Hello!

It is ThursTAG again. Phew. How is everyone keeping on? What have you been up to this week? Staying safe I hope! Today I am here to bring you the Spring Book Tag since it is technically now Spring! (And don’t I know it? My hayfever is KICKING MY ASS!)

Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!

1. What’s on your Spring TBR list?

I mean, what isn’t on my TBR? Literally everything haha! My “school closure but not really closure” TBR is up to my hip. Whether I’ll get through them all, or whether I’ll be distracted by other things will be interesting haha. Saying that, some recent additions to my TBR are:

2. If someone asked you for a spring release recommendation, what would it be?

Last Lesson by James Goodhand is INCREDIBLE. It’s the story of a young boy who plans to bomb his school on the last day of Year 11. I read it in the space of a few hours and I just adored it. It’s tough and gritty, but man, it’s so good. (It’s out at the beginning of April I believe!)

3. Which two books coming out before summer are you eagerly awaiting?

I have already read both Destination Anywhere by Sara Barnard and Jungledrop by Abi Elphinstone, but I can’t wait for other people to read them and be so happy and love them as much as I did! Seriously, when they come out, you need to get your hands on them!

4. Which character would make a great Easter bunny?

Hahaha, what a random question! Erm… someone who’s giving and happy about it? Maybe like Miss Honey? She’s really generous. Or Coach from the Run series by Jason Reynolds. He’d make you work for your egg, but then you know you’d deserve it! Ha!

5. What book makes you think of spring?

Literally anything with flowers on the cover. I know I’ve already mentioned her, but Sara Barnard books make me think of spring. They’re so pretty and shiny.

6. Name a cover with flowers on it.

(Haha, my answer to that previous question was NOT planned at all!)

A book with flowers on the cover? EASY:

7. Which two characters would you go on an Easter egg hunt with?

OOOOH. I do not know! Someone to keep me entertained on the hunt and then someone who was good at finding things? 

8. What is your favorite spring bookish activity?

Now I love a good wander along the seaside and then sitting reading on the beach, but as that won’t be happening for some time, I’m going to say, just sitting with a cup of tea, on the back doorstep and reading. I love a good sit outdoor.

9. Which book did you enjoy that has a spring-like cover?

A book I’ve enjoyed this year that has quite a spring-y cover… oooh a good question! I love the Hotel Flamingo books and this one screams spring to me: bright, colourful and sparking joy!

10. Who is your favorite contemporary author?

Oh friends. Why do you do this to me? SO SO MANY. I love me some Juno Dawson (for bloody brilliant storytelling), Sara Barnard (for incredible characters and they will always make you cry!), Non Pratt (for sheer brilliance), Simon James Green (for funnies) and so many more. That’s just impolite to ask me to be honest.

My Nominees for the Spring Book Tag

Literally anyone who wants to take part… I am guessing my friend Charlotte will engage in this tag. I would be offended if she didn’t let’s be fair.

And that’s it! The spring book tag has sprung! If you fancy giving this a go, please do!

S x

Hello friends!!!

I came across the “Amazon’s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime” Tag a while ago and stored it in my tag vault… now I figured was as good a time as any to get it out of storage and share with you what I’ve read!

“recommend reads” lists always fascinate me. I don’t think I’m necessarily the target audience for them… but I figured I’d see how many I had read… and you can all shout at me for ones I’ve not read haha!

Rules:

1. Include the link to Amazon’s List
2. Tag the creator of the meme (Perfectly Tolerable)
3. Tag and thank the Person that tagged you
4. Copy the list below and indicate which ones you have read
5. Tally up your total
6. Tag 5 new people!

All right, now let’s take a look;

100 Books To Read In a Lifetime List

Hahahaha… this list was NOT designed for me… my total comes to

17 books

I don’t think the ones I’ve chosen will surprise many people… but I think some people will be shocked by some of the ones I’ve not read. (What can I say? I’m not a big classics fan!) I’ve just spotted that there’s a list of children’s books on there too… so I may total them up next week – I bet that number is higher! 

I’d like to add that I recently bought To Kill A Mockingbird and Catch 22… so maybe I can tick them off by the end of the year!

Are you shocked by my total?
Can you recommend me any from that list?
Would you like to have a go at this tag?

I’m not going to tag anyone because if you wanna have a go, just do it!

S x

Hello!

It is I again, your ThursTAG friend and I am here with a new tag.

I love finding new tags to take part in, so if you have one that you’d like me to do, tag me in it or send me the questions because I am ALWAYS up for a tag! 

Today, I’m taking on the ‘Do I Have That?’ tag. I think this originated on booktube, but I’m not sure who or where from. If it’s you or you know who, please holler so I can give them credit! I’m excited for this one as it’s one that I’ve never come across before but I had just saved all of the questions in a draft!

Let’s go!

***

Do You Have a Book With Deckled Edges?

That’s the funny edges that are all different length isn’t it? Because no. I’m not a fan of those!

Do You Have a Book With 3 or More People on the Cover?

Erm… I’m not a big fan of books with people on the cover! However, Guardians of Magic by Chris Riddell has 3 people on the cover!

Do You Have a Book Based on Another Fictional Story?

Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin is based on Macbeth and my god guys. You need to read this book. It is just amazing!

Do You Have a Book With a Title 10 Letters Long?

Exactly 10 letters? Oooooh. Sofa Surfer by Malcolm Duffy is exactly 10 letters!

Do You Have a Book With a Title That Starts and Ends With the Same Letter?

Again, another brilliant question! Explorers of Black Ice Bridge by Alex Bell!

Do You Have a Mass Market Paperback Book?

What does this mean EXACTLY? Because probably!

Do You Have a Book Written by an Author Using a Pen Name?

I don’t know to be honest? Probably.

Do You Have a Book With a Character’s Name in the Title?

The Truth Pixie books by Matt Haig. She’s called the Truth Pixie and she’s lovely. I really think these books are great and I hope there is going to be more!

Do You Have a Book With Two Maps in it?

Ooooooh. I would imagine I do. I am a big fan of a map! I can’t think of a book which has 2 maps in the front right now though…

Do You Have a Book That Was Turned into a TV Show?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. It’s currently being made into a TV show by Netflix (I believe!). I’ve not read this trilogy yet, but I have read (and devoured) Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom!

Do You Have a Book Written by Someone Who is Originally Famous for Something Else (celebrity/athlete/TV personality)?

Many, many books. I have loads of autobiographies. The most recent one I’ve read that’s by someone who is known for something other than author-ing though is Over The Top by Jonathan van Ness (of Queer Eye fame!)

Do You Have a Book With a Clock on the Cover?

Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of Lost Things by Matilda Woods came to the rescue here! I didn’t think I did, but this has a lovely golden clock on!

Do You Have a Poetry Book?

My initial reaction to this question was NOPE, but after having a little peruse of my shelves, I actually own a few more than I thought I did! The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris is one of my more beautiful ones though!

Do You Have a Book With an Award Stamp on it?

Again, more than likely! I can’t think of one off the top of my head…

Do You Have a Book Written by an Author With the Same Initials as You?

Ooooh. I don’t think so! The closest I can think of is Scars Like Wings by Erin Stewart (my initials, but the other way around!)

Do You Have a Book of Short Stories?

I do! I have a few anthologies. My most recent acquisition is 19 Love Songs by David Levithan (who I adore a lot). This book is lush. It’s full of short stories all about the different kinds of love in the world!

Do You Have a Book That is Between 500-510 Pages Long?

I have not read it yet, but according to the internet King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo satisfies this, so I shall believe it!

Do You Have a Book That Was Turned into a Movie?

This is another one that I thought I didn’t own any, but it turns out I own 2 or 3! The first one that springs to mind is Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott. I haven’t seen the movie, but I’ve read the book and I really enjoyed it!

Do You Have a Graphic Novel?

I DO. I had originally typed I don’t but then I remembered Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. I love these books so much.

Do You Have a Book Written by Two or More Authors?

I’ve got a book written by 7! Seven of the best in UKYA. Floored by SOME OF MY FAVES is brilliant and if you’ve not read it yet, why are you not reading it right now? I would recommend it whole heartedly!

***

And there we go!

That was a whole load of fun. Some questions I REALLY had to think about and some which even made me go have a look through my bookshelves because I wasn’t sure!

Happy tagging!

S x

Good morning fans of ThursTAG!

Today, I’m going to be sharing with you my answers to the Epic Reads Book Tag! I don’t watch a look of booktube (except I am a massive George Lester fan and I need you all to go over and subscribe to him because he’s amazing AND his book is coming out this year) so when I came across this randomly, I was DELIGHTED. I found it on the Epic Reads YouTube Channel and was intrigued by the questions!! It’s from 2015, so I’m sure everyone else in the world has done this! 

Margot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdes8O-bHI0
Aubry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSuF8Xouzoc

***

1. If you could invite one author and one of their fictional characters to tea, who you invite and what you would you serve them?

HAHA. I don’t wanna be predictable but my GOD. It would be Melinda Salisbury and Twylla (The Sin Eater’s Daughter trilogy). I have such a wonderful love for Twylla and we ALL know I love Mel.

Other pairs I’d love to have tea with:

• Laura Steven and Caro (Love Hypothesis)
• Sara Barnard and Steffi (A Quiet Kind of Thunder)
• Maz Evans and Elliot (Who Let The Gods Out series)
• Matt Haig and Tom (How To Stop Time)
• David Levithan and X (Another Day/One Day)
• Bridgid Kemmerer and Grey (A Heart So Fierce and Broken series)
• Charlie N Holmberg and Emery (The Paper Magician series)

Man, I literally could keep going!

2. What book do you wish the author would write a prequel for?

There’s LOADS of books I’d love more from, but mostly its because I want more from the authors ha:

• I want more Luvian Fen (State of Sorrow duology by Queen Mel)
• I want Scythe Faraday‘s story (Scythe series by Neal Schusterman)
• I need to know more about Rodolfo (The Mask of Aribella by Anna Hoghton)
• I’d love to know more about Coach‘s life story (Run series by Jason Reynolds)
• I wanna know about Jonathon‘s family and growing up (The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L.D.Lapinski)

3. Name two characters (NOT from the same book) you think would make a good couple. 

Omg. This has totally just come to my mind… Emily from No Big Deal and Caro from The Love Hypothesis. I would SHIP THAT. I think it would be a wonderful and interesting partnership!

(I find questions like this HARD because one a pair is shipped in my head, that’s it. That’s the person they’re with! If you haven’t read these books yet, please get on with it… although Love Hypothesis isn’t out yet!)

4. If you ran into your favourite author on the subway and could say only one sentence to them who is it and what would it be?

LOL. God, here we go again BEING PREDICTABLE. Lets go a YA author and an MG author! Maybe not all time favourites, but in my top 5 faves!

YA: Melinda Salisbury (don’t pretend you’re shocked). I’d probably say OH MY GOD HI MEL. (cause I am so cool)

MG: Abi Elphinstone. I’d probably say OH MY GOD HI ABI. (cause I am so cool)

5. What book made you a reader and why?

I have an awful lot of things to thank this book for. I have such an emotional attachment to this book. It made me a reader. It made me a teacher. It taught me that books are important. It taught me that there’s power inside all of us. It taught me about kindness. It showed me that people can do anything they put their mind to. (I could keep going, but I won’t).

6.  Incendio! Your bookshelf just caught on fire. What one you book would you save?

NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. MY GOD. I CAN’T DO THAT. *weeps*

This! My proof of Sin Eater’s Daughter. 

7. Which dystopian world would you want to live in if you had to choose one? Why?

I’d love to live in the S.M.Wilson world of The Extinction Trials. Not because I would survive, but because I definitely would love to meet a dinosaur. I would survive in NONE of the dystopian worlds to be honest… what can I say? I am not the one you want to have to go to fight for you ha!

8. What is your most epic read of all time?

THIS IS SUCH A FAKE NEWS QUESTION. I refuse to choose just one.

***

And there you go! My answers to the Epic Reads book tag. I totally didn’t bend ANY of the rules. NOT ME. NO SIREE.

S x

Hello ThursTAG friends! How are you all doing?

The most remarkable thing has happened… I found a tag on my friend Charlotte’s blog that she didn’t steal from me… therefore it’s a tag I haven’t done! *SHOCKED FACE*. So today I am taking on:

The Book Snob tag!

(Check out Charlotte’s post here, or don’t yknow. Don’t tell her I sent you!)

Adaptation Snob: Do you always read the book before you see the movie?

Not always! I saw Love Simon before I read SImon vs the Homosapiens Agenda. However that doesn’t speak of much for me because I’m not a MASSIVE movie goer. I will go if invited, but I will rarely go on my own!

Format Snob: You can only choose 1 format in which to read books for the rest of your life. Which one do you choose: physical books, ebooks, or audiobooks?

Physical books all day every day. I don’t mind ebooks and audiobooks, but I much prefer the physical having and holding of a book (yes, I’m married to books, deal with it!)

Ship Snob: Would you date or marry a non-reader?

I mean sure… but I have conflicting emotions about it! I think I’d prefer to date a reader because I do so much reading, but I wouldn’t rule it out. I wouldn’t date someone who was anti-reading though because that would not be fun for either of us. Everyone is a reader: they’ve just not found the right book yet!

Genre Snob: You have to ditch one genre – never to be read again for the rest of your life. Which one do you ditch?

WHAT?! Can I ditch a genre I hate? Or is that cheating? I guess if I play by the rules, I have to ditch something I love… so of the kids books and YA books I read, the most common genres I love are: fantasy, autobiographies, contemporary, crime, adventure and mystery. I’d probably ditch crime from that list.

Uber Genre Snob: You can only choose to read from one genre for the rest of your life. Which genre do you choose?

Fantasy. There is no question. Absolutely none whatsoever. I couldn’t not read magic ever again. (It would mean that some of my faves would need to start writing fantasy books though).

Community Snob: Which genre do you think receives the most snobbery from the bookish community?

Anything YA. I know it’s technically not a “genre”, but YA gets missed out of a lot and it really shouldn’t.

Snobbery Recipient: Have you ever been snubbed for something that you have been reading or for reading in general?

Hmmm… I dunno? I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by people who love reading. I get a lot of “Why’s she reading on the bus/train?” but in general, people don’t bat an eyelid at me reading!

Well that was fun! I dunno how much of a snob I’ve come across… *shrug* (I don’t think I’m snobbish at all, but who knows!)

Did you learn anything about me?
Have you got any snobbish opinions?
Which genre would you choose for the rest of your life?

Talk to me in the comments!

S x

Hello again! It’s ThursTAG again. This week I am doing the Valentine’s Tag because I love books and screw you calendar. I know it was Valentines Day last week… I was just NOT ORGANISED ENOUGH OK? Please forgive me!

Stand alone book you love

I can’t not say Hold Back The Tide. I just finished it recently and I ADORED IT OK?

Dystopian book you love

Oh man. I used to love a good bit of dystopian. I’ve not read a dystopian for a while I don’t think. However, I need to mention The Extinction Trials series by S.M.Wilson because they’re BLOODY BRILLIANT. They’re Hunger Games meets Jurassic Park, and if that doesn’t convince you, get out.

A book that you love but no one else talks about

I WILL NEVER NOT SAY THIS TRILOGY BECAUSE NO ONE TALKS ABOUT IT AND IT’S SO SO GOOD OK?

Favorite book couple

SO SO MANY. I AM SUCH A SHIPPER. But it has to be Sorrow and Luvian because I love Luvian with all of my heart and soul.

Book that other people love but you haven’t read yet

LOL. Is there any other option? I will get round to reading this, but just not yet.

A book with red on the cover

This book is PROPERLY GREAT. Please go buy it!

A book with pink on the cover

This is the pinkest book on my shelf so naturally it came to mind first. If you’ve not read A Quiet Kind of Thunder, then please can you get on it?! I love Sara Barnard books with all of my heart. Plus, she’s an absolute darling.

You were given a box of chocolate what fictional boyfriend/girlfriend. Who would have given them to you?

HAHA. I have any number of candidates I would LIKE to give me chocolates, but my man Luvian probably wins. Then Grey (of Brigid Kemmerer fame) because I love him so much.

You are single on Valentines Day. What book would you read?

Thanks for reminding me I am infinitely single.

The book I was ACTUALLY reading on Valentines Day was this one! Jungledrop is the newest Abi Elphinstone book and It WAS MAGNIFICENT. My review is to come next week!

You are in the bookstore. All of a sudden you get shot with an arrow by Cupid. What new release will you love?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH. I do not know! I’ve read 2 of my most anticipated releases recently.

And there you go! I did it!

Have you read any of these?
Which books do you love?
What releases are you most excited for?

Talk to me in the comments!

S x