Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Today we’ll answer the book tag below!



1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
2. Do you smell your books?
3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
5. When and how did you get into reading?
6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Yes if I'm reading a book, but I don't get sick reading on a kindle as long as the road is fairly straight.

2. Do you smell your books?
Of course!

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
I would say Haruki Murakami

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
The Princess Diaries series. I loved them but it's not literature haha.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
My grandfather was a big reader. When I was young, we would go to the library together every other week and bring back two books each to read until the next visit. I spent a lot of time reading with him too and he would always buy me books.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
I was an only child so I spent a lot of time reading on my own. So I imagined that I was hosting a TV show and read out the books to my "audience".

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
Nope. When it comes to writing, I procrastinate a lot. That's why I don't write a lot of book reviews either, unless I feel strongly about the book.

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Exchange it if I can. If not, try to donate it.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Not when I was a child. No idea now.

2. Do you smell your books?
Nope.

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
For a long time, it was Stephen King, greatly soothing when I was in a sad mood. Now, I read too many different authors to really form an opinion, even if some are easier to read or more pleasant as a rule than the others.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
Probably half the children books I read are considered "bad quality writing", but I don't agree. No idea which one to pick ;)

5. When and how did you get into reading?
Since forever. My parents used to read me stories when I was too young to read by myself and I also listened "audiobooks" at this time.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
Nope, I was a bookworm so most of my reading stories start by "I don't want to go outside/come eating, I'm reading".

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I like writing, but not books for the moment. I'd like to write a picture book at some point.

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Sell it or give it to the library, but after some years.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Luckily not, because I read on the bus every day going to work.

2. Do you smell your books?
No

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Brian Selznick his use of pictures and text is different from what I've seen before.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
How long do you have ;)
A lot of (children's) books are not quality writing. But when it is enjoyable it doesn't have to be quality writing.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
I've loved reading as long as I can remember, my mother and grandmother both love(d) reading too.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
I could (can) go in "trance" when reading (I can read almost anywhere) this seems to amaze a lot of people. And can give funny situations where people expect you where listening to them (like they didn't see my book).

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
No, no time to write there are so many books I still have to read ;)

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Try to exchange it and otherwise give it away or donate it.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car? Yes, audio books are wonderful.
2. Do you smell your books? no
3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why? not sure
4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing? I read a ton of Goosebump books as a kid
5. When and how did you get into reading? I have always loved stories.
6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share! I cannot think of any right now.
7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author? Not at this moment and I think it is highly unlikely.
8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do? I'd probably donate it unless it fit with a a series I was reading. Sometimes even my favorite authors publish awful books.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Cars no but I can only read for small amounts of time on the bus now before I need to take a break.

2. Do you smell your books?
Sometimes yes!

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
I would say Mark Z. Danielewski and the way he wrote House of Leaves. I had never read a book like that before and I am not sure I will again. It was a long and unique read.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
You know I am sure there are a few of them out there but if I enjoy the book it isn't going to bother me if others don't think it is quality writing.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
I have been a reader since I was a young kid. My grandparents use to take us to the library all the time and let us take out books to read back at their place. I loved those weekends!

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
Nope not that I can think of.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I would love to be a writer but then how would I have the time to read all the books I still haven't read?

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Thank the person and add it to my bookshelves. Or donate it to the library.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Yes, very sick. Luckily, I can read on trains and planes with no problem, but I would have loved to be able to read when I had to commute to university every day.

2. Do you smell your books?
No. I have a terrible sense of smell to begin with so there wouldn't be much point for me.

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Jodi Picoult. I've read other books that use a fairly similar style, but there's something about her writing that sets it apart for me. She manages to capture all sides of complex issues so well, and creates characters that always seem so real.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
It's a tough one to answer since if I liked the book, chances are I thought it was pretty well-written. It really depends how you're defining "quality" writing. I can't think of any right now.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
Pretty much as long as I can remember. My parents apparently discovered I could read when I was three, sitting on my dad's lap and either read out or asked a question about the headline, which were words I wouldn't have said otherwise. Books have always been an important part of our household.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
Not necessarily funny, but a little embarrassing. In seventh grade, we had to do a book report out loud for the class. The book I chose was Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Mary Higgins Clark, one of my first adult-level books. The teacher somehow didn't catch the title when I said it, so she asked me for it, and because I'm terrible with public speaking, I probably said it really fast or quietly, because I had to repeat it a couple of times. Of course, being seventh grade, people thought it was hilarious that I kept saying "Let me call you sweetheart" to a teacher, because it sounded like I was actually asking her.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I used to want to be an author, but I have so much trouble writing fiction of my own that I decided against it. I do have a book blog now that I update 2-3 times per week.

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
I'd just say thank you and probably keep it because I'd be anxious that they'd notice if I got rid of it. I might eventually donate it.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?

No, but I may still read in the car while sick. Cars are excellent reading places, the insulation blocks out a lot of noise and you can put them almost anywhere.

2. Do you smell your books?

Oh yes.

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?

Vonnegut, and so on.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?

Anything by Piers Anthony. I never had any delusions about it being high art, but I did think I was pretty advanced to be able to read it.

5. When and how did you get into reading?

I blame my mother. She exposed me to it at a very young age.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!

Once, when I was in 6th grade. We had reading hour in class and when it was over, my friend leans over and says 'next time try reading it just to yourself.' I thought he was playing a prank on me, as I thought I had been reading silently like everyone else. But he told me what had just happened in my book to prove it!

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?

Yes and yes.

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?

Ask for a light?

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
A bit, usually brings on a migraine so I avoid it

2. Do you smell your books?
Maaaaybe...

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
That is difficult to say because I think every author is unique. Whether or not I think they are good is an entirely different matter and totally my own opinion.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
I used to love The Cat Who....mystery novels when I was in high school. They make me cringe a bit now.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
I have always been a reader but the year or so that my mother worked at a bookstore really helped jump start my enthusiam a bit.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
I can not think of any

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
Oh goodness no. I ramble and nobody cares what I have to say about anything.

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
I would sell it to the used book store for credit towards something I would be more likely to enjoy.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car? Sometimes but not always
2. Do you smell your books? I haven't read a paper book in years but think it sounds like something I would have done in the past. I don't smell my kindle
3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why? I am currently reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and finding her style unique. I think it is partly that the content is about African's and I am not all that familiar with their cultures. There is something else about it that is hard to pinpoint but it has to do with how she evokes a lot of feeling in certain moments.
4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing? Gosh I am not sure that I think or care that much about the quality. I figure if I like it then that is all I need to know. I did enjoy (can't say loved) the Twilight series and know that is considered poorly written.
5. When and how did you get into reading? I read a lot when I was in high school and in my early twenty's but stoped reading regularly for a number of year. I really got back into it in 2015 with the first reading challenge this group did.
6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share! Nothing too funny but apparently I liked to to dramatically read Shel Silverstein's poetry out loud.
7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author? I wish I could I have a lot of ideas but when I try to put them on paper they fall flat.
8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do? Really would depend on who gave it to me. I think if it was someone close I would discuss why they bought it and talk about how I had read it in the past. If not close I would probably say thank you and leave it at that.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
It depends, sometimes I can read, but the road has to be mostly straight

2. Do you smell your books?
YES!

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Han Kang, the author of The Vegetarian. I don't know how accurate the translation into English is, but his writing is very unique, can't describe how.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
Twilight :DD But I love it regardless

5. When and how did you get into reading?
My Mom always read to me before sleep. I loved to hear the stories and I couldn't wait to read on my own. So when I learned it in elementary school I got my first books for first-readers and I'm a reader ever since :)

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
I can't think of any.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I want to write a book for years, because I do have a special topic I want to talk about and bring more awareness to through a story.

I actually started to write one or two pages 3 years ago, but I never continued. But since last week it's always on my mind again and I started writing a possible beginning.
But since I don't write regularly I'm unsure of basically everything, the characters, in which setting to put the plot and so on.
I have to cross out of my mind that I'm not good enough. When I never start I'll never get better ;)
I've read On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft this week and it helped and inspired me a lot. Can only recommend it!

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
I'd gift it to someone who wants it or spend it.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car? Unfortunately, yes! also in planes :( But I can read without problems on the train and that is why I love traveling by train.

2. Do you smell your books? I like to smell the new ones :D

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why? I love how Carlos Ruiz Zafón writes, I am not so fan of his stories, but I enjoy each word he writes and I am so lucky because I can read his books in the original language.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing? I can't think on any. The only time I remember being disgusted by the writing, was with Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, but I never liked her books, so no, I can't think of any right now.

5. When and how did you get into reading? I don't remember my grandpa reading, but he was a great storyteller and he used to tell me the story about a man who went to prison for steal a loaf of bread : Jean Valjean. I loved listening him. I learned to love stories before books, but of course, those stories came from books, so the love for books came easily.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share! My dad used to read me comics when I was a child, I tried to follow all the words when he was reading (he even made the voices). So, the first word I learned to read was "The End".

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author? I used to dream on being an author, but that was a long time ago :P

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do? Say "Thank you!!!", put it on my bookshelf until I forget that it was a gift and then decide what to do with it, maybe donate it.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Sometimes. But as long as I take breaks I am fine.

2. Do you smell your books?
Not really.

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Robin Cook. I just love the way his wording comes together and love his books.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
Calvin and Hobbes

5. When and how did you get into reading?
Around the time I was 10. I read a lot of different things, including encyclopedias from front to back. I even read Stephen King and Robin Cook books at about that time.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
None that come to mind.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
No and no.

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Donate it to a program that encourages literacy.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Yes, I do. When I carpooled years ago I had my self trained to be able to read in the car but not anymore.

2. Do you smell your books?
Oh, yes!

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
I've read two books by Edwidge Danticat, Claire of the Sea Light and Breath, Eyes, Memory and her style is smooth, contains French words, and the books have magical realism. Beautiful.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
In general I really like book with plot twists that astound me in the end. I think they are really good but later I only remember the plot twist and not the whole book.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
Ever since I got a library card at age 4. I don't remember who took me to the library but I loved going to libraries ever since.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
Not at the present. I'm sure there's something.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
No. I just like to read!

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
I'd keep it and put it on my shelves.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
I'm not sure as it's been ages since I tried to.

2. Do you smell your books?
No...though I do mostly read ebooks lately and sniffing my Kindle would just be odd!

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Two authors occur to me.
Firstly, Margaret Atwood. I love her ability to write about really big ideas in a way that's still very easy to read.
Secondly, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I can't think of another author who is so skilled at creating characters and places who the reader feels like they know and can relate to.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
As a child I loved Enid Blyton. When I've looked at her books as an adult I'm horrified at some of the racist and sexist language and ideas used in her books. I find it quite difficult to reconcile how much her books encouraged my love of reading as a child with the shock I feel as an adult when I'm reminded that her stories are full of offensive language and stereotypes.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
I have some fuzzy memories of my mum teaching me to read when I was three, and I think I loved books as soon as I was able to read. I remember protesting every time my parents asked me to put down my book to go to the dining table for a family meal, and I must have been around five or six at that time.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!

This is a story from when I was around fourteen or fifteen so not really a child, but here goes. I was in my school library talking to a friend about Trainspotting, which I'd read recently (Trainspotting, for anyone who hasn't read it, is a novel about the lives of a group of Scottish heroin addicts which is renowned for some particularly graphic descriptions of drug taking, violence and sex. My parents had an impressively liberal approach to my choice of reading material.)

Our school librarian overheard the conversation and was obviously unable to believe that a fourteen year old would be reading such a book, and said "Trainspotting? Are you sure you don't mean The Railway Children?" (The Railway Children being a sweet, innocent children's book about a family who live near to a railway - about as unlike Trainspotting as a book could be.)

Being a stroppy teenager, of course I then had to explain that I was most certainly not talking about The Railway Children (I was quite indignant at the very idea that I'd read a children's book), and did so by demonstrating, in perhaps more detail than was required, my knowledge of the plot of Trainspotting. The librarian was suitably appalled and I think my parents may have received a letter suggesting that they supervise my choice of books more closely in future.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
This is an odd question for me. The short answer is that I don't write or have any ambition to. However, since I've started reading a lot again over the last year, I do often find myself thinking about snippets of plot for a story, or dreaming up characters and their histories. I don't have any skill as a writer so I don't imagine I'll ever write any of these stories down, but I would quite like to be one of those people who makes up their own stories to tell to their family.

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
I'd donate it to a charity shop so they could sell it on and raise money. Or, if I thought it was an okay book but not to my taste then I might pass it on to a friend who would enjoy it.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Nope. But sometimes it's the only thing that will put me to sleep in a car, which is weird because I am typically physically incapable of sleeping when the sun is out.

2. Do you smell your books?
Every chance I get.

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Chuck Palahniuk
I can't express why. It's one of those things you have to experience by reading his works. All of his pieces seem so different from each other.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
I can't nail it down to just one book. I would simply state any YA book I read in the late 90s-early 2000s that I thought was great. My taste and depth of reading has changed drastically since I was a tween/teen.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
When I was a young child. It was a combination of things. My parents and older brother are big readers. I was upset that I didn't know how to read and wanted to read with them, so I started trying to read very early just so I could be part of the group. Then we realized I was dyslexic, so that slowed down my process, but it made me even more determined. You can say the passion for reading grew out of nurturing from my family and out of determination to not let myself be slowed down.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
I'm not sure I'd call it a funny story, but it's one my grandmother and mother like sharing. it's how they started to question if something was "wrong" with my reading progress. My grandmother came to preschool with me for Grandparents Day, which also happened to be show-and-tell. I decided I wanted to read my favorite book to the other kids, Jump, Frog, Jump!. My grandmother realized that I wasn't reading the book, and had only memorized the entire thing; something the teacher or parents had not been able to pick up on. It's this weird moment of pride for being able to memorize an entire book at such a young age, even though it was a kid's book.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I'd like to think I do, but I also know I make a lot of errors when I write. I don't think I'll ever write a book. It's not something that interests me at this point, but that could change though. I just think about how much reading time I would have to give up to write my own book :)

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Either pass it on to someone who might like, expressed interest in the book, or donate it to a charity. Just because I don't like the book doesn't mean it's bad.

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
Nope! Not that I spend much time in the back or passenger seat anymore, but I used to read a whole lot on car trips with the family.

2. Do you smell your books?
Yes. Especially if it's a used book. I love the smell of old books.

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
I read A LOT and very diversely, so... this is hard. But I think I could pick out Edgar Allan Poe's writing from a group 9/10 times. His word/theme choices tend to be interesting.

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
Everything I read as a teenager? My first instinct was the Sookie Stackhouse/ Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris, but I pretty much knew it was crappy writing while reading it- it was a guilty pleasure.

5. When and how did you get into reading?
As a very small child. I spent the better part of my baby-hood on the laps of voracious readers and I learned to love it from them.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
Sadly no. I have always taken reading pretty seriously.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
Yes, and yes, if all goes as planned. I've started dozens of writing projects, and I've even finished a few (well, "finished")

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Say thank you and then give the book to someone who I think would like it, even if I did not. And maybe also mention, as casually as possible, that I have a (very long) Amazon Book wish-list, if they ever need book gift ideas in the future. :)

1. Do you get sick while reading in a car?
No--thankfully. I spent many hours on long car trips reading books when I was a kid!

2. Do you smell your books?
I didn't realize this was a common thing until looking at all of the answers above! I too mainly read on a kindle so I don't smell my books.

3. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?
A few months ago I read Too Loud a Solitude by Bohumil Hrabal and found the prose to be really unique!

4. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
When I was a kid, I pretty much devoured all of The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High books. But now I look back and realize how bad they actually are!

5. When and how did you get into reading?
At a very early age--my parents read to me when I was a kid and then I started reading anything I could get my hands on as soon as I was able to read on my own.

6. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
Not really, but I've enjoyed reading stories that others above me have shared.

7. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I've written fanfiction before, but I'm definitely more of a reader than a writer.

8. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
Try to exchange it for something I would like to read. Or (more likely) let it sit unread on the shelf for years, then donate it.