Happy Wednesday Bibliofriends!

We are halfway through the week already! Whilst I was planning out blog posts for this month, I came across an entertaining book tag over at Randomly Bookish Gina’s channel on YouTube linking to Mardi Gras. Being from the UK, our Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) takes place on the same day as Mardi Gras, however it is quite a different type of celebration so this was a brilliant opportunity for me to learn about other worldwide traditions.

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Designated Driver: What re-read book is reliable to get you out of a reading slump?

To get me out of a reading slump, I have to effectively pick up one of my ‘God-Tier’ books which I go on and on about to anyone that will listen. Think Sarah J Maas, Addie La Rue, Harry Potter, the Inheritance Games, Emily Henry… anything from that list will banish my reading slump to hell!

The Drunk Best Friend: Which character(s) would you like to grab a drink with, or simply hangout with for a night on the town?

Who am I partying with…? Princess Samantha from American Royals! I’m positive there will be plenty of drama and drunken antics!

Fat Tuesday: Which book on your TBR can you not wait to devour?

Crescent City 3 is sitting on my bookshelf as we speak and is sending my little winks and pouty faces! I also bought a 10^th anniversary edition of The Bone Season which I managed to get signed and dedicated by Samantha Shannon at a literature event last year so that would also qualify as a good pick too.

Lent: Which genre would you give up reading for 40 days?

I could probably give up Romance or Science Fiction easily for 40 days. I don’t think I could live without a little mystery or fantasy in my life for that long though!

Masquerade Masks: Which book do you mask that you have read? (Ex: a book you’re embarrassed about, a book or author you’re embarrassed by having not read yet, a guilty pleasure book, something you hide behind etc.)

I’m embarrassed to have read the entire Fifty Shades of Grey series – I mean, it’s not even really my genre. I just got swept away on the hype train. I also have some very promiscuous covers on my iBooks bookshelf, but to be honest I don’t think they’ll ever get read!

The Annual Mardi Gras Party/Parade: What classic could you read time and time again?

Taking ‘classic’ in the classical literature sense, I would pick Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. The rural landscapes are exceptionally well written and the very provincial love triangle is so at contrast with the time period. There’s a brilliant range of characters and it has a balance between tragedy and redemption too.

New Orleans: Which fictional place would you like to party?

The Green Dragon Inn of Bywater in The Shire, mixed with some of Gandalf’s epic fireworks of course!

Jazz Music: What book just makes you want to dance? (Could be when you received it or as you read it)

Geekerella by Ashley Poston makes me want to go to a massive Comic Con and dance the night away at the after-party.

The Colors of Mardi Gras:

Purple represents Justice: Which character do you feel got justice at the end of the book or series? Holland from the Darker Shades of Power series by V.E. Schwab. He’s such a morally grey character but I feel his ending was somewhat deserving.
Green represents Faith: Which character would you put your complete faith in, no matter the situation?
Aelin Ashryver Galathynius from Throne of Glass – every damn time!
Gold represents Power: Which book gave you a very powerful emotion after reading it?
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill – the evolution of the characters, the attitudes to women. It was pretty heartwarming.

Show Your Tatas, Get Those Beads!!! Which character would you throw beads to?

I genuinely had to look this up to work out in what context the beads were being thrown in! Now that I know that, I would be throwing beads to Jacks, the Prince of Hearts from Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart series. I can only imagine the initial scowl he’d have from having something thrown at him. Then I can imagine him smiling sardonically, joining in and throwing beads right back!

BONUS: Southern Hospitality: Give an example of a time when you received beyond exceptional service in a bookstore!

I was away in London for the weekend when I finished reading American Royals #1. I immediately had to have the next book in the series and one of the only bookshops that had it in stock was Waterstones on Strand! When I took it to the till, the cashier’s face lit up when she saw it and we both had a little fangirling moment over the series! It was pretty sweet!

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That’s a wrap! This tag was so much fun that it makes me wish we had a little more carnival atmosphere in the UK for our own Shrove Tuesday celebrations! Do you celebrate Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day or Mardi Gras? Do you have different traditions for your own celebrations in the run up to Easter? If you fancy like continuing the tag and creating your own prompt answers, consider yourselves tagged!! As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx