E. G. Bella

Happy Friday!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a little while, you might recognize this tag. I previously answered Vanessa Hall‘s questions back in September of 2021, right here. And today, I’m back to answer some more book-related questions!

This time, I was tagged by the lovely Grace Johnson (you should definitely check out her site)! Thank you for the fun questions, Grace!

Here are the rules for the tag:

• Thank and link to the blogger who nominated you (Thank you once again, Grace!)
• 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!

And now on to the questions!

1. Bookmarks…or dog-earing? (I dog-ear, so I won’t judge.)

Actually neither! I just stop reading and go back to find my place later. But between those options, definitely bookmarks. If someone prefers to dog-ear, that’s up to them obviously, I just can’t make myself do it haha. Even though I accidentally bend pages all the time, I still feel like a criminal if I do it on purpose.

2. Ever spilt food or drink on a book?

Unfortunately yes, and I always feel so bad when it happens (the GIF above might as well be footage of me). It’s such a hard choice when during meals alone is one of the only chances I get to read. I’m clumsy too, so it’s definitely a risky decision. I’ve learned that if it’s a book I’m borrowing, I don’t even attempt it. Too dangerous!

3. Have you ever read an entire book (not a short story) on your phone, tablet, or computer?

I have! It’s not my preferred form of reading though, so I don’t do it unless I have to. I much prefer paperback copies to digital (I also spend enough time writing and working on my computer that I prefer most of my downtime to be away from a screen). But for things like beta reading or reading a friend’s book on Google Docs, I’ll take any opportunity I can get!

4. Do you box or wrestle with your books? (Hit them or throw them down when a character does something stupid or the hero dies?)

I may feel like it every once and a while, but nope! The closest I’ve ever come is just putting the book down for a while and coming back to it later (maybe). Again, I just don’t like causing damage to books, even if the story may deserve the abuse haha.

5. Ever written to or contacted your favorite author(s)?

I’m happy to say yes! Not all of them – although I still plan to continue reaching out to more over time – but so far a few of the authors that I’ve contacted (and received responses from) are Daniel Schwabauer, Allen Arnold, Jill Williamson, Stephanie Morrill, and Nadine Brandes. And does it count if many of my favorite authors are also friends? I’m going to say yes.

6. What are your favorite book covers?

I actually just got to answer this question in this post! When it comes to book covers, I don’t have one particular style that I like more than others, so it’s hard to choose favorites. Here are some that I do really like though…

7. Worst. Cliche. Ever?

Okay, so a while ago, I talked about some of my biggest fiction pet peeves – one of which is portraying women in fiction as ‘strong’ merely by making them stereotypically masculine. You probably can think of some instances like this, where the main female character is very physically strong, ‘tough’, maybe crude, and generally just makes all the men around her seem pathetic and inferior. I can’t help but cringe every time.

Being physically strong, or acting macho, is not the only way to be strong. And in fact, if a female is only ‘strong’ acting masculine, than is it really female strength in the first place? Males and females are different, and those differences include different strengths. None are better than another. I’d love to see far more female characters that the authors allow to be strong just by letting them be themselves. (Okay, I’ll stop my rant for now, haha).

8. What’s the most you’ve ever paid for a book? How about the least (not free)?

I don’t know specific amounts, but in general, I’m pretty cheap. I’ve bought most of my books from thrift stores and when they’re significantly on sale (which is one reason I’m usually late reading new releases). The exception is occasionally when an author I want to support has come out with a new book. Then I believe the most I’ve spent is probably $25 or so. The least amount would be at said thrift stores, for about $1.

9. Can you read in the car?

Not even for a little bit. I get super motion sick – where I can’t usually handle swings or rocking chairs – and reading in a car just makes it way worse. Thankfully, I don’t usually have that issue when I drive, but…obviously….I can’t read while I drive. I’m admittedly a bit envious of people that can work through book after book on long car rides, haha.

10. Do you sell your read books, donate them, or keep them forever?

This is a question I’ve been asking myself recently! So far, I like to just keep them. I do a lot of re-reading and lending my books to others, so it makes sense to store them for now. The exception is if I don’t like it, don’t want to recommend it, and don’t want to ever reread it. Then donating works well (unless, it’s really awful content, and then I feel bad even donating it…still undecided on what to do in that case).

I’d like to tag:

1. Kristina Hall
2. Vanessa Hall
3. Jordyn Hadden @ Indie Edits By J
4. Raina Nightingale @ Enthralled By Love
5. R. M. Archer @ Scribes & Archers
6. Maribeth Barber
7. Kate @Once Upon An Ordinary
8. S. K. Jacklyn
9. Lauryn Trimmer @ Pro Story Builders
10. …and YOU!

Here are my questions for you:

1. When is your ideal time to read?
2. Standalones or series?
3. Do you ever skip around while you’re reading?
4. What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?
5. Do you have a favorite story trope? If so, which one?
6. What color are most the covers of the books you own?
7. Do you ever read nonfiction books? How often?
8. What is your least favorite genre? Favorite?
9. About how many books do you usually read in a year?
10. Which of these three are most important to you: plot, worldbuilding, or characters?

Well, thank you for joining me with this fun tag! I enjoyed answering these questions, and I hope you enjoyed coming along for the ride. Thanks for being a fellow bookworm!

How would YOU answer these questions (either the ones I answered, or the ones I’m asking)?If you have a blog and want to participate, consider yourself tagged! Or if you’d rather let me know your thoughts in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!

Bonus question: if you couldn’t tell, I had fun experimenting with GIFs in this post, haha. What are your thoughts? Are they distracting and out of place? Or do they add to the lightness and humor of these ‘Fun Friday’ posts? Let me know what you think!

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