Special Post: The Get To Know Ya Book Tag!

 By Ann Weaver and Grace Sweeney

Credits: Ann

 

We’re so excited to participate today in our first blog tag! I (Ann) had never even heard of these before a few weeks ago. I learned that a blog tag is a semi-common blog trend, where a list of questions is asked and passed around to other bloggers. It's fun, and everyone can learn a bit more about the bloggers during the process. 

We thought it sounded like fun, and started to consider participating in one someday. Then, Belle from An Old Fashioned Girl tagged us in her post this Tuesday. Check out her answers to these questions here. Thank you, Belle!

 

Your Favorite Book of All Time

 

Ann:

 

This is such a hard question! I really don’t think I have any that I could put down as the absolute top favorite. For now, I'd say Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, both by Jane Austen.

I love reading about times gone by, and the classic regency romances are some of my favorites. And the best part about Austen’s books? They always turn out how they should!

 

Grace:

 

Gahhh how could I ever pick just one? Um… I have so many favorites, but I think I’m going to say Dust by Kara Swanson.

Dust is filled with so much joy and light in a wonderful contrast with the darkness and ugly parts of the world—and ourselves. I’ve gone back to this book over and over (even though I currently only have the Kindle edition) and it encourages me so much every time I read it… it’s gotten me through some really hard days by reminding me of the truth. That hurting and sorrow doesn’t last forever. That there’s always a dawn. It’s taught me to never give up trying for things I want, never give up trying to be healed (in the spiritual sense).

Plus, the characters captivate me every time I open it—and the plot twists… I could talk (or maybe yell) about those for hours. This is just such an amazing book. I love it so, so much.

 

Your Favorite Book Five Years Ago

 

 

Ann:

 

Well… actually, it’s a series. But I’ll still put it here! Since I was eleven, I’ve loved S.D. Smith’s Green Ember series. Grace and I are partners in crime when talking about this series and could discuss it for hours. XD

Though it looks like a silly series about animals, (which I usually don’t like, by the way.) it’s so much more. However, I’m not good at writing descriptions on books, as I always end up making them sound boring. Check out S.D. Smith’s website (sdsmith.com) if you want to know more!

 

Grace:

 

Hmm, I can’t remember exactly…. XD But there’s a good chance it was Little House in the Big Woods or one of the other books in the series (possibly On the Banks of Plum Creek).

I’ve loved the Little House series since I was six years old, and have reread them dozens of times. Laura’s like a friend to me—I love going back to read about her adventures and relationships. I know these books nearly by heart… I used to be able to quote them, and I could recite every single one of Laura’s adventures if I had the time to sit down and do it. XD

 

Your Favorite Duology/Triology/Series

 

Ann:

 

The Green Ember series is one; it’s a series I’ll never forget from the five+ year impact it’s had on me. 

Also, another series I love is Janette Oke’s Women of the West series. This Christian series is sweet, enjoyable, and an easy read. They also don’t have to be read in order, as they each have completely different characters and settings. My personal favorite out of the twelve is Roses for Mama!

 

Grace:

 

There’s a hard tie for this one… but I think I’ll say the Children of the Consortium series by Cathy McCrumb.

CotC is a trilogy about a girl who was donated to the Consortium at birth. She belongs to the Consortium and doesn’t even have a name of her own. When her drone and neural implant are destroyed, she has to learn how to navigate the real world of relationships and people outside of the Consortium. Her journey is simply charming and it’s so, so sweet to see her blossom—and the plot is incredibly engaging and suspenseful as well.

I’ve reread this series several times and I love it more each time. If you like sci-fi, you’d probably love this series.

 

The Last Book You Read

 

Ann:

 

I’m currently working my way through the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery, and at the time this is posted I’ll probably have finished them all.

To put out my very controversial opinion, the first book drove me insane with all Anne’s impulsive drama. XD However, the books following are sweet and give Anne a little more maturity, and I’ve really been enjoying the series.

 

Grace:

 

The last book I read was Conquer by Michael Youssef. It’s a nonfiction book about spiritual warfare—and has completely changed the way I view spiritual things.

This was my second read of this book, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be reading it many times in the future. The truths in this book are all taken from Scripture, and it’s so, so powerful. Pastor Youssef is an incredibly wise man. <3

 

The Last Book of Poetry You’ve Read

 

Ann:

 

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book of poetry in my life! I’ve never seen the great attractiveness in it, even though I occasionally write some of my own.

On second thought, I used to read A Child’s Garden of Verses ten or more years ago. Does that count?!

 

Grace:

 

I don’t read a ton of poetry, but I’m currently reading Classic Poetry collected by Michael Rosen. I’m really enjoying this collection. It’s all older poetry, which I love. (In the course of reading it, I’ve decided Lord Byron is one of my favorite poets. XD)

 

A Book That Most Influenced Your Life

 

Ann:

 

I don’t know of any books that I could say for sure, “This one changed my life!” One influential book that came to mind, though, was Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. It’s my mother’s favorite book of all time, and I read it for the first time about five years ago. It follows a girl named Katherine, as she grows in age and spiritual maturity, from age sixteen to a woman. I highly recommend it!

 

Grace:

 

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, the fifth book in the Knights of Arrethtrae series by Chuck Black. KoA is an allegory about the spiritual life as soldiers of Christ.

This book, even more than the others in the series, taught me what a relationship with Christ should look like and what doing His bidding looks like. Whenever I read this I find myself re-motivated and “fired up” to work harder at my relationship with the Lord. It’s a lovely story, and holds a lot of power.

 

A Book That Made You Cry

 

Ann:

 

I… am not at all a crier. Ever. In fact, I can only recall two books that I even got misty-eyed at. One of them was the second book in the Elsie Dinsmore series by Martha Finley, called Elsie’s Holidays at Roselands.  The events that take place in that book are difficult. but I don’t want to give it all away! Though the books can be hard to find, I definitely recommend this series!

 

Grace:

 

I’ve only really cried over one book in my entire life—and that’s Elsie’s Holidays at Roselands by Martha Finley. (I’ve cried mentally over others.)

The heroine in the Elsie series is the sweetest, most innocent girl you can imagine… with a wonderful relationship with the Lord. At one point in this book, she goes through an extremely difficult trial and sickness—which is when I cried. I love the characters in this series so much, and the author has a way with words that’s just beautiful and captivating.

 

Note from Ann: I find it funny that Grace and I said the same book! :) 

 

A Book That Made You Laugh

 

Ann:

 

Confession: I’ve discovered I have a very odd sense of humor. Books like Pippi Longstocking may make me smirk, but I think the book is ridiculous and annoying. The things I I do laugh at are odd and random things, especially the way things are worded.

All that to say, I can’t think of anything recently that made me laugh. When I was younger, the Grandma’s Attic series made me laugh, and it still does when I re-read it ever now and then. 

 

Grace:

 

The entire Anne series by L.M. Montgomery made me laugh multiple times. Between the scrapes Anne gets herself into, her lovely (sometimes hilarious) trains of thought, and the childlike simplicity and beauty of the stories, I laugh over these often.

 

A Character You’d Like To Be For a Day

 

Ann:

 

I honestly don’t know if I can answer this one. I’m very practical, and I've never wanted to have the tragic backstories or very difficult times that most MC's have! However, a few I might consider would be one of Elsie Dinsmore’s daughters, from that series, Lizzy from Pride and Prejudice, or Elinor from Sense and Sensibility.

 

Grace:

 

This is harddd… but I think I’d enjoy being Lucy Pevensie from the Chronicles of Narnia. She’s so hopeful and sweet and all-around awesome. As both a queen and a little girl, she’s the same light-hearted person—and I love her. And her trust in Aslan is so admirable and pure. <3

 

A Book You Did Not Finish (Dnf’d)

 

Ann:

 

At The Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald is the only book I can remember not finishing! That book was creepy (granted, that was when I was about eight or ten) and just plain weird. Yes, I know that many people like his books, but I… can’t. XD

 

Grace:

 

A book I did not finish... um... honestly I can't think of any. I rarely, if ever, DNF books. I feel like there might have been one a few years ago that I set aside... but I can't remember the title. XD

 

A Book You Are Excited To Read

 

Ann:

 

I don’t think I have any specific books, but I would love to read Austen’s other works! I'd also like to read more by Isabella MacDonald Alden, as well as a few others. I’m also hoping that Grace will eventually publish a book, in which case I will be the first one at the bookstore!

 

Grace:

 

This is another hard tie, but I’ll say Guardian by Cathy McCrumb… it’s the final installment in the Children of the Consortium trilogy. It was just released just three days ago and I cannot WAIT to read it, because I am pretty sure that Recorder is going to finally choose her own name in this book. The last book left off at a bit of a cliffhanger and I must, must, must know what happens next. =D

 

Tag Some Bloggers!

 

Madi’s Musings

Ava Hope 

You! Tell us what you think in the comments, or use this tag for your blog and let us know that you're using it! We’d love to see what you say!

 

Well, there you go! What did you think of the books we mentioned? Have you read any of them? Are you interested in any new books now?

Also, don’t forget about our coming announcement, mentioned recently in last month's bonus post. Look out for it in the next couple of weeks!

 

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