Category: Book Tag Page 3 of 6

I’ve seen this on a couple of blogs like Dini Panda Reads and Biblio Nerd Reflections, and it seemed pretty fun. Also, I hadn’t done a tag in ages, and wanted to. It was created by @Roisin’s Reading.

How many books have you read so far?

81 titles on 4/8 (the day I’m composing this), which is where I was on 4/8 of last year (although this year’s number includes more picture books, so I’m behind the pace). That’s not bad at all.

Have you already found a book you think might be a 2023 favourite[sic]? If not, what was your favourite book you read that wasn’t quite five stars?

Fearless by M.W. Craven and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto are destined to end up in my Top 10 of the year, possibly Top 3.

Any 1-star books / least favourite book of the year?

The audiobook for Triptych by Karin Slaughter is the only book that comes to mind here. It’s not a 1-Star, and is too well put together for that. But it qualifies as least favorite.

Most read genre so far?

Hold on to your hats here..you’re going to be surprised…it’s Mystery/Crime/Thriller. I’ll give you a moment to gasp while you look at the pie chart.

A book that surprised you?

That’s a good question. I guess

Magpie Murders maybe? I’d heard only good things, so I expected it to be good–just didn’t expect it to be that good. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers might also qualify that way.

Triptych also qualifies because I’m suprised that that book could lead to a 11-book long series and a TV show.

A book that’s come out in 2023 already that you want to read but haven’t yet?

Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor is the one that jumps to mind, but by the time this posts, I should have at leasted started it. I think I’m doing pretty good at keeping up with the new releases I’m into this year…we’ll talk about the side-effects of that below.

A few others that qualify:

Know Thy Enemy by Jeffery H. Haskell
But Have You Read the Book?: 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films by Kristen Lopez
Lie to Her by Melinda Leigh (my library hold just became available, so this will be taken care of soon-ish)
Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper

One goal you made that you’re succeeding at

Keeping up with New Releases? But that’s not an “official” goal. I guess it would be The 2023 Booktempter’s TBR reduction challenge and reading stuff for my Grandpappy’s Corner series.

One goal you made that you need to focus on

Every other one. I really want to focus on reading the books I’ve bought (mostly) and/or planned to buy (a few) for the Literary Locals series. These look great and I need to stop distracting myself to read and blog about these. New releases and author submissions keep distracting me and getting my off-target. I need to rein myself in.

New to you Bloggers/Booktubers/ Bookstagrammers/Booktokers for 2023 you recommend?

I’m not sure if these were new-to-me in 2023, but they’re pretty recently new-to-me (or blogs I’ve read before, but I’ve gotten more consistent about checking):
Biblio Nerd Reflections
Gina Rae Mitchell
Mike Finn’s Fiction
reader@work
Read with Me
Stephen Writes

I saw this over at My World of Books, and it looked fun, so I thought I’d take a stab at it. I should also credit Ariel Bissett the creator of this here tag.

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

Both B.B. Warfield’s Faith & Life and Richard Gaffin’s In the Fullness of Time: An Introduction to the Biblical Theology of Acts and Paul are project books that I’m plugging away at a little each week—and should have no problem finishing by the end of the year.

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

I really don’t think of reading that way—seasons rarely impact what I’m reading. But if I had to pick one, I guess Jane Steele sort-of functioned in a transition-ish way for me—shifting from my summer project to pressing on to my rest-of-the-year goals, I guess.

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

The World Record Book of Racist Stories by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar promises to be hilarious, heartbreaking, and anger-inducing. It feels strange to look forward to that, but hey…that’s the kind of guy I am. I’ve enjoyed the first two volumes of the Sunshine Vicram trilogy, so I expect to love A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones. I can’t believe I almost published this without mentioning Desert Star. Bosh, Ballard, and Connelly are one of the best combinations out there, I can’t wait to dive in. I’m sure there are other upcoming releases that I’ll be as excited about, but I’ll have to wait until they’re upon us before I realize it.

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

I thought about mentioning books 2-4 of The Frost Files…but that feels like a cheap way to get to three easily. Also, I’m pretty sure I’m going to fail on that front, alas—and why set myself up for failure like that?

So, let’s go with…

I’m going to go with Mick Herron’s Dead Lions for 3 reasons—1. I’ve been promising myself for ages to read the rest of the series, and #2 is the next step; 2. My buddy Paul will stop nagging me if I read it (and start nagging me about Real Tigers, but that’s 2023’s problem. Besides, change will do him good), and 3. I want to be able to watch season 2 of the Apple series in a couple of weeks. Secondly, I’ve been on myself to read Ian Shane’s Radio Radio since at least April of 2019 when I bought it, and I’m sure it’ll be a burst of goodness (and it’ll help me finish up a Reading Challenge). Lastly, I planned on reading E.B. White on Dogs this spring, so I’d better hop to it.

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

Any of the books mentioned in this post are likely contenders. Other than White and Herron, all the authors mentioned in this post have made best-of lists for me in the past few years—and I think Herron’s got a shot at it this year already because of Reconstruction, so why not for this one, too? So…yeah, any of these.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2023?

A little. Not much. Most of my energy is trying to finish fulfilling the plans I had for 2022. I do have three review copies of ’23 releases and only plan on reading one of them this year. I have sketches of plans and projects, but I won’t finalize those for another 6 weeks or so. Probably.

But really, I have to keep the pedal to the metal to hope to take care of most of my 2022 hopes and plans. I can deal with 2023 after that.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

I saw this over at chasing destino, and decided to give it a try–I had a lot of fun with this one, hopefully, you have fun reading this.

Mid-way through putting this together, I had a vision of Tom Haverford and his pals in the Hot Tub playing this game (Parks and Recreation, Season 3, Episode 2: “Flu Season”), and I can’t get it out of my head. Thankfully, these questions are easier (and more tasteful) than anything Tom came up with.

1. Would you rather have a friend who loses your books, or one who dog-ears them?

I’d rather have one less friend.

I don’t know…On the whole, dog-eared pages don’t bother me too much (not that I’ve done that in decades myself)–but I do have some older books that would look nicer if that had never happened to them. But a lost book can simply be replaced–which (barring the book being out of print, the new one having an ugly cover, or some other calamity befalling it) is almost easier to deal with than manhandled pages (especially if said friend secured their spot in my friendship roster by paying for the replacement unprompted). I guess, ideally, I’d take a lost book over a dog-eared one, but a friend is worth more than either.

2. Would you rather secretly love a book everyone else hates, or secretly hate a book everyone else loves?

I have to keep my love or hate secret? That might be a deal-breaker, for me–I just don’t know if I could get by without writing about my love/hate.

There’s a decent number of books I’ve enjoyed that few have read and, and I’m okay with not being part of the crowd when it comes to super-popular books–especially if I can understand why people think it’s great while I happen to disagree with them. If it’s one of those times where I don’t understand what everyone loves about a book, that bugs me.

I think I’d rather hate a book the rest of the world loves. If I’m a fan of a book, I’m going to want to spread the word and try to find like-minded readers. I want that possibility–exposing friends, family, blog readers, etc. to good books makes me happy. Grousing about a book isn’t particularly a thing I enjoy.

3. Would you rather be stuck on a very long plane or train ride without a book?

I’ve never traveled on a train that wasn’t an attraction on an amusement park, so I’m not honestly sure. But I do know that I’ve never been on a plane without at least one book (and usually a backup). Once we get in the air, I don’t think I’d mind flying all that much–but I don’t want to take the chance, I prefer being locked away in another world when we’re at crusing altitude. So let’s try to get me stuck on a very long train ride and see what happens.

4. Would you rather have dinner with your favorite author or your favorite character?

This is a tough one…I assume whatever fantasy-world that could give me this option could also give me the ability to shrug off my anxiety in order to converse with either the author or character? I could have a lot of fun over a steak sandwich or a Whopper with Harry Dresden (for example), but if I broke bread with Jim Butcher, he could tell me a lot about Harry–and Mouse, Toot-toot, Molly, and everyone. Harry couldn’t tell me anything about Butcher. The same would apply to other favorite characters and favorite authors. So, I’m going to have to go with the author.

Although, there’s a better than even chance that Tilly Bradshaw could tell me things about M.W. Craven that he doesn’t know himself.

5. Would you rather date a character you have a crush on or your crush from real life?

I’m pretty sure my wife would object to me dating anyone. I typically turn questions/prompts about book crushes into questions about fictional dogs, so let’s do that here.

Yeah, I’d love to spend some time with Dresden’s Mouse, Andy Carpenter’s Tara, Atticus’ Oberon (especially if I could hear him tell a story), or Washington Poe’s Edgar (and so on). So, put me down for a play date with a fictional dog. Nothing too major–they’ve got a human to hang out with, and I’ve got a couple of pooches that need attention.

6. Would you rather have your favorite book turned into a movie, or your favorite movie turned into a book?

I’ve read some really solid novelizations of movies (and several ‘meh’ novelizations, too). And like everyone who’s reading this post, I’ve both enjoyed and been disappointed/angered by bad adaptations of novels. Even the most barely adequate novelization is better than a bad adaptation. I don’t want to risk it with my favorite book.

Also, it’s easier for me to forget a disappointing movie than it is a disappointing book.

7. Would you rather read a book with an annoying cliffhanger, or one where your favorite character is killed off?

The phrasing here gets me–is the author of the tag suggesting that there are non-annoying cliffhangers and their target is the annoying kind? Or do cliffhangers get this descriptor automatically?

I’ve survived Dragons of Winter Night, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Where the Red Fern Grows, Battle Ground, and Marley & Me–along with several others that I won’t name so I can leave the liquor cabinet untouched today. I can handle deaths of favorite characters. Usually, after a period, understand and defend the author’s choice (fat chance of that happening with Battle Ground)–but that doesn’t mean I’d rather read something like that.

No, give me a cliffhanger–annoying by definition, annoying in practice, or any other kind.

8. Would you rather lose the ability to read any new books, or the ability to reread books you’ve already read?

Oh, wow…this is tough. This ranks right up there with that poor guy from The Twilight Zone who breaks his glasses before getting to spend the rest of his (probably short) life reading.

I’m super curious about new books–I imagine I always will be. Not being able to read a new book again is a dire fate indeed.

Never returning to Wolfe’s brownstone? Not seeing Spenser at his best? Never fighting back a tear when Harry Dresden uses the knife to win a war? Not getting to see Mercy Thompson torment the Alpha next door with her rusted out VW? Never seeing Kinsey Milhone at work again? Reading about Rov and the guys at Championship Vinyl and their Top 5 Lists? Not going through the Wardrobe again? Saying goodbye to Boo Radley? … Nope. Just can’t do that. I’d lose too many old friends and characters who might as well be family.

I guess I’d opt for losing the ability to read new books.

9. Would you rather live in a library or a bookstore?

I think a library would have to be my answer here. I learned a thing or two from Claudia and Jamie Kincaid that I could apply to a library, for one (and, in a library, I’d have an easy time finding a copy to brush up on, too).

Librarians are more likely to have a microwave and decent coffeepot–not to mention decent restroom facilities–than bookstore employees are (except for those bookstores with a coffee bar). Also, in a bookstore, you’d have the pressure of keeping the books pristine and ready to sell. Library books are supposed to be well-read/thumbed-through, so I wouldn’t have to worry about that. Lastly, I think it’d be far easier to hide out in a library than in a bookstore.

10. Would you rather lose your place or get a paper cut every time you read a book?

With losing your place there’s the danger that you’ll get something ruined if you check a page ahead of where you left off–or that you’ll miss something important. Both have happened to me more than I care to think. But I spent one summer in college working in binderies and print-shops and paper-cuts were a near-daily thing–drawing blood at least fortnightly. And…no. Just no. You’d think you’d get used to it, but I never did. I did get a lot better at paper-handling and by late July the cuts were decreasing in frequency, but I never got used the cuts. I’ll take losing my place regularly.

Come to think of it, if anyone is around when I’m reading now (including one of the dogs), I’m bound to get distracted and lose my place anyway.

11. Would you rather have to always read in the dark, or always read books with tiny text?

Well, I get some kind of light, right? I’m not the Newton that wrote Opticks, but I’m pretty sure you have to have some light to see print. So I’m going to intrepret this question as “Would you rather have to always read with very little light, or always read books with tiny text?” Either is not going to do favors for my not-yet-fifty-year-old (but getting close) eyes, but I’m going to go with in the dark/very little light.

Going back to the days when I had a small selection of flashlights next to my bed to use after my folks said “lights out,” I’ve done okay with limited light, frequently without noticing it until my wife turns a lamp on. I still do okay with that–but I think my days are numbered there. Small print is getting harder and harder for me, even with my new bifocals, and I just don’t enjoy it. Large Print editions still give me a headache, so my eyes aren’t too bad, yet.

Of course, if we’re talking about an e-reader, it can be as dark as you want in the room…

12. Would you rather read by a fireplace, or on the beach?

I’ve done both of these repeatedly, so this is easy-peasy. Fireplace.

Fireplaces are indoors, which is almost always a plus in my book. They can be just sitting there inert, or making the vicinity warm and toasty. Either way, it’s an improvement over the absence of a ceiling and the yellow ball of fire overhead. Beaches frequently involve people yelling in the distance, strangers walking by and distracting you, a well-intentioned family member shouting at you to look at something–or telling you that you should put your book down and enjoy things.

Also, fireplaces almost never get sand everywhere on your person, making it too uncomfortable to read. Whereas that’s an ever-present danger on a beach.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

I recently saw this tag both at Read Betwixt Words and Becky’s Book Blog and it looked fun.

Last Book I Bought

The Judgement Book by Simon Hall

This is the fourth book in The TV Detective/Dan Groves Investigates series–I loved the first two books in the series and somehow haven’t managed to read book 3, Evil Valley. Hopefully owning this one will be the kick in the pants I need.

Last Book I Borrowed

I guess technically it be Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor, but that’s from the Library and it doesn’t really feel like borrowing (I’m not sure that makes sense to anyone, including me). The last book I borrowed from a person (my son) was Halo: The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund.

Last Book I Was Gifted

The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament by G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd

I received this from my son and daughter-in-law last year, and have really enjoyed working through it this year.

Last Book I Gave to Someone Else

Madam Tulip and the Rainbow’s End by David Ahern

I got my mother hooked on this series a few years ago, and was glad when he released this around the time I needed a gift for her birthday.

Last Book I Started

In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin

I’m loving being back in the world of John Rebus–Rankin’s ability to keep this ailing and retired detective involved in police cases–and doing so interestingly–is so much fun to see.

Last Book I Finished

Jacked: An Anthology of Crime Fiction edited by Vern Smith

This collection of short crime fiction is exactly what you’d want/expect. There were a few really strong stories and a couple of new-to-me authors that I’ll be on the lookout for.

Last Book I Rated 5 Stars

Don’t Know Tough by Eli Crano

Yeah, it’s a repeat entry for this tag–oh well. Cranor’s debut is one of the easiest 5 Stars I’ve ever given. This thing got into my bones, and I’ll be thinking about it for weeks (at least) and talking about it for months (I know that I’ll mention it at least once in my 2022 wrap-ups)

Last Book I Rated 2 Stars

Better Off Dead by Lee Child and Andrew Child

I am still trying to believe that this hand-off from Lee to Andrew is going to work, but this book doesn’t give me a lot of reason for that belief. Reacher 2.0 makes me want to watch the Cruise flicks for a more authentic feel.

Last Book I DNF’d

The Writer’s Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives by Nancy Pearl & Jeff Schwager, narrated by the authors and sixteen other people

Very interesting book–great premise. And the text version probably works well–but the way the audiobook was assembled and read…just unlistenable. (I talked about it some here)

Last Book I Listened To

Black Nerd Problems by William Evans & Omar Holmon

This was just tremendously fun to listen to–but when I sat down to write my post about it today, I came up blank. I’m having a hard time deciding what to talk about, I think–there’s a lot. Anyway, that’s why I did this post instead 🙂

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.