My Good Reading Habits Tag

I’ve been tagged by the super-awesome Orangutan Librarian to do the Good Reading Habits book tag – yay! Thank you my lovely! 💕

I have to admit that I don’t have that many good habits when it comes to reading but I’ll try to over-emphasise the ones that I do possess in order to look like a wholesome book blogging community member 😉

Here we go!

#1. I look after my books

Books are precious little gems to me, so I either keep them in my Billy bookcases (mostly behind glass) or on my TBR trolley (because unread books on shelves get forgotten about and make me feel a bit sick). I once lent a book to someone I worked with and it came back with pages missing – as far as I’m concerned, if you mistreat a book then you’re an animal. Urgh.

 

#2. I never write in books or fold down pages

See above. Animals! Look at the state of those spines!

 

#3. I volunteer in my local library

I feel like I’ve been banging on a lot about this recently but helping out in a library has been brilliant. Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library (ECCL) is now entirely community led (i.e. run by volunteers) so not only am I a small part of a team that keeps the place running, I also get to push advertise my favourite books using a variety of surreptitious methods – writing up little “recommended” cards, turning the stacked books sideways to showcase their lovely front covers, generally being gobby about what someone should read next… 😉

 

#4. I regularly donate unwanted books and happily buy used books

I have a quasi-regular feature on my blog called “Sorting Out the Shelves” where I either decide to own or rehome some of my old books. Any books that I don’t want get sent to the ECCL used book shop, with the proceeds going back into the library coffers – although I usually bring back more than I’ve donated!

 

#5. I take part in the Read Harder challenge

I love taking part in this challenge – it really helps me to increase the variety of books that I read and helps marginalised authors to get more recognition. I’ve found some real gems over the years – everything from non-violent true crime to food memoirs!

 

#6. I log everything on Goodreads, even though it pains me

Ahh, another tag, another opportunity to moan about Goodreads! Seriously though, I try to keep my page as up-to-date as possible so that I can track what I’ve read and search out new recommendations. I also try to review everything that I’ve read both on the site and on my blog (although there’s often a big time lag).

 

#7. I take part in various schemes designed to promote books

I take part in the Calendar Girls meme, where every month we recommend our favourite books based on a specific topic. I’m also a member of The Write Reads, where a big group of us all promote each other’s book reviews and bookish content on Twitter.

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Well, give that girl a medal, eh? I didn’t intend to sound so virtuous – pass the sick bucket!

I tag: N S Ford, Book Beach Bunny and Christina!

 

What good bookish habits do you have? Let me know in the comments – and feel free to tag yourself!

 

Unpopular Opinions Tag

Hello bookworms!

I’ve been tagged by the amazing Orangutan Librarian to complete the Unpopular Opinions tag (yay!) – she’s seriously one of the best book bloggers out there so definitely check out her site!

I know I have a lot of opinions that might be a little… different to other bloggers so this should be interesting!

A POPULAR BOOK OR BOOK SERIES THAT YOU DIDN’T LIKE

I’m soooo tempted to also say The Foxhole Court but I’ve just read Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie and I just. did. not. get. it. It’s got over 4 stars on Goodreads and won the Women’s Prize for Fiction but to me it was the most awkwardly written, boring book ever.

 

A POPULAR BOOK OR BOOK SERIES THAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO HATE BUT YOU LOVE

I wouldn’t say I absolutely loved this book but I did enjoy reading it, even though the rest of the world seems to think it should be banned/ it’s scarred them for life etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong, the level of violence is extreme and the endless lists of clothing are repetitive but the atmosphere that’s created is incredible.

AN OTP THAT YOU DON’T LIKE

 

 

A what now? *googles* Oh, Ok. I will forever dislike Ron and Hermione being together. Won-Won and Lavender were far more believable. Hermione and literally anyone else would have been better.

A POPULAR BOOK GENRE THAT YOU HARDLY REACH FOR.

Young adult is not my bag. Too obvious, too cheesy, too unrelatable. Not all of it obviously but… a lot of it.

A POPULAR/BELOVED CHARACTER THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE

Literally anyone in this book. They were all horrible. Cries of *but they’re all so damaged!* butters no parsnips with me.

A POPULAR AUTHOR THAT YOU CAN’T SEEM TO GET INTO

Can I say John Green again? Ok, I’ll think of someone else…

 

I see this book all the time in the library and I just. Can’t. I hate semi naked bodies on book covers (especially stereotypically perfect bodies), I don’t like how teenage the book sounds, I saw that Cassandra Clare also has a book called “What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything” and just nononooooo. They might be brilliant but nothing about any of her books appeals to me.

A POPULAR BOOK TROPE THAT YOU’RE TIRED OF SEEING

Abusive men portrayed as damaged romantics. This book should have read;

“I like you. By the way, I’m really into BDSM.”

“Oh, I’m not.”

“Ok, bye”.

NOT that shitshow of isolation tactics, stalking, “punishment” and abuse of power and privilege.

A POPULAR SERIES THAT YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN READING.

Haha, most of them?

Maybe the Lunar Chronicles  – not least because a) my ankle looks like that after breaking it and I can feel the metal in my leg – urgh and b) what on earth is this fractional numbering convention all about?

 

THE SAYING GOES “THE BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN THE MOVIE”, BUT WHAT MOVIE OR TV SHOW ADAPTATION DO YOU PREFER MORE THAN THE BOOK?

Oh gosh, Killing Eve was soooooo much better than Codename: Villanelle. The books were ok but the TV adaptations were phenomenal. Can’t wait for series two!

I tag anyone who wants to do this!

Have you read any of these books? Have I been overly harsh or do you agree with me? Let me know in the comments!

 

 

 

The Bookish Naughty or Nice Tag

​Hello bookworms!

I’ve been tagged by the amazing Liz over at Travel in Retrospect to do a fun Christmassy bookish tag – yay! It’s been literally months since I’ve done one so thank you!

Let’s find out how naughty I’ve been..😯

Rules

– Tag & link the person who tagged you
– Tag and link me/this post (if you would be so kind, I love reading your answers!)
– Tick/cross off the ones you’ve done
– Tag another 10 people!

1. Received and ARC and not reviewed it 😈

So I did what everyone does when I first signed up for NetGalley and got super excited, requested everything then realised exactly how much time it would take me to read and review it all. I’m still ploughing through my backlist but yeah, there’s about ten that I haven’t got round to. 

2. Have less than 60% feedback rating on NetGalley 😇

I finally made it to 80% feedback this year! I was fully expecting my badge…then it never came. I’m still waiting on NetGalley to fix this technical error (seriously, how hard can it be). 

3. Rated a book on Goodreads and promised a full review was to come on you blog and then never did it 😇

I’m only rating myself as nice on this one because I barely ever use Goodreads! So far I’ve never promised them anything – I mostly avoid the site as much as possible. I saw someone tweet the other day that they wanted to go back to uni just to learn coding purely so they could fix Goodreads and that pretty much sums up my feelings. 

4. Folded down the page of a book 😇

Do you think I’m a heathen? Of course I don’t. I have many improvised bookmarks (train/bus/gig tickets, receipts, leaflets, shopping lists, any old bit of paper rolling round in my bag…). There’s really no excuse. 

5. Accidentally spilled on a book 😈

I like to read in the bath and I like to snack in the bath, so the combination of heat and water and food and paper occasionally converge. I get angry with myself when it happens though. 

6. DNF a book this year 😈

I have, and it’s the first book I’ve ever thought “nope, enough of this nonsense, DNF” instead of getting bored and leaving it lying around unfinished for years. It was surprisingly freeing. I’m sure I’ll be doing more of that. 

7. Bought a book because it was pretty with no intention of ever reading it 😇

No. Why would I do that? Pretty books usually have the best stories. 

8. Read whilst you were meant to be doing something else (like homework) 😈

Oh yeah. I’m definitely one of those “just one more chapter” people. Especially if the thing I should be doing is sleeping. 

9. Skim read a book 😇

No. Either read it or DNF it. Unless it’s a textbook and you’re looking for a specific thing. 

10. Completely missed your Goodreads goal 😇

See my previous answers regarding my hatred of the cult of Goodreads. I do a reading challenge every year and I’ve just completed that, so I’m awarding myself a halo.

11. Borrowed a book and not returned it to the library 😈

I have a confession to make…I once STOLE A BOOK from my primary school library. On purpose. From a primary school! What a tearaway I was. It’s the only thing I’ve ever nicked and I still feel guilty.

12. Broke a book buying ban 😈

Every. Single. Time. Did it yesterday, in fact. 

13. Started a review, left it for ages, and then forgotten what the book is about 😇

No, but I have put off reviewing a book then entirely forgotten the plot. I like to write all my reviews in one go so it’s rare I’ll start one then come back to it. 

14. Wrote in a book you were reading 😇

No, no, no. Although I do like reading other people’s notes – but only if they’re in pencil. What can I say, I’m weird. 

15. Finished a book and not added it to your Goodreads 😈

All the time!

16. Borrowed a book and not returned it to a friend 😈

Yes but only because my friend borrowed a load of books from me and never returned them, so now I’m holding hers to ransom. 

17. Dodged someone asking if they can borrow a book 😈

Yes, the friend who never returns books!

18. Broke the spine of someone else’s book 😈

How do you read a book without breaking the spine a bit? 

19. Took the jacket off a book to protect it and ended up doing more damage 😇

I very rarely buy hardback books and if I do, I always leave the jackets on, so no.

20. Sat on a book accidentally 😈

Yeah, loads of times. There’s books everywhere in my house and I’m always dropping them, knocking them over, kicking them under the bed…I love my books but until they get read they don’t get put on my bookshelves, so they have to withstand a fair bit of abuse. 

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Wow, eleven naughty and nine nice! That’s a lot better than I thought (even though some of my answers were slightly creative). Do I still get Christmas presents?

I tag:

N S Ford

Book Beach Bunny

Adrienne

Katie 

I’d love to hear what you think so let me know/tag me back!

Books I’ll Probably Never Read Tag

Look at me, blogging on a semi regular basis! Thank you so much to the amazing Orangutan Librarian who is all kinds of awesome, although she definitely doesn’t need the publicity 😜.

Bring on the wall questions!

A Really Hyped Book You’re Not Interested in Reading?

I really feel like a lot of YA fiction at the moment is really not for me – as I’ve said before, I’m too old for that shit. Also, I’ve never been remotely interested in Disney so maybe the Lunar Chronicles? (even though that’s actually what my broken leg looks like inside).

A Series You Won’t Start/Won’t Be Finishing?

I like to think that I’ll finish all of the series that I’ve started, although I expect that I’ll continue to bump the Wheel of Time books down my TBR, especially when I get to the ones that aren’t even written by Robert Jordan.

A Classic That You’re Just Not Interested In?

If I’m honest – most of them? I’m really not a classics fan. I was put off Shakespeare for life by my schoolteachers so maybe one of his plays like King Lear.

Any Genres You’ve Never Read?

(Well, that Google search threw up a lot of interesting images)

Ummm, I don’t think so? I like to read as widely as possible and I’ll pretty much give anything a go.

A Book On Your Shelves You’ll Probably Never Actually Read?

Well, I was only saying to someone yesterday (whose name I have totally forgotten, sorry!) that I’m kind of scared of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. It looks so complicated and loads of people have said how the writing style is really difficult to get into, it’s hard to work out who is talking, it’s really slow to begin with…and yet so many people love it. I keep putting it off, and that’s never a good sign with me.

I tag anyone who wants to take part, but especially Liz, Dani and Christina! 

Are there any books you don’t think you’ll ever read? Let me know! 

Amazon 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime – the UK version

Hello Bookworms!

A couple of weeks ago I did the Amazon.com’s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime and I was quite surprised at how few books I’d read.

“I’m a reading failure!” I cried. “Will Netgalley take my special virtual badge off me?” (I’m really attached to that badge – I think this is the third post where it’s had a mention).

Thankfully, the wonderful Liz@travelinretrospect saved my bacon by pointing out that the Amazon.co.uk list is weirdly…easier? More relevant? More reflective of UK reader’s tastes? Whatever, I’ve read more novels on this slightly sinister, nudge theory approach to getting you to buy more books (from a company with a terrible history of employment legislation infringements) so with the caveat that EVERYONE SHOULD SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERSAND LIBRARIES…off we go!

1. Include a link back to Amazon’s official 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime (I sense this might come back to haunt me in some dystopian future)
2. Tag Perfectly Tolerable, the creator of this meme
3. Tag the person who nominated you
4. Copy the list of books and indicate which titles you have read.
5. Tally up your total.
6. Comment on the post you were tagged in and share your total count.
7. Tag five new people and comment on one of their posts to let them know.

Let’s get on with the list:

1984 George Orwell (oh the irony)

A Brief History of Time Stephen Hawking

A Fine Balance Rohinton Mistry

A Game of Thrones George R R Martin

A History of the World in 100 Objects Neil MacGregor

All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque

American Gods Neil Gaiman

American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis

Artemis Fowl Eoin Colfer

Atonement Ian McKewan

Bad Science Ben Goldacre

Birdsong Sebastian Faulks

Brideshead Revisted Evelyn Waugh

Bridget Jones’s Diary Helen Fielding

Brighton Rock Graham Greene

Casino Royale Ian Fleming

Catch 22 Joseph Hellier

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl

Cider with Rosie Laurie Lee

Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevesky

Dissolution C J Sansom

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Philip K. Dick

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Hunter S. Thompson

Frankenstein Mary Shelley

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything Stephen D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Goodnight Mister Tom Michelle Magorian

Great Expectations Charles Dickens

Gulliver’s Travels Jonathan Swift

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone J K Rowling

High Fidelity Nick Hornby

In Cold Blood Truman Capote

Knots and Crosses Ian Rankin

Last Orders Graham Swift

Little Women Louise May Alcott

Lolita Vladimir Nabokov

London Fields Martin Amis

London: The Biography Peter Akroyd

Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela

Lord of the Flies William Golding

Midnight’s Children Salman Rushdie

My Man Jeeves P G Woodhouse

Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro

Norwegian Wood Haruki Murakami

Notes From A Small Island Bill Bryson

Noughts and Crosses Malorie Blackman

One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit Jeanette Winterson

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

Rebecca Daphne Du Maurier

Stormbreaker Anthony Horowitz

Tess of the d’Urbervilles Thomas Hardy

The Book Thief Markus Zusak

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas John Boyne

The Colour of Magic Terry Pratchett

The Commitments Roddy Doyle

The Diary of a Young Girl Anne Frank

The Enchanted Wood Enid Blyton

The English Patient Michael Ondaatje

The Fellowship of the Ring J R R Tolkien

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Stieg Larsson

The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck

The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Gruffalo Julia Donaldson

The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood

The Hare with Amber Eyes Edmund de Waal

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams

The Hound of the Baskervilles Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat Oliver Sacks

The Mill on the Floss George Eliot

The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway

The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde

The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver

The Road Cormac McCarthy

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Sue Townsend

The Secret History Donna Tartt

The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins

The Sense of an Ending Julian Barnes

The Stand Stephen King

The Story of Tracy Beaker Jacqueline Wilson

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Beatrix Potter

The Tiger Who Came to Tea Judith Kerr

The Time Machine H G Wells

The Worst Witch Jill Murphy

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy John Le Carré

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee

To the Lighthouse Virginia Woolf

The Wasp Factory Iain Banks

Trainspotting Irvine Welsh

Venice Jan Morris

Watchmen Alan Moore

Watership Down Richard Adams

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Helen Oxenbury

White Teeth Zadie Smith

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China Jung Chang

Winnie the Pooh A A Milne

Wuthering Heights Emily Brontë

Much better; 42 books out of 100. Yay me!

There’s quite a few books on here that I can’t remember if I’ve read or not (Pride and Prejudice – did we study that at school? Lord of the Flies – I have vague recollections but I could be thinking of any number of films/tv series. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – did I read that to my cousins when they were little?) I haven’t included them, just in case. Also, I never know whether to include The Gruffalo – I’ve seen the animated version where the book is literally read out – does that count?

Favourites on the list included Rebecca, 1984, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, Harry Potter, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and A Game of Thrones. I also have very fond memories of reading The Worst Witch, Goodnight Mr Tom, Peter Rabbit, Little Women and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a child.

Books that bored me to tears (despite being very well written) include The Hare With Amber Eyes, American Gods (despite my undying love of Neil Gaiman and everything else he has written), One Hundred Years of Solitude, Midnights Children (controversial), Lolita (not so much bored as utterly disgusted and angry – I would actually recommend reading this but be warned) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Atonement (found it a bit meh).

Books I’m in the middle of reading/on my immediate TBD include Watchmen, the Handmaid’s Tale, The Diary of a Young Girl, Birdsong and The Poisonwood Bible.

Books I’ve started and not finished (but will do at some point) include Crime and Punishment (heavy going but really good – I must get a copy that isn’t printed in a font designed for hawks) and Tess of the D’Urbervilles (think I was too young the first time I tried to read it).

Books I’ve started and will very definitely not finish include Winnie the Pooh (he’s not wearing trousers! All kinds of wrong) The Stand (too scary) and Trainspotting (what are they saying?)

It would be really interesting to see if any US readers fare better with this list than the Amazon.com one – is there really that much difference between us?

I tag everyone that’s had a go at the Amazon.com list!

The Nope Tag!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Let’s have a nice alternative to all that mushy hearts and romance crap with…the Nope Tag! Thank you so much to the lovely Orangutan Librarian for tagging me!

The creator of this tag can be found <a href="here!

1. NOPE. Ending: A book ending that made you go NOPE either in denial, rage, or simply because the ending was crappy.

There’s tons of terrible endings to books but I really disliked the way that the Life of Pi finished. I THOUGHT I WAS READING AN INTERESTING BOOK NOT WATCHING DALLAS!

2. NOPE. Protagonist: A main character you dislike and drives you crazy.

Pretty much everyone in the Casual Vacancy was a horrible person. I’ve also just read The Confession by Jo Spain and the main character Julie was totally stupid and wet.

3. NOPE. Series: A series that turned out to be one huge pile of NOPE. after you’ve invested all of that time and energy on it, or a series you gave up on because it wasn’t worth it anymore.

The Paper Magician series. First book was really interesting and novel, second book started to loose its way, third book was just convoluted nonsense.

4. NOPE. Popular pairing: A “ship” you don’t support.

What is a ship I am not a teenager!!! From the previous answer and after a very enlightening Google search I’d say Steerpike and Lady Fuchsia Groan from Gormenghast. As far as I’m concerned the whole book is nonsense but trying to pair the two of them together was just all kind of wrong weirdness.

5. NOPE. Plot twist: A plot twist you didn’t see coming or didn’t like.

The whole “you’re actually a magical mystical person reborn” in Everless, and in the words of the Orangutan Librarian “that’s not a spoiler- you can’t spoil a shit book”.

6. NOPE. Protagonist action/decision: A character decision that made you shake your head no.

“Yes I will go on a date with you Christian Grey, you sexy control freak abuser you”.

7. NOPE. Genre: A genre you will never read.

There’s quite a lot – cozy mysteries, “sexy” fantasy (i.e. fantasy with a sexy element called something like “Lord of Fire Spirits Mortal Lover” or some such nonsense) gossipy celeb memoirs…

8. NOPE. Book format: Book formatting you hate and avoid buying until it comes out in a different edition

I don’t like large print, especially in hardback. My arms ache! Also not a fan of audio books, they take too long.

9. NOPE. Trope: A trope that makes you go NOPE.

The we hate each other so much that it somehow turns into passion trope. Just shut up.

10. NOPE. Recommendation: A book recommendation that is constantly hyped and pushed at you that you simply refuse to read.

I’m just not a fan of classics or Shakespeare. I wish I was but I’m just not. I’m reading Les Miserables at the moment by only doing one chapter a day and that seems to be working well though.

11. NOPE. Cliche/pet peeve: A cliche or writing pet peeve that always makes you roll your eyes.

Characters that could be replaced with a sexy lamp and it wouldn’t affect the storyline. I like all my characters to say and do stuff (I feel like this is a pretty low bar to set, but you’d be amazed at how many authors fail to do this).

12. NOPE. Love interest: The love interest that’s not worthy of being one. A character you don’t think should have been a viable love interest.

I’ve pretty much stolen this from the orangutan librarian but Ron Weasley. There’s nothing attractive about him. And to put him with lovely clever ambitious Hermione was ridiculous.

13. NOPE. Book: A book that shouldn’t have existed that made you say NOPE.

John Dies @ The End. I should have known from that title. I think you have to be on drugs to enjoy it.

14. NOPE. Villain: A scary villain/antagonist you would hate to cross and would make you run in the opposite direction.

Pennywise the Clown. I’m so haunted by him. Terrifying.

15. NOPE. Death: A character death that still haunts you.

Oh Severus, surely you could have taken some snake anti venom or something…

16. NOPE. Author: An author you had a bad experience reading for and have decided to quit.

Some of the super popular YA stuff like John Green or Rachel Cohn and David Levithan – I’m a bit too old and I like a bit more darkness in my stories. I’m still angry that they misprinted the Smiths lyrics in Eleanor and Park.

Done!

I tag: Holly… Veronica… Kay… Liz…and Stephanie!

Me In Characters Book Tag!

Hello lovelies!

So, a couple of weeks ago, I posted that I was going to have a very Zen approach to 2018 where I was going to read what I wanted when I wanted and not make any hard and fast rules. This newfound freedom led me to go on a Netgalley requesting spree, I signed up to read one chapter per day of  Les Miserables, I’m doing the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, I’ve added loads of books to my TBR… and now I’m frantically making calendars and tick lists and generally feeling like I’m months behind. I’m a failure!

However, I’m trying not to stress so I’m doing a fun tag post sent to me by the one and only Orangutan Librarian (who is amazing and has the most beautiful blog that I think she illustrates herself with her own clever little monkey paws…or if not she’s excellent at cut and pasting beautiful illustrations from the internet – either way you should go check her out).

THE RULES:

1. Thank the creators of the tag (Us! Ash & Lo @ windowsill books)
2. Thank whoever tagged you!
3. List 5 book characters who you are most like and explain why.
4. Tag your friends!

Here goes!

1. Death from The Sandman graphic novels (and other spin off series).

I suspect this might be a case of me wanting to be like Death rather than actually being like her, but we do share quite a few personality traits. She’s sarcastic and she believes in tough love but she’s also really loyal, pretty darn perky and a good person to turn to in a crisis. I’m nowhere near as cool as she is though.

2. Severus Snape from Harry Potter

Oh, poor misunderstood Severus. I totally identified with him on so many levels, not only because he’s awkward and geeky and a bit of a goth (there seems to be a theme here) but also because he’s snarky and grumpy when people don’t meet his high standards (I try not to do this, but I just can’t help it). Oh, and I would also have been majorly pissed off if Harry Potter had been dicking around in one of my lessons too. I think I would have been even less patient with him.

3. Sue Perkins from Spectacles/her own life

Ok so this is cheating but my love for Sue Perkins knows no bounds, mostly because I just get her. I can totally relate to how she feels about so many things, from being introverted and awkward to being the weird “black sheep” of her family. She’s written so eloquently on being unmarried with no kids when everyone around her is copulating like bunnies (literally my life right now – as I’m writing this I’ve just seen another notification that a friend has had a baby) and if you’ve ever classed yourself as a “dog person” then I defy you not turn into a sobbing mess if you read her Letter to Pickle. She’s basically me but more gay and with more cash.

4. Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride

“Enough about my beauty.” Buttercup said. “Everybody always talks about how beautiful I am. I’ve got a mind, Westley. Talk about that.”
― William Goldman, The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride is one of my favourite books ever, partly because I completely relate to how pissed off Princess Buttercup gets for constantly being underestimated. That happens to me all the time. I think it’s because I’m small and blonde and wear makeup but people are often shocked if they find out that I’m happiest sitting in the mud planting vegetables or that I know how to use a power tool. One of my friends was even quite surprised that my job was not secretarial but that I was interpreting employment legislation, writing policies and hiring and firing people. He thought I was a typist who sat around filing her nails all day. 

5. Claudia Kishi from The Babysitter’s  Club

I think a lot of you will be too young to have experienced Ann M. Martin’s seminal series of YA-before-it-was-a-Thing Babysitter’s Club books but for me, they were something of an obsession. The books centered around a group of teenage girls who formed a babysitter’s club, and the adventures that they had whilst babysitting. I know, right? There were literally hundreds of volumes, plus specials, a spin off series and even a TV programme*. Different times.

I can see parts of myself in all of the babysitters (Kristy was bossy, Mary-Ann was an introvert pushover, Stacey was cool and Dawn was a hippy) but I identified most with Claudia, the “quirky” one. Claudia would regularly dress like she was in costume and spent most of her time daydreaming and drawing pictures. I LOVE unusual, often vintage clothing and although this has died down a bit as I’ve got older, I still enjoy looking a little different to everyone else. I’m also a total dreamer and I like to think I’m quite artistic, although in a vague “good at putting things together that look nice” type of way, not as someone with any technical skills. I wish.

*There’s also an excellently funny, sweary, post millennium analysis of all of the BSC books available as a podcast here. If you were a fan of the series when you were younger you should definitely check it out!
      ————————————————–

I tag…. Holly…Jess…Mischenko…Casey…and Dani!

Plus, anyone else who wants to get involved!

The Sunshine Blogger Award

Yay! I’ve been nominated by the super awesome Orangutan Librarian for the Sunshine Blogger Award! If you don’t already follow her then seriously, you need to take a long hard look at yourself!

So, usual rules apply…let’s go!

WHO IS THE ONE PERSON THAT IS THE SUNSHINE IN YOUR LIFE?

My mum never fails to make me smile. Examples include:

– the time she put the cat’s biscuits in a fancy bowl on our dresser and my dad thought they were nuts and ate them.
– the time she made us go to church (despite being an atheist) and told us to wrap up warm, then we ended up sitting next to a massive radiator and we nearly sweated to death
-during the same church service, we were meant to shake hands and say “peace be with you” to the rest of the congregation but my mum misheard and said “pleased to meet you”. To everyone.
– the time she saw a car on fire in the distance and called the fire brigade, then realised (after they arrived) that it was someone burning leaves in their garden and she didn’t have her glasses on

Plus countless other examples too numerous to list.

DO YOU PREFER ALL HAPPY MOVIES, OR OCCASIONAL SAD MOVIES?

I don’t watch that many films, but I quite like weird, awkward ones…so not really happy or sad?

WHAT IS THE ONE FOOD THAT ALWAYS MAKES YOU HAPPY?

Chocolate! Or just, you know, any food… I get very grumpy when I’m hungry.

WHAT IS THE SUNSHINE ON YOUR BLOG?

All the lovely comments and likes that I get.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE WACKY “ FUN” DAY?

Anything involving animals, like a zoo or farm (yes, I have the same interests as a six year old). Or a nice walk in the countryside. Or a comfy chair and a book. I AM SO OLD.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT YOURSELF?

I’m pretty resilient and I have a really high pain threshold, which comes in handy as I’m also quite clumsy.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT THE BLOGGING COMMUNITY?

I’ve found my people!

WHAT IS THE ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU SMILE THE MOST?

Sue Perkins’ Spectacles is such a warm, funny, lovely autobiography. I have such a girl crush on her.

WHERE IS YOUR CORNER OF SUNSHINE IN YOUR HOME?

The patio in the garden is a little sun trap, and I have a super comfy hammock out there in the summer.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR OR COLOURS?

Green. I’m team Slytherin.

WHAT IS THE ONE MOVIE (OR DRAMA) THAT ALWAYS MAKES YOU HAPPY?

Harry Potter, obvs.

I’m going to use the same questions and I’m nominating…
Holly… Jess… Mischenko… Casey… and Dani

(as usual no pressure to do it – also sorry if you’ve recently been nominated)

Or feel free to tag yourself!

One Lovely Blog Award Tag

Hello Lovelies!

Thank you so much to Holly for nominating me for the One Lovely Blog Award! Yay! Holly is an awesome blogger and you should all definitely be following her. If you’re not, you really need to. Like, now.

Go on!

Seriously, it’s a hyperlink, you only need to click on her name.

Well done!

Ok, the rules…

1. Each nominee must THANK the person who nominated them and link their blog in the post.
2. They should include the rules and add the blog award badge as an image.
3. They must add seven facts about themselves and then nominate fifteen people.

Ok, seven things about me…

1. I went to full time university twice – once to Aston Business School (home of almost every annoying Apprentice candidate) and once to Coventry Uni for my MA. I’m also a chartered member of the Institute for Personnel Development, which I think means I can sign off passport applications. So I get to write BSc. MA (CIPD) after my name. Fancy!

2. I bake almost every day. I’ve just made two Christmas cakes and I’m in the middle of soaking the fruit for my Christmas pudding. Plus I’m making a cake for my friends birthday at the weekend (batter is currently chilling in the fridge).

3. I listen to “Slade’s Xmas Party Bangers” on vinyl every year when I’m decorating my tree, then Elvis Presley singing Xmas songs. Then I usually have a fight with my partner about “making the house look like an explosion in Poundland” and moodily put the Smiths and/or Deftones on.

4. I hate pretty much all Disney (CONTROVERSIAL!!!)

5. It took me four years to learn to drive. This was more through laziness about booking my test than actual ability to drive. I even negotiated a discount with my driving instructor.

6. I broke my leg in four places playing Roller Derby, which was a great way to find out that I had a high pain threshold (I put a bag of frozen peas on it and went to bed).

7. I wish I could play a musical instrument, but I have absolutely no natural ability. I can’t even sing, I sound like a Ramone. I make up for it in enthusiasm and volume though.

I’m breaking the rules here but I tag all of you – GO!

Kisses,

Lucinda xxx

Book Blogger Test

So I’ve been meaning to do this for aaages and just haven’t got round to it…thank you to Jess from Daring to Jess for nominating me! Sorry it’s taken so long!

Here we go

Rules

1. Thank the person who nominated you and add a link to their blog
2. Answer the ten questions asked on this post
3. Nominate at least five people to do it 
4. Let your nominees know you nominated them

Q&A

1. What are your top 3 book pet peeves?

1. A tiny font. Seriously, why? Are you trying to break my     eyes so I can never read again?
2. A forward or introduction that includes spoilers. Again, why?
3. Poetry or songs within the narrative. Also quotes at the beginning of chapters. I either skip over them or spend ages trying to work out the relevance. Either way, it ruins the narrative flow for me.

2. Describe your favourite reading spot.

My Grandma had a big 70’s vinyl egg chair that both spins and tilts, and when she died I put it in my spare room. It’s so super comfy and it still smells like her house. I couldn’t get a good photo but it’s almost identical to this…

3. Tell us 3 book confessions.

1. I read about 7 books at a time, and I had no idea this wasn’t normal until recently.
2. I got excited when I broke my leg knowing that I would have so much extra reading time.
3. I’m a total kindle convert and the last time I read a paperback it actually hurt my arms.

4. When was the last time you cried during a book?

I hardly ever cry at books. Maybe when Snape died in Harry Potter. He will always be my favourite character ever.

5. How many books are on your bedside table?

Seven! My mum keeps lending them to me. They’ve been there quite a while…

6. What’s your favourite snack to eat while you’re reading?

Satsumas. Or cake. Mmmm, cake… I recently started baking along with the Great British Bake Off (even though IT IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT MARY, MEL AND SUE) and I made these chocolate mini rolls from week one…

7. Name 3 books you would recommend to anyone.

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts – a really epic story of one man’s attempt at redemption helping people in an Indian slum.

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann – a super glitzy story with a very dark undercurrent.

How to be a Woman by Catlin Moran – literally changed my life and woke me up to gender bias, inequality and feminism.

8. Show us a picture of your favourite book on your bookshelf.

Valley of the Dolls, part of my Virago Modern Classics collection.

9. Describe how much books mean to you in just 3 words.

Books mean everything!

10. What is your biggest reading secret?

I stole a book called “the Creepy Tale” from our school library, I just loved it so much…shocking behaviour!

Nominees
Heather@sassy book geek
Zucky
Mikaela@well thumbed reader
Alex@whimsy pages
By hook or by book

Enjoy!