#Febookary Book Tag From @TStrawberryPost - #AmReading

 Cat over at The Strawberry Post started a reading challenge called Febookary - I mentioned it in last week's post, and she explains what it is on her blog too.  But she didn't stop there.  No.  She also created a book tag to go along with it.  Well, given that I'm participating in the challenge, and also happen to be addicted to these tag things - in case you didn't notice from all the ones I did last year - I had to play along, of course.  Now, come on, you know I had to. 😉

     

Anyway, here's Cat's original post about the Febookary tag.  If you'd like to play along too, feel free to do so, either in the comments section below, in the comments of Cat's post, or on your own blog.  If you do the latter, don't forget to let me know, because I'll want to read your answers.

     

There's still just over half of February left, so there's still time to join in with Febookary too, if you want.

     

Either way, here are the tag questions, along with my answers to them:

    

~ 

    

1. Have you always enjoyed reading books?  If not then when did your love of books start, or end?

    

I've always enjoyed reading books.  Reading - and being read to - were excellent ways to pass the time while waiting around in hospitals, and I quickly learned what an excellent escape reading could be. 

    
2. What books, if any, did you like to read as a child?
     

As a young child it was fairy Tales, anything by Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton, and Beatrix Potter's books ("The Tale Of Peter Rabbit" etc).  Later that expanded to be anything and everything, though I was particularly drawn to books involving magic, like Jill Murphy's "Worst Witch" series, and animal stories, especially ones with horses in them, such as Bonnie Bryant's "Pony Tails" books, and Monica Dickens' "Follyfoot" and "World's End" books.

    

3. What are your favourite genres, if any, of fiction and why?
      

Fantasy and science fiction are my top favourites, with cosy mystery not too far behind.  Fantasy appeals to me because of the fantastical make-believe worlds many of them contain, the magical aspects, and fantastical creatures.  Science fiction appeals to me because I have an interest in space exploration and science in general, and a lot of real facts are combined with the fantastical elements that aren't all that different to the kinds of things you find in fantasy, such as creative worldbuilding on unknown planets, and potentially interesting made up creatures (aliens).  As for cosy mysteries, I like the puzzle of trying to see if I can figure out who did it before it's revealed, and cosy mysteries give you that  without things getting overly dark as a rule.  I do enjoy other genres too, such as other mystery genres, historical fiction, romance, etc.  But those are my favourites.

 

4. What are your favourite genres, if any, of non-fiction and why? 

    

I love books with random facts in them, plus ones that teach me more about a subject I'm interested in.  The random facts because I enjoy learning new things, and my reason for enjoying the ones that teach me more about something I'm interested in - be it a particular historical period, how to do something for a craft I like to do, or whatever - I'd think are self-explanitory. 

    
5. Are there any genres you just don’t like or have never tried reading? 

    

There are so many genres out there that I'm not too sure about ones I haven't read anything from.  I'm sure there are plenty I haven't tried though.  As for ones I don't like: Christian fiction is the one I dislike so much I'd never even agree to read it for Febookary.  I find it too preachy, probably because I don't share the beliefs mentioned in it.  No offense to people who read and write those kinds of books, but if I want to be preached to I'll go to church, or read the bible again.  Yes, I read it once.

    

6. Do you often DNF (Did Not Finish) books and why? 

    

No.  If I start a book, I finish it.  Sometimes it might get better.  Other times it doesn't.  Either way, if I start a book, I'm going to read to the end, even if it's so bad all I feel on finishing it is relief that it's over.  I've even been known to finish a series just because I started it, even though I'm not enjoying the earlier books in that series.  If I start it, I have to finish it.

    
7. Do you enjoy reading things that aren’t books like magazines, newspapers or blogs? 

    

I enjoy reading almost anything, though my level of enjoyment varies depending on how good the content is, and how high my interest in the genre or topic is.  I mean, I once read the dictionary from cover to cover, just because I complained about having nothing new to read to my Mam and she told me to (she meant it as a joke, but I took it literally and did it).  Actually, if you count the time I read and entire English-Welsh dictionary, technically I've read the dictionary cover to cover twice... Can't even blame my Mam for that second one.  Anyhow, I read pretty much anything I can that's in front of me for long enough, read both blogs and books daily, and am just as likely to enjoy the book as the blog posts. 

    
8. Are there any books that have put you off reading a whole genre or reading in general? 

    

Only if you count the fact the preaching in the Christian fiction I've tried has made me dislike that genre. 

    
9. What books do you plan to try for #Febookary this year? 

    

For Febookary this year I'm reading "Metal Warrior: Born of Steel" (Mech Fighter, Book 1) by James David Victor.  Kelly chose it for me when I told him I needed a book to read that I wouldn't necessarily pick up for myself.  He chose well for me last year, so I'm hoping he has this year too.