Tag: Book tag

I can’t believe we are into April already, wow! I’m just trying to slow down and enjoy the spring but it’s still freezing out.

Anyway, I’ve seen the Quarter Year Crisis book tag floating around a lot this month and it’s a great tag, so I’m jumping in! I’m also just going to tag “anyone who sees this” 🤣

The original tag was created by Roisin’s Reading on BookTube, a great channel!

How many books have you read so far?

I’m at 33 for the year! I tend to read 10-11 books a month and have been on par with that although my page count may be much lower due to shorter books😅

Have you already found a book you think might be a 2023 favourite?

I started out the year really strong with two Joe Abercrombie books, Before They Are Hanged and The Last Argument of Kings. I also read Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett that was strong

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

I hate to keep harping on this but yeah, I truly disliked Stella Maris and The Passenger.  I also thought The Hermes Protocol was utterly stupid and far past the political correctness quota

Most read genre so far?

I think because of the SPSFC that sci-fi actually surpassed fantasy up to this point. Don’t quote me on that though, it’s pretty close either way

A book that surprised you?

Oooh…. Hum…. How about The Rush’s Echo by Ginger Smith? I *ducks behind couch sorry* didn’t have great expectations for the book but was happily surprised that she totally nailed the ending and it was worth the wait to read!

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

The three releases I am truly looking forward to are coming out 1) likely in the summer and 2+3) in November.  Those are Down Below Beyond by TA Bruno, and then a new short story/novella by Kristin Britain in the Green Rider universe, and, new Tad Williams. 2023 releases haven’t really appealed yet

One goal you made that you’re succeeding at?

Reducing my book buying and continuing to unhaul books instead of hoarding them! I’m very proud of both of these goals!

One goal you made that you need to focus on?

I’m doing a fairly good job of expanding my reading into short stories and famous authors I’m not as familiar with, such as the AD collection. I’m off to a good start but will focus more on this once the SPSFC ends

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

I’m set in my ways and haven’t started truly following any new reviewers.  Philip Chase is still my number one.  I did find the Avram Davidson Universe (or they found me haha) and have been learning a lot about sci-fi genre history through their site and Twitter links. Through that I found Endless Bookshelf https://mobile.twitter.com/endless_bkshelf who also has a lot of varied and interesting content.

I’m excited to see how the second quarter of 2023 goes! There is some new content coming and things that I’m extremely excited for, nott least the final round of the SPSFC and some collaborations I’m working on 😅

Oh wow, I created a book tag once but I don’t know if I have ever been directly tagged to participate in one! I was tagged by Celeste at A Literary Escape  to do to the Smash or Pass tag, originally created by Becky at Becky’s Book Blog! Essentially a bookish thing is listed, and we either smash (like) or pass (dislike) the item.  Easy and fun, let’s see what there is!

Bookish Tropes

To me, a trope is just a theme or idea a book or character can be based around.  I feel pretty indifferent but find them handy to know what I’m getting into – like lovers to enemies (my favorite), or orphan turns into chosen one (yuck).  On a whole though I support tropes

Verdict: smash

Alternating POV

I get confused if there are more than two, or three can work if they have distinct alternating POV as long as I can tell them apart!

Ambiguous Endings

I’m going to be the oddball out here and SMASH ambiguous endings when they are done well.  There is a way to do these that makes the reader think about the events leading up to the conclusion in a meaningful way or a new light, and draw their own conclusions.  I’m all about it.

Nonfiction

On the whole, PASS.  I’m super picky about my history reading and outside of a few niche interests (cavalry, revolution, 1812, civil war)  don’t seek out nonfiction at all.

Historical Setting

History nonfiction books yes, but historical settings in fiction… not so much.  Again, I’m super picky about my history and will gladly read within my interests but on the whole, PASS

Morally Grey Characters

SMASH and the greyer, the better.  I don’t think anyone in the history of Earth had crystal clear morality.  Life is a giant gray zone and sometimes one has to do what they have to do, even in the name of good (or evil).  Just bring on all the gray.

First Person POV

Hard PASS. Hard. Pass. I play out the book like a movie in my head when I read, and it’s easy when it’s told in third person.  In first person, I either have to really ‘feel’ the character or it’s a total bust, and I have a terrible time playing the book out from my own eyes

Audiobooks

Oh, smash. With my vision getting worse and headaches and inability to focus on small print for long periods, audiobooks have SAVED MY LIFE.  I wouldn’t still be a blogger without them.  Plus they’re wonderful for me as someone who (again) likes to play out book movies while they digest literature.  Plus I drive so much and again, they’re just a life saver

Re-reading

PASS.  I think there are way too many books out there to re read.  If I truly am starting to forget a favorite, I will re read it, but only years and years apart.  In my whole life I think I’ve only ever re read The Old Kingdom series and Harry Potter, and I try to seek out a different medium like audio the second time around.

Classic Novels

I have been trying to read a classic every few months but it’s a struggle, I’ll tell you.  I want to broaden my horizons so I’m trying to understand them but at the same time, total pass 

Annotating

SMASH but only with these not very sticky little stickers that I use to keep track of important events in series.  Then I can come back for a recap before reading the next book if needed.  I absolutely don’t write in or highlight text or any other such foolishness 🤣

Cracking Book Spines

PASS. Hard no. Don’t recommend. I love a beaten up old paperback but I’ll read an mmpb without cracking it because if I buy it new, I like it to look pristine! Plus I am still in the bookstagram mindset of pretty things, and I don’t want to be the one doing the damage

Smut

Uhh…pass.  No explanation needed, I just don’t come to my fiction for romance or smut.  I’ve died on the hill that smut doesn’t belong in YA books too.

Character Driven Books

I actually prefer plot driven all the way.  I can deal with flat characters if the plot is interesting, but not the other way around.  There has to be a good plot. So, pass

Past/Present Split Timeline

I’ve only ever seen this successfully pulled off in some domestic suspense books and thrillers, where we have to go back in time to reveal what led up to the main event.  In those cases absolutely smash.

Heavy World-building

SMASH. All the way. I want to know everyyyyyything AS LONG AS ITS RELEVANT TO THE STORY.  I don’t need to know what color everyone on the continent’s shirt is but, if it’s related to the story, I want to know all the history and local flavor.

Tags

I tag the following bloggers to participate in the Smash or Pass book tag:

Oh geez, I’m not sure who will do it! The only rule is to link to the original creator and the one who tagged you, so if you want to do it…

Brandy https://thereviewbooth.wordpress.com/

Tralyn https://tralynsbookbag.wordpress.com/

And…

LeAnn! https://leannreadsbooks.home.blog/