The Oddly Specific Things I Love in Books Tag

The Hopeful Pen tagged me with this last month, and I finally have time to finish filling it out and share!  Thanks for the tag!

The Outline 

1. Link back to who tagged you 

2. Share the Graphic on your blog 

3. Share the Outline on your post 

4. Share a detail you love about the season of summer into fall 

5. List at least 7 random/ specific things YOU love to read about in books, big or small 

6. Tag 7 people who would enjoy taking part/whose answers you are curious to read!

Here we go!

First off, it's no longer summer or fall, but one thing I love about the change of seasons when autumn finally hits here sometime in October is that my creativity takes a big boost!

Now for my seven specific little things I love in a book:

1

Escape from wrongful imprisonment

This sounds terrible, but I LOVE it when a character gets accused of a crime they didn't commit and gets sent to prison for it... and then escapes.  Prison escapes in general are something I love a lot, but when it's from a prison sentence they didn't deserve?  Gimme gimme gimme.

An example: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

2

Band of brothers

If you give me a group of guys who are mostly unrelated but just act like brothers, look after each other like brothers, basically consider each other brothers -- I'm all over it.  

An example: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

3

Surviving on a deserted island

Stories of having to survive using only what you have around you will always grab me.  I love seeing how ingenious people can be, even fictional people.

A couple examples: The Black Stallion by Walter Farley, The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss

4

Exploring abandoned spaces

I love abandoned spaces in general, and having characters explore or discover one in a book is always going to draw my attention!

An example: Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright

5

A woman tries to seduce a guy, and he tells her to get lost

Is there anything more wonderful?  And the harder she is trying to get him into bed, the more awesome it is when he refuses.

An example: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

6

Antagonistic opposites become friends

Friendships in fiction are usually more compelling to me than romances, and when you get two people who don't like each other and are nothing like each other, but then they have to work together and slowly become friends -- so, so good!

An example: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

7

Amnesia

Why is amnesia such a fun plot point?  I don't even know why I love it, but I do.  Maybe I've just forgotten why?  

An example: The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Okay, time to tag seven friends.  I tag:

Along the Brandywine

Boondock Ramblings

Classics Considered

I'm Charles Baker Harris (And I Can Read)

Inkling Corner

The Maidens of Green Gables

Meanwhile, in Rivendell...

Play if you want to!

My Year in Books: A Tag

I spotted this fun blog tag at Christian Fiction Girl, but it originates at My Head is Full of Books.

A few rules:

• Answer the questions with titles from books you read in 2024. (Some may end up being silly, others may seem overly serious.) 
• The goal is to have fun. 
• Participate by copying the questions below. Erasing my answers and inserting you own. 
• Once you've created your post, link it to the original post so others can see it, then visit others' posts to see how they answered the questions. 
• Spread the word.

The Questions:

In high school I was:  The Story Girl (L. M. Montgomery)

People might be surprised by:  The Bookish Bandit (Britt Howard and Erica Dansereau)

I will never be:  King of the Wind (Marguerite Henry)

My fantasy job is:  The Mistletoe Countess (Pepper Basham)

At the end of a long day I need:  Summon the Light (Tor Thibeaux)

I hate it:  Kill the Dawn (Emily Hayse)

Wish I had:  The Midnight Blizzard (Mary Mecham)

My family reunions are:  Weaving Roots (Heather Wood)

At a party you’d find me:  Lonely on the Mountain (Louis L'Amour)

I’ve never been to:  Treasure Mountain (Louis L'Amour)

A happy day includes:  Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus (Dusti Bowling)

Motto I live by:  One Must Die (Candice Pedraza Yamnitz, et al)

On my bucket list is:  Ride the Dark Trail (Louis L'Amour)

In my next life, I want to have:  The Solitary Summer (Elizabeth von Arnim)

This isn't a true tag, in that it doesn't ask participants to tag anyone else with it -- it's what we used to call a meme, before that word meant a funny picture and caption combo.  Anyway, I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you want to do this yourself, here's a clean copy of the prompts:

In high school I was: 

People might be surprised by: 

I will never be: 

My fantasy job is: 

At the end of a long day I need: 

I hate it: 

Wish I had: 

My family reunions are: 

At a party you’d find me: 

I’ve never been to: 

A happy day includes: 

Motto I live by: 

On my bucket list is: 

In my next life, I want to have:

The I'll Get Around to It Tag

I found this at The Christian Fiction Girl and thought it looked like good fun, especially as I eye my TBR stacks and shelves, and see how they just keep filling up no matter how assiduously I try to empty them.

The Rules 

• Link back to the original post @ Quote, Unquote. 
• Link back to the person who tagged you. 
• You may use the included graphic anywhere in your post (optional; a black clock with Roman numerals) 
• Answer all seven categories with a book. 
• Tag seven others. (optional)

The Categories

1. A classic book that you have been meaning to read forever but haven’t yet

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville.  I even bought myself a really pretty copy a couple years ago, but that still hasn't gotten me to actually read it.  Yet.

2. A book on your shelf that you haven’t read yet 

Um, I have more than 400 books on my shelves that I haven't read yet.  And you want me to pick one?  Well, I shall pick Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, which has been on my TBR shelves longer than two of my kids have been alive...

3. A book that you got recently that you haven’t read 

I just picked up a lovely copy of The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens at a thrift store recently.  Will read it someday.

4. A book that you’ve had forever but haven’t read 

I've had Under the Deodars by Rudyard Kipling on my shelves since before all three of my kids were born.  Still haven't read it.

5. A book a friend recommended that you haven’t read 

People tell me I will love The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery, and I have a copy on my shelves for when I am in the right mood for some Montgomery!

6. A book you’re procrastinating on 

I keep telling myself to read Villette by Charlotte Bronte, but I am a little afraid to try it, to be honest.  I'm afraid I will compare it to Jane Eyre too much, and it can't possibly live up to that.  I know I can choose not to compare them intentionally, but I worry I will do it subconsciously.  One of these days, I'll read it!

7. The next book on your TBR

Break the Beast by Allison Tebo, a fantasy retelling of Beowulf!

Not tagging anyone with this today because I just don't feel like it.  Play if you want to!

The categories again, for your copying ease:

A classic book that you have been meaning to read forever but haven’t yet 

A book on your shelf that you haven’t read yet 

A book that you got recently that you haven’t read 

A book that you’ve had forever but haven’t read 

A book a friend recommended that you haven’t read 

A book you’re procrastinating on 

The next book on your TBR

The Spring Cleaning Book Tag

I've snagged this tag from Sally Silverscreen at 18 Cinema Lane because it looks like lots of fun!

1. The Struggle of Getting Started – A book or book series you struggle to begin because of its size

I would like to read the Barchester Chronicles by Anthony Trollope, in theory, but there are six books, and I don't know if I'm going to like them, and they sound very cool except what if they disappoint me... and yeah, I have embarked upon twenty-book series with much less trepidation than this one causes for no real reason whatever.  I will try them eventually.

2. Cleaning Out the Closet – A book or book series you want to unhaul 

I've unhauled all the books I want to unhaul for right now, thank you.  I have been culling my TBW shelves every month or so for several years now.  I think the last books I put in our sell-to-the-used-bookstore box in the basement were the Jane Austen retellings by Debra White Smith, which I tried out and realized were just not the sort of book I really enjoy.

3. Opening Windows and Letting Fresh Air In – A book that was refreshing 

I reread The Enchanted April last month for the first time since 2021, and it absolutely refreshed and rejuvenated me.

4. Washing Out the Sheets’ Stains – A book you wish you could re-write a certain scene in 

Well, most recently, I would like to have rewritten part of Moonfleet by J. Meade Falkner so that the best character in the whole book wouldn't have to sacrifice his life to save the main character.

5. Throwing Out Unnecessary Knick-Knacks – A book in a series you didn’t feel was necessary 

Hmm.  Bones by Jan Burke.  I disliked it so much, even though I overall very much enjoy the Irene Kelly series, that I didn't review it here because I want to forget about it.

6. Polishing the Door Knobs – A book that had a clean finish 

Beauty by Robin McKinley had a fantastically wonderful ending.

7. Reaching to Dust the Fan – A book that tried too hard to relay a certain message 

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof worked much too hard to convince us that tattoos are not Really Terrible, and we Should Not Hate People Who Have Tattoos.  It is assumed that it would be difficult to decide if it would be worse to get your body covered in tattoos or to become a prostitute.  How is that even a choice, people?

8. The Tiring, Yet Satisfying Finish of Spring Cleaning – A book series that was tiring, yet satisfying, to get through

Hmm.  This is the one question I don't have a good answer to because... if a series is tiring, I will just not finish it.  Most of the time, though, I love to stretch a series out over months or years so I can savor it properly, and that definitely keeps them from feeling tiring!

I was not tagged for this, so I am not tagging anyone specific either.  If you like the questions and want to do the tag, go for it!

The Bookworm Tag

Samantha at Bookshire did this tag recently, and she invited anyone who wanted to do it to consider themselves tagged, so I am!

The (very simple) Rules:

-answer the questions 

-make up new ones 

-tag people

Samantha's Questions and My Answers:

1. Hardback or paperback? 

I tend to prefer paperbacks.  They're cheaper, they take up less space on my shelves, and I can pack more of them when I go on trips.

2. Did you have a favorite comic book or graphic novel as a kid, and if so, what was it? 

As a kid, I loved this fairly odd comic book:

I got it for free from the grocery store, and I read it over and over and over and over.  And, it made me a Spider-man fan!  

3. What is your favorite devotional or inspirational book, and why? 

I really liked Pew Sisters by Katie Schuermann.  It was relatable, made for great discussions at our women's Bible study, and helped me realize that many of the things I struggle with are fairly common and not unique to me.  

4. Would you rather have to read only one book for the rest of your life, or never get to reread a book? 

I hate this question.  It has no good answer.  I love to reread books, but rereading just one book forever also doesn't sound like a great time.  

5. Least favorite literary villain? 

Like, the one I despise the most?  Um.  Hmm.  I don't know.  I dislike most villains, as that's sort of their job, so it's hard to pick just one I dislike the most.  Hmm.  Well, I really hate Cain in The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, so let's just go with him, huh?

6. What is your favorite romance trope? 

I love friends-to-lovers.  Give me people who like each other as people, and then start to develop deeper feelings for each other, and I am going to be a happy little reader.

But I also love a lot of books where it's more annoyed-with-each-other-to-lovers, which can be very fun too.

7. If you could spend a day with your favorite author, what would you do with them? 

Okay, so, my favorite author is Raymond Chandler, and he was a crabby alcoholic.  Whereas I don't enjoy alcohol much, and I'm not generally a crabby person.  So I would probably spend the day just quietly letting him get on with his drinking and writing.  

Unless it could be a day he was spending on the set of either The Blue Dahlia (1946) or And Now Tomorrow (1944), which he wrote the screenplays for, in which case, I would spend the day quietly stalking Alan Ladd everywhere he went in the least-creepy way I could possibly manage.  I'm not sure if Chandler ever visited either of those sets, but if he did, that's what I would pick.  Which sounds like it's less about loving Chandler and more about loving Alan Ladd, but oh well.  Not everyone is lucky enough to have their favorite author write screenplays for their second-favorite actor, but I am, so there we are.

8. What is the longest book you've ever read, and did you like it? 

That would be The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, and I liked it so much, I have read it nine times.

(From my Instagram account)

9. Do you have a favorite poet, and if so, who is it? When did you learn about them? 

I do!  I love Kenneth Koch because so much of his poetry makes me laugh.  I first learned about him in a lit class during my freshman year of college, and I've been a fan ever since.  I also really love his books on how to teach kids to write poetry, such as Wishes, Lies, and Dreams.

10. Have you ever cried over a fictional death scene, and if so, which one(s)?

SPOILER ALERTS!!!!  I cry over Boromir's death every time I read The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.  And also over Matthew Cuthbert's death in Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.  On a whole, though, I am way more likely to cry over something going unexpectedly, gloriously right in a book than I am over a character death.

END of SPOILER ALERT

Okay!  Those were lots of fun :-)  Time to tag people!  I hereby tag:

Bookshire

Classical Carousel

Classics Considered

Cimharas

Holds Upon Happiness

More 2 Discover

The Once Lost Wanderer

The Rustic Reading Gal

With Freedom, Books, Flowers, and the Moon

And here are my questions for you:

1.  If you had to go into the witness protection program, and they gave you the option of moving inside a book, where would you like to go?

2.  Have you ever claimed to have read a book you actually hadn't read?

3.  What author have you read the most books by?

4.  Do you ever buy fun bookish merch like mugs, shirts, artwork, etc?

5.  Do you usually read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?

6.  Are you a mood reader, or do you plan out your reads?

7.  If you could meet the author of your favorite book and ask them one question, what would you ask them?

8.  Have you ever tried a new food or drink because you read about it in a book or story?

9.  Have you ever named a pet after a book character?

10.  What book are you reading right now?

Play if you want to!

The In or Out Tag

Spotted this at both Deborah Koren's blog and Cindy's Book Corner and thought it looked like too much fun to pass up :-)

Unlike most tags, there are no rules about thanking people or tagging people.  If you want to fill it out, you can!  If you don't, then don't!  

Reading the Last Page First -- OUT.  I can only remember doing this once, and it was for And Now Tomorrow by Rachel Field.  I did it that time because the first section of the book made it sound like the book was going to end differently than the 1944 movie, and I adore the 1944 movie, so I had to find out if it ended the same way or not.  Because, if it didn't, I wasn't going to bother reading the whole book.  But it does, so I did read it.  And loved it.

Ordinarily, though, I don't want to ruin the flow of a story by reading the ending first.

(Bwahaha!  I snuck an Alan Ladd picture in here!)

Enemies to Lovers -- IN.  It's not my favorite trope, but I love books like Pride and Prejudice, North and South, and the Anne of Green Gables books a lot, and they all use this, so I'm fine with it.

Dream Sequences -- IN.  Sometimes, I don't even mind "it was all a dream."

Love Triangles -- IN.  They're a classic.  I've even used them myself, like in My Rock and My Refuge.  

(This and all the following book photos
are mine from my Instagram account.)

Cracked Spines -- OUT.  OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT.  My mother gave me a boxed set of four Jane Austen novels for my birthday when I was in my upper teens.  Then she borrowed them each in turn to read herself and absolutely destroyed their spines.  Not only did they no longer fit in the slipcover, you couldn't even read the titles on the spines.  They made me sad every time I looked at them, and I eventually gave them away.  I still have my original Anne of Green Gables paperbacks that my mom also ruined that way, but my grandma gave me those, so I keep them anyway.

Now, a caveat to all that, though -- if I'm buying a used copy of a vintage paperback, like a Louis L'Amour or a Rex Stout or something like that, I am super fine with the book looking like it lived in someone's back pocket for weeks on end fifty years ago.  In fact, I prefer those to shiny, new copies for specific genres and authors.  But I WILL NOT contribute MORE crackage to their spines.  And I prefer them not to be so cracked that I can't read the title anymore.

Back to My Small Town -- IN.  Although "someone new comes to town, and everything changes" is my favorite trope, I also love "someone comes back home, and everything changes."  Probably my favorite versions of that are the book The Count of Monte Cristo and movie The Lone Ranger (2013).

 

No Paragraph Breaks -- OUT.  Also, ew.  Also, I don't think I've ever read a book like that, but I'm against it on principle.

Multi-generational Sagas -- IN.  I mean, I'm embarking on a quest to read all of the Sackett novels by Louis L'Amour this year, so I'm obviously a fan, right?  Also, I love historical fiction, and that sort of thing generally involves lots of history.

Monsters Are Regular People -- OUT if you mean horrific villains are portrayed as normal and acceptable.  IN if you mean stories where vampires just wanna make friends and hold down a job.  Angel (1999-2004) is my second-favorite TV show of all time, after all.

Re-Reading -- IN.  I reread a LOT.  I've estimated that 1 out of 4 books I read is a reread, usually.  This past year, it was closer to 1 in 3 -- I read 103 books, and 29 were rereads.

Artificial Intelligence -- OUT.  I don't read much sci-fi, and I just am not a fan of sentient robots in general.

Drop Caps -- IN.  They usually look amazing.

Happy Endings -- IN.  I LOVE happy endings!!!

Plot Points That Only Converge at the End -- IN, as long as the book isn't too long.  I must admit, I've never read a book by Tom Clancy because I've heard so many people talk about how he'll start like eight little plots going and you never find out how they're related until the very end, and that does sound kind of daunting to keep straight.  But J. K. Rowling did the same thing over the course of the Harry Potter series, really, and I loved that.  So... I'm not against it, anyway.

Detailed Magic Systems -- IN if I don't have to read all the details.  Out if the book is basically a travelogue about a fictional world.  This is part of why I don't read a ton of fantasy and sci-fi.  Descriptions of places and how things work bore me, and if that's the bulk of your first few chapters, I'm outta here.

Classic Fantasy Races -- IN.  The fantasy I do dig, such as The Lord of the Rings and Eragon and Harry Potter, all use classic things like unicorns and elves and dwarves and centaurs and dragons. 

Unreliable Narrators -- OUT.  I am not a fan.  I want to trust the narrator to tell me what's going on.  If I can't, I'm probably going to dislike the book.

Evil Protagonists -- OUT.  One of the things I demand from fiction is that it restore moral balance by the end of the book.  Also, if the protag is evil, I'm really not going to want to like them.  And if I don't like the protag, and they either have to face dire consequences or will get away with being evil... why would I want to read that?  Why???

The Chosen One -- IN.  Harry Potter, Frodo Baggins, Eragon, the Pevensie kids... I'm totally a fan.

When the Protagonist Dies -- IN and OUT.  Ordinarily, I hate it.  I want my happy ending.  Buuuuuuut... Hamlet dies.  And I adore Hamlet.  I can be okay with protag death if that still results in a good ending.

Really Long Chapters -- IN, I guess?  I don't care, when I read.  I tend to write short chapters, though.

French Flaps -- OUT just because I don't really have any books with them and they seem annoying.  I had to look up what they are, though.

Deckled Edges -- IN.  I am a very sensory, tactile-oriented person, and how a book feels can matter a lot to me.  Like, I really can't stand cloth-bound books and avoid buying them.  I love the feel of deckled edges :-)

Signed Copies by the Author -- IN!  Why would anybody not want that?

Dog-Earing Pages -- IN!  Books are not sacred objects.  It's okay to bend the pages.  When I was just starting to read chapter books, I had a toddler brother who delighted in pulling bookmarks out of every book he found, so for several years, dog-earing was a necessity.  I usually use a bookmark, but if I don't have one, I don't feel guilty about dog-earing. 

Chapter Titles Instead of Numbers -- IN!  But be aware I will probably ignore them completely.

I was not tagged with this, so I'm not tagging anyone else, but if you think this looks fun, by all means fill it out yourself!

The Give Thanks for Books Tag

Are you thankful for books?  I'm so thankful for them in so many ways -- for what they teach me, how they transport me, and how happy they can make me.  So I've created this blog tag to share some of the books I'm thankful for.  I'll tag a few friends at the end, and if you like it and want to do it too, go right ahead!

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who tagged you.  (Thank you, me!)

2. Fill out the tag.

3. Share the tag graphic in your post.

4. Tag four friends.

5. Provide a clean copy of the tag for easy copying.

(Note: I've linked book titles to my reviews of them.)

(Another note: All book pictures are mine from my Instagram account.)

The Tag:

G -- A book you're Grateful to a friend for recommending: The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery. So many of my friends, I think particularly Heidi of Along the Brandywine, kept telling me that I HAD to read The Blue Castle.  And they were right.  Thank you, lovely friends!

I -- A book that fires your Imagination: All of Raymond Chandler's books.  I'm so serious.  His way with words just sets my imagination on fire.  My creativity soars whenever I'm reading one of his books, and that's a huge part of why he's my favorite author.

V -- A book with a Vivid setting: These War-Torn Hands by Emily Hayse.  Oh my goodness, the breath-taking beauty of her magical-Old-West setting!  The untamed vistas, the harsh beauty of the landscapes, the hungry wilderness surrounding every character -- it's magnificent.

E -- An Encouraging book:  Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper by SARK was a great shot in my creativity a few years ago.  Lots of good encouragement and advice for how to be and remain creative, whether you're a writer or a visual artist or whatever.

T -- A book that Taught you something:  Marsalis on Music by Wynton Marsalis taught me so many things about music!  For instance, I never knew that a sonata and a symphony have the same form, the only difference is whether they're played by a few instruments or by many.  The book is geared toward kids, but I got so much out of it too!

H -- A Happy book: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome is such a happy, fun, enjoyable book!  I read it aloud to my kids a few months ago, and we all got such a kick out of it that I ordered the next two books in the series, though we haven't started them yet.

A -- An Amusing book: The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes by Wade Albert White made me laugh and laugh and laugh.  If you want a truly funny middle-grade fantasy book with good humor instead of the stupid potty humor many middle-grade books rely on, give this one a try.

N -- A New-to-you book or author you discovered this year:  I tried out Walter Mosley's hardboiled detective books for the first time this year.  I didn't care for Devil in a Blue Dress, but I really enjoyed Trouble is What I Do. 

K -- A fictional character you feel a Kinship with:  Anne Elliot in Persuasion by Jane Austen.  Like her, I am quiet, reserved, loyal, and determined inside even if other people don't know how strong-willed I can be.

S -- A book you want to Share with others:  On These Black Sands by Vanessa Rasanen is such a rollicking good time!  If you like pirate stories or fantasy books at all, you need to read it.

Here's a clean copy of the questions for you:

G -- A book you're Grateful to a friend for recommending

I -- A book that fires your Imagination

V -- A book with a Vivid setting

E -- An Encouraging book

T -- A book that Taught you something

H -- A Happy book

A -- An Amusing book

N -- A New-to-you book or author you discovered this year

K -- A fictional character you feel a Kinship with

S -- A book you want to Share with others

I Tag:

Eva at Coffee, Classics, and Craziness

Gabby at Finding Freedom, Living Loved

Katie at I'm Charles Baker Harris (And I Can Read)

Olivia at Meanwhile, in Rivendell...

Play if you want to!

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag (2021)

Yeah, yeah, it's the end of August, so we're past the true middle of the year, but whatever.  I saw this on Coffee, Classics, and Craziness, and again on I'm Charles Baker Harris (And I Can Read), and it looked fun, so I'm doing it too :-D  Because I haven't done a tag in like... months.  And I love tags.

I'm linking all titles to my own blog reviews when available.  All pictures are mine from my Instagram account.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2021:  This is very hard because I've read/reread some awesome books this year.  I'll just go with The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas because it was even more wonderful than I was remembering.  For the last couple hundred pages, I would pause reading at least once a chapter just to revel in how much I was loving it.  Which sometimes involved small bounces or squeals of joy, and other times involved hugging the book.  Or taking a deep breath.  Or just grinning a lot.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2021:  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling, which is my favorite Harry Potter book.  Oh, my goodness, it is so delightful!

And, yes, a lot of the reason it's my favorite is because Sirius Black is my favorite character in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Unquestionably.

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to:  Ignite by Jenna Terese.  I had it in my sidebar here as "currently reading," but it wasn't quite the right book for me right now, so I've set it aside for a bit.  I hope to read it soon, though!  It's Christian indie fiction about superheroes!  I'm sure I will enjoy it when I'm in the right mood.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:  The London House by Katherine Reay!  I'm so excited to see what she does with historical fiction.

Biggest disappointment in 2021:  Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.  At least it was short.

Biggest surprise in 2021:  Probably Caraval by Stephanie Garber, because YA fantasy is not my usual thing, but I inhaled that book in 2 days.  The sequels were good too, but didn't grab me as hard as that first one.  My goodness, it was such a delicious, dizzying ride!

Favorite new author in 2021:  Emily Hayse!  I absolutely adored These War-Torn Hands and want to read more of hers ASAP.  I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in this series, The Beautiful Ones, but I'm also interested in reading some of her previous books, even though they're not westerns :-o

Newest fictional crush/ship: For ship, it's Rue and Robbie in Wait Until Tomorrow by Jenni Sauer.  They were such a sweet, supportive, kind couple!

For crush, well, Declan in On These Black Sands by Vanessa Rasanen was awfully lunchable.  

Newest favorite character: Jack Selby in These War-Torn Hands by Emily Hayse.  My goodness, he was marvelous.  He made me cry, melt, cheer, sigh... all the things.  I can't wait to read more about him.

Book that made you cry in 2021: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling hit me a lot harder this time around than I was expecting.  Not just the death at the end, but so much of the growing-up stuff that Harry, Ron, and Hermione go through made me tear up a lot.

Book that made you happy in 2021: I reread Shane by Jack Schaefer while in Wyoming this summer, and it was glorious.  My goodness, that book gets better and better every time I reread it.  (And yes, I took this photo in Wyoming.)

Favorite book-to-film adaption you saw in 2021:  Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) is probably my answer for "best book-to-movie adaptation" of all time.  I rewatched it this year for the first time in quite a while and it is still magnificent.  I'm considering starting to reread Patrick O'Brian's books once I finish the Harry Potter series.  

Favorite bookish post you’ve done so far in 2021: It's not a single post, but I really enjoyed leading the Sense and Sensibility read-along this past spring!  We had so many good discussions about the characters, storylines, Jane Austen's writing, the era it takes place -- good times :-)

Most beautiful book you bought so far in 2021:  My Seasons edition of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.  It's almost too pretty to touch.  Good thing it came with a protective vinyl sleeve so I don't have to worry about ruining the paper dustjacket!

Books you need to read by the end of the year:  The last two Harry Potter books because I want to reread the whole series in one year :-)  I'm working on Order of the Phoenix right now, but I don't know that I'll finish it by the end of August.  I might, though!  We'll see.

How about you?  Have you had any spectacular reads this year?  Did you do this tag yourself already?  If so, leave a link in the comments so we can read it!