Today I’m doing The Bookish Q&A Tag! Because it’s a beautiful day to be emotionally compromised by books.
I actually also confess I’m flapping about trying to multitask not being murdered by my TBR pile + rewriting a book I love but that’s also being disagreeable + never never sleeping. So I’m just going to throw a fun tag at you and then go lie facedown in the deepest sea, I guess.
But seriously it’s the most fun to answer bookwormish questions. And it’s obviously a topic I nEVER NEVER TALK ABOUT so here we go!
Thanks so much for tagging me Azelyn! And I have changed a few of the questions because I’m a delightful rebel! If anyone wants to take this tag: GO FOR IT.
1) WHAT BOOKS DO YOU REMEMBER READING THAT KICK STARTED YOUR BOOKWORM HABIT?
I do like to say I was raised on books, but this is partially because my mum filled the house with books so like??? What else was I expected to do??? Go raze cities or rob banks or tip over baskets of kittens or something??? I’m not sure what non-bookworms do, but I assume it’s a combination of those. But it was also because I just always prefer books to people. I was the kid who snuck off with TinTin comics to avoid Christmas.
That basically is the best summary of my childhood there is.
Let’s break down the stages of my beginning bookworm habits:
(YOUNG CAIT, THE SIZE OF A LOAF OF BREAD) I imagine I was reading Dick and Dora and picture books and I genuinely don’t remember much else because I didn’t pay attention to my youth.
(YOUNG CAIT, A GRASSHOPPER NOW) I think pre-12 I was into comics a lot, like Tintin. I also was obsessed with Narnia, the Boxcar Children, and Lemony Snicket.
(YOUNG CAIT, AWKWARD PENGUIN YEARS) This is what everyone should call being a teenager btw. But anyway. 12-15 I didn’t actually read that much!! I was still reading mostly Middle-Grade, like Roald Dahl, Ranger’s Apprentice, MORE NARNIA, and also doing Sonlight…if you’re a homeschooler nerd you will be pointing right now and going, “Ohhhh that explains why she reads such bloody books.” Do you realise how stabby historical fiction is!? Thanks for the books, Mum, but I need a sword.
(YOUNG CAIT, INTO THE ARCTIC) So from 15+ I started devouring the library. Basically ANY BOOK EVER. Now I’d glare if someone told me what I could/couldn’t read…I read what I want, fiend. I am Loki. I am free to striek out with my pickaxes and my dogs to the North Pole. Enter The Hunger Games, MAGGIE STIEFVATER (!!!), and Marissa Meyer and John Green.
(NOT YOUNG CAIT, BUT STILL SMOL) Hello, it’s me. 20+ and just read this blog. I read everything YA and please make it dark or feelsy or full of magic or cinnamon children.
2) WHAT GENRES WOULD YOU NORMALLY CHOOSE?
I shall list and rate them for you! Because I like rating things! Did I tell you about the time I rated my siblings??? Because I did.
- Magical realism = I’m just really in love with this one at the moment.
- Contemporary = I find them more diverse and the ones that punch out your heart are just AHHHHH. Yes.
- Paranormal = Or urban? I don’t even know. But I have fun!
- Epic fantasy = Love it, but honestly YA epics need help on the world building. Not everything is about kissing, George, go slay a crocodile or something.
- Historical Fiction = It’s gotta be reeeally good or else I fled out the back door.
- Sci-Fi = There’s only like 5 I like but I like them ferociously.
- Dystopian = I have to go now and shan’t be back for many years.
3) DO YOU EAT WHILE YOU READ AND IF YES, WHAT EXACTLY?
It’s a no. It’s a solid no. I don’t have that kind of coordination. AND I don’t like risking getting my books crummy. I’m absolutely not here to judge people people who love well-worn, well-loved books…but I like mine pristine and perfect and not into necromancy when my back is turned.
4) ARE THERE ANY SCENES FROM YOUR FAVOURITE NOVELS THAT YOU REMEMBER VIVIDLY?
Pretty much the entire Raven Cycle, let’s be real here. Notable examples include:
- Ronan making sure his pet bird Chainsaw has some wooden blocks to play with while he does dark magic or punches someone or whatever.
- Blue’s first meeting with her ultimate OTP basically ending with “IF YOU DIED IN A FIRE THAT’D BE GREAT.”
- Jesse Dittley saying “ANT” at Blue.
- Ronan throwing Noah out of a window for lolz.
- Adam saying, “I am unknowable” in a really moody way while Ronan brings him perfect personalised gifts because he knows him haa ha hahhaha.
- Mallory’s disagreeable anxiety dog just existing disagreeably.
- Blue going out on errands and taking her pet ghost.
- Orla’s very very orange bikini and the boy’s reactions of: (Gansey = 0_0) (Adam = 0___0) (Ronan = ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
5) WERE THERE ANY LEAST FAVOURITES?
I’M JUST GOING TO POINT AT THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO AND THEN SLAM MY DOOR ON THE WAY OUT. PPFFFTGGPFTTTT. I SWEAR. I read book 1 and then four years later I’m going to try book 2 because I’M STILL SO DAMAGED. I HATE EVERYTHING. I NEARLY THREW THE BOOK TWICE.
This news just in: bad things don’t change in rereads and this is odd and unforseen.
6) SO AS YOU’RE A BOOKWORM, WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING TODAY?
I am a bookworm. This tag is so on point.
IRON GOLD: I think I’m the only person on the planet not enjoying this?! I’m only halfway through and UGHHH I’m bored. There’s 4 narrators aNd I. don’t. caaaare about 3 of them. Darrow’s (precious) character is being kind of ruined. And I’m 0% impressed with how Pierce Brown kills off every queer or just includes them for tragically and I…??? Expected way better.- SAM AND ILSA’S LAST HURRAH: I’ve read one chapter ha! I should not speak. But I think Sam is a pianist so I’m happy!
- FROM TWINKLE, WITH LOVE: Okay shhh I’ve just started this one too but I’m excited to read it because Dimple & Rishi was so cute!
7) WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO READ NEXT?
I’m so so bad at planning my reads in advance. I literally don’t know what I’m reading next until I’m holding it. But these are on the TBR for soon. *
* Soon is a word here which means: “Cait you frikkin better read them before the sky opens and swallows you for procrastinating like an onion salad.
8) HAVE YOU GOT A LARGE BOOKSHELF OR DO YOU PLAN TO?
Is a bookshelf ever large enough though? I give a heavy sigh and say no. I mean…yes I have a large bookshelf but it is fULL and life just wants me to suffer. But at least I get to suffer beautifully because my bookshelf is, indeed, gorgeous.
9) DO YOU LIKE INDIE OR TRADITIONAL BOOKS BETTER?
I am a fan of traditional…it’s my dream to be a traditional author aaaand those are the books I gravitate to! But that’s not to say there aren’t good indie books because THERE ARE. But I don’t often know what to go for because the hellions I run with (this is you, by the way) all read traditional too. But anyway this year I read The Foxhole Court series and…UGH I LOVE THEM.
10) AND LASTLY WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE AND LEAST FAVOURITE PARTS OF THE BOOK COMMUNITY?
How lovely people are! Honestly I can’t even with how nice you all are to me?!? You cheer me on so much and the support I’ve gotten for my upcoming debut makes me have AN EMOTION. I appreciate you so much, OK?! Proof that encouragement and a kind word make the BIGGEST difference with blogging. (And you honestly inspire me to remember to give out more compliments.)
I hate the Policing Culture, honestly. I think it’s poisonous and might be done with the best intentions, but it backfires too much. Telling people what they can/can’t read and review is one I’m not fond of. Books are for readers. tHE END. I also don’t like policing authors who then have to come out (it’s really not your business to force that) or making someone “prove” they’re allowed to tell a story. Or telling minorities how to feel. Or refusing to support authors who don’t write #ownvoices. It’s TOO MUCH. We all need to take a breathe, eat some cake, and be sTAhhhp.
The policing culture unfortunately seems to be omnipresent on the internet (I hate it too 🙁 ). I’ve found the book blogging community to be less into policing than fandom in general, but that might be because I don’t have Twitter. I’ve heard Twitter’s bad for it, and I KNOW Tumblr is. As for the best thing about book blogging…having somewhere to put all my book-related rants.
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Twitter is SO bad for it honestly, I feel like blogs are less?! And I’m not on tumblr enough to know. But I just find it exhausting! We spend so much time making sure someone’s “allowed” to write something, are we even enjoying the creativity that’s being put out there?! Obviously I’m not saying there isn’t a place for these discussions, but I think it’s gotten to a Too Much level.🙈🙈
Your bookshelf is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen <3 And how can people eat and read at the same time. See either I concentrate on eating or on reading. I can't do both. And the people in the bookish community are the loveliest people anyone can ever meet. And no one can tell anyone what they can/can't read. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!
Aww thank you! And I AGREE about the reading and eating. Plus reading AND eating are two fantastic experiences…I want to make them separate and enjoy them fully.😂
(Books should be for everyone who loves them!)
I’m so glad Contemporary has won you over more and more the last few years Cait!! 😀
Also yeah I think the policing is getting too much at this point. I mean… yeah Own Voices books are great… but others can be great too?? I think they’re taking it all a bit too far. Okay yeah everyone deserves great rep in books but don’t shame the others that include that rep in their book even if it’s not own voices. As long as it’s accurate rep, what’s to complain about?? So yeah I have thoughts about this.
Bee (Quite The Novel Idea / Novel Ink) recently posted…I Love These Books That Take Place In Foreign Countries!
SO OBSESSED NOW, BEE, LOOK AT ME GO.😂
And yes exactly! I think it’s just going a bit far…I think it’s just on twitter, but like seriously?! Some of my favourite books where I feel my minority experiences are best represented are NOT by ownvoices authors! Good rep is good rep! Plus I think it’s insulting to say only ownvoices readers and writers can enjoy/create diverse books. Umm, we’re not ALIENS. Our experience is not alien!! Books should be able to be enjoyed by all…
I totally agree with you about Iron Gold, I feel I am the only one who was bored reading it, but I feel like it was just a set up for “Dark Ages”, and this one, this one is going to be amazing !!
So I’ve gotta slog through!? *cries* at this point I wish I hadn’t read it and let Red Rising be the perfect solo trilogy on it’s own. AGHHHHH.😂
Favourite Raven Cycle moment?
“Ronan let out a breath, put the model down on the bed beside him, and…”
…well, I’m sure you know what happens next 🙂 <3
[SIDE NOTE: I love the rainbow-style organisation of your books, but doesn't it give you hives to have to separate books in a series if they aren't the same colour?!]
😂😂😂I might have a SMALL clue to which part you’re referring.😂
And the organisation of the rainbow is really soothing to me! I do keep some series together in a smaller shelf, but generally my series have the same spines colours anyway. *shrugs*
Currently I am reading:
Harry Potter for the first time and quite enjoying it.
Insurgent though I’m only one chapter in so don’t really have an opinion on it yet, but like Divergent felt like that to and got better as it went so…
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by FC Yee, which I’m really loving a lot, it’s basically about Chinese nerds fighting demons from Chinese mythology.
And Pacifica, although I’m only two chapters in I can tell I’m going to really love it.
I’d say the same about the best vs worst of the community but would add also in best: bookworms always have something to agree on and can easily be friends and worst: trolls, they need to stop.
And my favorite Raven Cycle moment will be wHEN I ACTUALLY GET A CHANCE TO READ IT!!!!!!!! *angrily fumes at tbr*tbr fumes back*
Ah! I love that you read a ton of books at the same time! Pacifica was AMAZING imo, and not enough people are reading it, so I’m glad you’re trying it. 😉 And I want to read Genie Lo quite bad but never seem to actually get a copy and … ya know…read it. Minor detail for sure.
YES. Bookworms can be really epic when we get on a subject we love, but trolls…go back under your bridge, trolls.
*quietly beats back your TBR for you so you can read The Raven Boys*
“Or refusing to support authors who don’t write #ownvoices.”
THANK YOU
I have no problem with people liking #ownvoices books at all; go for it! I don’t care about that as much as I care about a book that has a plot, so I read anything as long as it is good, lol. But saying you’ll only read an #ownvoices novel and nothing else is limiting yourself to one genre, and you also will never see the amazingness of the world. -end rant-
Also, for some reason I always picture your bookshelves as being in a jungle. They’re not in a room or anything. Or maybe the jungle is in the room and the bookshelves are also in it. I’m just waiting for a post where you’re like “So I found this rare iguana today, sitting on top of my shelf” or to come show some new flower that the jungle has produced or something. (I don’t know why this is.)
It’s just being so intensely “pure” about the #ownvoices thing that is super problematic too, I think. For one thing, I think it says that minority culture is “alien” to anyone outside it and I just??? Don’t be like that! I’m part of several minorities and I don’t feel like that! We’re all understandable! I don’t want to dimish how important ownvoices is, though, because there are things you’ll NEVER understand unless you live it. (So sooo much so.) But like my favourite book about autism is not written by an autistic author. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ We gotta let people read and learn and enjoy and grow.
My room is absolutely in a jungle. There are just flowers and vines and me with books and a rainbow jumper springing out of the wild. *nods* Sometimes I swing in on vines too, shouting a Tarzan song.
Exactly! Sometimes people not in specific situations can write a story better from a minority’ s perspective than a person on a minority. Which is weird. And wozard-like.
HAH KNEW IT!
I might have to do this tag because I love answering bookish questions. I totally agree with your “best” and “worst” of the book community. The community is amazingly supportive, but I don’t like when people bully each other into talking about their personal lives. Your bookshelf is so pretty! Someday, I’m going to have an awesome bookshelf. That’s basically my only goal in life.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Countries Where More Books Should Be Set
Ahh I hope you do it, I’d love to read your answers! And ugh yes to the bullying….it’s like we forget books are art, meant to be interpreted differently and enjoyed differently. But most bloggers/bookworms are super nice here so that makes it better. <3
I checked my library to see if I could put on hold the first book in The Raven Cycle series… and they have books two, three, and four, but noooooo of course they don’t have book ONE. What is this madness.
I just finished the Bliss trilogy, which I enjoyed because it’s all about FOOD. It’s magic food. So that’s super fun.
WHAT. HOW DARE THEY NOT HAVE BOOK 1 WHAT IS THIS LIFE. *cries*
Caiiitttt, your bookshelf is goals! Any idea of a series you can do is a ‘Bookshelf Tour’ because all of your readers want to see one haha!
It’s like every single time i come to your blog, there’s a new book that i need to read. I’ve heard SO MUCH about The Raven Cycle from you that i feel so bad everytime you mention it – i still haven’t read it. Honestly though, the reason i’ve avoided it is because i wasn’t a fan of Shiver! But i’ll look into the Raven Cycle 🙂
The books that definitely started my reading habits as a kid were Peter Pan and Robinson Crusoe! I was the BIGGEST FAN, and still dream of a time when i’l end up stranded on an island to use the survival skills i’ve learnt 🙂
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Aww thANK YOU!! And I have done bookshelf tours in the past, but not recently, so I should probably do that right?!😂I love my shelf so much haha.
Eeep, The Raven Cycle is like THE series of my heart!! I will try not to eat you if you don’t like it though. Just don’t tell me.😂
Omg Peter Pan is amazing. <3
Eeeep! Loved this tag and I think I might just do it myself if you don’t mind!?
I am currently reading Harry Potter and the PoA (working my way through the series again!), On Wings of Eagles by Ken Follet aaannnnnnddd also Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. LOL Because I am 100% all over the place and must lay myself out over every genre in existence!
Rachael @ This Westgate recently posted…The incredibly belated 24 hour #readathonbyzoe play-by-play mayhem
Yes yes! Any and all are tagged, go for it!😂 Ahh Miss Peregrine’s has such weird and cool photos right?! And hey this just means you have a super well-rounded book diet.😂
Currently reading The Coldest Girl in Coldtown (enjoying it) An Artist of the Floating World (v. v. good) and an ARC of a books that’s coming soon that you might have heard of. I hear it’s got a lot of music in it. And cake.
Best: I just like having people to discuss books with.
Worst: second-guessing my own reading tastes – “I read this book and I liked it but this person didn’t, am I wrong?” (which is a stupid attitude, me)
And I’ve never read The Raven Cycle don’t disown me.
Fiona recently posted…A Review of Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Ahh I love HOlly Black! She’s SUCH a good writing and how have I not heard of this An Artist of the Floating World yet?!? Music and cake is so so meeee.😂
AGh the second-guessing is scary too for sure! Sometimes I read a negative review of a book I loved and I’m like “How did I not notice all this stuff.”😂
*piles the Raven Cycle on your head until you read it*
Ah, An Artist of the Floating World is adult novel that has been published for… 30 years? The ARC I have that you might have heard of is… A Thousand Perfect Notes.
OHHHH I misread your comment. I’M SO EMBARRASSED. *laughs and then crawls into a hole to live forever*
I HAVE heard that A Thousand Perfect Notes is an okay story…like meh just barely okayyyy. 😂😂😂
I’m currently reading the Heroes of Olympus and I’m on book two. Normally, I would have picked up something in-between book 1&2 but this series is so gripping! I want to find out what happens right NOW.
Oh, I also read Obsidio this last week and I am dead. Dead. Dead. The Illuminae Files are so good! But they kill me.
You did Sonlight?!?!?!?! I was always so jealous because my best friend did Sonlight and had so many more books! I borrowed books from her ALL the TIME. I mean, I had an alright library but not near as great as my Sonlight friend. I just kept rereading Anne of Green Gables and she had all these new books.
*hides because I still haven’t started the Raven Cycle*
AHH I love that series!! I read them all too fast though and kind of got all the books tangled.😂 I have no idea which plot happens in which book but HEY. They’re still great! And omg Obsidio…my copy is only just shipped and I am NERVOUS.
YAS SONLIGHT WAS AMAZING! Best way to do school honestly. When reading is a huge part of your work…life is just great.😂 We also had the most amazing library because of it!
Ah, yes, the Tragic Queer. A trope that needs to go die. Along with Token Minority, Ace-Spec Villain, Predatory Lesbian, and Cheating Bi. Honestly unless your tropes about queer people are something along the lines of Asexual People are Obsessed With Dragons (we are), I’d say throw that trope far, far away.
And I totally agree with you about the policing thing. Like, yes, I understand there are some very problematic books that should not have gotten a green light. I’m a firm believer in recognizing problematic stuff in your favorite thing. But I also think that some people take it way too far. Do I think that It’s Not Like It’s a Secret have some huge problems with the lesbian/wlw rep? I do. Am I going to go after people who like it? No, of course not. If you’re calling out an author for being super racist? Go for it, and I’ll have your back. If you’re saying hey, this needs to be a bit more intersectional? I’m totally with you on that. But I don’t think people should be going after people for what they read and enjoy.
So so many lgbt+ tropes need to die, let’s be real. I posted that update of Iron Gold on twitter and had people actually defending to me why it was okay…and I’m just??? If authors don’t know enough about stereotypes and problematic tendencies with a minority group: DON’T WRITE ABOUT IT. (Also there are only ever queer males, so yeah.) I think tragic queer tropes can be done by queer authors, because it’s their story?? But anyone else proooobably should stop.
And YES, there are problematic issues that should be called out for sure! (Have you seen the book called Slave Day coming out?? I believe it’s by a white author and it *sounds* like a white character is teaching the black character about slavery. Holy wow. I might be wrong, but that’s what I heard.)
I was really upset when I saw people boycotting Love Simon because Becky is straight and I’m just???? That movie has meant so much to so many queers. It’s this “purity of ownvoices” culture that can be so poisonous! Like even for me, my favourite book about the minorities I’m part of hasn’t been by an ownvoices author! I think #ownvoices is SUPER important and will never stop being the #1 place we should turn to…but telling people not to write outside their little bubble is actually saying minorities are too alien to understand. We’re nooooot. *cries* We are all people too.
First, let me repeat my comment that Bloglovin didn’t let me post because for some reason they can’t format your posts correctly right now (grrrr… and if this ends up a duplicate, feel free to delete one of them).
This post is adorable! I love it! And I 1000000000% agree with you on the policing culture! Books are for enjoyment. If you don’t enjoy it, don’t read it, but don’t tell me I can’t read it!
And I seriously promise that I will finally read The Raven Cycle this year… really and truly. Book one is on my current TBR as soon as I finish the Artemis Fowl series.
Michelle @ Life Among the Pages recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday~ International Settings
Ugh I’m sorry Bloglovin shows my posts weirdly!? I Don’t know how to fix that honestly… *cries*
But I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!! Books should be for our enjoyment and happiness and less of everyone being angry. I mean, for goodness sakes, we don’t all start yelling about what kind of hot drinks we like, right?! Imagine if people were as rude to each other over tea as bookworms can be. Sooo weird. hehe.
PLS READ THE RAVEN CYCLE. IT’LL MAKE MY LIFE.😂
I enjoyed the post, and what exactly was so bad about The Knife Of Never Letting Go? Worst book I’ve ever read would probably be The Sun Is Also A Star. I stopped after
-Very depressed immigration office worker needs human company.
-Sees an MC’s phone case..it’s for an album.
-Listens to song, decides it’s such a great song, and almost kills herself.
Have you read it?
I’ve never read The Raven Boys but I will soon. Soon…once I escape my ever-growing TBR..
Oh and I’m currently reading Felix Yz and it’s a great great great great book about a boy who is fused with an alien. You MUST read it.
Haha The Knife of Never Letting Go is really AMAZING 😂 I’m just whining because they killed off my favourite character and it HURT. Worst fictional death I’ve experienced I think?! Hehe. (Also I really hated The Sun is Also A Star. I found the whole thing tacky and pretentious. :P)
Omg I just realised we might be the same person-
Stabby historical fiction
Homeschooling
Sonlight
Ranger’s Apprentice
Narnia
Awk penguin
Hahahaha
HELLO MY NEW TWIN, IT’S SO NICE TO MEET YOU.😂😂
This is fun! I am currently reading Fatal Throne! And I must say, I love it a lot. I think it won’t necessarily be for everyone, but it is my kind of book 100% and I am sad that I am almost done and I haven’t felt that way about a book in quite some time, so. Totally agree with you on the best and worst parts of the community! The policing IS ridiculous, but then the majority of people are so super supportive. I didn’t read your Raven Cycle section because I ummm still have two books left to read and I was scared of spoilers? One of these days, promise! Also I think people who eat near books are deranged. My mom got something on my Thunderhead and I almost had to execute my own mother- I was like “what were you THINKING!?” and do you know what she said Cait? She said “it’s just a book”. And then I died, I actually died.
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…Bookish Globetrotting
Omg Fatal Throne is a fantastic title and now I think my life is strangely devoid of it and this is weird??? Why haven’t I heard of it before Shannon?! I NEED IT.😂
And yes! I do think the majority of people are GREAT online, and most of the crappiest policing just goes down on twitter. Unfortunately I am addicted to twitter though and see too much. (I need to log off sometimes…*Gasp*)
That’s okay about skipping my TRC section! I probably should’ve put a spoiler warning there I’M SO SORRY. I hope I didn’t wreck anything for you!!
Omg just a book…do you need to look for a new parent? Maybe etsy will have some. Smh. How do you survive this.
I’m currently reading The fitzOsbornes in Exile, which is as perfect as ever, and The Year of Reading Dangerously, which is like to bok blog of a 39 year old man and quite fun. I think the best part of the book commenity is that you obsessions don’t feel niche or odd when you share them, and the worst thing is the populism, where popular is used to mean good, and the way the online community works people tend towards extreme views and don’t walk the middle ground. idk i think the ending of the raven cycle sorta ruined the whole thing for them (I was annoyed with how the prophecy of death played out) but i LOVE LOVE LOVE the toga party. And anything with henry to be honest.
Shanti recently posted…The Last Beginning review
I caaaan’t do anything negative to my precious Raven Boys.😂😂 *feeds you cake so you don’t say you didn’t like the end* 😂😂 (JUST KIDDING I WILL NOT HOUND YOU BUT I THINK THE WHOLE THING WAS FREAKING AMAZINGLY PERFECT.)
Also I agree that just being able to be wild about books without judgement is great here! I love it so much!
I wish I had a bookcase… one shelf of my built-in cupboard is not really the best storage space. The books are three deep and also have stacks on top of that. Any advice?? (I’ve already considered taking over half the shelf where my clothes are, because I can only wear one set at once and books are obviously more important…)
Also, a question: Do you keep A Thousand Perfect Notes on your bookshelf (cover facing out, of course), or somewhere else? Do you keep it somewhere close + visible so you can see it randomly throughout the day and think “wOW I DID A THING”?? [I would?]
(Narnia! Ranger’s Apprentice! Tintin! And now you’ve brought back memories of “social visits” to other families’ houses where I just found the bookshelf and a poorly-lit nook and hid. Good times.)
Honestly my biggest advice for bookshelves is to get rid of your family so you can fit more in. *nods solemly* I’m trying to do this myself but my family is rEALLY hard to squish out the door?? It’s like they think they have rights or something. Smh. It’s books, people, books before everything.
(And yes😂 I do have a copy of ATPN in my red section and I have my extra copy on the top so I can stare at it and go: “IS THIS REAL.” 😂😂
Ahhh I’m so glad we had the same childhood-antisocial-book-tastes. *hi fives*
Currently reading Sabriel by Garth Nix. (Think you might know why…)
I ALSO don’t like reading while I’m eating. The book needs to be neat for ruddy sakes.
I like the graphics in this tag. Really nice.
Omg I need to read Sabriel before Shanti eats me.😂😂 (And YES clean books are good?! Also I get crumbs everywhere and this is not okay.)
Glad you like the graphics!! I felt like switching things up haha.
Your bookshelf is my inspiration! Best part of the online book community would be all the book recommendations. I don’t know how I used to find excellent books before, but I remember having a hard time. The most difficult part for is sorting through the plethora of recommendations and blogs and book bloggers and how do I even find anything in common with all the opinions out there?! Still not sure how I discovered my favorite bloggers…
Glad you had fun with this tag!
Azelyn Klein recently posted…The Bookish Q&A Tag
(Thanks so much for tagging me haha! It was a lot of fun!)
And yes, omg the recommendations…I used to not even have a huge TBR pile before I started blogging.😂Now it’s just WILD. Everyone gives such good recs?!? *flails about trying to read them all*
#4 was just a delight to read. brb gonna go reread the whole Raven Cycle series.
*slams fist on the table* AND THE AWARD FOR BEST COMMENT GOES TO YOU.
Ugh, yes, policing culture drives me CRAZY. Read what you and write what you want and everything will be okay. Obviously everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but as soon as someone tells me what to do or think, I get so irrationally angry because I have a stubborn streak that refuses to die. xD
I’m currently reading the second Wires and Nerve graphic novel, and I don’t like it as much as the first one, but it is fun to reconnect with all of my favorite characters from the series!
Kate @ The Magic Violinist recently posted…Childhood Book Tag (Let the Nostalgia Begin!)
Ugh I know right?! I get so angry too…like when people say “you should reread this and maybe you’ll appreciate it more this time” And I’m like BACK OFF MATEY. I WILL READ AND THINK WHAT I WANT. I just don’t even understand at all this idea that you can tell someone what to feel?! What world is this. Smh. (Although I’m seeing actual authors on twitter policing who should read/review their books…or who gets to write what and it makes me so sad. Books are for everyone.)
Oh I do want to read that Wires and Nerve sometime too!! I wish I had a library.😂
HI CAIT HI CAIT HI CAIT WE HAVEN’T TAlKED FOR A WHILE (because I am a procrastinating uni student, apparently). I’ve only read a few books in the last few weeks but I do have some recommendations! I’m currently reading The Bread We Eat In Dreams which is by the author of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland… but it’s kind of adult and magical realism and it’s a short story collection which is good for those who have short attention spans like myself and there’s poetry and it’s mind bendy and I’m really enjoying it. It might be your thing?? I’ve also been reading E. Lockhat’s older novels (the boyfriend list series) which were actually quite enjoyable and #relatable and more feminist than I remember)
hahaha that homeschooling life. I read So MUCH in the 4 or so years that I homeschooled, and late some of our friends who did Sonlight gave us these books they had and some of them were really good but also a tad on the depressing edge of things.
Anyway, maybe I’ll have the time for more blogging while I have a break but your posts are quality as always and there is no such thing as too many bookshelves.
Shar@Virtually Read recently posted…Talking To My Daughter About the Economy// I’m an economist now I’ve read this, right?
SHAR!! I’M SO GLAD THE UNI LIFE HASN’T EATEN YOU!!! Also The Bread We Eat In Dreams is 100% going to be the title of my life (except I want to eat bread in reality too) and I keep meaning to read The Girl Who but also put it off because the title is so long I get tired. :’)
Omg Sonlight had so many depressing books in it right?!😂 (Also how did I not realise you homeschooled for a bit?! That’s awesome!) My mum looks at me now and is like “why are you writing such dark stuff” and I’m like “DO YOU NOT REMEMBER SONLIGHT AND ALL THOSE BOOKS”. Some of them were pretty dark for middle-grade!!
(Aww thank you for saying my blog is quality. <3 <3 😂)
I’m reading The Cruel Prince (finally) and I’m loving it. Cardan is so complicated and Locke… I don’t know what to feel about him. I’m a flattened pancake here. Also, I’m reading HP and the Half-blood Prince for the third time and unexpectedly, I’m an emotional wreck again. OH DUMBLEDORE 😭😭😭
The thing I dislike about the online book community are the reviews. I avoid reading reviews before I read a book because the negative reviews discourage me to read and I hate the feeling. I don’t like to judge a book before reading it. No one tells me what to read and what not to read. I decide for myself.
Please don’t kill me but I haven’t read The Raven Cycle yet. BUT I PROMISE I WILL. I already have the books. I’m gonna read them this month I swear.
THE CRUEL PRINCE IS THE ACTUAL BEST THING *screams softly* everyone is awful and Slytherin in the best possible way and just ahhh!!HHH!!! I need the sequel though. So badly. *cries while waits*
And that’s true about negative reviews! Although I tend to read them from people I know whose opinions are close to mine usually? And then I can avoid a book I probably won’t like. But I HATE reading negative reviews of my favourite books.😂I just get mad haha.
*quietly piles the Raven Cycle on your head*
I JUST FINISHED THE CRUEL PRINCE AND I JUST CAN’T HELP SCREAMING. GUESS WHAT? I’M NOW PAGE ONE OF THE RAVEN BOYS SO BE PROUD OF ME. I HOPE I’LL LOVE IT AS MUCH AS YOU DO.
I’M SO PROUD OF YOU. NOW THE ONLY THING LEFT IS TO LOVE THE RAVEN BOYS 10000% OR I’LL EAT YOU.
(Juuuust kidding.😂😂No pressure.)
IT’S INTERESTING. CAN’T WAIT TO MEET THE RAVEN BOYS. I started reading All The Crooked Saints but I thought Stiefvater’s writing style is not for me. Now I know I’m wrong. So so wrong.
Lovely post as always, Cait! Twas very entertaining to read. 😉 I was OBSESSED with the Boxcar Children around the ages of 7-9, too! My library had an endless selection of them and I read dozens. (And never wondered how they were the same age for so many years…) Right now I’m reading The Sun is Also a Star (by Nicola Yoon), and I’m not far in yet but I’m liking it! It’s a little fluffy, but I do love a fluffy contemporary every once in a while. And I don’t know if you’ve read it, but I’m loving Daniel (the love interest)….
AHhhaha YES the Boxcar Children are the most magical.😂 Endless summers where they never grow up? (And how the heck did they even find all those mysteries.😂)
And yay for fluffy! I usually don’t like fluff, but I’m finding myself really enjoying it?! It’s a nice break from the super stressful books I read haha.
I’m currently reading Hero At The Fall, enjoying it so far. The people are definitely the best part of the online book community, I only have a couple of people I can flail about books with in my real life so it was nice to find a entire community who loves the same thing that I do and won’t tell me I’m going on about it too much! I love the Murder Squash song, oh and the bit I think in Blue Lily, Lily Blue where Blue tells a guy off for harassing her. And when they all come to the court to support Adam against his father. The policing culture is definitely getting a bit too much, like you can barely even say you like a book anymore before everyone is telling you what’s wrong with it!
Jo recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #152
oh I’m glad you’re liking Hero At The Fall (I think that cover is the most gorgeous of the series ahh!!) I still need to read it though oops. I’m always behind.😂
And YES. I love just having the community to be as intensely in love with books as I am. <3
omg the Murder Squash song is BEST. Especially how Ronan was like getting the tee-shirt and everything and Adam/Gansey were so so tired.😂
The policing culture is spoiling a lot for me. 😭😭
I’m currently not reading anything because I just finished Everless a couple days ago, so I’m still trying to find my next read. I’m planning on reading Six of Crows and To Kill A kingdom soon though. I have SoC on hold, but it’s not available for another 16 days, so I’ll have to find some other books while I’m waiting.
I do have a used-book store near me and I could try to see if they have it so I can read it sooner. The bookstore also gives some of its proceeds to the local library so that’s really nice, because I’m so grateful to libraries since I get 99.99% of all the books I read from there. And sonlight sounds interesting 😂. I’ve also always loved to read, except no one really filled my house with books when I was younger, lol (instead everyone’s just yelling at me to ~stop~ reading *cries*). But what got me into the habit of reading was, I *think* Legend, because I remember in 7th grade when I was 11-12 yrs old, one of my friends was reading it and I also wanted to try it out (so grateful to that friend) and just fell in love with YA. But I think that I got really the constant reading spiral when I was 13ish and started reading book blogs and joined goodreads and just wow my TBR pile grew from like 12 books to hundreds of them. It’s actually kind of traumatic because I have such little time to read with school happening, and I can feel the glares from my TBR.
I kind of avoid the worse parts of the book community because I like my conflict fictional, thank you very much. I do think the discussions that take place are very important, but it becomes unhelpful when those conversations turn more into quarrels than something to contemplate and discuss.
But for the most part, the book community is amazing and I really love having people to gush about books with. Speaking of gushing about books, one of my favourite moments in The Raven Cycle was when Ronan started mimicking Blue when she first meets them Nino’s. It was hilarious and also weirdly stuck out in my memory for some reason lol.
Ps- I’m really loving that style of black-and-white maps, and then boom! COLOUR GALORE.
Honestly deciding one’s next read is half the hardest part.😂But I looove Six of Crows so I’m hoping you do too! (And really want to read To Kill A Kingdom but I don’t have a copy yet whoops.)
Ah I loved hearing about your spiralling demise into books! I MEAN WAIT.😂 Your glorious introduction to the bookworm world.😂 Legend is also awesome and I really got obsessed with YA from dystopian too so *hi fives* for our tastes in books.
Omg you “Like your conflict fictional” tHAT IS THE BEST.😂 That is the moral I want to live by too tbh. And I agree, I think the discussions are always important BUT not always discussed in a good or helpful way?
afjsdkafd everything about the Raven Cycle is perfect I AM IN LOVE WITH IT ALL.
Yup 😂 I think most of us got really into dystopias at first (but then got burnt out for genre for the next 12536 years lolol).
Ahhh I just finished To Kill a Kingdom and it’s wonderfully dark and hilarious. Everyone was glaring and sneering and making flippant remarks at very inappropriate moments. It didn’t even focus on romance, and I’m so delightfuly surprised. It was glorious and IT DESERVES ALL THE STARS.
I’m reading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke right now. It’s good! For some reason it’s really slow, though. I’ve been reading it for weeks and I’m still only 2/3 through, which is weird since I usually read books in 3 days. I love that there IS a online bookworm community, because then you can still connect and fangirl with other readers, even if you’re too introverted to go outside and your family thinks your’e crazy XD My least favourite part is that there are so many awesome bookish blogs, but they only have like 14 followers each because there are almost too many for everyone to keep up with =( I’ve only read the Raven Boys, but I really like the bit when Blue goes into the tree and sees the “future”. There’s just a really nice description of the rain on the road reflecting the streetlights. XD
Off topic: You have your blog button at the bottom of this page. Can I just take it and put it on my blog?
Oh I found the same with Inkheart😂 I really love it but it took me foreeever to read and I still haven’t read the sequels whoops.
And omg AGREED. I love having bookworm flailing fangirl friends, even though in real life I’m quite shy.😂 And also no one loves books like I do for people I know?! The internet is amazing.
(And of COURSE. I’d love if you take my button! Thank you!)
Cool! Thanks.
I love your answers, haha!
I’m currently reading Children of Blood and Bone and I love it so far but I’m at home now and have read 3 chapters in total for the last 3 days XD *crying*
I also got 7 new books… Where did my money go???
Th thing I don’t really like about the community has more to do with the practical stuff. I mean, sometimes I feel like I have to spend more time online, trying to get my blog (and bookstagram) “out there” rather than actually read. It’s kinda like choosing to have readers but no content (cuz no reading = no reviews) or to have a lot of content but no readers … XD
(I also know that reviews aren’t the only type of post BUT I’ve never felt comfortable with only bookish posts and no reviews but I’m too lazy to translate some of my old ones and I’m a slow reader…)
So, enough with the rants, my favourite part of the community is also the people but I love the books more XD XD I just love almost everything about it. (Let’s pretend that I make sense.)
Oh I loved Children of Blood and Bone too! Although it took me forever to finish it as well.😂 It’s huge!
I do relate to that too tbh *nods* Like it feels weird to spend more time blogging than reading when we’re BOOK bloggers??! But it happens to me too. Haha.
Wait, WHATTT?!?!?!?! You were HOMESCHOOLED?!? Using SONLIGHT?!?!?
MMEEE TOOOOOO!!!!
Okay, that kind of made my day. *quickly checkes the time* I mean. Night.
Anyhow, lovely post, as always, love it all! XD
AHHH HELLO FELLOW SONLIGHTER!! *hi fives across the planets* 😂 Honestly it was the best way to homeschool, 10/10 for the fact I got to read so much.😂
First of all, amen, sister to #10.
Currently reading Stephanie Garber’s LEGENDARY. I’m at 46%, and am enthralled.
Omg so lucky!! I’m absolutely hugely excited for it! *flails*
Your posts always make me smile!
AWW THIS MAKES ME HAPPY TOO!
Honestly the worst part of the book community is the hype. If a book is super hyped then I won’t want to read it for fear that I won’t like it (especially if I’ve read the synopsis and don’t think I will) and then sometimes people hate books I like and all that.
(ALSO SONLIGHT FOR THE WIN. THAT IS WHY I READ SO MUCH TOO)
(SONLIGHT IS GREAT. LOOK AT US GO.)
And I actually like hype haha! It’s like one big internet-wide book club!
Great tag! I had to skip over you favorite Raven Cycle scenes because of possible spoilers. I haven’t finished that series yet.
I’m totally with you about planning next reads. I might have something stacked to read then get an impulse to go in an entirely different direction. Or have just finished something completely EPIC and need to cleanse the palate with something super easy thus rebooting my emotional self before delving into the next one.
Most of my books (unless I received/bought them second hand) look brand new. I’ve mastered the art of reading without breaking the spine while reading and eating lunch. There are a few exceptions; the one I am currently reading is a compilation of Victorian ghost stories. It’s 500 pages and is starting to look less and less pristine – I am slightly disappointed in myself, but another part of me just wants to finish the book!
Oooh yeah I should’ve said “potential spoilers” before the Raven Cycle answer.😂 Although they were probably all vague enough not to be TOO spoilery, but fair enough!!
And uUGH WHY IS MAKING DECISIONS SO HARD. *has a crisis*
I also love reading without making the books look used. My biggest problem however is the weather where I live.😂 It gets so humid that all my books curl even though I’m trying to keep them nice?!
Ah, humidity. It is a challenge.
I loooove the graphics for this post!
I used to read whenever I ate (except dinner/at school), back when I didn’t think twice about spilling on books. I’m definitely not coordinated, either. 😂
I used to not care about books so much when they were library books?! And now I feel like a TOTAL monster for all the childhood library books I got crumbs all over (there was one that got a bit of lasagna spattering 😭😭).
hi Cait! What a great tag. I’m currently reading Eragon and Idk what to feel about it, the writing is…like…old…? But a like some things…, there are DRAGONS and that’s the important thing. The best thing of blogging and talking to other bookish people is that I don’t feel alone anymore, and the worst thing… I think the same as you do. I haven’t read the Raven Cycle and I feel so miserable *cries*
Ohh I still need to read Eragon but kind of am unenthused haha. 😂 It is kind of old right? Omg it’d be nearing 10 years! Also *scoots The Raven Cycle closer to you* HINT HINT.😂😂
I think I’ll do this tag on my blog too because it’s so fun!
Ronan throwing Noah out of the window doesn’t get erased easily in my brain. That scene was gold.
I actually don’t eat either when I read! Once, I was reading a book I borrowed from my father and I noticed a stain of chocolate, so I was kind of terrified.
Yayy I will look forward to reading it! And Ronan and Noah and that window = ICONIC. I usually forget book scenes so fast, but I swear I remember so much of The Raven Cycle.😂No shh shh I’m definitely not obsessed.😂
Not sure how I missed this post but hey, I’m here now!! I did Sonlight for so many years and I 100% attribute my love of reading and writing (and, specifically, historical fiction) to Sonlight. Good times. And on an unrelated (maybe related?) note, it took me years, but I’ve finally mastered the art of holding my book with my left hand and eating with my right hand–which I personally think is quite a feat, considering that I’m left-handed. Plus I get so much more reading done now that I can read during breakfast and lunch every day!
YES! Such good times! I blame sonlight for why I started writing too…just being surrounded by books all the time, it’s kind of inevitable to want to start them too?!😂 Also I bow to your multitasking skills. That is a grand thing of wizardry.😂
what’s the policing culture? i haven’t heard of it.
I summarised it in the post right there.