The Get to Know My Tastes Tag

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This was a tag created by BookTubers Thoughts on Tomes and My Name is Marines. I watch both of their channels regularly and I always appreciate the thoughts and criticism they give to books that they have read. While I don't have a YouTube channel that features criticism from me of the books I've read, I thought I'd do this tag anyway because, as you know, I love tags and they're easy to do when I'm busy!

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1. How do you rate books? Give a quick rundown of how you do your star ratings (or if you don’t use star ratings, how you evaluate books). I only publicly rate books 3, 4, and 5 stars. If a book is a 1 or 2 star, I tend to DNF or complain about it to a friend or family member. Anyway, a 3-star rating means I like it, but there are some flaws. 4 stars means I really liked it. 5 stars means it drew out my emotions and left a lasting impression.

2. How do you approach reviewing books? What’s your review style? Are you analytical, emotional, casual, or structured? I stopped writing reviews of books years ago because I kept getting solicitations and I dislike more books than I like, so...I halted all book reviews. I review animation, though. I would call myself quite structured...in fact, too much so. I am also overly thorough. I'm trying to redo how I write animation reviews so that way they aren't so time consuming.

3. What’s the book that made you a reader? Whether it was your first favorite or the one that got you hooked, what book started it all?

Mortimer the Frog. It was in first or second grade. All I remember are the illustrations.

4. Do you have a genre niche? Are there certain genres you gravitate toward? Or do you read widely across genres?

My genre niches are young adult fantasy, adult fantasy, horror, and BL. I'm exploring romantasy now, too.

5. Do you generally prefer character-driven or plot-driven stories?  If the characters are good, I will follow them anywhere, even through a terrible plot. So, I would say character-driven stories.

6. What’s a book you love so much that you don’t care if others don’t like it? What’s that one book you love enough for everyone?

This isn't a book but a webcomic from Korea. It is really, really dark, with violence and noncon and dubcon...like, I'm sure tons of people will hate it. But I thought the story was addictive and the art gorgeous. I had no idea what was going to happen next. Everyone can hate this one, and I will still like it.

7. What’s a book you love so much that if someone doesn’t like it, you know your reading tastes don’t align? The book or books where a difference of opinion is a strong indicator of different reading preferences.

If people don't like this book, not only will they not like my reading style, but they probably won't like what I write, either, as I aspire to make things just as well written and creative as Rogerson does.

8. What’s in your “trash pocket”? What books, tropes, or themes that you know are bad but you love them anyway?

My "trash pocket" is reserved for BL comics, and BL comics only. Omegaverse (but I don't like mpreg), noncon, dubcon, blackmail, only one bed, manipulation...I love a great deal of fluffy BL but I like a lot of admittedly problematic stuff, too. I wonder what this says about me.

9. Do you have any dealbreakers in books? Something that, if present, immediately turns you off from a book.

Racism, sexism, anti-LGBTQIA...those are the ones that hit me immediately. Also, if the narrative voice or dialogue is annoying.

10. What’s a strong opinion you have about a book released within the last year? Whether it’s overrated, underrated, or just a take you need to share.

I haven't been keeping track of when books release, so I'm sure this is more than a year old, but I cannot stop thinking about this book. It's so good.

11. What do you look for in writing? What makes a book stand out to you? Is it prose style, themes, voice, structure, or something else?

I think voice is more important to me than I realize. I can't get behind an annoying narrative voice. Characters also stand out to me, too, as well as their dialogue.

12. How do you decide what to read next? Do you plan ahead, mood read, or follow external factors (hype, recommendations, ARCs)?

My wallet usually decides what I read next, unless the desire to read a specific book overpowers me. I keep an ongoing wishlist on Amazon and Barnes and Noble of books I want to read, and I look up their prices almost every day. If they are cheap (especially eBooks), I will buy them. I need to rely on the library more often, though!

13. Where do you get inspiration for your BookTube content? What sparks your video ideas—other creators, trends, personal reading experiences?

I don't have a BookTube, but I watch BookTubers who review books, criticize the publishing industry, do fun little challenges or tags, or report publishing or genre news.

14. If you could make any book go viral right now, what would it be? A book you think deserves more attention and why.

I know it's totally cringe to toot my own horn or beg for help, but friends, this is a genuinely good book and it's just not pulling in numbers in terms of purchases or reviews. Most people don't even know it exists. So yes, I want my novel to go viral.

15. Who are some BookTubers with reading tastes similar to yours?

Probably Thoughts on Tomes, A Clockwork Reader, and A Model Who's Read.