I came across the Get to Know My Reading Taste Tag over at Alli the Book Giraffe, and as it looked like a fun tag to do, I decided join in on the fun.
How do you rate books? Give a quick rundown of how you do your star ratings (or if you don’t use star ratings, how you evaluate books).
I only rate the books on Goodreads, but don't talk about my ratings when I write the reviews on this blog, in addition to having a major in English, so please keep those things in mind.
I'm a bit picky when it comes to evaluating books, thinking about elements like prose, language, character/plot development, how well-written the characters are, and so on. I rarely think of a book as amazing/mind-blowing and deserving of the 5-star rating. For me, the majority of books are more down the line of okay or average, but lacks that little extra, and thus are pretty forgettable reads.
How do you approach reviewing books? What’s your review style? Are you analytical, emotional, casual, or structured?
I try my best going down the route of what I liked and disliked about the book, and why, doing some constructive criticism. With the average books mentioned above, where there's nothing really wrong with the book, but not the little extra, I suspect it's apparent when I'm a bit lukewarm. I do obviously let people know if I think a book is so poorly written, I think it's a waste of time reading it.
What’s the book that made you a reader? Whether it was your first favourite or the one that got you hooked, what book started it all?
I don't have a specific book that made me a reader, as I've loved books as long as I can remember due to the fact I was fortunate enough my parents read out loud to me when I was a kid before I learned to read myself. I remember enjoying books by authors like Astrid Lindgren, Anne Cath. Vestly, Thorbjørn Egner, and Roald Dahl when I was that age. I also have the distinct memory of my dad reading from a beautiful children's illustrated version of Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, and I think I've still got that book more than 30 years later.
Do you have a genre niche? Are there certain genres you gravitate toward? Or do you read widely across genres?
While I do read widely across genres, as I'm more of an "I'll read anything, as long as the book sounds interesting enough", but at the moment, I'm gravitating a bit towards literary fiction, contemporary, classics, horror, paranormal, and some historical fiction.
Do you generally prefer character-driven or plot-driven stories?
As mentioned above, I'll read more or less anything, as long as the book itself sounds interesting enough, and that goes for both character-driven books and plot-driven ones.
What’s a book you love so much that you don’t care if others don’t like it? What’s that one book you love enough for everyone?
I doubt anyone who knows me well enough would be surprised if I say Bram Stoker's Dracula. I know it's not for everyone, but I really love that gothic classic.
What’s a book you love so much that if someone doesn’t like it, you know your reading tastes don’t align? The book or books where a difference of opinion is a strong indicator of different reading preferences.
I'm honestly not quite sure about that one.
What’s in your “trash pocket”? What books, tropes, or themes that you know are bad but you love them anyway?
Although I rarely read and review romance novels, I do enjoy something with an age-gap if it's done right. Oh, and bookstore/library romance.
Do you have any dealbreakers in books? Something that, if present, immediately turns you off from a book.
Rape, animal cruelty/abuse, and animal death.
What’s a strong opinion you have about a book released within the last year? Whether it’s overrated, underrated, or just a take you need to share.
As I struggle to keep up with new releases, I can't really answer this one.
What do you look for in writing? What makes a book stand out to you? Is it prose style, themes, voice, structure, or something else?
I look for a combination of prose, language, the author's voice, story, and whatever else that makes that specific book stand out. Some books may have a quiet plot (those pure vibes, no plot books), but the book has amazing prose and deals with a theme in an interesting way. I just never quite know until I read it.
How do you decide what to read next? Do you plan ahead, mood read, or follow external factors (hype, recommendations, ARCs)?
It's a bit of a mix, as I'm most of all a mood reader, but I sometimes participate in reading challenges, readathons, or similar with a specific theme. I also love reading autumnal books in the autumn.
Where do you get inspiration for your bookish content? What sparks your post ideas—other creators, trends, personal reading experiences?
I get my inspiration from various places, whether it's my own reading experiences, other creators, features such as Top Ten Tuesday, or an article I've read. I also have a document on my laptop where I write down ideas for future use, in case I'm stuck and in desperate need for some inspiration.
If you could make any book go viral right now, what would it be? A book you think deserves more attention and why.
I'd love to mention two books I think deserves more attention. Familiar Things Hwang Sok-yong as it's both about community and modern consumer society, and Consequences of Love by Sulaiman Addonia, as it's a beautifully written, but heartbreaking book.
Who are some book community members with reading tastes similar to yours?
If you're in search of spooky reads (I also write Kristin's Book Crypt), I'd recommend Sinead Hanna, but I'd also recommend The Book Castle as well as Tristan and the Classics.
Who Do You Tag?
I'll do it very easy - if you want to do this tag, consider yourself tagged.
Comments
Post a Comment