Sunshine Blogger Award
Hi Bookworms and Bibliophiles,
I’m breaking the mold a little bit with today’s post.
Yesterday, I was nominated by my fellow blogger and friend Misty and Misty’s Book Space for the Sunshine Blogger Award!
Believe me, my response was very much like
I’m still very new to WordPress (April 2019), so I am super honored to be nominated.
What is the Sunshine Blogger Award?
The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.
The Rules:
– Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
– 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/or on your blog.
What was the last book you strongly disliked?
Actually, it wasn’t too long ago that this happened. My most recent book breakup was with Dark Place by Gillian Flynn.
You can find my review here, but overall I felt that Gillian Flynn tried so hard to make unlikeable characters that she succeeded, maybe too well in my case.
I just couldn’t get behind the main character and her struggles. I prefer at least a few redeeming qualities in characters or it’s a big struggle for me to read a book.
How does your star rating system work for your reviews (if you use one)?
I basically use the GoodReads model of rating, only I use half stars in my ratings when appropriate.
5 stars: LOVED IT! Give me more! Gimme, gimme, gimme!
4 stars: Yeah, it was entertaining and fun. Good job!
3 stars: It was alright, but I had some issues.
2 stars: Um, what did I just read? Didn’t have a lot of fun.
1 stars: *kicks book into the stratosphere* And don’t come back! (sarcasm obviously. I respect my books!)
DNF’s: I don’t DNF often, but those I do don’t get a rating since I didn’t finish to completion.
What are your favorite pizza toppings?
Well first things first, I’m lactose intolerant, so that cheese better be dairy-free. But after that, I’m a simple guy. I like pepperoni or some kind of meat topping.
No pineapples or veggies! Blech!
Would you rather read a great plot with mediocre characters, or a boring plot with amazing characters?
Aw, man. Can I say neither?
Alright fine, if I have to choose, it’d be a great plot with mediocre characters. Character-based stories tend to bug me a little bit.
How many books are you currently reading, and which one is your favorite so far?
I only read one book at a time so I can give it my full attention.
Right now I’m reading The Institute by Stephen King. So far I’d probably rate it a 4-4.5/5. It most likely won’t be a 5-star to be honest.
What was the last book review you posted?
The last book review I posted was for The Siren and the Specter by Jonathan Janz.
Great book, and I can’t wait to read more of his works!
You can check out my review here if you like.
Do you prefer MG, YA, NA, or adult books?
In general I switch between YA and adult books. It used to be about 50/50, but nowadays it’s more like 75% YA and 25% adult books, or at least it feels that way.
Is there a popular author you’re NOT interested in reading anything by? (Elaborate if you’re comfortable doing so!)
Happy to oblige. I will not read JK Rowling’s works.
Go ahead, throw those tomatoes!
I just never got into Harry Potter, and I strongly dislike people telling me what to read (and of course EVERYONE screams for Harry Potter), so I refuse to read any of her stuff.
Does it make sense? Maybe not, but I will read what I want to when I want to.

What marginalized rep would you most strongly like to see more of in books?
Personally, I would like to see more LGBT characters in books across the board. It’s sad that books have to be labelled LGBT at all, really.
Why can’t we just include gay characters to the extent that it’s not a big deal anymore?
Do you listen to music while reading?
Only ambient music (no words). I tend to default towards thunderstorm sounds or light rain (yes, I’m a pluviophile!), but enjoy an autumn wind or maybe something more mysterious or foreboding from time to time.
Do you prefer book twitter or bookstagram?
Um, neither? I use GoodReads, Facebook, and Tumblr.
But if I had to choose, hands down it would be Bookstagram. Who doesn’t love a good book photo?
I Nominate:
No pressure to repost if you are chosen, just wanting to share the love!
The Questions:
Sorry, I don’t have time to create new questions, so I’ll leave that up to whoever picks this up!
- What was the last book you strongly disliked?
- How does your star rating system work for your reviews (if you use one)?
- What are your favorite pizza toppings?
- Would you rather read a great plot with mediocre characters, or a boring plot with amazing characters?
- How many books are you currently reading, and which one is your favorite so far?
- What was the last book review you posted?
- Do you prefer MG, YA, NA, or adult books?
- Is there a popular author you’re NOT interested in reading anything by? (Elaborate if you’re comfortable doing so!)
- What marginalized rep would you most strongly like to see more of in books?
- Do you listen to music while reading?
- Do you prefer book twitter or bookstagram?
That’s a Wrap!
Alrighty, folks, that’s it for this post! I hope you found this little detour from the usual fun!
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I loved reading your answers. I’ve read all of the Harry Potter books and I am considering doing a reread next month but I haven’t fully committed to that yet lol.
Aww, thanks! Shoot, I have way too many reading projects at the moment. I’m not sure where I’ll be in a month or two, haha! But yeah, sometimes re-reads can be a lot of fun.
Thanks for the nomination, Jonny!
Of course, you deserve it!
Aww thanks for the nomination! You’re the best!
You’re welcome, you definitely deserve it friend!
First off- Thank you for the nomination! So thrilled you even thought to include me:-) You´re answers are bomb! I´m with you on the Gillian Flynn- Dark Places one. TBH, Gillian Flynn is one of those authors who hasn´t been able to win me over with any of her characters. And listening to ambient music? Awesome, but you´re gonna have to tell me how you do it.
You’re very welcome friend! I could never forget you!
Haha, thanks. I actually really enjoyed Sharp Objects, but felt the total opposite on Dark Places. It was just a bit dreadful to be honest.
Haha mind over matter my friend! Mainly I use it to block out other noise. In that way, it helps me focus on what’s going on just around me.
Awe, thank you for nominating me. I really appreciate it. And I really love talking about books.
Problem is, I told myself I wasn’t going to post any of these because I get nominated for so many of them, I didn’t want anyone one person to think that I favoured someone’s nomination over another.
I love talking about books though. Do you think maybe one day we could do a collaborative post about books? Maybe answer some of those very questions you’ve asked?
You’re welcome!
Oh, there’s no pressure to make a post of your own. Definitely not required.
Yeah, we could totally do a book rant thing and make it a segment on my blog. I always love new ideas, and this will switch it up from the usual interviews that I do.
If you want, we could each think up some questions then email each other and see which ones we like best.
Would that be cool?
Yes! Give me at least a week though. I have some work I need to wrap up, so knowing me, I won’t get anything done before this time next week. lol
But I’d love to talk about books, and I’d love to talk about books with you because you’re so much more well versed than I. I think it would be a very awesome thing, I’d really love that.
Ditto friend. Halloween has me ALL over the place and I have pretty much no time to myself.
Yay, I’m so excited about this!
P.S. Did my comment just go through?
Haha, yep!
Thank you so much for the nomination! I admire your dedication to one book at a time, for I often have 3-5 going at once. I mood read, so I pick up a book depending on how I feel, or if I have a deadline looming on my blog.
You’re welcome!
Aww, thanks! I think for me its a fear of getting confused between books as I read them concurrently.
I definitely mood read too, so if I say I’m going to read a book on my TBR and I’m not jiving I’ll set it aside in the meantime and try another one until something sticks.
Oh, you just broke my heart with the Harry Potter answer! But I get it, it’s why I don’t own an iPhone. I know, go ahead, throw tomatoes. Hahahaha! And when I have enough money, I will refuse to buy a Tesla! Everyone in my neighborhood (I live in California) has one. So annoying! I get it. But wow… Harry Potter and you’re an avid reader, that’s pretty intense! I’m impressed. Thank you kindly for the nomination. As soon as I can wrap my head around it, I will get to it. You are too lovely to share that with me. Thank you! Hugs.
Lol, I know right? I have no idea why, but I just can’t do it.
I also don’t have an iPhone, so you’ll get no tomatoes from me. I’m very leery of fads of any kind, and when people give me the awkward look when I tell them I don’t have an iPhone, I know I made the right decision never getting one lol.
Oh wow, that’s super weird. Everyone has a Tesla? Dang, are they stacked with money? Aren’t those like 30-40k at least? Holy moly!
You are very welcome friend! *Hugs back*