Classics Book Tag

1. An overhyped classic you really didn't like.

Wuthering Heights
The Great Gatsby
The Little Prince

2. Favorite time period to read about.

I don't much care about the time period. I have favorites in every time period.

3. Favorite fairy-tale.

Anahita
I also love Oscar Wilde's fairytales.

4. What is the most embarrassed classic you haven't read yet.

Don Quixote, The Diary of a Young Girl and Charles Dickens' books. Oh, and Moby Dick

5. Top 5 classics you would like to read (soon).

The Scarlet Letter
In Search of Lost Time
The Bell Jar
East of Eden
Paradise Lost

6. Favorite modern book/series based on a classic

Perhaps most Arthur stories. I love Mists of Avalon, but never forget that Marion Zimmer Bradley was a child molester.

7. Favorite movie version/TV series based on a classic.

I do love the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. It's pretty much perfect.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) is a nice one.
Twelfth Night versions are nice, too. Let's name the 1996 version.
RAI's 1968 L'Odissea
Ray Harryhausen movies :-D I love those!

8. Worst classic to movie adaptation.

The Wizard of Earthsea.
Mary Poppins.
1999 Mansfield Park.

9. Favorite edition(s) you'd like to collect more classics from.

I want all the collections of classics there is!

But - if you make them rainbow colored and hardcover in a binding that goes together so that it's obvious it's a series, a collection, then I'll kill to get them :-D This is Penguin Classics Faux Leather Edition. *sigh*

SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!! WAAAANNNNTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

10. An under-hyped classic you'd recommend to everyone.

The Master and Margarita
Watership Down
Wind in the Willows

Read the books, unabridged version

Frankly, read a classic that's at least 50 years old, once a year, how ever boring you think it is. You might find treasures and jewels. (I know, Watership Down isn't 50 years old. Yet. But almost.)

And re-read the classics you just had to read for school or class or course or something like that. You might find something you appreciate when you don't have to read it.

Also, re-read a classic after you have read a good review of it, not a positive, overflowingly praising review, but a review where the reviewer talks about what the book made them feel and think and realize.

Folklore Book Tag

 Warning for spoilers!

the 1 - a love triangle that didn't end the way you wanted it to.

I can't remember it now, but there was this book where when the girl made her choice my reaction was "NO, NO, NO, NOOOOO!!!" :-D

cardigan - favorite young adult couple
Let's say Ziri and Liraz from Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy

the last great american dynasty - favorite classic novel
I like Jane Eyre

exile - heartbreaking breakup
Francesca Johnson and Robert Kincaid, The Bridges of Madison County.

my tears ricochet - saddest character death

Quite a lot of them in Harry Potter... but I say Diarmuid in The Fionavar Tapestry. The most unnecessary, heartbreaking death of one of my absolute favorite characters... I loved him. He was about the only good part in those books.

Oh, The Book of Sorrows and the death of Coyote's wife and son. That was the most horrible, sad death in any book I have ever read.

mirrorball - a character you relate to

Laura Chant in The Changeover by Margaret Mahy.

seven - favorite middle grade novel

Susan Cooper's Darkness Rises

august - a doomed relationship you can't help but root for

Dan and Bess from Jo's Boys

this is me trying - a popular book you didn't like, but tried hard to

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

illicit affairs - favorite romance trope

Soul Mates. My all times favorite romantic movie is LA Story. (And Love, Actually). I love happy endings.

invisible string - your first otp

Aragorn and Arwen

mad woman - your favorite female character
Mary Poppins. Pippi Longstockings. Eowyn. Jadis. Virginia Revel. Dame Ragnelle. Esmeralda Weatherwax.

You favorite male character?

Gandalf. R. Daneel Olivaw. Athos, Count de la Fère. Sherlock Holmes. The Marquis de Carabas.
Diarmuid. Havelock Vetinari

epiphany - a book/something you read in quarantine

Let's say The Last Witch

betty - favorite book kiss
 
There was a kiss, that made me jump out of the bed and run to share it with my husband. Can't remember which, or where, or between whom, but it was long awaited for and amazing.

peace - favorite young adult contemporary

I don't read young adult contemporary. Let's say Star Girl. I suppose it counts.

hoax - favorite conclusion to a fantasy series

Lord of the Rings. It ends well.

The TBR book tag

How do you keep track of your TBR pile? 

I don't.
I have some books at GoodReads, I have a draft in this blog where I put in books I'm interested in, I have wishlists in some online bookstores, I had a board at Pinterest, but I'm trying to quit that, so I don't have that any longer, I have written lists... it's all very unorganized and I have forgotten more books I wanted to read than I have on my list. :-(
I used to have a book shelf for TBR, but it was filled too quickly :-D

Is your TBR mostly print or ebook? 

Doesn't matter. I read them in any format I can get my greedy hands on.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next? 

Randomly :-D When I happen to come across with a book on my TBR list and I have time, I want to read and feel like reading that specific book.
Sometimes I participate in a reading challenge, and then I go to my TBR first to pick the books for the challenge

A Book That's Been On Your TBR List The Longest 

Eh... Uh... as I said, there's more books I have forgotten, so I can't answer this question, but some of the oldest TBRs are:

Johnny Maxwell series by Terry Pratchett
Ken Follett's Kingsbridge sequels
Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle
Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time
Mary Stewart's Merlin

A Book You Recently Added To Your TBR 

The Twenty Days of Turin

A Book In Your TBR Strictly Because Of Its Beautiful Cover 

 There are those. I'm a sucker for amazing covers...
But let me talk to you about two of them.
Discovery of Witches and Pride. Both got to my TBR because of the covers, and both were very disappointing.

A Book On Your TBR That You Never Plan on Reading

I plan reading every book on my TBR list. Why would it otherwise be on the list? What a stupid question!
I do own books I don't plan on reading, but they aren't on my TBR list.

An Unpublished Book On Your TBR That You’re Excited For

The Seven Sisters by Neil Gaiman

A Book On Your TBR That Basically Everyone’s Read But You

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - though I am reading it now, so it probably doesn't count...
Stephen King's books. I think I have only read a couple of those, or perhaps only one...

A Book On Your TBR That Everyone Recommends To You

I don't get much book recommendations.

A Book On Your TBR That You’re Dying To Read

Frankly, I'm excited to read all of them, why would they otherwise be on my TBR list?
But N.K.Jemisin's The City We Became is very high on top.

How many books are on your TBR shelf?

There are 835 books on my GoodReads Want To Read -list. And about as many not on that list...

Stay at home book tag

Laying in Bed - book you could/have read in a day

Any book with less than 300 pages
The last ones I read in a day were the Brides of Noelle series - paperback romance novels. Not really something I'd recommend, but OK. I read 2-3 a day.
Before that it was The Mary Frances books by Jane Eayre Fryer. I read all four in a day, but they aren't very big either. :-D
I think Agatha Christie's books are in a day reads that I do recommend.

Snacking - guilty pleasure book

The Adventures of Lady Harpur.
Porn written in 1885, it starts with a father raping his 10 years old daughter, but it's not rape because sex is fun and she really enjoys it! X[
And the story continues with women being raped right and left, and more pedophilia, incest, and other issues like that, so I feel really guilty about it, but I keep going back to it, because I like erotica, and there are bits that turn me on, so - guilty pleasure.
I could mention the paperback romance novels, but I don't think there's anything to feel guilty about in those - might not be "high culture" and "worthy literature" and other such things, but, who cares? I hate Corrections and The Goldfinch, which were showered with accolades, which just makes me hate them even more. I seriously can't imagine ANYONE actually ENJOYING reading either of those books.

Netflix - series you want to start

I don't quite understand the question...
Is there a tv series I want to see? The Witcher, I suppose
Do I want to create/write a tv series? Yes. Like Friends or How I Met Your Mother.
Is there a book series I want to start? A lot of them. The latest is John Bellairs' Lewis Barnavelt series.

Deep Clean - been on your TBR for ages

Terry Pratchett's Johnny -books
Paolini's dragon books. I've only read the first two. I think.
Ken Follett's World Without an End

Animal Crossing - book u recently bought because of hype

Oh... The Lies of Locke Lamora is one of the books I recently read - or tried to read - because of the hype. It was OK, just not my type.
Starless Sea I read because of the hype and I was very glad for that, because that's one of the best books I've ever read.
Red Queen. That was bad.

Productivity - book you learnt or had an impact on you

I think reading Charlie Chan and White Fragility at the same time was an experience. Then came the murder of George Floyd and BLM, and this:

Facetime - A book you were gifted

Health Revolution - it's not fiction, it's about the food we eat and the lifestyle we live and how it effects our wellbeing - duh :-D

Self Care - what is one thing you have done recently to look after yourself

See above :-D I'm eating anti-inflammatory food and losing weight to make it easier for my joints to function :-D

BONUS - name a book coming out soon

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton sounds like an interesting book. Coming about 6th of October. ARCs were sent around in May.

20 questions book tag

from here

1. How many books are too many for a series?
The short answer is: there is no such thing as too many books.
The longer answer is: more than you can write during your lifetime - BUT there are book series that can be continued by someone else. (Please, don't write more Narnia books!)

2. How do you feel about cliffhangers?
Fine - INSIDE THE BOOK. Ending a book in a cliffhanger is an abomination.

3. Hardcover or paperback?
Hardcover

4. Favourite book?
Too many to count. Right now Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

5. Least favourite book?
Unfortunately, too many to count. :-( One I hate is Life of Pi by Jann Martel.

6. Love triangles, yes or no?
Rather no, but I'm ok with them.

7. The most recent book you couldn’t finish?
The Lies of Locke Lamora. It wasn't because it wasn't good, it was because I was bored by it. I don't like heist stories.

8. A book you’re currently reading?
I read several books at the same time, but let's say The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

9. Last book you recommended to someone?
I recommend Starless Sea to everyone. (But if you don't like it, stop reading and don't tell me.)

10. Oldest book you’ve read by publication date?
I think it must be the Bible. The next one might be Tirant lo Blanch (1490)

11. Newest book you’ve read by publication date?
I think it must be Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

12. Favourite author?
Terry Pratchett

13. Buying books or borrowing books?
Yes

14. A book you dislike that everyone seems to love?
Life of Pi

15. Bookmarks or dog ears?
Bookmarks. Absolutely no dog ears! Not even on paperbacks!

16. A book you can always re-read?
Mary Poppins

17. Can you read while listening to music?
Yes

18. One POV or multiple?
Both fine. (But don't write one POV in 1st and the other in 3rd.)

19. Do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?
Yes :-D

20. Who do you tag?
Whoever wants to be tagged. I can even name you and link to your blog/vlog/goodreads/anywhere you like, if you ask me :-D

You are not good enough book tag :-D

Put 30 names of book characters in a bowl, jug, hat, what ever :-D

I chose the main characters from the last books I have read.

1 Pilgrim from A Pilgrimage of Swords
2 Seeker from A Pilgrimage of Swords
3 Isa from Medallion
4 Phil from Medallion
5 Raimond from Medallion
6 Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone
7 Akiva from Daughter of Smoke and Bone
8 Ziri  from Daughter of Smoke and Bone
9 Zuzana from Daughter of Smoke and Bone
10 Liraz from Daughter of Smoke and Bone
11 Séverin from The Gilded Wolves
12 Hypnos from The Gilded Wolves
13 Enrique from The Gilded Wolves
14 Zofia from The Gilded Wolves
15 Tristan from The Gilded Wolves
16 Laila from The Gilded Wolves
17 Agatha Heterodyne
18 Ophelia from The Missing of Clairdelune
19 Thorn from The Missing of Clairdelune
20 Archibald from The Missing of Clairdelune
21 Mariel Gullwhacker from Mariel of Redwall
22 Dandin of Redwall from Mariel of Redwall
23 Penelope from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
24 Simon from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
25 Alexander from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
26 Beowulf from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
27 Cassiopeia from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
28 Captain William Laurence from Temeraire
29 Sebastian from The Prince and the Dressmaker
30 Frances from The Prince and the Dressmaker

And, for the sake of the nature of this tag, let's assume all the characters are adult humanoids :-D

1. You only have one more spot on your Spelling B team, who would you pick to complete your team?

Raimond from Medallion or Laila from The Gilded Wolves?

That would have to be Raimond. I think he's got a better education than Laila
(Penelope if I could choose anyone from the list :-D)

2. Both characters want to kill you, which one would you kill first so you have a better chance of surviving?

Isa from Medallion and Penelope from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place.

Isa. And then I would discuss with Penelope and come to a peaceful solution.

3. You’re on the bachelor/bachelorette an you’re down to these two characters, which one are you going to give your rose too?

Archibald from The Missing of Clairdelune or  Liraz from Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Archibald. Not only am I afraid of Liraz (and she belongs with Ziri) but I have a crush on Archibald. :-D I think I would have chosen him anyway :-D (Lumleys all grown up and Captain Lawrence would be quite high on the list as well :-D)

4. You’ve been chosen for the Hunger Games, who would most likely volunteer in your place?

Ophelia from The Missing of Clairdelune or Enrique from The Gilded Wolves

Tough one... Enrique if he was in love with me. But both of them have too much self preservation and don't know me well enough.
(I would send Pilgrim or Liraz, though, if I could choose.)

5. You’re stranded on an island. Which character would you sacrifice to engage in cannibalism?

Zofia from The Gilded Wolves or Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

Me. Most to eat and both Zofia and Karou would be able to find their way home. I'd be the one who was in the way :-D
But if I was not an option, Zofia. I think there's more to eat in her. (Besides, Karou can fly.)

6. You’re the next DC/Marvel superhero (with your own tv show of course), who is your sidekick?

Simon from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place or Agatha Heterodyne

Oh! Agatha is no-one's sidekick, otherwise I'd choose her :-D Nothing bad about Simon, he would be a great sidekick. But he's not Agatha.

7. You’re a manager of an Avocado admiring company, who would you fire for lack of communication skills?

Mariel Gullwhacker from Mariel of Redwall or Phil from Medallion

I'd sack Phil just to get rid of him, any excuse is good one. Or perhaps keep him because he seems to be your typical pedantic office clerk kind of guy and Mariel wouldn't want to work in an Avocado admiring company.

8. You’ve just finished a book in which your favorite character dies, which character is most likely to comfort you?

Tristan from The Gilded Wolves or Hypnos from The Gilded Wolves?

Tristan, I think. But I wouldn't be surprised if Hypnos did.

9. Ugh, it’s high school. Who would most likely be part of the popular clique?

Séverin from The Gilded Wolves or Akiva from Daughter of Smoke and Bone

ROTFLMAO Akiva. But I was kind of hoping to get these two for something... hotter. ;-)

10. The day has arrived; you’re finally a year older! Who would have the nerve to forget your birthday?

Thorn from The Missing of Clairdelune or Ziri from Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Thorn. Ziri is a sweetheart, he would not forget.

11. You’ve just found an upcoming booktube star? Who would most likely be?

Alexander from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place or Sebastian from The Prince and the Dressmaker

Sebastian, of course :-D Or Lady Crystallia.

12. Sleepover time! Unfortunately you can only invite one person, who would you invite?

Zuzana from Daughter of Smoke and Bone or Dandin of Redwall from Mariel of Redwall

Zuzana. She's like the best best friend forever ever!

13. Bam, you’re pregnant. Who’s the father/mother?

Beowulf from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place or Frances from The Prince and the Dressmaker

Frankly, I would love to be the mother of either's child :-D But Beowulf. I think he would make a wonderful father and a husband, and Frances would be busy being a fashion designer.

14. You’ve just written a super important text. Who would ‘see’ it, but not reply?

Seeker from A Pilgrimage of Swords or Cassiopeia from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place

Seeker. Cassiopeia is a Swanbourn girl and she would not do something that incorrect. 

15. You’ve just woken up and it’s time for breakfast. Your mum’s been replaced by..who?!

OH! Captain William Laurence from Temeraire or Pilgrim from A Pilgrimage of Swords

Oh! William. But it would be amazing to walk into the kitchen to find King Guyime there... frying bacon and eggs... toasting bread. Maybe making bullseyes!