The 20 Questions Book Tag, or Zombie Rachel Answers Book Tags

I just came off the graveyard shift and I’m without sleep. I’m basically a zombie 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️So, what do I do instead of sleeping? Well, answer book tags of course. (Ha!) I was tagged by Jen of Reading Recluses for this one. (Thank you, Jen! 😀) This is my first time to be tagged so I’m excited!!! Let’s get into the zombie nurse’s answers, shall we?

1. How many books are too many books in a book series?

This is a tough question. It really depends if the story calls for it, like in the Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson books, which have 7  & 5 books respectively, the expansive world the story runs through calls for more books. Personally though, I think authors could wrap up a story in 3 books – the beginning, the middle and the closing. Making it longer may otherwise just drag the story on. (Yes, that’s a shade thrown the way of The Great Library series)

2. How do you feel about cliffhangers?

Cliffhangers ending books 1 & 2 of a series are fine and an intriguing way to conclude that part of the story. It makes me want to have the last book even more.

Cliffhangers at the end of book 3/last book in the series or a standalone, though, is just plain EVIL 👿👿👿 Just finish it, dear author, even if it’s an open-ended conclusion, just please finish it and leave us with a little peace of mind.

3. Hardback or paperback?

I actually don’t have a preference. I have more paperbacks though probably because they are cheaper than hardbacks. For me, as long as I could have the book and read it, I’ll be good no matter what format. (Okay, maybe that’s not the full truth because I do prefer hard copies vs ebooks)

4. Favorite book?

Oh, I have a lot!!! I mean A LOT 📚📚📚 Divergent and Insurgent (Veronica Roth) come to mind first. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen), The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), the whole Harry Potter series (especially Order of the Phoenix) (J.K. Rowling), Beauty Queens (Libba Bray), Naked in Death (J.D. Robb), the whole Young Elites trilogy (Marie Lu), We Were Liars (E. Lockhart) and The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Neil Gaiman) are among my most treasured books.

5. Least favorite book?

Allegiant. I think you could tell why.

6. Love triangles, yes or no?

As a whole, NO. But, again, if the story calls for it and if it is well-written and well-developed, then I’m willing to make exceptions.

7. The most recent book you just couldn’t finish?

The Death Code (Lindsay Cummings). That book just had so many problems I gave up on it even though I was almost 70% through.

8. A book you’re currently reading?

Ghosted (Rosie Walsh). I’m 15 chapters in and still don’t know how I feel about it, which is not good. I’m sticking around more for the mystery than the romance.

9. Last book you recommended to someone?

The entirety of the Red Queen series (Victoria Aveyard). I recommended it to my chat group. Actually, I recommended it to anyone and everyone who’d listen to me. 😂😂😂

10. Oldest book you’ve read? (Publication date)

Pride and Prejudice which was first published in 1813. (If you haven’t go watch both the 1995 BBC TV adaptation of P&P and the 2005 movie adaptation. The TV series starred Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Lizzie Bennet, while the movie featured Keira Knightley, Donald Sutherland, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone and Carey Mulligan)

11. Newest book you’ve read? (Publication date)

Sadie (Courtney Summers) which will be released September 4^th of this year. That book gutted me. I love it!!!

12. Favorite author?

Neil Gaiman, Marie Lu, Veronica Roth, J.K. Rowling and J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts. I’d read anything from these authors.

13. Buying books or borrowing books?

I don’t have anything against borrowing books, but I prefer buying. I want to have the book on hand any time I want to re-read them. Also, there’s a certain pleasure from seeing them all shelved neatly on my bookshelves.

14. A book you dislike that everyone else seems to love?

All The Bright Places (Jennifer Niven) and Rainbow Rowell’s books.  I just can’t get into these books. I cannot connect with the characters in All the Bright Places. They felt shallow to me and I’m just ambivalent towards Rainbow Rowell’s books. I don’t love it, I don’t hate it…I just don’t feel anything for it. I read all of her books hoping I’ll love at least one of them, but alas, it was to no avail.

15. Bookmarks or dog-ears?

Definitely bookmarks. I ❤️❤️❤️ bookmarks. I have a collection of them. Also, I cannot find it in my heart to dog-ear book pages.

16. A book you can always re-read?

Divergent, most definitely. I keep a paperback copy of it because I know I’ll re-read it again and again. Naked in Death, too. I think I’ve read it 5 times now since I discovered the series 2 years ago. Last but definitely not the least, the entirety of Marie Lu’s Young Elites trilogy. Give me Adelina all day, any day, every day.

17. Can you read while hearing music?

No. I want to concentrate on the book I’m reading as much as possible and music distracts me from doing so. (I love music though, just not while I’m reading.)

18. One POV or multiple POVs? (POVs = Points of View)

Personally, I prefer single POV, but I’m willing to make exceptions. If the narrative calls for it, if it is necessary, then, I’m all for multiple POVs. There are times when the main character is away from the main action/the rest of the key actors, and an author would need to employ another character to narrate. But if the main narrator could narrate it, please dear authors, just stick with them.

19. Do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?

I used to be able to read books in one sitting. Unfortunately, I cannot do that anymore. A demanding job plus adult responsibilities take a lot of my time, so I usually read books over multiple days.

20. A book you’ve read because of the cover?

The Wrath and the Dawn (Renee Ahdieh). The cover was just so pretty I bought it without reading the blurb. It turned out great though so I have no regrets.

There you go! I hope I somehow made sense even though I’ve been awake for almost 18 hours now and my brain feels like it’s turning into mush.

To continue this very fun thing, I tag Marie of Kookbookery 🍂 Sofia of Bookish Wanderess 🍂 Richard of The Humpo Show 🍂 Cassie of Rants of a Bibliophile 🍂 Susan of Susan Loves Books 🍂 Clarice of Thalassics

If you see this post, come tag yourselves and answer the questions on your own blog, then comment here with your blog post’s link so I could check out your answers as well 😀

‘Til next time. I’m off to sleep 💤💤💤

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