The F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Book Tag

I’ve watched maybe ten episodes of Friends in my entire life.

(Emer’s going to make me watch the series as homework. I just know it.)

I did the How I Met Your Mother Thing instead, which was…a mistake.

We all know by now that it doesn’t take much for me to do a book tag.

Emer did this tag on her blog and I love to copy her.

So. Whatever. Here I go.

Monica

A book based on a game or competition

What better book than…

…THE HUNGER GAMES?

The Games are more of a competition, really.

It doesn’t matter.

 

Organization Queen

How do you organize your books?

I organize by genre, then by size and color.

 

Rachel

A book you read for the hype

I bought Queenie on Emer’s recommendation and The Grace Year on Sofi’s.

I haven’t started either yet.

 

Shopping Addict

What makes you buy a book?

SO MANY THINGS.

I buy books based on their covers, my mood at the time of purchase, how much the plot corresponds with my life at that moment, and the clout of the author.

In other words, I’m swayed by pathos and ethos.

Logos has no part in my book selection.

 

Ross

A science-fiction book

I’ve had The Mad Scientist’s Daughter on my shelf, unread, for a while.

It’s about an AI who falls for his creator’s daughter.

The tag line still speaks to me, so I keep it around.

 

On a Break

Which books have you put down to pick up later?

I’m in the middle of a number of non-fiction books that just aren’t doing it for me right now.

Can you blame me?

How fun does Handbook for a Post-Roe America sound to you?

 

Chandler

A book that made you laugh out loud

Astro Poets is HILARIOUS. The anti-Scorpio shade is strong.

Also, props to this book for being the first to convince me that I am, in fact, a Capricorn.

 

That Time at Space Mountain

Are there any books you’re embarrassed to admit you’ve read?

(CW: rape, sexual assault)

I’m pretty embarrassed to have read the Killer Unicorns duology.

I reread this series after recommending it to TONS of people.

I oversold the series’ quality.

Its handling of rape and queer relationships is iffy at best.

 

Joey

A scary book you’d keep in the freezer

Confession: I’m afraid of wendigos.

Terrified, even.

Can you prove they’re not real? Here, eat this human flesh and we’ll find out.

I didn’t remember there being a wendigo in Pet Sematary, but TvTropes and Wikipedia say there is.

THIS BOOK WAS ALREADY SCARY ENOUGH.

DO. NOT. BRING. YOUR. LOVED. ONES. BACK. FROM. THE. DEAD.

I’m shivering right now! This book is so creepy!

 

V is for Encyclopedia

As an adult, have you read any books with words that you have to look up to understand?

(CW: child sexual abuse)

When I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I had no idea what “inveigled” meant. In context, I just knew it was bad.

Welp…I was right!

 

Phoebe

A book with a spiritual or supernatural theme

It’s been years since I’ve read Black Star, Bright Dawn, but I remember the lead character contrasting the Christian God with God Sila.

The lead is also closely connected to a half-wolf, half-husky for nature reasons.

That’s about all I remember.

 

The Boycott

Are there any authors, booksellers, or publishers you refuse to support?

Sady Doyle recently got in trouble on Twitter for making a tasteless joke, so I removed her books from my TBR.

John Piper’s been on my list for a while for SO many reasons.

The worst of the lot is Ben Shapiro.

He has been called the “cool kid’s philosopher.”

He can be more accurately called a transphobic bully who doesn’t understand rap music.

How about empathy, Ben? That’s a cool trick.

 

Janice

A book with an OH MY GOD twist

(spoilers for The Selection series)

The One is pretty all over the place…but I will say I did not see the climax coming.

My favorite character died.

I do not support this.

 

Emily

A British classic

TOOT TOOT! IT’S THE RAILWAY CHILDREN!

I boycotted this book for a while out of stubbornness.

Then my mom got me the audiobook at the library and I loved it.

 

Gunther

A book nobody seems to be talking about

I’m excited for Taylor Brooke Barton’s The Ninth Life, but I’m not seeing a ton of hype for it.

Come on, y’all! Get on the supernatural cat train!

 

Carol and Susan

An LGBTQ+ book or author

Who has two thumbs and a huge crush on Aiden Thomas?

ME!

Their queer ghost book Cemetery Boys is out next summer and I WANT IT.

 

Eddie

A book or character with intense/stalker vibes

President Snow is still out here making me giggle.

That silly, puffy villain.

Let’s also name The Girl on the Train.

The main character follows a man she’s never met around because she’s obsessed with his missing wife.

 

Mike

A slow-burning book OR romance novel

Technically, You Started It has a friends-to-lovers romance and it’s THE CUTEST.

This is an example of slow-burn romance done well.

 

Richard

A book that left you feeling accomplished or better educated

I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in one day.

IN A DAY.

Anytime someone saw me reading it, they would cheer me on.

 

BONUS QUESTION:

Which F.R.I.E.N.D.S character do you most identify with?

I’m Monica.

Everyone gets on Monica for being so particular.

This is exactly how my anxiety manifests.

JUST KEEP YOUR FEET OFF THE COUCH.

It’s almost Friday and I’m already tapped out.

No outro for you.