Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Chocolate Book Tag

Reyna at A Peace of the Past tapped me with the Chocolate Book Tag.  I love chocolate, I love books... what could be better, right?  How about doing this tag on National Chocolate Day?  (It's totally a thing.)  So here goes.  I'm going to try to answer using books I haven't gabbled on and on about before, just to bring a little freshness.  Stale chocolate isn't half as tasty as fresh, after all!


Dark Chocolate (a book that covers a dark topic):  I read a lot of murder mysteries, so this one is kind of tough to narrow down.  I'll go with In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, which is the true story of two men who murdered a family of strangers.  Very dark indeed.

White Chocolate (a light and humorous read):  Henry Tilney's Diary by Amanda Grange made me laugh a lot, and it's definitely light.

Milk Chocolate (a book with a lot of hype that you're dying to read):  The terrible truth is, the more hype a book gets, the less I want to read it.  However, pretty much everyone says I should read The Scarlet Pimpernel, so I bought a copy to ensure I get to it.

Caramel-filled Chocolate (a book that makes you feel all gooey inside):  I sometimes read just the first few chapters of Jane Eyre that have Mr. Rochester in them when I need a swooning fix.

Wafer-less Kit-Kat (a book that surprised you):  I was not expecting to like Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson so much that I would go buy my own copy.

Snickers (a book you're going nuts about):  Middlemarch by George Eliot.  So much more accessible than I'd expected!  Not a dry, weary read at all, and I am madly in love with Will Ladislaw.

Hot Chocolate with Mini Marshmallows (a book you turn to for comfort):  Not a book, but a series.  I read Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe mysteries when I need to be cheered up.  Happily, he wrote almost 50 books about Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, some of which contain multiple stories.

A Box of Chocolates (a series you feel has something for everyone):  Wait, what?  Not sure I've ever read a series that had something for everyone.  I read a lot of series, but if you don't like mysteries you're not going to like Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books or Harry Kemelman's Rabbi Small books or Laurie R. King's Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes books.  If you don't like slice-of-life books, you're not going to like L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables books or Jan Karon's Father Tim books.  If you don't like off-kilter universes, you're not going to like Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books.  If you don't like espionage, you won't like Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne trilogy (I myself refuse to read the spin-offs).  If you don't like learning about life in the British Navy during the Napoleonic war, you're not going to like Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey & Stephen Maturin books.  If you don't like fantasy, you won't like Christopher Paolini's Eragon books or J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books or C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia or anything by J. R. R. Tolkien.  If you don't like animals, you won't like James Herriot's memoirs about being a country vet.  I happen to love all those series, but that doesn't mean anyone else has exactly the same eclectic tastes as me.  But I do heartily recommend all of them.

Death by Chocolate Icebox Cake - layers of chocolate ganache, chocolate mousse and chocolate graham crackers! And it's no bake!
(Source)

I don't feel like nominating anyone for this tag, so if you think it looks tasty and fun, consider yourself tagged :-)  Here are the questions, for your convenience:

Dark Chocolate (a book that covers a dark topic):
White Chocolate (a light and humorous read):
Milk Chocolate (a book with a lot of hype that you're dying to read):
Caramel-filled Chocolate (a book that makes you feel all gooey inside):
Wafer-less Kit-Kat (a book that surprised you):
Snickers (a book you're going nuts about):
Hot Chocolate with Mini Marshmallows (a book you turn to for comfort):
A Box of Chocolates (a series you feel has something for everyone):

Now, go eat some chocolate, if you love it, and celebrate National Chocolate Day in style!  I've got a box of See's assorted chocolates that I intend to choose a piece from right this minute.

13 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tag! I just had a go at it myself! :)

    It's been a long while since I've read In Cold Blood but I thought it was brilliant. I'd recommend the movie Capote as well if you haven't seen it. Phillip Seymour Hoffman absolutely nails Truman Capote's voice and mannerisms! His Oscar was completely deserved.

    I'm definitely planning on reading some Amanda Grange next year :)

    I wasn't very keen on The Scarlet Pimpernel actually. I know a lot of bloggers who really like it but the main female character really got on my nerves! She was so dense! What made it worse was that the author kept going on about how she's supposed to be the most intelligent woman in Europe! Definitely an example of telling and not showing imo!

    Many of those series that you mention are on my to-read list as well :)

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    1. I was really impressed by Capote too. PSH was definitely wonderful in it.

      I've seen the '82 movie version of TSP (don't shoot me -- I kinda had a fondness for Chauvelin, cuz... Ian McKellen! Young and sexy Ian McKellen!!!!), so I kinda know what I'm in for....

      I'll try to read your tag answers soon!

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    2. I won't shoot you! Just as long as you don't shoot me for not finding Ian McKellen attractive :D Marlon Brando as a young man though... yes please! I also love young Al Pacino and Young Robert De Niro.

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    3. Oh man, just about nobody can compare to a young Marlon Brando for smolder appeal.

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  2. See's are the best - you're making me jealous! :) I liked The Scarlet Pimpernel, though it's best if you haven't read any spoilers about it (including what's on the back cover, on some editions...). And I'm looking forward to your review of Middlemarch, since that's one of those chunksters I'm curious about.

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    1. I don't usually get See's unless my best friend sends me some or my hubby happens to travel to CA, but the airport had them!!! So I bought a box. Limiting myself to one every day or two, except today I had two.

      I've seen the '82 version of TSP already, so I kinda pretty much know what happens in it.

      And I really recommend the Rufus Sewell version of Middlemarch if you're not sure you want to read it. Take a few hours to get to know the characters and then decide! Cuz yeah... totally a chunkster.

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  3. Yep, apparently I should be reading The Scarlet Pimpernel, too, because it's so amazing, but that's one of those things I'll have to get to later in life, I guess. There's just too much going on for me right now. :/

    What's so lovely about the *first* few chapters of JE? ;-)

    I've never actually heard of See's. But here's my tag, which you might've already seen. :-) http://thesquirrelsdiary.blogspot.com/2014/10/chocolate-book-tag.html

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    1. There are a zillion amazing books I haven't gotten to yet. I hope there's a library in heaven.

      Not the first few chapters of JE, the first few chapters with Mr. Rochester in them.

      See's is based in CA. I first heard of them because they sponsored a jazz show I listened to on Saturday nights on my way to work, years ago. And then a friend sent me a box, and I was hooked. They're expensive, but amazing.

      Thanks for the link! I'm still behind on my blog-reading, sigh. So nope, hadn't seen it yet.

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    2. Oops...heehee. Mr. Rochester. Guess it pays to read the entire sentence. :-)

      Huh. They sound tasty.

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    3. Yeah, the first few chapters of Jane Eyre are dull as tombs.

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    4. Maybe that's why I haven't been able to get beyond them to actually finishing the book? Hmmmm. I wonder.

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  4. What a fun post! Perhaps I'll join in.

    Haven't read Mr Tilney's Diary yet, but it's certainly on my list. I've really enjoyed a couple of Ms. Grange's other "Diaries"! :)

    I keep reading such raving reviews of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Makes me want to try it sometime myself!

    Ah, Sixteen Brides is one of my favorites. I like to skim through and read my favorite parts when I'm in need of a pickmeup.

    I haven't actually read any of the Thursday Next series, although they are on my list and I have a couple of them sitting on my shelf. One day soon I'm hoping to get to them! What I've skimmed has certainly intrigued me.

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    1. It's a fun tag! Though it made me hungry...

      I love the first 4 Thursday Next books. #5 was okay, and I haven't finished #6 yet, alas.

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