I’ll be honest, I’m not one for partaking in tags but this one piqued my interest. Why, you ask? Because – books! I’m a sucker for anything book related or bookish. I saw this tag on my friend Janet’s blog and thought I’d give it a go! (I have also seen she’s tagged me in another book related tag, so there may be another one coming along soon…)
Here’s the rules of the tag, and let’s get bookish…
- Link to the creator in your post (Madison’s Inkwell)
- Link to the person who tagged you (I wasn’t tagged but I went for it anyway)
- Tag as many people you want
- Have fun!
1. What books or series that intimidate you (because of length, density, subject) would feel like an accomplishment to finish?
I know a lot of people will not be happy with me here, but anything Jane Austen. I’ve tried various Austen books across my life, and I’ve never been able to get past four chapters. My brain simply doesn’t engage with the stories; I don’t care for the characters, their relationships, or predicaments (I know, I know, I’m a heathen of the book world). I obviously know the importance of Austen and her works on the literary world, so I thank her for that, but it would truly be an accomplishment for me to finish one of her books (and enjoy it…).
2. What author would you like to coauthor a book with?
This was a reaaaally tough question, simply because I don’t have a favourite author. I’ve got a lot of favourite books, but none of them have an author in common. So to answer this question, I’m going with an author who I really admire, who has written books, and for the stage, screen, and radio; Neil Gaiman! I’m not sure what we’d write about but I’d relish the chance to work with him and learn from such a varied and creative writer.
3. If you could interview any author for your blog, who would it be? What’s one question you would ask?
Carrie Fisher. Yes, I know she was mainly known for her acting work and her role as Princess Leia, but she was a creative woman and her talents spread to literature! I’ve only read her final memoir, The Princess Diarist, but that was enough for me to know I want to read the rest of her books. The one question I would ask would be “what would be your advice for young but fierce women wanting to make it in the creative industry?” I can imagine the answer would be harsh, honest, and would be a gift to a lot of us.
4. As a writer, what genre is out of your comfort zone that you’d like to conquer someday and write within?
I can imagine I’ve already insulted some of you with my Austen opinion, so let’s rip off the rest of the plaster; I don’t really enjoy historical fiction or romance novels (goodness, I can already see the book blogger mob coming for me). I’m sure I just haven’t found the right novel for me to make me fall in love with those genres, but then again, I don’t actively go to pick up those books. Still, I love a challenge, so I think I’d choose to write romance! And I mean real romance, the romance people live and breathe, not just dream about. No soppiness on this blog.
5. What specific edition of a book would you like to own someday? It could be rare, a first edition, an anniversary edition, signed, or one with a cover special to you, etc.
Easy – the first edition of The Ball Jar by Sylvia Plath. And not just any first edition; I’d love the version that is under her pseudonym Victoria Lucas. If you haven’t read any of my book related blogs before, I always manage to wriggle The Bell Jar in, purely because it’s my all-time favourite book. Each time I read it, I can find something that resonates with me and what it is to grow up as a woman who struggles with mental health. No shame here, I’m putting another pound in my ‘Rosie Mentions The Bell Jar Jar’.
6. Are there any books or bookish items that you’d like to collect?
I’d like to collect pins! I already have a few pins on my denim jacket, and I have a lanyard full of pins from my trip to Florida (including a Hufflepuff pin!). There’s a few websites I have my eye on, like The Literary Gift Company and Literary Emporium who have the most beautiful book inspired pins, and I’d love to start adding them to my collection.
7. Name one bookish place you’d like to visit. (Not somewhere you’d like to visit because of a book and not a fictional place within a book. A library, bookstore, etc.)
Is it cheating if I choose a place I visited once before? Hopefully not! I’ve chosen Housing Works Bookstore in downtown New York. I was lucky enough to visit New York for a few days with my school when I was about seventeen, and of course my friends and I stumbled across this place. It is filled wall to wall with second-hand books, twirling staircases, and has the most lovely cafe. Whenever we had a free moment, we would dash back and look through the books some more. I’ve got such fond memories of this place, and would love to go back one day.
8. Name one bookish event you’d like to attend. (A festival, a signing, a book fair, etc.)
Hay Festival! I was actually meant to be going at the end of May, but alas, coronavirus. We had already booked some of the early bird events, mainly a talk with Sandi Toksvig, music from Kate Rusby, and an audience choice show from The RSC. Hay-on-Wye, the town where it is held, is only an hour away from where my parents live so I’ve visited a few times, just not when the festival is on. It’s a gorgeous town, with bookshops and stationers around every corner. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to attend the festival next year.
9. Your WIP is getting published and designing the cover is solely up to you. What does it look like?
Right now, I don’t have a work in progress on the go; working full-time, running a blog, and trying to keep well in a pandemic is enough for now! I do know I want to have something published one day, whether that be essays, a memoir, plays, or a work of fiction. I’d love to have the cover be designed by or inspired by some of my favourite artists, so Van Gogh, John Singer-Sargent, Damien Hirst, or by my friend Becky! She has such a great, distinctive style and should really check out her Instagram.
10. What’s one thing you’d like to accomplish within the bookish world? As a writer, reader, blogger, whatever you want.
I’d love to keep this blog going for a long time! It brings me so much joy to write, and I like to think it sometimes brings other people joy. My only goal in life is to make a positive change in the world, and I like to think this little corner of the internet helps with that in a tiny way. Outside of the blogosphere, I’d love to see some of my works on the stage. Once a luvvie, always a luvvie.
So, that was my Bookish Bucket List tag! I’m not going to tag anyone specifically, but to any of you who love books, give it a go! Haven’t got a blog? Then leave your answers in the comments below; I’d love to read them.
Rosie x
rosie abigail 
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