Tag: Stay At Home!

Since a lot of us are staying indoors, it’s a perfect time to do The Stay At Home tag. Let’s talk about what I’ve been reading in isolation. This tag was created by BookTuber Princess of Paperbacks. I’ve altered it a little to fit my needs.

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The Stay At Home Tag

Lying In Bed: A Book You Read In A Day

I’m a painfully slow reader. That’s why teachers hated me in school. It would take me an entire day to do an assignment that other kids could do in an hour. I can rarely read a book in a day.

The only books I read quickly are graphic novels. A few weeks ago, I read This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki. (I actually did read it while lying in bed.) It’s a beautiful book. The main characters are two young girls who find themselves on the fringes of adult situations. The characters are lifelike and relatable, and the art is gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve ever read a graphic novel with such detailed illustrations.

Snacking: A Guilty Pleasure Book

I wish I could snack during lockdown. When I made a New Year’s resolution to get healthy, nobody told me there would be a pandemic! I just want to stress bake with everyone on Twitter!

I’m not a fan of calling books “guilty pleasures” because there’s no shame in reading something easy. The last fun book I read was Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel. The Twilight vibes are strong with this one. It’s about a 200-year-old paranormal brooding boy who falls in love with a teenage girl. It’s full of angst, lust, and magical peril. I had tons of fun reading it, even though it’s completely ridiculous. I don’t know why a 200-year-old magical boy would want to date a 17-year-old human girl. (Well, other than physical attraction. They’re both pretty, pretty people.) What would they have in common? I don't know because they don't actually do much talking in this story.

Netflix: A Series You Want To Start

Is it weird that I don’t have Netflix? I always feel like I’m missing out, but I can’t justify spending the money. I am cheap.

This year, I really want to read some of the YA fantasy series that everyone obsesses over. I’ve already started Nevermoor and Wayward Children. I loved both of them. They’re a solid blend of funny, creative, and creepy. Up next is probably The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. I'm crossing my fingers for another fantasy success.

Deep Clean: An Unread Book You’ve Owned For Ages

I dusted my bookshelves during lockdown. *Pats self on back.* When you own 6 big bookshelves, that’s an accomplishment.

According to my spreadsheet, the unread book I’ve owned the longest is The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss. It's about a teenager who dies suddenly and is brought back to life, but nobody can figure out why she died or if it will happen again. I bought the book on December 17, 2018. It’s probably time to read it . . . .

Animal Crossing: A Book You Bought Because Of The Hype

I haven’t played a videogame since I was a teenager. That’s probably good because I love them. If I had access to games, I’d disappear into a game world and never come out.

A book I recently bought because of the hype is An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. It’s another super-hyped fantasy series. I want to know what the fuss is about. All I know is that it's based on ancient Rome, and there's a love . . . square? Polygon? Double love triangle? I don't know. It sounds like a bunch of casually violent characters in a YA military lust bunker, but I am interested to see why everybody loves it. 

Productivity: A Book That Taught You Something

I have not been productive during lockdown . . . .

A book that taught me something is Best-Loved Folktales Of The World by Joanna Cole. It’s a massive anthology of traditional tales from different countries. I learned a ton of new stories. It was interesting to discover similar themes in different folktales. It makes you realize that humans are more alike than they are different. No matter where you’re from, you’re interested in love and money.

Facetime: A Book You Were Gifted

I’m basically a hermit with no friends, so I haven’t done a lot of Facetime.

Christmas was the last time I was gifted books. I got The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I adored it! Definitely one of the best books I’ve read so far in 2020. I never thought I’d be obsessed with the love lives of fictional celebrities, but here we are. Evelyn Hugo is my new favorite protagonist. She’s confident, cunning, and will do anything to get what she wants. This novel is beautifully written and full of twists and surprises. I highly recommend it for a quarantine boredom cure.

Self-Care: One Thing You’ve Done To Look After Yourself

I’ve been taking frequent Twitter breaks. First, the nonstop virus news was stressing me out. Then, the new Twilight book was announced. Maybe I’m weird, but the oozing pomegranate on the cover makes me nervous and itchy. I hate it so much! It’s gross. Why would someone do that to a poor, defenseless book? I refuse to put that abomination on my blog, so you’ll have to check this link or use your imagination.

Online Shopping: An Upcoming Release You’re Excited About

I’ve been doing a ton of online shopping. No more grocery stores for me! Now the food comes to my door. I’m the queen of lazy.

I’m looking forward to Hollowpox: The Hunt For Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend. It’s the third Nevermoor book. I love this series. If you (or your kids) are looking for fun, escapist fantasy, you need to check out these books. They’re hilarious.

Do you want to do this tag? Consider yourself tagged.