Beauty and the Beast Book Tag

Graphic made by The Bookish Khaleesi

Hey, everyone! I don't know about you, but with less than a week until Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters, I'm freaking out! I've already bought my tickets for Thursday night, and I cannot wait until this gets here. The animated version was my favorite movie during my childhood, and I've always felt like I've identified most with Belle. (Now I feel like I'm a combination of Belle and Elsa, but Belle is my favorite!)

Like all book tags, this one comes with a few rules:

Rules:

•  Thank the person who tagged you - For me, that's no one, so I'll just thank Google for taking me to The Bookish Khalessi and PucksandPaperbacks.
•  Mention the creator → Kirsty @ Kirsty and the Cat Read.
•  Match a book to each of the songs/characters below.
•  Tag as many people as you like.

The Olympic Book Tag

Ribbons Designed by Freepik

It's that time again! Tonight marks the start of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. (Seriously... Just a few more hours and we get to see all those crazy Opening Ceremony outfits!) I don't know about you, but I personally love watching a lot of the sports in the Summer Games. Gymnastics and Rhythmic Gymnastics are probably my favorites, but I also really enjoy watching swimming, diving, and wrestling.

Today, I'm doing the Olympic Book Tag, which was created by one of my best blogging friends, Shannon from It Starts at Midnight.

Netflix & Books Tag

The Netflix and Books Tag is a new bookish tag that was created by two of my blogging BFFs, Erica @ Novel Ink and Lauren @Bookmark Lit. These two lovely ladies created this book tag because they both know that many of us in the book community love to read and binge our favorite TV shows on Netflix.

The Cake Book Tag

Image Courtesy of Shannon from It Starts at Midnight

Emma, the wonderful blogger and librarian behind Miss Print tagged me to do the Cake Book Tag, and I'm pretty excited because it's been a while since I've been tagged in a book tag that I haven't already posted before. You can see Emma's post on her blog.

Burn, Rewrite, or Reread?

Okay... I know it's been a really, really long time since I've done a book tag. I really do love them, but I just hadn't been tagged for a book tag that I hadn't already done until Kayla from The Thousand Lives tagged me to do the Burn, Rewrite, or Reread tag!

I was kind of confused about the rules, so I'm going with what Kayla went with because she made it seem a lot less confusing.

There are three different rounds, and I'll use a random number generator for my "read" shelf on Goodreads for three books. From there, I'll decide if I want to burn, rewrite, or reread those books.

 Round One

Burn - I'd burn The List by Siobhan Vivian. While I really thought that the book would be interesting, it really wasn't. I think it would have made a much better made-for-TV-movie.

Rewrite - I'd only rewrite Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti because I don't remember anything about it. It's definitely not a good thing if I don't remember a book.

Reread - I'd reread Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler multiple times. I just loved the mulch-faceted story she wrote.

Round Two

Burn - Okay... so don't kill me here, but out of the choices I was given, I'd burn Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. It's not that I didn't like it, but I just felt like so much of it was boring.

Rewrite - I'd have to rewrite Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares because of the sad event that happens in the book. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it, but I'm sure those of you who have read it will know why.

Reread - I'd reread and have reread The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It's my favorite book, and I will cherish it forever. 

Round Three

Burn - I feel like I'm a black sheep about this, but I would burn Dash & Lily's Book of Dares because Lily was so annoying. She made the book unbearable for me.

Rewrite - Even though I really enjoyed Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park, I'd rewrite the ending so it was a bit more emotional. 

Reread - Again, I'm thinking I'm going to be a black sheep for this one because I really liked Allegiant by Veronica Roth. I'd definitely revisit this one for the story, even though I'm sure I'd still be annoyed by the similar narrating voices. 

Alright... I tag:

• Tika @ Fangirl Confessions
• Angie @ The Paperback Reader
• Holly @ The Fox's Hideaway

The Christmas Carol Book Tag

It's that time of the year again! It's getting cold. It's starting to snow, and everywhere you go, there's a Christmas song on the radio.

I was tagged to do The Christmas Carol Book Tag by Connie at The YA Book Thief. All you need to do to participate in this tag is match up a book or book character to a Christmas carol. I had a lot of fun going through all the books I've read, and I hope that if you do this tag, you do too.

"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"

A Character that You Love to Hate

For this one, I'm going with Bellatrix Lestrange from the Harry Potter series. Even though she's a villainous character, I absolutely love her. I love the way that Rowling characterized her, and she's one of my favorite literary characters.

"All I Want for Christmas is You" 

What Book You Most Want to See Under Your Christmas Tree

Oh man... this is a tough one because right now I have a lot of books that I still need to read in my house, so I can't see getting any more books for a while. If I had to choose, I'd go with A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray. I've been wanting to read it, but I haven't been able to find it in stores.

"Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer"

Favorite Character Who Had to Overcome an Obstacle

My favorite character who had to overcome an obstacle would have to be Katniss Everdeen because she has so many obstacles that she has to overcome. Yes, it was her choice to volunteer for her sister in The Hunger Games, and that itself is an obstacle because she has to learn how to survive and win the games, but she also has to do by pretending to be in love with Peeta. There are many other obstacles that she faces in the rest of the trilogy, and I think that she turns out alright in the end. 

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

A Character at the Top of Santa's Nice List and a Character at the Top of Santa's Naughty List

There are probably quite a few characters who I think could top Santa's Nice List, but I think the one that deserves to be at the top the most is Isla from Isla and the Happily Ever After. Yes, she did a few things that got her into some trouble, but she's ultimately a really nice person. 

As for the character who I think deserves to be at the top of Santa's Naughty List... Well I'm giving that spot to Alice from Side Effects May Vary. She's a girl on a mission for revenge, and she tries her hardest to make sure that she lives out her final days making everyone else miserable.

"Frosty the Snowman"

A Book that Melts Your Heart

There are a lot of heart-warming books out there that I've read, but I think the one that melts my heart the most is Anna and the French Kiss. I really enjoyed reading about Anna and St. Clair, and their romance is one that I'm quite jealous of because they seem to fall truly and deeply in love with one another. Oh... and how can a book that's set in Paris not warm your heart? I loved exploring the city of Paris in this book, and I hope to get there one day so I can see all the wonderful places that Perkins includes in this romantic novel.

"Feliz Navidad"

A Book or Series that Takes Place in a Country Other Than Your Own

So I live in the United States, and there are a lot of books that take place here, but more specifically, there are quite a few novels that take place in my hometown. It's nice, but it's always nice to find a book or series that takes place in another country. For this one, I'm going with the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. 

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

A Book You Read to Get in the Christmas Spirit

So I'm never really one for picking a particular book during this time of the year. I usually just try to find a Christmas book to read. This year's book that got me in the spirit was My True Love Gave to Me. It's an adorable collection of Christmas and holiday stories that I could see myself reading again. 

"Sleigh Ride"

A Character You Most Want to Spend Christmas With

There are many characters who I'd love to spend Christmas with, so this is not an easy choice for me to make. For this one, I'm cheating a bit and choosing a few characters. I think it would be awesome to spend Christmas with the Weasley family because they are just so outgoing and hilarious. They are also really loving, and I kind of want one of Molly's sweaters. Oh, and Harry and Hermione would most likely be there, so I'd be celebrating with some of the best.

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

A Book You Hate So Much that You'd Burn it to Stay Warm

I don't even have to think about this one, and I know it may make some of you cringe. But that's the thing about opinions - we're all entitled to our own. The book I'd burn to stay warm would be The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I just didn't buy it. It was overly unrealistic, and I couldn't stand it. I'd feel no guilt about burning it.

"Do You Hear What I Hear?"

A Book You'd Recommend to Everyone

I've read a lot of books in all of years on the planet, and there are a lot that I think everyone should read because of how amazing they are or because of certain subjects that they include within the pages of the book. If there is one book that I think everyone should read, it's The Book Thief by Markus Zusak because of how important this time in history is. I laughed, and I cried. I also enjoyed reading about the Holocaust through the lens in which this book is written. It's a book I think people of all ages should read.

Bloggers I'm Tagging:

1. Angie @ The Paperback Reader
2. Tika @ Fangirl Confessions
3. Anna @ Enchanted by YA

If you've already done this tag, feel free to leave the link to your post in the comments. I'd love to compare and contrast books!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

The Taylor Swift Book Tag

I was tagged to do The Taylor Swift Book tag by Tika over at Fangirl Confessions, and let me tell you... I am so EXCITED to do this tag. I've literally been waiting and waiting for someone to tag me for this one because Taylor Swift has been my favorite artist since I was sixteen. I've been to all of her concerts, and I have all of her CDs plus a ton of her unreleased music. The last time I checked, I had almost 500 Taylor Swift songs on my iTunes.

Oh, and did I mention that today is Taylor's birthday? I'm celebrating in style!

"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"

A Book or Series You Were Pretty Sure You Were In Love With But Then Broke Up With

Atlantia by Ally Condie

I really enjoyed the beginning of Atlantia, but then it slowly got worse, and I ended up disliking the whole book.

"Red"

A Book With A Red Cover

The Elite by Kiera Cass

"The Best Day"

A Book That Makes You Feel Nostalgic

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I loved this book when I was younger. I read it so much that it actually fell apart and I had to find another copy.

"I Knew You Were Trouble"

Pick A Bad Character You Couldn't Help But Love

Bellatrix Lestrange from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

I just love Bellatrix. She's one of my favorite book characters ever.

"Innocent"

A Book With An Ending That Was Ruined For You

I've been pretty lucky that I haven't had endings ruined for me.

"Everything Has Changed"

A Book With A Character That Goes Through Extensive Character Development

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I'm going with Katniss Everdeen for her. She changes a lot from the first page of The Hunger Games to the last page of Mockingjay.

"You Belong With Me"

Your Most Anticipated Release

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

I can't wait to get my hands on this baby by Ms. Ockler. Like words can't even describe how much I want it.

"Forever and Always"

Your Favorite Couple

The Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth

I absolutely love Tobias and Tris together. Not only are good matches for one another, but I love how they are able to work together when things are chaotic.

"Teardrops On My Guitar"

A Book That Made You Cry A Lot

Positively Beautiful by Wendy Mills

This book isn't out until March of 2015, but I cried like a baby. Make sure you pick this one up. You won't regret it.

"Shake It Off"

A Book You Love So Much That You Shake Off The Haters

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

"Blank Space"

Most Over-Hyped Book Or Series That Didn't Work For You

The Matched trilogy by Ally Condie

I read all three because I kept hoping I'd see what others were seeing, but these books were terrible.

"Invisible"

An Under-Hyped Book Or Series That Deserves The Spotlight

The Bea Catcher Chronicles by Olivia Samms

 I've only read the first book in this series, but it's great. I can't wait to read more, and I hope more people pick these up and read them.

"The Story of Us"

A Couple That Should End Up Together

To All The Boys I've Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

I really, really need to know that Margot and Josh end up together. Even though Josh and the Song Sisters are all a bit confused, I just need this to happen.

"Love Story"

A Forbidden Love in a Book or Series

Zodiac by Romina Russell

I don't want to ruin this newly released book for anyone, but it's got a Romeo and Juliet forbidden love in it. I can't wait to see how it plays out in the second book.

Okay... So I know I'm supposed to tag some people for this one... If I tag you, and you've already done it, just let me know or leave the URL to your post so I can read it!

1.  Gloria @ Gloria the Violinist 
2. Anna @ Enchanted by YA
3. Connie @ The YA Book Thief 

The Christmas Gift Guide Tag

The Christmas and holiday season is finally here! That means it is also the time to think about buying your friends and loved ones gifts. The lovely bloggers over at one of my favorite blogs, Crazy for YA, have come up with a tag that might help shopping for the bookworms in your life a little easier. I'd like to thank Tessa for tagging me and letting me know about this wonderful new tag.


Ladies, and gentlemen, I give you my take on The Christmas Gift Guide Tag.

The books I'm including are books that I've read and loved this year. Most of them are going to be 2014 releases, but there might be a few books (mostly from series) that were released in other years.


To make posting your own version of the tag easier, there are a few rules to follow.

1. Pick at least one book/book series for each category.
2. Spread some holiday cheer by tagging at least three other bloggers.
3. Add your link to the linky post. (Original post from Crazy for YA can be found here.)

*You can also use the graphic provided or make your own.

For the YA Contemporary Lover:

Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke

For the Romance Lover:

Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

For the Music Lover:

If I Stay Soundtrack

For the Mystery/Thriller Lover:

Panic by Lauren Oliver

For the Sci-Fi Lover:

Zodiac by Romina Russell

For the Fantasy Lover:

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

For the Christmas Lover:

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories

For Everybody:

The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer

Bloggers I'm Tagging:

 Tika @ Fangirl Confessions
Gloria @ Gloria the Violinist
Blessie @ Mischievous Reads

Ten Book Challenge

I was nominated to do the Ten Book Challenge by Jennie over at A Bookworm Called Jennie. Click here to see her Ten Book Challenge.

So what do you have to do once you've been tagged?

All you need to do is list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. Do not take more than a few minutes, and do not think about it too hard. They do not have be the 'right' books or great works of literature, just ones that have affected you in some way. Paste these instructions and tag ten friends through comments. Be sure to comment on my blog so I can see your list!

Jennie also included comments in her list, and I am doing the same, but not to copy her. I love quotes, so I'm including them because I feel like a quote will give you a reason as to why the books have stuck with me for so long. 

Here is my list in no particular order.

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

   "We accept the love we think we deserve."

   “Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” 

   "So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.”

   "An in that moment, I swear we were infinite."

2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

   “I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

   “Can’t repeat the past?…Why of course you can!” 

3. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

   “I can't eat and I can't sleep. I'm not doing well in terms of being a functional human, you know?”

   “I don't know how I can be so ambitious and so lazy at the same time.” 

4. Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke

   "When are we gonna get a fat princess? How about a princess with bad acne and crappy posture and the mouth of a sailor? Probably never. Every. Single. One. Is the same. Totally hot. Totally predicable."

   "But pain can make you beautiful... if you try."

5. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

   "The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure."

   "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

   "Fear of a name increases fear of a thing itself."

   "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

   “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” 

   "If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." 

6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

   “Guys like us got nothing to look ahead to”

7. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

   “Everything's a story - You are a story -I am a story.”

   “I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren’t pretty, or smart, or young. They’re still princesses.” 

8. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

   “I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.”

9. One Day by David Nicholls

   “You can live your whole life not realizing that what you're looking for is right in front of you.”

10. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

    “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.”

    
    

     Nominees:

    1. Lauren @ A Blonde Librarian  
    2.  Tika @ Fangirl Confessions
    3. Gloria @ Gloria the Violinist 
    4. Connie @ The YA Book Thief   
    5. Blessie @ Mischievous Reads
    6. Jess @ My Reading Dress
    7. Robin @ Where Books Lead Us
    8. Anna @ Enchanted by YA
    9. Jazmen @ This Girl Reads A Lot
    10. Alison @ Alison Can Read