End of the Year | Book Tag

It's officially Fall! *throws leaves into the air*

Even though it's still 80 degrees outside and humid as all get out in the southern US, it's still technically fall, which means being stressed from school and being stressed because I've completed none of my reading resolutions for the year.

This tag was originally created by Ariel Bisset, and I'm a little bit in love with it. (And, true to form, I have more than one answer to almost every question.)

THE QUESTIONS

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

• THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY: Nothing says my aesthetic like true crime and serial killers. I must have watched too much CSI as a child (shoutout to my mom) and have always been fascinated by murder and serial killers. I always make my way so slowly through nonfiction, but this is genuinely so interesting.
• WELCOME HOME: This is an anthology all about adoption. The reason I haven't finished this one is due to the sheer amount of stories in this collection. So naturally, there are a few that I wasn't a huge fan of, but I think this is just me discovering that I don't really enjoy anthologies. 
• JURASSIC PARK: Jurassic Park is one of (if not my all-time) favorite movies. I got about halfway through the book this summer and just . . . quit for unexplained reasons. I was really loving it, but I think it's just so similar to the movie that I was wondering why I was reading it. But I must finish it.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

• IF WE WERE VILLAINS: This award actually goes to the book that I'm currently reading, which is M.L. Rio's debut novel. This is a literary fiction/thriller book about a group of seven friends that all go to this pretentious Shakespeare-only drama college in the Midwest. It's okay. I thought I'd love it more than I am, but perhaps it gets better. It does give off very autumnal-esk vibes because it does take place in the fall, but it doesn't read like most thrillers where you're constantly wondering what's happening because the narrator knows what happened. It's interesting, and I'm curious to see how it ends.

Is there a new release you're still waiting for?

OCT. 3 RELEASES

• THAT INEVITABLE VICTORIAN THING: I don't know much about this book, but with E.K. Johnston, that cover, and Victorian I don't want to know anything before going into this one.
• FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW: I am a huge Star Wars nerd. I love the movies, the comics, the books, everything. This has so many amazing authors attached to this, and I'm so excited to read this before the movie releases.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

• MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS: This movie comes out fairly soon, and despite my skepticism around Johnny Depp, there are so many other amazing names attached to that movie that my dislike of him will just have to be pushed aside for the sake of Daisy Ridley, Josh Gad, and Leslie Odom Jr.
• WILD BEAUTY: Bisexual latinx main character, beautiful cover, latinx author. I do not need to know anything else.
• SIEGE AND STORM: This was going to be pushed to my 2018 TBR, but with the announcement of the Nikolai book, I need to read this book ASAP.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

• THE POWER: This is blurbed by Margaret Atwood? And it's supposed to be a very interesting and thought-provoking look at the patriarchy and feminism. I just got my copy of this, and I'm so excited to dive into it.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2018?

• No official reading plans, but a goal from this year that I will logistically never finish is that I wanted to read all the books I got in my Book of the Month boxes. I want to carry that over to next year and continue making my through all the books I have left on that list.

And that's it! What fun. So, so many books to read before the end of the year. Have you read any of these? If you have, be sure to tell me what you thought of them down in the comments. And be sure to tell me the books you're excited to read in the last few months of 2017 so that I can make my TBR longer.

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My Life in Books | Tag

I saw this tag on Lauren @ Bookmark Lit's blog and, being a starved-for-ideas college student, wanted to do this tag. This tag was so much fun. I couldn't find the original tag, but I loved the questions and had to do it for myself.

Find a book for each of your initials:

M | Missoula by Jon Krakauer

G | Giant Days by John Allison

W | When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

I wanted to pick some books that I have actually read and liked because this is my name, the essence of my physical person. Picking a book for G was easy, but there are not enough books that start with M and W. 

Count your age along your bookshelf. What book is it?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower | I actually just bought this from a local used bookstore because I've wanted to reread this for some time. I loved this book when I read it absolutely ages ago and (controversial opinion) don't really like the movie (except Ezra Miller, he's a gem). This is probably the first book I ever read with queer characters, so it has a special place in my heart.

Pick a book set in your city/state.

Dress Codes for Small Towns | There are not a lot of books that take place in Tennessee, much less Nashville-area, Middle Tennessee so this one was actually pretty difficult. Most of Dress Codes takes place in a small town in Kentucky, but there are a couple of points in this book when the group will drive down to Nashville. I'm counting it.

Pick a book that represents a destination you'd love to visit.

The Shadow of the Wind | SPAIN. BARCELONA. I haven't read this book, but it takes place in 1940s Spain, and there is nowhere I'd rather travel in the entire world than Spain so that I can put my in-progress Spanish degree to work.

Pick a book that's your favorite color.

Exit West | Like most adults, I don't have a singular favorite color. I like black, but that's not a very fun answer. So, I picked Exit West which has some of my favorite hues of blue and also has some beautiful typography.

Which book do you have the fondest memories of?

The Invention of Hugo Cabret | In middle school, I was the nerd that volunteered to work in the school library and shelve books during our ''homeroom period" because it combined a few of my favorite things: books and being relatively alone. At the end of the year, all of the student volunteers got to skip class and hang out and eat in the library. The librarians surprised us all with brand new copies of this book. It was the first time I ever remember being properly gifted a book, bow and all, and I read it four times in a row because I loved it so much.

Which book did you have the most difficulty reading?

The Scarlet Letter | The Puritans are not the most exciting people, nor is it the most exciting period in American history. This is a book I had to read for a class in high school and, admittedly, the only book I never fully finished for a class.

Which book on your TBR pile will give you the biggest sense of accomplishment when you finish it?

Anna Karenina | Not only is this book massive in page count, but also in density because it's a novel by a Russian author with so much Russian political and cultural influences and references. I've started this book a few times now, but always stop about 100 pages in because I have the attention of a squirrel and get distracted by new, shiny books.

Have you done this tag? Tell me down in the comments your favorite book that starts with one of your initials!

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The Most Magical Book Tag | Harry Potter Spells

Accio: the summoning charm. An upcoming release you cannot wait to get your hands on.

I have a ridiculous amount of love for Jay Kristoff and I would basically give you my left arm for this book.

Alohamora: the unlocking charm. Favorite series starter.

Clockwork Angel is a fantastic first book in a series. While the second book is by far my favorite, and the third definitely is my least favorite, Clockwork Angel is the happy medium of this trilogy that made me feel so many things.

Cheering Charm. A book that gave you all the warm fuzzies.

So many feelings. Cute dogs. Cute boy. Cute friendship. Cute story. Cute, cute, cute.

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Aguamenti: the water-making spell. A book that made you ugly cry.

Do I need to explain this? Do I really?

Expecto Patronum: the patronus charm. A bookish hero/ine you'd want around to protect you in real life.

Rhysand. Azriel. Cassian. Any of the bastard Illyrian warriors will do just fine, thank you. I'll take one, or them all.

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Lumos: creates light. A book you intentionally spoiled yourself for.

I would hardly call it "spoiling myself" when what I went searching for wasn't really explained at all anyway. I watched spoilery book reviews on YouTube about halfway through the book because I couldn't take not understanding why Emma and Julian couldn't fall in love other than "it's the law."

I basically spent 500 pages doing a horrible Magnus impression every time someone said "The law is hard, but it is the law." Because, let's be real, the Blackthorne family motto is "A bad law is no law" so . . .

Imperio: the imperius curse. A book you wish you could make everyone read.

   

Two very important books--a YA fiction and a non-fiction--on rape culture and rape cases. If you're looking for information and well-written books.

Engorgio: engorgement charm. A book series you wish never ended.

Technically, yes, this is cheating because it isn't a series. However, it totally should be a series. There are zero books, save for Harry Potter (but that's basically cheating with this tag), that I wish never ended. (Plus, we're getting Cursed Child and the Fantastic Beasts screenplay/movie, so it's not really over.)

Wingardium Leviosa: levitation charm. A book with an uplifting mood or message.

Oh, look, another Rainbow Rowell book. What a surprise! (Not.) This book is so feel-good and beyond relatable. I'm here for it.

Obliviate: memory charm. A book you wish you could forget you ever read.

Another question that I don't really like because, well, even though I've read some pretty horrible books in my time, there are none that I wish I hadn't read. I will say, however, that The Circle by Dave Eggers is the worst book I've read in my entire life. I don't recommend reading it, even if you are a dystopia/utopia lover.

Anapneo: clears the target's airways. An author whose books always get you out of a slump.

Now, I've only read one of Sophie Kinsella's books, but it was amazing. It was especially great as an audiobook, and I flew through it while in the middle of a chaotic first semester at college and work life. Top notch rom-com in a book. Highly recommend if you're feeling a slump coming on.

(Also, really any kind of audiobook will pull me out of an oncoming slump because usually when I'm in a slump it means I just don't want to physically read.)

Jelly Legs Jinx. A swoon-worthy hero/ine.

see also: Expecto Patronum

Why do you think I would want Illyrian warriors to protect me over people with magic? (A: They all happen to be very attractive.)

Arresto Momentum: slows down the target. A book that caused you to drop everything and read it.

I speed-read this series like it was no one's business. I got the first two at the same time from my library's overdrive, and when I finished Unravel Me, I immediately--and quite literally--dropped all of my plans and drove to Barnes and Noble (because it was like 8 PM, and my BN closed at 9 PM with a half an hour drive from my house to the store) to pick up Ignite Me, which my library didn't have immediately for check out.

Crucio: the cruciatus curse. A book that was painful to read.

I'm not finished with it yet, so put down your pitchforks. But there are so many grammatical errors and wrongly worded sentences/phrases that it's actually astounding that a copy editor didn't pick up on them.

Additionally, the lack of plot is also increddibly painful. (A parent dying of cancer is not a plot, I don't care what you say.)

Rictumsempra: the tickling charm. A book that made you laugh out loud.

This one of my all-time favorite books. And Mark Watney is one of the funniest characters that I've ever read. This book is so uplifting, but I wanted to save this book for this question because, man, Mark is funny and I've read very few truly hilarious characters in my time as a reader.

Expelliarmus: disarming charm. A book that made you want to send it flying.

As in I hated the ending and/or was generally frustrated with the book?

I actually threw this book on the ground when I was reading it, so while that is the opposite of flying it definitely fits the question. I stand by the fact that Clare took a cheap-shot, people-pleasing ending with this book. I do not like feeling manipulated (I mean, writers can make us feel for their characters, but this was just ridiculous.), and I think Clare took the easy way out rather than upsetting fans.

Portus: turns and object into a porkey. Bookish world you wish you could visit.

LET'S SEE HOW MANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER WITH ACOMAF. (There have been more; I'm actually holding back quite a bit.) But honestly, take me to Velaris (preferably after the events of this book) and I'll just live there forever. Thank you.

Stupefy: stunning spell. A book with a shocking twist or ending.

I'm going to start a movement. It's called "Let's Not Tell People Books That Have Plot Twists" because . . . oh, I don't know, then it ruins the shocking plot twist?

Avada Kadavra: the killing curse. A character death that destroyed you.

I'm going to start a movement. It's called "Let's Not Tell People Books That Have Shocking Character Deaths" because . . . oh, I don't know, then it ruins the impact of the character death?

Finite Incantatum: terminates all spells in the area. Best series conclusion.

Deathly Hallows has been and always will be the answer to this question.

Have you done this tag? No? *punches you in the chest* Well, now you're tagged! Share your answers with me down below! Also, let me know if you dis/agree with any of my answers!

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THE HAMILTON BOOK TAG

I have had this post ready since February, and I find it incredibly embarrassing that it is just now going up. Maureen created this tag absolutely ages ago, and I love Hamilton (obvs) so this is a necessity. I did a mix of the original ten questions and the bonus questions, cutting out those with incredible spoiler potential.

*all of these headers are edited by me, save the background (credit)*

Aside from the obvious Harry Potter answer, which would be my answer but everyone has that as their answer, I would say the world from Carry On--which is arguably the same thing--and one of the courts from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

While the world and magic in Carry On is really very similar to that of Harry Potter, I love how it is more integrated into the non-magical culture and how their magic is literally based upon common sayings and phrases. It just sounds like so much fun and I would love to be a part of it.

And as for ACOTAR, I would probably lean towards the Night Court because I am Rhysand trash because it sounds great and the types of powers (Did they have powers? It's been so long that I don't remember.) and the environment just sound so interesting.

(I would also like to be as far away from the Spring Court and Tamlin as humanly possible, so any other court will do.)

I've got to throw it back to TID for this one and say Charlotte Fairchild & Sophie Collins. These are two amazing, strong women who kick a lot more butt than Tessa and get a 1/4 of the page-time (is that the book equivalent to screen-time?) but 4x the amount of character development. I was constantly blown away by their strength and courage throughout the series, and they don't get enough credit for all the credit [they] gave us.*

*See what I did there? Do ya? Do ya?*

Homeboys went after what they wanted for sure. Victor and Eli are both fantastic characters who did everything, risked everything--literally, they risked their lives--to get what they wanted: superpowers. When I think of these two, I literally think of Burr and Hamilton. 

BURR: "You got more than you gave." 

HAMILTON: "And I wanted what I got. When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game, but you don't get to win unless you play in the game. Oh, you get love for it. You get hate for it. You get nothing if you wait for it, wait for it, wait! God help and forgive me, I want to build something that's gonna outlive me."

Tell me that doesn't perfectly describe Eli and Victor. Friends turned enemies. 

Did Victoria Schwab base these characters off A. Burr & A. Ham? Hmmmm.....

LOL. I have a few, but spoilers . . . so . . . no.

It has been ridiculously long since I've truly marathoned (something I'm hoping to remedy this summer with a few trilogies I have on hand) but my record for marathoning still rests with the Divergent trilogy, which I read in three days.

How is this a real question?

I HAVEN'T FINISHED THE RAVEN KING, BUT BLUE AND GANSEY WERE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER. I WILL FIGHT YOU ON IT.

It's been a while since I've read them, and I decided not to continue on with the "series" but the Selection series by Kiera Cass was such a guilty pleasure read for me when I was reading them. While I don't necessarily agree with the term "guilty pleasure" for these books, more like "relaxed reading" because I don't really have to think when I am reading these books.

Harry Potter is always the answer to this question. 

I have a couple of answers for this question.

1. Will and Jem from the Infernal Devices

2. Ronan and Gansey from The Raven Cycle

3. James and Sirius from the Harry Potter series

God, I was so late the the Shadowhunters universe. I read City of Bones late 2015 and then finished the rest of the series in the first few months of 2016. Likewise, I only read the Infernal Devices in 2015 as well.

Have any of you done this tag? Link it down below so that I read your answers!

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