Get to Know Us! The Sunshine and Liebster Blogger Awards

We were nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by Rita @ Bookish Rita back in April, so it’s about time we got around to it! But since we’re so behind on tags, we decided to do something a bit unconventional. We’re also doing the Liebster Blogger Award that the lovely Charlotte @ Bewitching Books, Ravenous Reads nominated us for. We noticed that the awards both listed 11 questions, asked for 11 new questions, and had you tag 11 people.

We’ll be answering 22 questions, but sticking to the 11 theme when coming up with questions of our own. However, we’ll be breaking the rules a bit since we’re not going to be tagging 11 people. Instead, we’ll be leaving those questions for you to answer in the comments. Pick one, pick two, pick all 11, we’re curious to hear your answers!

We actually planned on posting this quite a few weeks back, but all the formatting and editing got messed up just a minute before we posted! We’ve hopefully fixed everything up by now, and so without further ado, it’s time for us to answer 22 questions in a post that hopefully isn’t too long!

The Sunshine Blogger Award:

Tagged by Rita @ Bookish Rita

RULES:

Thank the blogger who nominated you

Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you

Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions

List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post/blog

1. Have you ever read a book set in the place where you live?

Malka: If we’re talking New York in general, then yes. But if we’re talking the area where I grew up, not as much. I’m pretty familiar with all the areas that are mentioned when a character is in New York City, but that’s a more recent development since I go to college there.

Chana: Well I’m from NYC, so a lotttt of books take place here. BUT. If we’re talking specific neighborhoods, my neighborhood has been featured in The Throne of Fire and was mentioned in The Trials of Apollo. (If you’re a super sleuth you can technically figure out where I live, but it’s a pretty slim chance). Also! Just to incriminate myself a bit more, my neighborhood is mentioned a bunch in Let My Hear a Rhyme, so that was super fun. 

2. Do you often read translated books (that is, a book not originally written in English and/or your mother tongue)?

Malka: I have read a few. I choose all my books based on interest, so I don’t go looking for translated works, but I have ended up reading a few translated books that I’ve enjoyed!

Chana: I don’t generally go looking for translated books. But I’m a huge fan of both Fredrik Bakman and Cornelia Funke’s books. Both of whose books were originally written Swedish and Russian respectively. 

3. What is your favorite book trope?

Malka: All the romance tropes! Enemies to lovers, fake dating, friends to lovers! Just the thought of a combination of the 3 makes me swoon. 

Chana: I don’t know if this is technically a trope, but poor orphaned/troubled character turns out to be either rich/royal/powerful. It’s incredibly predictable but I can’t get enough of it. 

4. What genre will you *never* read?

Malka: Horror or thrillers! I am a huge scaredy-cat. I will never purposefully try to scare myself. 

Me anytime someone recommends a horror/thriller

Chana: I’m pretty open to reading most things, but I guess I would never read Erotica?

5. Where do you get your books from?

Malka: THE LIBRARY! I buy very few of my books, and usually only after I’ve read them. Once I’m buying them, it’s usually a split between Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with some independent book stores thrown in once in a while. 

Chana: I borrow at least 100 books each year from my digital library and onto my kindle. I also borrow a bunch of books from my friends and relatives and love going to shop in used and independent bookstores. 

6. Have you ever lent a book to a friend and then not gotten it back?

Malka: No? At the very least, I don’t remember this ever happening. I am holding some of Chana’s books, hostage, though. Oops.

Chana: Yesss, this has happened a few times to me. (Don’t worry Malka, I’m not talking about you). I lend books to a slew of cousins and friends so I don’t even really remember what books I’ve lent out? I was speaking to Malka about this the other day and at this point, I just replace the empty spaces in my shelves with new books and end up panicking when people return stuff and I have no space to put them. 

7. What stories/books did you grow up reading?

Malka: The Boxcar Children, Harry Potter, Roald Dahl. Those books were foundational to my reading journey.

Chana: Harry Potter (of course). My parents also bought me a huge set of about 20 classics that I just plowed through and reread a billion times as a kid. 

8. Be candid: what’s your most controversial book opinion?

Malka: Spin-off series are the worst. I also don’t like ended series getting continued. I’m planning on writing a whole post about why I feel this way because I fell like I’m the minority here. 

Chana: Hmmmmm, I don’t really know what’s considered controversial? But I don’t like it when on the back of books people compare one book to a totally different popular book. 

9. Do you tend to read more female or male writers?

Malka: Female for sure! I think that my two most read genres, YA and romance, have a lot of female authors!

Chana: I don’t think I have a preference? I have some favorite books written by female writers, while some of my other favorites are by male writers. 

10. What is a fictional world you NEVER want to visit?

Malka: Most fantasies to be honest. I think I’m going to choose the Grishaverse for this one. For some reason, I always picture the setting of those books as dark and gloomy, which doesn’t mesh well with my mental health. So besides for having to keep myself alive from all the terrors going on, I’d be in a terrible state of mind as well!

Chana: Hahaha, all of them. But I definitely would never want to visit any dystopian worlds, here’s looking at you Panem. 

11. Choose a character to switch places with for a week!

Malka:  I’m going to be devious for this one and say June from Red, White, & Royal Blue. That way I can hang out with both Alex AND Henry! And since this isn’t a fantasy, I won’t have to worry about dying some horrible death!

Chana: I’d like to be Lavender Brown for a week. She gets to experience the fantastical wizarding world of Harry Potter without encountering any of the bad stuff. 

The Liebster Award

Tagged by Charlotte @ Bewitching Books, Ravenous Reads

RULES:

Thank the blogger who nominated you, provide a link to their blog, and display the award.

Answer 11 questions they asked you.

Come up with your own 11 questions

And lastly, tag some bloggers!

1. What book(s), series or author(s) do you think is really underappreciated?

Malka: For some reason, my mind automatically jumps to all the middle-grade books I’ve read whenever I see this question! I’m going to go with Savvy by Ingrid Law. I love how magical and vivid this series is! 

Chana: I read pretty mainstream books, but recently I read Unstoppable Moses, which was really good despite having only 128 ratings on Goodreads. 

2. If you could have any mythical creature as a pet or companion which would it be?

Malka: After reading Sorcery of Thorns, I kind of want a demon, which is sort of weird to say, but I’m sticking with it.

Chana: Maybe a tanuki? Because they’re small and cute and can shapeshift which is pretty cool.

3. What do you think your greatest strength or talent is?

Malka:  I’m really good at overreacting. I’ve had lots of experience. I guess this means I’m talented at dramatics?

Chana: I’m not what you would call a “talented” person, and I most definitely can’t choose what my greatest mediocre trait is. But I’m pretty okay at baking. 

4. Which two books do you think would make the best crossover if tied together?

Malka: I hate changing canon so much! I do think that Nimona and Carry On would make a pretty good cross-over. I got really similar vibes from both books and I think it would be relatively simple to mash-up the two worlds.

Chana: I think The Spiderwick Chronicles and The Cruel Prince would go great together. Probably because they’re both written by Holly Black and are all about the fey and stuff? 

5. What fictional character would you hate to have as an enemy?

Malka: Any of the ones that will actually follow through on their hatred with action. I don’t want to die!

Chana: Honestly, I would hate to have anyone as an enemy. Enemies are the worst such a nuisance. If I’d have to choose a definite one, Artemis Fowl would probably make a pretty bad enemy. 

6. What’s a food or drink that you really dislike?

Malka: Hmmm, I actually can’t think of anything I don’t eat, besides for what Chana mentioned off the top of my head. But I do have some opinions on food that horrify people, so why not share those instead. Caramel is overrated. There. I said it. In moderation it can be okay, I guess, but in general, I don’t see the appeal.

Chana: I’ll eat most things, and am generally not picky at all, but I can’t stand papaya. 

7. If you could only read books by three authors for a year, which ones would you choose?

Malka: Rainbow Rowell because obviously. Maggie Stiefvater because her books are great on re-read and I’d want to read anything new she comes out with. And James Patterson, not because I care about his books so much as I know I’d have plenty to choose from throughout my year!

Chana: I’m just going to pick authors that have published multiple books. I would read books by Terry Brooks, Patrick Ness, and…Brigid Kemmerer. 

8. If you could study anything what would it be?

Malka: Honestly, I want to study all the things! I’m studying biomedical engineering, but I’m also fascinated by most topics I’ve encountered. I’d like to learn the science and history behind random everyday things to put it most broadly!

Chana: If I wasn’t studying Mechanical Engineering, I’d probably want to study Classical Archeology. I love history, and being able to dig up ancient civilizations and discover first hand how people were a few thousand years ago is something I find absolutely fascinating. 

9. Which singer or group, alive or dead, would you love to see performing live?

Malka: I think I consistently like Imagine Dragon songs the most. But honestly, I think I’d prefer having a concert where all the songs from my favorite playlist are played by the correct artist. When I’m rich and famous I’ll arrange for this to happen.

Chana: Oooh,  I’d love to see AJR perform live! I really enjoy their music and I’ve heard that their live shows are fantastic. 

10. If you could visit anywhere in the world at any point in time when and where would it be?

Malka: I think I’m mostly just interested in the present or the future. I’d probably use this ability as an instant travel method. That way I can easily visit Hawaii, Australia, Italy, and all the other countries on my bucket list without any hassle, at whatever time works best for me. 

Chana: I would love to visit one of the points in time where historians are still unsure about what happened. Like the princes in the Tower of London or to see what actually happened to Anastasia. 

11. If you could send one book character into a different story who would you send, where and why? E.g. sending Hermione Granger into The Cruel Prince so that you could see her interacting with Cardan.

Malka: Chana’s answer will beat mine every time, so I’m not even going to attempt to answer this one.

Chana: I’d send Simon or Baz into Fangirl just to see Cath’s head explode. 

Our 11 Questions:

1. Which book have you reread the most times?

2. Favorite cookie?

3. Share a bookish childhood memory with us

4. What’s your favorite bookish trope?

5. Do you eat while you read?

6. Bookmark or dogear?

7. What book or series do you see everywhere but don’t plan on reading?

8. If you could go on a vacation to anywhere in the world, where would you go and what book would you bring along?

9. If you could rewrite one scene of any book which book and scene would you choose?

10. What are 3 of the songs you’ve been playing on repeat recently?

11. What genre do you rarely read, but still enjoy?

We know 11 answers are a better fit for a blog post, but we hope you’ll still answer a few of the questions we’ve come up within the comments!

What answer surprised you the most? Is there a genre you won’t ever read? What food or drink do you really dislike? And of course, what are some of your answers to the questions listed above?

Advertisement