Finally Fall Book Tag

Okay, haha, I know that it must look really bad that I wrote a post about my novel and novella getting rejected and then ghosted for a week.  I promise, it had nothing to do with that.  In truth, I went out that Thursday with my friends for some much needed girl time.  And then I just ended up not having time to do a make-up post, due to some writing commitments.  That being said, I'm back this week, and I'm trying out something I've been dying to do.  See, I follow a few booktubers on YouTube (those are people that devote their entire channel to reviewing and talking about books) that do these things sometimes called Book Tags.  I think it comes from the whole hashtag thing, the name.  Anyhow, they have a book tag that comes with usually about five or more questions or criteria to answer, and they answer them.  Simple as that.  The one I'm doing tonight is from one of my favorite booktubers (or, at least, she is where I first saw this one), PeruseProject.  It's called Finally Fall.  And now, without further ado, here we go.

1. In fall, the air is crisp and clear.  Name a book with a vivid setting.

 For this one, I had to go with The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  I remember hearing about the vivid atmosphere before I read this book, and I was not disappointed.  This book is about two magicians fated to fight one another with the stage of the fight being a mysterious, wondrous circus that just appears in the night.  I'm telling you, when you read this book, you can feel the circus.  You can smell and taste the food.  You can imagine milling about the crowd, visiting tent after tent.  It's truly beautiful.

2. Also in the Fall, nature is beautiful.  But it's also because it is dying.  Name a book that deals with a heavy topic.

For this one, I had to go with Sold by Patricia McCormick.  I read a lot of books that contain a lot of scenes that deal with heavy things... but this is the only book that that was its whole subject.  This deals with girls sold into sex slavery in India.  It's powerful and scary, and it's been years since I've read this one, but it sticks with you. 

3. Fall is also time for Back to School.  Name a Non-Fiction book that taught you something.

I don't read a lot of non-fiction.  It's nothing personal, as there are several very real subjects that I'm interested in, but it doesn't always hold me through a whole book.  And I've read a lot of non-fiction things for school, but I chose to go with one I chose to read just for the sake of reading.  I am a huge Michael Jackson fan, and when I heard that the body guards who had guarded him in his last days were writing I book, I had to read it.  You could argue the validity of this one, of course, but I still feel like I learned a lot about a man who was treated as a god by some, a devil by others, but was really just a human being.

4. Days are getting colder in the Fall.  A good way to keep warm is to cuddle up with friends and family around a roaring fire.  Name a fictional family you would want to spend time with.

This one was hard for me.  After all, I read a lot of books that feature familial connections that I love.  If this was a television tag, I would totally know the answer without a doubt.  But, in the end, I think I would have to go with...

The Weasleys in the Harry Potter series.  I almost put another couple on here but then thought better of it, due to a possible spoiler.  Same for yet another family that I've grown to love (only this year, actually).  So I had to go with a family that was tried and true.

5. Fall is a perfect time to also share stories around a fire.  Name a book where someone is telling a story.

This one might be a stretch, but I think it counts.  I read The Dracula Dossier by James Reese by pure happenstance--caught my eye at the library.  And I loved it.  I couldn't put it down.  It reads as if Reese had won at auction a dossier full of notes and such by Bram Stoker--author of Dracula--that details the events that led up to him writing the novel.  Namely one event--the hunt for famed serial killer Jack the Ripper.  It's written as an academic piece, complete with explanatory footnotes and everything.  But where one might fear that that would make it read a bit... clunky, it doesn't.  In fact, it kind of adds to the excitement.  I really feel like more people should know about this novel.


6. Nights in the Fall are also getting darker.  Name a dark book.

This one was a no-brainer for me.  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn might possibly be the darkest book I've ever read.  And I loved every damn minute of it.  It tells the story of a man whose wife goes missing, and it isn't too long before evidence starts piling up that makes him look like a suspect.  Then, midway through the telling, the twist.  And, oh boy, is it one hell of a twist.

7. Days are getting colder.  Share a heartwarming book that could warm up someone's cold heart on a rainy day.

This one was hard too.  I don't read a whole lot of heartwarming stuff.  But then, I remembered this gem of a series by Patricia C. Wrede.  The Enchanted Forest Chronicles tells the story of a princess who doesn't want to do the frilly princess-y stuff her parents want her to do, so she sets off into the Enchanted Forest.  To get herself kidnapped by a dragon.  Deliberately.  It's hilarious.  And it's just such a fun read.

8. Fall returns every year.  Name an old favorite to return to.

We all saw this one coming, right?  This one is my favorite in the series, for reasons I won't state for fear of spoilers.  But this one.  I will always re-read this one.

9. And, finally, Fall is perfect for cozy reading nights.  Share a favorite reading accessory.

This last one is kind of a dud when it comes to me.  I read mostly at work, so basically, my only requirement for reading is the book.  But, if given the time, I do like to curl up with pillows and a blanket.




And that's all for the Finally Fall book tag.  So, let me all know what you think about this.  Also, what would your answers be to these questions?  This was fun.  I'll see you all next Thursday!