Liebster Blog Award

This is basically a very long overdue post that I've been meaning to get to posting but never did (long overdue as in from when I was still blogging as Reviews Abound). But long story short, I was nominated for the Liebster Award first by Allison @ Sleepless Reviews last October when she was still The Lovely Grace, and I was still Reviews Abound. Then, in late April, I was nominated by Alexis @ Alexis Adores Books. After that, I was nominated by one of my co-bloggers, Willa @ Willa's Ramblings. And most recently, I've been nominated by Emily @ Tea & Fangirling, SJ @ SJ Bouquet, and Aurora @ Fountain Pen Girl. Thanks to you five ladies! Instead of writing separate posts for each, I'm compiling all the questions into one post. 

For those of you that don't know what the Liebster Award is, here's the basics (there seems to be a few different versions, so I'm going with the version from Allison's post, as that was the first one I was nominated for):

1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you.
2. Answer the questions he or she posted.
3. Nominate ten other bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers and inform them of their nomination.
4. Create a set of questions for those nominees to answer.

My Answers:

Allison

(Some of these answers may be slightly outdated since I'm taking one or two of the answers from my old draft of a post back in October or November)

1. What is one thing that you have discovered about yourself during your time as a blogger?

Hmm...this is a tough one! I think I've learned a lot more about my reading tastes as a result of blogging. I always said that my main genre/favorite genre was fantasy, though I've always read books in a plethora of genres. But I think I've come to realize that I am a huge mood reader when it comes to fantasy (except for Harry Potter), yet I almost always love a good contemporary novel. Don't get me wrong, YA contemp. was almost always my second favorite genre, but I think seeing that I'm much more of a mood read in terms of fantasy and not so much for contemp. was something that I learned.

2. Have you had to make any sacrifices (so far) in the name of blogging?

I suppose, yes. I've started talking to bloggers a lot more, and I've been a bit negligent of my other online friends. Also, blogging has meant less time spent watching my TV shows and more time spent reading. I've also had to cut down a lot on my time on Tumblr. In fact, I've pretty much stopped going on Tumblr altogether. I haven't been on in months, but I hope to balance out everything someday. But I think mainly it's that I'm spending time blogging and/or reading rather than writing, watching TV, or doing some of the other things I used to spend a lot of my time doing.

3. How have you developed as a reader, writer and/or blogger?

In so many ways! I have definitely developed as a reader in that when I used to read, I never thought deeply about what I read. I liked almost everything I read simply because if it kept me entertained and involved, I liked it. I never thought about pacing or complex characters or anything like that. Now? I really do. Sure, there are still times when I simply read and enjoy a book without analyzing it, but now, I'm a much better reader.

Also, I didn't think that blogging would help me as a writer, but I've seen so much great writing advice, and it's been really amazing to hear what works for different authors. I haven't written much lately, but I know that I'm now much more aware of what I write. I think a lot more about character complexities and plot holes and just everything. These are aspects I never would have thought of beforehand.

4. What is one piece of advice that you would give to a younger, non-blogging version of yourself?

Don't be so hard on yourself. Don't be afraid to talk to other people (I still struggle with this though). It'll get better, then worse, then better again. Live your life fully because you'll never get this time back, and one day, you'll wish you had lived a bit more and taken a few more risks.

Alexis

1. If you could suddenly transport into your favorite book world, which would you choose and why?

Hogwarts/Wizarding world, of course! Harry Potter is just everything to me, and it continues to be such a major part of my life. I will always be a Potterhead, and Harry Potter will always be my favorite. So I think this would always be my answer to this question.

2. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Hmm! Good question. It varies from time to time, but I think it's either green tea or mint/mint chocolate chip. But I think green tea most. (Unless we start talking about gelato. Then, I have no idea.)

3. What do you see in your blog's future?

I just hope I'll keep this up regularly for the foreseeable future. Hopefully more reviews, more discussion posts, more giveaways, more followers, more readers, more books/movies/TV shows/music/etc, more events, more guest posts, more blog tours, more interviews, and just more fun, as that's the most important. :)

4. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would they title it?

I Shouldn't Be Procrastinating. 

Sometimes I Do Stuff. 

School, Dance, Books, Writing, Music, TV Shows, Fangirling, and other things. 

What Am I Doing With My Life? 

I Can't Anymore.

(I don't even know. I'm totally joking with these haha)

5. What are you most proud of?

Oh gosh, I don't know...I am incredibly proud of myself whenever I get the courage to talk to someone I don't know. I'm an introvert, and I think I have at least a little bit of social anxiety, so it can be a huge feat for me. Otherwise, it's little (well, probably not big in my mind) stuff. Doing a triple pirouette well for the first time. Doing 18 fouette turns well. Doing 10 fouette turns on pointe. Playing at Carnegie Hall (and more than once!). etc, etc.

6. What are three things you cannot live without?

Hmmm...well I could go with the very obvious, scientific answer of 1) oxygen 2) food and water 3) shelter.

But I'll make it more exciting :P

1) Friends and family

2) Books

3) Dance

Okay, so those aren't concrete things, but oh well.

7. What makes you unique?

Good question. Can someone else answer this? I don't really know. I guess the mix of everything I am/that I like. My mix of hobbies, interests, family background, etc. But really, can I have someone else answer this? :P

8. What is the wallpaper on your cellphone?

My phone has a couple of wallpapers, so my lock screen is a picture of a poster that I have that has one of Degas' dancer paintings. My first screen is a picture from one of the panels near the entrance of the Harry Potter Exhibition when it was in NYC. My second one is a picture of me and my uncle. The third one is a picture of me, my sister, my mom, and my dad at my godmother's house for my birthday last year or the year before.

9. What song always makes you happy when you hear it?

Ooo, this is such a tough one because I listen to so many different kinds of music. Well, my go-to song when I'm feeling down is Bad Day by Daniel Powter, but otherwise, I think the Harry Potter theme (Hedwig's theme). It just fills me with happiness when I think about Harry Potter and everything, and it's such a familiar, comforting song, so yeah.

10. What is your dream vacation?

Oh man, another tough one. Anything that involves travel, to be honest. If I could travel around the world or even around Europe, I'd be so incredibly happy. I mean, I want to go to so many other places, but I think a large portion is in Europe so yeah. It makes me sad every time I think about how I'll never be able to go to all the places I want to visit.

11. What did you want to be when you were little?

I wanted to be a teacher from first grade up until around seventh grade, so yeah. And I've always had a dream of being a professional dancer, singer/songwriter, and/or actress. Sometimes I still want to, but that's my dream dream, as in the one I know I won't achieve, but I still hope for.

Willa

1. Favorite past time other than reading?

Does procrastinating count? Just kidding. Dance!

2. Do you have any guilty (or not so guilty) pleasures?

Hmm...I guess? In terms of music, some pop artists are my not-so-guilty pleasures. Like I know their music isn't something I might normally like, but ehh. I used to say The Wanted was my guilty pleasure, but that's not really true, I think. I do think The Wanted Life was a guilty pleasure, though! I hate reality shows, but TWL was okay. ;)

3. What’s your favorite part of your bedroom?

My bed? I'm not in my bedroom that often because my desk is downstairs.

4. What are your top most visited sites?

Twitter, Tumblr, Blogger, Email, Goodreads, YouTube

5. What are some books you’ve reread?

Harry Potter, Bunheads, and Pride and Prejudice (once on my own, once for school). I actually think that may be it...I don't reread often because a) there are too many books that I still need to read and b) I don't like to reread when it's still basically in my head. 

6. What’s your favorite item of clothing in your wardrobe?

Hmm...I have this floral, floor-length dress that I got at Target that I LOVE (also, it's one of the only floor-length dresses that are short enough for me). There's also a Free People shirt I got as a present that I adore (I'm actually wearing it right now). There are a bunch of other shirts I really love too. Oh! And my current sandals are my favorite pair of shoes.

7. Who’s a character you would like to meet in real life?

Atticus Finch, Hermione Granger, and/or Luna Lovegood. I mean, there are obviously others, but those three are my top three favorite literary characters, so!

8. Who’s an author you would like to meet in real life?

I'd love to meet Sonia Fuderer, who isn't a published author yet, but she's getting close, and I love her! But as for published authors, obviously J.K. Rowling.

9. A blogger?

I'd love to meet the other Lit Up Review bloggers. I recently met Willa, which was awesome. I'd also really love to meet Kayla @ Wonderland of Reading and Jayne @ Fiction_The New Reality. But really, I'd love to meet all of my blogging friends!

10. Do you have any blog goals? Share them!

 I don't know...I'd just like my blog to keep expanding, and I hope to keep improving while enjoying it.

11. Do you have an blogging rituals?

Erm...not really!

Emily

1. What is your favorite genre of books?

Fantasy, historical fiction, and contemporary. Also this isn't a genre, but I want to read as many dance-related books as possible.

2. Do you have any pets? 

Well, my sister has a guinea pig, so I guess I technically have a guinea pig. :P

3. What is your favorite stand-alone book of all time?

Hmm...I think Open Road Summer by Emery Lord, but I'm also blanking out on every stand-alone I've ever read, so who knows.

4. What is your favorite final book in a series you've read?

Not sure! I mean, my favorite series is Harry Potter (wow, how many times am I going to bring up HP in this?), so maybe Deathly Hallows. It wasn't my favorite, but it ended such a pivotal book series, so. 

5. Least favorite book character?

I hate so many characters, hahaha! I hate any book character that is evil for the sake of being evil. But maybe Umbridge? (Oh look, more HP.)

6. Favorite childhood book series?

Ha.ha.ha.ha. HARRY POTTER. Still my favorite!

7. Favorite TV show?

This changes all the time, but it's been Orphan Black for quite some time now. The show is near perfect, if not perfect. LOVE.

8. What is one book that you can read again and again and never get tired of?

*hides* Harry Potter series. I actually haven't re-read many books, so that's another reason I didn't have many choices to pick from.

9. A book character you wish was real?

So many! Perhaps Atticus Finch. Atticus for President! ;)

10. Favorite author you follow on Twitter?

Tough question! Sonia Fuderer (@SFuderer) isn't published yet, but I love her to pieces. Maureen Johnson is also HILARIOUS. She's only replied to me like twice, but I love reading her tweets. In terms of authors I talk to fairly often, either Susan Dennard, Leigh Ann Kopans, or probably others I'm currently forgetting because my brain is fried from this heat. Hahaha!

11. Favorite book quote?

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the lights." (Ha! Another HP answer.)

SJ

1. What is your favorite book series?

Oh my gosh. Again, Harry Potter.

2. Who is your literary crush?

So many! I love Hermione Granger (HP), Luna Lovegood (HP), Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird), Matt Finch (Open Road Summer), Daniel Sheridan (Something Strange and Deadly), Liam Holloway (Behind the Scenes), Tobias Eaton/Four (Divergent), Levi (Fangirl), Micah, Xander Spence (The Distance Between Us), and so many more I'm obviously forgetting.

3. Favorite literary villain?

Tough one! I think Bellatrix Lestrange. She's so fun to hate. I love to hate her; it's pretty awesome. :P (Also, I can't remember all these villains, and she's the first one that came to mind. Yay for more HP.)

4. A book character you wish you could be?

I wish I could be more like Atticus Finch. 

5. What are your thoughts on vampire stories?

Ehh. I'm not huge on Paranormal in general, but I guess they're okay? I haven't read many vampire stories to be honest. And when I read the Twilight Saga, it was when they were all the rage, and I was in middle school, and I enjoyed them. I think I'd feel slightly different if I read them now...

6. Favorite book quote?

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the lights."

7. What book made you laugh out loud the most?

Hmm...I honestly don't know. Most books have a healthy dose of humor, feels, and everything else in between. Sorry I don't have a concrete answer! (Also, I can't think of all the books I've read off the top of my head, so that might be part of the problem.)

8. What is one thing that you absolutely HATE in a book?

There are so many things I could potentially hate. I guess one of my biggest ones would be when a book puts down women or makes women feel small or takes the men>women stance. Really, a book that doesn't support women. I understand if it's the society/setting of the book, but if it makes the reader feel this way, then no. Again, there are many other things I HATE in books, but that'd be a very long list.

9. What is your Hogwarts House?

I always stumble when I get to this question (I know, GASP). I can't decide if I'd be a Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. I think I'm slightly more Ravenclaw than Hufflepuff though, so that's usually what I go with. Ravenclaw! :)

10. How many books do you own? Doesn't have to be exclusively YA, just books on your shelves total.

"My" books include my sister's books and the ones we share, but it's over 200 books. 

11. If you could live ANYWHERE (in this world, or in a fictional world), where would it be?

Fictional--Hogwarts/Wizarding world. In real life--Depends! Near NYC, in NYC, Europe somewhere, Quebec City, Brazil (Sao Paulo?). The thing is, I love living near a big city and wouldn't mind living in a big city, but I also really love historic areas/cities, so yeah.

Aurora

1. Character you love to hate?

Bellatrix Lestrange, as I mentioned above!

2. Book/series that needs to be adapted to a movie/TV show, right now?

Ooo...tough one because there are so many good ones! I'd love to see Open Road Summer as a movie or something but mostly because I just want more of the book! So much love!

3. Author you wish you could write like?

There are a bunch! I wish I could write like J.K. Rowling, Emery Lord, Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah J Maas, Rainbow Rowell, and more!

4. The most horribly disgusting, terribly written book you would burn all the copies of if you could legally?

Umm...I try to stay away from those books, and I really don't like the idea of burning books, no matter how much I hate them. I mean, there must be a reason it was published, right? But maybe Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed. Ugh, that woman annoyed me to no end in that book. But who knows? Maybe Mein Kampf too. 

5. Biggest fandom?

If you couldn't tell, Harry Potter. ;)

6. Novel/series you've written fanfic of/want to?

Harry Potter. I don't remember if there's anything else, at least in terms of books. What would I want to? Better HP fanfiction, as well as for every book/series I love. Long list. Hahaha!

7. Favorite forced school reading book?

Hands down, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. 

8. Least favorite school reading book?

There are a bunch...probably Of Mice and Men and The Pearl both by John Steinbeck.

9. First book/series obsession?

*hides* Harry Potter...

10. 3 authors you'd invite to tea/lunch/dinner?

J. K Rowling, Sonia Fuderer (not published yet but getting close!), and...oh gosh! There's so many lovely authors I'd LOVE to invite to tea/lunch/dinner, so I'm just going to go with one more, even though I'd pick like 50 if I could. So I guess Emery Lord.

11. Bookstore you'd raid if you had a $1000 gift card?

Strand? Barnes and Noble? Half Price Books, probably (if only there was one near me).

~~~

Whew! Now I don't even want to think about the other part of this! Many of the <200 follower bloggers I follow have already been nominated, so fingers crossed that these lovelies haven't or don't mind if they already have. Also, I'm not nominating ten, sorry.

1) Denise @ Dandelionn Wine Book Blog
2) Klaudia @ The Observant Girl Book Reviews
3) Morgan and Fallon @ Seeing Double in Neverland
4) Annie @ The Runaway Reader
5) Natalie @ Novel Views

My questions:
1. What's one book you've read that's outside your usual comfort zone that you ended up loving?
2. If you could bring one dead book character back to life, who would it be?
3. If you could change the ending to any book (if it's a series, the end of the series), which would it be? Why? What would you do instead?
4. Since it's World Cup time as of right now, what sports do you enjoy playing and/or watching, if any? Favorite teams?
5. What's your most anticipated 2015 book?
6. What are some of your bookish pet peeves?
7. Give a shout out to some of your favorite twitter peeps!