Unforgettable Bookish Memories Tag

Hi guys! I’ve been seeing this tag around for a while and I think it looks like a lot of fun – so I’m gonna do it. Even though no one tagged me. Cause for some reason I only want to do the tags no one tags me to do. I wonder what that says about my personality. 

NO. 1: THE FIRST BOOK YOU EVER READ (OR WAS READ TO YOU)

According to my mom the first book she read to me was Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. The first ones I remember her reading to me are Roald Dahl’s books, I have very clear memories of us reading The BFG and The Witches, two of my childhood favorites.

NO. 2: THE FIRST BOOK YOU EVER BOUGHT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY

I was lucky enough to grow up in a home full of books and readers. If there was a book I wanted, we didn’t already have, I just had to ask. So I didn’t buy myself books until I started traveling and I think the first one I bought was The Virgin Suicides my first time in Paris.

NO. 3: A BOOK YOU STAYED UP ALL NIGHT READING

This is a slightly ridiculous answer, but it’s Emma by Jane Austen. I simply couldn’t sleep until I knew for sure that Emma and Mr. Knightly would get their happy ending.

NO. 4: WHAT BOOK OR SERIES WILL YOU NEVER FORGET?

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. It’s my favorite book of all time and I love with all my heart.

NO. 5: A BOOK YOU FREQUENTLY THINK ABOUT

I mean, it’s obviously Harry Potter. I think about those books at least once a day. No other book or series have taken up such a large portion of my mind for such a long time and I doubt one ever will.

NO. 6: A SCENE THAT HAS HAUNTED YOU FOR YEARS AFTER READING IT

Though there are a lot of haunting scenes in The God of Small Things, it’s not one specific scene, but rather the overall mood and theme of the book that’s haunted me ever since I read it. I still have lines from it stuck in my head like a song, like the one about the love laws: “…the laws that lay down who should be loved, and how. And how much.”

NO. 7: AN UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER

Headstrong, free spirited and wild hearted Vasya Petrovna (The main character of The Bear and the Nightingale) of course. She’s my forever favorite.

NO. 8: A BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR OPINION ABOUT SOMETHING

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson. I’ve always been fond of fairytale and myhology retellings. But when it comes to retellings of classic literature, I’m more apprehensive. But after reading the first few lines of Tiger Lily in the bookstore, I couldn’t resist taking it home with me and despite my misgivings, I loved it to pieces. It showed me there’s a lot of value in exploring a classic work from a fresh perspective!

NO. 9: SHARE ANOTHER RANDOM BOOKISH MEMORY

One of my favorites is the time my mom forced my favorite author on me. She found Daughter of Smoke and Bone at a book sale and texted me to ask if I wanted a copy. My shallow self took one look at the cover and was like hard nope, that looks likes 50 shades of angels. But my mom has no respect for my decision making skills, so she bought it anyway. I still didn’t want it. But she kept asking me if I’d read it and finally I was like, OK FINE I’LL READ THE BLOODY BOOK IF YOU CARE SO DEEPLY. And that’s the story of how Laini Taylor became my favorite author. Moms really do know best.

I’d love to hear some of your bookish memories as well! Is there a book or character you’ll never forget? A scene that still haunts you? Let’s talk!