I was reading through some of my old posts recently, and I came across a number of book tags I did 3-4 years ago. As I was reading over what my answers were, I realized some of my opinions had changed, and others I've developed a little more than I had back then. Back in March 2020, I answered the Rapid Fire Book Tag, and today, I'm redoing it, because I thought it might be fun.
E-Books or Physical Books?
I love physical books, since I love the feeling of being able to hold books in my hands. A physical book also makes things like bookmarking a little easier. At the same time, I don't have unlimited shelf space and physical books can get expensive, so I do read and own a lot of e-books. I'll buy a physical book if I really love it, but most of the time, I'm perfectly happy with the e-book.
Paperback or Hardback?
Hardback. Paperbacks are easier to damage. I've found that, even if the covers are the same, it usually looks better in hardback. Hardbacks also have things like art and maps inside the dust jackets, which I love seeing.
Online or In-Store Book Shopping?
I appreciate the convenience of online shopping, but I like the feel of a bookstore and the possibilities they have. There are so many books that I've loved that I found on random bookstore trip, when I was just browsing, that I never would've noticed or clicked on, if I'd seen them online.
Trilogies or Series?
I tend to gravitate towards trilogies, or even quadrilogies and pentalogies, because most of the time, the author leaves keeps to their planned three, for or five books. Some book series have more books than they should and are dragged out for far too long. Obviously, episodic series are different, but for one story, broken into multiple books, it's easy to drag the story out too much. I'm of the opinion that the original Dune series didn't need to be six books, and I'm aware it seems unfair, since my second favorite series of all time is The Wheel of Time, which comes in at 14 books and a prequel.
Heroes or Villains?
Heroes, mostly, but it all depends on how they're written. I don't need a morally grey, complex villain in everything I read. At the same time, I do need a hero who's more than a cardboard cutout, being dragged through their own story. The character being compelling matters more to me than if they're the villain or the hero.
A book you want everyone to read?
The Dragonfly Gambit by A.D. Sui. I finished it a few weeks ago and I can't stop thinking about it. It's a revenge story, set in the far future, about a woman seeking revenge against an empire seeking to control the galaxy.
Recommend an underrated book?
There are so many books I could name here, and most are by indie authors or authors with small presses. I think Onero's Hunt by J.R. Devoe should get more attention than it does. I loved Hayley Reese Chow's Odriel's Heirs series. A.E. Bennett's Serrulata Saga is on-going, but every entry has me more and more invested.
The last book you finished?
At the time of writing this, my last read was Home is Not A Country by Safia Elhilo.
The last book you bought?
Slavic Myths by Jake Jackson because I want to expand my knowledge of mythology beyond the Greek and Norse tales I was already familiar with.
Weirdest thing you've used as a bookmark?
A bag of candy. I had to mark my place very quickly to deal with something urgent and didn't have time to search for anything better, like a receipt or sticky note.
Used books: Yes or No?
More like "hell, yes" because a used bookstore is my favorite place to go. You can find so many interesting reads, and you're giving books a new home.
Top Three Genres?
- Fantasy
- Science Fiction
- Thriller/Mystery
Borrow or Buy?
Borrow, mostly from the library. This way, if I don't like a certain book, I haven't spent money on it, and I'm not stuck with a book I didn't like. Also, libraries are very important and the best way to support your local library is to use it.
Characters or Plot?
I'd say characters. While a story can be plot-driven or character-driven, I've found that I need to like the characters, or at least not hate them, to stay invested in the story. Whether a book is about an exciting adventure or one character processing their own grief, an author need to get me to care about the characters for me to enjoy the book.
Long or Short Books?
Long books, but not too long. Short books sometimes have to rush through things to get to the climax, while longer books can take their time. At the same time, long books run the risk of slowing the pacing down too much,
Long or Short Chapters?
Long chapters. Short chapters annoy me, because I've read too many books where two or three short chapters would've worked better as one longer one. Short chapters feel like the story is being broken up into too many pieces.
Name the First Three Books You Think of?
- The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
- River Woman, River Demon Jennifer Givhan
Books That Make You Laugh or Cry?
Margo's Got Money Troubles made me cry from laughing. When Breath Becomes Air just made me cry.
Our World or Fictional Worlds?
Fictional worlds, because I love seeing the different ideas authors come up with for their worlds. I find it fascinating how every writer will add their own twists and flair to the world.
Audiobooks: Yes or No?
I like audio books, for certain genres. I struggle with them for fantasy and sci-fi, because there's a lot of terms or strange names to keep track of, but I enjoy listening to memoir, thriller or romance audiobooks.
Do you ever judge a book by it's cover?
Yes. There's a very long list of books that I've read because the cover intrigued me. Sometimes, I've been deceived by a cover, but I often get exactly what I expect.
Book-to-Movie or Book-to-TV adaptations?
It depends. If the book is a standalone, a movie is fine. If a series is being adapted, a movie, or series of movies, could work in some cases, but not others. I definitely don't understand centering a TV series around a single book, unless it's a long book like War and Peace or something.
A movie or TV show you preferred to its book?
I liked The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe movie more than I liked the book. Also, World War Z, the film, and World War Z, the book, were so different that I can't really compare one to the other. I liked both, but the movie isn't "better than the book" because it has nothing resembling the book, besides zombies, in it.
Series or Standalones?
I like series, don't get me wrong, but starting one is a commitment, especially an unfinished one. There are plenty of series that I started to read and gave up on midway through, some because I stopped enjoying them, and others because I didn't stay up-to-date on the releases of subsequent novels. I appreciate the simplicity of a standalone novel. You only have to commit to one book, and don't feel compelled to keep going.
I Tag: Anyone who wants to do this tag.
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