Tag: book tag

The Winter Wonderland Book Tag!

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

At first, I was going to create a post about a Valentine’s Day book tag. But the Valentine’s themed book tags I found either heavily emphasized romance books or I couldn’t find an answer to all the provided questions. So, I decided to write about a winter themed book tag instead, as Valentine’s Day takes place within the winter season. When I came across the Winter Wonderland Book Tag, I could immediately think of answers for each question! Even though one of the questions mentions Christmas, the majority of the questions simply relate to the season of winter. Within these six questions, I will talk about books that have either been brought up on 18 Cinema Lane or books that haven’t been mentioned before. Now, let the book tag begin!

Ski lodge during winter-time image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/ski-station-background_3423830.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

1. What book is so happy & sweet that it warms your heart?

    As soon I read this question, I immediately thought of The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight! Having read this book back in 2018, I remember how sweet this story was. It, honestly, felt like I was reading a Hallmark movie. What I mean by that is The Christmas Child was heart-warming and wholesome. There were emotional moments woven into the text, but the book never felt too emotionally heavy. Plus, the relationship between Kade and Sophie was sweet!

    2. What is your favorite book with a white cover?

    Because there’s a lot of snow on the cover of David Baldacci’s The Christmas Train, that’s the book I’ll choose for this question. This is one of the few books I’ve ever given five out of five stars to! Though it’s been years since I read The Christmas Train, I recall how intriguing the mystery was and how distinctive the characters were. In fact, I think this book serves as a good introduction to David Baldacci’s literary work! I would also recommend the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation, as I remember how respectful it was toward the source material.

    3. You’re sitting in a nice comfy chair, wearing a onesie, with a lovely warm hot chocolate but what MONSTER read are you reading?

    When I read the term, “MONSTER read”, I interpreted it as a book with a large page count. Due to that interpretation, I chose All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Even though I thought the book was just ok, I liked the author’s use of descriptive imagery and attention to detail. Like I said in my review of All the Light We Cannot See from 2022, I, as a reader, could picture the story in my head because of the aforementioned elements. It also helps how each part contained a collection of shorter chapters, giving the book a steadier pace.

    Snowboarder on the slopes image created by Freepic.diller at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/woman-in-ski-suit-looks-over-her-shoulder-going-down-the-hill-on-her-snowboard_1620624.htm’>Designed by Freepic.diller</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/tree”>Tree image created by Freepic.diller – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    4. It started snowing so you decided to have a snowball fight! What fictional character would you love to have the snowball fight with?

    My favorite character from Murder, She Wrote: The Fine Art of Murder is Victorio! He not only has a fascinating backstory, he also has a lively personality. Victorio was such a memorable character, I wish he received his own spin-off series. When participating in a snowball fight, it helps to surround yourself with people who have a good sense of humor and don’t take things too seriously. With everything I said, I would choose Victorio for this question!

    5. Sadly, your fire is beginning to go out. So what book would you tear the last few chapters out to throw into the fire?

    If you’re going to create stories for a younger audience, you need to be mindful about the content incorporated into that story. This is due to how impressionable a younger audience can be. In Smoke Screen by Amy Goldman Koss, I found some poor lessons found among the text. A few examples are it’s ok to not be a person of your word, breaking promises is fine as long as it benefits you, and making compromises is a waste of time. It also does not help how Mitzi, the protagonist, is a static, self-centered, and entitled character throughout the book. If younger readers were to read this book, they may get the wrong idea about how the world, problem-solving, and interactions with other people work. So, to answer the question, I would select the last few chapters of Smoke Screen and recommend a better ending.

    6. What book is so close to your heart that you would gift to someone this Christmas who hasn’t read before but wants to get into reading?

    Last year, I talked about The Princess Spy by Larry Loftis on more than one occasion. The book was featured in my post about the Finally Fall Book Tag and in my annual Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List. Larry Loftis’ book, The Princess Spy, was the best book I read for last year’s Eurovisionathon readathon! As I said in the Finally Fall Book Tag, it was both educational and entertaining, showcasing the research and literary skill Larry incorporated. I would recommend The Princess Spy to readers who like nonfiction books or stories taking place during WWII. If one wants to read about WWII from a woman’s perspective, this book would be a good choice.

    Snowy mountain image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/landscape-background-of-snow-track-and-mountains_968656.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    Have fun during Winter!

    Sally Silverscreen

    The Finally Fall Book Tag!

    On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

    Back in April, my review of the 1976 film, Network, became my 375th movie review! Then, in July, my El Dorado movie review became my 850th published post! While figuring out how to commemorate these milestones, I realized it has been a year since I wrote a book tag. Now that Fall/Autumn has arrived, I chose the Finally Fall Book Tag! With Eurovision season in full swing, I will share in each tag prompt which books I read during this year’s Eurovisionathon readathon. I also included a picture of each book cover so my readers can visualize which books I’m referring to.

    Book cover images found on Goodreads. Finally Fall Book Tag image created by me, Sally Silverscreen.

    1. In fall, the air is crisp and clear: name a book with a vivid setting!

    One of the best aspects of The Night Circus (the book I read for Germany) was its descriptive imagery. Through elegant, descriptive writing, Erin Morgenstern crafted an immersive world readers can picture in their minds. From “The Ice Garden” at the circus to the tree Bailey likes to climb, the attention to detail helped places feel realistic. Even the circus itself became its own character because of Erin’s construction of the setting. After reading The Night Circus, I can now understand why some readers want to see this book adapted into a movie!

    2. Nature is beautiful… but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief.

    Though I won’t spoil the book I read for Greece, Piranesi, I will say there are heavier themes woven into the story. But the way Susanna Clarke wrote the book was logic driven while also evoking fantastical whimsy. The world surrounding the protagonist was truly unique, with descriptive imagery well used throughout the book! Each room Piranesi explores contains intrigue due to the nice, gradual build-up to the mystery’s reveal. Piranesi’s creativity worked in Susanna’s favor, as the book will be adapted into a Laika film!

    3. Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new.

    The Princess Spy by Larry Loftis tells the story of Aline Griffith, a woman who joined the United States war effort by working in the realm of espionage. The book not only shares Aline’s story, it also explores the history of the CIA’s predecessor; the Office of Strategic Services. I am so thankful I chose to read The Princess Spy for Spain! It was both an educational and entertaining book, showcasing the research and literary skill Larry incorporated. I would, honestly, recommend The Princess Spy, as it was the best book I read for this year’s Eurovisionathon!

    4. In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend-group that you’d like to be a part of.

    In Elissa Brent Weissman’s book, The Length of a String, Imani has a tight-knit family. The story shows how they continually support one another, as well as remind each other what is truly important. Imani’s down-to-earth personality and realistic perspective are a reflection of her strong family unit. Through her interactions with her family, Imani and the reader learn important lessons, such as how Luxembourg was impacted by World War II. The Length of a String is the second-best book I read for 2024’s Eurovisionathon! One of the strengths of the story was how Imani and her family were well written.

    5. The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines!

    For this prompt, I will, instead, share four book covers that feature, at least, one fall color. These book covers are:

    • Axel of Evil – Ukraine (orange)
    • Wolves of Eden – Ireland (orange)
    • Pinocchio – Italy (orange and yellow)
    • The Finnish Line – Finland (yellow and red)

    6. Fall is the perfect time for some storytelling by the fireside: share a book wherein somebody is telling a story.

    Throughout Felix Francis’ book, Iced, Miles shares the story of his life and reflects on his career as a steeplechase jockey. His exploration of his past reveals his mental health and addiction related struggles. But Felix’s decision to prioritize Miles’ part of the story overshadowed the book’s mystery. This creative decision also gave the story little to no sense of urgency, suspense, or intrigue. When I first read the synopsis of Iced, I was intrigued by a whodunit revolving around a horse race in Switzerland. The book’s aforementioned major flaw left me disappointed.

    7. The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read.

    While not considered a “creepy” read, The Winter Soldier is a “dark” read due to its darker subject matter. Because the story focuses on the medical and traumatic sides of World War I, medical procedures and injuries are described throughout the book. Despite the heavier topics within the story, Daniel Mason chose to present war from a more humane perspective by emphasizing human connections. With Lucius being The Winter Soldier’s protagonist, these human connections are found in Lucius’ life, from his early years in Austria to his time mending wounded soldiers in an abandoned church’s makeshift hospital.

    8. The days are getting colder: name a short, heartwarming read that could warm up somebody’s cold and rainy day.

    I will pick two books for this prompt. The first choice is William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night! This is considered one of Shakespeare’s light-hearted plays, as it’s classified as a romantic comedy. There are also some musical moments within the story because the play takes place around Christmastime in what is now known as Croatia. The second book I selected was Little Lord Fauntleroy! This is such a wholesome, heart-warming story, emphasizing the themes of kindness and staying true to yourself. It helps that Cedric is a likable, selfless protagonist, as he doesn’t allow his new life in the U.K. to change him or his values.

    9. Fall returns every year: name an old favorite that you’d like to return to soon.

    As I mentioned in prompt number five, I read Axel of Evil by Alina Adams. This is the third book in the Figure Skating Mysteries series, a series I’ve found quite enjoyable. So, for this prompt, I would choose to return to the world of competitive figure skating and follow Bex’s adventures!

    10. Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”!

    What I have chosen for this prompt, instead, are two book covers featuring a cozy accessory. On the covers of The Finnish Line and The Length of a String, a coat is clearly visible. To me, this is the perfect cozy accessory for those cooler, fall days!

    Prompt eleven asks tag participants to tag more people. For my book tag post, I will let my readers decide if they want to participate in the tag.

    Have fun during Fall!

    Sally Silverscreen

    The Spring Cleaning Book Tag

    On By 18cinemalane5 Comments

    When I reviewed The Princess and the Pirate last year, that article became my 300th movie review! Then, earlier this year, my review of Sea Change became my 325th movie review! As March is National Reading Month and since I haven’t written a reading related tag in three years, I’m commemorating these milestones with a book tag! While searching for a tag on Booktube (the book/reading community on Youtube), I stumbled upon the Spring Cleaning Book Tag video from the channel, OwlCrate. I realized I had an answer to every question the hosts shared in the video. I also remembered how spring is on the horizon. If any of my readers are interested in participating in the Spring Cleaning Book Tag, they are welcome to write their own tag posts!

    Happy reading place image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    1. The Struggle of Getting Started – A book or book series you struggle to begin because of its size

    In the past, I’ve read the first book and the short story collection in The Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series. While I have enjoyed reading those books, I’ve struggled to continue past the first novel. This is because I haven’t found the time to read the rest of the series. At one point, I did start the second book, only to not finish it. I do want to read more of the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children books. I just need to make a stronger effort to continue.

    2. Cleaning Out the Closet – A book or book series you want to unhaul

    For last month’s Buzzwordathon, I reviewed The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore by Joan Lowery Nixon. Because of Joan’s creative decisions, I found the book disappointing. The protagonist, Christina, makes several contradictions that could make a reader frustrated. Joan prioritizing Christina’s “coming of age” story caused the novel’s suspense to be far and few between, as well as provide a lack of urgency. So, if I had the opportunity to unhaul a book, I’d select The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore.

    3. Opening Windows and Letting Fresh Air In – A book that was refreshing

    Since I’ve read some books in the Murder, She Wrote series, I’ll choose these stories for this prompt! What I like about the series is how the books aren’t novelizations of episodes the show’s fans have already seen. Instead, these stories are new, unique tales featuring characters and settings fans of Murder, She Wrote have come to know and adore. Creating a new story takes creativity and effort. So, the fact this series contains different stories from the show is, in my opinion, refreshing!

    4. Washing Out the Sheets’ Stains – A book you wish you could re-write a certain scene in

    As I mentioned in my tag post, The “Flaming Hot…5 Reasons Why” Tag, Kili is my favorite character from The Hobbit trilogy. With that said, I would re-write the conclusion of The Battle of the Five Armies, so Kili and the rest of The Company could receive a more victorious outcome. If this had happened, that victorious outcome might have been translated to The Hobbit trilogy.

    Taking out the trash photo created by Katemangostar at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/unhappy-woman-holding-trash-with-disgusting-smell_1305783.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/person”>Person image created by Katemangostar – Freepik.com</a>. Image found on freepik.com.

    5. Throwing Out Unnecessary Knick-Knacks – A book in a series you didn’t feel was necessary

    Off the top of my head, I couldn’t think of an unnecessary book in a series. But when I first heard the prompt, I thought of an unnecessary subplot in a book, so I’ll talk about that instead. In Private L.A., by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan, I was not a fan of Justine’s subplot, specifically the part where she develops romantic feelings for a man named Paul. Not only did I not sense chemistry between Paul and Justine, this part of the story wasn’t resolved. Personally, I wish James and Mark had solely focused on Justine coming to terms with her PTSD symptoms.

    6. Polishing the Door Knobs – A book that had a clean finish

    Not every book is meant to start a series or a literary universe. Sometimes, a story only needs to be told in one book. That leads me to bring up Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton! Without spoiling the book or its film adaptation, I will say the story had a definitive ending, with everything wrapping up as nicely as possible. While I wouldn’t oppose a sequel to Adam’s story, I don’t think it’s necessary.

    7. Reaching to Dust the Fan – A book that tried too hard to relay a certain message

    Definitely California Angel by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg. It seems like Nancy tried to capitalize on programs like Touched by an Angel and Miracle on 34th Street without presenting or attempting to present a complete understanding for what made those programs work. Also, it seems like Nancy used faith as an excuse to avoid explaining why certain events were taking place in the story.

    8. The Tiring, Yet Satisfying Finish of Spring Cleaning – A book series that was tiring, yet satisfying, to get through

    For this last prompt, I’ll be selecting All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr instead. Reading the novel for 2022’s Buzzwordathon, I completed this 500+ page story in less than six month’s time. Though it took me longer to read than I expected, I’m glad I finally read the book! Because I finished All the Light We Cannot See, I can now have an honest opinion about it.

    Employee leaving job image created by rawpixel.com at freepik.com. https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by rawpixel.com – http://www.freepik.com. Image found at freepik.com.

    Have fun during National Reading Month!

    Sally Silverscreen