Bookish Christmas Book Tag

Happy Hanukkah, merry Boxing Day, blessed Yule, and joyful Kwanzaa.

Would you believe I got BOOKS for Christmas yesterday?

Two of them might be going in my Top Ten Books of 2019! IT’S WILD.

Emer did this excellent Christmas tag that I’m using to wrap up my winter holiday.

Enjoy your new books and leftover macaroni.

Father Christmas: Name a book you received as a child that you treasure to this day.

This is tough, because I didn’t start asking for books for Christmas until my tweens and I’ve given many of those books away.

I think I remember getting a copy of The Perks of Being a Wallflower for one Christmas.

I don’t have this book anymore, but it still holds a place in my heart.

 

The Ghost of Christmas Past: Is there a book or series you like to revisit each year at Christmas time?

In elementary school, Too Many Tamales and many iterations of The Nutcracker were passed around come Christmas time.

There was also a book I read in junior high in about Las Posadas that I am too tired to Google.

I realized recently I love a nice Christmas story yet haven’t read many since middle school.

I’d like to fix this.

 

Christmas Tree: Name a series that reaches new heights with every entry.

DO Y’ALL REMEMBER MYTH-O-MANIA?

MY, WERE THOSE BOOKS FINE!

(The new covers are terrible; don’t look them up.)

YOU KNOW I LOVE A RETELLING.

This series reworks Greek myths, putting a positive spin on very violent or otherwise offensive tales.

FOR INSTANCE, Hades and Persephone have a beautiful, consensual domestic arrangement.

Someone buy me this box set PLEASE.

 

Friends and Family: Name a book with fantastic characters.

I hear amazing things about the characters in The Gilded Wolves!

I hear there’s even A BI BOI.

FRABJOUS DAY.

My cousin gifted me a copy of this book for Christmas.

I CANNOT WAIT to check it out.

 

Decorations: Name a book with a gorgeous cover you would proudly display on your shelves.

So many beautiful books came out this year.

The prettiest ones I’ve seen have been:

• the collector’s edition of Crier’s War
• Tarnished Are the Stars
• With Fire on High
• Space Opera

Put ’em all together and you’ve got a birthday box.

HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT.

 

Christmas Cards: Name a book that carries a great message.

It’s hard to nail down a single message in Queenie because it has so many.

I will focus on the mental health stuff.

Queenie learns to take her mental health seriously.

The end gives Queenie room to grow.

She doesn’t have everything figured out and that’s okay.

She’s trying.

 

Ice and Snow: Name a book that you were hoping to love but which ultimately left you feeling cold.

(CW: rape)

I was SO EXCITED for Revenge of the She-Punks and I even recced it in my Holiday Book Shopping Guide.

THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

Vivien Goldman used some language I didn’t love (e.g., “ghetto” as an adjective, “transvestite” instead of “transwoman,” etc.)

Then she made some comments about rape culture that were…troubling.

Then I listened to a song she recommended that COULD HAVE USED A TRIGGER WARNING.

Long story short, I didn’t finish this book.

I just finished The Grace Year and it didn’t work for me.

It upset me enough that I will be writing a book review for it.

The book didn’t do anything new and some of the comments the love interest made rubbed me the wrong way.

For instance, the protagonist wakes up naked and asks the love interest if he molested her while she was passed out.

This asshole says, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

DON’T FLATTER YOURSELF!?!?!

Fuck YOU!!

 

Christmas Lunch: Name a book that was big and intimidating but oh so worth it in the end.

(CW: death of a parent, suicide)

I didn’t think I would be able to handle The Astonishing Color of After because it’s both long and about suicide.

Also, it’s magic, which I was not expecting.

I did end up reading it and finished it fairly quickly.

And it was good! Very moving family grief tale.

Emily X. R. Pan’s exploration of biracial identity was especially good.

Props to this book.

 

Mince Pies: Name a book you found sweet and satisfying.

I got Cheshire Crossing.

It was dumb and silly and exciting.

I really enjoyed it.

Follow-up novel, please.

 

Presents: What book do you wish you could give everyone to read?

I might be the only person who found Waking the Witch completely fascinating, but it’s SO COOL.

IT’S A HISTORICAL MEMOIR, EVERYONE.

I don’t think everyone I know would be into it, but I would LOVE FOR THEM TO CHECK IT OUT.

Learning MORE about how patriarchal religion shaped culture was horrifying and interesting and helpful. WHAT A RIDE.

This book gave me hope.

 

Spreading the Festive Cheer: Tag some friends to help spread the festive bookish love.

Let’s tag:

• Jenna
• Meghan
• Lauren
• Sofii
• Alex
• Margaret
• Leelynn

No pressure! Only do it if you feel like doing more Christmas tags!

I’m off to drink coffee and write recap posts.

I hope everyone has an excellent holiday, however you celebrate.