The Taylor Swift Book Tag

Hi everyone! So, as well as reading books I also love watching other people talk about books therefore for the last year or so I have been watching Booktube. Booktube is the name given to the community of book bloggers/vloggers, reviewers and just general bookworms who post videos about books on youtube. One of the booktubers is The Book Life and she created this tag, though I am doing the extended version with added questions from Katytastic. Needless to say I have not been tagged to participate, I just love Taylor Swift and books and hey I have a book blog now so, why not! Let’s get started!

• We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (pick a book or series that you were pretty sure you were in love with, but then wanted to break up with.)

The Maze Runner Trilogy By James Dashner.

I know that a lot of people love this trilogy and honestly I wish I did too. You see I really loved The Maze Runner; it was fast paced with dynamic characters and the kind of book that you can race through in one sitting and at the end feel like you’ve just been on an epic adventure when, in reality, you’ve been in your room all along. Then I started The Scorch Trials and everything seemed to go downhill from there, the characters that I’d loved in the first book became whiny and boring and it just seemed to drag on. By the time I started The Death Cure I was sure as hell ready to break up with these books. Sorry, James Dashner.

• Red (Pick a book with a red cover)

A Tale For The Time Being By Ruth Ozeki

Ok so the whole of this cover isn’t red, but it has red on it, and look how pretty it is! This beautifully written book shares the story of Mao, a young Japanese girl whose father is suicidal, and Ruth a writer living on an Island off British Colombia who finds the diary of Mao washed up on the beach. This is one of the most beautifully written books that I have ever read; it is rich in culture and also teaches the reader some Japanese words. This book is full of emotion; in fact I’d say it contains all of those emotions in Taylor’s song. Loving this book was red.

• The Best Day (Pick a book that makes you feel nostalgic)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone By J.K Rowling

Like many people, Harry Potter is what really got me into reading. When I was in Primary school I won the first four books (all that were out at the time) in a raffle that I didn’t know I was entered in, call it fate. I remember reading the first book and feeling like I had been swept away to the Wizarding World, that I was a part of the Golden Trio’s adventures and that maybe one day, even I could go to Hogwarts. Such is the power of J.K Rowling’s writing. This will forever be my favourite book series (I am writing this post now while wearing a t-shirt with Sirius Black on it) and I will continue to re-read it over and over, always.

• Love Story (Pick a book with a forbidden love)

My Life Next Door By Huntley Fitzpatrick

Admittedly, this is the book that I am currently reading. However, just from reading the synopsis you can gather that the love between Jase and Samantha is forbidden. Samantha’s mother is, for want of a better word, snobby. Especially when it comes the large, loud, fun family next door; the Garretts . Therefore the relationship between Samantha and Jase Garrett must be kept a secret from her. So far I am LOVING this book, I am literally obsessed so expect a review very soon!

• I Knew You Were Trouble (Pick a book with a bad character you couldn’t help but love)

Wolf from Scarlet By Marissa Meyer (Book two in the Lunar Chronicles Series)

This is difficult to write about without revealing any spoilers! So all I will say is that Wolf is a street fighter, part of a gang, untrustworthy. However, as the book progressed I found it very difficult to resist loving his soft side (and ok I admit sometimes I love a bad boy, but who doesn’t?)

• Innocent (Pick a book that someone ruined the ending for)

The Book Thief By Marcus Zusak

A random stranger ruined the ending of this wonderful book for me on twitter. There I was innocently scrolling away then BAM! the world came crashing down around me as someone had retweeted a comic book-esque drawing of the tragic ending. There were tears.

• Everything Has Changed (Pick a character from a book who goes through extensive character development)

Jessica from The Running Dream By Wendelin Van Draanen

This is a stunning book that I feel does not get the press that it deserves. It tells the story of Jessica, a runner, who loses one of her legs in a tragic road accident. Understandably, after the accident Jessica is bitter and hopeless, brought down by the possibility of never being able to run again but throughout the novel we see her spirits rally as she picks herself up with motivation from her new friend Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy that Jessica never paid attention to before. This is one of the most inspirational and well-written young adult novels that I have ever read and I recommend to everyone.

• You Belong With Me (Pick your most anticipated release)

Go Set a Watchman By Harper Lee (Release date: 14^th July 2015)

I cannot tell you how excited I am about this! To Kill A Mockingbird is my favourite book of all time and now after so many years we are getting not only more of Harper Lee’s beautiful writing but a book containing the same beloved characters! The release date cannot come quick enough for me.

• Forever and Always (Pick your favourite book couple)

Cath and Levi from Fangirl By Rainbow Rowell

What can I say about these two! They meet during Cath’s first year at college, she is shy and a little dorky and he is kind and attentive. Together they make one of the cutest couples that I have ever read about. They make the perfect team, Cath reads to Levi and he is always gentle and encouraging in helping her become comfortable both at college and within their relationship. Where is my Levi??

• Come Back, Be Here (Pick a book you would least like to lend out, for fear of missing it too much)

All The Light We Cannot See By Anthony Doerr

I would be very reluctant to lend out this book, less for the fear of missing it but more for the fear of it getting damaged in any way, shape or form. This is by far one of the most beautiful books that I own, so much so that its permanent place is facing outwards on my bookshelf so that everyone that enters my room can behold its beauty. I would be devastated if a corner was to get bent or (I shudder just thinking about it) the spine get broken. Nope, this one is staying right where it’s at.

• BONUS QUESTION #1: Teardrops On My Guitar (Pick a book that made you cry a lot)

This Star Won’t Go Out By Esther Earl

Esther Earl was a charismatic, loving girl who loved Harry Potter and John Green. Sadly Esther passed away in 2010 from cancer. This is an autobiography put together by Esther’s loved ones to celebrate her life and realise her dream of being an author. I cried a lot during this book because it was so clear through the letters she’d written and the entries in her diary what a bright and creative person Esther was and it makes me very sad that a person who could, and did, give the world so much was taken so soon.

• BONUS QUESTION #2: Shake It Off (Pick a book that you love so much, you just shake of the haters)

The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake By Aimee Bender

This book is odd. That is the reason why a lot of people do not like it. It tells the story of Rose who one day discovers that she can taste the emotions of the maker of the food that she eats. Through this she discovers the sadness of her mother and soon can hardly bear to eat the food she makes. However, the main oddity in this book is Rose’s brother, Joseph. Something extremely odd happens to Joseph at the end of the book that no one ever would be able to see coming and although I don’t understand this event I do appreciate its oddness. So despite seeing repeatedly bad reviews of this poetically written book I continue to love it anyway and all its many quirks.

And that brings us to the end! Wow, this was a long post. Nevertheless I hope you enjoyed it and I will see you next time!

Shannon