Book Tag – Page 12 – dinipandareads

Thanks The Geekish Brunette for nominating me for this award! Head on over to her blog (via the link above) and check her awesome reviews and posts! I got so super excited when I saw that I was nominated for something on the blogosphere, so I don’t know why it has taken me so long to respond to this nomination! It’s not that I didn’t want to, I think for some reason I’ve just been intimidated (I know I’m weird)?! Like, do I have 11 blogging buddy/friends that I can nominate? But that weirdness has passed and now I’m just excited to do this. So… HERE WE GO!

WHAT IS THE SUNSHINE BLOGGER AWARD?

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

1.) What book has had the biggest impact on your life?

Wow, talk about starting it off with one of the toughest questions to answer! You’re killing me, Joanna! 😂 Lol it’s so hard to pick just one book, so I’m going to go with the first one that comes to mind and that’s Persuasion by Jane Austen. I read it at one of the lowest points in my life and I was feeling 100% hopeless. I picked Persuasion up on a whim and it basically ended up being my therapy. I screamed, I cried, and then I laughed and felt a spark of hope again. It helped me move on.

2.) What was your last book hangover?

My last book hangover was probably Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Robertson. Lucky for me it was only a *very minor* hangover, but I still wondered what to do with myself and what book I should pick next after finishing that one. I’ve been working on pushing myself through book hangovers this year and so far, I’m doing pretty alright! *knock wood*

3.) Favorite book quote and why?

Again with the tough questions! LOL I’m going to pick just one out of many favorites:

“It matters not how strait the gate
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.”
Invictus – William Ernest Henley

I struggled a lot (and still do) with self-confidence which greatly affected my mental health. That doubt meant I let people make decisions for my life that led me down paths that I wish I hadn’t taken. When I first read this poem it knocked me off-kilter and reminded me that I am the person in charge of myself, not anybody else–I’m my captain and master. I know that sounds totally cheesy, but it really pushed me to take charge of my life and even if I go down a difficult path, it’s because of my decisions and not someone else’s.

4.) What is your favorite color and what book cover best shows it off?

My favorite color is anything pastel (seriously). I recently saw this cover edition for Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult and it’s so stunning. I already have the physical book but I would honestly just buy this edition because it’s SO gorgeous (I’m trying to be good though lol).

5.) Favorite book boyfriend/book girlfriend?

THERE ARE SO MANY but right now it’s Leon Twomey from The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. He’s so sweet & caring. I love how he respects Tiffy and is so considerate of her history.

6.) Do you prefer standalone or series?

I prefer standalones more because 1) less time crying into my pillow waiting for the next book to come out and 2) less money spent trying to get all the books (kinda looking at you Maas with ToG)! Waiting around for the next book in a series is always torture.

7.) Who is your favorite villain and why?

I rarely like villains but if I had to choose I’d say Holland Vosijk from the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab. He’s so evil through the whole series, and honestly I hated him for so much of it, but by the end of the series I really couldn’t help feeling sorry for him and everything that he experienced. It changed him completely in the worst way and it’s just heartbreaking.

8.) Do you like morally grey characters?

Sometimes? If they’re anything like Victor from Vicious then it’s a definite yes! Because it’s just fun to experience their skewed compasses and most of the time they’re not necessarily evil just… slightly gone astray? 😂

9.) What got you into reading?

I started reading trying to escape bullies when I was in middle school. They never ventured into the library though so that’s where I found myself 90% of the time, getting lost in worlds that took me out of my discomfort and anxiety. So really, I have to thank you, bullies!

10.) Favorite book-to-movie adaptation?

Hmm… I really tend to not watch movies based on books I’ve read because I don’t want to be disappointed, so I’m not sure I really have an appropriate answer for this one. That said, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit are some of my all time favorite movies although I haven’t read the LOTR books… but I’m making that count! Lol

11.) What is your least favorite book genre?

Horror. I am a total chicken. I just can’t do it. The ghosty supernatural thing is just not my jam! Give me anything else and I’ll work through it and gladly. But it’s a big fat no to the supernatural lol

My Questions:

1) What is your favorite book genre?
2) What book do you wish would be made into a TV series/movie?
3) You need to escape your house (for some reason) and can only bring 3 books in your bag. What books would you take?
4) Why did you start a book blog?
5) What was your last 5-star read and why?
6) What’s a destination you want to visit because of a book you read?
7) If you could read any book again for the first time, which book would it be and why?
8) Do you read books in another language? If yes, what language?
9) Which fictional character do you think is most like you?
10) Which fictional world would you most like to visit or live in and why?
11) What popular book and/or author do you hate?

I nominate*:

*If you’re totally not into doing book tags and all these sorts of nomination things, please don’t feel pressured to do so 🙂

Happy Saturday, book friends! How is everyone doing? It’s been a helluva week and now that the big conference and presentation is over, I’m feeling so drained of energy and mostly relieved that I survived! I’ve pretty much been off the blogosphere/bookstagram world this whole week and I came back a lot of awesome posts to catch up on but also fun book tags such as this one!

I wasn’t tagged for this but I thought I’d do it anyway because it looked fun and it’ll help me get back into the blogging flow! I can hardly believe it’s already THE END OF JUNE. I’m shook by how quickly this year has flown. In terms of reading, it’s been a pretty good year although I’m looking forward to reading many more amazing books in the latter half. I’ve pretty much already completed my 2019 Goodreads Challenge of 90 books (currently: 89/90) and I’ve already upped the number once (it was originally 75). I was wondering if I should up the number again, but I think I’ll just leave it now. Without further ado, here’s my answers for the 2019 mid-year book freak out tag!

Best book you’ve read so far in 2019?

This is a really tough pick. I have a Top 4 and I want to choose them all(?!) because I love them equally but for different reasons! But I think I will go for The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah because yeah, wow. You can read my review for it here.

Best sequel so far of 2019?

Okay, this is weird (and I also just realized it but) I haven’t actually read any sequels this year. There are a few that I’m dying to get to (eventually) but until now, I’ve been reading a lot of contemporary and historical fiction. Do graphic novels count though? Because if yes, then I’d definitely say Saga Vol. 9 by Brian K. Vaughan!

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to?

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim. This is another one with a lot of hype around it and I’m meant to be reading it right now as a buddy read, but I still haven’t got around to it!

Most anticipated release for the second half of 2019?

Oh, it is really SO HARD to choose just one but the first one that came to mind is The Toll (Arc of a Scythe #3) by Neal Shusterman. That epic cliffhanger of an ending in Thunderhead shook me and I’m so curious to find out where we pick up, what has happened since and how things are going to be fixed–if they’re at all fixable!

Biggest disappointment?

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. This was my second read of 2019 and it just really didn’t work for me. There was a lot of hype around it and I still see a lot of people praising it, but it just wasn’t my jam! While I thought the way the story was told was creative and different from anything else I’ve read, it was also confusing, and slightly boring at times. Also, so many questions left unanswered at the end!

Biggest surprise?

Normal People by Sally Rooney. I read Conversations with Friends, Rooney’s debut last year and I hated it. Like, I passionately disliked it. It’s written in Rooney’s distinctive style, and I enjoyed that, but it was just the characters that I found had no redeeming qualities. I couldn’t stand them and it frustrated me the more I read! I didn’t think I’d read Rooney again, but when Normal People came out and was a huge hit, FOMO (and #bookstagram) made me buy it. I’m so glad I did–I loved it! You can read my full review here.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?

Jane Harper. I’ve gone on about her in a couple of posts already but honestly, her atmospheric writing just blows me away. Also makes me miss Australia (even though I never lived in the outback lol)! You can read my review for her book The Dry here.

Newest fictional crush?

Quan from the Bride Test by Helen Hoang. I really hope that Helen Hoang writes his book next because he deserves it! He’s the typical ‘bad boy’ with the tattoos, and the bad ass bike, but he’s such a sweet, caring softie when it comes to family. I’m so ready to read an epic Quan story! You can read my review for Hoang’s fantastic second book here.

Newest favorite character?

Kya Clark aka The Marsh Girl from Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The story of this girl was so heartbreaking but her strength and resilience in the face of all the adversity was amazing? Astounding? Simply mind blowing and I loved her character so much. She was so pure, and genuinely so good hearted and fiercely smart. Such a strong and amazing female lead! Review coming soon.

Book that made you cry?

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys. This book gutted me. I was so scared that the ending would be so much worse than it already was, but I’m glad that Sepetys gave us a spark of light to hang on to. Books set during this period of history never ever fail to make me wail like a baby!

Book that made you happy?

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren. This book was so funny, sassy, and just all around awesome. Hazel is such a quirky character and to be honest I’m not sure who I had more of a crush on — her or Josh. They were adorable and I’m pretty sure that my heart didn’t stop singing throughout this one! You can read my full review here.

Favorite book to movie/tv adaptation that you saw this year?

I honestly haven’t watched many movie/tv adaptations this year, although I know that I want to! The only one that comes to mind is The Umbrella Academy on Netflix. When I watched it I had no idea it was written and directed by Gerard Way, who my bestie and I was lowkey obsessed with during my uni/emo days! I haven’t read the graphic novel though, but the show was pretty fun.

Favorite review you’ve written this year?

Hmm… Probably my review for Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I related to the MC so much and I loved the serendipitous storyline and discussions about fate/destiny. That made writing this review pretty easy but also fun. Plus, I included one of my favorite quotes. You can read my full review here.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)?

I’ve bought quite a few beautiful books this year and I’m so happy with all of them! I have to say though that The Binding by Bridget Collins is probably my most beautiful purchase. The jacket is already gorgeous but the naked cover and inside of the cover are also equally as beautiful.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

There are so many books that I’d like to have read by the end of the year–literally the list goes on forever–but I definitely need to read Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

How has your reading year been so far? I’d love to see your answers for this book tag! If you’ve done it too, leave your link down in the comments below and let’s chat 2019 reading 🙂