This is something that most people can relate to nowadays, staying at home. Because of all the chaos that is going on in the world, a lot of people have been shut in because of mandates. In Ontario, we've been going in and out of lockdown measures for a good while now and it has had different impacts on different people.
I am on the more introverted side of the spectrum, so I have had no issues whatsoever being stuck inside. I think that if I was still in school I would be having the time of my life learning at home instead of having to go to school. That is just me though.
Going back on track, staying at home is the theme of this week's 'Tag Time.' I found this tag on Zezee with Books, but it was created by booktuber Princess of Paperbacks, so all credit goes to them.
Here we go!
LAYING IN BED: A BOOK YOU (COULD) HAVE READ IN A DAY
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
There are a few books that I have sat down and gotten through in one sitting surprisingly. I remember reading The Devouring Grey duology both in one sitting, but not technically in the same day because I read it through the night. The latest book I read in one day though would be Vespertine. Granted I did end up reading it in a day because I had an ARC, and it was being archived the next day.
SNACKING: A GUILTY PLEASURE BOOK
Mother's Spirit by Enzou
I don't really consider any of the books I read to be a guilty pleasure. The closest I would get to it would probably be with BL content because there is that niggling feeling in the back of my mind that makes me a bit guilty for reading it. Take the BL manga listed above, for example. Still feel a bit weird reading this, but this manga was just beautiful.
NETFLIX: A SERIES YOU WANT TO START
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
So many...I have so many series on my TBR that I both need to start and finish. The biggest series though would be Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere universe. This universe is widely loved by pretty much every fantasy reader, but boy am I intimidated by it.
DEEP CLEAN: A BOOK THAT'S BEEN ON YOUR TBR FOR AGES
The Amber Room by Steve Berry
Any book that will go on a list of must-read fantasy books has been on my TBR for way too long. The same goes for any kind of archaeological mystery since I was on the hunt for books like the Robert Langdon series. Take Steve Berry, for example, I've had The Amber Room in my TBR since 2016...ouch.
ANIMAL CROSSING: A BOOK YOU RECENTLY BOUGHT BECAUSE OF THE HYPE
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
As you might know, I generally don't buy books. Part of the reason is because I tend to, sadly, dislike the majority of the books I pick up and would end up feeling guilty over the wasted money. The other half is because as much as I want to own physical books, I know I am going to strain my eyes trying to read the tiny font. Also, libraries do exist and I can get books for free.
Instead, I am just going to pick a book I've read recently that I've picked up because of the hype. The Last Thing He Told Me won its category for the Goodreads Choice Award, and this goes to show that popular books aren't always good...because this book was bland.
PRODUCTIVITY: A BOOK YOU LEARNT OR HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU
I'll be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
I don't really know how to answer this question. A book that taught me something or had a lasting emotional impact on me, hmm. The last nonfiction book I read that blew me out of the water was I'll Be Gone in the Dark. It was true crime at its finest.
Demon Slayer by Koyoharu Gotouge
As for books that had an emotional impact on me, I would instead go for anything of a graphic medium since I find that manga/manhwa and webcomics have a bigger impact on me. Take Demon Slayer, for example, I am still reeling from the emotional damage that series ended up giving me.
FACETIME: A BOOK YOU WERE GIFTED
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I haven't been gifted books in years, again because I just go through my library. I feel like the last series I was given was The Hunger Games, and I didn't care to read past the first book. I also have a couple of books from The Mortal Instruments series which I DNFed, as well as some from the House of Night series which I very quickly DNFed because I couldn't stand the writing.
Those books came out mid to late 2000s...so clearly I haven't been gifted anything in a long time. I have gifted books to someone else though since I bought my sister some books to read.
SELF-CARE: WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HAVE DONE RECENTLY TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELF?
I am a very (very) lazy person who loses motivation easily, but I have recently been trying to take more care of my health. That is because the vaccinations for Covid did end up upsetting my hormones and system, so I have been trying to get my body back to a more balanced state.
BONUS: NAME A BOOK COMING OUT SOON
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
If you don't know, every month I come out with a list of books being released within the month that are on my radar. If you are curious, here is the list for February.
Now, I am going to cheat a bit and pick a book that came out yesterday, and I am actively checking my library to see if they got a copy before I end up on a six-month-long waiting list. That book would be House of Sky and Breath because Sarah J. Maas just works for me for some reason.