book tag
The Anti TBR Tag
Monday, 18 January 2021 • Book List, book tag, books
This blog has been sitting in my drafts for an embarassing amount of time. My wife has already published hers which you can find here. But thanks for taking time out of your day to check out my answers to this and if you have done this tag or plan on doing it, let me know and I'll check it out!
. A popular book EVERYONE loves that you have no interest in reading.
I hate to copy my wife's answer for this question, but I will anyway. Game Of Thrones was not only a very popular TV show, but a massively popular books series as well. There are a few issues I have with this series after watching a few seasons of the show. It's too grimdark for me. I stopped watching The Walking Dead as well because it was just too grim. Hell, Supernatural isn't nearly as dark and one character went to hell and another was trapped in a cage with Lucifer.
There's also the question of the future of the series. The last GOT book came out in 2011. 2011! The man has had 9 years to write a follow up. But instead he's working on other series and writing the history of GOT families that only hardcore fans would ever care about. And finally I just don't want to read about things like rape and incest.
George R. R. Martin is just like Patrick Rothfus he can't finish a damn series. True, the third book in the Kingkiller Chronicles is supposed to come out in 2021, but I'll believe it when I see it.
So not only do I have no interest in the series, I don't want to read something that may never be finished.
2. A classic book (or author) you don’t have an interest in reading?
Franny and Zooey by J D Salinger. I hated Catcher in the Rye with every fiber of my being. It's not a good book. I'm sorry if you liked it when you were an angsty teen and thought that it was written just for you. But Holden Caufield is a horrible character who has no redeeming qualities, no growth, and nothing about him that's worth a damn. No wonder he thinks everything is the worst. It's because he a waste of good oxygen. Because of this, and the fact that my wife hated it, Franny and Zooey will never be picked up by me unless it's to use it as kindling.
3. An author whose books you have no interest in reading?
Robert Galibraith / J K Rowling.
Yes, this answer is, in part, because J K Rowling (aka Robert Galibraith) is a dirty TERF who I regret ever giving money to. But there's more to it than that. This might have been my answer even if she didn't hate the Trans community. It's because she got lucky with Harry Potter. They were very well written books and a truly well thought out series. But anything else she's done since has been awful. Every time she tries to add on to the Harry Potter universe, she only screws it up.
The Fantastic Beasts franchise had hope but she's already screwed the pooch on that one. Not only was the last movie one of the worst I've seen in a long while, but she's already messed with already established HP mythos. She got the continuity of her own series wrong!
Add on to that the fact that there's problematic Trans representation in her latest Robert Galibraith book and I'm officially done with her. She could write a new HP series where it's a new generation at Hogwarts and I wouldn't even think of picking it up. She did one good series and anything else she touches is crap.
3.2 A problematic author whose books you have no interest in reading?
Rainbow Rowell, author or Eleanor & Park. I don't know how popular this book really is as Fangirl and the Simon Snow series really are her more popular works. But I'm counting this because she's a popular author and this is one of her books.
I have no interest in this book because of the very problematic Asian descriptions in it. An article from the Northeastern University Political Review called The Problem with Eleanor & Park goes into more detail about her problem filled book. In her defense it seems like her transgressions come from a place of ignorance rather than purposeful racism, but I'd rather not support someone who could make such obvious mistake and never own up to it. The only thing Rowell has ever done was defend the use of Park as a first name and how she, a white woman, can have an Asian character. As far as I can tell she never apologized or addressed the issues.
She could write the next great book that wins each and every prize and I wouldn't care because I don't want to support someone like her.
4. An author you have read a couple of books from & have decided their books are not for you?
Patrick Rothfuss. Apparently you have to like him if you like fantasy books, but I disagree. I find The Kingkiller Chronicles to be a painfully slow and uninteresting series. It has a lot of promise but Rothfuss is so long winded that I stop caring about anything. Kvothe could have been a very good character and the story could have been really good, but it goes on for so long that by the end, I just want it to end so I can move on with my life.
Also, Rothfuss has spent so long writing the next book in the series (7 years) that if I did care enough to read it, I'd feel like I have to reread the first two books just to read the new one. Also, he wrote a novella about a side character and I fully DNFd it because it was too painful to read.
Patrick Rothfuss seems like a nice guy, but I'll avoid any future books by him.
5. A genre you have no interest in OR a genre you tried to get into & couldn’t?
Classic Cyberpunk. I've read Neuromancer by William Gibson. I've tried to read Idoru and few short stories of his as well. I also tried to read Snow Crash but I just couldn't get into it. I'm almost 100% done with this genre. Next year I plan on reading the last book I have any interest in. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick.
I was specific when I said “classic” cyberpunk because there are quite a few more recent books that I think I may like. Warcross by Marie Liu is on that list as well as The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. Just older Cyberpunk is too boring and hard to follow.
6. A book you have bought but will never read? (this can be a book you have unhauled/returned to the library unread)
The Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence. I bought the books because my group of friends loved them. We have very similar tastes in terms of Fantasy and Sci-fi. I saw these books at a library book sale and got them. Before I could pick the first one up, I found out that he's a very problematic author. He apparently has been very mean towards women on book tours and on twitter and he hates booktubers and book bloggers as well as not caring about any opinions on his book except from actual book critics. Overall he's just a huge ass.
I have so many books on my TBR that I don't want to waste time with someone like him. I couldn't find evidence to substantiate all the claims I've heard about him, but a simple google search showed me more than enough to know I'd rather not support him.
7. A series you have no interest in reading OR a series you started & have dnf’d?
Easy. The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. I tried this series out a couple years back and I was so sure I was going to like it that I took the first three books out of the library and even considered buying them before I even read them. Then I read Every Heart A Doorway and it was one of the worst books I ever read.
Seanan McGuire isn't a good author. The only thing that she did well was come up with a very good idea that I'd rather someone else write (like Rebecca Mead maybe?). Her characters were mostly forgettable. They made very weird choices and said odd things that didn't seem to further the plot or serve as any kind of development. The pacing of the story was horrid and it all seemed to end out of nowhere. The ending was also awful and happened in the stupidest of ways.
My wife wants me to read the third Wayward Children book because it's her favorite but I don't want to because I'd rather rinse my eyes out with bleach.
8. A new release you have no interest in reading?
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green. I feel bad. I like Hank Green as a person. He seems super nice, super smart, and like a genuine good person. But the first book in The Carls series An Absolutely Remarkable Thing was a test of my patience. April May is a worthless tryhard piece of literary garbage and the only reason I would pick this book up is if she died a horrible death and even then I would only read that part just to make me smile.
Hank Green is pretty damn great and I feel bad for this. I love him on YouTube and TikTok. I think he's very smart, funny, and nice, but his books are just not for me.
The Bookish Scenario Tag
Monday, 5 October 2020 • book tag, books
This is the Bookish Scenario Tag created by Youtuber lindsayheartsbooks. We adapted the first question because it was fun and we wanted more than four books. We added Sci-Fi, Historical Fiction, Classic, and YA. So if you want to do the original tag, then just take out those genres. Have fun!
Every New Years Day my wife and I begin to read a new book that we chose in late December as our first book of the year. This was my pick from 2019 and I loved it. Check out my review here. Less was true joy to read. A fun journey of a man travelling the world and remembering his old relationships as he tries to get as far away from his ex-boyfriends wedding as he can.
Fantasy: The Sword of Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks.
The Sword of Shannara was my first introduction to the greater world of Fantasy. Before the first book, all I had read in the genre were The Hobbit and the Harry Potter series It lit a fire under me and I started reading a whole lot more. Am I cheating by choosing an omnibus with the first three books in it? Yes. Yes I am. Do I care? No. No I don't.
Non-Fiction: Nisei Daughter by Monica Sone
I kind of have to pick this book as Monica Sone was my great aunt. But there's more to my pick than that. It's also the best book about the internment of the Japanese that I've read. While I respect Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, I think that Monica Sone did a better job of capturing their lives during the interment.
Sci-fi: Ender's Game by Olsen Scott Card
I could have cheated again and used this one as a classic and kept this genre open to something else. But I had a really good answer for the classic category. The Martian by Andy Weir came in at a close second but I liked Ender's Game more. The "oh shit" twist at the end was big enough that even though I started to suspect it, still was a riveting experience.
Historical Fiction: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My wife was the one who got me into historical fiction. Truth be told, she was the one who got me outside my comfort zone of fantasy and science fiction in the first place. This book is perfect. It has great characters, a compelling story, and feels like it could all be based on a true story.
Classic: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book gave us one of the best performances of Gregory Peck's career. Not only that but it's a true classic. It was the first required reading book from school that I actually liked. It's one of the only books from school that I've reread an is one that I still think of fondly.
YA: Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertali
I didn't want to read this at first because the title put me off. It came across as standoffish and just negative. Like humanity just has some inherit agenda against the LGBTQ community. But after seeing a trailer for the movie, I gave it a chance and what I loved it.
Urban Fantasy: Dead Beat by Jim Butcher
I love the Dresden Files. It's my favorite book series and one that I can always pick up. Dead Beat is one of the more exciting books in the series. I almost picked Changes but the ending of that one always makes me want to pick up the next book right away to get some closure.
More than likely I wouldn't catch myself reading. I'd catch myself playing video games. I used to play a lot and I miss those days when I could just play a game for hours doing my own thing. But if there was going to be a book I'd be reading it'd probably be something by Michael Crichton or Stephen King. I reread Jurassic Park the most so I'd probably be reading that.
1) You have to get rid of all your books and you can only keep one from each of these genres: Contemporary, fantasy, non-fiction, sci-fi, historical fiction, YA, and one other genre of your choosing. What books do you keep?
Contemporary: Less by Andrew Sean Greer.Every New Years Day my wife and I begin to read a new book that we chose in late December as our first book of the year. This was my pick from 2019 and I loved it. Check out my review here. Less was true joy to read. A fun journey of a man travelling the world and remembering his old relationships as he tries to get as far away from his ex-boyfriends wedding as he can.
Fantasy: The Sword of Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks.
The Sword of Shannara was my first introduction to the greater world of Fantasy. Before the first book, all I had read in the genre were The Hobbit and the Harry Potter series It lit a fire under me and I started reading a whole lot more. Am I cheating by choosing an omnibus with the first three books in it? Yes. Yes I am. Do I care? No. No I don't.
Non-Fiction: Nisei Daughter by Monica Sone
I kind of have to pick this book as Monica Sone was my great aunt. But there's more to my pick than that. It's also the best book about the internment of the Japanese that I've read. While I respect Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, I think that Monica Sone did a better job of capturing their lives during the interment.
Sci-fi: Ender's Game by Olsen Scott Card
I could have cheated again and used this one as a classic and kept this genre open to something else. But I had a really good answer for the classic category. The Martian by Andy Weir came in at a close second but I liked Ender's Game more. The "oh shit" twist at the end was big enough that even though I started to suspect it, still was a riveting experience.
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Historical Fiction: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My wife was the one who got me into historical fiction. Truth be told, she was the one who got me outside my comfort zone of fantasy and science fiction in the first place. This book is perfect. It has great characters, a compelling story, and feels like it could all be based on a true story.
Classic: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book gave us one of the best performances of Gregory Peck's career. Not only that but it's a true classic. It was the first required reading book from school that I actually liked. It's one of the only books from school that I've reread an is one that I still think of fondly.
YA: Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertali
I didn't want to read this at first because the title put me off. It came across as standoffish and just negative. Like humanity just has some inherit agenda against the LGBTQ community. But after seeing a trailer for the movie, I gave it a chance and what I loved it.
Urban Fantasy: Dead Beat by Jim Butcher
I love the Dresden Files. It's my favorite book series and one that I can always pick up. Dead Beat is one of the more exciting books in the series. I almost picked Changes but the ending of that one always makes me want to pick up the next book right away to get some closure.
2) You're at the bookstore and you hear a teenager telling their mom they don't like to read, but their mom insists they pick something. You walk over and recommend a book you think is great for people who aren't big on reading. What book is it?
Storm Front by Jim Butcher. You may be asking yourself "another Dresden Files book?" Yes. And here's why. A good way to get people to start reading is to get them into a series so reading becomes a habit. Think of all those who grew up with Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter or Twilight or even The Land of Stories. Book series that people liked so they picked up more books. So a good idea would be to pick a book you know is good that has a lot of books in the series. That should appease the kid and the parent.
3) You're not feeling yourself and need a pick-me-up. Which book do you read to put yourself in a great mood?
Okay, no more Dresden Files books. I promise. If this happened to me right now I'd pick up Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. It's on my TBR and he's one of my favorite authors. There's always something on my TBR that I'm sure I'd like so I'll pick one of those up if I'm in a reading slump. Jim Butcher, Becky Chambers, Brandon Sanderson,
4) You go back in time for a day to your teenage years. What book would you most likely have caught yourself reading?
More than likely I wouldn't catch myself reading. I'd catch myself playing video games. I used to play a lot and I miss those days when I could just play a game for hours doing my own thing. But if there was going to be a book I'd be reading it'd probably be something by Michael Crichton or Stephen King. I reread Jurassic Park the most so I'd probably be reading that.
5) Your friend surprises you with a 4 day trip and you have 1 hour to pack. Which book do you bring to read on the way?
I'm assuming the answer is supposed to be what I would bring this very moment. So if this happened right now I'd bring Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers. It's the last book in the Wayfarers series and the only one that I haven't read. I think it's the perfect length that I'd be able to read it during travel and in the hotel without losing time doing whatever activities my friend has planned for us.6) Your house has been robbed! Don't worry, everyone is safe, but your bookshelf has been raided. What's the book you really hope is safe?
This is tough because I have quite a few autographed copies of books that I got from author readings. But the one book I'd look for first would be my hardcover first edition copy of The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. It's not only my favorite Shannara book, but it's hard to find. My autographed books are from authors like Brandon Sanderson and Brent Weeks. I'm sure they're going to do more book tours as they're relatively young. Did I just manage to brag about having autographs and a rare(ish) book?
7) Your friend borrows a book and returns it in awful condition. Do you a) Just pretend you haven't noticed b) Ask them to repurchase it or c) Secretly do the same to something of theirs?
Whenever I lend something of mine out, I'm prepared to either never see it again or get it back in bad condition. I do hope that it would come back in the same condition, but you should never loan something out that you can't afford to lose. So I guess my answer is A. Though if they ever ask to borrow something again, I would have to say no OR bring the book up to them and say that I want it back in the same condition. Though if the book is returned in truly terrible condition I'd ask what happened because I'd be curious. If I happened to actually let someone borrow a book that's important to me and not easily replaceable, I'm not sure what I'd do.
End of the Year Book Tag
Wednesday, 4 December 2019 • book tag, books
It's time for another book tag! The end of the year is upon us so all these questions tackle what little time is left in the year and moving forward into 2020.
Are there any books you started this
year that you need to finish?
No. By this point, if I haven't finished it I've probably DNF'd it. The only books that I actually DNF'd this year were Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez, and The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Both of those are books that if you had asked me earlier in the year I would have predicted to be four or five star books.
No. By this point, if I haven't finished it I've probably DNF'd it. The only books that I actually DNF'd this year were Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez, and The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Both of those are books that if you had asked me earlier in the year I would have predicted to be four or five star books.
Anne
just walked by and reminded me of another book I DNF'd, but this one
I plan on returning to. So I guess I'm changing my answer. A book I
need to finish is Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of
Beavers and Why They Matter by
Ben Goldfarb. I found the book quite interesting but I just couldn't
stay focused. I was listening to the audio version so maybe I was
just too distracted, but I do know I want to give it another chance.
Also I stopped in the middle of a Harry Potter
reread because I just wasn't feeling it. So I guess that counts too.
Maybe
one day I'll give The Three-Body Problem
another chance but I'll never give Gil's All Fright Diner
even a single moment of my time.
Do you have an autumnal book to
transition into the end of the year?
Not really. I always want to read
themed books around their specific time of year but I have never
quite done that save for reading a Christmas book leading up to
Christmas. I'm not sure if that would count as autumnal, but it is
the end of the year.
So lets talk about Christmas, shall we?
This year I want to pull out my old copy of The Polar Express
that came complete with a tape of actor William Hurt reading it. Step
one. Find a tape player. Step two, get a fire going and sit in front
of it and read along just like I did when I was a kid. But this time
with my wife by my side.
Is there a new release you're still
waiting for?
A
release from this year? No. Not at all. A release in general? Plenty.
I want Jim Butcher to finish Peace
Talks,
the next book in The
Dresden Files
series as well as the next book in the Cinder
Spires
series. I'd also like the third book in Rebecca Roanhorse's Sixth
World
series. Other than that there's really nothing I really want.
What are three books you want to
read before the end of the year?
I
don't really have any. At the end of November I finished the Pop
Sugar Reading Challenge
and have been in sort of a slump ever since. I can read whatever I
want without having to keep reading prompts in mind. So I'm lost.
Is there a book you think could
still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?
I
just started reading Skyward
by Brandon Sanderson and I know I'm going to like it. I've never
disliked anything by him. But I've read such great books that I'd be
surprised if this one would break into the top five of the year. It
could still be great. But can it be greater than some of the books
that really touched me this year? Maybe, Maybe not.
Have you already started making
reading plans for 2020?
Yes
and no. Anne and I decided that we're not doing the Pop
Sugar Reading Challenge next
year. We liked a lot of the prompts, but the allure of not having to
worry about prompts, mixed with coming up with some of our own.
I
know, it's true that I can always read whatever I want, but when
you're doing a reading challenge it is important to keep prompts in
mind. There were a few times this year where I wanted to pick up a
certain book but realized it wasn't going to work for anything, so I
switched.
Reader Problems Book Tag
Thursday, 21 November 2019 • book tag, books
1.
You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide
what to read next?
I'll
tell you what I do! It's just like when you're at home and hungry but
you don't have anything to eat. You keep walking to the fridge,
opening it, staring, sighing, then closing the door and walking away.
But in the case of what to read next, I just browse my shelves until
something jumps out at me.
Truth
be told, I usually have a book I want to read. But Anne and I do so
many reading challenges that I usually have a book I should read on
top of a book I really want to read.
2.
You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do
you quit or are you committed?
It
depends. How long is the book? I was recently reading a book called
Shallow
Graves that
I wasn't feeling, but it was less than 250 pages so I sucked it up
and kept reading. If it had been a longer book though, that would be
different.
If I
needed it for a reading challenge prompt, I may keep reading unless I
can find a better sounding book for the same prompt. Otherwise I'd
drop it faster than lubed up bowling ball.
3.
The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, but so far away
on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?
I'm
actually 10 books over my Goodreads reading challenge! So yay for me!
I had a goal of 60 and I'm on 71 now. Next year I'll do 120, but
count graphic novels and manga as well. So hopefully I'll do 60
graphic novels and 60 regular books.
4.
The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?
I
try not to look at it and try my best to hide my shame. I'm a fan of
The
Expanse
series and with book 4 the design on the spine changed a bit and it
drives me effing batty. My Jo Nesbo books don't match either. So
instead I focus on my Dresden
Files
books or my Terry Brooks books which do match.
5.
Every one and their mother loves a book you really don’t like. Who
do you bond with over shared feelings?
Almost
all of my friends are readers so there's bound to be someone who
agrees with me. I thought I could count on Anne to hate Every
Heart A Doorway with me, but she ended up liking it, though she
could at least see why I hated it. For the most part we agree on
things and if not her, then I'll find a reader friend who hates it as
well.
6.
You’re reading a book and you are about to start crying in public.
How do you deal?
I just
cry. I don't have anything to prove to anyone. What's the worst that
would happen? Someone makes fun of me? Oh no! Some mouth breathing
troglodyte is laughing at the person who's in touch with their
feelings. Shame.
7.
A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a
lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel?
Try to find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?
To
quote younger Millenials than myself... THIS! I'm a fan of Brent
Week's Lightbringer series and the latest book just came out
and it's been about two years since The Blood Mirror hit the
shelves and now I forgot where we were. I know the basics, like where
Gavin is, what Kip is doing, but The White? Karis, the others? I
forgot. Lucky for me, Brent Weeks breaks down each book in the series
with a synopsis of what happens. For authors who don't do that, I
search for and read a write up of the plot
8.
You do not want anyone. ANYONE. borrowing your books. How do you
politely tell people nope when they ask?
I
usually don’t have a problem with it. But there are a couple rare
books I own that I would never loan out. Like my first edition
hardcover of The
Elfstones of Shannara by
Terry Brooks. So if someone asked to borrow that I’d be torn
between saying “hell no” or “oh hell no.”
9.
Reading ADD. You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last
month. How do you get over your reading slump?
I
pick up something I know I like. I’d pick up Storm
Front book
1 of the Dresden
Files series.
Or I’d pick up a kids book like something from A
Series of Unfortunate Events or
The Spiderwick
Chronicles.
I’d maybe even pick up a manga. Anything just to read and complete
something. That usually gets me out of my slump.
10.
There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read!
How many do you actually buy?
Almost
none unless there something super special about it. I rarely buy
books new these days after my wife and I discovered library book
sales. I did buy two books recently, The
Poppy War by
and Space Opera by Catherine Valente. I haven’t read those yet and
I still haven’t heard the end of it.
11.
After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how
long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?
It
really depends. First and foremost, do they work for any reading
challenge prompt? If so, it may be the next book I read. If it
doesn’t work for a prompt it may take a good long while for me to
pick it up as I prioritize finishing reading challenges to my own
reading desires. As I mentioned above, I purchased two books a couple
months ago and still haven’t gotten around to reading them even
though I’m excited for both. Also, as previously mentioned, the
next book in the Lightbringer
series
came out and I haven’t purchased it yet as I know it would have
just sat around on my shelf. I may not do the Popsugar reading
challenge next year, and if I don’t, then I can read whatever I
want!
The Happy List Book Tag
Tuesday, 12 November 2019 • book tag, books
Anne and I love to do these book tag posts and we try to post them on the same day, unless I get forgetful and don't post mine. This one is based on things that make you... wait for it... HAPPY! Yay for being happy!
1. A book you can always go back to and feel happy
Storm Front by Jim Butcher. This
is always going to be my answer for any favorite book related
questions. I'm a huge mark for Dresden. I love the world, I love the
characters, I love the stories. I love how Dresden and his powers
grow as the ante for each story grows and grows. Storm Front
is the book I can always turn back to. I may like other Dresden books
more, but Storm Front is where it all started.
2. Your standoms (your number one joy filled fandom or fandoms)
I don't really have one. Fandoms annoy
me. I can be considered a Potterhead. I can be considered a Whovian.
I used to be a huge weeb. There are a lot of fandoms I can be a part
of, but I don' really partake. I think it just reminds me too much of
my awkward nerd years and I get second hand embarrassment.
3. Type of book cover you’ll always pick up in a bookstore
The standard fantasy book cover will
always grab my attention. The old kind too. Terry Brooks, Mercedes
Lackey, Piers Anthony. Stuff like that. Classic fantasy. A group of
people, usually a human or two, a dwarf or elf, some other creature
that may be unique to that book. Maybe a treasure chest, sword,
dragon, or something else capturing their attention. I may not read
that much classic fantasy anymore but there will always be a soft
spot in my heart for it.
4. A book trope that you love
I could say the rag tag group that's
supposed to fight the big evil in a fantasy book, but I feel that
that answer harkens back too much to my last answer so instead I'll
say: The rag tag crew of a starship. See? Same answer but different
setting. I win.
5. An anticipated release that makes you happy when you think about it
I was told I can't use Dresden as an
answer again so this one was harder that I anticipated. The book that
I'm excited for, the one that makes me happy, doesn't even have a
release date yet. It's the third book in the Sixth World
series by Rebecca Roanhorse. I picked up the first book on a whim. I
needed a new audio book to listen to at work and Trail of
Lightening just happened to be the sale book that day. That God I
did because I found one of my new favorite authors. When book two
Storm of Locusts came out, I got
it right away and listened to it over two days. I can't wait for book
three.
6. An author whose full canon of books you love
Seriously? I can't use Jim Butcher
(author of the Dresden Files) as my answer? Fine. I was going to say
Becky Chambers, author of The Wayfarers series but I didn't
think I could honestly count her as she's only written four books
that I've only read two of. So I'm going with Brandon Sanderson. I
may not have read all of his books, but I read enough that I can say
that I'm familiar with his voice and enjoy it a lot. I've read his
books for adults, his YA books, and his middle grade books and I've
enjoyed them all.
7. Your coziest go-to reading snack/drink
The snack has to be something that
won't make my fingers all greasy. It can't be chocolate because I
don't want to get chocolate on my book. Anything cheesy is out. Just
ask Anne about how Darkest Minds and Cheetos mix. I got it.
One of my favorite snacks is Chex Mix. If you go with the original
flavor there's not a lot of dust or flavoring to transfer from your
fingers to the pages. Napkins would be wise but not necessary.
The drink could be anything. You don't
have to be as careful with stains from drinks as you do snacks. And
it also depends what mood I'm in. Whiskey? Beer? Something
non-alcoholic like soda, juice, tea, or water? It really depends.
8. A book you’ve shared with with family or friends
This answer has to be Storm Front even
though I'm trying not to double up on answers. Anne and I go to a lot
of library book sales and whenever I see a copy of Storm Front for
cheap I always pick it up just in case I meet someone who likes
fantasy or urban fantasy and has never read it.
9. A fellow booktuber or book blogger whose content always brings you joy
Can I use my wife's blog as an answer?
10. Name something about the content you create that you love
It makes me happy when I come up with a
clever play on words. I also love it when a book or movie review just
flows like warm butter and I don't have to keep pausing, deleting,
rewriting, deleting again, then getting frustrated and watching Smash
Ultimate tournaments on YouTube.
I don't have many readers. I know this.
But it makes me happy that at least a couple people read my content.
So thank you, if you're one of them.
Finally Fall Book Tag
Monday, 4 November 2019 • book tag
1. In
fall, the air is crisp and clear: name a book with a vivid setting!
Firefight by Brandon Sanderson.
The majority of this book takes place in what used to be New York, now called Babilar, which has been taken over by an Epic called Regalia. For this setting, just picture New York but flooded with so much water that only the tops of the tallest buildings are left dry. The city is covered in fruiting vines and paint that glows in the dark. Wooden bridges connect the rooftops for the Babilar equivalent of streets.
It's been three months since I finished the book and I've finished over 30 books since then and it still sticks in my mind as fresh as when I read it.
2. Nature is beautiful… but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman.
I loved this book so much. It may even be my favorite book of the year. Time will tell.
This was such a well written book that I fell in love with the characters and their lives. So much so that it caused me to openly weep more than once.
I can't say too much because, well, spoilers and all, but A Man Called Ove deals with both loss and grief in such a human and relatable way that it struck a deep chord with me.
3. Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new.
I've read more non-fiction this year than I normally do. I have reading challenges and my wife to thank for that. And while there are many I could pick I Must Say by Martin Short, A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod, and even Can You Ever Forgive Me? By Lee Israel but the answer has to be:
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida. This taught me so much about autism and while not all cases of autism are the same, it's a great eyeopening book to show the people behind the outward chaos you may see on the outside. This is a fantastic book and I'll tell you this, the reason he jumps isn't vaccines.
4. In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend-group that you’d like to be a part of.
This one was easier than I thought it would be. I'd want to be part of Dresden's inner circle from The Dresden Files series of books. It may be true that even knowing Dresden can be very dangerous but also, if you're part of his group, you're also protected.
You have wizards, werewolves, vampires, knights of the cross, faeries (kind of), an evil fighting temple dog, the embodiment of the archive of all human knowledge, a demon mercenary (again, sort of), an island spirit, and a fat cat on your side.
5. The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines!
6. Fall
is the perfect time for some storytelling by the fireside: share a
book wherein somebody is telling a story.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Technically Gaiman is telling us the stories that the Norse told each other. AND if you listen tot he audiobook it's exactly like he's telling you a story.
7. The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read.
I was going to pick The Outsiderby Stephen King but after thinking about it I'm changing my answer to The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin.
While the Stephen King books I've read this year sure were creepy, The Stepford Wives was creepier because of the nonchalantness about the whole thing. Women changing overnight into a cookie cutter housewife that makes Beaver's mom look normal? A club of men who seem to run the city behind closed doors. And the feeling that even though you're in a sizable town, you have nowhere to run.
8. The days are getting colder: name a short, heartwarming read that could warm up somebody’s cold and rainy day.
Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes.
Though this is a 274 page book, my focus is just on the first story in this short story collection which just happens to be called Paris for One. It's a short story that made me smile and what better for a rainy day?
9. Fall (luckily, it’s my favorite season) returns every year: name an old favourite that you’d like to return to soon.
An old favorite from when I was a kid was the Bunnicula series. The first book is Bunnicula followed by Howliday Inn, The Celery Stalks at Midnight, Nighty-Nightmare, Return to Howliday Inn, Bannicula Strikes Again, and Bannicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow.
These books follow Dogs Harold and Howie and cat Chester as they deal with the potential evil of Bunnicula, the vampire rabbit. It's a cute series that I remember fondly as a child and I look forward to rereading them and one day introducing my children to the series.
10. Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”!
I don't really have many reading accessories. If it's cold out I'll have my big gray blanket and maybe a mug of tea or cocoa. If it's dark and I'm reading in bed I'll whip out my kindle.
11. Spread the autumn appreciation and tag some people!
Umm.. this is awkward. I don't know any other book bloggers besides Anne and she's already doing this. So.. no?
Firefight by Brandon Sanderson.
The majority of this book takes place in what used to be New York, now called Babilar, which has been taken over by an Epic called Regalia. For this setting, just picture New York but flooded with so much water that only the tops of the tallest buildings are left dry. The city is covered in fruiting vines and paint that glows in the dark. Wooden bridges connect the rooftops for the Babilar equivalent of streets.
It's been three months since I finished the book and I've finished over 30 books since then and it still sticks in my mind as fresh as when I read it.
2. Nature is beautiful… but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman.
I loved this book so much. It may even be my favorite book of the year. Time will tell.
This was such a well written book that I fell in love with the characters and their lives. So much so that it caused me to openly weep more than once.
I can't say too much because, well, spoilers and all, but A Man Called Ove deals with both loss and grief in such a human and relatable way that it struck a deep chord with me.
3. Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new.
I've read more non-fiction this year than I normally do. I have reading challenges and my wife to thank for that. And while there are many I could pick I Must Say by Martin Short, A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod, and even Can You Ever Forgive Me? By Lee Israel but the answer has to be:
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida. This taught me so much about autism and while not all cases of autism are the same, it's a great eyeopening book to show the people behind the outward chaos you may see on the outside. This is a fantastic book and I'll tell you this, the reason he jumps isn't vaccines.
4. In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend-group that you’d like to be a part of.
This one was easier than I thought it would be. I'd want to be part of Dresden's inner circle from The Dresden Files series of books. It may be true that even knowing Dresden can be very dangerous but also, if you're part of his group, you're also protected.
You have wizards, werewolves, vampires, knights of the cross, faeries (kind of), an evil fighting temple dog, the embodiment of the archive of all human knowledge, a demon mercenary (again, sort of), an island spirit, and a fat cat on your side.
5. The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines!
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Technically Gaiman is telling us the stories that the Norse told each other. AND if you listen tot he audiobook it's exactly like he's telling you a story.
7. The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read.
I was going to pick The Outsiderby Stephen King but after thinking about it I'm changing my answer to The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin.
While the Stephen King books I've read this year sure were creepy, The Stepford Wives was creepier because of the nonchalantness about the whole thing. Women changing overnight into a cookie cutter housewife that makes Beaver's mom look normal? A club of men who seem to run the city behind closed doors. And the feeling that even though you're in a sizable town, you have nowhere to run.
8. The days are getting colder: name a short, heartwarming read that could warm up somebody’s cold and rainy day.
Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes.
Though this is a 274 page book, my focus is just on the first story in this short story collection which just happens to be called Paris for One. It's a short story that made me smile and what better for a rainy day?
9. Fall (luckily, it’s my favorite season) returns every year: name an old favourite that you’d like to return to soon.
An old favorite from when I was a kid was the Bunnicula series. The first book is Bunnicula followed by Howliday Inn, The Celery Stalks at Midnight, Nighty-Nightmare, Return to Howliday Inn, Bannicula Strikes Again, and Bannicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow.
These books follow Dogs Harold and Howie and cat Chester as they deal with the potential evil of Bunnicula, the vampire rabbit. It's a cute series that I remember fondly as a child and I look forward to rereading them and one day introducing my children to the series.
10. Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”!
I don't really have many reading accessories. If it's cold out I'll have my big gray blanket and maybe a mug of tea or cocoa. If it's dark and I'm reading in bed I'll whip out my kindle.
11. Spread the autumn appreciation and tag some people!
Umm.. this is awkward. I don't know any other book bloggers besides Anne and she's already doing this. So.. no?
Unpopular Opinions Book Tag
Sunday, 3 November 2019 • book tag
So my wife and I like doing these book tag posts. So here’s another one she found. This time around it’s as simple as the title. All of these questions we answer are about unpopular opinions regarding books.
Just a quick warning. I do spoil something for the Harry Potter series. But come on, it’s been twelve years since the book came out and nine years since the movie, so at this point it’s your fault.
Questions:
1. A Popular Book or series that you didn’t like.
Wow, this one is actually hard for me because there are so many popular books that I just don’t like. I could name all of them but I find that there are a few I talk about quite a lot. In my book blogs and on my movie podcast (Future Flicks with Billiam) I talk about hating Catcher in the Rye and Lord of the Rings quite a bit so instead of those I’ll talk about: Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire.
Look. I know people have varying opinions and that’s okay. I didn’t like the Twilight series, but others did and that’s fine. People have their views, opinions, and taste and that’s okay… except for this: If you liked Every Heart A Doorway, you are wrong. It was poorly written, had a paper thin plot, and had more wasted potential than all of Fox’s X-Men movies combined. Some people claim that this series has great representation for the LGBTQ+ community. No. No it doesn’t. Any mention of it was so shoehorned in, it came across as disingenuous. This was one of the worst books I have ever read. Bad plot, bad characters, bad pacing, bad dialogue, contrived and piss poor LGBTQ+ representation, and a great premise that was ruined by bad writing. Seanan McGuire is a hack and the only thing she should be writing is a resume to find another job.
2. A Popular Book or series that every one else seems to hate but you love.
This is another hard one. Not because I have outstanding taste in books, but because most books that I love are either loved by others as well or at least given a “meh” score by readers. But after looking at lists of hated books by various websites and people on Goodreads, I noticed that it’s now okay to hate classic books like Catcher in the Rye and Rumblefish. So I’m not as much as a minority anymore. I had hard time with this one and had to rely on Anne to help me. She informed me that a book series I love, The Reckoners by Brandon Sanderson, is on a lot of people’s hated list.
I can both understand and not understand how people could not like this. I get it, because the specific genre (YA fantasy with a focus on people with powers) is a very limiting genre. But also, the only people who should be picking up the book are the fans for the genre. One big complaint is that the style was very YA. So you mean to tell me the YA book had a basic YA style? Oh no! It’s almost like you didn’t pay attention to what you were picking up like some sort of mouth breathing moron!
I loved the first two books in the series and highly recommend it. Any Nick or Nancy Naysayers are just being haters. It’s okay to hate things, but the people that I’ve seen who didn’t like this series are people who should have never picked it up in the first place. Be smart people.
3. A Love Triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with (warn ppl for spoilers) OR an OTP that you don’t like.
Edward was the wrong choice. But I can’t use that as an example because I never finished the series. But come on. He’s a creepy old ass vampire who could be Bella’s grandpa. It’s gross. Jacob was creepy too, but at least he was in the same age range.
For my actual answer I’m going way back to the year 1904 and the pairing of Peter Pan and Wendy Darling. It’s true that in Peter Pan, Peter and Wendy don’t actually end up together (sorry, no spoiler warning since this book is 115 years old) but they’re still considered a pairing because of their standing in popular culture (including the movie Hook). But here’s my unpopular opinion: Peter is a steaming piece of crap. Yeah, I know that he’s the embodiment of perpetual youth and escapism but just because a character stands for something doesn’t mean they’re good. Look at Holden Caufield. He’s horrible but is the poster child for teenage angst and rebellion. Peter Pan is horrible and Wendy deserves way more. He’s mean to her when he doesn’t get his way and acts like a baby when the other lost boys take Wendy’s side on things.
Peter in the movies is a much better character. They manage to keep his “never growing up” attitude but making him less of an insufferable little sh*t. However for this book tag we’re talking about the book, so my answer still stands.
4. A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for.
Finally! An easy question. Cyber Punk. I know, this isn’t a super popular genre, but with the type of books I like, one would think that authors like William Gibson and Neal Stephenson would be on my shelf. But I gave up on this genre after reading two of the most popular books in the genre and not liking them. Neuromancer is considered one of the quintessential books in cyberpunk and I was so bored that I had to force myself to finish it. If you love this genre, I envy you. I wish I could see what you see because it really should be something I like more than I do.
5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like.
Dobby. F*ck Dobby. I’m glad he’s dead. He was Harry Potter’s answer to Jar Jar Binks. I agree with Dobby’s sister. He’s an embarassment and I wouldn’t want to be around him either. His death in the book was the only death that made me smile. Bellatrix Lestrange deserves a medal for killing him.
And again, no spoiler warning. He died in both the book and the movie. The book came out 12 years ago and the movie was 8 years ago.
6. A popular author that you can’t seem to get into.
Easy peasy. Cormac McCarthy. I’ve only fully read one book of his and hated it (The Road) and have tried others and just couldn’t get into it. I just don’t get it. I don’t get the appeal. He’s not a good writer. The asshat doesn’t even know how to use quotation marks!
7. A popular book trope that you’re tired of seeing. (examples “lost princess”, corrupt ruler, love triangles, etc.)
I hate the blank slate YA character. Katniss, Peeta, and Gale from The Hunger Games, Nancy from Every Heart A Doorway, Bella and Edward from Twilight, Alex Rider from the Alex Rider series. These “characters” are lacking character. They’re nothing. They might as well be a piece of wood for the emotional pallet they display.
You know who else was a blank slate? Harry Potter. He’s a nobody main character. Ron’s a joke, but at least he has character. Hermione has good character, hell Draco and Neville have more depth than Harry does. And I’m saying all this as a huge fan. I love the Harry Potter series.
8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading.
The Divergent series. I don’t want to read yet another YA series with a discount Katniss Everdeen. One Katniss is bad enough. Also, the movies looked awful and any character that could be played by the non-descript bag of spare parts known as Shailene Woodley isn’t worth the time of day. I’ve had people who loved the series explain it to me and even they couldn’t make me give two flying craps about .
9. The saying goes “The book is always better than the movie”, but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?
There are quite a few good examples I can use for this answer but the most disappointing one for me was Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday. I hate stories where nothing happens and nothing else is done to make the journey worth it. Salmon Fishing did have a plot and stuff did happen, but when it all ends the characters end up in basically the same place they started making the whole journey worthless. I even would have been happy with the book if my ideal ending didn’t happen. Just make the whole book mean something instead of it being a study in futility.
The movie solved all the issues I had with the book and did so with two of the best actors of our time in it. Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor.
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