Book Tag: The Feelings Tag

Hello, and happy weekend! Book tags are always a great pick-me-up after a long week (or when you haven’t had much time for reading – oops!), and when I saw The Feelings Tag over on Riddhi’s blog, I knew it was something I wanted to jump in on. Thank you, Riddhi, for thinking up such great questions! And everyone else – go check out Riddhi’s blog, Whispering Stories! It’s a welcoming, gentle corner of the blogosphere, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.

The Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and give a link to the blog. [becca’s note: see above!]
• Answer the 5 feelings given to you.
• Write the reason in 5 to 6 lines of why does that particular book come under that feeling.
• Nominate between 5-12 other bloggers.
• Give your nominees 5 feelings too.
• Notify your nominees once you’ve uploaded your post.

A book character you feel a strong connection to

Well, that’s a tough one, right off the bat because there are so many! (As you may have noticed, I tend to get pretty invested in fictional characters.) I think, for today, I’m going to go with Margaret Hale from Elizabeth Gaskell’s North & South. Like Margaret, I’m in a phase where life is just throwing everything at me, and I’m in a perpetual state of exhaustion and confusion. But where is my Mr. Thornton to make up for all this strife? Where?! 😂

A book you loathe

I hate The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. I do. I know a lot of people really love it (some of my friends included), so maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood when I read it… but I kinda doubt that. The way the characters act, the way they treat each other, and just the way they’re written made me very uncomfortable at times and, honestly, just felt too toxic. A romance novel lives and dies with its lead couple, and I just could not get onboard with them. Fans of THG, I wish you the best, and I’m glad you found something you enjoy, but wow, it is not for me.

A book that is super unrealistic, and unreasonable, but you love it all the same

Okay, I love my fair share of unrealistic books, but top of the list is probably Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini! I know, I know – I’m always talking about this one. But I really love it, okay? It’s an old-fashioned adventure that, admittedly, relies on a lot of coincidences and features a hero (er… protagonist, I mean) who is unrealistically brilliant and talented and wow, just all the things. But it’s a very good time, with lots of fighting, theatrical shenanigans, impassioned speeches, etc. etc. And, of course, revenge! Basically, it’s my catnip. Sometimes, I just want to be entertained without caring about realism, you know? And Scaramouche certainly delivers on entertainment.

Honorable mention: The “Six of Crows” series by Leigh Bardugo, where children talk and act like adults and, even at 14, can rack up an impressive past. Kaz, especially, is very much like Scaramouche‘s André-Louis. I mean, how old was he when he swept in and whipped a full gang into shape? But as mentioned above, realism is overrated anyway. We’re here for adventure! 😂

A book that made you pull your hair out in frustration

Recently? My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh. The leads were actually cute, and I liked the secondary characters, too, but Leigh seemed to feel this needed a dramatic finish, when the charm was in these two unconventional people just fitting together. The conflict wasn’t believable enough for the final act, and it really drove me up the wall – all the more so because I’d enjoyed it up till that point.

A book that made you feel whole

Well, my answer has to be Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (both the book itself and the series). As a sensitive, imaginative little girl who always felt a little out of place, I recognized a kindred spirit in Anne Shirley right away. And as I’ve grown, Anne has grown with me. Every time I reread, I find new things to delight, and I understand myself a little better. I honestly don’t know who I would be if I hadn’t found Anne.

Okay! Now it’s my turn! I’m not going to tag anyone specific because I don’t want to bother someone if I’m not sure they’d enjoy doing a tag. So, I’m opening this up to anyone who wants to join in! Answer in the comments or take it to your own platform – please, just remember to let me know you did it because I want to see your answers!

Here are my questions: Tell us about…

• A book that feels like it was written for you
• A book that changed your opinion
• A book that filled you with wonder
• A book that surprised you
• A book made you hungry!

As always, happy reading!

–b