The "I Dare You" Book Tag |

I realize it’s been far too long since I’ve done a book tag. I first saw this tag on Destiny’s blog The Howling Libraries. If you want to do the tag, go for it! That’s what they’re for.

What book has been on your TBR shelf the longest?

I’m honestly not sure, but it’s probably Lord of the Rings. I tried reading it when I was in junior high, but I couldn’t get into it. Since then I’ve read The Hobbit, but I didn’t love it. I keep telling myself I’m going to read LOTR, but I haven’t yet. It’s just not one of those books I think I’ll be able to get into.

What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next?

Current Read: Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides
Last Read: Mind of Mine by C.F.E. Black
Next Read: Whatever title I pull out of my TBR Jar!

What book did everyone like, but you hated?

I’ve got a whole post about that here. But I would have to say the biggest one is probably the Percy Jackson series. I read the first four and I just couldn’t get on board. I’m sorry, guys.

What book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t?

I got The Voyage Out, by Virginia Woolf, at a thrift store a few years ago. I’m sure I’ll read it eventually….

What book are you saving for retirement?

Umm…I don’t know? I’ve got another 20 years at least before I can even think about retiring. Who knows what books are going to come out between now and then?

Last page: read it first, or wait ’til the end?

What. The. Hell. kind of question is this??!! Do NOT read the last page first your crazy, masochistic, psycho! (I’m looking at you, Mom.)

Acknowledgement: waste of paper and ink, or interesting aside?

I never read it, but I’m sure it’s nice to the people being acknowledged.

Which book character would you switch places with?

Hermione. Obviously. I mean…I think Ron would probably drive me nuts, but I could probably get over that with in-laws like the Weasleys.

Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life? (place, time, person?)

The Two Princesses of Bamarre was one of my favorite books as a kid. I read it several times. Once, when my younger sister was sick, I sat on the couch and read it to her out loud. That’s a cool memory.

Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.

I have a very old copy of Pride and Prejudice that my friend, Allison gave me. Allison and I teach at the same school and one of our school’s secretaries had some old books from helping her parents clean out a few areas of their house. She brought them to school for anyone who was interested. Allison found the copy of Pride and Prejudice and thought it seemed like something I would like. She was right! It’s a neat copy, too. I’ve never seen one like it before, and whoever owned it wrote notes in the margins. I love it.

Have you ever given a book away for a special reason to a special person?

Yes! And this is going to take a little explaining, so bear with me.
My school has a program called Advisory. It works kind of like a homeroom. Basically, each teacher gets a class of about 20 students and they rotate with that teacher all 3 years of high school, until they graduate. The first year we instituted this program, I got a group of sophomores. By the time they graduated, we had all become really close. So, for their graduation presents, I went through the books I owned at home and in my classroom library and picked out a different book for each of them. I wrote them a little inscription explaining why I thought they would enjoy the book or why it reminded me of them.

Which book has been with you most places?

Probably my copy of Jane Eyre. It’s just a good book that I can always read.

Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad years later?

All of it. I didn’t really “get” 1984 or Brave New World in high school. I love both of those books now.

Used or brand new?

I really don’t care. If it’s a book, I like it. But I do like supporting local bookstores, and most of our local bookstores are used bookstores.

Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?

Yes. A couple, actually. I liked Inferno and Origin.

Have you ever seen a movie you liked more than the book?

Does a TV show count? Because The Handmaid’s Tale is better than the book, for sure. That’s probably because it keeps going after the book ends, and it gives us insight into what’s going on with more than one character, but I love it.

Have you ever read a book that’s made you hungry, cookbooks included?

All the feasts in the Harry Potter books always make me hungry.

Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take?

My little sister, Jami. We have a lot of the same book tastes.

Is there a book out of your comfort zone (e.g., outside your usual reading genre) that you ended up loving?

I don’t read much nonfiction, but Educated, by Tara Westover, has been my favorite book I’ve read so far this year.