Chocolate Tag

I don't really get this "tag" thing. Well, I kind of get it, but I don't know anybody to tag me, nor do I have anyone to tag. But in my internet wanderings, I discovered the creature known as the "Booktuber." One in particular, Caz of Little Book Owl charmed me with her pink hair, Australian accent, and obvious enthusiasm. As I spent some time viewing her videos, I got all excited about the chocolate tag she shared.

So here's what I've come up with. If you like this, consider yourself tagged, then let me know what you came up with!

Dark Chocolate--a heavy topic.  The Woman Who Walked Into Doors by Roddy Doyle. This is one of the few books I listened to rather than reading, and the Irish accent of the reader made it even better. Doyle is best known for his hilarious Barrytown trilogy. The sense of humor is still here, but the first person narrator is sharing her history as an abused wife. It's painful and sad and hopeful and amazingly well done.

White Chocolate--a light, silly read.  Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason. Jason Getty buried a body in his backyard. Then two other bodies are discovered in his yard--but he has no idea how they got there. It gets pretty ridiculous. Not the most memorable book I've read, but a fun one.

Milk Chocolate--popular, lots of hype, dying to read.  The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness. Ness is one of those authors I will read without any knowledge about the book, because I trust him to amaze me, and probably break my heart. In a good way. Therefore, I can't wait to read his latest.

Chocolate with a Caramel Center--made you feel gooey in the middle.  He, She, and It by Marge Piercy. Early nineties feminist sci fi. With a swoony romance between a divorcee and a cyborg. I know, it doesn't sound promising. Trust me. It's great.

Wafer free kit-kat--a book that surprised you recently.  Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I already gushed about it here. I was prepared to be underwhelmed. I was overwhelmed. Love it. (What is a wafer free kit-kat, anyway? Is that really a thing?)

Snickers--a book you are going nuts about.   Winter by Marissa Meyer. PUBLISH IT ALREADY, DAMMIT!!! I am completely nuts about this series, and it is KILLING ME to wait for the final installment. I'm so excited for it!

Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows--what book do you go to for a comfort read?  Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montogomery. Once in college my roomie and I were watching the mini-series, and she turned to me and said, "Between the two of us, how many times do you think we've cried over Matthew's death?" Well over a dozen, as we'd both read it over and over, then watched the adaptation several times. I owned about six books in the series as a kid, but the first book is the one that really stays in my heart.

Box of Chocolates--a series with variety and something for everyone.  Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series. I have read my way through many a mystery series in my time. Nine times out of ten, the patterns get too predictable, or the characters get stale (or the plots get too convoluted in an attempt to avoid getting stale). Elizabeth George's series is that tenth one that just keeps developing and growing. One key is that her cast of recurring characters is large, and different books focus on different points of view. Another is that those recurring characters actually (gasp!) change and grow. Finally, each mystery involves a complex range of one-off characters, who are as well develped and fascinating as the recurring characters. Kinsey Milhone's investigations all run together, but I still remember specific characters and situations from individual cases that Lynley has been involved in.