Unpopular Opinions Book Tag

You know this tag. It's fun, it's divisive, and it really speaks volumes about a person's reading tastes. Without further ado, here are my controversial bookish opinions. *curtain drop*

1. A Popular Book or Series You Didn't Like

Starting out with a bang: The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken. I hate saying this, because Alexandra seems like such a lovely person, but the plot of the first book felt a little bland and the writing didn't engage me at all. Sadly, I ended up DNFing.

Runners Up: The Legend trilogy by Marie Lu, Caraval by Stephanie Garber, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (I know, I know, blasphemy!)

2. A Popular Book or Series that Everyone Else Seems to Hate but You Love

The Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes. This series isn't hated necessarily, but it certainly attracts divided opinions! I understand why some people have issues with these books. The story isn't rich, per say, but if you take it for what it is - a lite Game of Thrones type fantasy series - then I think these books are just fun and twisty and fast-paced. Also, there's an enemies-to-lovers relationship that is spot. on. The first four books are especially excellent.

3. A Love Triangle Where the Main Character Ended Up with the Person You Did NOT Want Them To OR an OTP You Don't Like

I have a few for this one, but I'm gonna go with Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. *spoilers ahead* I enjoyed this trilogy overall, but I found Ash to be the flattest, most uninteresting character ever. Which is strange, because dark broody fey princes are completely my thing! But Ash lacked any personality and I groaned when Meghan and him ended up together. Especially because I loved her relationship with Puck, her sarcastic best friend. Their precious few scenes of romantic tension just about killed me. Why Julie, why?? *end spoilers*

Runners Up: (No spoilers here - just pairings I don't love!) Elias/Laia, Yael/Luka, Alina/Mal

4. A Popular Book Genre You Don't Usually Reach For

Probably New Adult?

5. A Popular or Beloved Character that You Do Not Like

Oh man - Lila Bard from V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic. It's been a while since I read the book, but I remember thinking she was so full of herself, and mouthy, and irritating for no actual purpose other than to show off in front other people. She was completely uncaring about what those around her were going through. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I couldn't stand her character at all!

6. A Popular Author that You Can't Seem to Get Into

Hmm, I would say Marie Lu. I've tried reading two of her series and have failed to continue on. Her writing just isn't for me!

7. A Popular Book Trope that You're Tired of Seeing

Honestly, I think most tropes can be made new with the right perspective and story-telling. But I'm getting a little sick of hearing "fierce" or "kick-ass" female character when a book is being pitched to me, particularly in fantasy. It always comes off like that's the protagonist's defining quality, and I'm even more disappointed when the character turns out to be a carbon copy of other popular female protagonists. When calling girls "strong," I think it's important to remember that strength comes in many forms.

8. A Popular Series You Have No Interest in Reading

The Monsters of Verity duology by Victoria Schwab. (I don't hate all her books, I swear. Vicious is one of my favorite stand-alones!) Other than that, probably the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. I've been vaguely spoiled for where things go in those books, and I don't think they're for me.

9. The saying goes the book is always better than the movie. But what movie or tv show do you prefer more than the book?

This is so hard! Maybe Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen? I love the book, but the film with Kiera Knightley won my soul the minute I watched it. The music, the costumes, the atmosphere...it's just perfect. I also really enjoyed the recent Netflix adaptation of To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, but I feel like that's cheating since I haven't read the books!


FIN.
Thanks for reading! I hope I didn't hate on too many of your faves...

Rapid Fire Book Tag

Hi guys! To switch things up, I thought I'd try a book tag. (No one's tagged me...but I've seen people tag "whoever's watching" on Youtube, so I'm running with that. 🤷) This is called the Rapid Fire Book Tag. The speed element is obviously a tad difficult to translate into writing, so I'm just going to be as concise with my answers as possible. Hopefully you'll get to know my reading tastes better this way, and you can see how much we have in common! But enough with all the chatter, let's get to the questions.

1. E-book or physical book?

Physical book all the way. I'm a tangible reader - I need to hold the story in my hands.

2. Paperback or hardback?

I'm a sentimental creature, so whichever copy I read first. But I prefer hardcovers.

3. Online or in-store book shopping?

Gah. I prefer the in-store shopping experience, but pre-order incentives have really pushed me toward online shopping lately. (Sorry, B&N.)

4. Trilogies or series?

BOTH. But I like the neatness of trilogies, as it keeps the story from running off-pace. I would say trilogies, because they leave room for the author to continue with a prequel/spin-off series, that's maybe set in the same world but following different characters.

5. Heroes or villains?

Look, I'm both Team Peeta (from THG) and Team Darkling (from S&B), so I'm split halfway. If I were to conduct a poll, though, I think more villains have stolen my heart. I'm one of those suckers for the antagonist with a tragic backstory, who has the potential to be redeemed. Kylo Ren/Ben Solo owns my entire soul. And as a kid, I rooted for the predator in every wildlife documentary (Yes, I know, I'm horrible).

6. A book you want everyone to read?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It's beautiful and tragic, and will change your life. But it's also pretty well-known, so I'll offer two more recommendations: Maus by Art Spiegelman, a nonfiction graphic memoir about the Holocaust, and 1984 by George Orwell, which is bleak but incredibly timely. Both offer important insights that I think everyone needs to reflect on.

7. Recommend an underrated book?

Going with a contemporary, which is not my preferred genre. Fracture by Megan Miranda. It's where I was first introduced to Les Miserables. The story follows a girl struggling with grief, death, meaning, and love, after she suffers a traumatic brain injury. Just, please look up the synopsis. You won't be sorry.

8. Last book you finished?

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Wemouth. It was beautiful and utterly destroyed my life. You can find my review here on my blog.

9. Last book you bought?

It's actually sitting next to me here on the couch as I'm typing, and it's Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch. I was lucky enough to pick up an advance copy of the book's follow-up, Love & Luck, which was recently released, and I wanted to read the first one before diving into the sequel. I believe these books follow a girl and the adventures she has while traveling to different countries (AKA my dream AU life...).

10. Weirdest thing you've used as a bookmark?

Maybe a *clean* piece of laundry? Like a sock? I generally use receipts because they're thin, unobtrusive, and found in abundance.

11. Used books: yes or no?

Heck yes! Unless they're severely damaged/gross/unkempt. I tend to be choosier with my used copies, but I like that they have history.

12. Top three favorite genres?

Fantasy (YA and adult). Historical fiction. Literary fiction.

13. Borrow or buy?

Buy. 😬

14. Characters or plot?

Characters, 100%. If you don't have complex and well-developed characters, I don't care if the plot is as intricate as Pan's Labyrinth. I won't care. I need to be attached to the characters to be invested. Plus, it's my belief that if you have well-written characters, they'll produce good plots on their own.

15. Long or short books?

Uh...don't care? I guess long, assuming the book is good.

16. Long or short chapters?

Without any given context (are there different perspectives?), I would say short.

17. Name the first three books you think of. 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. (<3) Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.

18. Books that make you laugh or cry?

Cry. I live to suffer.

19. Our world or fictional worlds?

Fictional worlds. Escapism is my primary coping mechanism.

20. Audiobooks: yes or no?

As a kid, my family and I rented audiobooks from the library to listen to during road trips. (Anyone else grow up with Hank the Cowdog?) But we usually owned the physical copy as well. So, sadly, while I have nothing against audiobooks, I rarely ever listen to them. I'm such a visual person that my mind will wander if I just hear the story.

21. Do you ever judge a book by its cover?

Judge? Yes, unfortunately. But I do try to give the blurb a chance if the book is in my favorite genre.

Book-to-movie or book-to-tv adaptations?

I think this is a bit of an unpopular opinion, but...book-to-movie. I think the production costs force higher quality effects/writing/standards in a movie than in a tv show. And if a movie is bad, I can erase it from my mind and just write it off as an unfortunate flop. TV show adaptations, though, generally have lower budgets and can ping-pong around wildly in terms of quality. And I don't like being strung along for moments that look promising and moments of utter disappointment. Not sure if I'm conveying my thoughts effectively, but I just don't like the feeling of being dragged along with tv adaptations that stir up the online wasps and are not a one-occurrence thing. They zap the strength out of me.

Series or standalones?

Overall? Series.


And, that's it! If you made it this far, thanks! And please let me know your answers to these questions in the comments. <3

Credit: I believe the original tag was created by GirlReading on YouTube.