I’ve been saving up all the Christmas book tags I find for this time of year. So from now through Christmas, and maybe a little after that, I’m posting nothing but Christmas-themed book tags. 😀
Today is a two-in-one post featuring the Christmas Carol Book Tag and the Christmas Song Book Tag.
Christmas Carol Book Tag
The Christmas Carol Book Tag was created by booktuber Lauren Wade and is based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which I haven’t yet read and probably should this Christmas.
Ghost of Christmas Past — A book that was a childhood favourite
The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton, illus. by Jan McCafferty
I believe Blyton’s Faraway Tree books were among those I read as a kid and loved and that got me interested in the fantasy genre. The Enchanted Wood is about three siblings who move to the country with their parents and discover an amazing tree in the wood behind their house. Atop the tree is a portal to various worlds, which the kids explore with the inhabitants of the tree. I loved this book as a kid but not so much when I reread it last year.
Ghost of Christmas Present — A recent book that you think will become one of your all time favourites
Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett
This is the third book of the Witches subseries in Pratchett’s larger Discworld series, fantasy stories set in a fantastic world that floats through space on the backs of four elephants standing on the shell of a giant turtle. (…hopefully that made sense.)
These stories are such a delight! Witches Abroad is the best I’ve read so far. It’s certainly my favorite so far. It’s about three witches from the Ramtops — Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick — travelling abroad to stop a girl from marrying a prince. It’s SO much fun! I highly recommend it. You can actually start with this one, no need to read the books in order.
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come — A book coming out next year that you’re most excited about
The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner
This will be Waggoner’s second novel. I’m eager to get it. I enjoyed her first novel, Unnatural Magic, which is a fantasy novel about a young woman who leaves her restrictive society to become a magician and gets swept up in helping to solve a series of troll murders. It was a good read, and I really liked the setting. It made me think of steampunk, but it’s not exactly steampunk.
Bah, Humbug! — A book that everyone else loves that you just can’t stand
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
This one didn’t hook me as it did everyone else who read it. I couldn’t see the appeal of it, was a bit bored by it, and didn’t find the characters believable. But I’m the odd duck here.
Bob Cratchit — An old dependable that you always recommend
Hmm… I actually don’t have a go-to book that I always recommend. People have such varied tastes and interests that I have to first find out what appeals to the person, but here are some stuff I often recommend when working at the bookstore:
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
You by Caroline Kepnes
Saga, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, illus. by Fiona Staples
Tiny Tim — An underhyped book that you think deserves more love
Middle Passage by Charles Johnson
This is SUCH a good read and a quick one, too. It’s historical fiction with a bit of fantasy, a dash of horror, and a sprinkling of humor. It’s about a young Black man who moves to New Orleans shortly after gaining his freedom from slavery and gets caught up in the allure of the city (I guess). To escape his gambling debts and a woman intent on marrying him, he stows away on ship that he didn’t realize was a slave ship bound for Africa to pick up people from a mysterious tribe. It was a very gripping, very interesting and entertaining read. I highly recommend it if you like stories set on the high seas, fantasy, or even horror (it’s not scary).
Today? Why it’s Christmas Day! — What’s a book that always gets you in the modd for Christmas (apart from A Christmas Carol)?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
The Harry Potter books are my usual Christmas reads. They help me to get in the mood for the holiday. However, I won’t be reading them this year. I think I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’ve read them too many times, lol.
Muppet Christmas Carol — Your favourite film adaptation of a book
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Of course it’s the Princess Bride! The movie is the best adaptation of a book, ever! It’s a fantasy novel that’s read to a boy who’s stuck at home because he’s sick. The story is about… how two young people in love reunite…? (How does one describe the Princess Bride in two sentences or less?)
Christmas Songs Book Tag
The Christmas Song Book Tag was created by Hailey in Bookland.
“You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch”
Name a villainous character you couldn’t help but love.
Victor
So V.E. Schwab’s Vicious is a sci-fi/fantasy novel about two friends who gain special abilities and end up becoming enemies. The person who is the villain in the first part of the story is not exactly the villain in the second part. Victor is one of my favorite characters in this because although he is villainous and gives off evil vibes no matter what he does, I still found myself cheering the dude on sometimes. I just like how he is written.
“All I Want for Christmas is You”
Which book Do you most hope to see under your Christmas tree?
Kushiel’s Chosen by Jacqueline Carey
Well, we’re not doing Christmas this year and plus, no one buys me books, so this won’t be under the tree for me. But I do hope to get it soon so I can join the readalong next year.
“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”
Name a character that overcomes major obstacles and learns to believe in themselves.
Angela
Well… maybe Angela doesn’t fit this category to a tee, but she does gain confidence in herself by the end of the book. An Embarrassment of Witches is a YA fantasy graphic novel set around a college campus where people study various subjects based in witchcraft. It was a fun read.
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
Which character do you think would be on the top of the naughty list?
Which character do you think would be at the top of the nice list?
Rory = naughty list
Angela = nice list
Lol! I had to go with this one again since it’s on my mind. The story focuses on Rory and Angela, who are roommates in college. Rory is free-spirited and is always getting into something, and Angela is more responsible and focused on her studies. Rory is more likely to be open and say what’s on her mind, while Angela is more mindful and holds things in, which isn’t always a good thing .
“Frosty the Snowman”
Which book just melts your heart?
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
And it’s all because of the protagonist, Maia. You can’t help but to like him. The story is about a young half-goblin who was treated as an outcast in his father’s kingdom but who suddenly becomes emperor when his father and everyone else who would have succeeded him died. The story is so good. It’s one of the best books I read this year.
“Feliz Navidad”
Choose a book that takes place in a country other than your own.
Mexican Gothic
It’s a historical fiction, horror novel with strong gothic vibes set in Mexico in the 1950s. It’s about a young woman who’s sent to find out what’s wrong with her cousin, who is supposedly sick and acting oddly but may not be receiving the care she needs from her husband. The story starts out slow but quickly grips you and keeps you wondering what’s really going on. Highly recommend.
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Which holiday-themed book do you use to spread the Christmas joy?
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Same answer as for the similar question above: Harry Potter books for Christmas time. They get me in the Christmas spirit, but I’m skipping on them this year.
“Sleigh Ride”
Which fictional character would you choose to spend the holidays with (doesn’t have to be a love interest)?
Jupiter North
Probably Jupiter North from Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor books, middle grade fantasy series about a girl everyone believes is unlucky who is carried away to a new land where she’s special, not unlucky. It would be fun to spend Christmas at North’s Hotel Deucalion and join in the Christmas festivities.
“Baby It’s Cold Outside”
Which book that you didn’t like would you sacrifice to a fire to warm yourself up in the cold?
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
I read it out of curiosity and didn’t like it. It can feed the fire.
“Do you hear what I hear”
Which book do you think everyone should read?
Thunder & Lightning: Weather Past, Present, Future by Lauren Redniss (illus.)
An illustrated nonfiction book about the weather. I recommend it to both adult and kids (actually, it’s more for adults, I think) because it discusses how much the weather/environment affects us and how we affect it.
Whew!
Okay, that was quite long. I might not double up on tags like this again, lol!
Anyway, hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season.
Zezee with Books 
I also want to read that Waggoner book! I keep forgetting about it, I should probably add it to a list somewhere lol. 🙂
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Yes!! 🙂 Add it to your list. It was a good read and quite interesting world.
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I COMPLETELY agree with The Princess Bride — though I must admit that the book also has a special place in my heart that isn’t quite the same shape as the movie. I’m so glad you love Discworld! How many Discworld books have you read so far? I’ve finished the witch-centric books (and the Tiffany Aching ones) and the Vimes-centric books, but haven’t read all the others yet.
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Lol! I love the Princess Bride book too. Now I can’t remember which one I tried first, the book or the movie.
Yes! 😀 Oh man! I’m happy too to have discovered Discworld. It’s such a fun series. I’ve only read 3 books so far and they are all from the Witches subseries. I started there and am reading those books in order. I might move on to the Death ones after.
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