The Bookish Courtship Tag

I saw Birdie Bookworm do this tag on her wonderful blog, and I thought it looked fun so decided to go for it myself! There aren’t any rules, some fun questions.

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Phase 1: Initial attraction: a book that you bought because of the cover

I distinctly remember being in a bookstore (Borders, RIP) years and years ago, seeing this book and immediately loving the cover. I found the summary interesting but I bought it because I needed to own such a pretty book. Luckily, it turned out to tell an amazing story! I love this book all around.

Phase 2: First impressions: a book that you got because of the summary

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

My eyes tend to skim hard when it comes to summaries- it’s the reason I keep my summaries in my book reviews to one sentence. But this summary gripped the heck out of me when I first read it- and it was an amazing book!

Phase 3: Sweet talk: a book with great writing

So many books could fit this category, but when I think of a book that has great writing, my mind always immediately goes to The Secret History. I absolutely love this book and the writing style was a huge part of the experience of it for me. This book is so beautiful and terrible.

Phase 4: First date: a first book of a series which made you want to pursue the rest of the series

I know I’ve said it before, but I had such a terrible first impression of this book – I hated the cover, thought the premise would never work – but then I gave it a try and absolutely LOVED it. I went out and got the rest of the books and read them nonstop, and now I love The Lunar Chronicles to pieces.

Phase 5: Late night phone call: a book that kept you up all night long

There’s something about staying up all night reading a book, and there’s something else about staying up all night reading the a last book in a series. Ruin and Rising is the last book in the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, and I remember reading it all night and finishing it at 4:30 am, and then being unable to fall asleep from the amazing book high it had given me.  It may destroy my sleep schedule but I love when a book gives me that kind of experience.

Phase 6: Always on my mind: a book that you could not stop thinking about

I positively adore the Raven Cycle, and I read it over the span of about 4 months in a buddy read with a friend, and not being able to read them as quickly as possible was a slow and wonderful kind of agony- on the one hand I got to savor it, on the other I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. But The Dream Thieves in particular was one I was literally on the edge of my seat looking forward to every day. And even though I finished the last book like 6 months ago, I still think about the Raven Cycle probably at least once a day….it’s an addiction that still hasn’t fully worn off.

Phase 7: Getting physical: a book in which you love the way it feels

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are two books I love the feel of in my hands. They’re big and sturdy but not too heavy, they have beautiful cover art, I love the feel of the paper the pages are made from, I love the font they’re printed in, I love the way the edges of the pages are black and red, I love the way they smell. If I walk past them in a bookstore I can’t help but pick them up.

Phase 8: Meeting the parents: a book you would recommend to your friends and family

This was a tough one, but I think I’d have to go with The Book Thief. It’s not the most cheerful book, but I love it and it’s such a classic.

Phase 9: Think about the future: a book series that you know you’ll re-read many times in the future 

I’ve already lost track of how many times I’ve read Harry Potter, but I know without a doubt I’ll read it many more times over the course of my life. My fave forever ❤

Phase 10: Share the love: who would you like to tag?

I’m tagging you, if you think you’d enjoy doing this tag like I did! Just make sure to link me so I can see all your awesome picks.