I couldn’t find an actual Christmas Tag on my list of 100 Tags so this had to do. I probably could have searched for one, but who wants to do work for a tag post? Not me! If you don’t know anything about the animated movie, here’s the wiki link: Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Sally – A book with a character who loves someone so much and actually gets them in the end

Captain Wentworth in Jane Austen’s Persuasion. He never stopped loving Anne and his second foray onto the field of romantic battle was successful. Go get’em tiger!

Jack Skelliington – A book with a character who longs for more

Sebastian Nightingale Cain in Mike Resnick’s Santiago: A Myth of the Far Future. He starts out as a bounty hunter going after the infamous Santiago, only to realize just what Santiago stands for and ends up taking on Santiago’s legacy to continue The Good Work.

Zero – a book with a loyal sidekick

Wayne in Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson. He’s right there by Wax’s side, ready to cover his back if a fight, allomantic or otherwise, starts to get intense.

Oogie Boogie – A book with a wicked villain

Light Yagami from the manga Death Note by Ohba & Obata. Light starts out as wanting Justice on a world wide level but quickly descends into megalomania with the power of the Death Note at his command. Throughout the series his coldblooded manipulation and murder of anyone around him is truly horrifying.

Halloween Town – A book with a weird or creepy theme

The entire Necroscope series by Brian Lumley. Vampires at their evilest and ruling another world and trying to take over ours. And we’re not talking sparkly or even good looking vampires. These things are sluglike and bond with your nervous system, ughhhhhhh…..

Christmas Town – a book that left you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside

The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. Read it almost a decade ago and I still remember how wonderfully delightful this story was.

Here in American we celebrate Thanksgiving in November. Here’s a tag that’s been around since about 2014 as far as I can tell. Staying power, that’s important in a tag.

1. Bread- What book is purely fluff, and has no real plot line?

The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock. Running around fighting battles just to die at the end of the series isn’t much of a plot. Fun and interesting yes, but plotfilled, no.

2. Turkey- What book made you want to fall asleep?

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. I read it 20 years ago and still remember it as the most boring book I have ever read. It takes real talent to be that boring.

3. Gravy- What book makes the whole series worth reading?

Cobra by Timothy Zahn. While the rest of the series pretty much plateaued, on the strength of this one book I read 8 more.

4. Stuffing- What book is stuffed full of action scenes?

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. This is in essence a 500-600 page battle scene with 150 pages of other stuff before and after.

5. Mashed Potatoes- What book looked good, and then wasn’t?

Ok, I gotta stop here a minute. What kind of person created this tag and then goes and casts such aspersions on mashed potatoes? Mashed potatoes are my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. If I could only pick one part of Thanksgiving Dinner to eat, it would be mashed potatoes. So this question is just wrong. So I’m changing it to the Correct Question.

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers. That cover just looks cool and the story inside is even cooler.

6. Cranberries- What book has the sweetest romance?

Seriously? You hate on the Potatoes and then give the Cranberries an embarrassment of riches. Creator of this Tag, I’m beginning to doubt your sanity! But I will play your twisted little game and best you, for I am Bookstooge the Inscrutable, HEAR ME ROAR!

I am going to choose Wrong Number, the first volume of the Oh My Goddess! manga by Kosuke Fujishima.

7. Corn- What’s the corniest book you’ve ever read? ‘

The entire Asterix series really. It is 50’ish pages at a time of puns and wordplays that are clever, childish and funny, all at the same time.

8. Green beans- What book is too long and needs to be shortened?

The Crippled God by Steven Erikson. I went and looked through my Calibre library sorted by page count. This was the longest and lowest rated that I could come up with. If Erikson had written to fill one page

“And then the collective universe had diarrhea and covered the entire world in shit. The End”

it wouldn’t have been any worse than what he did write in close to 1000 pages.

9. Pumpkin Pie- What book do you read to get out of a reading slump?

I actually have several and decide which to read by last one read. Considering that I haven’t had a real reading slump for years though (due to the awesome nature of my reading rotation) I don’t really give this a thought anymore.

• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
• Way-Farer by Dennis Schmidt
• Sentenced to Prism by Alan Dean Foster
• Galactic Odyssey by Keith Laumer

10. Dog/Cat- What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food that you would steal from the table?

I don’t understand this question. How does it relate to books at all? It would appear to be just a food question, how ….. peculiar. Well, being peculiar never stopped me before. I’m going to go with Mandarin Orange Jello Salad with Marshmallows.

And that’s a wrap!

It is that time of year again here in North America. The temperatures are slowly falling, the air has a zing to it that it hasn’t had before and that wretched “pumpkin spice” is now invading every eatable that it possibly can!

CRISP FALL AIR – A BOOK THAT FELT FRESH AND NEW:

The Tar-Aiym Krang by Alan Dean Foster. This was the start of the Pip & Flinx series and at this first book, the whole universe was fresh and new. We won’t talk about the later books

HOWLING WINDS – AN ENDING THAT BLEW YOU AWAY:

Corum: The Prince with the Silver Hand by Michael Moorcock. This was the precursor to Grimdark and when the happy ending didn’t happen even though the hero had done everything he was supposed to, it did blow my mind. That’s not how stories were supposed to go. I’ve experienced a lot in the 20+ years since I read Corum but I’ll not forget that initial feeling.

COMFY SWEATERS – A BOOK THAT GAVE YOU THE WARM AND FUZZY’S:

Galactic Odyssey by Keith Laumer. For me, this is the SF equivalent of the Hobbit. I re-read it on a semi-regular basis and enjoy it over and over again. It is a comforting story of a young man fighting overwhelming odds and winning.

BRIGHT COLOURS – A COVER WITH RED, ORANGE, OR YELLOW:

Sentenced to Prism by Alan Dean Foster (again). Not only is the cover colorful, but the essence of the story is filled with prismatic colors as well.

LEAF FIGHT – A BOOK WITH NON STOP ACTION:

War Against the Mafia by Don Pendleton. The first book in the Mack Bolan/Executioner series. This was the series that caused me to create the Ultra-Violence tag.

PUMPKIN SPICE – YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED READ:

Right now, probably Jack Four by Neal Asher. The latest in his Polity series. I auto-read anything by Asher as his mix of Sf and violence is right up my alley.

And that wraps up this tag. Well, after that I think I’m ready for Spring. I don’t mind skipping Winter one bit!

I am not sure if aliens threw up or if some yarn was having a mutant baby, but that picture is what we get for this tag. I’m guessing trying to figure it out is the Adventure?

Which character would you love to go on an adventure with?

Asterix and Obelix. What could be more fun than a couple of fun loving Gauls who happen to be nigh invincible?

If you could be any character for the day, who would you be and why?

Corran Horn, a most honorable Jedi. He was the main character in the novel I, Jedi and played a large role in the New Jedi Order series. Flying an X-Wing starfighter sounds like an adventure to me. Doing it while swinging a lightsaber just sounds awesome.

What book  is on your TBR bucket list? 

No One Like Him by John Feinberg. I started this back in ’18 and realized by the end of the introduction that I simply wasn’t ready for this. Feinberg’s thesis on the nature of God is not lightly undertaken.

Which book has a contemporary setting you would love to go to?

Kingfisher by Patricia McKillip. A world in which knights ride motorcycles and beam weapons are wielded against dragons? Yes please!

Which book has a fantasy/fictional setting you would love to go to? 

Talion: Revenant was the quintessential fantasy book for me growing up. Nothing like a medieval setting to make the dreams flow!

What book or book edition would you do anything to get your hands on? 

The Original 10 Commandments. Talk about a collectors item!

Name a character who is very adventurous and daring. 

Percy Jackson from the Lightning Thief. This boy knows how to find trouble without even trying.

Name the craziest or weirdest place you’ve ever read a book.

You know, I really don’t do crazy or weird. In fact, I don’t do “Adventures”. It’s a running joke between Mrs B and I now how much I hate new things because they always turn into “adventures”. I prefer my adventures to stay inside the books where it’s nice and safe. For me.

Cheers!

1. Find a book for each of your initials

B: Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (Inheritance Cycle #3)

S: Salute the Dark by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Shadows of the Apt #4)

2. Count your age along your bookshelf – what book is it?

You’ll notice the question states Bookshelf, singular. For me, that is simply ridiculous. With 10 and counting, it all depends on I where I feel like starting. But to play along with this naive little question….

43: The Harmony of the Four Gospels by Joseph B Harriman (a unique take on harmonizing the Four Gospels into a One Year Ministry instead of the traditional 3 year ministry)

3. A book set in your city/country

USA: Into the Looking Glass by John Ringo. Military SF at its finest!

4. A book that represents a destination you’d love to travel to

Albion: The Paradise War by Stephen Lawhead. A world where magic is real and the warrior ethos is alive and well.

5. A book that’s your favorite color

Green: Magic Kingdom For Sale/Sold! by Terry Brooks.

6. Which book do you have the fondest memories of?

Way-Farer by Dennis Schmidt. I end up mentioning this book almost every other tag it feels like but man, it has just been one of those books for me ever since my formative teen years.

7. Which book did you have the most difficulty reading?

The Many Faces of Evil by John Feinberg. Took me many months to slowly work my way this excellent book. Probably about time for a re-read just to refresh myself.

8. Which book in your TBR pile will give you the biggest accomplishment when you finish it?

New Evidences that Demand a Verdict by Josh McDowell. Read this back in the 90’s and reading it again has really helped strengthen my Christian Faith.

Thank goodness I was able to actually complete this tag. After the Complete Failure of the Relationshipping Tag post I was a little worried that my tagging days were over and that I would be relegated to sitting on my rocker yelling at the kids to stop doing such dumbass tags AND to get off my lawn.

But nope, I still got it!

Saw this at Zezee’s.

A CHILDHOOD FAVOURITE THAT YOU COULD READ 100 TIMES AND STILL LOVE

The Chronicles of Narnia series. My mom read these to me before I could read myself and I’ve read them myself several times and own them.

A BOOK YOU DNF’D BUT WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE A SECOND CHANCE TO

Moby Dick. Mainly because I don’t want to admit that ANY classic can beat me. Some day Cap’n Ahab, someday!

A NEWER FAVORITE YOU WOULD REREAD

The Legends of the Duskwalker trilogy by Jay Posey. 2014 counts as “newer” right?

A BOOK YOU HATED AND NEVER WANT TO READ AGAIN

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. If there was only one dose of Immortality Elixir, I’d give it to the author and then chain him up in a dungeon so Austen fans could torture him for as long as time lasted.

A CLASSIC YOU READ IN SCHOOL BUT WANT TO TRY AGAIN

Thinking about it, I enjoyed almost all the classics I read in school. I know I hated John Steinbeck’s The Red Pony but I have no desire to read it again. So I guess, zero? I included this cover because it has the word “zero” in the title.

AN AUTHOR YOU WOULD REREAD ANYTHING FROM

Probably Larry Correia. While his Monster Hunters International series is what hooked me, his Grimnoir Chronicles, starting with Hard Magic, is what really made me a fan.

A SERIES YOU WANT TO REREAD FOR THE FUN OF IT

The Bone comics by Jeff Smith.

A BOOK YOU’VE READ BUT WANT TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK

Not a fan of audio books. But maybe the Curdie books by George MacDonald? It seems like children’s books are more geared toward being read aloud than anything else.

And that does it for this particular tag.

Saw this at Re-enchantment Of The World. I was sure I had done it before, but before I commented on Ola and Piotre’s post, I went searching and couldn’t find it on my site. So here I am!

HAVE YOU EVER RE-GIFTED A BOOK YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?

Not to my knowledge. Most people I know aren’t as big readers as I am. Also, my family only buys me the books I put on my lists.

HAVE YOU EVER SAID YOU’VE READ A BOOK WHEN YOU HAVEN’T?

Maybe in elementary or middleschool? Once I hit my teens, I liked to read. And if I think a book isn’t worth my time, I won’t read it.

HAVE YOU EVER BORROWED A BOOK AND NOT RETURNED IT?

Yes. When I was in elementary school we visited some relatives who lived very far away (6hrs is practically a life time when you’re that age) and I was in the middle of reading one of the Little House on the Prairie books and asked if I could take it with me. If it ever got back to them, it was a miracle.

HAVE YOU EVER READ A SERIES OUT OF ORDER?

Yes. But not purpose. Or because some barstard had ordered it chronologically instead of by Publication Date. Read it how the author wrote it, you dumb git!

HAVE YOU EVER SPOILED A BOOK FOR SOMEONE?

I think the more accurate question would be, have I never NOT spoiled a book? Before devilreads was a thing, I really didn’t discuss the books I read very much with others. One or two friends, who read the same stuff as me was about it so we really couldn’t spoil books because we inhaled them. Once online, my attitude became a “read MY review at YOUR risk”.

HAVE YOU EVER DOG-EARED A BOOK?

Yes I have. Not everyone has the privilege of always reading at home or in a house or civilized stuff like that. Sometimes you’re out in the woods and you’ve lost your bookmark fending off rampaging hordes of bears (who, by the way, I don’t recommend punching in the face). What are you going to do? Just hope you “remember” where you let off reading? that way lies madness!

HAVE YOU EVER TOLD SOMEONE YOU DON’T OWN A BOOK WHEN YOU DO?

Yes. When Xi Jingping autographed my copy of The Communist Cannibal’s Cookbook, I took a solemn oath to never let anyone know. So, everyone who reads this, you need to make an appointment with me so I can keep that oath. Besides old Xi gets really hungry during those Chinese winters!

HAVE YOU EVER SKIPPED A CHAPTER OR A SECTION OF A BOOK?

All the time. My most memorable time though was when I skipped the radio speech by John Gault/Galt(?) in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. I am not a proponent of Determinism. While some aspects intersect with Christianity, at it’s heart Determinism is as anti-Christ as Communism.

HAVE YOU EVER BAD MOUTHED A BOOK YOU ACTUALLY LIKED?

Just because you like a book doesn’t mean you think it is perfect. A n0n-perfect book is always a valid target for criticism. Twilight is the perfect example of this principle in action. I enjoyed my time reading it but I’ll slag that book with the best of them!

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