Ten year old me and now me may have been a wee bit excited when they saw this tag. Taylor Swift and books?! Fun fun fun.

I’m stealing this tag from the lovely Olivia’s blog over on Meanwhile, in Rivendell… (her blog is everything bright and wonderful. so go give a view or two.)

Here goes:

“We Are Never Getting Back Together” – a book/series you thought you were in love with but ended up disliking

The two that immediately come to mind are Longbourne and Alice I Have Been. I have to admit I was drawn in by Longbourne‘s aesthetic and unorthodox retelling of Pride and Prejudice – but do not be fooled folks, tis not a clean read. And I’ll spare you the disturbing details of Alice I Have Been. Let’s just say Alice in Wonderland has been forever ruined for me.

“Red” – a book with red cover

I didn’t realize how many red covers I owned until today. I don’t particularly care for red for book covers, but if it’s done tastefully I like it. Some nice examples are my Barnes and Noble Emma and A Tale of Two Cities/ Great Expectations. (The latter of which I have not read, recommend?)

The book I’m reading now is red too, A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and A Great War. 

“The Best Day” – a book that makes you feel nostalgic 

Little Women! I must’ve read this at least five times by now. Something about it brings back third grade memories and that lovely feeling of home. It reminds me so much of my own sisters. It’s just one of those that makes me feel like I’m wrapped in a warm blanket.

“Love Story” – a book with a forbidden love

Romeo and Juliet??? Haha. Just kidding. (Get it, get it? Because the song is about them?) I suppose Jane Eyre has a forbiddenish element to its romance. Especially with *lowers voice into a dark foreboding British accent* Bertha Antoinetta Mason.

Lorna Doone also has a very Romeo and Julietesc love story complete with warring families and the like.

So did For Such a Time (Kate Breslin). That one twas very unconventional.

“I Knew You Were Trouble” – a bad character you can’t help but love

Hmm, bad as in evil? Or bad as in annoying?

I guess I would say Nikolai in War and Peace. The poor boy makes some pretty mindless choices, but you have to love his sincerity.

Also Mr. Thornton from North and South, he’s rather demanding at times but you feel such sympathy for him. OH I KNOW. That reminds me: the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera! (Yes, it’s a book, not a good one, but tis a book.) He’s cruel and a murderer and sadistic (wow that was harsh) but I still cry at the end because I feel so terrible for him and his dark fate. (“Turn around and face your fate an eternity of THIS before your eyes.”  “The tears I might have shed for your dark fate grow cold and turn to tears of haaaaaate.” *wails and sobs*)

“Innocent” – a book that someone ruined for you

I can’t really think of any that’ve been ruined for me… I’m usually the one ruining. (Yes, yes I’m THAT person. I just get so excited and then I say too much.) Usually my mom gets the spoils, but in my defense she doesn’t stop me…

“Everything Has Changed” a character who goes through extensive character development 

Everyone in War and Peace? Just kiddiiiing. I’ll say someone else.

Charles Darnay from A Tale of Two Cities. Without a doubt.

Perri from The Sweetest Thing too. She’s rather snobbish at the beginning but she matures so much in her faith and as a person through her circumstances and her friendship with Dobbs. Dobbs herself has to go through so much. And even when she goes through that dark spot, she comes out more beautiful for it.

“You Belong With Me” – your most anticipated book release

I’m really looking forward to A Legacy of Mercy, the sequel to Lynn Austen’s Waves of Mercy. And Allison Pittman’s The Seamstress. Remember the girl on the scaffold with, well you know who she’s with if you’ve read it, at the end of A Tale of Two Cities? It’s going to tell her story. *squeals and sobs with excitement*

“Forever and Always” – your favorite book couple

Favorite? I have to pick one? We’re going to take it way back to elementary school here and say Bryce and Juli from Flipped. But I’d have to say I love my own Meg and James. (From the novel I’ve finished/am editing. If you guys want to know more about it, let me know and maybe I’ll do a post.)

“Come Back…Be Here” – the book you would be least likely to lend out

Probably my illustrated Jane Eyre, it was my mom’s and well, t’would be a shame it was to be ruined.

“Teardrops on My Guitar” – a book that made you cry

Ummm so many. Too many. Actually I take that back. It’s good to cry in books.

I definitely cried more than once reading The Book Thief (do you even have a heart though if you don’t???), teared up and got that sad belly feeling reading Testament of Youth, sobbed in Between Shades of Gray and Salt to the Sea, and shed a few tears in both Still Life (Christa Parrish) and River’s Edge (Marie Bostwick). And those are just the recent ones… hahaha… yeesh. I guess you could say I have a thing for sad books.

“Shake It Off” – a book that you love but other people hate

You probably saw this coming but War and Peace. I feel like people wouldn’t hate it if they actually gave it a chance, but few do, instead they judge it by it’s size. I also like a lot of the books my classmates don’t, i.e. A Tale of Two Cities, The Iliad, The Tempest.

“All Too Well” – a book series you wish could go on forever 

The Penderwicks books. They just make me all warm and happy on the inside. I’m slightly sad that the series is all over. Maybe she’ll do a reunion book??

“Ronan” – a book with a tragic character death

Well aside from the tragic deaths of The Book Thief (BUT THAT MOMENT WHEN SHE ASKS RUDY TO KISS HER, excuse my emotional breakdown), and Testament of Youth, I wasn’t prepared for the deaths in Between Earth and Sky. ‘Twas unexpected which made it so much more of a stabbing grief when I read those chapters.

But The Book Thief. And Testament of Youth.

“Out of the Woods” – a book that had you worried about the characters up until the very end

Oh most definitely Between Earth and Sky. But also The Swan House. 

“Getaway Car” – a book with a tempestuous romance 

I’m going to copy Olivia here and say Jane Eyre. It’s the perfect moody romance. But North and South was very tempestuous too. (Remember the ‘look back at me’ scene?)

“Clean” – a book that taught you something profound

War and Peace – to appreciate the grand in the ordinary and the ordinary in the grand, and much much more

Little Women – the treasure that home and family is

Brave New World – to think about the dangers of excessive pleasure, especially in light of society

Between Earth and Sky – to never forget our past, no matter how terrible

Narnia – (is this even possible to put into words?) the beauty of faith in Jesus

All the Light We Cannot See – there is goodness even when the world is falling apart

The Light Between Oceans – your actions, no matter how emotionally justified, have consequences on those around you

“Long Live” – a book that transports you every time

So many. So many. Narnia always. Jane Eyre. The Sweetest Thing. War and Peace. To name a few.

Alrighty, time for the tags.

Lissa.

Bri.

Jess.

Have fun!