30 Bookish Questions TAG <3
1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Yes actually, it’s terrible. For some reason though, I can read on the bus for hours with zero sick feelings emerging… But put me in a car with a book (or even a quick glance down at my iPhone, and I feel sick for hours). It’s the worst haha.
2. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
This is such an impossible question to pick a favorite, so I will pick 3 stand-out’s from this year. First off has GOT to be John Green. I love everything about the way he writes young people, and he has a very specific and relateable “voice” that makes me laugh out loud, cry, and just wish more than anything that I could be actual FRIENDS with these characters. I know that sounds creepy/insane but I don’t care. Second on this list is going to go to Jenny Lawson for her incredible memoirs “Lets Pretend this Never Happened” & “Furiously Happy”, which shine a humorous and incredibly unique light on mental illness. She is open and brave about her struggle with anxiety and panic disorders (which I suffer from myself), and she is so hilarious and special, that you just fall in love with her and the story right off the bat. Third on my list, and lastly has to go to Gillian Flynn. That woman can write a thriller like nobody else, and she just captivates her readers and gives them a look into the darkest and most disturbing parts of people’s thoughts/minds… Seriously her books are so disturbing, in the best way. I loved “Gone Girl” so much, but my favorite of her books is “Sharp Objects”.. For some reason I didn’t LOVE “Dark Places”, but it was still a strong 4.5/5.
3. Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.
HARRY POTTER. 3 Points? I have like 100. Ok here goes.. 1.) House Elves (mainly Dobby) 2.) Incredible world building and storytelling 3.) Creatures and spells and dragons and goblins and WIZARDS…AHH!… Did I mention Dobby? It’s so overwhelming, I love it too much. Twilight’s cool too, but it’s not the same thing.
4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is in it (besides books)?
I really SHOULD, but I don’t. I have a huge purse that I literally shove everything into, and my arms ache so badly because I am always carrying around 5-6 books around at any given time.. I have a problem.
5. Do you smell your books?
Yes. Especially brand new ones. Or library books. It’s a weird thing, but I like it.
6. Books with or without little illustrations?
I prefer without mostly, but I do love a good graphic novel/children’s story.
7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
Sweet Valley High. I LIVED for that shit when I was young. Summer’s up my cabin were nothing without the 50 battered SVH paperbacks floating around. I was obsessed with Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. I wanted to BE them (still into this). I read one a few months ago, and it just wasn’t how I remembered, which I think is natural. They are what they are, and they will always be classics to me 🙂
8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
I used to get very very obsessed about the books that I owned. I actually started crying and losing my mind, if any of the spines got “bent”. You know what I mean! It was traumatizing. I ended up becoming so insane that I would trick my Mom into buying me copies of books I already owned, so that I could have one copy to “enjoy” and the other to immortalize on my shelf and never touch again. Insane I know.. also genius. Sorry again about all that Mom, thanks for putting up with my borderline-hoarder behavior.
9. What is the tiniest book on your shelf?
Gillian Flynn’s “The Grownup”.
10. What is the thickest book on your shelf?
“Lady Midnight” by Cassandra Clare
11. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
No not really. I’ll stick with Photography and reading other peoples books for now 🙂
12. When did you get into reading?
When I was really young, I can’t pin it down exactly. I remember being in Grade 2, and feeling that absolute rush of adrenaline, when I spotted the “Scholastic Book Orders” arriving in the classroom. Nothing was better than that feeling, NOTHING. I still feel this way when I step foot in a Chapters/Indigo.
13. What is your favourite classic book?
Lord of the Rings & Catcher in the Rye & Jane Eyre & The Great Gatsby & Game of Thrones (hey, it’s a modern classic ok!.)
14. In school what was your best subject?
English & English Literature
15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Give it away to someone I thought would enjoy it, or to the book charity bin near my house.
16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?
Similar to Hunger Games//It’s not like spot-on similar, but it’s set in a Dystopian society, it’s YA, there is a love triangle, and it’s about zombies! It’s SO good actually, you should read it. The series I’m talking about it called “The Forrest of Hands and Teeth”, by Carrie Ryan. It’s so scary, and really under-hyped.
Similar to Harry Potter//Probably “The Magicians”. It’s like a grown-up, darker version of Harry Potter. Magic and stuff. However it’s not very “lesser known” anymore, as SCIFY has a new TV adaptation of it currently airing.
17. What is a bad habit you always do while blogging?
Getting distracted by everything.. Apple Music, other BLOGS.. BookTube.. oh god the Internet has way too many things to lurk.
18. What is your favorite word?
Probably “little” or “wild”. I know that sounds odd, and I guess it is. I always seem to refer to people or things as a “little” something, and I often describe things I think are interesting as “wild”, even when I’m usually referring to re-organizing my bookshelf or google-ing memes of Dawson Leery all night.. very non-wild things.
19. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?
I don’t know I guess all of the above haha. I’m a nerd and I love it.
20. Vampires or Fairies? Why?
Vampires. Not just the “Twilight” vartiey.. I love the old school bad vampires too, like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in “Interview with a Vampire”. Not sure if any of you guys have heard of “Afflicted”, its a new-ish indie movie, and it’s about Vampires, told from a “found-footage” type angle.. it’s SO SCARY. Like “will-stick-with-you-forever” scary. You should watch it.
21. Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?
Both sounds great.. buttttt I’ll have to pick Angels because of “The Mortal Instruments”. Also remember that one time Nicholas Cage was an angel in something? I think that was pretty hot too.
22. Spirits or Werewolves? Why?
Werewolves are very exciting and I loved that show “Being Human”, also “Teen Wolf” etc etc. Something about the whole drawn-out werewolf transformation on camera, makes me feel really uncomfortable haha. I think I would have to say I prefer a Spirit, but like a super EVIL one. I like the ones that haunt and do creepy things to the paintings on the walls.
23. Best SERIES of 2016 so far..?
The Lars Kepler Series 100%. So creepy, so perfect.
24. Love Triangle or Forbidden Love?
I find the whole “love triangle” trope in Young Adult books SO played out, and I’m so sick of reading about some girl choosing between two boys/paranormal creatures/you name it. If a love triangle is possible, they will shove one in there. That being said, a well done, original take of a love triangle is always fun to read… kind of stressful but fun. Forbidden Love will never get old, it’s just the best. The whole “you always want what you can’t have” thing, you know.. it’s hot.
25. Worst reaction to the ending of a book?
I won’t say what book this was… but it was a super popular book in 2014. I read it, and devoured it in hours, like every other book nerd on the planet. But.. THAT ENDING WAS GARBAGE. I am not a violent or angry person at ALL. I pretty much do everything I can to avoid confrontation/public embarrassment. So when I read the last paragraph of this book, something else took over me. I picked up the book and THREW it against the wall in a blind rage. The book survived, but my anger over this ending is still burning two years later. The worst part of this story, was that while I was around the 3/4 mark of the book, I made the mistake a lot of us make, and I started RECOMMENDING it to people. After I finished it, I had to live with the fact that I was forcing my friends and family to suffer through this disappointing and awful ending too. No joke, I got three texts that week from three separate people saying something along the lines of “WHY WHY WHY”, to “WHY DIDN’T YOU WARN ME ABOUT THIS ENDING”. So lesson learned… When I get too excited about a book, while still reading it… DON’T RECOMMEND it until you are done, because some authors just love to fuck with you.
26.) How many books do you read on average per week?
It depends on how huge the book is… but usually I read about 3 books a week. Sounds like a lot, but I often take public transportation and having nothing else to do but read for two hours. Also I like reading in baths, on the couch, in the middle of photo shoots, in coffee shops, and honestly literally ANYWHERE.. so I get a ton of reading time.
27.) Worst Book You Read This Year”?
Don’t hate me, but I really hated Mindy Kaling’s new book “Why Not Me?”. I loved her first book “Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me, And Other Concerns”. That book was so hilarious, and cute. I love Mindy so much, and I love her show/everything about her, and I kind of hate myself for saying it, but I really hated her second book. I don’t know why it just felt rushed, and sort of silly in parts. There were tons of great stories within the book, don’t get me wrong. Just a lot of other only “ok” stories that seemed like content filler. Also I really disliked “Fifty Shades of Grey”. I know everyone loves it, and don’t get me wrong the story is very hot/interesting, and the movie was decent (especially Jamie Dornan), but the book I just couldn’t do it. It felt very poorly written, and also quite creepy.. just a bit cringe worthy. Also it’s not really a book I could ever read in public, so that kind of hurts my “reading on my commute to work” thing. If you are fans of these two books, please don’t take offense, I have weird book tastes (refer to the Sweet Valley High mention above).
28.) Favourite Graphic Novels/Illustrated Stories You Read in 2016?
“A Monster Calls”- 10/10. Very heartbreaking story/beautiful illustrations
“SAGA”- 9-10. SO GOOD
“The Wicked & The Divine” 8/10
“The Last Man” 10/10
“Sweet-Tooth” 8/10
29.) Books That Have Made You Ugly Cry?
The Fault in Our Stars. I was an absolute mess reading this. The saddest thing ever, it hurts to even think about it haha. I don’t think I moved after finishing it for like two hours, I just laid there so emotionally drained! Thanks John Green, it’s rare a book does that to me.
Me Before You.
A Monster Calls
The Bridges of Madison County ( I know I know I’m such an old lady)
All the Bright Places
30.) Top 3 All-Time Book Crushes
Easy! Augustus “Gus” Waters. I love him way too much. I want to name my first born son Gus, and just smirk about it forever. My boyfriend thinks this is hilarious, and he’s onto me.. I probably won’t get my way haha.
As for the other two……… I guess I’ll just think of two off the top of my head… Ronald Weasley (I love everything about Ron, especially his red hair and all his enthusiasm for dangerous magical situations). And maybe FOUR from Divergent. Yeah, I’m happy with my choices here.
Thanks for Reading & Getting to Know A Few More Bookish Things About Me. Happy Friday the 13th.
{All Photographs: Carly Ingram Photography 2016}