Book Blogger Test

I saw this tag on This Girl Reads A Lot and thought it would be fun to do. I’m supposed to tag five people, but I’d rather tag anyone who wants to do it. Comment below if you did this survey and where I can find it.

What are your top three book pet peeves/hates?
Not knowing what a character looks like. I can’t stand it when an author doesn’t offer a physical description of her characters. How can I get into the story when I can’t picture who’s telling the story?

Wishy-washy characters. Characters who can’t make up their mind for no reason at all except to add unnecessary drama to the story.

Falling back on stereotypes. When a character’s behavior is explained because she’s a certain type of person. Not all black people think alike; not all studs or femmes think alike, so characters that follow the same mold frustrate me.

Describe your perfect reading spot.
*sigh* In my bed. But I also love the outdoors, as long it’s not too hot.

Tell us 3 book confessions.

  1. I need Skyy to make another book in the Choices series. I can’t imagine Denise, Cooley and Carmen not having another story.
  2. I wish I had met E. Lynn Harris. I’ve heard from people who’ve met him that he’s a beautiful soul, and I only wish I could have had him sign my copy of Invisible Life and maybe chatted a bit.
  3. Love stories are what I truly enjoy the most, but sometimes I wish our black lesbian authors would step out the box a bit. We’re more than being in a relationship.

When was the last time you cried at a book?
I can’t exactly recall the last time I cried at a book, maybe A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. That was a sad book.

How many books are on your bedside table?
None. I keep the book I’m currently reading in the bed with me which would be: Niya 2 by Fabiola Joseph. I also have my Kindle and Nook.

What is your favorite snack whilst reading?
Chips, chocolate, water, ice (to crunch).

Show us your favorite bookshelf on your bookcase.
This one is my favorite because it has E. Lynn Harris, James Earl Hardy, and A.S. King (Ask the Passengers).

Write how much books mean to you in three words.
Love beyond measure.

What is your biggest reading secret?
I have well over 700 unread books. *gasp*

Let me know if you do this tag!

Fun Friday: Celebrity Casting

Celebrity Casting

I don’t know about you, but when I’m reading, I can always picture the scenery, the setting, and most importantly, what celebrities I would cast as the characters. For me, it always helps me to get more into the book. Some of the most popular and talked about books (I’m looking at you, Skyy) have been discussed frequently as to who would play the roles of the main characters. For me, it may not always be about looks, but just about who could bring life to the roles. These are just a sampling of whom I could see in my favorite books. Agree or disagree?

Denise from the Choices series by Skyy:  AzMarie Livingston

She has the physique and the attitude. She could make women swoon (at least for me). I think AzMarie embodies who Denise is: power with a sensitive side. Her being gay will also bring an authenticity to the role of Denise. AzMarie would need to bulk up a bit, and grow her hair out, but she’s who I picture when I think of Denise.

Symone Holmes from the I Am Your Sister series by Ericka K. F. Simpson:  Chamique Holdsclaw

She’s been a baller most of her life. She’s weathered some troubles. All of which can only help her in the role of Symone, who falls but never loses her stride. I would love to see what Chamique could bring to this role.

Kyla from The Exchange by Nikki Rashan:  Paula Patton

Let me say this: Paula has this bubbly charm, an almost naivety, that I could see her playing Kyla, a woman who began confused about her sexuality in Double Pleasure Double Pain and was still having drama in her lesbian life in The EXchange. Let’s hope Paula can stay sober enough to play the role (have you seen her at award shows lately?)

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Alana Quick from Ascension by Jaqueline Koyanagi:  Sonja Sohn

Though she doesn’t have the engineer’s trademark dreadlocks, Sonja is whom I picture playing Alana. From her turn on The Wire, Sonja has a strength and maturity I could see her bringing to disabled Alana’s story. That mellifluous voice doesn’t hurt also.

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Tonya Mimms from Water in a Broken Glass by Odessa Rose:  Esperanza Spalding

Jazz bassist, cellist and singer Esperanza is a true artist, just like sculptor Tonya. I know she could rock it. And have you seen Esperanza’s short movie, Radio Music Society, based on the album of the same name? She is a natural actress.

Lynette Folsom from Deepest Desire by Anne Shade:  Tatyana Ali

Lynette, the love interest of main character Eve, is of African-American and Puerto Rican descent, and Tatyana’s own Afro-Panamanian-Trinidadian heritage can translate well to the role of Lynette.

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AnnMarie Walker from On the Come Up by Hannah Weyer:  Rae’Ven Larrymore Kelly

I had a hard time coming up with an actress who I really thought could fit the role of AnnMarie, a pregnant teen with big dreams while struggling in the projects. At first, I thought about Keke Palmer, but I wanted a under-exposed face for AnnMarie. Rae’Ven, who portrayed a young Tina Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It and A Time To Kill, has the chops to skillfully show AnnMarie’s dramatic life.

So what do you think? Who could play the roles of your favorite characters?

A to Z Book Survey

I saw this on The Perpetual Page-Turner, and thought this was a cute idea. I used to enjoy taking surveys (takes me back), so enjoy. Get to know me and my book habits a little.

Author I’ve Read the Most Books From

E. Lynn Harris. This shouldn’t be a shock to me, because he was is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read 10 of his books, and honestly, it should be more. Lately, I been feeling his void (he passed in 2009), so I recently purchased And This Too Shall Pass and If This World Were Mine at Goodwill and plan to get to them soon. I miss his literary voice, and from others I know who’ve met him, he was a kindhearted soul. I only wished I had met him before he was taken away from us.

Best Sequel Ever

The Men of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor. I don’t read a lot of series, but this sequel to The Women of Brewster Place, its signature storytelling of women living on a walled-in street sharing happiness and heartache, continues the stories from the men’s perspective and how they caused or healed the women’s anguish.

Currently Reading

Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi. It’s the story of an engineering trying to accomplish her life’s goal of being a sky surgeon after she stows aboard a space vessel – with a love story tangled mixed in. An interesting read, especially because science fiction is a new genre for me to explore. I’d like to read more sci-fi, mostly if it’s from a female perspective.

Drink of Choice While Reading

If I’m at home, it’s always water. If I’m at Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million, it’s usually a frappuccino, usually vanilla or coffee flavored.

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical book. Though I have a Kindle, it could never replace the sensuous feeling of the turning the pages and smelling the ink and paper.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated Actually Dated in High School

Raymond Tyler from Invisible Life. I would like to imagine that Raymond and I came out to each other in college (much like me and my real life best male friend) and talked about our love lives in full color. Yesss, hunty!

Glad You Gave This Book a Chance

Starting From Here by Lisa Jenn Bigelow. I got this from my post office thinking it would be a light read. I was wrong. It was more than a girl-loves-dog tale, but a story of a girl allowing life to happen to her after her mother’s passing. Finding her dog helped her understand she’s not alone, find love and work though her grief. I cried because I know what it’s like to lose a parent. It’s a sorrow that lessens but never fades.

Hidden Gem Book

The Thunder in His Head by Gene Gant. This is one of the best books I’ve read about a black, gay teen. His sexuality wasn’t the main focus of the novel (he was already out), and it just dealt with him as a person – and not whom he slept with (although he does find love). Wonderful book.

Important Moment in Your Reading Life

That has to be finding Coffee Will Make You Black by April Sinclair. It was probably the first book I read about a black girl discovering her sexuality in the 1970s. I was enthralled by Stevie, and knew there had to be more books like this. I sought them out with a vengeance after Coffee.

Just Finished

On the Come Up by Hannah Weyer. I’ve endorsed this book several times. Read this book.

Kind of Books I Won’t Read

I’m trying to be open to any genre, but I don’t know if I could ever read westerns (yawn!), explicit horror, or true crime stories. Too squirmy for me.

Longest Book Read

Jazzy Ladies Productions: Nothing is as Sweet as it Looks by Ericka K.F. Simpson (576 pages). Great book to indulge in.

Major Book Hangover Because Of
Full Circle by Skyy. Dizzying, roller-coaster ride of a book. I’m sorry this is the last in the Choices series.

Number of Bookcases You Own
Only 1. Amazing considering the tremendous amount of books I own. Most are in neat piles along the floor.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Read it once in high school, and again after college, when it took on a whole new meaning. I’m usually not a repeat reader.

Preferred Place To Read
In my bed (in several different positions). See pic to the left.

Quote That Inspires You/Gives You All the Feels From a Book You’ve Read

“The sweetness of her body meeting and filling my mouth, my hands, wherever I touched, felt right and completing, as if I had been born to make love to this woman, and was remembering her body rather than learning it deeply for the first time.” – Audre Lorde, Zami: A New Spelling of my Name. I really need to re-read this one.

Reading Regret

Not reading all the classics our English teacher assigned in high school.

Series You Started And Need To Finish (all books are out in series)

Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine, #1) by Heather Webber. Cute series about a matchmaker who uses her psychic knack for finding lost objects to solve mysteries.

Three of Your All-Time Favorite Books

Mama Day by Gloria Naylor, B-Boy Blues: A Seriously Sexy, Fiercely Funny, Black-on-Black Love Story by James Earl Hardy, and The Color Purple by Alice Walker. If I could name four, the last would be Water in a Broken Glass by Odessa Rose.

Unapologetic Fangirl For

E. Lynn Harris.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others

K-Rho: The Sweet Taste of Sisterhood by Latoya Hankins. I love college-based stories, and the author is pushing for a fall release.

Worst Bookish Habits

Falling asleep while reading or being distracted by my phone/social media.

X Marks the Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book

The Other Side of Paradise by Staceyann Chin. Lucky me!

Your latest book purchase

Honeymoon by James Patterson.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
The EXchange by Nikki Rashan. It kept me wanting to know what happened next.