#reading ask

BOLD genres your character reads. Italicize genres your character occasionally peruses. Strikethrough if they absolutely won’t touch it.

art | biography | business | chick lit | children’s | classics | comics | contemporary | cookbooks | crime | fantasy | fiction | gay and lesbian | graphic novels | historical fiction | history | horror | humor and comedy | memoir | music | mystery | nonfiction | paranormal | philosophy | poetry | psychology | religion | romance | science | science fiction | self help | suspense | spirituality | sports | thriller | travel | young adult | warfare

(Humble is not completely illiterate, but he is still learning to read, which is something about which he is very self-conscious, so these are more things that he would like to read or will try to read for practice)

Tagged by: @naejlas-axe and (I think) @spotofmummery @astrology-bf @stalwart-spirit I can't remember exactly, but a lot of people so thank you everyone who did!

Hello fellow Earthling (Little Bee 🐝) whom I deeply appreciate and am sending all the big love to for taking the time to write me this delightful message. 💖 So wildly happy to hear from you! Thanks for your patience as I get to messages. 💜

I would love to see inside you brain regarding ships I have seen you re-blog about over the years.

Like if you were to read a fic for that ship what would you want to see from it, from plot to dynamic etc. I’ve seen you post about Rickyl’s, merthur, destiel, sterek—anyways that’s who I can’t think of at the top of my head… any secret ships??

Ah, Rickyl...absolutely my OTP of TWD.

What would I want to see from a Rickyl fic? Plot/Dynamic etc? Well. It always depends where in the timeline, you know? I mean, for me TWD sadly lost it way plotwise (which can happen with long-running series) so I would love to just ERASE CHUNKS OF IT 🤦🏻‍♀️. There's what I'd write and then there's what I've read, you know? I tend not to read fanfiction when writing fanfiction, oddly enough. But with these two I'd love to see them navigate a slowburn connection through any given shitshow scenario depending on the timeline of the show (The Farm/The Prison/Govenor/Negan/TOWL)...it really depends on when and who is in the picture (at least regarding Rick, seeing as Daryl shys away from relationships) and what craptacular event the characters are having to survive...to say nothing of what struggle they might be going through mentally/emotionally. Daryl coming to terms that he's got feelings for a dude? Rick straddling the fence between crazy and stable and getting hit with a wave of "wait a second I'm feeling ten kinds of different about my ride or die best friend". 🫶🏼

That season Rick exited held so much potential after that fight 😭👇🏼

For me the relationship aspect is usually set against some backdrop of big story (oh god, you see what I'm like? I can't even manage a one shot - WHY AM I LIKE THIS?) because that fleshes out tension and emotional intimacy. I have various little plot bunnies that hop around at random when I see these two pop up on my dash.

Outside of Rickyl: I have big love for Donnie (Daryl/Connie)

…but that ship never left the harbour despite all the legit wind in its sails...so, so sad and waste of a beautiful character (Connie) 😭.

Oooh! Has the UK finally let you watch the new TWD content 😩

YEESSSS, my dear!!!! FINALLY! I literally just finished watching The Ones Who Live (sadly, i was never sold on the Richonne pairing, but I can appreciate the storyline, even if I don't feel the dynamic between those two at all - despite Andrew Lincoln's absolutely phenomenal acting, he's undoubtedly one of my fav actors). DARYL DIXON airs in a few days time (1st August), so I'm preparing myself and girding my damn loins for what might come bursting out of a burrow in my fangirl brain. If they don't have some kind of Rickyl reunion at some point in TWD-verse, I shall have to generate at least 10 different headcanons for myself. 😏

Merthur...

Oh god...this one HURTS. It will never NOT hurt. Huge potential for pre-ENDING and post-ENDING (can't even say it). I've enjoyed reading some post-ENDING scenarios in fanfic as well as those that take place before the ...ENDING....either way, there's so much deliciousness surrounding prophecy, Arthur's ignorance of Merlin's magic, Gwen and all that jazz. There's a lot of canon to support the ship, which is great as I like to stay in the canon world as much as possible when writing fanfiction. I'm not a massive AU fan. Ideally I try to get it to read like 'this could legit have happened' - with a lot of creative license, sure. Would definitely enjoy exploring post and pre ENDING. Two whole different worlds, especially a modern era fic. Dynamic? Their banter is awesome. The loyalty. The social challenges standing in the way (to say nothing of the whole 'oh by the way I'm a warlock' issue). Then of course a modern day setting brings with it its own challenges and delights. It's a pairing full of wonderful temptation.

Destiel....

Oh hell, it's a no-brainer with these two. From start to finish. Dynamic-wise? I cannot stand weak Castiel. So a strong, "I am the one who pulled you from hell and I can toss your ass back into it" Castiel rather than the fawning cas-trated Castiel is an absolute MUST for me personally. I can't stand the weak Castiel who takes shit from Dean...I lamented the death of his balls and self-respect. Dean...just a whole bag of angst and complicated homophobic issues. As with most ships I ship, certainly the m/m pairings, I personally need both males on an even keel. That's how I roll and that's what I look for in what I read on the occassions I'm reading fanfic. The Supernatural plot murdered my willingness to suspend my disbelief a few seasons in and totally lost me. But I would personally stick with the Lucifer threat and stay in that mythological playground if exploring a plot with these two. Cas would still be funny, he'd just not be a total wetwipe when it came to dealing with Dean's shit.

Sterek...

Big caveat. Reading/writing these two requires me to look a few good years POST Teen Wolf series -- so basically when Stiles is older and working his big brain badassery in some bureau or the other (FBI or otherwise)...this is the whole 'even keel' coming into play. He has more power (or energy) in the dynamic; same banter, but levelled-up chemistry and a bit rawer. So...older Stiles teaming up with Derek and let's go wandering into that delightful forest of possibility. So many paths the plot bunnies could go bounding down.

Okay...I'm not even sure if any of that properly answered your question about the pairings you mentioned, luv??? 😅 I hope so?? Feel free to let me know if not. I could write essays on my thoughts with these pairings and all the other ones sitting in their respective little burrows, deep in my dastardly brain. So sweet that you'd be interested in my rabid plot bunnies. Just need to teach them how to produce ONE SHOTS.

Patiently waiting for the day I get to finally throw money at you for whatever you publish. I’ll go feral for it. I owe you after 13 years ~ 🐝

What novel caused you the worst book hangover? 

How do you pick the next book you want to read? 

What is the book that changed or influenced you the most?

Currently reading: Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar, beta read of my dad’s book, Dragon Queens by Kathleen de Plume, and Red white and royal blue by Casey McQuiston

Worst book hangover: Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent

Picking next book: I’m a mood reader so it really depends. If my previous read was a bummer or not good, I’ll lean toward a reread or romance. If I’m on a high, I’ll lean toward fantasy, next in series, or a fantasy world I haven’t read yet

I had to think about this one for a while! Thank you for asking this great question ♡

I'm sure there are actually multiple answers to this question, but you know how it can be sometimes when you think too hard about a thing. What I eventually came up with was A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas.

It usually makes me sad to leave a series unfinished (particularly if I go past the first book), but this one I could really take or leave and feel just the same either way. I really enjoy the fae trend in fantasy right now, particularly YA/NA fantasy, and ACOTAR was one of the first books on that particular wave for me. I did enjoy the first two books! I liked the worldbuilding, the characters, the magic, and the very lush feeling that comes with reading them.

They weren't without their flaws, of course; few books are. But after over 1000 pages... they were tiring to read. Something that strikes me about SJM's writing is that there is a high degree of melodrama involved at all times - sustained high emotional intensity, and each character being the ~most powerful EVER~ at everything they do. It's kind of a lot.

Tagged by @claudeng80 and @bubblesthemonsterartist :)))

Childhood book: 

Nuuh, don’t do this to me, I was one of those kids who never tired of having my parents read me stories, I have way. too. many. books that child!me holds dear. <.< Dinotopia by James Gurney was one of those I could never put down, partly because of the story, and his paintings. I would spend hours as a little girl with my momma tracing the painting of the Waterfall City, imagining on which street we’d live and what kind of dino was our closest neighbour.

And I have also been read just about every title Astrid Lindgren ever wrote, due to my mother’s love of them when she grew up; while I didn’t love all of them, mainly because the noisiest, most headstrong protagonists such as Pippi Longstocking got on my little aspie nerves -- I have an undying love for Ronja Robbersdaughter, and the Brothers Lionheart. Good grief how I have wept through the latter.

As I got a little older, and began reading my own books, it actually took quite a while to rediscover titles that gave me emotions in the same way a lot of those that had been read to me, had done with such ease. Until the neighbour’s daughter came home from a flea market with a gift for me; a cute bag, and a book -- Clan of the Cave Bear, by Jean M. Auel. She had no idea what it was about, and neither did I, but it was “historical” and “about people of old” which was what I liked, yes? In retrospect our confusion makes sense cuz the Earth’s Children is a very ADULT book series, and I was ten, and she eleven, at the time. xD We weren’t supposed to know. But I read it and I loved it, and I spent the next decade collecting the series.

I think finally, the book that was most important to me in the last stages of my childhood would be the Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexander Dumas. That one too I came across by sheer coincidence when I roamed the young adult shelves at the library when I was... hmmm, thirteen maybe. It became my dearest favourite straight away.

Reading list:

No comment. Or rather, I am horrid bad at keeping lists of any kind, and reading lists... idk. I have a bunch of books I should be reading, but I just can’t get in the mood lately. On my shelves I have:

Anna Karenina by Lev Tolstoj

The Temeraire Series by Naomi Novik (I’m missing the ninth novel dangit)

Forrest Gump by Winston Groom

Beren and Lùthien by Christopher Tolkien

And yet I haven’t cracked open a single tome. <.<

Recently read:

I’m still in the middle of reading the Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco to my mother. I guess she instilled in me a love of reading aloud as a child and is now reaping the rewards haha.

Awww... Yes you can! You have a very soft pink aura. So soothing, I feel like I'm laying in a field and I can see pink clouds floating by in the light blue sky. As gentle as your aura feels you're a Leo or have a lot of Leo energy!

You are very young.. A child or perhaps a child at heart. You feel so innocent... Maybe you're an angel! You love to brush your hair or having it brushed, I can see you gliding the brush through long brunette hair and another vision of your mother(?) caring for it, taking care of yourself is your favorite thing as well. Perhaps it's your favorite past time.

Personality wise you're very soft, quiet oh so quiet, and gentle. Like a nice bubble bath. You love to love as well as make love with your.. Spouse?

Ohmygod yes okay Let’s do this!

1. Favorite Book? An abbreviated life by Ariel Leve, but then again there are so many

2. Favorite genre? I love poetry and memoirs but as long as it’s beautifully written I’ll read anything

3. Favorite Author? Gillian Flynn, Richard Siken

4. Least favorite Book? I don’t know if I have one, really? I‘ve read Rupi Kaur which wasn’t what I had anticipated based on reviews but I don’t like saying bad things about something someone put a lot of work and heart into so.

5. Least favorite genre? I’m not a fan of medieval fiction or historical fiction in general

6. Least favorite author? I don’t know, I can’t really think of one.

7. Most recent book you’ve read? I just reread the Harry Potter series and am now reading The bell jar by Sylvia Plath.

8. Favorite place to read? The big armchair in our living room, on public transportation (I’ve missed my stop many times because of this).

9. Favorite guilty pleasure book? I loved John green when I was like 14 because my english teacher gave looking for Alaska to me and it was the first english book I’d read and started my love for the language, so sometimes I like to come back to that.

10. Favorite fairytale? Uhmmm I don’t know that many fairytales, even as kids my mom would read us Harry Potter and the neverending story so for me those are the fairytales I grew up with.

11. Favorite cliche? That we-both-have-Bad-home-lives-so-we-find-homes-in-each-other thing has me weak as does anything with found families.

12. Least favorite cliche? Boy with no personality gets mysterious girl to be his girlfriend because he knew she was „not like other girls“ and wow how amazing of him.

13. First book you remember reading? A trilogy of kids books about four sisters, no idea what it was called but I remember loving it because it reminded me of me and my three sisters.

14. Favorite short story? Challenger deep by Marina Keegan. It moved me like her whole book did, also knowing the background behind it.

15. What kinds of fanfictions do you read? 50k long beautifully written one shots full of angst and introspection with long titles in all lowercase.

16. What book has had the biggest impact on you? Harry Potter because it was my whole childhood but then Crush by Richard Siken. No other book has sentences that punch me in the stomach quite like that one.

17. Last book you couldn’t finish? Ariel by Sylvia Plath but only because I lost my way in it. Definitely plan on finishing that in the near time.

18. Hardcovers or Softcovers? Softcovers, always.

19. Print or ebooks? Print forever.

20. How long is your average reading session? Somewhere between 30 minutes to five hours.

21. Do you listen to audiobooks? When I was younger all the time nowadays only on long long car drives.

22. Ever been to a book signing? No, meeting people I admire gives me anxiety.

23. Science fiction or fantasy? Depends, sometimes both sometimes neither.

24. What was your favorite picture book when you were little? Don’t know the name but it was about a girl who lost her stuffed lamb in New York and it was just the right kind of melancholy for little me.

25. Favorite book you read for school? We didn’t read many good books (in my eyes) for school, and if we did they were in German and so I couldn’t connect with them as well.

26. Least favorite book you read for school? The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Once again, had to read it in German and I couldn’t do it.

27. What is your favorite non-fiction book? An abbreviated life by Ariel Leve.

28. Have you ever written a book review? Aside from for class? Do fanfiction comments count?

29. What book made you cry the hardest? Drums, Girls and dangerous Pie destroyed me when I was like 14 and more recently: the opposite of loneliness by Marina Keegan. Just the introduction had me bawling.

30. If you could have the whole world read one book, what would it be? I guess Crush by Richard Siken. But then they should just read whatever makes them feel the way that book makes me feel.