The Sims Book Tag

Hello, fellow book freaks! I know you’re all expecting a second post about Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why but instead I’m coming to you with something else entirely – a book tag!

One of my favorite book bloggers, Emma at Book Emma, tagged me in The Sims Book Tag earlier this month. I grew up on The Sims, playing for hours and days on end. I own The Sims 4 and do still play occasionally but real life gets in the way of lesser hobbies, I suppose. Regardless, The Sims Book Tag is a great tag and I’m excited to share my answers to these questions with you.

Thank you so much for tagging me, Emma, this one was a ton of fun!

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The Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog;
• Answer all the questions;
• Nominate as many bloggers as you want; and
• Link to the creator of this tag: Hailey @Hailey in Bookland.

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The original Sims: the best author debut

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. While everyone was going starry-eyed over Flynn’s Gone Girl, I was getting my hands on her other novels and falling in love with them. Gone Girl is good and Dark Places is perhaps even better. But it is Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn’s debut novel, which is my favorite. Like Gone Girl, it is psychologically thrilling. But unlike Gone Girl which focuses primarily on a marital relationship, this novel examines a truly creepy family of three damaged women. I need to reread Sharp Objects soon. It’s just so good.

 

The Grim Reaper: the saddest deaths

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. There are a lot of books that have made me cry but none quite as hard as The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. The early books are relatively free of haunting deaths but as the series goes on and the tone gets darker, there are a number of heart-wrenching deaths that leave a permanent mark on readers.

Deaths that really got to me: Sirius Black, Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Fred Weasley, Hedwig, Dobby.

 

Simlish: a book with amazing writing

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I first read this book in high school English. I loved it so much that I went out and bought my own copy, and I’ve reread the novel at least two or three times now. Hosseini’s wonderful writing is a major factor in my love for The Kite Runner. The story is both haunting and touching; if you haven’t read it yet, I’m not quite sure what you’re waiting for.

 

Expansion packs: a series where the books keep on getting better 

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The books get longer, the story line gets more complex and there are added elements of mystery and espionage. Young readers can grow into the later books of the series, and Lemony Snicket’s signature in-text grammar lessons help make sure that some of the loftier language is accessible to all readers. If you’re an ASOUE fan (or are considering giving the series a read) you should read my earlier post about Why A Series of Unfortunate Events Are Kid-Lit Perfection.
Sim Romance: the worst case of insta-love

I don’t really know if I have an answer for this question. I don’t read a ton of books centered on romance, in part because I’m not a big fan of the over-used love at first sight/insta-love trope. Which is ironic since from the first moment I saw my husband I knew there would be something, and he felt the same too. It may have taken us two years to get together but there was definitely a connection (and some love in the form of friendship) at first sight.

Are there any cases of literary insta-love that really bother you?

 

Cheats: a book that was entirely unrealistic

My smart-aleck brain wants to answer this question by listing off fantasy books which include mythological creatures and magic that doesn’t really exist, because they’re certainly unrealistic. But that’s not really what this question is after. Realism isn’t always necessary for a good book – that much is obvious in the fact that so many readers get down with sci-fi-/fantasy novels on a regular basis.

There are cases, however, where things happen in a book that just. couldn’t. happen. like. that. As a reader these moments of the unreal are frustrating and can ruin an otherwise great read. Though I can recall this feeling well I can’t think of any books I’ve read recently that evoked such frustration in me.

 

Needs fulfillment: a character who made all the wrong decisions

Louise from Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. I just finished reading Behind Her Eyes the other day. It was a pretty good book overall, but the shining star was definitely the ending. I pride myself on figuring out books before they end, but I had very little idea of what was coming as I reached the novel’s last few pages.

Louise, one of the main characters, is a chubby, wine-loving single mom who finds herself in a strange and dangerous love triangle. She is not very assertive and is constantly putting off uncomfortable situations which could have greatly changed the course of her story. Although she finds her situation morally wrong, she puts off tough decisions or makes excuses to fashion good decisions out of bad ones. Throughout the novel I got the impression that Louise was being pushed along by the other, more dominant characters. If Louise were a real person rather than a character in a book, she’d be the type to let life happen to her rather than to go out and make things happen.

 

Error code 12: a series that started off great but went downhill from there

The Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver. In high school I found and fell in love with Lauren Oliver’s first novel, Before I Fall. Because I loved Before I Fall so much, I bought and read Delirium. The premise of the book caught me right away: love is a malady that requires a surgical cure. I quite enjoyed Delirium but only made it halfway through the trilogy’s second novel. I never even made it around to starting the last novel.

 

The Sims Vortex: a book/series that completely engrossed you

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. This is the book that inspired me to start a book blog, and it was the first book I wrote about on Erynn Loves Books back in the fall of last year. Being a giant book nerd, I adore a good book about books. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is whimsical and intriguing. For those of you who are interested in learning more about my FAVORITE READ of 2016, you can check out my review here.

 

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I tag:

• Mandy at Book Princess Reviews
• Once Upon A Book 2017
• YOU

I’m sorry if you’ve already done the tag, and feel free to skip if you’d rather not participate, but I’d love to see your answers.

Thank you again for the tag, Emma!

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Thanks for visiting Erynn Loves Books and checking out my answers to The Sims Book Tag. Please feel free to look back at some of my earlier posts or visit my About page to learn a bit more about me.

Have you ever played any of the games in The Sims franchise? Which set [The Sims, The Sims 2, The Sims 3, The Sims 4] is your favorite?

Have you read any of the books I’ve mentioned? Were you permanently scarred by a fictional death? Share your thoughts!! I’d love to talk books with you. I especially love recommendations, so if you’ve got a book you think I would love please let me know in the comments of this post or reach out via the Contact page.

Happy Reading!

Erynn