make it not plain. I got this really cool case from Amazon, and it looks and feels like a leather bound book! I also want this one that looks like a spell book.

• You discover new writers. 

I wrote a post earlier about a series through the Kindle, the Wonder Cat series. I know there are a ton of authors that publish ebooks exclusively, and if you didn’t have an e-reader you wouldn’t know about them. I have a TON of books downloaded that were free, and Amazon usually runs specials as well. Plus, you can get ARCs and galleys for an ereader too, if you know where to look. I might post a site or two soon…

I’m a recent convert to ereaders, so some features might be well-known to everyone, but the features I have on my Kindle are great:

• an adjustable backlight so I don’t get headaches
• the ability to look up a word without leaving the page
• being connected to my Goodreads page

If you’re like me and you were/are a hardcore member of Team Real Book, I suggest you take another look at ereaders. They might change your mind.

How to Get Out of a Reading Slump

If you ask my husband and my bank account, they’ll both tell you that I have a ton of books. Most of them, I’m ashamed to say, I haven’t read yet. There are just many moments where I don’t have the motivation, passion, or energy to read. My heart and my brain desperately want me to read, but my body says nope.

So how do I get out of this slump?

1. I take a break. I consciously decide that I’m not going to pressure myself into doing something I’m not feeling up to. I try to do other things, like catch up on shows or movies, do more family outings, or housework (but that’s something I TOTALLY have to talk myself into!).
2. I read a one-off. I have a lot of series. Usually, they’re at least five or six books long. Sometimes I get burned out. It’s a lot of commitment to stay with characters and settings for that many books. I have a ton of one-offs for that reason. Most of the time, reading a stand alone will get the reading juices flowing again and I’m able to tackle a series.
3. I read an “easy” book. As an English major (always and forever, right?), my shelves are full of heavy Literature. My Brit Lit teacher would always refer to world-changing books as capital L literature and entertainment books as little l literature. Sometimes my brain just can’t handle Literature. I don’t want to read thought-provoking books; sometimes I want to be blindly entertained. If that’s the case, I usually pick up a YA book. Those are usually more fun to read, and I have the habit of speed-reading those. Once I’ve read some of those, I’m more willing to read the heavy ones.
4. I go to the bookstore. Sometimes, all it takes is me driving to the bookstore and seeing all the pretty books lined up. In a totally-not-psychotic way, they speak to me, telling me to buy them, which I do…and then my husband and bank account complain again.

Hopefully this will help some of y’all who might be in a reading slump. I don’t think I’m in the slump now, but we’ll see what happens when I finish reading this book!