Hi all!

Today I am doing The 50 Bookish Questions Book Tag which I sourced from My Little Book Blog. I am hoping to do a lot more Book Tags in the future, as they are so much fun. If you feel like doing this tag, feel free! Now without further ado, let’s get into this post!

1.) What was the last book you read?

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

2.) Was it a good one?

I gave it 5/5 stars on Goodreads. It was gripping, mysterious and really eerie. I did not see the twist coming!

3.) What made it good?

Everybody says you should go into it not knowing a single thing and I absolutely agree. It was so beautifully written. I could picture every single part of the island. It made me want to spend my summers there.

4.) Would you recommend it to other people?

Absolutely! It’s such a quick read too. I read the entire thing in one day.

5.) How often do you read?

I read every opportunity I get. On the drive to and from work, I listen to my audio book. On my lunch break and when I have a bath, I read my physical book. At night before I go to bed, I read my Kindle. This is why I always have three books on the go!

6.) Do you like to read?

Quite clearly I do! Reading is my whole life!

7.) What was the last ‘bad’ book you read?

I don’t want to say it was bad but I really didn’t enjoy These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner.

8.) What made you dislike it?

I just didn’t connect with the story or the characters. It was confusing and incredibly slow-paced. I attempted to read the sequel, This Shattered World but ended up DNF’ing (did not finish) it a quarter of the way through, for the same reasons. It’s such a shame because this series was so hyped up. I really thought I would love it but it just wasn’t for me.

9.) Do you wish to be a writer?

I am a writer! I have written two YA fantasy books, with a third on the way. You can find Book 1 – Astrology Pond and Book 2 – Facing the Stars  linked in the titles. Book 3 – Aligning the Signs is set for release late 2017.

10.) Has any book ever influenced you greatly?

So many books have influenced me over the years but the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan made me want to write my own. It is and always will be my favourite series. I’ve re-read the books so many times.

11.) Do you read fan-fiction?

I’ve never read fan-fiction before. It doesn’t really interest me.

12.) Do you write fan-fiction?

I’ve never written fan-fiction but I absolutely loved Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and Carry On is high on my TBR (to be read) list!

13.) What is your favourite book?

This is way too difficult to answer so I’ll name a few: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, Blackwood Farm by Anne Rice and Lord Loss by Darren Shan.

14.) What is your least favourite book?

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce. I absolutely cannot stand this book. I had to read it for my Literature class at University and I swear I cannot remember a single thing about it. It’s like this book purposely set out to confuse me.

15.) Do you prefer physical books or ready on a device (like Kindle)?

Physical all the way! Having said that, Kindle is so useful.

16.) When did you learn to read?

My mum read to me at a very early age but I fell in love with books the minute I started school. We had a binder we had to take home each night, to record how many pages we read. The rest is history!

17.) What is your favourite book you had to read in school?

Cannot pick just one! Definitely Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert and The Hours by Michael Cunningham.

18.) What is your favourite book series?

Already mentioned earlier – Sweep by Cate Tiernan. It’s a sexy saga about teenage witches. Need I say more? 

19.) Who is your favourite author?

Anne Rice – always and forever. I will never forget meeting her in New Orleans.

Honourable Mentions: Markus Zusak, Rainbow Rowell, Cassandra Clare, Cate Tiernan & Darren Shan.

20.) What is your favourite genre?

YA! Within YA, I love fantasy & contemporary.

21.) Who is your favourite character in a book series?

This is so difficult to answer. I’m going to say Magnus Bane from the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I love his sense of humour and air of mystery.

22.) Has a book ever transported you somewhere else?

All the time. That’s what I love about reading. You can live a thousand lives, spanning infinite worlds.

23.) Which book do you wish had a sequel?

My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier. I would love to see Rosa all grown up. It would be great for the sequel to be from her point of view as well.

24.) Which book do you wish DIDN’T have a sequel?

I honestly cannot answer this question. I think all of the sequels I’ve read have been necessary to complete the story.

25.) How long does it take you to read a book?

It really depends on the book and how into it I am. If it hooks me, less than a week. Bigger books can take me up to a month but this also depends on how busy I am too.

26.) Do you like when books become movies?

I do! Most of the time they are done really well. Of course, they are never as good as the books but they still come very close. My favourite book to movie adaptations are The Hunger Games trilogy and The Fault in Our Stars.

27.) Which book was ruined by its movie adaptation?

I personally love The Queen of the Damned (film) for what it is but Anne Rice hated it. It was nothing like her book. She was actually disgusted by its adaptation. Having read the book, it is nothing like the movie but as I mentioned, I really enjoyed its own interpretation and the soundtrack is fire! 

28.) Which movie has done a book justice?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It was beautifully filmed and directed. I was so happy with this adaptation.

29.) Do you read newspapers?

No. I used to love the comics and horoscopes section but I haven’t read a newspaper in years. I generally find them too depressing.

30.) Do you read magazines?

Not anymore. I used to love the old Dolly and Girlfriend mags back when I was a teen. Ahh the nostalgia!

31.) Do you prefer newspapers or magazines?

Definitely magazines!

32.) Do you read while in bed?

Yes! That is my favourite place to read!

33.) Do you read while on the toilet?

Absolutely! That’s quality reading time right there!

34.) Do you read while in the car?

If someone else is driving I cannot read or I’ll get motion sick. When I’m driving, I listen to audio-books. They are the best.

35.) Do you read while in the bath?

Yes. This is my second favourite place to read. I love soaking in a bubble-bath on a cold evening with a good book.

36.) Are you a fast reader?

Yes!

37.) Are you a slow reader?

No!

38.) Where is your favourite place to read?

As mentioned above, my bed and the bath. I like to be relaxed when I read.

39.) Is it hard for you to concentrate when you read?

Only if I’m not enjoying the book. If I love it, I can give it my full attention.

40.) Do you need a room to be silent while you read?

Yes. It makes it easier for me to get lost in the story.

41.) Who gave you your love for reading?

My mum read to me a lot as a child, so I’m going to say her. We still swap books! Also my Nonno, who I was very close to. He used to love reading as well. I loved looking through his personal library whenever I went to visit.

42.) What book is next on your list to read?

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this book. I feel it will be the perfect thing to read whilst travelling through Europe.

43.) When did you start to read chapter books?

I’m going to say between the ages of four and five.

44.) Who is your favourite children’s book author?

Enid Blyton. I grew up reading all of her books. She made my childhood magical.

45.) Which author would you most want to interview?

Even though I’ve met her, I would pick Anne Rice. I just love her. She’s such a beautiful human being. I would give anything to have a proper discussion.

46.) Which author do you think you would be friends with?

I would say Rainbow Rowell. I think we would get along. We seem to have the same sense of humour.

47.) What book have you re-read the most?

Dork in Disguise by Carol Gorman. I related to this book on such a personal level in school. I’ve probably read it at least five to six times. It’s about a nerdy kid who changes his whole persona to fit in with the cool group. At the time, I really wanted to be popular but this book kept me grounded. It taught me the importance of staying true to yourself. I think all kids should read it.

48.) Which books do you consider “classics?”

I consider so many books to be classics! Some of my favourites are: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Hours by Michael Cunningham and anything by William Shakespeare!

49.) Which books do you think should be taught in every school?

Definitely To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee as it has such important themes. I also think The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle would be so valuable as a textbook. It could teach young children about mindfulness and staying in the present moment. School can be so difficult. I believe that book would benefit a lot of anxious minds.

50.) Which books should be banned from all schools?

I don’t think any books should be banned, unless they are really inappropriate. We gain so much from reading. I loved school because of the books I was introduced to. I hope reading gives my child the same excitement.

I hope you enjoyed my first book tag! I really loved answering these questions. Feel free to leave any comments or feedback. Let me know if you have done this tag. I would love to read your responses.

Peace & Love xoxo