Thank you to Nicola at ShortBookandScribes for nominating me for the Rapid Fire Book Tag. Take a look at her blog if you haven’t already – she posts great, concise reviews and I have lots of book-choices in common with her!
So here goes…
#RapidFireBookTag
eBooks or physical books?
I’m happy to read ebooks (and most of the review copies are ebooks anyway) but I don’t think you can beat the feel of an actual book in your hands. Saying that, it’s must easier to read when it’s dark on an ebook without disturbing anyone else in the room, and my kindle (well, kindle app on my ipad) is ideal for if I finish a book whilst I’m on a journey or out, as I can just select a different one without carrying lots of books around.
For cookery books, though, it has to be print – I have lots of recipe books on kindle but they’re not anywhere near as easy to use when actually cooking!
Paperback or hardback?
Paperback – I remove the dust jackets on hardbacks anyway as I don’t want to get them dirty/ruined! So paperback is smaller, lighter, easier.
Online or in-store shopping?
Online! I am an ebay addict, and most of what you can find in shops you can get cheaper online so it saves money. I do feel bad sometimes as I feel I should be supporting the high street more, but to be honest I spend a horrific amount of money both online and in-store!
Trilogies or series?
I am a sucker for a good series – I love that there’s bound to be loads more if you like it. Plus I’m a big crime fiction fan and a lot of crime books are part of big series.
Heroes or villains?
I do love a good hero! Though a villain can be more entertaining I suppose…
A book you want everyone to read?
It’s an oldie but The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a great read. (I read this before starting my blog and realised I never wrote a review for it, which I should do sometime soon!)
Recommend an underrated book?
Hmm this is tricky to think off the top of my head… I guess I feel that the Detective Erika Foster series (by Robert Bryndza) should be everywhere, and though it has had lots of praise and buzz around it, I really think it should be up there even more, and be as well known as some of the more well-known series!
The last book you finished?
The Widow by Chris Brookmyre
Weirdest thing you used as a bookmark?
Whatever’s closest… I do have a bookmark a friend gave me but if it’s not in reaching distance I’ll use anything – a receipt, a flyer, takeaway menu… once I even used my contraceptive pill as a bookmark!
Used books, yes or no?
Used books are never a no, and you can get some great books for really cheap second hand and in charity shops. But for me you can’t beat a shiny new book – the smell alone is amazing!
Top three favourite genres?
This is hard… I suppose:
Crime/ Detective
Psychological Thriller
Novels with ‘timeslip’ elements (a bit specific, I know!) or just with dual narratives/ storylines
Borrow or Buy?
I get most of the books I read for review, but I buy lots of kindle books (to try and save space on my already groaning bookshelves) and my mum lends me lots of books too! So a bit of both…
Characters or plot?
Characters keep me interested in a series but if the plot’s crap I won’t want to finish the book. So plot ultimately, but it needs skill in both areas of course!
Short or long book?
Long if it’s good, as I won’t want it to end. But anything over 500 pages feels a bit much to be honest. Too many books, too little time! I don’t really read short stories, if that’s what this means, but maybe I should make more of an effort to…
Long or short chapters?
Short as I can’t stop in the middle of a chapter!
Book to movie or book to TV adaptation?
TV adaptation usually means more can be fitted in, but I am a huge cinema fan so I love seeing books adapted into films.
Name the first three books you think of?
The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith
Everything But The Truth – Gillian McAllister (current read)
The Adventure series of books by Enid Blyton (no idea where that popped up from but I used to love them as a kid – all of Enid Blyton’s books in fact)
Books that make you laugh or cry?
I cry fairly easily; I think the last cry was at We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. A memorable ‘crier’ novel was Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, one of my favourite books.
Our world or fictional worlds?
Definitely our world – I do enjoy fantasy/ sci-fi, etc, but can’t beat our own world. I can relate a lot more with it and find I get more involved in the storyline.
Do you ever judge a book by its cover?
I am ashamed to say I do – a lovely cover grabs my attention, but the story has to sound good too!
Series or standalone?
Either, as long as it’s good! But if I had to choose then probably a series – if I really like the characters, I know there’s more books about them coming to enjoy!
Ohh, The Secret History is a classic! I also read a “similar” one called The Basic 8. I also prefer paperbacks and plots is what keeps me reading!!!
Ooh The basic 8 – was it worth a read? ????
Yess! I really liked it 😀 I recommend it!
Using the pill as a bookmark. Haha! That’s too funny!
Haha whatever’s closest! ????????
I’d love to read Secret History. I just got a copy last year.
And these days I find myself reading more ebooks cause I’ve ran out of space, so they’re great for that too.
Exactly, if I had every book in paperback I’d have no room anywhere in the house haha! The secret history is definitely worth a read!????
Great replies, Laura. I loved The Secret History too. It was foisted on me by a work colleague and I didn’t really want to read it but I was so glad I did.
It is such a great read, I don’t know anyone who didn’t enjoy it tbh! 🙂
Great answers! Thanks for the tag. X
No worries at all ????
Thanks so much for tagging me! 🙂 I was reading your post and thinking this looked like a fun tag to do and then I spotted you’d tagged me. I’ll try and get my post done soon. Btw, I love The Secret History too – it’s one of my all-time favourite books. 🙂
It’s such a great read isn’t it! Ah great, well I took quite a while to do the post after being tagged so no rush obviously but will be intrigued to see your answers ????