Folks, the book slump is real. I haven’t seriously read in over a week. In an attempt to get out of it I picked up a short, tacky mystery involving cupcakes and coffee this morning in the hopes of at least finishing more than two paragraphs. It’s not working so well. Maybe I’ll try a tacky romance next. At least then I can make scoffing noises to amuse myself and annoy my cat.

Since I have very little book related to bring you today, I figured it was a perfect day for a tag! I found The Ultimate Book Tag with Zuky @ The Book Bum and thought I’d give it a shot.

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DO YOU GET SICK WHILE READING IN THE CAR?

Catastrophically. I can get car sick even while driving. It’s terrible. I talked to my mother about it not long ago and she said they couldn’t even leave the house when I was a baby because I’d get so car sick. Motion sickness is real folks…but roller coasters are still fun.

WHICH AUTHOR’S WRITING STYLE IS COMPLETELY UNIQUE TO YOU AND WHY?

Susan Wittig Albert. She wrote a series that revolved around Beatrix Potter’s life called The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter and I was enchanted by them. I usually like flashy stories. Things need to happen constantly to keep me entertained. However, Albert’s writing in these books kept me completely engrossed without the flash. The stories are carefully crafted with interesting characters, softly painted settings, and obvious attention to detail. They are simply lovely.

HARRY POTTER SERIES OR THE TWILIGHT SAGA? 

I have not so far, nor will I ever, read Twilight. The only vampire books I’ve ever read are Anne Rice’s because who can resist Lestat? I also took the sorting quiz for Pottermore this morning (I told you I was procrastinating reading) and got sorted into Ravenclaw which was a bit of a surprise.

DO YOU CARRY A BOOK BAG? IF SO, WHAT IS IN IT (BESIDES BOOKS)?

The only time I carry a specific bag for books is when I’m going to the library. Otherwise I just tuck a book into my purse and go on my merry way.

DO YOU SMELL YOUR BOOKS?

I did when I was younger but not anymore. I considered it one day not long ago and then started thinking about inhaling other people’s skin cells and slowly decomposing tree pulp. That put a damper on that book smell. Rory Gilmore would be so disappointed in me.

BOOKS WITH OR WITHOUT LITTLE ILLUSTRATIONS?

It really depends on what I’m reading. For some books it works to have a little illustration at the start of a chapter and in others it feels tacky and misplaced. If I had to make a definitive choice I’d say no illustrations unless I was reading a graphic novel.

WHAT BOOK DID YOU LOVE WHILE READING BUT DISCOVERED LATER IT WASN’T QUALITY WRITING?

24690 by A.A. Dark. Look, even while I was reading it I knew it wasn’t the traditional sense of quality writing…and I didn’t give a damn. As long as I am entertained I really don’t give a horse’s back side if it is socially acceptable “quality writing.” If the story pulls me in and makes me forget reality for a while, that is what matters to me.

WHAT IS THE THINNEST BOOK ON YOUR SHELF?

Cupcakes, Cappuccinos, and a Corpse by Harper Lin. This is listed on Goodreads at 286 pages but on my Nook it comes in at 155 pages so that is what I’m choosing to go by. I told you I was trying to read a tacky mystery to get out of my reading slump. All that has really happened is I now want a peanut butter cupcake. Damn.

WHAT IS THE THICKEST BOOK ON YOUR SHELF?

I’d have to say A Dance with Dragons by GRRM at 1016 pages. That is a lot of pages and lot of shelf space that sucker is taking up. A whole tree was probably murdered per book.

WHEN DID YOU GET INTO READING?

Up until I was probably in my mid twenties it was more of a sporadic interest. I enjoyed reading but I didn’t feel that need to pick up a book. My then boyfriend (now husband) saw that I would enjoy snuggling onto the couch with a good book at times and bought me a Nook. Honestly, that really turned things around for me. I could just click on a book, have it downloaded, and start reading it then and there. That made a huge difference for me as I would get overwhelmed in book stores and usually leave empty handed. I’ve since started collecting both digital and hard copy books as well as taking advantage of library services but it was that one thoughtful purchase by him that turned things around for me.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASSIC BOOK?

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I always sympathized with the monster and raged against the doctor. Not to mention the history behind the book. If I recall correctly, Mary, her husband Lord Byron, and one other friend were having a friendly writing competition which she wrote Frankenstein for. Just an interesting historical tidbit.

“I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.”

IN SCHOOL WHAT WAS YOUR BEST SUBJECT?

As I majored in English and have a love of reading you would expect me to say English, correct? Nope! I excelled in history although English was a close second. I can vividly remember when my love of history began. I was in the eighth grade. My family had just moved to a new town and I was feeling awkward and left out. One of my classes was ancient history taught by Ms. Wilson. Most of the other kids hated her and that class but it was the only place that year I felt comfortable. It was the very first time that a teacher complimented my work. My love of ancient history has stuck with me thanks to Ms. Wilson.

IF YOU WERE GIVEN A BOOK AS A PRESENT THAT YOU HAD READ BEFORE AND HATED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

It’s a gift. Don’t be a jerk. Be thankful that someone thought to give you a gift. Be grateful…then maybe see if you can exchange it somewhere or at least donate it to a used book store or the library.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORD?

Odd question, there are a lot of lovely words in the English language. Here is one that I’ve enjoyed recently- Suborn – to induce secretly to do an unlawful thing.

ARE YOU A NERD, DORK, OR DWEEB? OR ALL OF THE ABOVE?

I am a lover of literature. A connoisseur of the written word. Impassioned by a fictional tale. There is no single word that can encompass all of that.

VAMPIRES OR FAIRIES? WHY?

Neither? Let us go with neither. Pirates! There needs to be a pirates option. I have a bit of a crush on Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time at the moment.

SHAPESHIFTERS OR ANGELS? WHY?

Both make me think of Supernatural in which they are both pretty much assholes all of the time. I think I’ll go with shapeshifters because angels have that whole “holier than thou” complex which is just irritating.

AND FINALLY: FULL ON ROMANCE BOOKS OR ACTION-PACKED WITH A FEW LOVE SCENES MIXED IN?

Definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, action packed with a few scattered love scenes and those love scenes damn well better be steamy. I’m not a romantic in case you haven’t figured that out.

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That was a fun tag for a Monday morning! I think it’s one of the favorites that I’ve done. If you’d like to do it, please feel free, I never tag people for these. Have a lovely day.