I used to do a fair few tag posts on this blog, but then I stopped doing them so much to focus more on original content. However, sometimes, you have to admit: tags can be so fun to do.
Just answering a load of questions someone else has written is not only easy content when you need a bit of a boost (which, ahem, I do right now) but it’s also a great way to pass the time when you need some entertainment. Plus, I love to read other people’s answers just to be lazy and feel like I’m getting to know my fellow book bloggers.
So, here’s a new tag post! I found this tag here, so thanks Kate for the inspiration. Let’s get going. Hold onto your hats – it’s quite a long one.
The A-Z Book Survey
Author you’ve read the most books from:
I have a few potential answers for this: it’ll either be Neal Shusterman, J. K. Rowling, or Rachel Caine. I think it’s most likely Rachel Caine, just because I own so many of her books and I think I’ve read 11 of them. That’s a lot of books by one author (and I still have about 15 of them still to read!)
Best sequel:
I only just realised when I tried to answer this question how few sequels I read – most of the books I read are standalone! However, the first one that came to mind was Thunderhead, the sequel to Scythe by Neal Shusterman. Both books are incredible, and Thunderhead answers so many questions from the first book as well as opening up new ones and ending on a ridiculously tense cliffhanger.
Currently reading:
Right now I’m reading 3 books: one for a blog tour in a few days (funny story – I’m currently trying to read that book in TWO DAYS so I can schedule the post before I go on holiday, where I will be without a laptop), one for a traveling book exchange (which I won’t disclose so the next person in the chain gets a surprise, in case they’re reading this post) and I’m about half-way through Aurora Rising. I’m going on holiday tomorrow and I’m hoping I can fly through some books while I’m there.
Drink of choice when reading:
Whatever I’m drinking. (Does anyone have a specific reading drink?!)
E-reader or physical book:
Both have their own pros and cons (I even wrote about them here), but I’d definitely have to say physical books. eBooks are great for their portability and I’ve read some amazing books from NetGalley that I otherwise wouldn’t have read, but nothing beats a good old physical book. (Plus, eBooks don’t look as pretty in a bookshelf.)
Fictional character you probably would have dated in high school:
I wouldn’t have dated anyone in high school. I had literally zero interest in dating in high school so however amazing the character is, I wouldn’t have dated them!
Glad you gave this book a chance:
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman – it was on my wishlist anyway, but then my friend got me a copy for my birthday and I adored it. Since then, I’ve met Akemi Dawn Bowman at YALC and interviewed her on my podcast, and I adored her latest book, Summer Bird Blue. She’s now one of my favourite authors, and she’s definitely on the list of people whose books I will always buy as soon as they’re released.
BY THE WAY, you really should check out Akemi’s new book, Harley in the Sky, which comes out next year!!! DO IT. I’m so excited to have this book in my life.
Hidden book gem:
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman. Ha. I’m sure you’re sick of me saying it now, but I just had to. whispers Read it please.
Important moment in your reading life:
When I met my friend Sophie in first year of university, I didn’t know how important that friendship would end up to be. Through Sophie, I met her best friend and co-blogger Sarah, and since then the three of us have attended various book events together, and I’ve met other friends (like Lois) from those events. I wouldn’t have worked so hard on my blog if I didn’t have any of my blogging buddies, so even if I didn’t know it at the time, becoming friends with Sophie was pretty important!
Just finished:
Uhhhh I can’t remember the last time I finished a book because I’m so busy at the moment and reading has been shoved to the bottom of my priorities list (despite running a book blog, a BookTube channel, and a bookish podcast… OKAY, OKAY. I’m SORRY.) checks Goodreads ohhh okay, the last physical book I finished was Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman, and the last audiobook I finished was The Rosie Result by Graeme Simison (the final book in The Rosie Project trilogy).
Kinds of books you won’t read:
Romance, especially historical romance. I’ve only ever read one and I enjoyed it but it felt unique because of the themes. Apart from that, I’m really not bothered to read others. I also don’t read high fantasy – it’s just not my thing!
Longest book you’ve read:
This is when I wish I’d already read Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon so this would be an easy answer. Hmm. I’ll probably go with The Order of the Phoenix.
Major book hangover because of:
I don’t really get book hangovers! I find it pretty easy to put a book down, accept it’s finished, and then move onto the next one – which is good considering I have so many books to get through. I don’t have time to get hung up on the same book for too long because there are always hundreds more to read!
Number of bookcases you own:
I have two full-size bookcases that are rammed full, and then a couple of smaller ones that are also pretty full. I have one shelf just for space books.
One book you have read multiple times:
The first one I thought of was Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson. I know it’s aimed at older children, not adults, but I’ve been reading it since I was a kid and I would happily read it over and over again. I love it!
Preferred place to read:
I don’t have a particular favourite place, but I do tend to read a lot more when I’m on my bed rather than on my sofa. I have no idea why. I also like to read in pretty places like parks, or in cafes.
Quote that inspires you from a book you’ve read:
My mind has gone blank. I can think of zero quotes. I’ll have to come back and add one if I remember one. (Clearly I haven’t been inspired enough by any quotes to actually remember them.)
Reading regret:
I don’t think I have one… maybe the fact that I didn’t keep my old copies of the first few Harry Potter books with the original illustrated covers. I have no idea why I didn’t keep them because I’d love to have them now. I also used to have a Nimbus 2000 and I didn’t keep that either! I’d love to have that now!
Series you need to finish:
I own the whole of the Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine – there are 15 of them and I’ve read 8 or 9 of them, so that’s a series I need to finish. I’ve also never read the final book in Neal Shusterman’s Unwind series, but I need to read the rest of the books again because I read them so long ago and I’ve forgotten a lot of what happens!
Three of your all time favourite books:
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (surprise, surprise), One by Sarah Crossan, and The Martian by Andy Weir, The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, and anything by Lisa Heathfield.
Honourable mentions: Scythe and Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman, The Loneliest Girl in the Universe and The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James, Relativity by Antonia Thomas, Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman.
Unapologetic fan girl for:
Anything written by Neal Shusterman. I talk about his books so much that I’m surprised people aren’t sick of me talking about them yet (unless they are and they’re just too polite to tell me). If I can meet him and get all my books signed, my life will be complete.
Very excited for this release more than anything else:
So far this year, all the releases I’ve been especially excited for, I’ve been lucky enough to get proof copies sent to me! I’ve been excited for Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman, The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James (which is out now – read my review here), and the Proud anthology by Stripes Publishing (which is also out now – review here). I was also very excited for I Am Not a Number by Lisa Heathfield, which I can’t wait to read.
Worst bookish habit:
I find it so easy to slip into a reading slump. If I don’t read for a week or two, it can turn into weeks and sometimes even a couple of months without reading a thing, and the longer I wait, the harder it is to pull myself out of it. So I wish I didn’t get into reading slumps so easily!
X marks the spot, 27th on your shelf:
I have two bookshelves, so I’ll do both. Bookshelf 1: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, and bookshelf 2: Finale by Stephanie Garber.
Your most recent book purchase:
I recently bought I Am Not a Number by Lisa Heathfield, Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green, and Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman.
Zzz snatcher – A book that kept you up way too late:
When I read The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James, I stayed up until about 2am to finish it. Now that I’m practically an old woman, that’s super late for me. I had to read it though before I went to sleep, even though I had to work in the morning. It’s just SO GOOD.
If you want to do this tag, feel free – I tag you!
