The Quintessential Summer Book Tag

This was created by TheBookishKat and I found it on Jo Linsdell’s ever-so-helpful Book Tags To Try This Summer post. I just needed a little variety in my life, so figured I’d give it a shot.

1. Iced Drink- a refreshing book

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I don’t remember what I was home sick with when my mother brought this home to me, but it helped me feel better then and every–countless–time that I’ve read it since then. This story about fifteen contestants (and 1 mistake) competing for the inheritance of Samuel W. Westing has always been as refreshing as the best iced tea I’ve ever had.

Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay

2. Cotton Candy- a book that was fluffy and sweet

The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade

So this was just charming and sweet from beginning to end. Yes, it was written for a MG (at the oldest) audience, but I enjoyed it as much as–if not more–than cotton candy. It was light, it made me smile, and it made me want more.

Image from Pixabay

3. Sunglasses- a dark book

According to Mark by H.B. O’Neill

Does it get darker than a couple of hundred pages about a broken-hearted man, who needs social/medical/psychiatric aid, seeking to kill himself because he’s convinced that Mark Twain wants him to? (still, it is a beautiful book with some moments of joy)

Image by Ronny Overhate from Pixabay

4. Picnic on a Rainy Day- a sad book

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

With a little thought, I could come up with sadder books, no doubt. But this was the first to jump into my mind (since I’d already used According to Mark). I stuck with it, because it fits this so well–not only is it sad, but like even a rained-on picnic, there are plenty of smiles and even some chuckles and warmth in this book. But yeah, it won’t just be rain that dampens your cheeks by the time you finish this.

Image by J S from Pixabay

5. Sand- a book that irritated you Red Queen

Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado

This felt like it was written using a template to generate the hero, her sidekick, and the villains by an unimaginative committee looking for the next Lisbeth Salander or Robert Langdon (obviously, more of the former than the latter). It grated on me like sand in your clothes and shoes after you leave the beach (and yet, it kept me turning the pages, which is another kind of annoying).

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

6. Summer Blockbuster- favorite book-to-screen adaptation The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Is there another answer? I mean, really?

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

7. Dropped Ice Cream- a book you were anticipating, but it wasn’t good

Winter’s Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch

After the success of The October Man, I had faith in Aaronovitch’s ability to pull off an American adventure. Especially because I already know and like Special Agent Reynolds from when she shows up with Peter Grant. But, it’s just clear that Aaronovitch pull off writing in the U.S. from an American perspective. If this was about Peter or Abigail coming to visit Reynolds and running into trouble, I could’ve bought it. But this narrator just isn’t an American (or really, that American Evangelical…not even an ex-Evangelical). A rare miss in this series.

Image by Izwar Muis from Pixabay

8. Palm Tree- a tall book you loved 42

42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams edited by Kevin Jon Davies

I honestly couldn’t think of another tall book. But also, I like to spread the word about this as much as I can.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

9. Bonfire- a book you want to burn

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Sure–I’m diametrically opposed to book burning of any kind, but if there was a fireplace in use anywhere near me when I finished this book, I’d have been tempted to toss it in. (and would’ve gladly paid the library fees). The ending of this just made me so mad. I know I’m in the minority with this book, but I don’t care.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

10. Fireworks- a book that exploded onto the scene

Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor

If you’re going to make your debut, you want to do it like Cranor. From the first page, this book hits you with the velocity of a rocket taking off—and as far as I can tell that’s how the book went, too. Suddenly, every Crime Fiction account/page I follow was talking about this book.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

I don’t typically actually tag people when I do these, but I’m curious to see what you’d put here. So if you made it this far, consider yourself tagged. (no need to go overboard on graphics like I chose to do for reasons that I don’t quite get)