#NotAll Book Tag

Can’t stop, won’t stop.

I’m not cool enough to use sassy hashtags on Twitter. I will GLADLY use them for books, though.

Shout-outs to creator The Orangutan Librarian and to Book Hooked Nook for inspiration.

 

#NOTALL COVER CHANGES

A COVER CHANGE YOU LIKED

The original cover for this classic is one of the worst covers I’ve ever seen.

I bought a more tolerable version in 2011. A few years later, the publisher released a new cover that matched I’ll Give You the Sun.

At Half-Priced Books, I was outraged to see an even NEWER edition that I JUST loved.

I CAN’T KEEP BUYING BETTER-LOOKING EDITIONS OF BOOKS. RENT IS GOING UP.

 

#NOTALL ADAPTATIONS

AN ADAPTATION YOU LOVE MORE THAN THE BOOK

As a book, Ella Enchanted sucks. Tell your friends.

I know, technically speaking, the movie isn’t GOOD, but it has everything I love in film. Anne Hathaway does a great job, and, as a teen, I had the hugest crush on Slannen.

Huh…over the years, I’ve tried to imagine what it might be like to date a short person, but I’ve never been able to picture it.

Ella Enchanted shows the height difference between Ella (5’9″) and Slannen (5’3″).

So THAT’S what it looks like…

 

#NOTALL TROPES

A TROPE YOU’LL NEVER TIRE OF SEEING

Oh dear…is there a sassy bad boy or girl in the house?

I believe I’ve found my new favorite character.

Here’s the catch, though: they have to actually be charming and funny, not just treated that way by other characters.

In other words, I hated Jace Wayland, Simon Lewis, and Will Herondale.

AND I’M NOT SORRY.

 

#NOTALL INSTALOVE

YOU INSTALOVED THIS INSTACOUPLE

I carried my love of Simon and Baz from Fangirl into Carry On.

Queer wizards in love.

I shipped with abandon.

 

#NOTALL LOVE TRIANGLES

AN EXAMPLE OF LOVE TRIANGLE DONE WELL

I have problems with the resolution of this triangle, but the initial set-up was BRILLIANT.

In this case, the sassy bad boy (who I hate) gains sympathy by

• expressing genuine emotional trauma
• that doesn’t involve hawks

I so wish Cassandra Clare had gone with a different ending.

 

#NOTALL PARENTS

BOOKISH PARENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, PARENT!

Trixie’s parents actually try.

At the end of the novel, they ground her for keeping secrets and skipping school.

Solid effort.

 

#NOTALL VILLAINS

A VILLAIN YOU LOVE

I have a hard time with book villains.

I mostly hate them, unless they angle for an antihero role or a redemption arc.

In that case, I love Baz. Yes, I used the same book twice in one post.

He’s not actually a villain, but I can’t put Kylo Ren, my true favorite.

And…I don’t want to say Baz and Kylo are the same character, because they’re not…

…but the Simon/Baz pairing perfectly reflects the Kylo/Hux ship.

THINK ABOUT IT.

 

#NOTALL CHOSEN ONES

A CHOSEN ONE YOU CAN GET BEHIND

In 2015, people began criticizing Chosen One narratives in earnest. Buzzfeed came down on Harry Potter for starting the tiresome trend.

I really like Harry. I think people are too hard on him. HE HAD DEAD PARENTS AND A PROPHECY TO DEAL WITH, OKAY?

In the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling twisted the prophecy just enough to make things interesting.

Voldemort chose the HALF-BLOOD. He made things PERSONAL.

HE COULD HAVE PICKED NEVILLE. I’ll take a preternaturally gifted kid over a bumbling, unskilled nobody. I find the latter trope MUCH more offensive.

#JusticeforHarry

 

#NOTALL HYPED BOOKS

A BOOK THAT LIVED UP TO THE ACCLAIM

All of you were right – this WAS a great book.

Apologies, Leigh Bardugo. I was wrong.

 

#NOTALL MAGICAL REALISM

A BOOK YOU’RE NOT KEEN ON FROM YOUR FAVOURITE GENRE

My disappointment in you is neverending.

Celine Dion was wrong – the heart does NOT go on.

 

#NOTALL [REDACTED]

A BOOK YOU LIKED FROM A GENRE YOU DON’T OFTEN READ

I don’t want to spoil the experience for anyone who hasn’t read this.

I met people who REFUSED to tell me what this book was about.

I figured the protagonist went to an X-men Academy of sorts.

On a trip to Powell’s, I read the first four chapters in the YA section.

It’s not about X-men.

It gets graphic.

And it reminds me of New Girl‘s Nick Miller misspelling “rhythms” 38 times.

Do me a favor and read it.

Also, there’s a film version that I haven’t watched with some confusing racelifting. Avoid that until you finish the book.