The Bookish Tag

Tags are my favorite have I mentioned that enough lately?

 The ever-wonderful Faith tagged me for this Bookish Tag and I'm very excited so here we go.

The Rules:
~ You must be honest.
~ You must answer every question.
~ You must tag at least 4 other people.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, let's jump in!

1) What book has been on your shelf the longest?  Ooh... this is hard.  I think it'd probably be some of my American Girl books.

2) What is your current read, your last read, and the book you'll read next?  Hehe...he... See, I'm currently in the middle of like... ten books... but right now I'm actively reading At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon (and really enjoying it).  My last read was The Goldfish Boy.  And the book I'm planning to pick up once I'm done with at least four out of these ten I'm in is probably going to be Uncommon Criminals.

3) What book did everyone else like, but you hated?  Okay, to be frank, I never hate books.  I may dislike them, but hate is too strong a word.  ... Actually, I take that back.  Romeo and Juliet.

4) What book do you keep telling yourself to read, but you probably won't?  Probably any Shakespeare play.  I've read Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet, and I like to think that I'll read more someday... but it probably won't be anytime soon.

5) What book are you saving for retirement?  ...Do people actually do this?  Like, man, I'm only 18, retirement is a long way off. 

6) Last page: read it first, or wait 'til the end?  Wait 'til the end!

7) Acknowledgment: waste of ink, or interesting aside?  I like reading acknowledgements, because often I just want more of the author's writing.  And sometimes they're funny. 

8) Which book character would you switch places with?  Um... mayyybe one of the Pevensies?  But most of the time, I wouldn't switch with any.  Their lives are too hard.

9) Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life?  So many of my books hold certain memories.  But I have a copy of the collected works of Carson McCullers that was given to me by my mom's step-mother who passed away early last year.  And it was given to her by my granddad, who I never got to know, but apparently I have very similar reading tastes to him.  Which is cool.

10) Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.  Maybe my copy of Tuesdays at the Castle.  Because it didn't start out as mine.  Technically, my sister earned it by doing a summer reading program, but she didn't want any of the books that were offered.  So I got to pick two.  Which was awesome.

11) Have you ever given away a special book to a special person?  Not that I can remember.

12) Which book has been with you the most places? Other than my Bible (obviously), I'm really not sure.  But while I was reading The Blood of Olympus, I did carry it with me to quite a few places, so I guess that counts (including a grease stain on the back cover under the dust jacket because I didn't think about my greasy fingers until it was too late).

13) Any "required reading" you hated in high school that wasn't so bad later?  I didn't really enjoy reading Ender's Game but the whole of the story has stuck with me so strongly and I've gotten deeper into the messages and I actually really liked the movie.  Yeah.

14) Used or brand new?  I can't argue with the lovely feeling that the smell and feel of a new book has, but I also can't argue with the price of used books.  So... both?

15) Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?  No, can't say that I have.

16) Have you ever seen a movie that you liked better than the book?  *cough* Jane Eyre *cough*

17) Have you ever read a book that made you hungry?  Hands down, this has to be Unlocking the Truth.  Look at this cover and tell me that cinnamon roll doesn't make you hungry.


18) Who is the person whose book advice you'll always take?  My mom.  Or my OYAN friends.  I trust them 100%.

19) Is there a book out of your comfort zone (e.g. outside your usual reading genre) that you ended up loving?  I think I have to go with The Seer of Shadows for this question.  As I mentioned the last time I talked about it, it's quite creepy and eerie and not normally my cup of tea.  But I loved it.


So there you have it!  The Bookish Tag! 

Um... at least four of you consider yourself tagged and we'll say that counts because this is my blog and I do what I want *cough*

How would you have answered any of these questions?  Let me know in the comments below!

~ Abby

Autumn Favorites

Finally, once again, it's my second favorite season.  Fall is upon us (even if it isn't official until like... the 22nd I think?). 

And as today I sit, awaiting the hurricane that wants to rip my state apart, I thought I would focus on some of the positives of fall that don't involve it being the end of hurricane season.  In other words, some autumn favorites.

In my mind, autumn involves comfy, cozy, sometimes spooky things.  And thus, here are some autumn-y things that I recommend to you:


Books:

To me, autumn is the time for classics, rereading childhood favorites, and fairytale retellings.  I don't know why, those just seem right to me. 

1. One Tuesday Morning ~ Karen Kingsbury

Even though by the time I post this it'll basically be 9/11, I thought I should recommend this anyway.  This book made me cry so much.  It takes place during and in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in 2001.  The faith content is wonderful, the characters are relatable, and the writing is amazing.  It was my first Karen Kingsbury book and I totally see why she's so well-known.

2. Andora's Folly ~ Abigayle Claire

This sweet little retelling is perfect for fall, I feel.  If I lived in a place where it was practical, I could see myself curling up in front of a fire with my Kindle and a fluffy blanket and reading this novella.  Even the forest setting says "read me in the fall!" to me. 

3. The Seer of Shadows ~ Avi

Now, I will readily admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween.  But I do enjoy reading a spooky book or two around that holiday (just to get in the spirit {hehe, get it?} of the season and all).  This is one of those books that is a favorite of mine... and I'm not entirely sure why.  I usually don't enjoy horror or creepy things... at all.  But this book pulled me in and would not let me go until the last page.  It's a hisfic ghost story, and if that interests you at all, I recommend this one.

4. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest ~ Melanie Dickerson

Look at that cover and tell me it doesn't scream fall.  But really, this whole book just feels like fall to me.  I don't really know why.  But it feels like autumn.

5. Mandie and the Secret Tunnel ~ Lois Gladys Leppard

This whole series was one of my favorites as a kid.  And while the books take place in every season, this one still seems like an autumn read to me.  It's a throwback, it's a mystery, and it's so sweet.


Movies:

Fall-themed movies make you feel fuzzy, give you cozy vibes, and are perfect to watch with loved ones around you.

1. Harry Potter

Look at those pumpkins!  Does that not scream fall? 
While I think the HP movies could also be very winter (what with Christmas being featured in almost every film), they seem more fall to me.  Maybe it's the Halloween-like ghosts, witches and wizards, and werewolves, or maybe it's the friendship, family, and love.  I don't know, but I think there's never a bad season to binge everyone's favorite Boy Who Lived.

2. Star Wars

Is there ever a bad time to watch Star Wars?  The answer is no, there isn't.  It is always a good time to watch Star Wars.  But really, the themes of friendship and loyalty seem very fall to me.  Also Endor.  Endor seems really fall.

3. The Prince of Egypt

Kind of like the last one, there's never a bad time to watch this masterpiece.  But for some reason I always want to watch Biblical films in autumn?  I don't really know why.  But this is one of my favorites.

4. Pocahontas

Look at that fall-themed color palette.  This is the Disney movie that felt the most fall to me.  The whole film is set in a forest, around harvest, so presumably in autumn.  Also, all the leaves.  It's so obviously a fall movie.

5. Invisible Sister

If you're in the mood to just watch a fluffy film that won't make you think too hard and is themed around Halloween, look to Disney Channel.  It's a surprisingly good movie, with the main plot being about sisters and their relationship, which is great. 


Television Shows:

Some shows to binge-watch curled up under a fluffy blanket with a mug of apple cider.

1. The Good Witch

Look at those leaves!  This show is basically built for fall.  Tea is an integral part of the plot.  It takes place in a small town with a touch of magic.  It's comfy, it's cute, and it makes you feel safe.  At least, it gives me that feeling.

2. Girl Meets World

(*cough* of course I'm not just talking about this show because it's one of my favorites what) This show takes place during the school year, which also makes me think of fall.  And there are three Halloween-themed episodes, if you're into that.  The show definitely feels more fall as it goes, but it's got the cozy sense, with it's great lessons, family relationships, and deep friendships.

3. Once Upon a Time

I wasn't going to talk about this show but it's such a fall show.  Especially the earliest seasons.  The magic, the mystery, the Maine setting where the trees actually change color in autumn, it's all here.

4. When Calls the Heart

Now, I haven't finished this show, but I think I probably will while we're in fall.  Because historical shows will always feel like fall to me.  And this one is so fluffy and heart-warming that it's perfect to snuggle up with on a chilly day.

5. Anne with an E

(or, to my Canadian friends, simply "Anne".  This show is so fluffy and feel-good with a slightly darker twist than most Anne remakes.  I recommend a late November-early December viewing, as it transitions from fall to winter in the story.  You'll feel the cozy vibes, and you'll probably still be swooning over Gilbert.  I know I did.


Music:

These are just some albums that gave me autumn vibes.  And also happen to be some of my favorites.

1. re:creation ~ Steven Curtis Chapman

This album is full of acoustic recordings of some of SCC's most well-known songs.  It feels very warm and personal, like one would listen to it around a campfire.  It's wonderful.

2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame ~ Original Studio Cast

This album almost makes me think of Halloween.  It follows the music of the Disney film with a slightly altered plot that will give you all the feels.  Trust me.

3. The Story ~ Various Artists

Remember what I said about Biblical stories?  This is the same kind of thing.  This album is original songs by well-known Christian artists about different Biblical characters.  And it's so. epic. 

4. Smell the Color 9 ~ Chris Rice

Pretty much every Chris Rice album feels like fall, but this is my most recent obsessive-listen of his music.  I can't explain exactly why this feels like autumn to me, but it does.

5. Naturally ~ The Isaacs

Hymns make me think of fall, and this album has several.  Not to mention the "almost-a-capella" format is perfect for when you're curled up with one of those books we talked about earlier. 


So there you have it!  Some of my autumn favorites!  What stories give you fall feels?  Let me know in the comments below!

~ Abby