Laurel County Public Library discussion

Krystyna wrote: "199. Do you have a reading routine? (Example: If you set aside time to read do you have a certain setup that you enjoy while reading? Do you have certain reading essentials with you? Cozy blankets,..."

No routine. I love reading at night in bed but I can’t do that anymore.

200. Have you ever cried in public while reading?

No. I've never cried while reading a book.

Yes I have. Once on an airplane.

Never in public. At home, I have choked up few times.

201. Have you ever laughed out loud in public while reading?

Yes I have. A Walk in the Woods made me laugh out loud at work.

Um, I don't really remember. I don't tend to read a lot in public. I may have at some point.

No. I don't think so. It is rare that I ever laugh out loud when reading.

202. What book is most relatable to you?

203. What was your favorite and least favorite book you read last year?

Krystyna wrote: "203. What was your favorite and least favorite book you read last year?"
My favorite books were This Tender Land and The Weight of Ink.
My least favorite book was probably The Turn of the Screw.

Krystyna wrote: "202. What book is most relatable to you?"

I've never read a book and thought that it was relatable. I've related to a few characters. Hazel from Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren is one of them.

Krystyna wrote: "203. What was your favorite and least favorite book you read last year?"

Favorite
- Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Least favorite
- The Stranger by Albert Camus

204. Do you like graphic novels? If so, any recommendations?

Krystyna wrote: "204. Do you like graphic novels? If so, any recommendations?"

One of my favorite graphic novels that I would recommend is Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell. I also highly recommend The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill; the entire series is great! I also enjoyed Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, Sheets by Brenna Thummler, Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, Moonstruck by Grace Ellis, Nimona by Noelle Stevenson, and Through the Woods by Emily Carroll. I'm also looking forward to starting Bloom by Kevin Panetta. I think it will be another one that I really enjoy. I've heard great things about it.

I haven't read very many graphic novels. I would also highly recommend Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and The Tea Dragon Society/The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O'Neill.

Giant Days by John Allison is another fun series to read!

I have only read a few graphic novels. Not really a fan, but one was good, My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf. The story was very good, the graphics, not so good.

I’ve read Pumpkinheads based on Krystyna’s recommendation and I loved it.

I’ve also read:
Tank Girl: World War Tank Girl (I’m enjoying these)
Paper Girls, Vol. 1 - I liked this series even if I didn’t fully understand what was going on

Currently I’m reading: Wynonna Earp

jb wrote: "I’ve read Pumpkinheads based on Krystyna’s recommendation and I loved it.

I’ve also read:
Tank Girl: World War Tank Girl (I’m enjoying these)
[book:Paper Girls, Vo..."

I read the first volume of Paper Girls, and I had no idea what was happening either, but I didn't hate it. I'm glad I'm not alone with that one.

Vivian wrote: "I haven't read very many graphic novels. I would also highly recommend Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and The Tea Dragon Society/The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O'Neill.

Giant Days by John Alliso..."

Oh my gosh! I can't believe I forgot to include Giant Days in my list.

205. Do you like manga? If so, any recommendations?

I've never read manga before.

I’ve not read manga either. My son loved Naruto which I think is considered manga.

So goes my knowledge on this, I thought manga and graphic novels were the same. I do not have any recommendations.

I've never read manga before.

While I have great respect for both manga and graphic novels and I do understand and support the importance of visual literacy, I'm not a big fan of reading these formats. It just isn't for me. However, I do have quite a bit of experience with manga because my son, who is now almost 20, has been obsessed since he was 8 or 9 and I've always tried to encourage him to share with me the details of what he's reading. I do know it is important when considering manga recommendations to know that many manga series are written with a mature audience in mind. They can include very complex themes and ideas. They've sparked some great conversations between my son and me.

206. What is your auto-buy book genre?

Krystyna wrote: "206. What is your auto-buy book genre?"

For me, it's thrillers.

Science fiction. Particularly if it is time travel.

If I had to give a genre it would be historical fiction. I don't really have one though.

207. What is something that you’ve learned about yourself since you started reading?

I’ve learned I really enjoy learning and really enjoy nonfiction books.

Krystyna wrote: "206. What is your auto-buy book genre?"

Romance and Young Adult!

Krystyna wrote: "207. What is something that you’ve learned about yourself since you started reading?"

I've learned that audiobooks are my best friend when it comes to reading.

Vivian wrote: "Krystyna wrote: "207. What is something that you’ve learned about yourself since you started reading?"

I've learned that audiobooks are my best friend when it comes to reading."

I can definitely relate to that.

208. What is your favorite book genre and why?

I would say historical fiction which is true, but I think I've found something else I really love. It's either middle grade or adult fantasy that's very whimsical. I just read The House in the Cerulean Sea and I absolutely fell in love.

Vivian wrote: "I would say historical fiction which is true, but I think I've found something else I really love. It's either middle grade or adult fantasy that's very whimsical. I just read The House in the Ceru..."

This makes my heart so happy. Those are some of my favorites too. I love a good middle grade or magical fantasy full of whimsy.

209. What are your top 5 go-to recommendations?

1. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune - This book will forever be my answer for everything,
2. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
3. Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
4. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
5. Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain

Krystyna wrote: "209. What are your top 5 go-to recommendations?"

My top 5 go-to recommendations are:
1. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
2. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
3. Every Heart a Doorway by {author: Seanan McGuire]
4. Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
5. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

*There are a few others that I wanted to add to this list. But, this is a good variety.

210. In honor of Fall being right around the corner, what are some of your recommendations for books that feel like Fall?

.
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Here are some Halloween books that make me think of fall

- Halloween by Curtis Richards
- Bird Box by Josh Malerman

If I think of some books that feel like fall, I will come back and list them.

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
I agree with Debra about Bird Box by Josh Malerman being a good one for fall.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Books that feel like Fall to me:
1. Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
2. The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill
3. Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
4. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
5. The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
6. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
7. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
8. Kill Creek by Scott Thomas
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
10. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
11. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
12. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
13. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
15. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

*Note: These are in no particular order.

211. What genres do you tend to gravitate towards for each season?

In the fall, I read at least one scary book for Halloween.

I don’t gravitate toward any genre for any specific season.

Spring-contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction
Summer-beachy reads, contemporary fiction, mystery/thriller
Fall-spooky books, thrillers, horror, gothic lit, fantasy
Winter-hard-hitting contemporaries, fantasy, historical fiction

*Note: This is what I tend to gravitate towards. However, since I'm a mood reader that can change.

212. What are some of your favorite niche sub-genres to read?