I haven’t finished as many books during the second half of the year as I was hoping for, mainly because I DNFed a couple that I had spent weeks reading to no avail. For that reason, I have written fewer reviews than I was expecting to. As I still want to publish six posts every month, I have been trying my hardest to come up with ideas for other types of bookish content.
When I was close to decide not to write a post today, I remembered seeing the “In or Out Book Tag” on Fatma’s blog, The Book Place. Originally created by Rick MacDonnell on YouTube, it’s about our likes and dislikes regarding tropes, general characteristics of books, and reading habits. Although I’m terrible at coming up with answers for book tags, I thought it would be interesting to do this one.
- Reading the Last Page First
Out! Why do people do this? I can’t fathom why someone would want to know the ending of a book without having yet discovered what it truly is about or been properly introduced to the characters.
- Enemies to Lovers
Out. Enemies turning lovers sounds too cheesy for me generally-speaking. I wouldn’t dislike a book just because it featured this plot point, though. If it served an interesting purpose in the story and the characters were fleshed out, I could still like the book.
- Dream Sequences
In. I have nothing against dream sequences, they can be helpful to better understand some characters. Just don’t end a book with a “it was all a dream”, please!
- Love Triangles
Out. My opinion on love triangles is very much the same as the one on enemies to lovers.
- Cracked Spines
Out. I’m very careful with my books, particularly the ones I’m loving. I don’t want to ruin them. I want to have that specific edition on my shelves for ever.
- Back to My Small Town
Out / In. I don’t have an opinion on this topic to be honest. It doesn’t sound hugely appealing, but it’s not off-putting either.
- Monsters Are Regular People
In / Out. I don’t think I have ever read a book where monsters end up being regular people in the literal sense and am not sure if I would enjoy that premise. In a more metaphorical way, as in knowing the back story of a seemingly horrible character, I think it can ultimately be interesting.
- No Paragraph Breaks
Out. I don’t mind long paragraphs, but they need to have breaks at some point.
- Multi-Generational Sagas
Out. It’s not that I dislike multi-generational sagas, but I wouldn’t pick one up at present.
- Re-Reading
In. I’m not a massive re-reader. However, I’ve been slowly rereading some of my old favourite books and loving doing so. It feels like going back home after a long time away.
- Artificial Intelligence
In. I have some books on my wish list focusing on artificial intelligence, but I’m not sure when I’ll decide to read them. It’s not a topic I’m tremendously excited about, despite being intrigued.
- Drop Caps
In. Drop caps look nice on the page. Books should feature them more often.
- Happy Endings
In. As long as they suit the story, I like both happy endings, sad endings, bittersweet endings…
- Plot Points That Only Converge at the End
In. Such books can be intriguing and mysterious.
- Detailed Magic Systems
In. As long as the plot and the characters are well developed and the information conveyed is well integrated within the story, not being a mere list, a detailed magic system can aid the creation of a believable fictional world.
- Classic Fantasy Races
In. I have not much more to add. Trolls, dwarfs and so on are fine.
- Unreliable Narrators
In. Though I haven’t read many books featuring unreliable narrators, I enjoyed the ones that I did.
- Evil Protagonists
In. If they are well developed and not caricatures, evil protagonists can make for a fascinating story.
- The Chosen One
In. I know the trope of the chosen one is one of the most overused ever. But it can still feel fresh when it is turned on its head, when the chosen one’s role is not the one that readers expect.
- When the Protagonist Dies
In. Protagonists should die more often! I’m serious. It hardly ever happens, and I think it could be appropriate for some stories.
- Really Long Chapters
Out. My favourite chapters are medium-sized ones. When a chapter is excessively long, it can be exasperating.
- French Flaps
In. I love French flaps!
- Deckled Edges
Out. I don’t hate them, but I’m not a fan either.
- Signed Copies by the Author
In. I have none, though.
- Dog-Earing Pages
Out. I have enough bookmarks to last me for a lifetime and, if I want to highlight a specific page, I use a marker.
- Chapter Titles Instead of Numbers
In. I would like it to be a more predominant feature, in fact.
What about you? What are your likes and dislikes about books? Tell me in the comments!
A Bag Full Of Stories 
What a fun tag, I might do this in a future post! I am with you on re-reading, I absolutely love to go back and read my favorites again and again 🙂
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I used to be so afraid of rereading my favourites… what if I didn’t enjoy them anymore? But now it’s something I enjoy doing sporadically!
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