The A-Z of Books Tag
Now that I have a few reviews under my belt, I decided it was time to mix it up a bit and add some non-review posts to my blog. I came across this cool A-B of Books tag on Pretty Purple Polka Dots and again on Rather Too Fond of Books and decided I’d like to give it a shot as well so here goes!
Author You’ve Read the Most Books From
Toni Morrison. When I was in college, I took a seminar that was exclusively devoted to Morrison’s novel. I read all 6 that had been published at that time and have read at least 4 more since then. (Runner up, which is pretty indicative of how varied my tastes in reading, is J.K. Rowling with the entire Harry Potter series.)
Best Sequel Ever
I don’t know if I can pick a ‘best ever’ but I did really enjoy The Girl Who Played with Fire, the second novel in Stieg Larrson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.
Currently Reading
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Drink of Choice While Reading
Usually coffee, but occasionally a glass of wine when I read on weekends.
E-Reader or Physical Book
As much as I adore physical copies of books, I also love that with an e-reader because I can instantly download a new book any time of the day or night.
Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated in High School
For some reason, only Harry Potter characters are popping into my head so I’m going to go with Ron Weasley. I do love redheads and he and I would have had a great time together snarking on Draco Malfoy and his goons.
Glad You Gave this Book a Chance
Emma Donaghue’s ‘The Room’. I really struggled to get through the first 50 or so pages and almost gave up on the book because it was hard to follow the 5-year child narrator, but once I got used to the narration, this book quickly became one of my all-time favorites.
Hidden Gem Book
Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith. I picked this book up mainly because I had heard it was set in my home state of Virginia. What an absolutely gorgeous piece of writing it turned out to be. If you give this one a try, I guarantee you’ll fall in love with the character of Ivy Rose.
Important Moment in Your Reading Life
Reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ for the first time when I was in the 8th grade. That book turned me into the book addict that I am today.
Just Finished
‘The Girls’ by Emma Cline. It’s fabulous, by the way, my favorite book of 2016 so far.
Kind of Books You Won’t Read
I won’t read anything classified as Horror. Reading is my escape so not interested in anything that is potential
Longest Book You’ve Read
Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables (1,200 pages!).
Major Book Hangover
The Room by Emma Donaghue. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book for weeks after I finished it and wanted to talk about it to anyone I could get to listen to my bookish ramblings.
Number of Bookcases You Own
I’m such a book nerd that I actually had a room in my house converted into a library/reading room so I have wall-to-wall shelves for my precious books.
One Book You’ve Read Multiple Times
To Kill a Mockingbird. I love this one so much that I re-read it every few years.
Preferred Place to Read
Either in my cozy reading chair or else curled up in bed.
Quote that Inspires You/Gives You all the Feels from a Book You’ve Read
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
– Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird
Reading Regret
One reading regret I have is waiting so long to embrace the Young Adult genre. I had the misguided notion that I was too old to read those books and feel like I have missed out on a lot of great reads because of that. Trying hard to remedy that now.
Series You Started and Need to Finish
Game of Thrones. I’ve read the first two books and loved them, but they take me soooo long to read that I keep putting off moving on to the third book.
Three of Your All-Time Favorite Books
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Beloved by Toni Morrison.
Unapologetic Fangirl For
The entire Harry Potter series. I loved it so much when I read it that I’m reading it aloud to my 8 year old son now. It’s taking FOREVER but he loves it too so it’s so worth it.
Very Excited for this Release more than All Others
The Underground Railroad: A Novel by Colson Whitehead. It doesn’t come out until September but I can’t wait to get my hands on this one because the buzz has been so outstanding for it so far.
Worst Bookish Habit
Having a million books in my ‘To Be Read’ pile but yet compulsively buying more books to read every time I walk into a bookstore.
X Marks the Spot: Start on the Top Left of Your Shelf and Pick the 27th Book
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Your Latest Purchase
Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Emma by Alexander McCall Smith.
Zzzzz-Snatcher Book (Last Book that Kept You up Way too late)
Glory Over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom kept me up into the wee hours of the night because the journey on the Underground Railroad was so suspenseful – I just had to find out if everyone would make it through safely.