I saw this tag on Getting Through Anxiety’s blog and thought I’d participate in the fun (I’m also trying to catch up on the list of tags I still have unfinished, and this looks like a quick one hehe). Feel free to participate if you wish!
EBOOKS OR PHYSICAL BOOKS?
Hm. I adore the feel and smell of the pages, but I can read books on my Kindle on my lunch break at work or anywhere, and I love that convenience. I know theoretically, I can read a physical book anywhere, too, but the e-reader makes it so much easier.
PAPERBACK OR HARDBACK?
Paperback. Less expensive.
ONLINE OR IN-STORE BOOK SHOPPING?
In store book shopping. I love bookstores, and I try to patronize the local Barnes and Noble at least once a month. If there was an independently owned bookstore in my vicinity, I’d shop there. I don’t want to see brick and mortar bookstores go away. Sometimes I just go there to bask in their “bookiness.”
TRILOGIES OR SERIES?
Trilogies. I don’t hate series. Hell my favorite (book) story is a series (ASOIAF), but overall, I like it when narratives have a finite and defined ending.
HEROES OR VILLAINS?
Villains of course.
A BOOK YOU WANT EVERYONE TO READ?
This book was paramount to my understanding of symbolism, narrative, and mythology. It shows the ways all narratives are tied together and is the origin of The Hero’s Journey/Monomyth,RECOMMEND AN UNDERRATED BOOK.
I’m going by my favorites list on Goodreads and their average rating.
I really can’t believe this book is rated so low (3.73), but I guess YMMV when it comes to angelic lore. Even though I haven’t read it in years (and reread could potentially change my point of view), it has a Paradise Lost vibe to it insofar as the devil is painted as a sympathetic character, but Ms. Rice does it not only on purpose, but for that purpose (unlike Milton who would’ve never purposely done such a thing). This book was probably integral in my obsessive sympathy for my favorite Luciferian character.
THE LAST BOOK YOU FINISHED?
Oddly enough, the last book I finished is by the person from whom I got this tag, and I wrote a review for it here!
WEIRDEST THING YOU USED AS A BOOKMARK?
A black feather
USED BOOKS, YES OR NO?
I just bought two used books on Amazon yesterday. They were $0.01 each. I paid more for the shipping than for the books themselves. I have no problem with used books.
TOP THREE FAVORITE GENRES?
Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Magical Realism
BORROW OR BUY?
Buy. I want my own things.
CHARACTERS OR PLOT?
I tend to like plot driven stories, but you have to have good characters who are going to know what to do when they’re thrown into precarious situations.
LONG OR SHORT BOOK?
There’s nothing more wonderful than a long, fascinating novel, but I’ve been breezing through a lot of shorter works lately, which is helping me reach my 2017 reading goal. So I prefer long books, but short books are good for practical purposes. It also depends on how much I’m enjoying the story in question.
LONG OR SHORT CHAPTERS?
Short to medium. Granted I’m a hypocrite when it comes to chapter length in my own work.
NAME THE FIRST THREE BOOKS YOU THINK OF.
The Last Unicorn, Prospero Lost (it’s sitting right in front of me), and The Raven Boys
BOOKS THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH OR CRY?
Anything by Douglas Adams is hilarious, and I cry during Iza’s death scene in Clan of the Cave Bear every single time I read it. I’m tearing up right now thinking about it.
OUR WORLD OR FICTIONAL WORLDS?
Fictional. This world sucks.
AUDIOBOOKS: YES OR NO?
Only if I’ve already read the book.
DO YOU EVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER?
I think we all do every now and then. I have definitely been drawn to a book based on its cover, which has led me to read the blurb and potentially make a purchase. Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin is a perfect example of this. I found it in a used bookstore, had never heard of it or the author, didn’t realize at the time the title is based on a play by Shakespeare, but the cover caught my attention.
BOOK TO MOVIE OR BOOK TO TV ADAPTATION?
Book to TV can generally fit more of the book in (if done properly. I’m looking at you Game of Thrones).
SERIES OR STANDALONE?
Series if the writing is compelling. For example, I absolutely love The Raven Cycle series.
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 
Glad you liked the tag and good answers! I have a question for you. I know you’re currently writing a book, but do you have any previous books you’ve written? I know someone who is doing author interviews.
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I wrote a paranormal romance novel about five years ago, but I shelved it because I was drowning in rejections from agents, and it was making me dangerously depressed. It’s why for the past few years I’ve only actually written fanfiction while getting my bearings and preparing to go through the gambit again. I need to reedit the old story with fresh eyes before I start submitting to agents again. Sooo I’m technically not an author, at least I don’t consider myself one…not yet. When I can say I have something published, then I can graduate from writer the author hehe. I really appreciate the offer though!
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No problem! For the record, I’m sure you’re a great writer!
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Thanks 🙂
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I mean it!
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Very cool! Also, I love The Last Unicorn and am so glad there is someone out there who realizes it’s not just an animated movie!!
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I do like the movie, but the book is an absolute treasure. I used to read it at least once a year back when I was in grade school. It was a novel ahead of it’s time. Doing meta and tongue-in-cheek before that became the norm :p
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It is! It’s one of my favorites. I love how “clever” it is and how it almost gently makes fun of itself while being “very serious” at the same time… Aw now I want to go read it again 🙂
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It’s been on my to-reread list forever now! That is one of the things I love about it. It makes fun of itself and the fantasy genre as a whole.
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Great answers! I’ve already begun filling this out to do as well because your post seemed so fun! 🙂
I agree with a lot of your answers and I had to squee with excitement over The Last Unicorn mention. lol I love that book and the animated movie for it.
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I remember reading the book back in grade school, and I used to read it at least once a year. It was so ahead of its time. Tongue-in-cheek before it popular to be tongue-in-cheek and meta. I remember reading it took him a long time to write it, and he had some trouble publishing it, because it wasn’t like anything else ever published before. I love how it’s not only about the titular unicorn, but it’s about how a fantasy story is supposed to be told. One of my first introductions to the concept of meta waaaaaay before I knew what that was :p
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Oh, wow. I never knew he had had difficulties getting it published, but I’m so glad he stuck it through and made it happen. I agree, there are so many things to love about the book.
I really need to read some of his other works but have yet to do so. Have you read any other stories from him? And if so do you any suggestions of which ones are must-reads?
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I’ve read The Innkeeper’s Song, and that was fantastic, too. It was a bit more vulgar than Unicorn, oddly enough. I want to read A Fine and Private Place and Tamsin. Do you know there’s a sequel to Last Unicorn? It’s free on the internet, too! Where is that link? Oh here it is! I haven’t read it yet. I really should; it’s not very long.
http://www.peterbeagle.com/works/shorts/two_hearts.htm
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Oh! You’ve just made my night with that free sequel to The Last Unicorn. I will definitely be reading that soon. Thank you so much for letting me know about it! 😀
And thank you for the tips on some of his other work. It is greatly appreciated.
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I need to remember to read it myself! I’ve had the bookmark for a while. I don’t even remember where I found it. I may have just googled the title to see where I could purchase it, and there it was. If I could figure out a way to put it on my Kindle, I’d have read it already!
Anytime 🙂
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The physical vs digital media thing also carries over for video games. I always buy physical copies of games when I can because they look nice on my shelf. I also like owning things and it feels like I don’t if they are just bits of computer code stored on a device.
Oh and I love the cover for a Winter’s Tale! Blue is my favourite colour (Pink has moved up to my prestigious 2nd favourite colour position recently though. 🙂 ) But OMG, I hate this winter! I don’t wanna go excavate my car, when the snow finally stops tomorrow 😦
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There are some games I definitely want to own same as books! I don’t mind having some books/games as digital copies, but there is something nice about seeing the physical manifestation of my obsessions on a shelf hehe.
I immediately picked that book up and fell in love with the blurb. It’s magical realism, which is REALLY hard to pull off. Blue is my favorite color, too!
How did you make out with, what did you say? 60cm of snow?? Even in places where snow is normal, it gets to be too much!
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Uh, I think you know how the snow thing went, haha. We have another 10-15cm expected tonight… Go away winter!! 😦
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Ack! We have gotten so much less snow than we normally do this year, but it has been really cold lately. I’m actually hoping that we get some. You should send us some of yours! It seems like there’s plenty in your corner of the world to go around.
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Take it!! Take it all, please… 🙂 Also, be careful what you wish for, haha.
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It’s 62 degrees here today D:
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It’s suppose to be 6 degrees here tomorrow (42 degrees in your system of measurement 🙂 ). That’s downright tropical for this time of year. It’ll take some time to melt the 31 inches of snow we got this week though, haha.
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It was downright hot today grrrr. It’s better now that the sun has gone down, but I want winter in winter and spring in spring. In your case though I can definitely see the appeal and 42 isn’t too outlandish!
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