The Unpopular Opinions Book Tag

The Unpopular Opinions Book Tag

Dec 17, 2015

"342/356: Books" by cefeida is licensed under CC BY 2.0

I was tagged by Kelly from Belle of the Literati and Rachel from Hello, Chelly forever ago for the Unpopular Opinions Book Tag! Don't judge me for the fact that I'm just now getting around to filling it out...

1. A popular book you didn't like 

I really don't like the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty, even though I read all five books. Before I joined the blogging community, I discovered a number of book blogs that I enjoyed reading for new book recommendations. I kept seeing that series mentioned, so I decided to give them a shot. For some reason, I trudged through and finished the series despite disliking most of it... Thankfully, I've learned to DNF!

2. A book series that everyone hates but you love 

I don't know if people hate The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen, but I know it's not highly rated or beloved. I read them before blogging, and it was one of the first Young Adult series I remember reading. It's a little bit like Gossip Girl in the 1800s - a little cheesy, very dramatic and not the most well written - but I love it all the same. They were just so addicting, and I remember looking up the release dates for each book ahead of time!

3. A love triangle where the MC ends up with the person you didn't want them to end up with 

There are a number of series where the character ends up with someone other than the person I was initially rooting for, like the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi or Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, but those changes worked for me in the end! So, I guess I'll go with the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand - a triangle where I genuinely liked both boys but hated the way the triangle was handled. Boundless was a mess!

4. A popular book genre you rarely reach for

If this question asked about a genre I never reach for, I'd have to go with romance. But since it says rarely, I'd say New Adult or Science Fiction would probably be the most accurate answer. I like the idea of New Adult because I love that time period and would probably be able to relate more to the characters. Most of what I've found so far seems too dramatic. As for science fiction, it just bores me (though there are exceptions).

5. A popular beloved character you didn't like

Well, I hate pretty much every character in Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë... does that count?  I have no idea if those characters are generally beloved or if it's just that people love the book itself. If that doesn't count, I can also say that I don't like Gale Hawthorne from The Hunger Games series. I don't hate him (and he did serve a purpose in the series), but I'm so glad he was out of the picture by the end.

6. A popular author you can't seem to get into 

John Green is just not the author for me. I've read two of his books (Paper Towns and The Fault in Our Stars) and really was not fond of either one. I actually liked Paper Towns a little more, but The Fault in Our Stars drove me absolutely crazy. Green's characters all seem to similar to me - and remind me too much of their author. I definitely won't be reading any more of his books because they're not the right fit for me.

7. Popular trope you're tired of seeing

I initially struggled with my answer to this question because most of the tropes that I hate are ones that most people probably hate (instalove, for example). I was trying to think of one where I dislike something that's a little more loved, and it finally came to me. For the most part, I really can't stand the "bad boy reformed by love" trope. There may be exceptions, but generally I find that storyline makes me eyes roll.

8. Popular series you have no interest in reading 

While there are a number of popular series that I have no desire to read, I think The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is probably the most popular + the one I'm least interested in. I read her The Infernal Devices series and enjoyed them, but I just am not at all interested in her bigger series... and I can't really put my finger on why. Thankfully, there's a book for every reader!

9. The saying goes, "The book is always better than the movie," but what movie do you prefer more than the book? 

There are a number of instances where I like the movie and book equally (or where I absolutely love the movie, even if I believe the book is better)... but there are two movie adaptations that just blew their source material out of the water. Those movies are The Painted Veil (book by W. Somerset Maugham) and North & South (book by Elizabeth Gaskell). I read both books after seeing the movies and wasn't crazy about them.

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The Throne of Glass Book Tag

The Throne of Glass Book Tag

Oct 13, 2015

Alexa from Alexa Loves Books and I recently fell in love with Brittany’s The Lunar Chronicles Book Tag, and it inspired us to create a tag for our favorite series - Throne of Glass! We haven’t seen this around the blogosphere yet, and we thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the recent release of Queen of Shadows. We had so much fun coming up with the categories, and we hope you have just as much fun filling it out. To participate, just answer the questions and tag a few friends to join in. We can't wait to see your answers!

Lysandra | A book with a cover change you loved

I considered highlighting a cover change in a series, but I decided to focus on hardcover to paperback change that I loved. I discovered The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum when it was already out in paperback, and the cover is what first drew me to the book... Well, the cover and then the first chapter! When I realized how much I loved the book, I bought it in hardcover, too, but I definitely prefer the paperback cover.

Abraxos | A book that’s better on the inside than it looks on the outside

I stumbled upon a copy of These is My Words by Nancy Turner at the used bookstore and was intrigued by the summary. After looking it up, I was even more impressed by its ratings! But I wasn't a fan of the cover or the title, (though they fit the book in a way), and I judged it for both. And that's a shame because the story inside is phenomenal. It's one of my all-time historical fiction favorite books -- and love stories!

Erilea | A series with great world-building

The world in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor was unlike anything I'd ever read before. It was strange and a little bit creepy with the winged strangers, human teeth, otherworldly monitors and mysterious errands. And yet, I quickly fell in love with it. I once described it as "brilliantly imagined and gorgeously depicted," and that's certainly fitting. And the audiobooks brought it to life even more!

Rifthold | A book that combines genres

I'm not typically a huge fan of books that combine historical and contemporary fiction, but The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes is definitely an exception. I loved portion set during World War I, and it was probably my favorite aspect of the novel. But I was also very engaged in the modern storyline, especially in trying to figure out how the two timelines were connected! It's perfect for fans of both genres.

Damaris | A book based on/inspired by a myth/legend

I immediately thought of Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen when I got to this question! Based on the legend of Robin Hood, this book was a delight to read. The series focuses on a secondary character from the original story but with a fun twist - the male character is a girl in this version! I didn't know much about Robin Hood or his band of Merry Men before I started reading, but I definitely wanted to after I closed the last page. So epic!

Kaltain Rompier | A book with an unexpected twist

The problem with talking about a book with a twist is that I 1) don't want to spoil anything for future readers and 2) don't want to set expectations for certain books. So, I thought I'd pick a book that's likely familiar to most readers at this point: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. When I read it for the first time, I was absolutely shocked. I had no idea how the games would end, and I definitely wasn't expecting it to be this way.

Assassin’s Keep | A book with an unreliable narrator

There was no doubt in my mind that my answer for this question had to be the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. It took me some time to get into the first book, but I soon became hooked on the unique narration and writing style. I enjoyed seeing the world through Juliette's eyes, even though I knew that I could never quite trust her observations. In fact, my review for the last book focused on perception and unreliable narrators.

Asterin Blackbeak | A book that’s got SQUAD GOALS

Like Alexa, I wanted to choose Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas for this question... because who wouldn't?! But, since I was trying to avoid the series for this tag, I decided to highlight Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta. It might be a slightly unconventional choice, but it's one of the first books that comes to my mind when I think about friendships. I love how these characters are there for each other in good times and bad!

Terrasen | A book that feels like home

I decided to interpret this question somewhat literally, so I'm choosing Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. The book is set in Atlanta, Georgia, which is where I was born and raised. I read this classic in middle school and fell in love with it. I recognize it's flaws more as an adult than I did as a child, but I believe it's possible to love problematic things... just like I love the state of Georgia, even though it's far from perfect.

Aelin Ashryver Galathynius | A book with the power to destroy you

I feel like I'm always talking about The Lynburn Legacy series by Sarah Rees Brennan, but I can't help that it's the answer to everything! I absolutely adore these books, and they definitely have the power to destroy your head and your heart. I was an emotional wreck when I finished the last book! Brennan lives on the tears of her readers, as you're sure to find out... But trust me, they're totally worth it for so many reasons!

Manon Blackbeak | A book that intimidated you 

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett definitely intimidated me when I saw it sitting on my shelves. Clocking in at almost 1,000 pages, this book is a BEAST. Plus, it's set during the Middle Ages, which is definitely a time period that I don't know very much about. But once I finally sat down with the book, I lost myself in the story and became so attached to the characters. I'm glad I got past my fear and finally read it.

Rowan Whitethorn | A book that makes you swoon

I have no doubt that Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center will make you swoon. Unless, you know, you're immune to FEELINGS. I read this book earlier this year and loved it so much that I read it again two weeks later. Yes, it's that good. I couldn't get it out of my head! It wasn't quite what I expected, but in the best way. This guy is firmly in my list of top ten favorite book boys, and the romance was so memorable and satisfying.

Chaol Westfall | A book that challenged you to see things differently

While there are many books that have challenged (and changed!) my views, The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith seemed like the perfect pick for this question. This decorating book is based around the idea that "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." As a someone who is afraid to start something for fear it won't be perfect, this helped me see my home (and other experiences) differently. There's beauty in imperfection!

Fleetfoot | A book that you received as a gift

Cassie gave me A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller for my birthday last year, and I fell in love with it. I've always been a fan of historical fiction, so this book was right up my alley! I loved the time period, but it was the focus on art and the suffrage movement that really captured my attention. I always consider it a success when a book leaves me dying to learn more about history, and that's exactly what happened with this one!

Eye of Elena | A book you found right when you needed it

I was going to pick a book that had a lot of personal meaning to me, particularly at the time when I read it, but then I realized there was a different way to interpret this question. So, I chose It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi McFarlane because I read it earlier this year when I was in the middle of a HUGE reading funk, and it totally snapped me out of it. I read all 500 pages in one sitting after work - it was that addicting!

Hope you enjoyed! I tag:

Kelly from Belle of the Literati

Morgan from Gone with the Words

Brittany from The Book Addict's Guide

and anyone else who'd like to participate!

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Burrito Bowl Book Tag

Burrito Bowl Book Tag

Jul 30, 2015

I was talking to Alexa about how I wasn't sure what I wanted to post today, and she suggested doing a tag. Aside from the TBR Tag, I still haven't completed a few of the posts I was tagged to do. But, like the rebel I'm really not, I decided I wanted to do something else instead. I recently came across this tag while reading Lauren from Bookmark Lit's blog, and I've been dying to do it ever since! The Burrito Bowl Tag was created by Cristina from Girl in the Pages and Joey from Thoughts and Afterthoughts. While I wasn't tagged by anyone specifically, that isn't stopping me. Here are the rules to participate:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you to make your own burrito bowl, linking back to their site.
2. Answer the tag questions.
3. Tag 5 others to create their own bowl!
4. Food coma.

THE INGREDIENTS

RICE | The Foundation – The book that got you into reading

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery is the first book I truly remember reading and loving. I slept with books in my crib, had Madeline memorized as a little girl, and was an avid reader from the very beginning. So, I don't know I can really say that this is the book that got me into reading, but I do know that this is the book that solidified my passion for it. I was gifted this whole series for Christmas one year, and I'm pretty sure that I read this book in the second grade. For some reason, I can picture myself reading it in that classroom. Clearly, it made an impression on me! This is the first book I truly remember loving, and it's remained a lifelong favorite to this day.

BEANS | The Filler – The book with a whole lot of nothing

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart did not work for me. It seemed like it was all flash but no substance. The writing is lyrical, but it was also so confusing and disjointed. I kept reading because I wanted to know what was going on, what had happened, and why the main character was acting the way she did... and when everything was revealed, I was left in a rage. I ranted about this book to everyone I could get to listen. This is one of those books where I definitely don't understand the hype, and I wish I hadn't bothered to finish.

PROTEIN | The Building Block – A book quote to live by

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent is one of my all-time favorite books, and I highlighted numerous passages while I was reading. I debated what quote I wanted to highlight for this question, but I felt like this one is something I need to always remind myself. But I'm a huge fan of quotes (Exhibit A and Exhibit B), so there are are many others I could have chosen! It can sometimes forget that everyone has a story and that I can't judge someone based solely on what I see on the outside looking in. 

FAJITAS | The Crunch of Texture – A book with immaculate world-building

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is the start of one of my all-time favorite series, and it's set in a world with such depth and complexity. I wasn't a huge fantasy reader when I dove into Throne of Glass, and here's what I wrote after finishing, "The world and setting felt so real to me! I could imagine each different part of this place, which is something I really appreciated about this book. My biggest problem with most fantasy books is that the world feels so foreign that I become disconnected from the story. Even though this was clearly an imaginary world, I still felt like I 'knew' it, in a way." And that's how I felt about the first book, which isn't even the strongest in the series! PS: Heir of Fire.

SALSA | The Dance of Flavor – A book that kept you on your toes

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan was one of the first books that came to mind, and I knew I had to highlight it because it's also one of my very favorite series. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Unspoken, but I certainly didn't know I was about to be HOOKED. There's a wicked villain, a terrible curse, a special town, a gothic mystery, a ton of humor, some major swoon and lots of emotion... I was never sure where Brennan was going with the story, but in the very best way. It definitely kept me on my toes the whole time I was reading, and I felt like NO ONE WAS SAFE. 

CORN | The Explosion of Sweetness – A memorable scene with friendship/romance

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier is one of the most romantic books I've ever read. The main character can't speak for most of the book (a sacrifice she must make to bring the end to a terrible curse) and yet it's still one of my favorite love stories. And how can I even choose my favorite scene? There's Sorcha and Red's day on the beach (LOVE), but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a scene near the end where Red declares his feelings for Sorcha. HOLY SWOON, Y'ALL. In a book with so much sadness, the romance was a sweet, bright spot of hope. And now I want to re-read...

CHEESE | The Bond of Calcium – Two characters from different books you wish could be friends

I have no idea if this would work, but I like to imagine that Sybella from Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers and Quintana from Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta could be friends. They've both experienced trauma, have some darkness inside them and have learned that they are worthy of love. I think they'd be able to understand one another - the good and the bad - and that they'd help each other heal. But I think they'd butt heads and challenge each other, too!

SOUR CREAM | The Tangy Topper – The quirkiest character you've ever read (protagonist or supporting)

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins has one of the quirkiest main characters - and love interests! - I've ever read. Lola has an outrageous style and loves costumes. Cricket loves intricate and complicated machines made to perform simple tasks. And, you know, his name is Cricket. If that doesn't qualify him for quirkiest, I don't know what does! Together they're quite the pair, and I love watching their friendship turn into something more. I love that it's set in San Francisco, too, because the setting just adds to the eccentric and cool vibe.

GUACAMOLE | The Cost of Creaminess – A book you paid too much for

While I don't regret buying them, you could argue that I've paid too much for my Folio Society editions. But I adore them! My favorite is my gorgeous edition of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, which is even prettier in person than it looked online. While I'd buy my Folio books all over again, I can certainly understand why someone might think I'd paid too much for them. They're exquisite - so much attention is paid to the details. From the endpapers to the illustrations, I think they're worth every penny!

LETTUCE | The Handful of Crispness – A refreshing concept/theme in a book

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a recent read with the most refreshing concept and theme. It looks at a tiny decision in the main character's life and splits into parallel stories based on what happens in her life as a result. I haven't read many books with this concept, so it felt so unique! And the book keeps coming back to the idea of fate versus free will, which is a theme I find really fascinating. It was the kind of book I wanted to talk about once I was done. What choices led to where you are in life? Do your decisions define you? Read this book and see if it makes you think!

CHIPS | Le Pièce de Résistance – A must-read rec, if you like...

Nowhere but Home by Liza Palmer is the book you must read if you love food, family, football and finding your way. I recommend this book every chance I get because it's one of my all-time favorites. I bought it on a whim at Target one day, and I've never been happier with a random purchase. If you love Friday Night Lights, read this book. If you love the South, read this book. If you love contemporary fiction, read this book. If you love books with heart and soul, read this book. Basically, I can think of a million reasons to read this book. (I can't tell you how many copies I've bought as gifts!)

TABASCO | The Kick to the Face – Your favorite fight/action sequence

The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas was such an exciting, action-packed book! This book uses an unconventional structure - with portions set in the Sahara desert and others set seven months prior in England. Rather than start in England, it shifts between two time periods with a non-linear narrative. I wanted to know Titus and Iolanthe were in the desert, how they'd gotten there, what had changed between them, etc. There were so many twists I didn't see coming and even more EPIC adventures. I know I didn't name a specific scene, but that's because I think this whole book qualifies!

I'm tagging: 

Alexa from Alexa Loves Books

Cassie from The Casserole

Lindsey from Bring My Books

Lisa and Gaby from Bookish Broads

Morgan from Gone with the Words

And anyone else who wants to participate!

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