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I have never participated in a book tag! I’m not sure why that’s the case since I love watching bookish tags on either YouTube or reading them on blogs. The questions are very interesting and, of course, the themes are always fun and exciting. Yet, for some reason, participating in one has never crossed my mind. Well, that all changed after seeing the following tag on Kristin Krave’s Books—who have also seen this done on Becky’s Book Blog. So here we go!

Do you judge a book by its cover?

Not necessarily. Although I do appreciate beautiful, vibrant covers, the title usually does it for me. Something interesting with a hint of historical fact will often tug at my curiosity. I am also a firm believer that a compelling title will often have an alluring cover. Take for example The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss. From all the adaptation films that I’ve watched, the count is always portrayed as a white man. However, in this book, he’s black with a strong, handsome feature. He is adorned in a 1700s French general uniform and seated on a shiny black horse. Knowing that blacks at the time seldomly held a high rank in any army, along with the title stating “the real count,” caused me to have so many questions that I wanted answers to. I devoured this book in a couple of days. Interesting titles equal to an even more interesting cover.

Focusing on a cover, what attracts you to pick it up?

Just as a movie score should be able to tell its own story while simultaneously providing depth and emotions to the overall film, so does the illustration of a book cover. For me, the cover should tell its own story with a unique visual explanation, while catering to the emotions and curiosities of its potential readers.

Do you read the synopsis first, or prefer to go in knowing nothing about the book?

I commend those who are able to pick up a book without knowing anything about it. I understand the excitement one gets by doing that, but I rarely pick up or purchase a book without knowing anything about it. I want my little library to house books that I want to read, so it’s important for me to know a bit about the book. A good synopsis almost serves as a motivational factor. When I know I have a book sitting on my shelf with a juicy outline, I get this sheer excitement to start it as soon as possible. This is actually a quick way to get over a reading slump, too.

Do you have any auto-buy authors?

I most surely do! Ron Chernow, Tomi Adeyemi, Madeline Miller, Angie Thomas, and Tom Reiss.

Are you more likely to pick up a book if it has specific elements/themes?

While I like to think that I don’t, I have noticed that I am drawn to war theme stories, specifically WWII. I didn’t notice until I started my own blog, but I really enjoy reading about the underdogs overcoming great perils or historical novels exposing the horrors of real-world wars; not to mention the leadership it takes to defend one’s country. Hence, I will read anything involving Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman, to name a few.

Do you ever read a book that has generally negative reviews just to form your own opinion on it?

I so want to say yes to this question but sadly my answer is no. I never want to avoid reading a book solely because it has some negative reviews. Yet, if it’s widely known in the book community that a certain book has a few troubling factors like undeveloped characters, cheesy plot, or a weak resolution, then I will totally avoid reading it. On the other hand, if it has mixed reviews, I will consider reading it, but perhaps sometime later in the future.

Do you ever buy a book just because another BookTuber/Blogger has talked about it a lot?

Yes. And I have learned my lesson not to ever do that again.

Is there anyone whose book recommendations you always trust the most?

Absolutely! Regan from Peruseproject is a BookTuber who has a passion for reading high fantasy but will dabble in other genres like historical fiction. I love her in-depth reviews, primarily because she avoids mentioning spoilers. She’s charismatic and loves sharing books that are often not trending in BookTube. I trust her recommendations because she isn’t afraid to explain in detail why she didn’t enjoy a particular book. Also, she’s currently using her platform to highlight black authors and support the fight against racism which is a major plus in my eyes!

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I had such a blast with this tag! Weirdly enough, I’ve learned a few things about myself and a few things I would like to change regarding how I select my next read. I will definitely be participating in more bookish tags in the future. If you haven’t done this already, welp, you have now been tagged!

Happy reading!