The Bedtime Book Tag

• A book that kept you up all night

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King kept me up for ages, but I think that the last book to keep me up for a long time past my bedtime was The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I was up until well after 1.30, even though I needed to be up for work early.

• A book that made me too scared to sleep

I really don’t get very frightened by books. I can’t even remember a particular book scaring me enough to not be able to sleep!

• A book that made you go to sleep

Ha! The last one I really fell asleep while reading was The History of Sexuality by Foucault, but there’s been plenty of fictional books that have been a massive snoozefest!!

• A book that left you tossing and turning all night in anticipation of its release

I don’t really get too excited about new releases, since I mainly read classics and other older stuff, but I do get excited when Simone St. James releases a new book, so I’m going to go with The Other Side of Midnight!

But right now I NEED Kate Morton’s upcoming novel. A friend of mine got sent an ARC and I’m so ridiculously jealous. Dear publisher, I CANNOT WAIT! HELP ME!

• A book that has your dream boyfriend

Ooooh. Is it bad that my actual boyfriend has kind of taken the gleam out of fictional boyfriends? I’m still a bit in love with Matthew Ryder though, so I’ll go with him.

• A book that would be your worst nightmare to live in

SO MANY. The Hunger Games, ASoIaF, The Lord of the Rings (in war anyway)… I’d be an awful warrior.

• A book that reminds you of night time

Hm. I already said The Lord of the Rings, which reminds me of night from reading it all night, but I guess I also stayed up late to finish Dark Dawn by Matt McGuire too… I actually put it down, rolled around and got back up again to keep reading! I needed to see what happened!

• A book that had a nightmarish cliff-hanger

Since I don’t read a huge amount of series, I don’t get the whole cliffhanger thing very often. However, in saying that, Orkney by Amy Sackville leaves you hanging, and hanging hard.

• A book that you actually dreamed about

I dream about books so often! I’ve dream about Harry Potter characters a fair bit, as well as (some yummy dreams) about Aragorn… It’s not even a problem.

I’ve also dreamt a fair bit about buying books, losing books, running out of books to read… seems obvious how much of a role they play in my life!

• A book monster that you would not like to find under your bed

Tim Winton hides under my bed-no really, Cloudstreet does. Biggest and scariest book monster I’ve ever seen. I hear he has at least 10 teeth, long hair and a superiority complex… *shivers*

The Big Read- How do I Stack Up?

The BBC released The Big Read in 2003, hoping to find the nation’s best loved novel. Thankfully for Britain, Tolkien came out on top and victorious, as he deserves to be. Eleven years on, this list is possibly little changed, as there are a lot of classics and books that have become modern classics on it, which is lovely to see!

Nut Free Nerd had this on her blog, so I thought I’d see how many I have read.

1. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
7. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
18. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières
20. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
23. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
24. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
25. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
26. Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch by George Eliot
28. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
29. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
30. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
31. The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
35. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion by Jane Austen
39. Dune by Frank Herbert
40. Emma by Jane Austen
41. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
42. Watership Down by Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm by George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
48. Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
51. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
53. The Stand by Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
56. The BFG by Roald Dahl
57. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
60. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
61. Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
63. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
65. Mort by Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
67. The Magus by John Fowles
68. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
69. Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Perfume by Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda by Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
77. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses by James Joyce
79. Bleak House by Charles Dickens
80. Double Act by Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits by Roald Dahl
82. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
83. Holes by Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
85. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
89. Magician by Raymond E. Feist
90. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
92. The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
93. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine by Anya Seton
96. Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
97. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls in Love by Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
100. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

39/100

Not a bad effort! I do own quite a few of these, or intend to read them at some point in my life, so by the time I shuffle off this mortal coil, I’ll be rather well read (by this list’s standards anyway)

So? How do you go? Let me know!

Secret Life of a Book Blogger Tag!

I saw this tag on the ever wonderful FictionFan’s blog and thought that I’d do it, since I haven’t done many tags of late. Since I’m indecisive, please consider yourself tagged if you want to do it! 

1.How long have you been a blogger?

About 14 months now! I wanted to start up in order to stop annoying people who didn’t care about my bookish rants and rambles, and felt that Goodreads wasn’t the right format for me, so decided to begin a blog. I’m especially glad now, as writing consistently has really helped with my critical thinking and getting into the habit of writing more often- very helpful for a hopeful academic!

2. At what point do you think you will stop?

I don’t think I’ll stop in the near future, I’m enjoying it far too much. I don’t get as much time as I used to anymore, so my posting has slowed, but I’m happy enough at the moment with continuing!

3. What is the best thing?

Honestly, I’ve met one my best friends through blogging. Free books have got nothing on the utter glory that is Kirsty of The Literary Sisters.

Since I don’t really get all that many ARCS, the free books thing is a cool bonus, but not one I use a lot. However, Hachette approaching me for the Trudi Canavan blog tour was really exciting!

4. What is the worst thing? What do you do to make it OK?

I’m not a person who likes conflict, so seeing downright nasty posts by bloggers targeting how other bloggers choose to write or read really annoys me. The cattiness that goes on for extra controversy and comments is totally unnecessary and nasty. If you don’t like how someone chooses to write or the books they read, it’s very simple to unfollow them. I make it okay by (politely) pulling them up on it, or ranting to my friends!

I also have a strange inability to write reviews on books I really like! Negative reviews are easy to write about, but positive ones usually end up with me all like:

5. How long does it take you to find/create pictures for your post?

I’m terrible at actually creating things, so I usually spend a little time- 5-10 minutes or so- finding pictures and gifs. I love my gifs, don’t knock it till you try it! A judicious gif goes a long way.

6. Who is your book crush?

Dawsey from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. SO CUTE!

7. What author would you like to have on your blog?

H.D. or Rebecca West. OR OSCAR WILDE. Any of them! They’d write the most epic posts ever. The sass levels would be off the scale!

8. How long does it take to prepare?

It depends, some posts I write up several months in advance and shelve them, then go back to it and work on it again after a few months. Others I write in a matter of minutes. Then it also depends if you count the actual reading of the books as well.

9. What do you wear when you write your blog posts?

This.

10. How do you feel about the book/blogger community/culture?

As I mentioned before, there are some that give this community a bad name, but 95% of the bloggers I’ve come into contact with over the last year have been absolutely lovely! I’m glad we have such a great community and are really supportive. It does terrible things to my bank account and my TBR list though!

11. What do you think one should do to get a successful blog?

The most common feedback to me has been that people like how I make my writing funny and have personality! Obviously there are some posts that need to be written more seriously, for academic-ish or serious books especially, but even those posts are easily personalised to make them more accessible and interesting for the reader. Having your own voice as a writer is really important.

Liebster Award!

I honestly can’t remember if I’ve done this award, but I’m a bit too lazy to check right now. Since Addlepates and Book Nerds nominated me and I’m afraid she’ll attack me with a sheep army, I’ll do it! Thank you!

What’s the worst book you’ve read?

A girl after my own heart! The very very worst?

Probably a tie between I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.

I loathed both of them for different reasons, but they both make me incandescent with rage every time I think too much about them. I’d like to destroy them both….

If you could go to any country in the world, where would you go?

Hands down, Scotland. Be still, my beating heart!

What was your favourite class at school?

History, coz I had the greatest history teachers from Year 9-12 (Hi, Charlie and Mogan!)

They definitely fostered my love of history and kept me interested. This has led me down the path I’m on and I wouldn’t change it for all the world.

Other than blogging, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Reading, walking my beast children, binge watching TV shows and listening to music.

Who is your favourite singer/band?

Queen. Brian May and Freddie Mercury are my loves.

If you could have any pet, what would you have? It can be mythical if you want!

A bilby! I adore bilbies. If I could have a bilby as a pet, I’d be so happy.

Look at how cute they are!!!

What’s been your favourite blogging moment so far?

Realising that people are actually reading what I’m writing and making some really fantastic friends. It’s a lovely bonus that I never expected.

What, in your opinion, is your best feature?

My dazzling good looks, obviously.

…Just kidding. I think my best feature is my brain. It does some pretty wonderful things and gets me to places I love, be it real or imaginary.

If you could change places with a celebrity for a day, who would you be?

Scarlet Johansson on the set of any Marvel movie, because she looks far better in a catsuit than I do. I’d like one day to revel in amazing hair and amazing catsuited-ness.

If you could join a family, mythical or real, who would you join? Don’t worry, you can take your family with you!

Pfft I’ll just go alone if I can be in the House of Elrond. I would love to be an elf!

Knowing my luck, I’d be an orc. But being an elf would be amazing. Trying to choose between Lorien and Rivendell is hard, but I like Elrond better. Plus, Aragorn hung out in Rivendell more.

I’m too dreadful to actually tag people, especially because I feel bad that I can’t tag everyone. So if I love you (which is you, dearest reader) you deserve an award for being beautiful.

Your questions!

1. Which literary character would you like to swap places with?

2. You’re having a dinner party and you can invite three literary figures (author or character, dead or alive). Who are you inviting?

3. What’s your favourite book to movie adaption?

4. On a scale of 1 to Anne of Green Gables, how intense is your imagination?

5. Along those lines, would you rather be dazzlingly beautiful, angelically good or staggeringly intelligent?

6. You have a TARDIS! Pick the time and place you’d like to travel to!

7. You can murder one book character and get away with it. Who will you choose?

8. Who is your favourite historical personality and why?

9. What’s your favourite chip/crisp flavour?

10. Pick the song you’re listening to most right now. Why do the lyrics of it appeal to you right now?

The Chocolate Book Tag

I grabbed this from Books Over People, who is a total babe.

I’m sorry for being a terrible absentee blogger, but life is far too busy right now for me to deal with everything. Here is a book tag involving my very favourite food group…. shhh.

1) Dark chocolate: a book that covers a dark topic

Hmmmm. Someone Else’s Daughter is probably the darkest book I’ve read, because it was so upsetting. It’s the real life story of the murder of Anita Cobby and how they caught the animals/”men” who did it. Really horrible book, but the nature of the crime makes anything else impossible. It’s a really good true crime read, though.

2. White chocolate: your favorite lighthearted/humorous read

Awwwww hard. I love reading really silly romance novels when I’m needing something fun to read. Especially really silly Highland romances, they’re my favourite!! They’re almost as fabulous as Guy Pearce playing a drag queen.

3. Milk chocolate: a book with a lot of hype that you’re dying to read

Ohhhhhhhhhh… hype. How I loathe thee. There’s nothing really that hyped up that I’m interested in though! Can I say The Tenant of Wildfell Hall coz Anne Bronte is my spirit animal?

4. Chocolate with a caramel center: a book that makes you feel all gooey in the middle while you read it

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society EVERY TIME. Oh my god, I will never ever stop adoring this book, I don’t care what anybody says.

That is very similar to my absolute love of Caramello Koalas. Yes, I’m an adult. No, I will not give these babies up.

5. Wafer free kit kat: a book that has surprised you lately

WHAT THE HELL is a wafer free Kit Kat? That’s a foul idea. I’m surprised that someone ever thought of such a disgusting thing. No. Just no.

So a surprisingly foul book was Cloudstreet by Tim Winton. I expected to not really like it, but I was surprised at the absolute loathing I feel. Tim Winton is thoroughly overhyped and terrible. AVOID.

6) Snickers: a book you are going nuts about

Bid Me to Live by H.D. is my current heart book. I will never shut up about H.D. and Bryher so you’d best get used to it!

7. Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows: a book that you would turn to for a comfort read

Comfort reading is amazing and I have very specific criteria for my comfort books. So they kind of limit to Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Also any of their respective movies are what I go for too.

Coffee Book Tag

While I’m more of a tea drinker, I do love a nice cup of coffee… cappuccino with two sugars, to be precise. If I can get hazelnut flavouring, even better! I feel like coffee gets the caffienation job done quicker… If I’m desperate for a hit, I’m all for a double espresso. When I’m tutoring one of my students, her mum often makes me a Lebanese coffee, which is strong enough to keep me going for pretty much ever!

I saw this tag on Katytastic’s channel, and thought it would be a fun one to do =)

1. Black: Name a series that’s tough to get into but has hardcore fans.

For me, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is a total bitch to get into. I gave up in the end, which was annoying, but it was really getting on my nerves. I’ve heard the things that bothered me don’t get better in the next book, so I’m not going to continue.

As for Rothfuss fans, it seems like some of them are a bit like rabid wolverines if you say a word against him!

2. Peppermint mocha: Name a book that gets more popular during the winter or a festive time of year.

There’s a few of there… the obvious answers are A Christmas Carol and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, but I’m going to go for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, because I’ve always loved the Christmas chapter in that book!

3. Hot chocolate: What is your favourite children’s book?

Ohh, I have so many! I think Anne of Green Gables has been a steady favourite for a very long time, so I’ll stick with her.

4. Double shot of espresso: Name a book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The Host by Stephanie Meyer is going to be a weird pick for me, but for the most part I couldn’t put it down. It was really fun and definitely different to Twilight!
5. Starbucks: Name a book you see everywhere.

Gosh, I wish we had more Starbucks here… I hate Gloria Jeans.

But book-wise, I’m sick of seeing The Fault in Our Stars everywhere! It won’t leave us alone! Just let me live without those little bubble clouds popping up every second day! Okay? Okay.
6. That hipster coffee shop: Give a book by an indie author a shoutout

The Heiress of Linn Hagh by Karen Charlton was a great little historical detective novel, which really surprised me, as I had no expectations for it!

7. Oops! I accidentally got decaf: Name a book you were expecting more from.

Oh god, there’s so many… I feel like last year I was perpetually disappointed in everything I read. But for this question, I’m going to go with I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. I SO WANTED TO LOVE IT. I liked the first half but the second half made me rage! I’m still angry about it, and I read it 4 years ago now!

Also, all the Sookie Stackhouse books from 8 onwards… I threw the 10th one across the room when I finished it and refused to continue with the series. Grumble grumble.
8. The perfect blend: Name a book or series that was both bitter and sweet but ultimately satisfying.

This one is hard!

I think the ultimate blend of bitter and sweet is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It kills you, but it’s so beautiful that you just can’t help loving it.

If you’d like to do this tag too, go for it! I can’t wait to see what your picks are!

I Mustache You Some Questions…

I saw this tag over with Stefani at Caught Read Handed and thought this would be pretty fun… because moustaches. Yes. I’m not tagged but whatevs!

Four names people call me other than my real name:

1. Bels
2. Bella
3. Bear
4. Bee

Four jobs I’ve had:

1. Pet shop worker
2. Pharmacy assistant
3. Bookseller (I miss this so much)
4. Receptionist (currently!)

Four movies I would/have watched more than once:

I’m strange and stick to movies I know I love… Creature of habit.

1. Stardust
2. The Boat That Rocked
3. Cinderella
4. The Ghost and Mrs Muir

Four books I’d recommend:

1. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovich
2. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
3. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
4. A Fortunate Life by A.B Facey

Four places I have lived:

1. Sydney
2. Melbourne
3. School…
4. The University of Western Sydney… I feel like I never bloody leave.

Four places I have been:

1. London
2. Auckland
3. Edinburgh
4. Rome

Four places I’d rather be right now:

1. Scotland
2. London
3. New Zealand
4. Singapore

Four things I don’t eat:

1. Mushrooms… I hate everything about them.
2. Mayonnaise… it makes me feel sick, I have no idea why.
3. Sundried tomatoes… I just hate them.
4. Mustard… No idea how people eat it. Ditto wasabi.

Four of my favourite foods:

1. Pizza
2. Cheesymite scrolls from Baker’s Delight
3. Raspberries
4. Tim Tams

Four TV shows that I watch:

1. Call the Midwife
2. Doctor Who
3. The Big Bang Theory
4. House

Four things I am looking forward to this year (2015):

1. Studying
2. Reading errrrything
3. Going to Melbourne
4. Being my best friend’s bridesmaid!

Four things I’m always saying:

1. No worries!
2. I need to be fed
3. Can I have some tea too?
4. Oh my god, are you freaking serious?!

Four People I Tag:

1. Rachel @ Confessions of a Book Geek
2. Anjana @ The Resurgent Bookworm
3. Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense
4. Joey @ Thoughts and Afterthoughts

The Ultimate Book Tag

I got this from Books Over People!

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?

Nope. I never get any form of motion sickness whatsoever… stick me on the rockiest boat, the most turbulent airplane, driving down Canterbury Road (total Sydney joke) and nothing, I have a great time with all the bumps. I actually enjoy them!

2. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?

Truman Capote. I adore his style. It speaks so beautifully and yet remains so grounded.

3. Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.

HARRY POTTER.

Not even a challenge.

1) It’s really wise and deep

2) Marauders

3) No creepy stalkers… other than Harry and Draco. Their dynamic is interesting.

4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is in it (besides books…)?

I have a big handbag, which I have an extraordinary amount of crap in, including books, laptop, wallet, notebook, pencil case, makeup, kitchen sink… you know. The average. But  yes, there’s usually a book in there somewhere.

5. Do you smell your books?

Yep. UNASHAMED. Bring it.

I spent the other afternoon in the library and I SNIFFED THE BOOKS. It was glorious.

6. Books with or without little illustrations?

Without, unless they’re particularly cute or interesting.

7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?

Twilight. I still probably wouldn’t hate it, I have fond memories (since I read it way before the hype) but the fangirls killed it. Perils of going to an all girl’s school.

8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!

Not really… Only pestering my mum for a new book because I’d already finished the book she bought me the day before!

9. What is the thinnest book on your shelf?

Possibly Confessions of an English Opium Eater, though I have no idea why I still have it, since I hated it with a burning passion.

10. What is the thickest book on your shelf?

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy or The Count of Monte Christo  by Alexandre Dumas.

11. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?

I used to, but I don’t anymore. I’ve thought about starting up again, but don’t have the confidence at this point in time.

12. When did you get into reading?

I don’t even remember not reading… I’m pretty sure I was born with a book in my hand.

13. What is your favorite classic book?

Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice 

14. In school was your best subject Language Arts/English?

My best subject was History and Geography, even though I hated Geography. I didn’t get good marks in English in high school because the English teachers didn’t like me. They had their favourites and I was not one of them, no matter what I did. I kinda want to go back and shove my current work in their ratty little judging faces!

15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated…what would you do?

I’d donate it to the Red Cross, or give it to someone who I thought would like it.

I had to tell an uncle of mine to stop buying me books, coz he always managed to pick books I really didn’t like!

17. What is a bad habit you always do (besides rambling) while blogging?

Being overly critical. Though I’m not even sure it’s necessarily bad, because being critical isn’t a bad thing. I just get critical over little things that probably don’t matter.

18. What is your favorite word?

Scrofula.

Can you tell I’m a history freak?

19. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?

Nerd.

Don’t think I’ve ever used the other two at any point in my life.

20. Vampires or Fairies? Why?

Ahhhhhh…. Fairies. I’ve always liked fairies. I have a little fairy statue collection, they’re so cute.

21. Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?

Shapeshifters, coz it would be cool to be able to do that!

22. Spirits or Werewolves? Why?

Spirits. I’m a mad ghost story lover, I loveeee ghosts.

23. Zombies or Vampires?

Reindeer.

24. Love Triangle or Forbidden Love

If I had to choose one, I’d go forbidden love. But neither of them is particularly appealing to me.

25. AND FINALLY: Full on romance books or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in?

Full on romance. Preferably with some element of credible danger or cuteness, or even better, a ghost.

My perfect love story would involve the sassy ghost of a highlander, haunting a mansion and coming across a woman who lives there. They then have a sass fest and fall in love.

That was fun!

I tag anyone who wants to do this, but also I specifically tag:

Rachel @ Confessions of a Book Geek

Anjana @ The Resurgent Bookworm

Jessica @ The Bookworm Chronicles

Holly @ Nut Free Nerd

Cristina @ Girl in the Pages

Elizabeth @ The Bookish Universe

The Ten Book Challenge Tag!

A Kernel of Nonsense did this tag recently and I thought it would be fun! It’s a bit like a Top Ten Tuesday, but I’ve done it as fast as I could and didn’t dwell over my answers too much!

Here are the rules:

“List 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. Do not take more than a few minutes and do not think too hard. They do not have to be the “right” books or great works of literature, just ones that have affected you in some way. Paste these instructions and tag 10 friends, including me, so I can see your list.”

1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Something about this book gripped me and hasn’t let go yet, much like Cathy’s ghost at the window!

2. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

This book started my obsession with war literature, and remains the only book to ever make me physically retch. Those are two pretty good accolades… Really, this book got me where I am now!

3. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Need I say more? This series is my escape world, with many of my favourite people inside it’s pages.

4. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery

Oh Anne! I adore her. She has always been my Anne with an E.

5. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

I wish I’d read this when I was younger, because I feel bad that I missed out on so many years with this book. But I’ve made up for lost time- I’m a bit obsessed, and my LOTR collection includes a tattoo and clothing. Tolkien’s book goes with me everywhere now, it’s embedded in my very skin!

6. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Ohhhhh I wish I could read this for the first time again!

7. No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod

This book is stunningly gorgeous. I could wax lyrical about this book for days!

8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane is my bae. Enough said.

9. The Daughters of Mars by Tom Keneally

This book was awesome and I still find myself thinking back to it a lot. I’d totally read it again if I didn’t know the ending was so wildly annoying.

10. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 

Somehow, this book has stuck with me for years. I think it has something to do with Capote’s incredible ability to make poetry out of the most mundane or horrific of situations.

20 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Me Tag

Thanks to Confessions of a Book Geek for tagging me in this fun tag!

1. How Tall Are You?

I’m 172cm tall, which I think is about 5 foot 7ish. So taller than pretty much all of my friends!

2. Do You Have A Hidden Talent? If So, What?

I don’t play any instruments or anything, but I have a hyper-mobility syndrome, so I can do some freaky party tricks with my joints…

I’m also kind of a speed reader, which seems to freak people out more than I thought it would!

3. What’s Your Biggest Blogging Related Pet-Peeve?

When I put tons of effort into a particular post, then zero effort into another one… and guess which is the popular one. Not a huge problem but it still bugs me!

4. What’s Your Biggest Non-Blogging Related Pet-Peeve?

Ooooh… Bad drivers. My brother playing stupidly loud music when I’m trying to sleep. People being rude to disabled people. Australia’s asylum seeker policy. Geoblocking. Tony Abbott. My WIFI connection being crappy.

5. What’s Your Favourite Song?

Ohhhhh. That’s cruel!

Look, I’m going to pick a top 3 of general favourites.

1) Nevermore by Queen

2) Run to Paradise by The Choirboys

3) Sherry by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

6. What’s Your Favourite Etsy Shop?

I don’t think I have one! I usually just look for whatever it is I’m looking for at the time!

7. What’s Your Favourite Way To Spend Your Free Time When You’re Alone?

I read… A lot. Kind of obvious.

I also like to watch Youtube videos, walk my dog, listen to music and watch the occasional movie or documentary!

8. What’s Your Favourite Junk Food?

Anything sweet. I’m not a huge savoury person, but sweet anything is dangerous.

9. Do You Have Pets?

I have a doglet called Mirri and two goldfish called Leonard and Sheldon who belong to me. Then we have 3 other dogs and 3 kitties… then birds. Eep.

10. What Are Your Favourite Fiction and Non-Fiction Books?

Favourite fiction… Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, and a few classics et al. I talk about them a lot!

Favorite non fictions include a ton of history books on various topics. Maybe I’ll do a post about them somewhen!

11. What Are Your Favourite Beauty Products?

I love MAC lipsticks, Rimmel translucent setting powder and the Benefit red lip tint. I’m also a wee bit obsessive about my brows being filled in, so for them I use a MAC brown eye shadow or Benefit Brow compact thingy, depends on how bothered I am with doing them.

12. When Were You Last Embarrassed?

I accidentally ran a red light last week… that was pretty embarrassing.

But the worst/funniest embarrassments I’ve had relate to being deaf in one ear and mishearing what people say. Like when I thought my surgeon said his cat had syphilis or when I thought Dad’s work colleague asked me for a glass of wine when she wanted water. At least they were ones I could laugh at!

13. If You Could Drink One Beverage For The Rest Of Your Life, What Would It Be?

Hmmmmm… Probably water. Coz It’s healthy. But if I’m already allowed water, I want Irn Bru.

I’m fair dinkum an Irn Bru demon.

14. What’s Your Favourite Movie?

Uhhhh… Without the obvious Harry Potter and LOTR, I’d go Stardust, The Princess Bride, Sense and Sensibility and To Kill a Mockingbird. Oh! And Roman Holiday.

15. What Were You In High School? Jock, Geek, Cheerleader etc.

Mega Nerd trying to fit in by hiding it. So Nerd, coz I wasn’t very effective. We don’t have cheerleaders, but I’d be a dreadful one, I don’t have a sporting bone in my body.

On a side note, I internally giggle when someone calls people jocks. Coz that means underpants. YOU ARE A PAIR OF GROTTY JOCKS, MY FRIEND. SKIDMARKS ERRRRRYWHERE.

16. If You Could Live Anywhere In The World, Where Would It Be?

Edinburgh or Belfast. I’ll take the cold weather, because I’d be in Scotland or Ireland, within a few hours of London but not actually in London, and I love those two cities like the world is ending.

17. PC Or Mac?

Mac! I moved to Mac a few years ago and now I cannot stand Windows.

18. Last Romantic Gesture From A Crush/Date/Boyfriend?

19. Favourite Celeb?

Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson, Cate Blanchett, Stephen Fry, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes and Hugo Weaving.

20. Which Bloggers Do You Secretly Want To Be Friends With?

It’s weird coz I totally didn’t think I’d make actual people friends through blogging, but I have, so if I talk to you, I probably want to be friends.

If anyone wants to do this tag, DO IT. Then let me know so I can see!