Bookish

I am a Dragon Rider and Fantasy is my Genre #GenreTag

Vera

One of my favourite blogging friends, Alexandra, tagged me recently in the ‘This is My Genre Tag’.

If you don’t know Alexandra’s blog yet, please pop over to say hello – her posts are witty, thoughtful and full of heart.

Recently, Alexandra launched a new reading / writing project –

her SPACE FLEET Is Seeking New Recruits!

I will be taking a part in it and if you like sci-fi / fantasy please come over for a visit. I hope some of you will join us on this big space adventure. 🙂

Without further ado, let’s have a look at my favourite genre. 🙂TolkienWhat is your favourite genre?

I love many genres, but if I really, really have to choose one, it would be fantasy.

And to be more precise, it would be myth / folk inspired fantasy.

Who is your favourite author in this genre?

J.R.R. Tolkien for sure.

“Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

For that bitter-sweetness his books bring me.

For that imagination, exquisite language, careful attention to detail and that hope that is felt throughout his stories. His books are extremely quotable and as a fellow dreamer, my favourite quote of his is: “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” .

I also enjoy books from Neil Gaiman, George R. R. Martin, Rick Riordan and Katherine Arden.

What is it about the genre that keeps pulling you back?

Imagination sprinkled with possibility.

Whenever I read historic fiction, nonfiction or fiction in general, I tend to get bogged down by details wondering if they are correct. It sometimes distracts me from the story. Fantasy on the other hand is one wild ride.

I appreciate the myth inspired stories because I’m drawn to our ancestors’ need to explain the world around them.

I also like to ride dragons from time to time and enjoy getting lost in Rivendell whenever time permits. 🙂

What is the book that started your love of this genre?

There is no book per se – my grandma and my dad would read me myths and folk legends as bedtime stories. My love for fantasy started from hearing those as a child and I still remember, as if it was yesterday, how I would ask them to read me just one more story…. 🙂

If you had to recommend at least one book from your favourite genre to a non-reader/someone looking to start reading that genre, what book would you choose and why?

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden – because it is a hauntingly beautiful coming-of-age story that is heavily inspired by Russian folklore.

It’s such an atmospheric winter book – perfect for this current season! 😊 My review of this book can be found here. 

Why do you read?

René Descartes once said: “Cogito ergo sum. (I think; therefore I am.)“.

I would like to extend that to reading: I read; therefore I am.

How can one think without reading? That’s my logic anyhow.. 😉 😉

If you have time / haven’t done this tag already, I’d love to hear from:

Gemma | Lisa | Melanie | Orangutan | Leslie

Published by Vera

29 thoughts on “I am a Dragon Rider and Fantasy is my Genre #GenreTag”

  1. I love this tag so much! I may do it on my blog one of these days… I really do wish I was more into fantasy, but I think I’m very picky with the genre. So far, the only fantasy book I really loved was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I guess high fantasy is my thing, maybe??? Lovely answers, I’ll definitely check out the authors and books you mentioned 🤗

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    1. I hope you will get to do this tag, I would love to read your answers. 🙂

      I have added The Name of the Wind to my TBR list, I really like the sound of it from what I just read on Goodreads. Thanks! 🙂

      Happy reading. 🙂

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  2. Thanks for the shout out, Vera, you are a bright star. I’m so looking forward to sharing this new project with you and, I hope, others as well. I can’t wait to see where it takes us.

    I love your answers to this meme, I knew you had a love of folklore and myth, so its fun to see you’re also a big Tolkien fan too. It’s funny how what we were read, as children, influenced us later in life. Here’s to sharing the fantasy of life!

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    1. As always, thanks Alexandra for your kind words. I’m super thrilled about the adventure ahead. I’ve been ill but will get down to replying to your lovely email shortly, pinky swear! 🙂

      Tolkien has been a big influence on me, I am actually toying with an idea of re-reading some of his books in 2019… which probably won’t happen now I mentioned it he he. You are so right though, it’s incredible how our childhood can influence us later in life.

      Thanks for tagging me, I had lots of fun! 🙂

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      1. Sorry to hear that you’ve been ill so near to Christmas and hope you’re feeling better soon, Vera. And you know I look forward to hearing from you, but as and when you’re ready, okay? 😊

        Yeah, for me, it was SF and Heinlein in particular. He was so accessible to me as an escape to exciting adventures, out amongst the stars. And you know what, I’ve never read Tolkein myself, maybe we should do a group read along sometime next year. That might be fun.

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        1. Thank you Alexandra! ❤️

          I would definitely be up for Tolkien’s read along. I think you would enjoy The Hobbit. It’s such a fun book. 😊

          I loved reading your SF background, such a great story. Fantasy and sci-fi have a lot in common – but rather then escaping onto a different planet using some incredible technology, magic spells or some supernatural abilities are used to take us into different realms… both have imagination at their cores. 😊

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  4. If you are recommending a book to a non-reader to try and get them to love Fantasy I would not recommend The Bear and The Nightingale. Maybe it was just be but I struggled a bit with it. I would pick a faster pace whirlwind book that will hook them and not let them go! I would recommend The Bear and The Nightingale to more experienced readers tho! Also I love the story about your dad and your grandma ❤ that is awesome

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    1. It’s a fair point, I enjoyed the book’s slow pace as it created a very atmospheric reading experience but it’s definitely not a whirlwind book, I was reluctant to recommend Tolkien but maybe The Hobbit with its fast pace and one big adventure may be more of a hit than a miss. Which one do you normally recommend from fantasy? 😊

      And thank you! 💕 I was so lucky to have those two reading me all those wonderful legends. ❤️

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  5. Oh, you know what… i realized i’m doing the same. When i read i wonder if it’s correct and often stop reading to google and double check stuff 😀
    Reading fantasy is certainly a good way to not to have to do this 😀
    I love folk tales and myths too!

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    1. Me too! 😂 The amount of times I googled stuff whilst reading a book… seriously, I sometimes have to chant ‘let it go’ as a mantra… 🙈😂 Glad to hear I’m not the only one.

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  6. haha I just love your title for this tag!! And that Tolkien quote!!! 😀 He is such a sensational author!! And I love Gaiman, Arden, Martin and Riordan too. I also love what you said about why this keeps pulling you back! I definitely think Bear and the nightingale is a brilliant book to recommend to everyone as well!! hehee I relate to “I read therefore I am” as well 😉 Loved your answers! Thank you so much for tagging me! ❤

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    1. Imagining the impossible has always been my favourite thing. 😊

      Thanks for your lovely comment, no pressure to do the tag as I’m ow how busy we all are. But if you do get to do it, I am looking forward to reading your answers. ❤️

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  7. Oh, goodness! I’m not really the kind of reader who loves one genre. I do know there is a type of character I love who is RARE, but when I find her, oh, boy! I call the type of book I mean “girls gone wild.” These are girls, usually 12-17, who are practically feral. Some great examples would be the following:

    Bogeywoman by Jaimy Gordon
    The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
    Cruddy by Lynda Barry
    Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell

    But that’s about it!

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    1. I love those types of books too. 😊👌 I have heard of Cruddy and will hopefully read it next year as it sounds like something I would enjoy. I will look the other books up as well, thanks! 😊

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  8. I love this tag! Thanks for giving me an excuse to do it 🙂
    I agree with so many of your answers as well. I don’t think I can pin point one book that got me into reading any genre at best it would be a weird hodge podge or like my parents and grandparents always say you always reached for the books even before you could read them. But I’ll save that for the tag! Hope you feel better!

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  9. Pingback: 12 Days of Tags – Day 6 – Three Days of Tags (3) – Perfectly Tolerable

  11. I really need to get to “the Bear and the Nightingale”! I keep hearing great things about it.
    I also love your reason for loving the Fantasy genre “imagination sprinkled with possibility” is a perfect description!! And folklore and myths are just so interesting!!

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  12. Pingback: This is My Genre #genretag | Books Are The New Black

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