Mala Santa Book Tag

Before this tag, I had never heard of Becky G.

According to my research, she’s a 22-year-old Latin singer/songwriter who started out doing covers on YouTube.

Leelynn created this original tag + graphics using Becky G’s brand-new LP. (She is the true Queen of Tags.)

Music, graphics, and books?

What a find!

Now let me see how many times I can mention The Raven Cycle in this post!

Noah Czerny is a pure cinnamon bun without a moral alignment.

He reenacts a specific moment from his past while his friends hunt for Glendower.

One might call him a True Neutral.

 

I spent about $40 to get Call Down the Hawk on the release date.

Due to a delivery error, I had to pick it up from a public mailbox the next day.

Not that big a deal, since I haven’t had much time to read recently.

 

I don’t really participate in bookathons.

I did make a fall TBR that enhanced my October.

The books on it were QUITE spooky.

(Not a joke, Sawkill Girls ruined my life.)

 

I reread Something New whenever I have a bad day.

It’s so soothing.

There are at least two chapters on poutine and the bridesmaids’ dresses are divine.

I love the idea of a couple turning their nuptials into an art project.

Drat. Now I’m craving lemon bars.

 

How fast I read depends on how much I like a book.

I can finish a book in one day or start a book, put it down, and not finish it for 11 months.

It’s taken me over a week to finish Call Down the Hawk, which is both unusual for me and a reasonable estimate of my average reading time.

 

Not everyone likes the film version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but I do!

I think the humor is on point.

Dragon – and I CANNOT stress this enough – balls.

 

I say I’d fight for Ronan, but I don’t think he needs me.

Adam, on the other hand, has monsters for parents.

I will tear to shreds anyone who threatens Adam.

Leave my son alone.

 

I feel very conflicted about the following admission:

Kiyoko and Katsuya’s romance in Fruits Basket makes me  U N C O M F O R T A B L E.

I was fine with it – moved by it, even – until I found out Kiyoko was only 13 or so when she and Katsuya met while Katsuya was an ADULT.

And then they had a CHILD.

Think about that for a while.

 

(SPOILERS FOR HIS DARK MATERIALS)

I knew this death was coming and I still wasn’t ready.

Reading about the deaths of Lee Scoresby and Hester in a gun fight HURT.

At the brink of death, Lee remembers he has a magical flower that COULD HAVE SAVED HIM.

HE AND HESTER DIDN’T HAVE TO DIE HEROES.

I WISH THEY HAD BEEN SPARED.

 

I’m so tired of “fated” romances.

Oh, it’s meant to be, you say?

You still have to develop your main couple’s relationship.

If the characters spend more time talking about “fate” than they do falling in love, I lose interest.

The example I want to cite is now a major motion picture. Have fun guessing!

 

In college, I buddy-read the A Song of Ice and Fire books with a friend.

(MAJOR SPOILERS)

We  s t r u g g l e d  to get through the Bran chapters.

The least interesting character in the series gets the most page time? Cool.

When my friend and I got to the part where Bran and Rickon have seemingly been murdered, we screamed and screamed for days.

We regretted our outburst when Bran reappeared, miraculously alive, to bore us senseless.

 

Confession: bowler-hat-wearing Kent McFuller from Before I Fall charmed me with his sense of humor and heart-shaped birthmark.

It’s hotter and less cheesy than it sounds.

 

Honestly? Probably Lulu Sanders from The Pony Pals.

She was one of those female characters I just “really liked” for “some reason.”

IT’S DEFINITELY BECAUSE I RELATE TO HER AND NOTHING ELSE.

Lulu was a spunky, outdoorsy brunette.

She rode a white pony, which I took as proof of the Lord’s favor.

She was also a pony whisperer?

She checks all the boxes!

 

I get to share two. I just do. I decided.

(Also, they are spoilers.)

In Crooked Kingdom, Jesper accidentally kisses Kuwei instead of Wylan (it’s complicated) in my favorite scene of the book.

 

My favorite kiss from The Raven King is remarkable because of ALL THE BUILDUP.

IT FINALLY HAPPENED AND IT WAS EVERYTHING I IMAGINED.

My heart was very full.

 

Well…Zoey is intense, alternative, and asexual.

She likes to write explicit fanfiction and solve supernatural mysteries, two things I did a lot in college.

Come over to my place, Zoey! We’ll have a great time!

 

All of the characters in Sam and Ilsa’s Last Hurrah are SOMETHING ELSE.

I’m thinking of the Puppet Guy in particular.

This book was a LOT.

 

UPTOWN GIRL.

SHE’S BEEN LIVING IN HER UPTOWN WORLD.

I BET SHE’S NEVER HAD A BACKSTREET GUY.

I BET HER MAMA NEVER TOLD HER WHY.

Interclass Romances in fiction can get dicey in terms of power imbalance and consent.

When done right…oh…OH, how I LOVE them.

Aladdin and Jasmine are dreamy, as are Ronan and Adam.

GUESS WHICH COUPLE HAS THE TROPE IMAGE ON TVTROPES?

ANASTASIA AND DIMITRI!

MY HEART CAN’T TAKE IT!

Let me pause my murder podcast to listen to Becky G.

Promise me you’ll do the same.

If you want to try Leelynn’s tag, DO IT.