It is the last Friday of 2020 and also Christmas day. I want to greet everyone a Merry, Merry Christmas. I hope that you receive or have received the gift you want to receive this year. Christmas Day also present a great opportunity to do another Christmas themed book tag. Strangely enough, I haven’t done one yet this year; I think I did at least three last year. While browsing through fellow blogger’s pages, I encountered 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag through Kerri McBookNerd. I found it interesting and fun so I decided to do my own.

This Christmassy book tag was based on the popular Christmas song, 12 Days of Christmas. It was originally created by  Lizzie Loves Books. The mechanic is simple; just pick a book or give an answer for each of the 12 days. Without more ado, here is my own version of the 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.

The partridge stood alone in the pear tree. What is your favorite stand alone?

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

I actually have a lot of favorite stand alone books as I am the type to read standalones more than book series. I am naming Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People for it is the most recent of my favorite standalone books. The story did take sometime to take off but once it did, it was explosive. I fell in love with Backman’s writing this year even though I was ambivalent before immersing in his works.

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: TWO TURTLE DOVES.

Love is in the air! Who is your one true pairing?

Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan from A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Whenever I read, the romance angle is usually the last subject that I take note of, even if the novel is purely romance story (which is no such thing). Naturally, I had a challenging time. I am picking Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan because I fell in love with the movie and it reminds me the innocence of love (especially at a young age).

ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: THREE FRENCH HENS.

In the spirit of threes, what is the best trilogy you have read?

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I read Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy back in university days. It was before the book were adapted into films. Despite its bleaks (dystopian) themes, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, especially the first two books.

ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: FOUR CALLING BIRDS.

Since series usually consist of four or more books, what is your favorite series?

Harry Potter Series

I fell in love with the movies first before I read the series. There was no question that I loved the series as much as I loved the movies, maybe even more so. The characters were relatable and the friendship and bond that formed between them was, for me, the biggest drawer for me. And the magic, of course.

ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: FIVE GOLDEN RINGS.

One ring to rule them all! Who is your favorite Villain/Antagonist?

Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily BrontĆ«

I know I have mentioned it many times but I am here to reiterate that Heathcliff is perhaps my favorite antagonist of all.

ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: SIX GEESE A LAYING.

Creation is a beautiful thing. What is your favorite world/world-building?

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Of my recent reads, Susanna Clarke’s first novel in nearly two decades, Piranesi has one of the most breathtaking world-building. Piranesi’s “underworld” was vivid and was complimented by Clarke’s descriptive text. I felt like I was in the labyrinthine house with Piranesi. The isolation also felt real.

ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: SEVEN SWANS A SWIMMING.

Who needs seven swans when all it takes is one good animal sidekick? Whoā€™s your favorite animal sidekick?

Manchee from Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

Patrick Ness’ dystopian trilogy is another young adult (plus dystopian) trilogy I love. One of the reasons I loved it is Manchee, Todd’s dog. He was a reliable traveling companion but, unfortunately, he died before the first book ended.

ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: EIGHT MAIDS A MILKING.

Milk is so 18th century. Which book or series takes beverages/food to a whole new level?

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Thankfully, I didn’t have to think too much about this. Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate featured a lot of food and came with several recipes which readers can try. The smell of food roused the olfactory senses, and the imagination as well.

ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: NINE LADIES DANCING.

Dancing is just one skill of a Lady! Who is your favorite kickass female lead?

Katniss Everdeen from Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Professor Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter Series

A lot comes to mind when I think of kickass female leads. One of the first names that came to my mind was Katniss Everdeen. Her growth in the trilogy and her courage defined Collins’ popular trilogy. She transforms totally when she is in her gears. Another female character I love is Professor McGonagall, the house head of Gryffindor. Her wisdom helped guide Harry Potter but her calm demeanor belied a reserve of strength and courage. The image of her mustering every once of magic in her bones to create barrier for Hogwarts remain vivid. And yes, using an ancient spell to give life to the inanimate guardians of Hogwarts to join the battle was totally kickass.

ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: TEN LORDS A LEAPING.

How about your favorite leading lad?

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-ExupƩry

I was thinking of Catcher in the Rye’s Holden Caulfield first but then I remembered The Little Prince, a novella that I love. Although I have read it over a decade ago, the story remains with me.

ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: ELEVEN PIPES PIPING.

What is your favorite book or bookish thing with musical influence? (It can be about music, reference music a lot etc.)

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

This one was a difficult question. No book came to mind so I had to research and one of the suggestions was Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. Of course! How could I forget when it was expressly stated in the book that the title was derived from a song of the same title sang by The Beatles! Actually, music is referenced a lot in Murakami’s work but I think this one has the most direct reference.

Another book then came to mind, Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Unconsoled which is about a pianist.

ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: 12 DRUMMERS DRUMMING.

Drum roll pleaseā€¦what is your favorite read of this year?

Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Human Acts by Han Kang

I had a difficult time picking a “favorite” read this year because I had a lot of good reads, really goods which I thoroughly enjoyed. Since I can’t pick a clear winner, I’ll just be sharing some of my best reads in 2020. I also loved Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove and Abi Dare’s The Girl With the Louding Voice.

I hope everyone enjoyed my version of this book tag. If you found it a fun tag, and do your own version, please don’t forget to tag me so that I can also check your answers. Again, happy holidays everyone!

And, as always, happy reading!