The Avid Readers Award Tag

Wooohooo!! Today we are doing the Avid Readers Award Tag and it is super fun. :D

The Rules…

Display the blog award logo in your blog.

Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you. // Thank you, Jenna! <3

Do not forget to link to their blogging website. // http://jennaterese.com

List your favourite 5 books. 

Answer all the questions they have given you.

Nominate 4 bloggers of your choice.

Ask them 10 questions.

My Top 5 books…

• Basic Principles of Speech by William Trufant Foster & Lew Sarrett. 
• Daniel Boone: Wilderness Scout by Stewart Edward White. 
• Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery. 
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. 
• The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit. 

 

And now the questions!

The first set of questions are the ones Jenna answered and I did them cause they were so cool. 

 

01. If you were forced to live in a book world, which would you live in?

Enemy Brothers' world, hands down!!! Imagine living at the White Priory with the Inglefords!! And I know they would take me in, too. <33 

 

02. What is one scene from a book that stuck with you? (We don’t have to get it, just say it!)

The scene in Enemy Brothers when Dym is talking of the war and of history. <33 He put into words what I had been feeling all along... 

 

03. What is one imaginary object that you wish was real?

Oh boy. Uhm... I have nooooo idea. There's probably something in a book somewhere that I really wish I could have, but for the life of me I can't think of one... 

 

04. What cover of a book do you like best?

I beg your pardon??

How on earth is that a real question???

My favourite cover on my bookshelf right now is the cover of Little Women (it's the same cover my review is linked to).

And that's all the choosing I'll do. 

 

05. What book character do you relate most to?

I did a post about 5 characters I most relate to. Out of those 5 the one I relate to most is Katy. Check the blog post for more explanation. ;)

 

06. Which book villain do you hate most?

Probably one from Sherlock Holmes... not sure which one though. He had some really awful ones. 

 

07. What is one book you can’t stand or can’t get into?

I have a hard time getting into books with a lot of embarrassment happening to the characters, so some of the Trixie Belden books were hard for me to get into. 

 

08. What is one book character quote?

*beams*

Here are my two top favs. 

“I'd like to add some beauty to life,” said Anne dreamily. “I don't exactly want to make people know more... though I know that is the noblest ambition... but I'd love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me... to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn't been born.”

~Anne Shirley from Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery. 

and 

“But I don’t really know; I’m not in the Operations Room, you see. All I do know is that the world has a Chief who was victorious when the powers of darkness struck at Him with everything they had. He has the plans today. The darkness won’t last forever. There’s a splendor beyond.”

~Dymory Ingleford from Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery. 

 

09. Have you read any of my favorites? XD

Probably not XD idk?? 

 

10. What is your favourite nonfiction book?

The Bible, hands down. 

 

And now Jenna's questions!

01. What would your dream library look like?

Floor-to-ceiling, covering-the-walls-like-wallpaper bookshelves. A really cozy snuggly couch with a comfy blanket. Excellent lighting. Some plants and flowers to rest your eyes. Everything spick-&-span. 

02. What three authors would you want to collaborate on a book?

Kassie Angle, Kaitlyn Krispense, & Jesseca Wheaton. 

03. What author would you want to meet in person?

All my indie author friends. *smirks* 

04. What’s your favourite book in a genre you don’t usually read in?

Persuasion. I don't like romance as a genre, but this one was soooo amazing. 

05. What’s your favourite book to movie adaptation?

2000 Railway Children movie, hands-down. 

06. Hardcover or paperback?

Paperback. Hardcovers are too heavy, and I HATE dust jackets with a vengeance. 

07. Matte or glossy paperbacks?

Glossy, because matte shows all your fingerprints! *shudders*

08. What’s your favourite indie book?

Tattered Wings by Kassie Angle. 

09. What genre will you never read from?

Horror. And apparently there's a genre called bodice-rippers and it sounds absolutely horrific (no pun intended) and is totally on my list. 

10. Who’s your all-time top favourite fictional character?

George Dymory Ingleford. <33 No questions. 

And I nominate...

Kassie

Kate

Rebekah

and Abby. 

Feel free to do like me and steal Jenna's questions. Here are mine. 

1. If you could pick one fictional character as your sibling, who would it be? 

2. What's a strong opinion you have about a trope/opinion/anything else lacking in books, especially Christian fiction? 

3. What's a book you didn't expect to like but fell head over heels in love with?

4. What is your dream reading goal?

5. Favourite quote (or two ;P) about reading? 

6. Your opinion on dust jackets?? 

7. Your favourite book spine(s)?

8. Do you like to eat while reading? 

9. Can you read with silence or music in the background?

10. What's your favourite indie book? ('Cause we gotta spread the love!)

And there you are. This was a ton of fun and I hope it was for you too! :D

Feel free to answer the questions in the comments!! 

The Second Chances Book Tag

We all know I love the themes of second chances, redemption, hope... so this was such a fun tag! And I thought it was appropriate to this month. Give yourself & other people second chances, friends. <33 

1. Name a book you expected to dislike but ended up loving because you stuck with it to the end.

“With Roberts to Pretoria” by G.A. Henty. The beginning wasn’t very interesting, & I was pretty sure it would be among Henty’s duller, dragging books. But I chugged on & I was pleasantly surprised!! It was exciting, interesting, & enjoyable. 

2. Admit it--we all judge books by their covers. What is one book you’ve given a try and enjoyed despite a less-than-appealing cover? 

I really don’t love the cover of Livy Jarmusch’s Tales of Tarsurella. They’re just not my type at all. So the covers definitely didn’t move me in favour of them. But I gave them a try and I’m SO glad I did because I really, really enjoyed them!! 

3. Ranting opportunity! Which author are you forever mad at for denying a character their second chance? Talk about it. 😀 

There was this one L.M. Montgomery short story about a scoundrel who was engaged to a girl. He heard people talking about how miserable her life would be with him & because he truly loved her, he decided to pretend to abandon her & leave so she could marry someone else & be happy. I was so happy with his changing but I was SO MAD that he didn’t have a second chance with the girl!!!! 

4. Do you have a favourite book that includes a theme of second chances?

Do I?? Do I!!! Alone in London, Charlie to the Rescue, Beloved, Off Course, A Tale of Two Cities, Until We All Find Home, Johnny Tremain, Enemy Brothers, The Reb & the Redcoats, The Dark House on the Moss.... yes, yes, I do, I do. <33 

 

5. Name a favourite fictional romance that only succeeded because the characters were willing to let go of their first impressions and move on.

Everyone’s thinking Pride & Prejudice here, hm?? XP I’m saying Persuasion. Both Anne & Wentworth had to let go of some impressions & seek the other. I do know several other romances where the characters had to let go of impressions and move on, but I just can't think of them right now....

There ya go! Feel free to steal this tag. and tell me one book you gave a second chance to. ;)

The Chocolate Book Tag

Aaaand we're back with another fun bookish tag I picked up I-don't-know-where. Thank you to whoever posted it originally. XD It's about books and chocolate--who can resist??

Instructions: Answer the questions and tag as many people as you want to answer these questions. 

((*pauses to appreciate how easygoing the rules are*))

1. Dark Chocolate (a book that covers a dark topic).

Stay Where You Are & Then Leave by John Boyne deals with shell-shock, enemy aliens, cowardice, conscientious objectors, deceit, war, grief... lots of heavy topics. And though it tears your heart to pieces & almost oppresses you at times, it ends with such a lovely note. It makes you think in so many ways, & it’s so worth it. 

2. White Chocolate (a light-hearted humorous read).

(I love white chocolate FYI. Most people don’t know. Count yourself privileged). Red Rover, Red Rover, & the other Emily Abbott books. They’re very exciting, but also really humorous and light-hearted, the perfect read when you just need to be entertained & cheered up. And I love them so much. 

3. Milk Chocolate (a book with a lot of hype that you really want to read).

Taylor Bennet’s Porch Swing Girl. I’ve seen it around a lot & I snagged a free copy at one point & I’m eager to read it.

4. Caramel-filled Chocolate (a romantic book).

Anne of the Island. It’s a book that deals with true love & knowing your heart. And the last chapter—oh my word. True love at it’s best. So sweet & lovely. <33 

5. Wafer-less Kit-Kat (a book that surprised you).

A wafer-less Kit-Kat sounds like a pathetic disappointment to me rather than a surprise! Is this suppose to be a good or a bad surprise?? If good, then... Yellow Star was not what I expected! It was just so sweet and uplifting and thought-provoking, and flowed so well. For bad, then I have a number of books that disappointed me. Like Pieces of the Past which could just have been so good & was just not. 

6. Snickers (a book you are going nuts about).

Heh heh heh... as of the writing of this post (don't judge meeeee) I'm still going nuts over 5 Star Spy by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick! I really, really love it. ;D 

By the time this goes live I'll probably be going nuts over another Emily Abbott book, so... 

7. Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows (a book you go to for a comfort read).

(I do not like hot chocolate...) Generally I pick an old favourite for this. Like Enemy Brothers or The Reb & the Redcoats or Understood Betsy... pretty much anything that isn’t heartbreaking, just happy. 

8. A Box of Chocolates (A series you feel has something for everyone).

Anne of Green Gables series... Little House series... Little Women Series... The Paddington Series... The Kitten Case Files Series... there are lots, guys! ;D

So there you are! Feel free to steal this tag if you're a book lover and/or a chocolate lover! Comment below and tell me what book you're going nuts about right now. ;D

The Small Joys Tag

Such a fun tag as I have for you today! ;D This was delightful to read and delightful to write. :) I hope you enjoy it too!! 

~Rules~

1. Thank the blogger who tagged you. | No one tagged me... I just stole the tag from Ben. XP 

2. List 15 of your Small Joys. (They can be as weird, random, and silly as you want to make them!) ✔️ 

3. Tag 5 blogger friends who bring you joy (and feel free to say why they bring you joy!) ✔️ 

4. Have fun with it! ✔️ 

So here we go!! 

1. Listening to hymns. I just love listening to my hymns playlist and sometimes singing along. There’s just something about singing to the Lord that blesses my heart. Never fails to make my day better! 
2. Having a long conversation with a friend. I very seldom talk face-to-face with friends—usually I interact with them via text/social media. So I really enjoy getting to talk to a friend for a long time. Video chats are also amazing!!!
3. Capturing a really good Bookstagram picture. :) I love beauty and books and when you mix the two... 😉🥰
4. Accomplishing a project. Yes, I’ve very much of a accomplisher/goal-driven person. Getting my whole to-do list done makes me happy. And finishing a project means it’s off my list (forever or for a while, depending 😝) which is really good. 😉 
5. Pictures of saris or wedding dresses. XD I have always loved saris and wedding dresses and just looking at them makes my heart sooo happy. 
6. Sitting down and writing. It’s hard, but it also make me so happy to do. Especially when I can sprint with a friend :) 
7. Small details. The food in a Calico Critter set, the tiny flowers by the door, the ring on someone’s finger, the matching glasses on the table, the uniformity of my Books Reviewed blog page... details just make me so happy. 
8. Lists!! I enjoy making lists and making them as perfect as possible. I’m always making lists and losing them and rewriting them and finding them and... you get the picture. XD
9. Pretty handwriting. I just love to soak in pretty handwriting!!! 
10. Looking at the sky. Oh, I love the sky. It’s so beautiful. Starry, cloudy, sunny, sunset-y... it’s gorgeous. 
11. Good stories. Whether it’s a book, a life experience, or a random scene caught as I pass some people, stories make me happy. 
12. Laughter. It’s impossible for me not to laugh if someone around me is laughing—even if it’s a pure stranger. Unless I disagree with what they’re laughing about, lol. 
13. Finding out a really cool piece of information. I just love to connect dots and see how one thing affected another. How something is made. Why something happened. I love to know and to be able to share it with someone else! 
14. Wearing jewelry. Just knowing I’m wearing pretty earrings, or seeing the ring on my finger or the bracelet on my arm, makes me so happy. I feel feminine and cheerful and pretty. 
15. Folding clothes. I actually like folding clothes. I’d rather fold clothes than do any other chore! I always have been THE clothes folder in our family. XD
16. And a bonus fact for good measure... signing. I love ASL so much and I love watching it and signing it. <33 

And finally, I tag....

~ Mikayla! You have a lovely blog, and I always look forwards to your posts! You're inspiring & a blessing. <33

~ Kassie! <33 I love your blog so much! You always bring a smile to my face or touch my heart in a special way.

~ Rachel! Your blog is just so encouraging & uplifting & helpful! Every time I see a notification of your new post it makes me happy. 

~ Victoria! Each post is helpful, interesting, or encouraging. Thank you! <3 

~ And if anyone else wants to steal this tag, feel free. :) 

~ / / ~

Tell me one of your small joys... or three... or five... ;) 

The Cake-Flavoured Book Tag

Hey friends! Today we have a tag which I stole from Dessa. I was not actually tagged for this one, but it looked sooo fun that I've wanted to do it for a long time!!

1. Chocolate Cake (a Dark Book You Absolutely Love).

Does this mean a book that actually makes you feel dark? Or one that just deals with dark subjects?? I don’t know. There are books that I really like but that make me feel more or less oppressed because I know the bad thing that’s coming up and it hurts. As for dark subjects, I tend to love books that tackle hard topics. Beloved, by Kaitlyn Krispense, dealt with suicide, abandonment, betrayal, & more... but it is just a beautiful, humorous, heart-satisfying read.  

2. Vanilla Cake (a Light Read).

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. The book is light-hearted and humorous read, but it has some beautiful themes & elements.... it’s a deep book. 

3. Red Velvet (a Book That Gave You Mixed Emotions).

Mm, red velvet is so good. 

Dreams & Devotion by Sarah Holman. Up to this book I loved all the Taelis books. This one I had a problem with because the religion became so Catholic. I love the lessons, but I have a hard time with certain stuff that I don’t agree with. 

4. Cheesecake (a Book You Would Recommend to Anyone).

Who doesn’t love cheesecake?! 

I nominate A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole. This book is so sweet and beautiful. It has an amazing theme, and wonderful characters, and such a lovely plot. <33 Honestly, I think everyone should read it. 

5. Coffee Cake (a Book You Did Not Finish).

I like coffee cake, actually... 

There were two books lately that I skim read/pre-read & decided to DNF because of content. Both were by Kate Cambridge. 

6. Carrot Cake (a Book With Great Writing).

Oh, yes, carrot cake is so yummy. 

Ahhhh! Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. This book is a masterpiece of writing. Yes, there are stuff that I don’t approve of & it also tackles a couple dark subjects. But it has a masterful plot, amazing character creation, and wonderful language/description. 

7. Tiramisu (a Book That Left You Wanting More).

I don’t like tiramisu!

 I don’t often want more to a book. I prefer stand-alones to series. Perhaps the one exception is the Emily Abbott books by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick. Each one leaves me wanting another!!! 

8. Cupcakes (a Series With 4+ Books).

Cupcakes are such fun. 

The What Katy Did Series by Susan Coolidge! I love this series SO. VERY. MUCH. I love the people, and the lessons, and the writing style, and the descriptions, and the plots... She was an amazing author. <33 And my favourite female main character is Katy. <3

 

 

9. Fruit Cake (a Book That Wasn't What You Anticipated).

I actually like fruit cake. 
Fern’s Hollow by Hesba Stretton. I need to reread this one. But when I first read it I found it not what I expected. It was nice, but I didn’t love it. 

10. Lamington (Favourite Australian Book).

I’ve never tasted Lamington. But I love Australia. Sadly, I’ve read few books about Australia. But G.A. Henty’s A Final Reckoning I love. I mean, it's got bushrangers & policemen. XD 

~ / / ~

Such a fun tag!!! I never know who to tag for these, so just go ahead and steal it from me if you want to do it. ;)