The Joy of Christmas Book Tag!

Hello everyone! Christmas is upon us and I am beyond excited! I'm home from school and spending time with my family and extra time with my niece (she's an absolute peach). That being said, between cookie baking, wrapping presents, and family time, I've been getting really into the Christmas spirit as well as the reading spirit! Because of my love of reading and of Christmas, I decided to go ahead and do a Christmas book tag! This tag was originally created by Samantha at Novels and Nonsense on BookTube in 2015, but I'm bringing it to this blog in 2017 for you all! 

1) Anticipation: The Christmas excitement is real, what book release(s) are you most anticipating?

My number one anticipated book of 2018 is the next novel in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, followed closely by A Court of Frost and Starlight, also by Sarah J. Maas, and Furyborn by Claire Legrand. I did an entire post on all my other anticipated releases, which you can find here! 

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2) Christmas Songs & Carols: What book or author can you not help but sing it's praises?

Of course I'm going to have to go with Sarah J. Maas for this one. I love all of her books more than I probably should. Every time she releases a new book I get so excited and fall in love immediately. Even if I'm in the longest reading slump to ever hit me, I always am able to finish her books in a day or two. I honestly just love her books and she is such a nice, amazing person that I can't help but sing praises for. 

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3) Gingerbread Houses: What book or series has wonderful world building?

There are so many amazing books out there with fantastic world building, but the one that comes to mind for this is Illuminae and Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I know that they're technically out-of-this-world building, but I still have to go with these books. From the beginning we're on a completely new planet in a galaxy with a different government and society. Yet, it's not hard to follow everything and understand what is going on. Across the first two books of this series we slowly gain an understanding of the universe around these characters. I absolutely love it. 

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4) A Christmas Carol: Favorite classic or one that you want to read

I haven't read very many classics. Of the ones that I have read, my favorites would have to be The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Are these books considered a classic? In my mind they are, so we'll just go with it. Usually when I read books for school I don't enjoy them very much, but these two were so different. I fell in love with the characters and the stories. Of these two, I prefer Hinton's novel, but I love both of them so much. The movies are also quite excellent (even though there are a lot of differences in the Tuck Everlasting movie). I'm getting the urge to pick them up and read both of them again...or at least watch the movies. 

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5) Christmas Sweets: What book would you love to receive for Christmas

This is a long list. When my family asked me for my Christmas list, most of it was books, but I also put a few non-book items on there just to appease the ones who don't understand my love of books. Still, I asked mostly for books. I couldn't narrow down my top book that I wanted, so my top two were The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli. I've been interested in Sanderson's for a while, but it was when one of my friend's was raving about the most recent release that I knew I wanted it this year. I also have had my eye of Ciccarelli's novel since before it came out, but unfortunately have not been able to get it yet. Fingers crossed! 

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6) Candles in the Window: What book gives you that warm fuzzy feeling

Definitely any of the first three Harry Potter books. While the last four also give me feelings of wonder and magic, the first three are more focused on school and have many scenes of Christmas. This time of year is so magical and I feel like that it why the Harry Potter books always feel Christmasy to me--they immerse the reader in a magical world. 

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7) Christmas Trees & Decorations: What are some of your favorite book covers?

 

  

I love many different styles of covers, but some of my current faves include Furyborn by Claire Legrand, The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli, The Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon, and any of Sarah J. Maas's book covers. They're all so beautiful in so many different ways. 

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8) Christmas Joy: What are some of your favorite things about Christmas And/Or some of your favorite Christmas memories?

My favorite part about Christmas isn't the gifts or the food, but the magical, nostalgic feeling that I get whenever Christmas draws near and the family and friends that I get to be around. I love sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, a cup of hot cocoa, and my family to watch Christmas movies into the wee hours of the night. I love seeing my family who I only get to see two or three times a year at most. The presents are nice, but I'd still love Christmas even if we abandoned the gift giving tradition. 

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Thanks for reading! Have a Merry Christmas if you celebrate and a Happy New Year!

xoxo

Lauren

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