I Dare You Book Tag

I was tagged by Hadeer for this tag, and everyone else did it like, two weeks ago and I’m lagging, but better late than never, right? Thanks Hadeer! If you don’t follow her, I recommend checking out her blog, she writes really insightful and thorough reviews, and also posts original writing!!

RULES:
You must be honest
You must answer all the questions
You must tag at least 4 people

1. What book has been on your shelf the longest?

When I was born my parents had this book made called “Baby’s First Book” or something along those lines, and it’s basically about bringing home a baby from the hospital, and they had it personalized with my name and the names of my relatives and whatnot. So it was like “On February 11, a bouncing baby named Stephanie came into the world! Donna and Steven were delighted. Grandma Kay thought she was the most adorable baby ever.” It’s funny to read, especially since I don’t even call my grandmother “Grandma Kay.” It’s still on my shelf, so I think it’s a safe bet.

2.What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next?

I am currently reading Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows, about a young girl and prison and dragons, and honestly it’s not a book I ever would have picked out for myself, but I got it in my September subscription of Owl Crate, so I’m giving it a chance. And honestly? I’m really, really enjoying it. It’s been AGES since I’ve read a good fantasy book (I looked at my Goodreads and the last one I really enjoyed I read back in MAY). My last read was You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins, and I have no idea what I’ll read next.

3. What book did everyone like, but you hated?

The Bone Season is a popular one I’m not a fan of.

4.What book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t?

I’ve had Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake on my shelf for a while, and I was interested in it when I got it and I’ve tried to read it a few times and then put it off, but honestly….all my interest is gone and I probably won’t read it. Alas.

5. What book are you saving for retirement?

I’ve been trying to get into Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell but it’s intimidating me with its length and its writing style, and I feel like I need more time to really sink into it.

6. Last page: read it first, or wait ’til the end?

Wait till the end!! I don’t think I’ve ever read a last page before I got to the end. I hate reading things out of order, anyway. Sometimes I do have to cover the next page with my hand if things are getting intense so my eyes don’t skip over and I spoil myself.

7. Acknowledgement: waste of paper and ink, or interesting aside?

Interesting! I mean, tbh I usually skim them if they’re really long unless there’s something really interesting about them, but I always look at them and I’m sure they’re special to the people in them, and the author. Not a waste.

8. Which book character would you switch places with?

The first character to come to mind is Blue Sargent because I’d love to have Cabeswater to hang out in and have all the Raven Boys as my BFFs, but I don’t think my personality would gel with theirs so much because I’m not nearly as tough as she is. More realistically I’d love to switch places with some minor Harry Potter character like Lee Jordan so I can be friends with the Weasleys and have fun but not be too involved in the drama.

9. Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life? (Place, time, person?)

One that comes to mind is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I read that one while I was traveling around Europe for 3 weeks in 2015, and read most of it in a Cafe Nero in Edinburgh, Scotland when I had a day of just hanging out and doing nothing (I was staying/traveling with my friend who lived in Edinburgh at the time). I desperately needed a few hours alone to recharge and my friend had gone off to do something that day, and I read most of the book while drinking hot chocolate and eating brownies at a cozy table and it was the nicest day.

10. Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.

Ummmmm. I bought a copy of Dracula in a Dracula giftshop in the town of Whitby, England, the town that helped inspire Bram Stoker to write it and where parts of it are set, if I recall correctly. I guess it’s not THAT interesting, but I probably never would have cared to have that book if I hadn’t been swept up in the atmosphere of it, and it only cost 2 pounds. I did read it and I ended up really enjoying it, which I hadn’t expected, so I’m glad I gave in to the touristy marketing.

11. Have you ever given a special book away for a special reason to a special person?

I don’t generally give away my books unless to donate them because I don’t care to have them anymore, or to pass them on to someone who might want them. My most special or favorite ones I will hold on to until I die, probably. I mean, I’ve gone out and bought copies of books that are special to me to give as gifts…but no, I don’t give away my own copies of books that are special to me. My heart is too attached.

12. Which book has been with you most places?

Lol Harry Potter.

13. Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad two years later?

I read The Scarlet Letter in 11th grade and hated it, but when I read it again in college I thought it wasn’t as boring and a bit more interesting.

14. Used or brand new?

Either! Though I love the smell and smooth pages of a brand new book, used books can come with a certain charm. And they’re cheap.😎

15. Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?

Lol yes, I read The Da Vinci Code and then Angels & Demons, and both were fun and I particularly enjoyed The Da Vinci Code, but then when I finished Angels & Demons I’d hit my limit with Dan Brown books. RIP.

16. Have you ever seen a movie you liked more than the book?

The Maze Runner is always the first to come to mind.

17. Have you ever read a book that’s made you hungry, cookbooks included?

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen and its description of a toasted cheesy egg sandwich made me need one so badly I stopped reading and went and made one. Now, I’m not a huge fan of cheese and eggs together, so it’s really saying something that Allen’s description made me want one so badly. As you might expect, my own creation did not compare to the description of the sandwich in the book, sadly. I think in general that book made food sound so delicious (I mean, the word sugar is in the title).

18. Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take?

Rachel has not steered me wrong yet, and so many books I’ve TBR’d come from her. Birdie and I always seem to agree! I feel I can trust her when it comes to romance especially. And Chelsea, we seem to have soft spots for a lot of the same characters.

19. Is there a book out of your comfort zone (e.g., outside your usual reading genre) that you ended up loving?

Horns by Joe Hill is a really out there for me, but I’d bought a copy because a YA magazine I was writing for at the time asked me to review it, and then they said “wait that’s not YA never mind,” but I still had it so I read it anyway. HECK NO it was not YA, but it was still pretty good, if…extremely weird and vulgar and freaky.

 

I tag:

Nerd Narration

Alex @ coffeeloving bookoholic

Krista and  Dawylin @ littleblindbookfinds

Stephanie @ Stephanie’s Novel Fiction

Nika @ Bookster thoughts

And you if you’d like!