Oddly Specific Things I Love In Books Tag

    Why hello there :)

    An embarrassingly long time ago in a galaxy rather close by, I was tagged for the Oddly Specific Things I Love In Books Tag by my dear friend Miss Lizzie Hexam. Since there in fact are many I things I love in books, Let Us Begin. 

    (Because you know, we could be here all day.)

    First, allow me to present The Guidelines. 

1. Link back to who tagged you.
2. Share the Graphic on your blog
3. Share the Outline on your post.
4. Share a detail you love about the season of summer into fall.
5. List at least 7 random/ specific things YOU love to read about in books, big or small.
6. Tag 7 people who would enjoy taking part/whose answers you are curious to read!

    As you (hopefully) know, unless you have buried your head under a rock for the last few months (and as Lizzie pointed out as well) it is no longer summer into fall, but rather fall into winter. Autumn is of course my favourite season, but the feeling in the air when it’s slightly crisper (despite living in a Rather Warm Place), the rain, pumpkins everywhere and hot chocolate and tea (of which I have been known to drink an Uncivilised Amount) - it’s all just wonderful.

    Anywho, after having ado-ed for longer than necessary, shall we proceed?

    

    1. Faith content

Let me clarify on this one. I absolutely love it when authors include faith content that is not preachy, heavy-handed, or inaccurate. Well-done, like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien; or like some more modern authors such as Elisabeth Aimee Brown or Nadine Brandes, it is brilliant. I am all for good stories; and faith-filled fiction is even better :)

2. Cozy descriptions

I have a weakness for cozy things and for beautiful things. I tend to be attracted by anything warm, fuzzy, pretty—you name it. The beginning of The Hobbit is a wonderful example of this.

3. Loveable side characters

The main characters are great and all (or sometimes they aren’t), but everyone has their own story and I love seeing well-developed, relatable side characters who are actually people too. (Lewis does this really excellently. For example, Tumnus. And Puddleglum. You can’t go wrong with Puddleglum.)

4. Music… described correctly

One of my biggest pet peeves, as a classical musician, in any form of media (movies and books) is music represented or described incorrectly. So naturally I love it when it is done correctly all the more :D

(I still haven’t found a book that does this. Let me know when you do.)

EDIT: I  found one!  The Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen (an actual musician and also a Christian!) is a split-time romance and murder mystery and it’s actually really good ;D

5. Flawed and virtuous characters

One of the biggest problems in today’s modern literature is stereotypes. There’s the strong female character who’s better than the boys at everything; there’s the suave, dark male love interest who’s always got a suspicious past; and I’m tired of it. I love it when people do new and interesting things. Give me torn characters, flawed and indecisive characters, human characters. You know it’s a good book when you actually care about what happens to the characters, even if you don’t necessarily like them all the time. 

6. When characters repeat a phrase to each other

This one’s oddly specific and the title doesn’t make that much sense, but it just Does Something to me when one character says something that’s meant as a reproof or slight, and then the other character says it back to them at a later point. Example: in Enola Holmes, Sherlock tells Enola “you’re being emotional. It’s understandable, but unnecessary.” She later repeats it back to him and it’s just So Satisfying. (And yes I know that’s a movie but it’s a very good one and please don’t kill me because that’s the only example I could think of.)

7. After-marriage romance

I’m kinda stealing one of Lizzie’s points here, but… I love it when the author lets you see beyond the initial romance into the marriage relationship as well. In so many stories it’s like okay they fall in love and kiss and that’s the end… but really, in real life, it’s not. So I love seeing the characters fall in love with each other again continuously. (Love is a choice, after all.) L.M. Montgomery does this really well in the Anne series, and so does Alcott in Little Women. 

And there you have it - seven of the Oddly Specific Things I Love In Books ;P

I shall tag…

Hannah Ruth at Faith, Fiction, and Fairytales

Iona at Story Blossoms

Olivia at Meanwhile, in Rivendell…

And because everyone else I know has already been tagged, consider yourself tagged if you’d like to be! 

What do you think of tropes in books? What’s your favourite Oddly Specific Thing?

My Top 10 Favourite Musicals (in no particular order)

 As much as classical music is my life, I also love musical theatre. Mainly because it combines both my love of both stories and of music. 

    Today I come to you with my top ten musical recommendations, in no order whatsoever because I am an indecisive human being. (But please, I beg of you, never ever listen to the Lord of the Rings musical. It is an abomination to Tolkien's masterpiece and will probably make you lose both several brain cells and faith in humanity.)

1. The Great Gatsby (the original Broadway cast recording with Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada)

2. The Phantom of the Opera (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)

3. Les Miserables (the original Broadway cast recording; and I'm actually going to see this live!!)

4. My Fair Lady (the movie with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison)

5. Mary Poppins

(it is at this point that I start referencing my musicals playlist on apple music, because in addition to being indecisive, I am also forgetful.)

6. Little Women

7. Newsies (with, again, Jeremy Jordan)

8. The Secret Garden

9. West Side Story

10. Beauty and the Beast

Enjoy your musical-listening, and happy October :)

Soli Deo Gloria,

Hannah

🍂 Drifting Leaves: Autumn Tag 🍂

 Autumn Grace at Shades of Art has tagged me for the Autumn Tag Challenge (how appropriate), and since autumn is in fact my favourite season, I'm quite thrilled :)

The Rules:
1. Download the cover photo and use it for your post2. Acknowledge the person who tagged you3. Tag others and comment on their blog to let them know!4. Slip into autumn vibes

And here are the questions!
1. If autumn isn't your favourite season, what is? And if autumn is your favourite season, why?
Well, it has already been noted that autumn is my favourite season - or rather, one of them. I suppose I love each season when it comes around, but I always get most excited about autumn. It's so cozy and delightful with tea and hot chocolate and blankets and scarves and fuzzy socks and reading by the fireplace and there's nothing else quite like it.
2. What is your favourite thing that you do each autumn?
I love cozy things. We decorate the house (sometimes, usually right before Thanksgiving which is far too late for my taste), I pull out the sweaters and scarves, and I can actually drink tea and hot chocolate without thinking about how it’s the wrong season.

3. What are a couple of your favourite autumn memories?
Something I love every year is getting to see more of my family around Thanksgiving time, and also baking and cooking a lot. It’s just so comforting and cozy to have warm apple pie and pumpkin muffins. Also, especially when it gets cold enough (summer likes to linger around where I live) lighting the fireplace and reading whilst wearing a cloak blanket is a delightful thing.
4. What book most reminds you of the autumn? Movie?
Hmm probably The Hobbit or Anne of Green Gables, both because they are autumn-y and are also best read while drinking tea near the fireplace.

5. What is your favourite drink for the season?
Tea, hot chocolate, pumpkin spice lattes
6. What is one new thing you want to do this autumn?
Despite all my violining and college audition-ing, I really want to have dedicated time to read and write for myself and also spend time with the LORD more consistently. And also drink as much cinnamon tea as I can get my hands on.
7. Do you decorate for the autumn? If so, how soon? If not, why?
Yes, my family does, but as I mentioned earlier, we take our sweet time doing it. By the end of the season, we’ve got pumpkins galore all around our entryway :D
8. What is your favourite way to celebrate Thanksgiving?
Making food. Lots of it. And consuming it in great quantities with family.

9. What colour makes you think most of autumn?
The colour of pumpkins. The colour of leaves slowly dripping to the ground. The colour of the sunset.
10. Type up a list of ten words or names that encapsulate the season of autumn for you.
- pumpkin spice- cinnamon- fuzzy sweaters- warm hugs- scarves- hardcover books- warm chili- hot chocolate- adventure- comfort

And I shall tag…
- The Hopeful Pen at With Joy for the Work- Ruth at A Bend in the Road- Eva at birds, sky, and stars- Iona at Story Blossoms- Olivia at Meanwhile, in Rivendell
And whoever else would like to fill it out!
Soli Deo Gloria,Hannah