Book Cake Book Tag

As I sit here with my stomach grumbling dreading that I’ll have to cook something (I hate cooking), I thought to myself, “Why not do the Book Cake Book Tag that Ann of Ann’s Reading Corner tagged me for ages ago?”

Actually, that’s not what I said to myself. It was more like “Ugh… I don’t feel like cooking. Lemme do a book tag.” Either way, here I am with another book tag and one I was actually tagged for this time! 🙂 I’m catching up. Kinda. Ann tagged me for this last year, but better late than never, eh? Thanks Ann! 😀

By the way, after some searching, I found that the tag was created by booktuber Suddenly Lorna.

Flour: A book that was slow to start but picked up as it went along

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

This is a horror novel about a vampire apocalypse that starts in New York City. The story isn’t scary, but it is unsettling because of how vampires are created. The story plays upon the parasitic nature of vampires and gives it a scientific twist that makes it a bit more realistic. The pace is slow at first because of the many perspectives and explanations, but it’s needed to build a solid foundation. But once the pace picks up, you’ll be hooked!

The book was also adapted for TV. The show is also called The Strain and the fourth and last season recently aired on FX. It’s one of my favorite TV shows and I encourage EVERYONE, if you’re not squeamish, to go watch.

Butter: A book that has a rich plot

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned The Hobbit in anything. The story is a popular one about the unassuming Bilbo Baggins who goes off on an adventure with wizard Gandalf and a bunch of dwarves to reclaim the dwarves’ treasure from the dragon Smaug. The Hobbit certainly has a rich, delectable plot that I enjoy sampling every now and then but only as a book. I tried it as an audiobook but didn’t like how it was narrated.

I still need to see the movie. Wish I’d seen it in theaters.

Eggs: A book you thought was going to be bad but was quite enjoyable

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne, John Tiffany, and J.K. Rowling

Because of all the negative hype surrounding this script last year, I thought I’d hate it. Instead, I was surprised to find myself enjoying it and even liking it as I read. There were some characterizations and such that didn’t make sense to me, but I liked that it gave us a different perspective on some characters and gave other characters insight on what becomes of them in the original books.

Sugar: A sweet, sugary book

Lucy by Randy Cecil (illus.)

I just realized that I hardly read books that can be described as sweet, but Lucy definitely fits. It’s an illustrated children’s book about a little girl who befriends a stray dog and the adventures of that dog. I enjoyed reading it and liked the illustrations, which seems to have been done in pencil.

Icing: A book that covers every single element that you enjoy about a book

This is a difficult question to answer, so I’m skipping it. I don’t think I’ve read a book that has every single quality that I love about stories. They usually contain many of the qualities, but not all.

I love books that are well-written but also have a touch of poetry to its prose. I love books with descriptive writing. Writing so lush that I find myself repeating sentences and phrases just to hear what they sound like spilling from my lips. I love books with great first sentences and a storyteller’s voice that immediately hypnotizes me as soon as I begin to read, so hooking me to the book that I hardly put it down until done.

I love books with an interesting and exciting plot but still gives me something to mull over as I read along, something that challenges opinions and views I take for granted or reveals something of human nature that I’ve never realized or never thought of in a particular way or just confirms what I already think but in an unconventional way. I love books with complex characters. I love books with endings that feel like an ending and not something unsure of if it’s an ending.

Sprinkles: A book series that you turn to for a pick-me-up when you are feeling down

No explanation needed since the Harry Potter books are a pick-me-up for most folks when they’re sad.

Cherry on top: Your favorite book of the year so far

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Definitely Homegoing and for so many reasons, which I’ll share in my review (tk). The book is well-written, the story is interesting, and the characters will stay with you. It’s a favorite. Gyasi is now a favorite author. And I now consider this book a classic (I don’t care what anyone else says).