What’s In My Bookshelf Tag

It was just a couple of days ago since I made a book tag but here I am again, doing a new one, the What’s in my Bookshelf Tag. I came across this book tag while searching for an interesting content. I came across it through Naty’s Bookshelf. It immediately caught my attention and so I decided to try it.

As is the case in most of book tags I have done, I wasn’t tagged by any particular book blogger. However, I am always up to the challenge in doing book tags because I enjoy answering and doing book tags. Moreover, I also enjoy sharing my thoughts.

The Original Rules are:

• Link back to me so I can see everyone’s answers!
• Also link back to the person who tagged you! (In my case none)
• Name one book for each category; try not to repeat books to make this more fun!
• Tag at least 5 people. You know me, I don’t tag fellow bloggers. However, if you feel like doing it, go ahead. Just don’t forget rule number one!

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A Library Book

None. I have no library book in my bookshelf right now. As a matter of fact, since graduating from college, I have never borrowed a Library Book. It didn’t help that there is no library near where I am living right now. Unlike most progressive countries, libraries are rarities in the Philippines although there are some public libraries in major cities.

A Book You Got as a Gift

IT by Stephen King. I rarely get books as a gift (and it makes me really wonder why because most of my friends know how I love books and reading). Occasionally, though, I receive books as a gift. The most recent book I got as a gift was Stephen King’s It. I got it during our office’s recent Kris Kringle. As expected, my Kris Kringle list was made of purely books (I always get books for my Kris Kringle). Outside of Kris Kringle, I remember receiving only one book as a gift and that is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I received it from my former boss as a birthday gift.

A Childhood Book

None. Unfortunately, I only started reading during my senior year in high school. As a result, I have no books from my childhood books in my bookshelf. However, I have a couple of children’s books though like Katherine Paterson’s The Bridge to Terabithia and Roald Dahl’s Mr. Fox. I only bought them when I started working, i.e. 2012.

A Magical Book

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling. I have a bevy of magical books in my bookshelf. The first author that comes to mind at the mention of magic is J.K. Rowling. I have three of her works, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I have some Haruki Murakami and Gabriel Garcia Marquez works as well. Although they are masters of a different genre, their works are always fascinating and magic-filled.

A Romantic Book

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I am not really into English classic, and I do have a difficult time appreciating them, especially the English classic romance (I found them tedious to read, owing mostly to the language). One of the few ones that I did appreciate is Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. This is in spite of my compunction of naming a Nicholas Sparks novel for this question. At the mention of romance, I his works are the easiest picks; I do have a lot of his works. But I still chose Jane Eyre. What makes the book more significant for me is that it restored my interest in classical works.

A Steamy Book

Hollywood Husbands by Jackie Collins. I don’t have a book that would fall within the definition of “steamy” in my Manila collection. However, I do have some in my Bontoc collection. I was first introduced to Jackie Collins’ steamy works when I was in high school. Back then, I thought steamy books were fun. As a result, I delved into the works of Jackie Collins, e.g. Hollywood Husbands.

The books were fun, especially for a young naïve reader like me. I found the raunchy details very funny, making me bawl in laughter at the obscenity of it all. As I grew up, my perspective changed. I begun to see the pointlessness and whimsy they are wrapped in (did I mention that fact that most of the time, they are lackadaisically written!). I guess I used to like these kinds of books because of the intrigue. I didn’t even read the highly controversial E.L. James trilogy. (Hint: It has Fifty on its title lol).

An Old Book

Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust. I bought the book last 2015. It is an old version of the book; the edition I have was published in 1970s. The book looks very old as well. On the other hand, I do have a lot of “old books” that I have acquired through online resellers, most I have yet to read (like Swann’s Way! Haha).

A Book that Makes You Happy and/or Laugh

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. I know I shouldn’t laugh at this book because of its political nature, and it does involve the dark side of Iran. However, I cannot help but crack at Marjane’s rebelliousness and her keen sense of observation. She has a very puerile yet very pure and very funny way of describing her situation (including that of her nation). Oh the irony.

A Book that Makes You Emotional

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. If there is one book that can make me cry one liter of tears it would be this masterfully written piece. It is a complex story about friendship, and love. But its take on self-love (and self-hatred) takes it on a whole new level, rousing several hidden emotions within me. It is very difficult to appreciate one’s self when one is always met by a misfortune, or worse, pain.

A Book Whose Ending You Dislike

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Alright, the colossal masterpiece; there is no doubt about that. However, the way it ended was anticlimactic, not justifying the entire story. The entire epilogue can be a novelette in itself but it wrapped up the narrative very unsatisfactorily, much to my (and a lot of other readers’) dismay.

A Book You Wish Had Illustrations

The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. I really don’t mind if the books have illustrations or not so I put the first book that came to mind. This Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece is, after all, about comics.

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So readers, there goes my version of What’s in my Bookshelf Tag. I hope you enjoyed reading through it. To reiterate, I am not tagging anyone to do it. However, if you want to, be my guest. Just don’t forget to tag me so that I can check out your responses.

Happy reading!

~ CLB