Month: September 2016

Hey peeps and welcome to another tag! So the one I’m doing today I first saw on emmmabooks channel called I Am the Reader and it was created by PenguinTeen. This tag is to celebrate the book called The Reader by Traci Chee.

The synopsis says: Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.

And if that sounds interesting to you, then you can get your hands on this book now because it was released on September 13th! So let’s jump into the tag:

1 . Choose one word that describes being a reader.

Fun. Seriously, think about it. As a reader you get to discover new worlds, meet new characters, talk with other book lovers (like you peeps!). I mean, what could be more fun?

2. What’s the very first book you fell in love with?

I remember several books that I fell in love with, but the one that sticks out in my mind the most, and the one book I’ve reread four times, is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. This book shaped so many young people’s lives when it came out and I was definitely one of those people. I fell in love with the characters, the story, the plot, everything about it. I was a Twihard through and through before it was even considered for a movie. And I could talk about it with my friends, and then I had my husband read them (when we had just started dating in high school), and even he liked them! It’s just one of those books that will always remain in my heart for so many reasons.

3. Hardcover or paperback?

I personally prefer hardcover just because I think they’re much prettier and easier to hold when reading and such, but I really don’t mind paperback because they’re cheaper and they can still be pretty.

4. How has reading shaped your identity?

Oh man. I can definitely say these past two years have really shaped my identity because before, yeah, I loved to read for fun and stuff, but until I started blogging and really getting into it, I would read – maybe – one book for fun per year. If I was lucky, anyway. But I’ve always loved to read. From the time I was young, I was picking up books. I remember as a kid I would read fairytales and kids science books and books about certain topics, like puberty or animals or whatever. But as I grew older, my reading slowed down (I hated summer reading because all of the books were boring to me until my last required year in high school), but I’d always find those few hidden gems that I’d love and reread over and over again.

These past two years, though, have been tremendous for me in terms of calling myself a reader. My coworkers know that I run this blog and occasionally talk to me about it. I got a tattoo on my back that’s a quote about how much I love books, for crying out loud:

So how has reading shaped my identity? Everyone knows me as a reader. Everyone knows just how much I love books and they’re generally surprised when I tell them I haven’t read certain series yet (*cough*HarryPotter*cough*) and they just know exactly what to give me during certain times of the year. I used to just be Rayna, but since starting my blog I’ve become Reader Rayna, and I’m perfectly happy with that.

5. What book do you read when you need to be comforted?

I honestly don’t turn to reading when I need to be comforted. For me, yeah, reading is relaxing, but I really enjoy getting into the stories and really focusing on what I’m reading. If I’m not in the right mood, then I can’t read.

But, if I were to lean toward a book, then I’d probably choose one I know can make me either smile, laugh, or one I’ve read multiple times, like Twilight. Or maybe just read manga so my mind can also focus on the images.

6. Who taught you to be a reader? (Or did you do it all on your own?)

I honestly learned all on my own, really. I mean, my parents always encouraged it and would always get me books if I asked and everything, but in terms of my passion for reading? That’s all my own. My parents don’t read for fun at all, so really it’s all me.

7. Describe your dream reading lounge.

I could say Belle’s library (which is amazing), but honestly I would just like a wall of bookshelves full of books, and a small nook where I could have a large, stuffed chair with a throw blanket, and a small table on the side to rest my book or a cup of juice. Kind of like this but with a space for a small table:

8. What book changed the way you act or see the world?

Hmm, this one’s tough because I don’t know if there actually has been a book that’s made me change the way I act or see the world. Like I said, Twilight had a huge significance in my life in high school when I first read it, but I don’t know if something’s really changed the way I view things… But I mean, doesn’t every book effect us in some way?

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So there you have it! I thought this tag asked a lot more personal, detailed questions than a lot of tags do, so I really wanted to do this one.

For people I’m tagging, I tag…

• Nicole @ PopCrunchBoom! Books
• Kirsty @ Kirsty and the Cat Read
• Sophie @ Blame Chocolate
• YOU! If you want to do this tag, then please do so!

Let’s Chat! ≧◡≦

What would your dream book lounge look like? And how has reading shaped YOUR identity? Tell me all the things!