Tag #77: Books I’ll (Probably) Never Read Book Tag!

At the end of January, I saw this fun tag on Destiny’s blog, Howling Libraries.

Here’s the link to Destiny’s post:


1) a really hyped book you’re not interested in reading:

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I’ve heard many good things, but this book just isn’t interesting to me.

2) a series you won’t start/won’t be finishing:

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Same thing as #1. It takes a lot to get me interested in fantasy.

3) a classic you’re not interested in:

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Although I’ve heard good things about this book and its author, I struggled with Oscar Wilde in high school. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t enjoy The Picture of Dorian Gray.

4) a genre you never read:

Erotica. Nope, no thanks, I’ll pass.

5) a book on your shelves you’ll probably never actually read:

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I’ve tried to read this book twice now. I’ve set it aside both times.


Tag – You’re It!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Tag #76: The Wonderstruck Book Tag

The Wonderstruck Book Tag

Image Credit: Purely Olivia

Taylor Swift + Books!

I found this lovely book tag on Olivia’s blog!

Here’s the link to her post:


leaderboard #1

  • Link back to the creator (Olivia)
  • Answer as many or as few of the questions as you’d like.
  • Feel free to use any of the graphics in this post. 🙂
  • Tag however many people you’d like at the end!

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The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks.

I cried every time I read a Sparks book. This one, though, hit me in all the feels! No spoilers, but have a tissue ready.

{ Listen to: You’re Not Sorry }


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The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins.

I couldn’t get it out of my head. I can’t remember if I already owned Catching Fire, but I know I wanted to devour it, and Mockingjay, and then go back and read the first one again. This is a trilogy that will never leave my bookshelves.

{ Listen to: Back to December }


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Oh, man! These types of questions are hard for me. I’m of the opinion that books are better adapted as TV series or miniseries, not movies.

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The only book I can think of right now is Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, Matthew Desmond. I think this is an excellent book – One of the best I’ve read. Since it involves real people, I think a docu-series would be perfect, especially to see “where are they now” type of angle.

{ Listen to: If This Was a Movie }


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Caraval

Caraval, Stephanie Garber.

I NEED to read this book! It’s been on my radar for well over two years now, and I just need to find a copy.

{ Listen to: Gorgeous }


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The Great Gatsby - Complex

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Several people, both online and in-person, have told me how much they dislike this book. I was assigned to read it during my senior year of high school, and I ended up loving it. There was another research assignment for that class, and I did that project on Fitzgerald, his other works, and his experiences as an American expatriate in Europe. This is one of two books that I re-read every year.

{ Listen to: Shake it Off }


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The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg.

This book brings back so many childhood memories.

My parents have had a copy of this book since before I was born. It was a Christmas tradition for years to read the book and/or listen to the story on cassette tape. We even had a collector’s set with the book, cassette tape, and a silver bell. If you haven’t read it, you should.

Also, the movie adaptation (2004) is wonderful. We went to see it in theaters, likely the weekend it was released. We love Josh Groban in our house, so we also got the soundtrack and DVD. It’s a thing.

{ Listen to: Never Grow Up }


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Fallible Justice (ARC), Laura Laakso.

I was thrilled to receive this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review last year! The cover drew me in immediately. The story was really good, too. I can’t wait for book #2 in the series!

{ Listen to: Sparks Fly }


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Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I can’t remember how many of the eight-book series I read when i was younger, but I have fond memories of reading this one for sure.

{ Listen to: Style }


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{ Listen to: End Game }


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Columbine, Dave Cullen.

I had the grand opportunity to listen to Dave Cullen lecture at my university, and then I interviewed him about the lecture and the book for the student newspaper. It was such a powerful experience. He also signed my copy.

It’s a bit odd to get obsessed with a book covering one of the worst school shootings in American history, but Cullen is a powerful writer and researcher. I want to re-read it, and review it properly here on the blog.

{ Listen to: I Knew You Were Trouble }


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This is slightly deviant from the question, but the only logical answer I can think of.

Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org

I loved Divergent and Insurgent, but I hated, absolutely loathed, Allegiant, Veronica Roth.

It’s a shame, really. I loved the cover of Allegiant, but the content was such a let-down!

Maybe I should re-read the series? I’m not sure.

{ Listen to: Bad Blood }

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Tag – You’re It!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #188: “30 Day Disney Challenge” (Day 22)

30 Day Disney Challenge

Image Credit: Meerkat Musings

Day 22 – An underrated movie

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

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I saw this in the theater when we hosted the Russian children. I thought it was a decent movie at the time – Different, but nothing special. I only started to gain a greater appreciation for it years later.


Come back tomorrow for a new post!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Tag #75: The 80s Movie Tag

80s Movies

Image Credit: The Hunt

This looked like such a fun tag from Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts!

Here’s the link to Jenna’s post:


A BOOK THAT KEPT YOU UP ALL NIGHT

  • Any of the Harry Potter books! Not a nightmare, but I did stay up late most nights to keep reading!

A WONDERFULLY QUOTABLE BOOK

  • The Great Gatsby

A CHARACTER WHO LOVES BREAKING THE RULES


A COUPLE THAT TOOK AN ETERNITY TO GET TOGETHER


A BOOK INVOLVING TIME TRAVEL

  • The Time-Traveler’s Wife

A CHARACTER WITH A UNIQUE STYLE


FAVORITE BOOK INVOLVING THE TRAINING/MENTORING TROPE


A BOOK WITH A TRIP THAT DOESN’T GO AS PLANNED

  • The Vacationers

A BOOK WITH THE CENTRAL CHARACTER’S NAME IN THE TITLE


A FEMALE CHARACTER WHO COMES OUT OF HER SHELL


A DEATH THAT TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE

  • Rue, The Hunger Games

AN ENDING THAT LEFT YOU BOTH HAPPY AND SAD

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Tag – You’re It!

  • Sara at The Bibliophagist
  • Kristian at Life Lessons Around The Dinner Table

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Tag #74: Pick Me Up Playlist

Pick Me Up Playlist

Image Credit: like as the waves

I saw this tag on Jenna’s blog, Bookmark Your Thoughts!


The Rules

  1. Link back to ‘Pick Me Up Playlist’ creator, Laura Spoonie.
  2. Tag the blogger who nominated you.
  3. Mention how music helps your Mental Health.
  4. List 10 songs that you would consider to be a part of your ‘Pick Me Up Playlist’ (optional: mention a little bit why each song is on your list).
  5. Tag 10 other bloggers to join in with the ‘Pick Me Up Playlist’ Challenge.

Laura Beth’s Pick Me Up Playlist

Who I Am With You – Chris Young

Mine – Taylor Swift

Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Better When I’m Dancin’ – Meghan Trainor

The Way – Clay Aiken

Old Alabama – Brad Paisley

Carolina In My Mind – James Taylor

You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban

Feelin’ It – Scotty McCreery

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson


Bonus Musicians!

I echo Jenna here. I love Lindsey Stirling!

Also, pretty much anything by Postmodern Jukebox is uplifting and fun!


 

Tag #73: “Two Truths & A Lie” Tag

Two Truths and a Lie

Image Credit: Howling Libraries

I first saw this tag on Destiny’s blog, Howling Libraries!

Here’s the link to Destiny’s post:

And then I was tagged for it by Sara at The Bibliophagist. Thanks, Sara!

Here’s the post where I was tagged:


How To Participate

  • Create a post with your two bookish truths and one bookish lie – but be sure to keep it a secret so your readers can guess!
  • Reveal the lie in a spoiler at the bottom of your post (you can use this HTML code! Just change the “S” in Summary to a lowercase)
Reveal the Lie

Lie Revealed


Two Truths & A Lie

  1. When I was in elementary school, I almost had to pay $25.00 to replace a lost book from the local library.
  2. I’ve never highlighted or underlined a book, except for The Bible or textbooks.
  3. I’ve visited libraries in Florida, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, England, France, Spain, and Russia.

Are You Ready for the Answer?

Reveal the Lie

#3 is the lie! I’ve visited libraries in most of those places, but not all. I have been to Russia, Moscow specifically, but I didn’t visit a library there.

 


Tag – You’re It!


Let me know your answer in the comments (but no spoilers!)

This was such a fun and unique tag! Thanks again, Sara!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Tag #72: Dreamy Book Covers Tag

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Thanks, Jenna, for tagging me! After reading this post, go and check out Jenna’s amazing blog, Bookmark Your Thoughts!

Here’s the link to Jenna’s post, where I was tagged:

I discovered I did this tag way, way back in March 2017. I think this was right after Tiana first posted it. But, I’m happy to do it again! And Jenna was so sweet to tag me!

Here’s the link to my first post:


The Rules

  1. Thank the lovely person who tagged you, spread the love.
  2. Mention Tiana @ The Book Raven as the creator of this book tag.
  3. Use the original tag image in your post. (However, feel free to add whatever other graphics your heart desires.)
  4. At least tag 1 fellow blogger for this tag.
  5. List the rules.

No Ideas but in Things

A book cover that perfectly expresses the novel inside it.

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Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins.

The colors symbolize fire, and the mockingjay is a significant symbol on its own.

Dark and Lovely

A book cover that is so creepalicious you just want to eat it up.

Fallible Justice, Laura Laakso.

I was so thrilled to receive this book as an ARC. I was definitely skeptical at first, but this cover drew me in almost immediately.

Sugar Sweet

A cute cover that is so fluffy you want to give it a hug.

Love and Loyalty

Love and Loyalty: A Felicity Classic 1, Valerie Tripp

How could you not love a girl and her horse?

The Simplistic Aesthetic

A book cover that stuns with the most minimalistic of design.

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Columbine, Dave Cullen.

I really to need to re-read this and review it for the blog. I had the opportunity to listen to Dave Cullen lecture at my university, and then I interviewed him about the lecture and the book for the student newspaper. It was such a powerful experience. He also signed my copy.

Cover Envy

A book cover you wish you had on your shelves, but don’t yet.

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On The Come Up, Angie Thomas.

I just bought The Hate U Give during my most recent trip to Barnes & Noble, so this is a lesson in patience.

Travelling Abroad

A beautiful book cover featuring a country outside of your own.

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Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins.

I love the Eiffel Tower! Plus, I’ve heard so many good things about this book. I think it’s time I add it to my upcoming TBR.

The Color Wheel

A cover that showcases one of your favorite colors.

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Emerald Green, Kerstin Gier.

This is gorgeous! I think I need to further investigate this book, and the other two in its trilogy …

Switching Gears

A cover change that you absolutely adore.

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To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee.

I love the cover change for the 50th Anniversary of the book’s publication.

Oldie but Good

A favorite book cover of your favorite classic.

The Great Gatsby - Complex

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald.

This was the cover that drew me in, that started it all. I was assigned to read Gatsby in 12th grade, and I fell head over heels. I was drawn into Fitzgerald’s own world as well, and wrote a research paper that year on his other books and his experiences as an American expatriate.

And the winner is…

Which cover mentioned above is your favorite?

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This one. It’s just gorgeous. I’m definitely looking closer at this book, and the Ruby Red Trilogy.


Tag – You’re It!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Tag #71: A to Z Book Tag!

a to z book tag

Image Credit: Howling Libraries

I saw this tag on Destiny’s blog, Howling Libraries!

The tag was was originally created by The Perpetual Page Turner.

Here’s the link to Destiny’s post:


a | author you’ve read the most books from:

  • Ann M. Martin. More than 150 books between The Baby-Sitters Club series, Baby-Sitters Little Sister series, Mysteries, Super Mysteries, and a few others! I also had the Baby-Sitters Club Friendship Kit computer software in the mid-1990s.

b | best sequel ever:

catching_fire

c | currently reading:

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d | drink of choice while reading:

  • Nothing. I don’t want to spill anything on my books.

e | e-reader or physical book:

  • My heart lies with physical books! However, I’m not against e-books.

f | fictional character you would’ve dated in high school:

  • Either Ron or Neville from Harry Potter.

g | glad you gave this book a chance:

  • WHO KNEW? … Reflections on Vietnam, J. Holley Watts. A powerful book / memoir of a woman’s service in Vietnam with the Supplemental Recreation Activities Organization (SRAO) program of the American Red Cross.

h | hidden gem book:

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  • Story of a Girl, Sara Zarr. I was assigned to read this in my Young Adult Literature class in the spring of 2011, and I fell in love with it. If I don’t have that copy at this point, I need to buy another one. I want to re-read it and review it here.

i | important moment in your reading life:

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  • Finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows during the summer of 2008. I wasn’t interested in the series originally, even though a lot of my friends and classmates devoured them the minute the new book came out. However, I caught on quickly, and enjoyed all seven books. Finishing Deathly Hallows was really hard, and I clearly remember not picking up a new book for nearly two weeks that summer. I needed to heal first.

j | just finished:

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k | kind of books you won’t read:

  • Anything that is truly horror, or glorifies abuse (Fifty Shades of Grey, for example).

l | longest book you’ve read:

  • The Bible.

m | major book hangover because of:

  • I don’t think this has happened to me in years. See the letter I for more context.

n | number of bookcases you own:

  • In my house, just one! It’s six-feet-tall, and I love it.

o | one book you’ve read multiple times:

The Great Gatsby - Complex

p | preferred place to read:

  • In bed before going to sleep, or a comfortable couch/chair if I’m reading during the day.

q | quote that inspires you/gave you all the feels from a book:

  • “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” ~ Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird

r | reading regret:

  • I can’t think of one.

s | series you’ve started and need to finish (all books are out):

t | three of your all time favorite books:

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  1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
  2. Looking for Alaska, John Green
  3. A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks

u | unapologetic fangirl for:

Pleasant Company Catalogue Holiday 1991

The Smugglers Treasure Cover

  • All of the American Girl books. I started reading them as soon as I could, and I learned a lot about history through these characters. I’ve re-built my childhood collection (Samantha, Felicity, and Kirsten), and added plenty more. I’m also on a quest to own all 22 History Mysteries. Also, I highly recommend The Care and Keeping of You series for girls. There’s a book for boys, too!

v | very excited for this release:

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w | worst bookish habits:

  • I buy more books before reading my current stack. I can’t let a good book pass by me.

x | x marks the spot! start at the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book:

The Lady's Slipper

y | your latest book purchase:

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  • Last week, I bought four books from Barnes & Noble with a generous gift card from my mom for my birthday last year:
  1. Janesville: An American Story, Amy Goldstein
  2. Mosquitoland, David Arnold
  3. The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
  4. A Sky for Us Alone, Kristin Russell

z | zzz-snatcher book—last book that kept you up way too late:

  • Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, Matthew Desmond.

Tag – You’re It!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Tag #70: Book Blogger Confessions Book Tag

book blogger confessions book tag

Found on Fiction No Chaser

I found this tag on Fiction No Chaser!

Here’s the link to their post:


The Rules

  1. Answer these questions truthfully.
  2. Once you’re done, tag 5 other book bloggers to answer these questions next.

Which book, most recently, did you not finish?

I have to go back into 2018 for a minute. I think it was All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda. However, at the beginning of January, I picked back up and am enjoying it again.

Which book is your guilty pleasure?

Pretty much anything written by Nicholas Sparks. I did my college senior thesis on his books. I haven’t read several of his new releases, so I may do that soon.

Which book do you love to hate?

I have to agree with Fiction No Chaser here. The Twilight series.

Which book would you throw into the sea?

Allegiant by Veronica Roth. I really struggle with multiple POVs in general, but this book drove me nuts! And I was super disappointed, too, since I LOVED and absolutely inhaled Divergent and Insurgent.

Which book have you read the most?

It’s a dead-on tie between The Great Gatsby and To Kill A Mockingbird. I re-read both of these every single year.

Which book would you hate to receive as a present?

Nothing. I adore books. And I agree with Fiction No Chaser – Worst case, I can give it to someone who wants it.

Which book could you not live without?

I just can’t pick just one. If my house were to catch on fire, I would automatically save my hard cover British copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that I got in England on the release day in the summer of 2005, and then my Bibles.

Which book made you the angriest?

Can I say Allegiant again? That’s seriously the ONLY BOOK that comes to mind.

Which book made you cry the most?

I’m not usually a big crier while reading. But, I agree with Fiction No Chaser. I cried quite a bit while getting through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It took me quite a while to read it and finish it, but there were definite tears. And it took me at least two weeks to pick up another book, and that’s saying something for me.

Which book cover do you hate the most?

I loathe book covers that have the movie adaptation characters on them. I refuse to buy them! Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham are two examples.


Tag – You’re It!

  • Kristian at Life Lessons Around The Dinner Table
  • Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts
  • Destiny at Howling Libraries
  • Daniel at Page to Page
  • The Electric Contrarian

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Tag #69: Holiday Drinks Book Tag

Holiday Drinks - Wide Open Eats

Image Credit: Wide Open Eats

holiday drinks book tag

Found on Page to Page

I wasn’t tagged for this one, but I loved reading Daniel’s post so much, I knew I needed to post my own version.

Here’s the link to Daniel’s post:


Hot Chocolate: Marshmallows and chocolate and whipped cream, oh my! Recommend a book that’s sweet through and through.

Forgetting My Way Back To You

Forgetting My Way Back To You, Karina Bartow.

I read this book as an ARC a few months ago, and it’s really sweet and touching. I noted a touch of cheesiness, but it was also integral to the story. No spoilers!

Peppermint Mocha: The flavor of peppermint is strong and distinct. Recommend a book with a lot of strong emotions.

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling.

It’s so hard to pick a single Harry Potter book for nearly anything. This one runs the reader through the gauntlet of emotions, though!

Apple Cider: It’s so good it can’t be good for you, but it’s from apples – That means it’s healthy, right? Recommend a book full of characters with questionable morals.

hunger-games

The Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins.

I will probably never stop raving about this trilogy. If you’re looking for a great series with a ton of diverse characters, I highly recommend it. And there are definitely lots of characters with questionable morals here!

Eggnog: It’s creamy and smooth, with a little spice, and some people even add alcohol to it. Recommend a book that’s mostly fun, with just a hint of danger.

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Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks.

This is one of Sparks’ books where I truly felt scared several times for the main character. No spoilers, but it was certainly intense for an author who has traditionally written sweet romance novels.

Gingerbread Latte: A drink with a veritable explosion of spices. Recommend a book with a lot of action.

The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins.

This book was one of my favorite reads of 2018. It kept me on my toes, and on the edge of my seat, almost the entire time. Great book!


Tag – You’re It!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂