book tag

The Sunshine Blogger Award

kerrimcbooknerd16 Comments

Hello, reader!

For today’s post, I’m tackling catching up on tags and participating in a fun blogger award at the same time! I’ll be doing The Sunshine Blogger Award and I’ll be doing it big! Because I was tagged by not one, not two, but three of my wonderful blogging compatriots. Seriously, Leah @ Leah’s Books, Livy @ Shelves of Starlight, and Danni @ _ForBooksSake are some of the best folks in the blogging community 💖 I love each of their bookish blogs, so you should definitely check them out!

So I’m sure if you’ve been around the blogging community for any amount of time, you know about The Sunshine Blogger Award. It was created to boost those in the community who are “creative, positive, and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.” I personally love it because I love learning more about the various bloggers I follow! Before I jump into answering Leah, Livy, and Danni’s questions, though, let’s take a look at…

The Rules

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog (Thank you, Leah and Livy and Danni!)
  • Answer the eleven questions prompted by the person who nominated you
  • Nominated eleven new bloggers to receive the award and write them eleven new questions
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog

Leah’s Questions

#1. If you could travel to one historical period, when would it be?

Honestly, being a Black woman, this question always makes me pause. Because if we think racism is bad now… That being said, I’d love to visit the Renaissance period when artist like Da Vinci were at work. There was just so much beautiful and creative work done during that time period! Or if I could go see a Shakespearean play at The Globe during the height of his fame, that would be incredible!

#2. What drew you to your favorite genre initially?

Gonna be honest and say the dragons. One of my favorite series as a kid was the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. I was obsessed with those books and, once I had finished them, I snatched up anything dragon/fantasy adjacent. I haven’t looked back since! Fantasy is and will probably continue to be my favorite genre of all time.

Also, the princess in this series is legitimately one of my favorite heroines ever. Cimorene is awesome!

#3. Who are your top 5 authors?

Ohhh, always a tough one. Um… in no particular order, we’ll go with:

  • Angie Thomas
  • Erin Morgenstern
  • Margaret Owen
  • Elizabeth Acevedo
  • V.E. Schwab

There are a few that I feel will make the Top 5 eventually (Jordan Ifueko and Tracy Deonn come to mind!) but I’ve only read one book from them. My rule is I have to have loved at least two books by an author before they get on the favorites list.

#4. What do you think was the most overhyped book of 2020?

I mean one person’s trash is another’s treasure and everything but… yeeeeaaaaah.

I will say that this book wasn’t so much hyped in the book community, but it was definitely overhyped in the broader world. It’s a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award, after all. Insert my extreme eyeroll. This is a heavily problematic book with a problematic author and it wasn’t even that good!

#5. Which book was not hyped up enough in your opinion?

I know The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant had a decent amount of hype before it’s release. I think it was even included in one bookish subscription box! But I don’t think it got nearly the hype that it deserved. I really enjoyed this book and it’s take on the events of Les Misérables! I don’t think the Six of Crows comparison is accurate, though, and I wonder if that’s part of what threw people off. I could write an entire post about how a story having a thief as a main character doesn’t AUTOMATICALLY MAKE IT LIKE SIX OF CROWS… but that rant is for another day 😅 Either way, I thought this was a solid book and I can’t wait to read the sequel!

#6. Who is your favorite villain?

This is probably cheating somewhat because can Ballister Blackheart really be considered a villain?

I mean, sure he robs banks and strikes terror into the hearts of the locals, but he’s such a good guy!

Also, I just want to give him a hug. Him and Nimona. Just one, big, villainous group hug 💕

#7. How do you organize your bookshelves?

With cHAoS.

Seriously, there is no rhyme or reason to my bookshelves. I just throw books on them until I think it looks acceptable 😅😂

#8. Hardcovers or paperbacks?

Hardcovers! Though, if it’s a chonky book, I do prefer paperbacks because it’s not as hard on my wrists, lol. But I love the way hardcovers look on my shelf, I love that you can choose between the dust jacket or the naked cover, and I love that quite a few have pretty designs on the naked cover! Also, in a pinch, they make a hell of a weapon *nod*

#9. What is your favorite cover of the year?

This is a tough choice because there were a lot of excellent covers this year. But I think A Song of Wraiths and Ruin has to take the cake. I mean… look at that Black excellence! I could stare at this cover for hours and it’s even prettier in person, I swear. And have you seen the cover for the sequel?! Ugh… gorgeous. 10/10, would purchase again.

#10. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve used as a bookmark?

Another, skinnier book? It was only for a few moments, though, so I don’t think that counts 😂 So I’ll go with the next weirdest, which was my boss’ business card that was the only thing I could find in my person at the time I was looking for a bookmark!

#11. Which upcoming 2020 release are you most excited about?

There’s not much of 2020 left, but I cannot wait for The Cousins by Karen M. McManus! She has very quickly become my go-to when it comes to YA thrillers. Her books are always a wild ride and I’m assuming The Cousins will be the same! I’m also on a blog tour for this book being put on my The Write Reads, so I get to read this sooooon. I can’t wait!

Livy’s Questions

#1. What is the most recent book that you added to your TBR?

I just added The Midnight Library by Matt Haig a couple of days ago. It has a bookish theme so I couldn’t resist! I’ve never read anything by Matt Haig, but this one sounds incredibly interesting. Also, I kind of love both the US and the UK cover. I would like to say I’ll pick this one up soon, but with the way my TBR is set up… we’ll see 😅

#2. How do you add books to your TBR?

Pure chance? Just kidding 😂 Usually, I add books after hearing someone in the bookish community talk about them. I also add books from my favorite authors automatically. And, every once in awhile, the Goodreads recommendations pops up something that actually sounds interesting!

#3. What was your most recent 5 star read? And why was it 5 stars?

The Fires of Vengance by Evan Winter! This is the sequel to one of my favorite books of 2019 and it did not disappoint. It was just as brutal and gripping as the first book, if not more so! It’s so easy to get lost in the world of this book and the writing is just *chef’s kiss* Loved it!

If you wanna see my full thoughts, you can check out my review HERE.

#4. Favourite TV series to binge and where can I find it?

Ya girl doesn’t watch a lot of TV, if I’m being honest 😅 However, I absolutely love watching The Mandalorian! It’s one of the few shows that I can actually binge. Well… that and true crime shows like Forensic Files and Unsolved Mysteries. The Mandalorian is on Disney+ and, if you feel like some true crime, I usually find those on Netflix.

#5. What book/series would you love to get an adaptation?

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko! I mean, there’s only one book in the series, so far, but it would be INCREDIBLE! It would be so visually pleasing. And I think it would translate well into a series. Not so much a movie… there’s so much going on that I know they would screw it up if they tried to shove it all into 2 hours 😒

#6. Which adaptation do you hate the most?

CASE IN POINT! Can we talk about how bad the adaptation for Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was? Because it was pretty atrocious. Let’s all pretend that movie never happened, yes? Yes.

#7. What is your most anticipated release of 2021?

I haven’t really made my list of most anticipated 2021 releases yet, but this book would definitely be near the top! I can’t wait to read Concrete Rose! Angie Thomas is one of my favs and this book focuses on Maverick’s younger years. Maverick is the father of Starr (from THUG) and I loved his character in that book. I’m so interested to read his backstory and find out more about him. Also, I love the cover!

#8. Favourite thing to snack on whilst reading?

I like to have a drink more than a snack when I’m reading, like hot cocoa. Mostly because I don’t like getting food fingerprints on my books, lol. If I do snack, it’ll probably be something salty like chips. I usually prefer sweets, but salty snack just seem to go with reading, I dunno.

#9. Who’s an author you haven’t read but would love to?

I’m gonna say Riley Sager because I literally own EVERY SINGLE ONE of his books and, yet, have not read any of them. They sound like thrillers that would be right up my alley! The first one was blurbed by Stephen King! I don’t know what’s stopping me from actually picking them up, but I definitely want to read them at some point.

#10. What is your favourite thing about reading?

Oof, there are so many things! I suppose the thing I love the most about reading is being able to secondhand experience so many different cultures/places/adventures. I love getting lost in the world of a book 💖

#11. Why did you start your blog?

The main reason I started my blog was because I don’t have a lot of outlets to talk/gush/rant about books. The book blogging community drew me in and I thought, “Why not?” I’m so glad I decided to take the plunge because this community has been so wonderfully welcoming! Having this blog has been a fantastic experience, so far!

Danni’s Questions

#1. Have you set a GoodReads Reading Goal for the year? If yes, how many books are you hoping to read?

I did! I set it at 60 books and have surpassed it! I’ve been slowly working myself up, building that stamina and confidence, to one day set my Goodreads Reading Goal at 100 books. I don’t think I’m quite there yet, but I do plan on bumping it up to 75 books for 2021. I think I can do it!

#2. What has been your favourite book of 2020 so far?

If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you won’t be shocked by my answer. Raybearer is at the top of my 2020 favorites list and I don’t see it being dethroned any time soon. I’ve actually already re-read it! This is a big deal for me because I’m not big into re-reading books. It was just as incredible the second time around as it was the first, if not more so! Unless something comes along in December that completely blows me out of the water, this book is definitely my favorite of 2020.

#3. What book on your TBR are you most looking forward to reading?

*starts sweating* You want me to pick just one?!

Okay, okay, okay… we’ll go with a book I’ve been wanting to read for ages and now I get to buddy read next month! Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia is one of the Middle Grade Marvels picks for December. It’s been on the poll I think four times and it finally got picked! I’m so excited to give this book a read 😁

#4. Do you have any pets? If yes, please post pictures! (I want to see your cute animals)

YESSSSS! Here we go:

This is Felicia. She’s our oldest kitty (only by a year) and loves to sit on top of me in the morning until I get up. Can you guess what time the cats usually get fed? Yeeeaaah 😂 She’s a talker and she loves my husband the best, but she is a cuddlebug when she wants to be. And, apparently, she’s really good at catching mice… 😬

Here’s Marmalade “helping” with the Christmas decorating a couple of years ago. We got him and his brother (they’re literally from the same litter) about a year after we got Felicia because we couldn’t decide between the two of them. They were both so cute! Marmalade is obsessed with water and falls asleep sitting up a lot. He’s our derpiest cat and we love him to pieces.

And this absolute stunner is Nelson, Marmalade’s brother. I take the most pictures of him because, well… he does things like this a lot 😂 Nelson is the most serious of our cats. He cuddles on his own time and he does not care if it’s not a good time for you. He’s a big boy and will muscle his way into some good pets, lol. He does have a goofy side in which he likes to walk around with a piece of string/hairtie/piece of plastic and yowl at the top of his lungs. Usually at 2 AM. He’s a furry monster and I wouldn’t have him any other way!

#5. Who are your auto buy authors?

The answer to this is kind of the same as my top five authors! I will buy anything that Angie Thomas, Elizabeth Acevedo, Erin Morgenstern, V.E. Schwab, and Margaret Owen puts out! I’d probably add Evan Winter to that list, as well, because I will absolutely be buying the third installment in the Burning series!

#6. What are your favourite books from your childhood?

I talked about the Enchanted Forest Chronicles already, but my absolute favorite book from my childhood has to be The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I absolutely adored this book as a kid and still re-read it from time to time. It’s just as good as an adult as I remember it being as a child! Which is saying something since it’s a mystery and I know how it ends. I still managed to get completely wrapped up in the story every time.

#7. Describe your dream reading space.

Ohhhhh, here we go! Okay, first, there has to be a lot of windows because I am a huge fan of natural light. I need the sun to be able to find me in my cozy reading corner! Next, I would love a built in stereo system that would play some lovely, ambient music. I would be able to set the music to fit either my mood or whatever book I’m reading at the moment. There would, of course, be tons of bookshelves and I would have a special shelf just for my unread books so that they’re easy to peruse when I want to find my next read. Off in a corner, there would be a hot chocolate station where I could make some delicious hot cocoa to sip while I read. There would be a fireplace for the winter time and a giant, cozy chair just absolutely buried in comfy blankets. I’ll have a closet for blanket storage in the warmer months. And I’ve recently become kind of obsessed with candles, so there would be candles everywhere. Oh! And a wall dedicated to displaying pretty bookish prints. Sigh… the dream….

#8. What is your favourite bookish merch?

Bookmarks! And, recently, candles! The candle that was in the special edition Addie LaRue OwlCrate… I want, like, fifty of those, please. I’ve already burnt through it and the my world is diminished because I can no longer fill my little nook with it’s heavenly scent 😩

#9. What are your biggest bookish pet peeves?

When someone borrows your book and either never returns it or returns it damaged. Like… we gonna fight 😤 I’ve been burned in the past which is probably why I am very hesitant to lend books out to people now.

Also when people can clearly see you’re reading but insist on that moment in time to try and engage in small talk. Unless the house is on fire or something of similar importance occurs, please leave me alone. You couldn’t try and talk to me about Great Aunt Petunia’s rose garden when I was just lying on the bed scrolling through Twitter? Ugh…

#10. How do you feel about DNF’ing a book?

I’m all for it! …Unless it’s a book I’m reading. I am quick to tell other people that life is too short to waste your time reading a book you’re not enjoying. And, yet, I will make myself struggle through a book until the bitter end. That’s why The Scarlet Letter is a book I actually read from beginning to end even though it physically hurt me to do so. I may be being a bit dramatic… BUT NOT MUCH. I don’t know why I choose not to apply the same philosophy I dish out to my own reading life. Perhaps that will be something to work on in 2021, lol.

#11. You can only read one genre for the rest of your life, what are you choosing, and why?

Fantasy. Hands down. No contenders. I just love it so much! Plus, fantasy can have a bit of everything: romance, mystery, thrills. It can be light and cozy or dark and creepy. It can make you laugh. It can make you cry. It has a little bit of everything!

Plus, there’s dragons.

My Nominees

My Questions

  1. What was your favorite and least favorite book of 2020?
  2. If you could only read one series/book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  3. You have to choose one genre that will disappear overnight. What do you choose?
  4. What is your favorite and least favorite trope in books?
  5. What is your favorite movie that no one really talks about?
  6. What book are you most excited to read in 2021?
  7. You’ve fallen into a book! Who do you think you would be: the protagonist, the villain, or the plucky sidekick?
  8. What is your favorite book that is outside of your favorite genre?
  9. Pick your poison: coffee, tea, or hot cocoa?
  10. Are you planning on participating in any year long reading challenges in 2021? If so, what are they?
  11. Once we’re able to travel safely again, where would you travel to first if money were no issue?

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16 thoughts on “The Sunshine Blogger Award”

  1. Well- technically my blog is supposed to me of a musical theatre blog, but now it almost became more bookish. So- it actually has turned into a musical theatre/book blog

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  3. I love your answers! The Court of Miracles was such a great book (and I definitely didn’t see the comparison to SoC), and so under hyped! Plus, your cats are super cute and their personalities come through in those pictures. You’ve got me so hyped to read Raybearer now. I’m so glad you did this!

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  4. Congrats on your nominations and really great answers! I loved reading them 🙂 LOL at how you organise your bookshelves–with chaos. Relatable, although I have redone my shelves recently! Concrete Rose looks and sounds so good. I can’t wait for it 😍 And I hope you enjoy Tristan Strong! It was such a great read. Tristan is such a great character and his arc was so good 😊

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  5. Wow, so many questions to answer, but I loved them all and your answers of course. 🙂
    I’d love to go back to the Rennaisance period too. I think I have a thing for olden days dresses though, but the art from that period was so beautiful too. 😀 I recently started learning more about history (I LOVE history) and there was a surprising amount of black people in tudor Europe and before too so I don’t know if racism was as bad back then as it was later on. They were in quite well respected jobs too, one was even a favourite muician of King Henry VIII! Weird how we don’t learn about this at school, at least I never did. Over here in the UK school doesn’t do much history except the Tudors, Stuarts and WW2. :/ I hope younger people are learning more than I did back then. .
    I’ve only read an excert of Raybearer, a while ago now, but you’ve made me want to read the whole thing as soon as possible!! 🙂
    I just love your cat pics, especially Nelson, that pose! 😂
    Thank you so much for nominating me, your so lovely! ❤ Can't wait to do this award! 🙂

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    • I completely agree with you about the history we learn in school. There is so much that is left out or changed, it seems! I hope that starts to change. Ohh, I hope you do pick up Raybearer and I hope you love it as much as I do ❤ Nelson is our little ham, lol. I can’t wait to read your answers, Cat!

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