The Dim Sum Book Tag

I missed out on a LOT OF GOOD BOOK TAGS before 2018.

I was, uh…busy.

With what, it doesn’t matter.

ANYWAY, I PULLED THIS DIM SUM TAG FROM THE AWKWARD BOOK BLOGGER, THAT’S HOW THINGS GO, I MISS EATING PORK, COME ON.

Tea

A book that started off hot but quickly turned cold

A friend bought me A. G. Howard’s Splintered for Christmas.

She even wrote a nice note in the front.

I started the book stoked – the writing was tight, the romance was hot, I was INTO IT.

Then the writing took a turn.

I went from loving this book to HATING this book.

I think I lasted less than 100 pages.

I TRIED.

 

Chiu Chow Dumpling

A book that features elements of land and sea

The Starless Sea promises pirates, a sea, tunnels, pink hair, yadda yadda yadda.

I hate to say this…

…BUT IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

I’M MAD ABOUT HOW MUCH I WANT TO READ THIS.

 

Rice Noodle Roll

A favorite multilayered character you’ve read (ex. traits? skills? morally ambiguous?)

I have more sympathy for Rebecca de Winter than I used to.

Imagine being married to a stiff like MAXIM.

The way Rebecca ends up ruining his life is pretty genius.

She really thought it through.

 

Shrimp Dumpling

A book with a transparent blurb that gives the story away

Spoilers for There There and Frankly in Love

(CW: gun violence)

As we learn the reasons that each person is attending the Big Oakland Powwow—some generous, some fearful, some joyful, some violent—momentum builds toward a shocking yet inevitable conclusion that changes everything.

[….]

There will be glorious communion, and a spectacle of sacred tradition and pageantry.

And there will be sacrifice, and heroism, and loss.

There There‘s summary SCREAMS “gun violence.”

Would have LOVED that kind of transparency from David Yoon’s Frankly In Love.

I’m mad at about it!

I don’t like how Frankly has been marketed!

 

Steamed BBQ Pork Buns

A book that is fluffy on the outside but packs a punch of flavor (ex. message? depth? controversy?)

Minor spoilers for the Peaches series by Jodi Lynn Anderson

I thought the Peaches series by Jodi Lynn Anderson would be sweet and wholesome LIKE A PEACH.

I WAS NOT PREPARED for subplots about race, class, the death of a pet (that one was rough), sexuality, commitment, infidelity, and female friendship.

Woof.

 

Chicken Feet

A book with divided opinions

(CW: rape, suicide)

I read Thirteen Reasons Why in its early days.

At the time, I liked the book and appreciated its intended message.

I didn’t recognize the unfortunate implications until fans and psychologists began criticizing the Netflix series.

Most readers nowadays either dislike or HATE this book.

It’s hard for me to square the book’s intended message with the show’s revenge porn atmosphere, graphic rape scenes, and realistic suicide scenes.

 

Lotus-Wrapped Sticky Rice

A book you’ve received/given that was nicely packaged

My mom sends me care packages for my birthday and wraps each individual present in winter-themed blue wrapping paper.

Last year was ESPECIALLY exciting because I KNEW that IN THE BOX amONG all the BLUE WRAPPING PAPER were THREE GRAPHIC NOVELS I had been WANTING FOR MONTHS.

 

And I got ’em.

I got ’em all.

 

Egg Custard Tart

A book that uses simple ingredients and cliches but executes it perfectly

Is Seventeenth Summer somewhat cheesy?

Yes.

Did I love it?

……yeah, I did.

Two teens fall in love in the ’40s and eat a bunch of donuts.

(It’s really romantic.)

 

Mango Pudding with Evaporated Milk

Any book recommendation + beverage/snack that’s a winning combination

What’s better than reading The Lunar Chronicles…while eating SPACE ICE CREAM?

A lot, actually. Space ice cream is DISGUSTING.

Scarlet makes lemon cake and croquembouche at different points during the series.

WOULDN’T IT BE DELICIOUS to binge some Lunar Chronicles while eating fancy French CAKE?

 

Fried Sesame Balls

A book cover with embossed text/design you just love to run your fingers over

I don’t want to commit to buying this book in case I end up hating The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass like I have EVERY TIME I READ HIS DARK MATERIALS.

Even so…

…the His Dark Materials omnibus is BEAUTIFUL and TEXTURED and feels GREAT…

…and I want it.

 

Dim Sum Steam Cart

The type of carrying bag you use to bring books around

I stuff all my books in my purse.

This only causes problems when I try to read an extra-large book like DC Bombshells.

This made me want Chinese food.

I ordered biryani for lunch like a good vegan and it WASN’T WHAT I WANTED.

If dim sum is what you want, do this tag.