Thank you to Summer @Xing Sings and Erika @Erika The Bibilophile for the nomination 🙂
The Rules:
- Thank the person who nominated you and link their blog.
- Give your readers 11 randoms fact about yourself
- Answer 11 questions from the blog who nominated you.
- Nominate 11 bloggers to receive this award.
- Come up with 11 questions for your nominees!
11 Random Facts:
- I’m really petite (5ft 1in), so often I am mistaken for being under 18.
- My favourite food is burger and fries, especially at TGI Fridays.
- I read more ebooks than actual real books because I honestly have nowhere to put them, so I am very selective on which books I buy.
- I was really into anime when I was younger. My favourite was DragonBall Z.
- My favourite singer-songwriter at the moment is James Bay.
- I like to draw to faces (when I’m in the mood), typography and patterns.
- I have a degree in Fashion and Textiles and I was constantly having a nervous breakdown and stressed beyond my limit.
- I love watching the Great British Bake Off! Its the best.
- My top 5 places to visit are Japan, Canada, Italy and NY.
- I like going to concerts and gigs. The last ones I went to see was the Arctic Monkeys and One Night Only.
- When I was 13 I played the piano about 5 years. You’d think I’d be grade 5 when I quit but no, my piano teacher was annoyingly slow in teaching me moving up grades. It was wasting my time. So before I took my grade 3 exam, I decided to call it a day. I never wanted to learn in the first place.
Summer’s questions:
- What is the meaning behind your blog name/title (e.g. mine is xingsings)?
I got the idea from slogan ‘I Shop Therefore I Am’ by Barbara Kruger. I liked the obvious meaning.
- What inspired you to begin blogging?
I began reviewing books on a site called Polyvore, which is a fashion/art social commerce website. Then a friend suggested that I should make a book blog because it would be a better platform. Also, I wanted to interact with other readers about books.
- What are your top three favorite books?
If I had to choose between three books, then it would be:
- Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling.
- Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
- What is your favorite movie? (I suppose you can list a couple if it’s difficult to choose.)
This is in no particular order:
- August Rush
- Paddington
- Harry Potter and the Soccer’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
- Annie
- Matilda
- Enchanted
- Parent Trap
- Mrs Doubtfire
- Volcano
- Enter the Dragon
- What time of day is your favorite?
Sunset.
- What is the most dangerous thing you’ve ever done?
It’s not exactly dangerous (as there were professionals at hand) but when I was 14 I went on a camping school trip to Wales, Pembrokeshire. We stayed at a mansion in the middle of nowhere. I did wall climbing and many other outdoorsy activities. It was scary at the time but was quite fun when I did it. Ironic, considering I said I didn’t want to do anything. I don’t actually know the name for this activity but basically there is a rope across and you’d wear specialised equipment to slide across the rope. That was so fun!
- What are your biggest fears?
So many! Being a failure.
- What are some of your hobbies (other than the ones you discuss and share on your blog, for instance don’t mention reading if you are a book blog)?
I’ve mentioned some of hobbies in the 11 random faces about me (above). Other than than, I like meeting friends to catch up and eating out. I recently took up running, which proved to be very painful as a beginner.
- Do you judge people that mix up “your” and “you’re”?
Not really. I haven’t point out that flaw before.
- (Like my last Liebster award, I am going to test your creativity and add this —>) There is going to be a zombie unicorn apocalypse. The closest thing to you is your weapon. What is it and how would you use it to defend yourself?
I’m not going to sound very creative but it seems like curling tongs and haircutting scissors are my only weapons for self-defence!
- And again, 11 questions is throwing me off! So, thank you for participating, and congratulations on being a Liebster nominee! Have a great day! ^.^
Thanks Summer 🙂
Erika’s questions:
1) If you’re not enjoying a book do you give up or struggle through it?
Much to my despair, I would struggle through it! I don’t like leaving books unfinished.
2) Of the books you were required to read for school, which was your favorite?
This is going to sound disappointing. I didn’t like any books I read for school. As a teenager, I don’t think I fully appreciated Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, it was probably good but as a 15-year-old, I found it boring.
3) If you could re-write an ending of a book that you have read which one would it be and why? (If you’re satisfied with all the endings then my question would be which one was your favorite ending of a book/series?)
I was unsatisfied with Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare because it didn’t make any sense. How is Jem young again?! I don’t get it. Can someone explain this me?
4) Do you sometimes imagine yourself as a character in any books that you read? If so, which ones?
No really. If its written in the first person of point view, I try to empathise and understand them, imagining what it’d be like in their shoes.
5) What is the most expensive book that you bought? The cheapest?
Probably the Harry Potter books 1-7 complete collection, it cost £74.75 from Amazon. The cheapest was The Time Traveler’s Wife, which was only £2.80 also from Amazon, bargain!
6) If you could mix characters from any books and build the perfect story, who would you pick?
I think Harry Potter characters and the Mortal Instruments/The Infernal Devices characters would be very interesting! I don’t think Draco would like Jace to be honest, but I can imagine Jace winding Draco up!
7) Name a book/series that is difficult to get into; however, seems to have huge fanbase/hardcore fans?
This may cause a shit storm but it is the Fault in Our Stars and the Hunger Games. I don’t think I’ve given the Percy Jackson series much of a chance but it seems unlikely that I’ll pick up the second book.
8) Which book(s) has made an impact in your life?
Harry Potter and most recently The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories.
9) Though this can be rare, which movie adaptation in your opinion is actually better/or is as equally great as the book?
Catching Fire, the Book Thief, the Perks of being a Wallflower and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.
10) How often do you read out of your “comfort zone”?
It depends on the summary. If I like the sound of it, then I’ll read it.
11) You are having literary tea party and you are allowed 7 guests, who do you invite? (characters, authors…) What would happen at your literary party? (if you can come up with a scenario anyways…)
Will Herondale, Simon Lewis, Jace Wayland, Magnus Bane, The Weasley twins and Luna Lovegood I don’t know what will happen at this party to be precise but considering Will Herondale, Magnus Bane and the Weasley twins will be there, I bet it will be a very fun one!
Nominees:
Rachel @Reading Rachel
Leannaatc @Short Story Long Blog
Kath @The Last Reader
Trisha Ann @The Bookgasm
Emily @Bookscleverness
Anna @A Wondrous Bookshelf
Eliza @The Bookish Universe
Maria @Big City Bookworm
Questions for nominees:
- What do you look for when purchasing books?
- What are your bookish pet peeves?
- Do you prefer reading books from the first person point of view or the third person point of view?
- Do you prefer stand alone books or series?
- If you could have any supernatural gift, what would it be and why?
- Is there a book/series that you’d consider is your guilty pleasure?
- Which books are overrated?
- If you had the opportunity to get your book published, what would your story be about?
- Is there a character whose personality trait is similar yours?
- What is your favourite genre to read?
- What is your reading goal for this year?
I Read Therefore I Am 
I’m not exactly sure if I’d appreciate The Percy Jackson series now as much as I did when I was in elementary and early middle school, so I can see why you may not continue with The Sea of Monsters. I think that’s the division between Rowling and Riordan, both are fantastic childrens/somewhat ya writers, but one series is ultimately timeless (HP, of course). I actually enjoyed The Hunger Games and thought it was fun but definitely overrated. And from your movie list I’ve only seen the HP films. I’m not much of a movie watcher, but I’m slowly remedying my lack of cinematography knowledge, so this list will do me good! As for the Jem’s somewhat rebirthing as a young man again… It’s been a while since I’ve read TMI and TID, but since I’m a diehard Clare fan, I had to find the page where I’ve read the answer before: http://cassandraclare.tumblr.com/post/51483512235/clockwork-princess-questions-and-answers So basically it was the “cure” the brother gave him, but I do remember reading more details in City of Heavenly Fire. While looking for that particular faq of Clare’s I also stumbled on this: http://cassandraclare.tumblr.com/post/96388203069/after-the-bridge-the-full-story-jem-tessa Have you read it? I just did for the first time. Whoa, is it steamy… 😛
Thanks for answering the questions, Thuong! I’m glad I learned a little more about you! 🙂
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When I read the Lightning Thief, for some reason I couldn’t help but compare it to Harry Potter! Even though the concept is different. I don’t know, I thought I’d love the Hunger Games but found myself not getting into the writing style and the story overall. I liked the films though! Catching Fire was pretty good. I’m not a massive film person either but these were some of my favourite films! 🙂 Glad the list will be useful. Oh thanks for the links! No haven’t read them yet but I will do, so I’ll get some answers 🙂 I love the Mortal Instruments but somehow I couldn’t get into City of Heavenly Fire; thought it just dragged on. Is it worth another chance? Your welcome, thanks for reading my answers and for the nomination, it has been fun to answer! x
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Despite loving Cassandra Clare and the shadowhunter world, I really thought TMI could have ended at City of Glass. It could be because when I originally finished TMI it was set to be trilogy, so that could have clouded my thoughts on the next books. I enjoyed them, but I do agree some of them dragged on. Also, I may be in the minority but I’m not too excited for Emma’s story for The Dark Artifices. I remember skimming her parts throughout the later TMI books (I can’t remember which books TDA characters appeared in, I think it is CoHF). But to answer your question, yes, I think you should pioneer through CoHF! It’s worth it to say you fully completed TMI and you’ll understand more about the shadowhunter world that Clare built (e.g. Jem’s situation), however it is one of my more least favorite in the series. Hope that long explanation wasn’t too confusing to follow (I am never pithy, oh well)!
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Glad I’m not the only one to think it should have ended at City of Glass! I was excited but when I read the 4th book, it didn’t have that spark like the trilogy did. Me neither, I’ll see what other readers think of the Dark artifices but don’t think I’ll pick it up. I think Cassandra needs to move on from writing shadowhunters… Really? Two series to consider: Bloodlines and CoHF! I was half way into CoHF and I was trying so hard to finish it but gave up. Aw that’s okay and thanks for your opinion, I think I may give it another go 🙂 x
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wow, that sounds interesting! Good luck, my dear!!!
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Oh it basically like a tag! Its a way to discover new blogs 😉 x
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