For those who aren’t Chinese or aren’t interested in Asia, today is the Lunar New Year! This year is also the Year of the Rat (according to the zodiac). For those who don’t know, there are twelve animals in the zodiac according the Eastern astrology. Anyway, in honor of the Lunar New Year, I thought it was a perfect time to do a book tag themed around this holiday.
I believe it was created at Mostly YA Lit. Without further ado, let’s get into the tag.
Rooster (honest, ambitious, punctual): Your most anticipated 2020 book
You may remember this book from my Books Coming Out in 2020 I’m Excited For. It’s being released in August. Honestly, I don’t actually care that much to keep up with new releases, but I am excited about this one.
Dog (independent, sincere, loyal): A comfort book you always go back to
I know, it’s probably a silly choice, but something about this book makes it comforting to read. It’s sweet, light, and mostly happy. Even though I see faults in the book, I still always go back to reread it if I’m not sure what to read.
Pig (a symbol of affluence and wealth): A book or book-related thing you spent too much on
Bookshelves….way too many bookshelves. When I moved to Ohio last year, I bought two of these bookshelves. They are so pretty but definitely the most I’ve spent on a book-related thing.
Rat (delicate, witty, & flexible): A book or author that has flown under the radar
My automatic answer to this question is usually Elizabeth Gaskell or Grace Zaring Stone, but I’ve talk about them before, so I’ll talk about an author I just discovered this past year, Keigo Higashino. Technically, he hasn’t flown under the radar, because he’s super popular in Japan, but in America he’s pretty much unknown. But his understanding of characters and human nature fills his mysteries and I’ve loved every book I’ve read by him. I just wish more were translated into English.
Ox (diligent, persistent, honest): A character who has strong morals or ideals
My mind goes to (wait for this name) Dmitri Prokofich Razumikhin. Razumikhin is the best friend of the main protagonist and murderer Raskolnikov, and later marries his sister. He is the good side of Raskolnikov, always pushing him towards honesty and morality. He is simply a good, moral, caring person.
Tiger (powerful, confident, brave): A book that boldly addresses an issue
I read this book a couple months ago and I absolutely adored it. It discusses issues with poverty and lack of family values in rural places of America. It does not shy away from tackling difficult topics, and I highly recommend it.
Rabbit (tender, graceful, sensitive): A book with a sweet romance
I know this book isn’t a romance, but it does contain an adorable romance between Cosette and Marius. Cosette has endured so much, and yet she always keeps a positive outlook. Marius is an idealist who fights for what he believes is right. I was so happy that, though so many character had an unhappy ending, they did not.
Dragon (authority, dignity, luck): A book with royalty in it
Ah, who could forget Prince Humperdinck, the prince no one actually likes. Anyway, this is kind of the best medieval tale with knights and princes and lots of laughs. Such a great book!
Snake (wise, cunning, & sly): A book with a manipulative character
My brain immediately went to Lady de Winter in this classic tale. Even though it’s been a few years since I read this book, I still remember her cruel and manipulative character. She is really a horrible person, using her beauty to destroy other’s lives and turn people against each other.
Horse (enthusiastic, independent, zealous): A standalone book
There are so many books I could choose for this answer, so I’ll just go with the one which pops into my head first. I read this book recently and it’s really a great stand-alone book.
Sheep (tender, sensitive to art & beauty): Your favorite book cover or design
I mentioned in my last book haul that I received this book for Christmas, and I seriously cannot get over how beautiful the design is, not just on the cover, but inside the book as well. Who said books were just words on a page?
Monkey (clever, lively, quick-witted): Your favorite comic relief character
Technically, I could pick Puck from this play, but I’ll pick Nick Bottom instead, a bad actor whose head gets turned into an ass (as in a donkey). He is such a hilarious character, standing up against all of Shakespeare’s other comic reliefs.
Finally, Happy Lunar New Year!
Have you read any of these books? How would you answer these questions? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments, follow my blog for more musings and, as always,
Best wishes in your life full of adventure,
Madame Writer
I recently read Hillbilly Elegy and thought it was pretty good too.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was surprised how much I liked it, because it’s not the type of book I usually like.
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Great selections!
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Thank you! It was a fun tag to do!
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