This or That Book Tag

October 13, 2016

Book tags: what are they? These are posts crafted by book bloggers, for book bloggers. The idea is that one blogger establishes a list of questions for another to answer, with the goal to better understand the other blogger as a person and as a reader. They are called tags because at the end you’re supposed to tag another blogger– and so it goes. This perpetuates the information sharing and builds a stronger community of book bloggers.

I haven’t done a tag before, but I thought it was time to start sharing some information about myself and my preferences. This will help you better understand my reading style, as well! Luckily, I was just tagged. 🙂

this-or-that

A HUGE thanks to Kate @ The Nerdy Novelty for tagging me to complete the This or That Book Tag created by Ayunda @ Tea and Paperbacks.

Rules:

  • Mention the creator of this tag
  • Thank the blogger who tagged you
  • Choose one of the options for each question (and explain it if you want to)
  • Tag 10 other people

 

Reading on the couch or in bed?

In bed. I do the majority of my reading on the elliptical or treadmill, but the next best place is my bed. The only challenge is that I often read late into the night… O_o

 

Female or male main character?

Honestly, I don’t care as long as they are well-developed and realistic. Character development is key to a successful book in my eye.

 

Sweet or Salty Snacks?

Salty! Unless you have ice cream. Do you have ice cream? Or another form of dessert that comes in a cup. …Uh, so I guess sweet. But I most often munch chips and salsa when I’m reading.

 

Trilogies or Quartets?

I have apparently read more book series which are Quartets than Trilogies. Huh. Who would’ve known? (I’ve already read more multi-book series, over 4 books, than trilogies or quartets.)

 

First or third person POV?

This was a hard one! My gut reaction is third-person. I recently read a novel written in first-person subjective. It took me quite a while to get used to it. I think I like third-person more just because I’ve read more books in third-person.

 

Reading at night or in the morning?

Always at night. I am NOT a morning person. I tend to read before going to bed most frequently. That typically gets me in trouble though…

 

Libraries or bookstores?

LIBRARIES! I adore my public library system. The reason my physical TBR is so huge is thanks to the library system. I can just get whatever book I want almost whenever I want. It’s heaven.

 

Books that make you cry or laugh?

I rarely laugh aloud to books, but I cry all the time when I’m reading. I think this is because I don’t like to draw attention to my emotions with sound; I can cry silently but not laugh silently. Yet, I also don’t believe in spending my free time being miserable. That decides it: Books that make me laugh.

 

Black or white book covers?

I don’t care as long as they are pretty! Just no ugly, boring, or lame book covers.

Oh, I have to pick an answer? White then, I guess. It makes me bookshelf more vibrant. 🙂

 

Character- or plot-driven books?

100% Character-driven! I can get past all sorts of terrible writing if the character development is on point. This is why Rainbow Rowell is still my favorite author– she NAILS character development and relationships. Plot is important too, just not as important for my reading.

 

TAG: You’re it!

This is the part of book tags which has kept me away from tags. I don’t want to pressure anyone into completing this tag, but I’d *love* to know your opinions! If you choose to do this tag, let me know. I want to learn more about you. 🙂 Or, just participate in the conversation below. All are welcome forms of participation!

 


What do you think?

  • What would you choose for your answers above? Any stumpers?
  • What do you think of the idea of book tags?
  • Would you want to be tagged to complete one of these, or left alone?

32 Comments

  • Patricia Nicole October 13, 2016 at 9:44 am

    I enjoyed reading your answers. We have so many things in common! I might do this tag, although not right away. Maybe in a day or two. Thanks for sharing this tag!

    • Jackie B October 14, 2016 at 10:19 am

      Thanks, Patti! I would love to read your answers. 🙂 I think that I’ll be one who hoards tags, personally. I want to ensure my blog is primarily about literature, and less about me. But they are so much fun!

  • Anne October 13, 2016 at 12:22 pm

    Haha! I loved reading your answers, can’t make up your mind much eh? 😉 I’m the same. I think ;). I always think the tags might look slightly strange to the readers who aren’t bloggers themselves. Which is why I think it’s cool that you added a little bit of info on what a tag actually entails. I’m about 20 tags behind at the moment, someone needs to create a tag about tags! But I do like to read them because you get the know the person behind the blog better (yes, cliche but true!).

    • Jackie B October 14, 2016 at 10:09 am

      Thanks, Anne. 🙂 I feel like to someone who isn’t a blogger, a tag feels a bit like a chain letter. But, it’s really more like the blog-version of a pen pal? Or something like that; I dunno. I love learning about my fellow blogger friends. I also think it’s important to have good space between tags and other posts. I struggle with book blogs which are mostly tags. I want to learn about their opinions on books, too!

      • Anne October 14, 2016 at 2:34 pm

        Exactly! Or like writing in one of those children’s friend’s books. “What’s your hobby?”, “What’s your favourite food?”. Sure, it’s fun to learn that stuff from fellow bloggers, but if it’s more of that than actual book related content, then I wouldn’t want to follow it either as a non-blogger (or a blogger for that matter 😉 ).

  • ChicNerdReads October 14, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    Yes I also read in bed in the majority of the night!! That’s when I can sit down and read 100 pages without a problem. I cannot for the life of me read in the morning, that’s when my mind is very distracted.
    I definitely agree with you that character development is more important than their gender.

    • Jackie B October 14, 2016 at 2:05 pm

      I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone when it comes to evening binge reading. 🙂

  • Brendon October 15, 2016 at 7:49 pm

    This is a great tag! I am NOT a morning person either. Although to keep up with things, I read and write both in the morning and at night. I usually read from 6-7:30am and write from 7:30-8:30am every day. I do not have a commute to work so I can still get in by 9am!

    The other one that stood out to me was library vs. bookstore. I LOVE used bookstores and is why I have too many books at home but I also love the library which is why I have so many unread books at home hahaha…

    Thank you for sharing more about yourself!

    • Jackie B October 16, 2016 at 5:12 pm

      Wow. I respect your schedule, Brendon. I am definitely not a morning person. I *am* a creature of habit, but not that strict of habit! I tend to fall down rabbit holes read other people’s blogs, too. Oops.

      • Brendon October 17, 2016 at 4:13 pm

        I really fail at my morning schedules sometimes. Like not getting out of bed haha. My partner is a true creature of habit (5 am every morning) and I wish I could just get into that routine of getting out of bed. That’s the hardest for me and the colder weather is not going to help!

        • Jackie B October 18, 2016 at 2:59 pm

          5 AM EVERY MORNING? Whew. I would not be successful with that. Yikes. I am not good at getting out of bed when I’m all warm under the covers, but it’s one of my favorite things. There is something about being all snuggly like that which makes me want to read.

  • smsteve7 October 17, 2016 at 8:07 am

    Oh girl, I relate to almost all your answers. Except, I cannot for the life of me read on the treadmill/elliptical. How do you do this without getting dizzy? Maybe I bounce too much.

    • Jackie B October 17, 2016 at 8:52 am

      I just make the text super big. The treadmill often has more bouncing, but the elliptical I feel like I could run on forever. I don’t bounce at all on ellipticals or my form gets all messed up. I am certainly not pushing myself, but I’m still working out. 🙂

  • Read Diverse Books October 17, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    Oh, what a fun tag! I need to do a new one soon. I have a couple of tags I’m considering, but this one sounds more fun because it’s personal.
    I cry a lot during books too! This is the case for TV and movies, haha, but I do love a good story that makes me cry. If a book manages to make me cry, it will stick with me longer because it made me FEEEELLL. Like you, I am also 100% behind character-driven books. That’s the entire reason why I read. I want to meet new and interesting people…in books! lol

    You should do more book tags. They’re so fun 😀

    • Jackie B October 18, 2016 at 3:00 pm

      D’aw, thanks Naz! I sometimes get embarrassed about tags, since they feel a bit like a chain letter… but they are fun! Plus, I love reading them from my blogger friends. It’s great to better understand the person behind the blog. I feel like I can understand their writing more then.

  • M @ A Blog Of One's Own October 18, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    This could have been written by me, honestly 😀 Ice cream <3 But also.. chips & salsa <3 😀 I also read in bed at night and I couldn't read in the morning, because mornings are awful and it's hard to keep my eyes open and people aren't allowed to talk to me 😛 I also agree on all the other answers. I just don't read a lot of series so far, so I can't really give a good answer on that one.

    • Jackie B October 18, 2016 at 3:03 pm

      This makes me so happy! No wonder I love your reviews so much, we’re more-or-less the same person. Perhaps we have similar taste in books, too? I shall have to make an effort to read more books that you have in order to find out. This excites me. 🙂

      • M @ A Blog Of One's Own October 18, 2016 at 3:42 pm

        Hahaha, that’s an awesome idea! I’ll check out your books so I can more of them, as well 😀 Buuuuut I’ll also be reading The Cursed Child soon, so we’ll have at least one that we can compare already 🙂

        • Jackie B October 20, 2016 at 1:10 pm

          That’s super exciting! Perhaps we can do a buddy read sometime and cross-reference blog posts? It would be interesting to see if we are as alike as I think we might be.

  • Amanda @Cover2CoverMom October 19, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    I enjoyed reading your answers Jackie!

    “100% Character-driven! I can get past all sorts of terrible writing if the character development is on point. This is why Rainbow Rowell is still my favorite author– she NAILS character development and relationships. Plot is important too, just not as important for my reading.”

    RR is definitely the queen of characterization. I think this is why she is so popular, her characters are just so relatable and easy to fall in love with.
     

    • Jackie B October 20, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      Completely!! That’s the most accurate depiction I’ve heard yet. Even the characters I can’t relate to at all I find myself falling in love with. I just adore her writing. Moar books please!

  • Jasmine October 19, 2016 at 2:20 pm

    I love getting books from the libraries too. There are a few in my city and I have visited a few of them. I also read at night and often to 2AM hehe.. How do you read on the treadmill? walking or running?

    • Jackie B October 20, 2016 at 1:12 pm

      Reading until the wee hours of the morning is something I do accidentally way more often than I’d like to admit! The Kindle helps, because I don’t bother my sig *as much* with the backlight.

      On the treadmill I often will do incline walking with my Kindle, but sometimes I’ll run. Either way, I blow the text up much larger than I’d normally read. Then, I get into a rhythm: Step, step, step, swipe. Step, step, step, swipe. It works surprisingly well, and I end up running much longer than I normally would!

      • Jasmine October 20, 2016 at 1:19 pm

        And here I accumulated a muffin top just by sitting on the couch to read after dinner That’s great that you can multi task

  • Lost In A Good Book October 21, 2016 at 3:40 pm

    I’m primarily drawn to plot driven stories, but if the characterization is off it can ruin the whole thing. I’ve been hearing a LOT about this Rainbow Rowell but never read any of her books. Maybe it’s time to look into one.

    • Jackie B October 24, 2016 at 12:26 pm

      I adore her books. There aren’t many, and they are all quick reads. Eleanor and Park is the book which launched her into fame, but my personal favorite is Fangirl. I hope you read her, and I look forward to hearing your opinions!

  • Adoptabookaus November 3, 2016 at 11:15 pm

    Is it strange that I just imagined you reading on the treadmill with a bowl of chips and dip XD Hahah Also that I really want a milkshake with all your talk about ice cream, what have you done to me now I must go to the store :’D Great answers, I think I probably read more quartets then trilogies as well and Rainbow does characters so good I don’t even need a plot, just give me all the witty dialog and I’ll be happy!

    • Jackie B November 4, 2016 at 10:23 am

      I really want to try reading on a treadmill while eating chips and dip. I wonder if I can pull that off… If I do, I will certainly post a photo of that on my blog. It deserves to be shared.

      Yes! I could just read witty dialogue with some noticeable character development, and plot can just go away. Perfection.

      What was the last quartet you read?

      • Adoptabookaus November 6, 2016 at 5:13 pm

        Hahah Picture or it didn’t happen! To be honest it sounds like some good motivation, work it off as soon as it enters your mouth XD

        I guess I’m a quartet and plus reader XD The last ones I’ve read are Vampire academy which is 6 books, then Throne of glass 5 books atm, The Fallen Kingdom series which I’ve read 4 of them and there is 5 I think, oh and Outlander! Even though there are like 12 outlander books I bought the first 4 in a box set 😀

        • Jackie B November 8, 2016 at 12:05 pm

          There are so many great series in the world. I am patiently waiting for the next Vampire Academy book to come in from the library. I hope I enjoy this series… Watching your reviews come in have really inspired me to try again! I haven’t read Throne of Glass, but it’s on the list. I want to wait until the series is fully published so I can binge read. 😉 But all of these are wonderful!

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