book tag – Sarah Ames-Foley

The Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag 2020

June 16, 2020 Sarah

Well, it’s certainly been a wild year already, so it’s a good a time to post this as any. As with last year, I’m only going to let myself use ONE book for each answer to keep things spicy, and I’m not allowed to reuse answers.

Best book you’ve read so far

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, which absolutely destroyed me.

Best sequel so far

I’ve read almost entirely standalones this year, but I’d have to say The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited was probably the best of the [checks notes] 3 sequels I’ve read so far this year.

New release you haven’t read but want to

For this, I’m including only those already published (because of the below question) and I’m gonna go with Exciting Times.

Most anticipated release in the second half of 2019

Okay, this one was HARD but I have to go with Survivor Song because, a) I like Paul Tremblay, b) this is set in Massachusetts, and c) it features a rabies-like virus and I have a rabies PHOBIA so I am basically guaranteed to love and/or be forever scarred by this.

Biggest disappointment

I found Frankissstein to be transphobic garbage and a pretty bad reading experience.

Biggest surprise

I did think I’d enjoy The Body Lies, but I had no idea how much it would blow me away.

Favorite new author

Oof, I was torn on this one but ultimately chose Kate Elizabeth Russell because not only did I love her debut, but I also really love her as a person on social media.

Newest favorite character

[heavy breathing] DECLAN LYNCH. Maybe Jordan. Definitely one of them.

A book that made you cry

Kept Animals devastated me.

A book that made you happy

I don’t reaaally read happy books, but Rafe was a fun romance.

Favorite book to movie adaptation

I’ve only seen film adaptations that I dislike so far this year, so I’ll go with Season 2 of Castle Rock instead!

Favorite review

I haven’t particularly enjoyed any of my reviews so far this year, but I’ll go with Mr. Mercedes because who doesn’t love a rant review?

Most beautiful book bought/received

Okay I’m going to break my own rule and say the Call Down the Hawk cover I posted above. I preordered a UK edition because I HATED the US cover and think this one is pretty dang nice.

Books you need to read by the end of the year

2020 is a trainwreck, so I’ll just put the Women’s Prize Squad books I need to read.

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The Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag 2019

July 7, 2019July 7, 2019 Sarah

I’m getting this done a bit later than anticipated, but that’s ok. I’ve made it through 41 books so far this year, a decent amount of which have been backlist reads. I’m only going to let myself use ONE book for each answer to keep things spicy, and I’m not allowed to reuse answers.

Best book you’ve read so far

Normal People, thanks to the Women’s Prize & Sally Rooney!

Best sequel so far

Squire by Tamora Pierce!

New release you haven’t read but want to

There are loads, but the most anticipated I have yet to read (that has already been published) is The Wise and the Wicked by Rebecca Podos!

Most anticipated release in the second half of 2019

This was tough, but I probably have to go with the upcoming Joe Hill short story collection!

Biggest disappointment

Thankfully I’ve been pretty blessed as far as reading goes this year, but I’ll have to go with An American Marriage for this.

Biggest surprise

Probably If, Then which I did expect to enjoy, just not as much as I did!

Favorite new author

Becky Chambers! After The Long Way, I’m excited to read more of her work.

Newest fictional crush

To quote Rachel, pass pls.

Newest favorite character

Probably Henry or Alex from RW&RB!

A book that made you cry

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. Oof.

A book that made you happy

I don’t read many happy books oops. We’ll go with Merry Inkmas.

Favorite book to movie adaptation

I haven’t actually watched any this year??

Favorite review

Probably in part due to recency bias, I’ll pick Evicted.

Most beautiful book bought/received

Probably the copy of Waking Gods I bought last weekend.

Books you need to read by the end of the year

The list pretty much never ends!

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The “I Should Have Read That Book” Tag

May 25, 2019May 23, 2019 Sarah

Shouts to Ally for tagging me in this! Please check out her blog, she has a lot of good posts. 🙂 I am one of the biggest perpetrators of “I should have” or “I’ve been meaning to” when it comes to books, so I love this.

Rules

Thank the person who tagged you and link back to their post
Link to the creator’s blog (booksnest.co.uk) in your post
Answer the questions below
Tag 10 others to take part
ENJOY THE TAG!

A book that a certain friend is always telling you to read.
My sister keeps telling me to read Where You’ll Find Me and she has a copy annnnd we live together so I have no excuse as to why it’s taken me so long.

A book that’s been on your TBR forever and yet you still haven’t picked it up.
Bad Feminist is literally the book that’s been on my TBR the longest, and I haven’t read it because I want to buy a copy but at this point I should just use the library, ha.

A book in a series you’ve started, but haven’t gotten around to finishing yet.
I loooved Sleeping Giants, so I really needed to get to Waking Gods.

A classic you’ve always liked the sound of, but never actually read.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier!

A popular book that it seems everyone but you has read.
Throne of Glass, I feel like it’s such a popular series and I haven’t read any of them!

A book that inspired a film/TV adaptation that you really love, but you just haven’t read it yet.
I really enjoyed The Shining film but I haven’t read the book yet!

A book you see all over Instagram [Twitter] but haven’t picked up yet.
These Witches Don’t Burn has been everywhere lately and I wanna read it so bad but haven’t yet!

I just tagged a ton of people the other day, so I tag anyone who would like to do this!

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A to Z Book Tag

April 6, 2019April 6, 2019 Sarah

Destiny tagged me in this a few months ago and I’m fiiiinally following through. It was started over at The Perpetual Page-Turner.

a. Author you’ve read the most books from.
Lemony Snicket, I read the entire A Series of Unfortunate Event series, plus one or two others.

b. Best sequel ever.
Right now I have to say Squire by Tamora Pierce, I read it recently and looved it.

c. Currently reading.
Lost Children Archive and Dust.

d. Drink of choice while reading.
I usually don’t drink anything while reading at home, but a drip coffee or a vanilla latte if I’m at a coffee shop! Occasionally I’ll sip a cider or cocktail while reading if I’m out waiting for someone at dinner or a bar.

e. E-reader or physical book?
I really have to say both! I read so much more on the go because of ebooks, but I do tend to prefer physical books.

f. Fictional character you would’ve dated in high school.
Alex, the brother’s best friend, from Girl Made of Stars. He was so sweet and absolutely the kind of guy I would’ve dated in high school.

g. Glad you gave this book a chance.
Recency bias here, but Ordinary People! Like I said in my review, it’s not something I would have read on my own but I did end up enjoying it.

h. Hidden gem book.
I recently did an entire post on this!

i. Important moment in your reading life.
Honestly, starting The Pisces felt really important because I just knew right away that the book would be so, so meaningful to me.

j. Just finished.
I just finished Praise Song for the Butterflies, one of my Women’s Prize reads.

k. Kind of books you won’t read.
There’s not much I absolutely won’t read, but I typically avoid books about food, just because they don’t interest me much.

l. Longest book you’ve read.
According to Goodreads, it’s A Storm of Swords!

m. Major book hangover because of…
Umm, I don’t get book hangovers very often, so I don’t remember!

n. Number of bookcases you own.
Technically 1, but I have a couple more DIY ones set up, ha!

o. One book you’ve read multiple times.
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce!

p. Preferred place to read.
Either propped up in my bed or on the couch! I wish I had a nice armchair to sit in, though.

q. Quote that inspires you/gave you all the feels from a book.
UGH, the Editor’s Note in I’ll Be Gone in the Dark that announces Michelle McNamara’s death tore through me.

r. Reading regret:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, always.

s. Series you’ve started and need to finish (all books are out).
Most pressing right now are the Themis Files and the Protector of the Small series.

t. Three of your all-time favorite books.
House of Leaves, Annihilation, and The Pisces.

u. Unapologetic fangirl for…
Tamora Pierce! ❤ u ❤

v. Very excited for this release.
The Exile’s Gift by Tamora Pierce. Ha, see above.

w. Worst bookish habits.
Returning library books late, having a TBR waaay too long, and stressing myself out about numbers and what I “should” be reading.

x. X marks the spot! Start at the top of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book.
The Artist’s Way! I still have never been all the way through this, oops.

y. Your latest book purchase.
A Field Guide for Science Writers, which I got when I thought I might want to be a science writer.

z. Zzz-snatcher, the last book that kept you up way too late.
Umm, I don’t remember! I don’t read much before bed anymore, specifically for this reason.

I tag anyone who wants to do this! I’m too sleepy to make a list. 🙂

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Spring Cleaning [book tag]

March 28, 2019March 25, 2019 Sarah

Charlotte was kind enough to tag me in the Spring Cleaning Book Tag! I love spring cleaning, and I love books, so hopefully I also love this tag. 🙂

THE STRUGGLE OF GETTING STARTED: A BOOK OR SERIES YOU STRUGGLE TO BEGIN BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE

I’m stealing Charlotte’s answer here, because it was the first thing to come to mind: The Wheel of TIme series! I’ve been meaning to read it for literal years but am too intimidated by its length to start.

CLEANING OUT THE CLOSET: A BOOK OR SERIES YOU WANT TO UNHAUL

This one is more difficult, as I’ve been a lot better about immediately unhauling books I no longer want on my shelves. I did unhaul Future Sex recentlyish because it was sent to me unsolicited and after skimming the book and the reviews, I wasn’t interested.

OPENING THE WINDOW AND LETTING FRESH AIR IN: A BOOK THAT WAS REFRESHING

This is corny as hell, but I found Merry Inkmas refreshing because I was super depressed when I read it and needed something light-hearted and cute!

WASHING OUT THE SHEETS: A SCENE THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD REWRITE

This is a little difficult, as I’m struggling to remember any specifically bad scenes. I guess I’d rewrite one of the scenes in I Kill Giants, just to remove the homophobic slur.

THROWING OUT UNNECESSARY KNICK-KNACKS: A BOOK IN A SERIES YOU DIDN’T THINK WAS NECESSARY

Honestly, both of the sequels to The Butterfly Garden were pretty unnecessary. With a fourth on the way.

POLISHING DOORKNOBS: A BOOK THAT HAD A CLEAN FINISH

I thought It Devours! ended on a clean, realistic note so I guess I’d choose that.

REACHING TO DUST THE FAN: A BOOK THAT TRIED TOO HARD TO RELAY A CERTAIN MESSAGE

One of the faults of Sex at Dawn was that it was so aimed at giving you one message, that it had no issues with tearing others down. I felt a little more balance would’ve been nice.

THE TIRING YET SATISFYING FINISH: A SERIES THAT WAS TIRING BUT SATISFYING TO GET THROUGH

It took me years to get through The Raven Cycle, but I just adore it!

I tag Hannah @ I have thoughts on books, Destiny @ howling libraries, Rachel @ pace, amore, libri, Callum @ Callum McLaughlin, and Ally @ Ally Writes Things. (But only if y’all want to do it!)

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Blog All Day, Meme All Night [tag]

March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 Sarah

Ally @ Ally Writes Things was kind enough to tag me in this, which I am FINALLY getting around to after, oh, 4 months? Sorry Ally! Regardless, I love memes so this is a great tag.

1. YEET – which book would you yeet out of existence?

Okay, I know I’m in the minority on this but I REALLY did not like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Sorry (not sorry)!

2. CRYING KIM K – which book gives you lots of feelings?

Girl Made of Stars made me cry for probably an hour straight. Big mega feels.

3. AMERICA, EXPLAIN – favourite book set outside the US?

The Vegetarian is one of my all-time favs and it’s set in South Korea. I need to pick up more of Han Kang’s work asap.

4. RIP VINE – your saddest character death?

In recent memory, the deaths at the end of The Song of Achilles are very very sad.

5. WHAT ARE THOSE? – a book that left you confused?

I’m so sorry, but I just don’t Get Paper Girls, and it was sooo confusing to me. I tried reading Vol. 2 but that didn’t help. 😦

6. BIG DICK ENERGY – favourite character with BDE?

Could the answer be anyone else except Sadie? Although, I did like Ally’s choice of Evelyn Hugo.

7. I WON’T HESITATE BITCH – favourite book with a morally grey protagonist?

Definitely Kaz from Six of Crows. He is the MOST morally grey.

8. MOVE, I’M GAY – favourite book featuring a lgbtq+ romance

I had to pick The Raven King just because I read it so recently and Adam and Noah’s kiss was UGH PERFECT.

9. STREET SMARTS – favourite book featuring a protagonist whose strength is their intelligence?

It Devours! features a main character who is a woman of color and a scientist and her strength is most definitely her intelligence!

10. ALEXA PLAY DESPACITO – character death you were happy about?

Magic Brian in The Adventure Zone, but mostly because it was so funny!

11. THEN PERISH – a book you DNFed?

I’m not afraid to DNF whenever necessary, but I just could not push myself through The Snowman.

12. KERMIT SIPPING TEA – a book that makes a statement?

The Body is Not an Apology! It’s all about self-love.

13. SAME HAT – the character you relate to the most?

Okay, this is non-fiction but I’ve been having a LOT of health issues soo I’ve been meaning to reread Ask Me About My Uterus.

14. OH WORM – a book you didn’t expect to love?

I thought i would like We Have Always Lived in the Castle, but I had no idea how much I’d LOOOVE it!

15. SHREK – favourite book featuring mythical creatures?

Basically everything by Tamora Pierce!!

I’m a bit tired, so I’m not going to tag anyone but let me know if you decide to do this! 🙂

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The Mid-Year Freakout Tag 2018

June 16, 2018June 15, 2018 Sarah

It’s that time of year again! We’re almost halfway through 2018 and it’s time to do a roundup of where we are in our reading adventure. I’ve cruised through 40 books so far (out of a goal of 75) and am unbelievably proud of myself. June is going well so far, and I hope to have a great second half of 2018.

Best book you’ve read so far.

I’m going to declare this a tie between A Head Full of Ghosts for fiction and Ask Me About My Uterus for non-fiction.

Best sequel so far.

Definitely Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo!

New release you haven’t read but want to.

Where to begin! My top two are probably The Pisces and The Atrocities.

Most anticipated release in the second half of 2018.

Probably Wildcard by Marie Lu.

Biggest disappointment.

St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves. I was sooo looking forward to more Karen Russell and it was a letdown.

Biggest surprise.

Annihilation, which I expected to be good, but not to become one of my new favorite books.

Favorite new author.

Paul Tremblay or Jeff VanderMeer.

Newest fictional crush.

I don’t remember, they’re all so fleeting.

Newest favorite character.

Borne from Borne!

A book that made you cry.

I don’t really cry while reading, I don’t think anything has made me cry this year.

A book that made you happy.

Apparently I don’t read many happy books. Probably Emergency Contact.

Favorite book to movie adaptation.

Ummm, I honestly don’t know.

Favorite review.

This feels braggy, if it’s supposed to be mine. Also I really just don’t have one!

Most beautiful book bought/received.

Again, Ask Me About My Uterus. I adore that cover.

Books you need to read by the end of the year.

I don’t have a set list, besides ARCs.

Anyway, how are y’all feeling about this year? I think it’s been an ok first half of the year as far as reading quality goes, but I hope I find some more new favorites in the second half of this year! I’m not tagging anyone, but please do this if you’d like to. 🙂

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Books I Should Have Read Already

June 12, 2018June 11, 2018 Sarah

I pulled this suggestion off of Vivatramp’s 100 Book Blog Post Ideas list. It’s pretty self-explanatory. I’m going to sift through my TBR and share which books I should have read already!

The New Jim Crow
Pretty self-explanatory. This book shares some really important information and as a white person I feel compelled to educate myself on racism and what I can do about it more than I currently do.

On Writing
Everyone raves about this book and insists that every aspiring writer needs to read it. I’m not sure whether or not I consider myself an aspiring writer, but I am trying to write and I do like Stephen King.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue
I bought this off Amazon MONTHS ago so I could read my own copy and I STILL haven’t picked it up yet. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Redwall
Hey y’all, how did I miss out on this one in my youth????

Blankets
I’ve been eyeing this one for yeaaars and somehow still haven’t picked it up. It looks gorgeous, though.

What about y’all? What books do you think you should’ve gotten to by now?

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(Covers courtesy of Goodreads.)

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The End of the Year Book Tag

September 26, 2017September 25, 2017 Sarah

I’ve seen this floating around a bit, but finally decided to nab it after Destiny posted it recently! I hadn’t been paying too much attention to it (I have a confession–I skip past tags a lot!), so I didn’t realize what the tag was actually about for a while! It seems like a good tag for prioritizing your end-of-year reading, which I really need to do.

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