The "I don't know what it's called but I was tagged so I'm doing it" Tag

Thank you to Terri @Lebookchronicles (http://lebookchronicles.weebly.com - you should check her blog out because it's awesome) for tagging me!

She didn't know the name for this tag so I'm just going to jump into the questions:

1. Favorite children’s book/fairytale?

I was a huge fan of Roald Dahl and Jacqueline Wilson as a child. Of course I loved lots of books but these two stick out as my favourite authors, I read almost all of their books during my childhood. I still have all of these books and probably will keep them forever. As for a single favourite? That's hard to choose (mostly because I never pick favourites of anything, especially books). I did really love Matilda though (both the book and the movie - which I have on DVD and still watch frequently).

2. Do you have more than one copy of the same book? Same or different edition?

 Unlike most people I actually buy multiple copies a lot (sorry Terri!). It either happens because I want, or have seen, a different edition, I want the books in a series to match on my shelf, the book is in poor condition so I want to replace it (usually only if I see it cheap second hand) or when I have both Kindle and physical copies of a book. The last one is an issue; I usually buy books on Kindle, read them, love them and then I want the books for my collection so I end up paying way more than if I had just bought the paperback to begin with. Also if the Kindle version is cheap, I'll buy it so can choose which format to read on or reread it any time I want easily (and search for my favourite bits to reread). Oh dear I have some series issues...

3. If you could change the fate of one book character, who would you choose? 

Usually I'm pretty happy with a character's fate and I don't want to spoil so I'll pass on this one.

4. Do you use a bookmark or dog-ear the pages? 

Never dog-ear! It is so pointless when literally anything can be used as a bookmark. If I need to close a book for a moment and I don't have anything at hand I used remember the page number...not that difficult. And also any book lover always has something at hand that can be used as a bookmark so it really shouldn't be a problem. 

5. Choose a book character you would like to have as a friend in real life. 

Oh this is tough! I don't know who exactly but she/he would need to be fun (I need friends to laugh with), love to read (so we could talk books) and be a really genuine person. 

6. Which book do you think had the worst plot? 

Love story by Jennifer Echols has a pretty terrible plot. The whole book is a pile of - no that's harsh but it is rubbish. The ending happens when I felt like I was only 75% of the way through, I thought it was a mistake - like my copy was missing 75 pages (according to goodreads I'm not the only one who felt this way). Overall the story wasn't great but then it ended with no resolution, it may as well have been halfway through a sentence. I still wonder how that happened. Was she writing and someone lured her away with a huge brownie and he never got back to writing it? Who Knows? Either way the plot was possibly the worst I've ever read and executed badly too, characters were awful. Just one big pile of suck.

7. Which do you prefer: eReaders, tablets or physical books? 

Hmmm well I obviously own physical books and I also have the kindle app (as well as the Kobo app and my library eBook app) on my phone and tablet. I very recently purchased my first actual kindle too. I read a lot of eBooks because I like the convenience of reading anywhere (*ahem* lectures), I read a lot quicker on them and I can read laid down in bed. I buy a lot of cheap/free books on there which are great and a lot of those aren't even available in paperback so eBooks are definitely important for me (some of my favourite authors are eBook only). I own a massive amount of physical books though and ultimately I love their covers, smells, the way they feel...everything. Despite this I couldn't choose one or the other as they both have their own advantages/disadvantages. I love them both and as long as I can have both I will.

8. Do you watch book trailers?

Rarely, mostly because I like using my imagination which is one of the (many) reasons I prefer books to movies- I'm planning a post about this soon actually. 

9. Do you prefer a book series or stand-alone books? 

Stand-alone...actually companion series. This way you have the choice to continue, don't get bored with the same story dragged out and get to see more of your favourite characters without overdosing on them. I struggle to make it through series and stand-alone's leave me pining for more so I choose a good companion series.

10. Does the book cover affect your decision on whether or not to buy the book?

No! If it did all my favourites might not be my favourites. As an avid reader of romance books (including historical romance which have terrible covers) I have learnt to accept that the covers are what they are; weird, awkward, half naked embraces. There is always someone's hand on someone's breast, ass or in their jeans (down the front, pocket, anywhere really). They never look appealing but the books are often really incredible. I've also read a lot of books with beautiful covers and horrible stories so no I don't judge - I just keep the covers concealed sometimes in public (I hate that I feel like I need to do this but some people just doesn't get romance as a genre).

11. And what is your favourite book cover?

Urrghh with the impossible questions already whoever made this tag!...I really love The Sound Of Letting Go by Stacia Ward Kehoe. 

12. Did you ever buy a book you thought you would love but couldn't even finish? Which one? 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson, I managed 30 pages. I know that's not much but I just couldn't.

13. Which book has touched you the most? Why? 

The Age Of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. I can't even say why but this book just hit me so hard. I felt so much when reading, and for a long time after, this book. I highly recommend it.

14. Which book have you re-read the most? 

I've not kept count so it would be one of the following; Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry. Playing For Keeps & Perfection by R.L.Mathewson. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Chasing McCree by J.C.Isabella.

15. How do you select new books to read? 

I'm a mood reader therefore I just go with what I'm feeling. There is no method in the madness that is my reading but I like that because I really believe you find the best books by accident.

If You want to do this tag, then please do. I tag you!

Thanks For Reading!

With all my bookish love,

Jess

xoxo

Growing Out Of YA?

I really only discovered young adult fiction at the beginning of 2014, before then I had primarily read adult books (after I grew out of children/middle grade fiction). I had read a few ya books before then but it was at that point when I really discovered this genre. 

Since then I've read hundreds of ya books and loved so many of them. In more recent months I have however noticed my interest in them waning. I've got plenty of ya on my shelves but I'm finding myself drawn to other genres. I don't think this is an aversion to ya seeing as I have reread some of my favourite ya books from last year recently and enjoyed them thoroughly.

I am definitely more discerning of the books I read now and much more critical which I feel does effect the types of books I choose to read.

Mostly though I do genuinely think it's simply that my taste is expanding, I'm not solely reading contemporary, romance or ya novels any more. I love that this is happening but I really hope that I can still find enjoyment in ya as well as in the new genres I've been exploring.

With that in mind here's a list of 5 ya books I really want to read this year:
>Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
>Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Mass
>Me, Earl & The Dying Girl by Jess Andrews
>All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
>The Mortal Instruments/The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Truthfully I don't think I'll ever 'grow out' of ya so much as grow into other genres whilst maintaining my appreciation and admiration for ya as a genre.

Thanks For Reading!
With all my bookish love,
Jess
xoxo

Dedicated To...

Dedications in Books, Inspired by 'Dedicated To...The forgotten friendships, hidden stories and lost loves found in second-hand books' Compiled by W B Gooderham

For someone who can't break the spine of a book, won't lend out books to anybody and who glares are people if they dog ear a book, I have a surprising fascination with dedications in books. Somehow it's perfectly fine, actually it's wonderful, when people write dedications in the front of books. It's the exception to my 'crazy obsessive neat book lady' rule.

I once received the sixth book in Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events as a gift, with a dedication written inside (I would show you a picture but unfortunately it's packed away). 

Upon receiving that I read the rest of the series with the exception of the last 3 books which I thought myself too old to read by the time I was ready for them. Of course now I know better, I was not too old. I'm still not too old but I don't own them and I have forgotten much of what occurred in the first ten books. 

My point, before I started on that tangent, was that the gift of one book inspired me to read nine more. Gifts of books, providing that it is the right book, can have huge effects on the way we read, think or even feel about the people who gave us that book. A book gifted to you by somebody will surely alter the way in which you remember that person. The gift of a book, move over a book with a dedication is for me a very thoughtful and special gift. A gift to be treasured and kept. 

Of course books don't always remain in their original owners possession which, despite how sad it makes me, was the basis of a book I purchased a few months ago named 'Dedicated To...'. This book is a collection of dedications written in books which have been collected and made into their own book. This book was something I wanted the moment I heard about and really want other people to hear about too.

Here are two of my favourites, the first is a note of love and the second...well not so much.

The covers of the books are also shown alongside the message and also transcriptions of the illegible ones.(The message in the above picture was from 'The Tao of Pooh & The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff) Many of the books are very old books and many of the dedications are dated. 

In case you can't read this, it says:

 Dear John Hughes

     Go shoot yourself

 Henry

 May 58 (I think the name & date are right)

(This was written into a copy of 'Jungle Lore' by Jim Corbett)

I just love this one because it's so unlike many of the sentimental dedications yet still very honest.I can't help but wonder what John did to upset Henry (?) so much but this book definitely made me think of all the possible scenarios which could have led to such a gift.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little while ago I wanted to read I Am The Messenger by Marcus Zusak but I could only get a used copy.  When this copy came is was in pretty good condition and was excited to see a dedication inside the book.  It's not the most unique or funny.  It doesn't denote the end of a great affair or the beginning  of a marriage.  It isn't a note of love or hate. It is simply a note in a thoughtful gift, given to say thank you and goodbye. I own a new copy of this book now and even though I dislike the cover of my first copy I won't give it away.

Instead I'm going to begin a collection of used books with dedications. As of this moment that's a total of one but I have a lot of years of collecting to go.  The total is two if I count the book I've been given (The Lemony Snicket one) which I think I will.  

I like to think one day someone will gift me another book with a dedication, hopefully not one that says 'go shoot yourself' but hey I love them so much, I'd take it.

Here is the message I found inside my copy of 'I Am The Messenger':

In case you were wondering it says:

Dear Alex,

There is nothing like a good book - hope you enjoy this one. 

You have been a pleasure to meet.

Love

Sue & Luis

Olivia

Joseph

&

Simon

xxxxx

Aug 2006

Bloomington, Indiana USA

I felt a little bad that 'Alex' had given this book away but it was obvious the book had been read so I accepted that and the fact that most people probably don't hold such sentimental value to books they're given. It must be a bookish thing, or maybe it's just me. 

Thanks for Reading.

With All My Bookish Love,

Jess

xoxo

(All pictures (except for the 'I Am The Messenger' one) are from the book Dedicated To...)

My 10 Most Read Authors

A quick list of my top 10 read authors, these aren't necessarily all my favourites but I've read a lot of their books so I'm assuming I like them at least a little bit. 

I thought this would make an interesting list so here goes:

1) R.L.Mathewson: 17 Books
2) Nora Roberts: 15 Books
3) Lila Felix: 11 Books
4) Cecelia Ahern:10 Books
5) Kristen Proby: 7 Books
6) Tammy Falkner: 7 Books
7) Katie McGarry: 6 Books
8) J.C.Isabella: 6 Books
9) Jamie McGuire: 5 Books
10) Sarah Dessen: 5 Books

I'm not surprised to see these are all authors who write romance books or at least books which have a romantic element woven in. I'm definitely a fan of romance books but more over I tend to read them at quite a pace, hence the large amount of them I've managed to read. I'm stingy with my five star ratings therefore only 3 of those authors are five star authors for me. Feel free to check out my goodreads to see which ones made my exclusive 5 star shelf or watch this space as I might be putting up a list of books I've rated 5 stars very soon.

Thanks for reading.
With all my bookish love,
Jess