Becoming a Better Writer Starts with Reading Lots of Books!

Oh my gosh hi, I disappeared for a bit. I don’t want to get into the habit of making excuses, so I won’t! Instead, I’m going to thank Cailin at Rose Petal Pages (which is an absolutely gorgeous blog name!) for tagging me in the Liebster award. 😃

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog
2. Answer the 11 questions they asked you
3. Come up with your own 11 questions and tag some bloggers

Caitlin asked a lot of great bookish questions, so here’s a post for everyone to get to know me as a reader. I haven’t talked about reading much on this blog since I want to focus on my writing dreams, but my writing dreams are fueled by my passion for books.

1. WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR AND WHY?

I really don’t think I can pick a favorite author! Mostly because there are very few authors who I’ve read every single one of their books. Like I LOVE the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, but I STRONGLY DISLIKED the book series she wrote about a werewolf. I LOVE Bone Gap, but I’ve never read anything else by Laura Ruby.

But if I had to pick one author who could slap their name on anything and I’d read it? Probably John Green? I’m not absolutely obsessed every single one of his books (none of them are even necessarily my “all time favorites”) but I know that everything he writes is honest and raw and entertaining regardless of whether or not I like the plot or characters.

2. WHAT’S THE BEST BOOK YOU’VE RECENTLY READ?

I’m still freaking out about Lost Stars by Claudia Grey. It’s a YA Star Wars story that takes place over the entire first trilogy and it was SO GOOD I HONESTLY COULD NOT HANDLE IT AND SPENT THE NEXT 48 HOURS SCOURING THE INTERNET FOR FAN ART AND READING THEORIES AND AAAAHHHHhhhhhhhggg.

If you read this question hoping for book recommendations and don’t like Star Wars. . . Caraval was great and I’m saving Legendary to read on the beach in a few weeks.

3. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WORD?

Food

4. IF YOU COULD BRING ONE BOOK ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

The Sky is Everywhere. I’ve read it five times and the ending still makes me cry (happy tears or sad tears? you’ll have to find out yourself) every single time.

5. TOP THREE CHARACTER NAMES?

Blue Sargent, Richard Gansey III (both from the Raven Cycle), and Lennie (which is short for Lennon and from The Sky is Everywhere)

Sorry if you came for lots of book recommendations. While there are lots of books I love, I am fiercely devoted to like four or five books in case you couldn’t tell.

6. FAVORITE GENRE

Magical realism! I’m always looking for more books like Katrina Leno’s, (some of) Maggie Stiefvater’s, and Bone Gap. I like when there is magic in the contemporary world. PLEASE RECOMMEND AWAY.

7. WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU BOUGHT?

I’ve most recently gotten Legendary, but that was because my Grandma got it for me! (Thanks Grams.) I bought a bunch of books from Thriftbooks at the end of the school year and the first that comes to mind is The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. It’ll be a reread for me but I remember it being so good the first time!

8. WHAT’S YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED READ THIS YEAR? IF IT’S ALREADY OUT, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno! It was sold out at my Barnes and Noble when I went and I have yet to order it.

9. WHAT’S ONE BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE?

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley. I devoured it (and never read any other John Corey Whaley books but are we surprised) and I think it has a little bit of something that everyone will like.

10. WHAT’S A BOOK YOU’VE BEEN MEANING TO READ BUT HAVE NEVER GOTTEN TO?

Anything by Sarah J Maas. At this point it is SO hyped up I’m really really really really really nervous.

11. LEAST FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR SO FAR?

This one didn’t come out this year, but I just finished it. Hands down, without a doubt (and I feel bad for saying this because it’s so hard to write a book, but. . .) The Selection.

Holy crap on a cracker.

I really hope if anyone reading this posts liked The Selection that we can still be friends. Please don’t throw stuff at me.

But what the heck? What did I just read? The only parts I thought would be borderline interesting (the rebels, no history books) didn’t matter to the plot. I have a feeling they might matter in the second book, but I do not care to read it.

If I had to hear one more time about how pretty America was, I was going to lose it. NO ONE HARDLY EVER MENTIONED HOW “COMPASSIONATE” OR TALENTED OR COURAGEOUS SHE WAS.

ALSO CAN WE PLEASE STOP HAVING “FIESTY” FEMALE CHARACTERS AND PRETENDING THAT “FIESTY” IS THE SAME AS STRONG? THE WORD IS ALSO KIND OF SEXIST BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD EVER CALL A GUY FIESTY, RIGHT?

Maxon was absolutely horrible and every time he chuckled I HONEST TO GOODNESS CRINGED.

Also Aspen wasn’t nice.

And American “choose herself” instead of a guy but she uh definitely chose a guy WHICH WAS WHY SHE STAYED IN THE COMPETITION FOR THE GUY.

Overall, I feel like this book didn’t represent young women well, especially because of how the girls treated each other (even though it seemed like America was making a point to be supportive she was still hated the extremely flat mean girl trope.) And speaking of the extremely flat mean girl, it’s a trope which should really just burn and die and can we please start making complex characters and can we please show girls lifting each other up please please please and thank you.

The only good part of the book was the cover AND I DON’T EVEN THINK THERE WAS A SCENE WITH THE DRESS IN IT??????????

Ugh. Okay.

I don’t like to bash books, but I feel like this one was not helping representation of strong, powerful girls in YA so I had to say something. Also I’m hoping someone can explain the appeal? I tried to read positive reviews on Goodreads, but I just. . .

Someone needs to cut me off from this rant.

Anyhow, that’s enough of that! Now I have to ask 11 questions!

1. Favorite place to get books?
2. Favorite title?
3. Favorite cover?
4. Favorite color for book covers?
5. Do you have a sort of reading ritual in the way you turn the pages/mark your spot/and whatever awesome book reading habits you have?
6. What’s your WIP about?
7. If you had to choose one author to bring on a deserted island, who would it be?
8. Favorite quote?
9. Best piece of writing advice?
10. Favorite place to read?
11. Favorite place to write?

Tagging people is my least favorite part about tags (I do love talking about myself tho *flips hair*) mostly because I don’t want anyone to ever feel obligated! So if you want to do this post, tag you’re it!

Thanks again to Cailin for tagging me! Sorry it took years to do this tag, but it was super fun! The questions really made me do some self exploration.

Any magical realism YA book recommendations? Also can someone explain The Selection to me? Thanks.