The "Stay at Home" Book Tag

 Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!

Today is a tag that Lissanne over at Life as Lissanne had so graciously tagged me in...in October. I hope it's not too late! (If you want to watch her video of the tag, I'll link it here.)

As you can tell from the title, this is the Stay at Home book tag, a series of questions all centered around introvert bibliophilic things that we as the reading community tend to do. Of course this tag resurfaced in its popularity this year what with the whole pandemic thing, so I'm excited to answer the questions!

1. Laying in bed: A book you read in one day

I mean, I've read so many in one day? In the span of a few hours? So for this I'll just go with my favorite book that I've read in one sitting. Absolutely Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. This book only takes me about five hours to tackle, which I absolutely have done more than once. It's so fast and easy to get through even though it's super emotional. It's also the only book I've read that has made me physically laugh out loud, so that's an added bonus right there! 

2. Snacking: A guilty pleasure book

So I don't really adhere to the whole "guilty pleasure" mindset when it comes to books, because it doesn't really make sense to me? Like, it's your opinion on whether you find a book enjoyable or not, so it shouldn't be something you feel guilty about reading or whatever...I'm getting off topic. I suppose I could say Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, considering the author isn't the best person, but that book will always mean something to me no matter how old I get or how far removed from college I become. 

3. Netflix: A book series you want to start

So many. 

But for real, my next series will probably be the Ascendant Trilogy by K. Arsenault Rivera, the first book being The Tiger's Daughter. It's a high fantasy set in historical Asia with a f/f couple at the forefront of the series, and I own all three books. They're sitting on my TBR shelf, just begging to be read. I'm so ridiculously excited to read these books, you have no idea. It's one of those series that I just know I'm going to love. 

4. Deep clean: A book that's been on your TBR for ages

Again, so many. However the book that's been on my physical TBR for the longest is probably Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark. I've had that book for literal years now. I keep saying I'm going to read it when the winter months kick in, because that's the time I always like to read historical fiction and high fantasy, but this is a 850 page book. I'm not ready to commit to an adult high fantasy novel that is 850 pages. Hence why I've had it for so long and not read it yet. But one day. One day. 

5. Animal Crossing: A book you bought recently because of the hype

I find this question hilarious because I don't actually play animal crossing--

Anyway. Since I recently had my birthday and bought a plethora of books, I can actually answer this one accurately! I totally bought Piranesi by Susanna Clark because of the hype, and wow I did not plan those two questions to have the same author. Granted, I also wanted Piranesi because it's something that I for sure will love (it's centered around Ancient Greek mythology and focused on the Labyrinth, of course I'm going to pick it up!) but I've also just been seeing nonstop praise for it. There are a lot of other books I could technically use for this question, but most of them I've already read and/or are sequels to series I've started and therefore bought for that purpose and had not factored the hype into the decision-making process. 

6. Productivity: A book you learned from/had an impact on you

So I don't really read a whole lot of non-fiction or self-help books, or really anything in that vein of genre. Of course I'm not saying that you can't learn from fiction or that it can't have an impact on you, but that's where my head tends to go when I read this question. 

I did however read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Condo earlier this year, and that for sure got me into a productive mindset (until March happened. Then I became my ultimate potato self). I can see why Marie Condo got her own TV show and everything, she's a very inspirational woman. Of course, I read said book at like three in the morning and therefore had to fight the urge to spring-clean my entire bedroom because I would have woken up my parents, but the sentiment is there.

7. Facetime: A book you were gifted

Ah, now that one is a little harder, considering no one actually buys me books anymore? They never really know what to get me or whether I've read it before and didn't care for it enough to own, so now I just get the means in which to buy my own books. 

So I'll just cheat a little and mention the book I grabbed from a little lending library last month (try saying that five times fast). I figure that's kind of like the universe gifting me a book, right? So I grabbed myself a copy of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, just in case I really want to rip my heart out and stomp on it at any point in the future. 

 8. Self-care: What is one thing you've done for yourself recently

Again I mention my insane birthday book haul. I'm serious, I must have bought over 40 books for myself. It's absolutely ridiculous and I feel no shame. But aside from the books I did splurge and buy myself something I've been wanting for years now, and he sits so proudly on my manga shelf.

Look at my beautiful baby Todoroki I love him so much he is my most prized possession now. 

Not even kidding. I cried when I unpackaged him. I shed actual tears. Never had I ever heard my mother sigh so forlornly before. 

(Also, Angela got me this room spray for my birthday and it's very calming--chamomile and orange scented.)

9. Bonus: Name a book coming out soon

Are there still books I want to read that are coming out in 2020? Because if not, one of my most anticipated releases for 2021 is Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab, the third book in the Cassidy Blake series. As we have well established, Victoria Schwab is one of my auto-buy authors so I will not only buy anything and everything she publishes, but will probably give it five stars too because I've yet to read a book by her that is not subjectively perfect to me. And I doubt such things will ever occur. 

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Alright, that's the end of the tag! I had a lot of fun doing this, so again thank you Lissanne for tagging me! As for who to tag myself, well...I tag all of you reading this! I know, lame cop-out, but to be honest my first go-to for a tag is Lissanne, and that would just be silly. 

Until next time!