Miscellaneous is the tagline to store random posts that don’t really belong elsewhere. They may involve tags, awards, challenges, and other book blogging nonsense.
What’s Miscellaneous Today?
The Courtship Book Tag
I was tagged by Justin @ Just Harping on Libros to talk about the phases of…a relationship? I know you’ve missed these tags of mine flooding your feeds, so onward we go!
Phase 1 – Initial Attraction: A book that you bought because of the cover
Uhhh…most purchases go through this instalust phase (I’m sure of it). Let’s be honest: a questionable cover doesn’t immediately bring me to read the blurb; which is where my final decision is based upon. So I don’t really know how to answer this question as I don’t solely haul books based on cover alone. I can tell you what I TBR’d because of the cover: Claudia Gray’s A Thousand Pieces of You and Andrew Smith’s 100 Miles Sideways. From bedazzling eye candy to nonsensical hilarity. I don’t really care that much for people on covers (let alone actors) to be honest.
Phase 2 – First Impressions: A book that you got because of the summary
David Levithan’s Every day (though it’s still on my shelf LOL)
Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
Phase 3 – Sweet Talk: A book with great writing
Guess it’s time for Ness to make his appearance. A Monster Calls is a tiny book bursting with resilience. No, really, it’s completely accessible for all ages even if the takeaway might be something nuanced depending on your age. The thing is that I awarded it a lesser-4 out of 5 because I don’t necessarily empathize with what’s happening in the story; but I did understand all of it. This is why I think it’s powerful—and why I’ll always promote this book whenever I get the chance to. (Not to mention he’s an awesome dude himself. *flails*)
Phase 4 – First Date: A first book of a series which made you want to pursue the rest of the series
Probably Alex London’s Proxy for the sole reason that the ending to the first book was kind of blergh. I knew it had a sequel but I didn’t expect the ending to elicit a “wtf was that?” kind of finality to the generally solid narrative up until that point. It was maddening. I mean, I guess I “could” see why it happened but the cliffhanger just hurt me so. That being said, I still haven’t read the second instalment in the duology even though I have it…in autographed form (hello, Lumi).
Phase 5 – Late night phone calls: A book that kept you up all night long
I think I’m pretty good with not staying up too late even if there are a few chapters left. (I love my sleep after all.) There were moments of “must finish this chapter” while I was reading most of Brandon Sanderson’s stuff. It’s just that his pacing is so well done that you can’t help but to keep reading.
Phase 6 – Always on my mind: A book that you could not stop thinking about
To tangent on the previous question, when I was reading Sanderson’s Firefight, the world building in that was a step above the meticulous setting in Steelheart and his imagined Chicago. It was bananas and engrossing that I essentially hyped that sequel to some friends (and, hey, if you’re interested in reading into a solid superhero novel with a quirky male protagonist, plenty of bad puns, epic world-building, and stellar pacing—then this might fit your bill. (Or, rather, Steelheart is the first installment.)
Phase 7 – Getting Physical: A book in which you love the way it feels
I have this habit of taking the dust jacket off all book covers after I haul them to inspect their hardcover binding. I’m weird like that but sometimes the design on the cover transitions into the hardbacks themselves. That being said, I don’t know if I have a particular book that I like the way it feels. I think any book that has grooves and definitions in it on the dust jacket is a winner in my book. I’m a pretty simple guy.
Phase 8 – Meeting the Parents: A book in which you would recommend to your friends and family
The rents don’t read anything besides Chinese texts and the Bible and my brother is way more well-read than I am (his library is much more expansive than mine) so family recommendations is a no go. I’ve already convinced some friends to read Ness—so that’s like a goal achieved. With differing tastes, it’s difficult to pick a title that might work for everyone. So I don’t really have an answer for this haha. I think I’d rather be like the person who redirects the question to someone else haha.
Phase 9 – Thinking about the future: A book or series that you know you’ll re-read many times in the future
I don’t really do re-reads because it eats too much of my limited reading time. Which is funny because I’ll gladly spend hours re-watching adaptation movie clips. #nojudgment. For example, I’ve watched the entirety of the Hunger Games arena too many times to count; not any of the pre-or-post context. Then there’s Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, to which the scene I re-watch often is “…I am so much happier now that i’m dead” (with the music of “Technically, Missing” by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) playing in the background. Ugh, the soundtrack. Too legit.
Phase 10 – Share the love!!! Who would you like to tag?
I tag these individuals:
Brandie @ Brandies a Book Junkie (this tag basically calls to your swoony romance)
Josephine @ Josie’s Book Corner (onward to Booktube!)
Rachel @ Confessions of a Book Geek
…And you, if you so choose to do the fun that are tags :D!
Afterthoughts:
Ahhhh, the blogging month has gotten to a slow start. Gotta pick this shiz up.
Cheers,
Joey
connect: afterthoughtAn // twitter | anotherafterthought // goodreads
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
Loved reading your answers!:)
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Glad you enjoyed it!
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This is such a cute idea! I picked up A Thousand Pieces of You because of the gorgeous cover too, and I completely approve of the Monster Calls and Sanderson plugs 😀
– Kritika @ Snowflakes & Spider silk
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Right? That cover made waves when it was first released. Unfortunately, if I could remove the text for it to be frame-able book art, I would.
And yes, you know those two are my favourite plugs!
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I loved all your answers! I see this tag all over the Booktube community and I’m glad to be getting the opportunity to be officially tagged to do it! (Even though I could have easily done it myself).
I’ve been lacking in my booktube sadly, and am unsure if I will continue to make videos, but I will definitely do a post.
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I guess the feels aren’t the same until someone tags you to do it (or maybe it’s just the obligation of not wanting to disappoint the one who tagged you–it’s all so tricky!)
Ahhh, I hope you find time to make videos again although no pressure whatsoever from me. Do what makes you happy!
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Yes, exactly! There’s just something about being tagged by someone…
Hm, I don’t know! I think I’ll wait until school is over to start up booktube again. Not long to go, I’ll be graduating in a few months to come (translation = 4 or 5 months away)
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I await your videos then! If it hypes it up even more for you, and don’t read into this as creepy or anything, but I actually have a directory of downloaded Youtube/Vlogger videos (including BookTubers–which includes a file-folder for you!). I hope that’s not a tad creepy!
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Oh it’s an honor 😂 It’s not that creepy.
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I love this post! I’m also guilty as charged for identifying with every one of these.
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Haha a lot of these do feel pretty superficial but they’re all pretty true to readers!
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All the tags to do!!! 😀 This one should be interesting though. I can’t believe you don’t stay up late reading! I always do the “one more chapter” thing until it’s 3am and I’m a zombie. R x
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Dude…I love sleep! I used to say sleep is for the weak during school days but now it’s like EVERYTHING LOL
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Hmmm I can stay up late, it’s getting me out of bed once I’ve gone to sleep is the problem. A duvet weekend? No problem. Netflix and I don’t even need to move. R x
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*Goes to Joe’s blog.* *Sees a list post.* *Instantly thinks of a particular author.* *Reads, then, stops.* *Smiles.*
So wait. I’m rather confused. You tagged MY blog with a different person’s name? So then, did you tag me, Shelumiel, or this guy named Lumi? Also, that Gone Girl scene! That was my major WTF moment with the book! And your Guardian pick is pretty ironic, don’t you think? 😉
PS. It can get tiring continuously asking someone to read Book X or Y but read Every Day and Guardian!
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I’m unfamiliar with Shelumiel. I only know of a Lumi.
It is pretty ironic since I haven’t read Guardian but I took it as pursuing as…I went to get myself a signed copy because it was that important. I joke (am I?). But really, I don’t always buy series in full at once. I take it a book at a time in-case I hate it and need to DNF the trilogy or whatnot.
I’m sure it’s only tiresome to promote books to me because I’m as quick as a tortoise in reading 😀
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You know what, you make me feel good about my reading speed. LOLOL. 🙂 And, I agree, I buy one book at a time in a series as well.
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Your answers made me chuckle.
Same on Guardian. It’s crazy because I absolutely loved Proxy and was so excited for the next book—-then *plops* TBR list grows; I start another series…you know how it goes. Thanks for tagging me!
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I most certainly do know how it goes with TBR piles! And it is definitely mission accomplished if I can make a reader chuckle.
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Lol. I too bought A Thousand Pieces of You for the cover. I’m such a sucker for watercolour artwork. And I say, read Every Day! It is very different from a lot of other YA books, in that the gender of the character is completely ambiguous. The MC simply is A and whether A is he or she doesn’t matter at the end of the day. Just gotta roll with it 😉
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Well I didn’t buy it (yet?). Only TBR’d A Thousand Pieces of You. Yeah, watercolours turn my knees into jello.
I’ve talked to Savindi about Every Day far longer than I’ve actually considered reading the book haha. But I do own it..so there’s that. I love any sort of ambiguous writing (to the extent of open endings). Actually, I think I appreciate them more than any happily-ever-after shenanigans.
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Haha yes I bought myself two copies of A Thousand Pieces of You just for the sake of the gorgeousness of the cover. Everyone seems to be reading and loving all the Brandon Sanderson. I must jump on this bandwagon!
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You’re most certainly welcome on the Sanderson wagon! I’m still a newbie myself but you should definitely give something of his a try!
And just having the possibility of seeing not one but two covers of A Thousand Pieces of You IRL is a legit enough reason aha.
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Haha…you totally called me out! I do love this tag and will have to do it, because it is totally a Brandie type of tag.
I’m with you on re-reads, but it’s something I’m ashamed of. I have so many favorite books and I want to be that person that rereads them over and over, but where’s the time for that when there’s so many new shiny books to read?! How do people do it?!
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RIght? Everyone’s like “oh, on book 10000 or 100000 yearly goal!” and I’m like “…I’ve read 5 books in 2015” LOL.
Hope to see you do this tag!
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I did it! I did a tag!!
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I totally agree with #1! I basically just wanted A Thousand Pieces of You because of the cover. I am also one of those people that likes to feel the bare hardback. I’ve seen some seriously cool stuff done to the bare hardback! I need to read Brandon Sanderson badly. I started Mistborn but then put it down. I really want to pick it back up! Same with Patrick Ness, I really need to read him. Great tag!
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Claudia Gray’s covers makes my eyes explode with euphoria. Seriously. It should be illegal for that much watercolour-ish art to explode into my life at one time.
I won’t plug Sanderson/Ness anymore than in the post but you should just give either a try (and if you drop them that’s okay too!)
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Haha, I even liked this post when you posted it… Ah well, it’s hard to keep track with the boundless amount of tags (though apparently you’re reaching the limit) and the infinite number of bloggers/blogs in the blogosphere, etc. And ooh, so happy to see your approval for Steelheart! I just bought that on the last day of 2015. And A Thousand Pieces of You is irresistible. I already have an electronic version of it because it was like a buck, but every time I see it on the shelves at my local bookstore I’m like “I WANT.”
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