Would You Rather Book Tag | 2.0

Looking back through some of my old posts, I realized it’s been just over a year since I did my first Book Tag (September 2017). There have been some changes on my blog since then, in terms of new and better content, and thankfully some things about myself have changed, too. So I thought I would review my first Book Tag – the Would You Rather Book Tag – and see if I still align with my 2017 self (on the featured topics). 

First, though, I found this tag on Starring Pamela, and you can read her post here. I still have yet to discover the creator of this particular version of Would You Rather Book Tag, so if you know who it is, please let me know so I can credit them!

Okay, now I’m good to go (I have italicized my original 2017 answers)

Would you rather: a series or a standalone?

A standalone. I haven’t read enough series to choose them over standalone novels – that’s really my only reason.

I have read, or at least have started to read, more series since last September. But I’m going to stick with standalone. Standalones give me the chance to read more widely, since in a series, I’m in one world for x amount of books.

Would you rather: read only female authors or only male authors?

From what century? What genre? Canon or non-canon? My instinct is to go with only female authors but I would never be able to totally limit myself like that. Okay, this is my one allowance.

My 2018 feelings on this are not any different than those from 2017. And by “one allowance” I was referring to allowing myself not to choose between the two. 

Would you rather: shop at Barnes & Noble or Amazon?

I am not someone who likes shopping with Amazon; it’s too cluttered, too loud; just too much. Besides the occasional cell phone case and armband, I haven’t purchased anything of high value from Amazon, let alone a book. For reasons outlined in this New York Times article, and what I just mentioned, I will choose Barnes & Noble one thousand times over.

I still choose Barnes & Noble one thousand times over. But it’s important to and for me to point out that since I first did this tag, I have purchased many books from Amazon – books I wouldn’t have had access to without it, so I’ve [mostly] stopped being a snob about buying books on Amazon. 

Would you rather: all book adaptations become movies or tv shows?

TV shows. I feel that there is a little more creative leeway for television, even in miniseries, as well as an opportunity for better development than in a two-hour movie.

This has not changed either.

Would you rather: read 5 pages a week or 5 books a week?

Five books a week, definitely! I think my life would be richer if I could read/ingest five books a week.

Still five books a week. 

Would you rather: be a professional book reviewer or a professional author?

Hmm…I’m thinking deeply about this because my instinct is to say BOTH! but I’ve already used up my allowance. I suppose I would rather be a professional author [who posts book reviews on her blog].

I’m not great at making either/or decisions, if you couldn’t tell. But honestly this was pretty clever of 2017 me and 2018 me is sticking to it!

Would you rather: only read your top 20 books over and over again or always read a new book?

Maybe if it was top 200 books I would choose that, but since it’s only 20 (Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia would take up almost all of them) I’ll choose always read a new book. Plus, my mind would be so much more expansive!

20 books was too low for me to choose that over always reading a new book in 2017, and it still is in 2018.

Would you rather: be a librarian or book seller?

A librarian. Libraries (honest ones) do not discriminate, segregate, or exclude and as a librarian I could offer anyone a book (books) to read for free. Bliss!

Ditto. I’m lucky enough that my favorite bookstores have such lovely and wonderful people working in them, so my answer doesn’t come out of a bad impression of book sellers. It’s just, well, my 2017 answer explains my choice well enough. 

Would you rather: read only from your favorite genre or read anything but your favorite genre?

At the moment, my favorite genre is dystopian fiction, so I’m going to say only from my [current] favorite genre. Dystopian fiction has so many possibilities and roadways so I don’t think I would get bored or tired of reading just those books.

My answer stays the same – only from my favorite genre – but that favorite has changed to fantasy. I could definitely read that forever. 

Would you rather: read physical books or ebooks?

Read physical books. I can’t stand reading ebooks because I stare at screens way too much for my job/in my daily life, and there’s nothing quite like holding an actual book, whether it be new or used. And if you go on a trip and pack ten or fifteen physical books you acquire more muscle mass, so there!

I didn’t realize my physical book snobbery had lasted into the Fall of 2017. Sure, I still would rather read a physical book, but the ebook is nearly priceless. I think about the authors who I’ve since accepted their books for review – ebook versions – and know that my reading life would be far less fulfilling if I hadn’t accepted because they were only able to send me an ebook. I would have missed out on so many great connections and interactions and books – I wish I hadn’t been so obnoxious. 

Well there it is. My revised version of the Would You Rather Book Tag. If you made it to the end without being bored, great! Thank you for reading my reflections. 😊 I’m not going to tag anyone for this, but if you haven’t yet done the Would You Rather Book Tag, consider yourself tagged!