Friday Hop Dix-Sept

Q: What would your prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

I would definitely say my favourite book. Everytime I read it I am bound to discover something new in it and I enjoy it so much more for that and I can see the whole book in a different way. Also, why would I settle for mediocre when I can have the utmost best? Also, it's that idea that I would rather live a terrible life but have one moment of pure bliss than merely abide a life of pure mediocrity. It's like choosiing true love over simply living with someone you like for your whole life.

Love Stories: What are some of your favorite fictional love stories?

I adore Jane Austen's stories, and Pride and Prejudice still kind of holds the title of my favourite of all time. It's so perfect, in my opinion, in every which way and I knowing the ending (who doesn't know the ending?!?) makes all the little machinations and side comments up to that point so much better. I've read Emma and Northanger Abbey too- both of which I adored- but Pride and Prejudice is and will remain my favourite.

I also liked the Time Traveller's Wife for the romance since the disjointedness of it makes it quirky and you doubt that it might ever work- but the romance is believable and you're swept away with it all (well, I was).

A non-novelistic love story that always makes me squirm with joy and anticipation is the one in Love Actually- namely Colin Firth's Character's one. He's an English writer, recently in France, with a Portuguese housekeeper. But they slowly fall in love with one another and their conversations, where neither understands the other, is blatant but sweet way to say that on some level they understand one another and that they are on the same page (ha...) in an odd, inexplicable way.

Happy Hopping!

Friday Hop Seize

Q: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

I like books with at least a hint of the fantastical and slightly unbelievable. I do like, as the question asks, a kiss-ass heroine too! It's no fun reading about a meak one slowly struggling through life; someone with attitude, perserverance and willpower is much more interesting for readers. I tend to also like my romance to be slow- and I prefer watching a long period of falling in love then seeing the struggles they face after it. Falling in love is many time more engaging, for me, and the moment of realisation gives me a warm tingle up my spine.

Most books I like also seem to be reasonably long. Something about dedicating a lot of time to a book, and being able to be completely drawn in, are some important qualities. Other little things I like are: a whimsical side character who is humorous, clever and mysterious; the gruff 'teacher' role who helps the protagonist (this is kind of high fantasy exclusive, I think); and I like the main characters slowly learning to control and direct their abilities or skills towards another purpose (I thinking fantasy again here!).

Book Appeal: When you're browsing goodreads, the library, or another blogger's reviews, what grabs your attention to make you want to read it? 

Well, of course, the book cover is the best thing to grab my attention, followed quickly by the title of the book. I think the title is how the author or publisher has thought best to define a book; so it almost sums up the essence of that book in a short phrase or even just one word. For me the author isn't overly important- though I'm persuaded to try something if it is an author I know and like.

When it comes to goodreads or blogs, I also tend to look at the rating- and if it isn't a blogger I'm familiar with I'll scan their past review for books we've both read and see if I agree with what they say their. Goodreads has that handy comparison feature which I tend to utilise in this case. If I don't have much time, I'll also scan their introductory and final paragraph, since they tend to be more of a book overview than other more case-specific paragraphs.

Sometimes, reviewers also compare the books they read with other ones (such as when I've seen Legend compared with Divergent). This has been something that I've seen while going to leave the page, but has stopped me because I think if I liked one, maybe I'll like the other.

Friday Hop Quatorze

Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

I live in a main city in England (Livepool) so I've always been close to bookstores and easy to access for people to deliver to me. I've never done anything really describable as crazy, but I have ordered books from foreign countries before- knowing I'd have to wait a month or more for it to arrive. Usually, if I want a book, nothing will stop me. I remember when I was first reading the Belgariad that I wanted the same style of cover for all five books (two of which I already owned) and I trawled the internet for almost two hours so I could get those covers. They were twice as expensive as the available copies on Amazon, but I liked the other covers too much.

I think that I am (geographically and economically) always in a position where it is very easy for me to get whatever book I want whenever I want it. I'm not averse to doing something a little zany for a book, but I've never been given the oppurtunity. I'll be sure to update this if I remember anything during the day.

Recommend It: Which book from the last 10 you've read would you recommend to a friend?

Anyone who has read or hopped by this blog probably knows how much of a fan of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (my review) I am. So though I'm afraid of becoming a broken record, this is just so easily the book I'd recommend. It's a perfect mix of Fantasy and the falling in love element of romance (which I my preferred part of it). It was a well-written, immensely enjoyable hybrid of things I love in books.

Also, I don't have many real life friends who are great readers, let alone any who read fantasy. The one person I know who read fantasy, hates romance. So basically I need all you internet people to talk to me about this book and satisfy the craving I have to discuss this until my fingers fall off, blistered and bleeding.

If I was to say a book that couldn't be that, I'd have to say The Iron Maiden by Resa Nelson (my review), because I really, really liked it and, having not a read a high fantasy in while, I feel a craving for it. This was the last one I read so it's the one on my mind and the one my next fantasy will have to live up to!