The Boujee Book Tag!

It’s been a while since I’ve done a book tag, so here it is! This tag was originally named the ‘Boujee Booktuber Tag’ but none of the questions are specifically video related, so I’m adapting it to blog form. Pbtbtbt pbtbt pbt.

This tag was created by abookolive!

1. What is your average monthly budget for books?

I don’t really have a budget, persay, but I do have a physical limit. I can buy five books per month, not including manga. I am trying to cut back a bit on that even though, just because I’m also trying to buy a house.

2. What’s the most you’ve ever spent in a bookstore?

Probably a bit over a hundred dollars. I tend to splurge a bit right after Christmas if I receive any gift cards or monies.

3. Are you willing to pay full price for a brand new release, or will you wait until you have a coupon or there’s a sale?

I will not pay full price if it’s a hardback book, but I will for a paperback or manga. Luckily between my Barnes and Noble membership and amazon’s prices, I tend to get at least 10-20% off. I’ll take what I can get.

4. Would you rather buy one new book or several less expensive used copies?

It really depends on the book. If there’s a new book and I really want it, I’ll get that. I try not to get books just for the sake of getting more books for my money. I did that a lot in the past and it landed me with too many unread books. ;P

5. What do you think is a reasonable price for a new hardback book? A paperback? An eBook?

$20-25, $15 (or $8 if mass market paperback), $5 respectively. I get why they’re higher sometimes – gotta pay all the peeps involved – but if they are much higher than that, I’ll go out of my way to use coupons or sales to get them down to this level or lower.

6. Is a signed book worth more to you? How about a first edition?

It depends on the book! If I have no idea who the author is or haven’t fallen in love with the book, then I don’t particularly care one way or the other. But a favorite author? Sign my face, please.

7. What is your most valuable book (sentimental or actual value)?

Monetarily, no idea. But sentimentally, it’d be all the Pokemon books I got when I was a grade schooler. They were some of my first novels, and I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve read them.

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8. Will you pay more for a cover or edition you like better?

I feel like all my answers to this are ‘it depends’. If it’s a known favorite author or book, I’ll probably dish out extra to get a neat edition. If I’m just shopping though I tend to buy the cheapest one, no matter what it looks like.

9. What physical characteristics does a good quality book have?

Good binding, good smell, paper that’s thicker than Bible paper.

10. If you won the lottery, what bookish things would you do with the money?

Well after doing the ever-elusive dream of paying off my student debt, I’d buy a house with recessed shelving (or add some myself) and make myself an official library. Right now I have a ‘book room’ where I keep all my books and a reading chair, but I want it to be more… official. More wood, more globes. You know, the nerdy stuff. I want it.

BONUS: Give us an image (actual or mental) of your dream home library!

Here’s my current set-up, taken back at Christmas last year. So it’s the same now, but all the Christmas lights have burnt out and there’s more cat fur.

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And that’s it!

I tag: Zezeewithbooks, Bookbinderway, TheOrangutanLibrarian, Dragonsandzombies, MetalPhantasmReads, ThoughtsOnFantasy, BooksInHerEyes, and you if I didn’t tag you! If you do this tag, lemme know so I can snoop on it!

Entertainer Blogger Award

Hello! A tag today 😀 I was tagged by Zezee, so thanks friend!

Rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Add these rules to your post.
• Answer all the questions below.
• Display the award picture in your post.
• Nominate 12 other bloggers who are funny, inspiring and most important of all entertaining!

Why did you start a blog in the first place?

Honestly it was meant as a stepping stone for me. I had originally wanted to do a youtube channel and told myself ‘If you can maintain a blog for a year, then you could maintain a youtube as well’. But after a year, I didn’t care to start a youtube. I liked blogging too much – the low-stress, the friends, the lack of editting videos. Blogging is definitely for me. I’ve had this thing for three years now and haven’t even considered a youtube since.

What is your favorite book?

You’re kidding me, right?

What do you dislike the most?

Body odor
Luke-warm coffee
My bloody 5am work alarm
Cat litter that was stuck to my cat’s feet and now it’s just on the floor
The GOP
Mold growing on my cheese before I can eat the cheese

What is your favorite food item from the mall?

Charley’s Chicken California

What is your favorite pastime?

Other than reading, I really like doing nail art. I haven’t done much lately though – maybe twice in four months. -_- I blame the 40-hour-a-week-slosh. Maybe that’ll change after next week when we move and I’m not commuting 3 hours round-trip per day. ELEVEN AND A HALF HOUR DAYS EVERY DAY ARE TIRING.

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And that’s it! I’m not going to nominate anyone…. mostly because it’s 7am on a Saturday, my cold-addled brain wouldn’t let me sleep and I wouldn’t have the brain power to come up with a comprehensive list of names anyways.

Also, I’m allowed to be lazy on a Saturday. Pbtbt

Happy reading!

One Lovely Blogger Award | Metal Edition

Hello! A tag today. I was tagged by The Orangutan Librarian, so thanks friend! 😀

The Rules

1. Each nominee must thank the person who nominated them and link their blog in the post.
2. They must include the rules and add the blog award badge as an image.
3. Must add 7 facts about themselves and then nominate 15 people.

I think I’m going to take a leaf out of Orangutan’s book and do a music-oriented 7 facts. SO PREPARE FOR A BUNCH OF METAL.

Also, if you’ve ever been curious about metal or never understood what people saw in it, I suggest giving these a listen. Everything I list will be good ‘gateway’ songs, I think. I’ll list other genres or associated things that if you like those ones, you might like the song I’ve posted, too.

(I’m forever trying to get people into metal. It’s so fun :”D)

1 – I grew up listening to Iron Maiden and Guns N Roses

At the time, I didn’t know it was considered metal or what metal even was. I just knew it was the music my dad and uncle listened to. So picture ten year old me singing ‘Hallowed by Thy Name’ with my uncle and cousins, haha.

Example: Hallowed By Thy Name by Iron Maiden

You should listen to this song if you like classic hard rock music

When the priest comes to read me the last rites
I take a look through the bars at the last sights
Of a world that has gone very wrong for me

2 – The first metal band that I discovered by my own accord was Nightwish

There are a lot of Nightwish songs and the band has had three singers at this point (the current one is amazing, imho). I first discovered them because they were in a music video at the end of a movie I was watching. I remember liking them and then forgetting they existed until I randomly came across them again on youtube a year or two later. Been listening ever since. They range from very flowery symphonic metal to heavier stuff. The song I’m listing is somewhere in the middle and almost has a pop-rock-like sound to it.

Example: Amaranth by Nightwish

You should listen to this if you like pop rock, high female voices, angels

Reaching, searching
For something untouched
Hearing voices of the never-fading calling

3 – The band I feel puts on the best live show is Sonata Arctica

I feel like there are certain bands that even if you don’t care for their music, you go to see them perform because they’re just so much fun. This is one of those bands. And by far, the most fun song to listen to by them is FullMoon. There’s just so much audience participation!

Example: FullMoon by Sonata Arctica

You should listen to this if you like rock music, werewolves, happy crowds at concerts

She should not lock the open door
(run away, run away, run way)
Fullmoon is on the sky and he’s not a man anymore
See the change in him but can’t
(run away, run away, run away)
See what became out of her man…
Fullmoon

4 – Every time I hear a band collaborate with a movie or video game, it makes me want to watch or play it

I feel like this doesn’t happen nearly enough!! If you know of any games/movies with metal soundtracks, do tell me

Example: Children of the Smith by Blind Guardian (Dwarves soundtrack)

You should listen to this if you like video game sound tracks and music videos

The old rhymes, they’re on my mind
We’re one tribe
We share our memories, clear and bright
We walk as one, our lives are bound together
We share a fate, we share one fate
We share a fate

5 – I don’t like music with a lot of growling or screaming, so pretty much every band I listen to has clean, well-sung lyrics in their songs

I feel like there’s this misconception outside the metal community that all metal is nothing but growling, walls of sounds and demonic screaming. I mean, sure there is some of that: It’s called black metal, thrash music, death metal, etc etc. There are a bunch of subgenres though that don’t have these features. So getting into the metal genre, you can purposely avoid listening to those or purposely go after those to listen to, depending on your tastes!

Example: Memories by Within Temptation

You should listen to this song if you like singer-songwriter songs, melodic female voices, easy-listening music

All of my memories keep you near.
In silent moments imagine you here.

6 – My favorite kind of metal is the kind with a full-orchestra backing it.

I absolutely love being surrounded by a wall of music while I’m listening. My favorite way to do that is get the metal-sound of the guitars and bass… and then a whole bunch of orchestral music to boot!

Example: Ghost Love Score by Nightwish

You should listen to this if you like orchestra music, classical music, opera, complex sound combinations, chorus music

A siren from the deep came to me
Sang my name my longing
Still I write my songs about that dream of mine
Worth everything I may ever be

7 – I’ve been listening to metal all my life and I feel like it’ll stay that way. My future children will likely grow up as little metalheads, and I’m looking forward to it. :”D

There are certain songs that when I listen to them, I know they’re ones I want to keep with me and teach my kids the lyrics so they can sing them with me flying down the highway like my dad did with me. This is one of those songs.

Example: The Scarecrow by Avantasia

You should listen to this if you like classic rock music, powerful lyrics, AC-DC, inspirational music

So you’re an angel meant to walk down here
And you believe it’s all divine
And you don’t play by all those temporal rules
You watch the world begin to die

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And that’s it! I hope you decided to listen to one or two (or all…) of the songs above. If you decide you like metal and want to hear more, ask me for recs! If you already like metal, let me know some of your favorites! I’m always lookin’ for new music.

I tag:

ZezeeWithBooks
AllBoutThemBooksandStuff
ReadingExperienceswithNora
MetalPhantasmReads (hey friend I think you should do metal things. :”D)
DragonsandZombies
HadeerWrites
CaptainsQuarters
ThoughtsonFantasy

Happy reading!

 

Mystery Blogger Award

Hello! A blog award today! :”D I was nominated by Chelsea @SpotlightOnStories so thank you much!

The Rules:

Put the award logo/image in your post.
List all the rules.
Thank whoever nominated you and leave a link to their blog.
Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
Nominate 10-20 people and notify them.
Link back to the creator of the award, Okoto Enigma
Ask nominees any 5 questions of your choice, with a weird or funny question.
Share the link to your best/favourite post of yours.

Three things about me:

1 – I’m a metalhead. I like power metal and symphonic the most, but am not against heavy, progressive, etc etc. I tend not to like anything with growling though, so black and death are (usually) out. There are a few exceptions though. Favorite bands (currently) include: Sonata Arctica, Kamelot, Nightwish, Blind  Guardian, Noctural Rites, TYR, Powerwolf, Allen & Lande, Sabaton, Dark Moor, Within Temptation, Silent Force, Avantasia and Iron Maiden. I LOVE THEM ALL ❤

2 – Every food I hated as a kid or teen I have (so far) eventually ended up loving with the exception of cauliflower: Mustard, broccoli, coffee, coconut, horseradish, beer, guacamole… the list goes on. I now actually even consider myself a beer and coffee snob, haha. That’s how far it has gone.

3 – I’m getting married in three and a half weeks. Woot!

Chelsea’s questions:

1 – What other languages do you speak and which would you like to learn?

I speak tourist-level German, enough to ask where the bathroom is, how to buy stuff, and make small talk. Other than that though, no other languages. I’m currently (slowly) working through Japanese, Spanish and Italian on Duolingo, though.

2 – What would your idea home library look like?

Okay picture this:

Wooden floors, recess shelving filled with books on every wall, a nice fluffy rug on the ground. A fireplace crackling along one wall with a big, plump armchair with a blanket thrown across it, a foot rest and a reading lamp in the corner of the room.

And then me in all that with a book and some coffee (or beer, depending on the time of day). I want it.

3 – Describe your favorite tea or coffee mug

You’re in luck! I did a post on my mug collection during blogmas last year. Out of all of those, this is my favorite one:

4 – Which author, living or dead, would you most like to meet and why?

Probably JK Rowling, because I feel like I’d have the most to talk about with her.

5 – What is your unpopular food opinion?

Ketchup is disgusting. Pbtbt.

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My questions:

1 – Where is your favorite place you’ve ever been?
2 – Which book of yours has the most sentimental value?
3 – What is your Saturday morning like?
4 – Do you have any pets? Share a picture!
5 – What’s your unusual pet peeve?

I tag:

Book Snacks
Zezee with books
All ’bout them books and stuff
The Oran-gutan Librarian
MetalPhantasmReads

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Current favorite post:

Currently, my favorite post is the one I wrote called On Borrowing Books, a Harrowing Tale of Betrayal. You should uh… you should go read it.

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And that’s it! :”D Happy reading

Blogger Aesthetic Award

Hello. :”D

Today, I’ve been tagged in an award post by the wonderful Orang-utan Librarian. So thank you!

The Rules:

• Collect any number of images that you feel represent you as a person—your personality, aspirations, favourite things, anything at all that makes you you.
• Put your chosen images together into a collage of whatever size and shape you find pleasing.
• Share your masterpiece with everyone, in all the places.
• Maybe nominate other bloggers as a way to tell them, “Hey, you, I think you’re awesome, and we should celebrate that awesomeness.”
• Share these rules (and maybe the below tips, if you’re feeling helpful).

Tips:

• Find inspiration by spending (minimum) three hours scrolling through aesthetic Tumblr posts relevant to you.
• Two great places to hunt for pictures are Pinterest and WeHeartIt. Pinterest requires an account; WeHeartIt does not.
• PicMonkey’s collage editor is free to use and doesn’t require an account, heck yes. YouTube has plenty of tutorials on how to use it; I watched this one (which begins with tips on how to find decent photos).

My Aesthetic:

DARK CHOCOLATE

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

SONY DSC

I feel like the photos I chose suggest I’m a much deeper person than I actually am. Haha oops.

I tag Nora, Ace, Shivii, Alex and Jazzy. Peer pressure, do it.

The Sunshine Blogger Award

Hello! An awardy today. :”D I was tagged by A Universe for Books, so thank you much! Sorry it took me so long to get to posting it!

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Answer 11 questions set by the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate 11 bloggers to receive the award and write them 11 new questions to answer.

Questions for me:

Imagine that you are the protagonist and your life is a book. Which book that you’ve read would be written about you?

This is such a cool question. :”D Unfortunately though I can’t think of one. My life is pretty boring, haha. What I would like though would be something like Harry Potter, but who wouldn’t? 😛

Imagine your favourite book is being turned into a book to movie adaptation. See if you can create a soundtrack to this book. Which book would it be?

This is such a cool question too! :”D One of my favorite books currently is Uprooted by Naomi Novik. I just looked at my favorites list and it’s one of few that doesn’t actually already have a tv show or movie, so this is the one. 😛

Here is the synopsis from Amazon before I go into the setlist I’ve created:

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life. Her people rely on the cold, ambitious wizard, known only as the Dragon, to keep the wood’s powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman must be handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as being lost to the wood. The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows – everyone knows – that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia – all the things Agnieszka isn’t – and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her. But no one can predict how or why the Dragon chooses a girl. And when he comes, it is not Kasia he will take with him.

The setlist (alluding to events but not directly spoiling):

The opening scenes: In the Land of Twlight, Under the Moon by Yuki Kaijiura
After the choosing: Bittersweet by Apocalyptica
A new location: Symphony #7, 2nd movement by Beethoven
Adjusting: We Don’t Have to Dance by Andy Black
Discovery of a gift: Locked With the Crystal Ball by Blackmore’s Night
The forest’s theme: Nightfall by Blind Guardian
The Dragon’s theme: Own Little World by Celldweller
Agnieszka’s theme: Call Me, Call Me by The Seatbelts
Getting Kasia: Rising by the Yoshida Brothers
The final scenes: In the End by Black Veil Brides

I had way too much fun doing this.

Continuing from question 2, who would be your dream cast?

I looked around at fan casting since I didn’t have any planned myself, and I’ve settled on the following: I’d say Hailee Steinfeld for Agnieszka, Elle Fanning for Kasia and Aneurin Barnard for The Dragon

If you could travel in time, where would you want to travel and what would you do?

Probably into the future, assuming humanity doesn’t crash and burn by ignoring global warming or blowing each other up or pissing off an alien race or being smacked by a gamma ray from andromeda…. Actually, I’ll stay in right now, thanks.

If real life was a fantasy book, what kind of character would you be? (Rebel, assassin, warrior, adventurer etc…)

I’d be one of those people where the main characters show up at my house/inn/pub/whatever and I’d give them food and stuff. I’d totally be a side character.

What is your favourite beginning to a new book or book series?

Harry Potter, definitely. Last words of the first chapter in the first book? Chills, people.

If you were to write a book or book series, what would it be about?

I’ve had a plot bunny in my head for five years now – each year I attempt to write it out for Nanowrimo and it never ends up how I want it. So that idea. Not gonna mention it just in case it actually ends up on paper at some point.

Clay/ air gun shooting, running, climbing, horse riding, hiking. How would you order these from best to worst?

Hiking, Clay/air gun shooting, climbing, horse riding, running. I have no stamina. Running is definitely last for me.

Would you rather be a bookseller, but you are never able to read another book again or an author, but you can only read the stories you’ve written?

An author. At least this way I can still read.

Would you rather be: a demi-god, shadowhunter or peculiar? Why?

I’m assuming you mean peculiar from the peregrine books. Peculiar. Haven’t read enough of the others to know their advantages.

If you were a demi-god, who would your godly parent be and if you were peculiar, what would be your peculiarity?

I’ve always liked Artemis. And knowing me, I’d probably get stuck with something dumb like the ability to grow my hair really fast. :”D

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And that’s it! Thank you for tagging me! As I’ve been on a bit of a tagging spree lately and I haven’t seen any of the posts show up yet I’m not going to tag anymore – I’d just be adding to the pile. xD

I’m going to create questions though, in case anyone would like to consider themselves tagged:

1. What is your favorite time of day to read?
2. Do you listen to music while reading? What kind?
3. In a book-to-movie adaptation of a book you’ve read, who do you think they casted really well? Who do you think was way off the mark?
4. Do you read different genres during different seasons?
5. Do you like audiobooks?
6. What series do you feel had a great beginning and end but awful middle?
7. Do you watch tv in the morning when getting ready for work/school/house stuff? What do you watch?
8. How do you have your books stored or arranged in your home? Can I see a picture?
9. What’s your favorite weather for reading?
10. What’s your favorite nonfiction book?
11. If you could meet an author and convey your personal wishes for their next book or installment in a series they’re writing, who would be the author and what would you tell them about the book?

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Happy reading!