The Bookworm's Tag

FINALLY. GUYS, I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO THIS TAG SO BAD I ALMOST RESORTED TO TAG THIEVERY. THEN JOELLE SAVED THE DAY!!!!!! THANK YOU, JOELLE!!!!

Seriously, guys, this self-proclaimed bookworm (that was literally my reviewing username on Amazon once upon a time) was dying for the chance to do this tag! Fortunately, Joelle over at The Pen Inspired tagged me before I swiped Vanessa Hall's questions!

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The Rules

• Thank and link to the blogger who nominated you (Thanks again, Joelle!)

• Include the tag graphic in your post

• Answer the ten questions the blogger asked

• Nominate between five and ten bloggers

• Ask your nominees ten book-related questions!

• Don’t feel bound to these rules

• (Most importantly) Have fun!

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The Questions

#1 If you had to pick just one (ONLY ONE NO CHEATING LIKE ME!) quote from a book, which would be your favorite?

ONLY ONE? WHAT? Oy...that should be really hard, but I do think I can come up with an all-time favorite.

"'In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.'" – Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice.

If a man ever says this to me, I will legit marry him on the spot. This is how I want to be proposed to, my ideal declaration of love.

The close seconds (because I will not settle for just one) are “‘I am half agony, half hope.’” – Captain Wentworth, Persuasion. And “‘You have no compassion for my poor nerves.’ 'You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.'” – Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice.

Yes, the Jane Austen quotes will always be the best.

#2 Which book would you love to see turned into a film?

Ooh...this is really, really hard. My first answer would be any of my books...but that’s a given. So, otherwise, I would really like to see Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series (at least the first two books) turned into a film series. Or any of Julie Lessman’s novels. The Daughters of Boston/Winds of Change/Cousins O’Connor series would make an AMAZING TV series! And, of course, there’s Unblemished by Sara Ella! That book...that series...AUGH. It needs to be up there on the big screen! It deserves cinematic greatness!

#3 What’s your most favorite scene from any book ever?

JOELLE. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME? I can’t answer this question. I just...I can’t.

#4 (Stealing Vanessa’s question here) Do you judge a book by its cover?

Lord help me, yes. I didn’t use to, but it’s become an unbreakable habit nowadays. Seriously, though, a cover says a lot about a book. It’s, like, a psychological thing. The cover is the first thing a reader notices about a book. It sets the tone for the entire story. It’s the basis of the book’s aesthetic. On top of that, the quality of the cover reflects the quality of the book, at times. At least from the standpoint of formatting and technicalities such as that.

#5 What’s your least favorite series, and why?

Least favorite? Gee. Um… Dude, that’s tough. I don’t usually read a whole series of books I despise… I don’t guess I can think of anything, really.

#6 Are there any books you’d recommend people to stay away from?

For sure. Harry Potter is at the top of the list. The witchcraft in there is very real, people. Romanticizing and normalizing the work of the devil is not okay, no matter how you slice it.

Next would be Twilight. Because, really? Ick.

And then anything with homosexuality in it. I can name a few books, if need be, but my hope is that books containing even a whiff of that kind of content wouldn’t be on any of y’all’s radars.

#7 What is the most impactful theme/message you’ve ever noticed in a book?

Shoot, I think that’s the toughest one yet! I don’t think I’ve ever had a fiction book speak to me specifically, so I really can’t give a good answer. I can tell you that I ALWAYS love the messages in Julie Lessman’s and Kristina Hall’s books. They’re never afraid to preach, and I adore that!

As for nonfiction, The Cost of Discipleship seriously had the most amazing message! I don't read nonfiction (or at least I try not too), but that book was definitely worth my time! And y'all's time, too. Seriously. Read it. You won't regret it.

I will say this...I read a book once, and I’ll be honest with you that I don’t remember what it was called or who the author was (I could probably find that out, though), in which the heroine was...either a prostitute or very nearly one. I can't quite remember. And when the hero finds out, he wrestles with the truth a lot. But eventually, God works on his heart, and the hero (I think his name was Colton or something) goes to the heroine with a rock. (There may have been something written on the rock, but I can’t remember.) Anyway, as unromantic as it seems, the hero goes up to her and drops the rock.

To symbolize when all the men cast down their stones and walked away after Jesus said “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”

I cried.

I had never nor have I to this day cried over a book like I did over that one.

That was just one of the sweetest things, one of the most beautiful gestures. There have no doubt been messages that impacted me more...but not in the way that one did.

#8 *steals another of Vanessa’s questions ’cause they were so good!* What are some qualities you look for in a good book?

This is a hard one, only because there are so many qualities! Content is a given, of course. The one and only thing that makes a good book is content and a message that would make God proud. The way I see it, if Jesus wouldn’t be interested in reading it, then neither should I.

But from a reader’s perspective, some of the top things I look for are (1) characters. I crave characters I can connect with and that seem as real to me as the laptop I’m typing on.

(2) Voice. This goes along with characters, but it can be considered a separate entity in some respects. I want both the individual characters and the author to have a unique voice that fits the story and personality of the narrator(s). A couple authors who have mastered character voices are Sara Ella and Roseanna M. White; and the two authors who, to me, have the most distinctive writing style of their own are Karen Witemeyer and Laura Frantz. (Honorable mention goes to Julie Lessman, Tamara Leigh, and Kristi Ann Hunter.)

(3) Romance. This is a not something I look for in every single book, but when something is classified as a romance, I do look for the strength of the romance, the authenticity of the romance, and (at times) the passion in the romance. If you’re gonna write a love story, do it right or please just don’t do it at all.

#9 If you found a random book stripped of its cover laying in a gutter on a rainy day, what would you do with it?

Depends on which book it is.

But, seriously, I would probably take it home and research how best to restore it to its original glory—even if that meant rebinding it myself. Then I’d proudly display it on my shelf!

#10 And last but not least: what’s the most inspiring story you’ve ever read, and why/how did it inspire you?

This kinda goes along with #7…there haven’t been many stories that have inspired me specifically, at least not that I can think of. Most stories affect me from an authorly standpoint. They inspire new story ideas, help me reach out and try new methods, open me up to new genres and styles and tropes.

I will say this, though. One of the most inspiring stories I’ve read, even if it didn’t personally affect me, was Unfailing Love by Julie Lessman. Guys, I was tearing up at the dedication page. THE DEDICATION PAGE. LIKE, AT THE FRONT OF THE BOOK. Granted, I didn’t full-out cry, but guys. This story...I can’t even explain how beautiful it is, how much it of the author was poured into it, how deeply it could impact you. Please, just go read it.

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The Tagees + The Questions

• Kads @ Your Writerly Friend Kads

• E. K. Seaver

• Kristianne @ Whimsical Wanderings

• The girls @ Teen Writers’ Nook

• E. C. Colton

• V. L. Smith

• Chelsea @ An Ordinary Pen

• E. G. Bella

• Heaven and Grace @ The Book Cubicle

• YOU! (Yes, that is an invite to steal this tag.)

1. Which book character do you fangirl over the most?

2. If you could visit or live in any book, which one would it be?

3. Which book do you wish you’d written?

4. You’re the author of your favorite book/series...which character would you kill off? (Presumably one the real author didn’t already kill…)

5. If you could rewrite the ending of any book, which one would it be and how would it end?

6. Which book character reflects your personality the most?

7. Most hated book? (C’mon, we all know there’s at least one…)

8. Book that should’ve been written but never was (i.e., sequel, prequel, rewrite, super awesome story idea you just came up with)?

9. Which actors/actresses would you cast as the characters in your favorite book/series?

10. What unpopular bookish opinions do you have? (Like, popular book you hate, beloved character you despise, classic you question, etc.)

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What about you? What's your favorite book? Favorite character? Least favorite? Is there a book you think should be made into a movie or TV series? A movie you think should be turned into a book?

Let me know in the comments!!!

#thebookwormstag #blogtag #bookworm #books #iamabooknerd #iheartbooks #aboutthereader

Bookishly yours,

Grace