Today I’m taking part in the ‘This is My Genre’ book tag created by Drew over at The TattooedBookGeek.  Thanks Drew for the tag 😀

The Rules:

• Credit his bad self Drew @ TheTattooedBookGeek as the creator of the tag, either use the created tag name graphic or create your own and link back to Drew’s blog.
• Answer the questions.
• Tag as many people as you want.
• Simples

To the Q&A:

 1). What’s your favourite genre?

Fantasy – and everything it encompasses really ranging from good old swords and sorcery through to magical realism.

2). Who’s your favourite author from the genre?

Surprisingly this is a question where the answer is an ‘ever evolving’ thing.  If you asked me this just 3 or 4 years ago my answer would be undoubtedly different.  My most immediate answer to this question over recent years would have been either Patrick Rothfuss or Scott Lynch because I love the work by these two authors.  Neil Gaiman is also a favourite author of mine.  But, I’d say that my favourite author at the moment is Mark Lawrence.  His books have been consistently among my top ten reads for the last five years which really speaks for itself.  I love his writing style and I think his books are so damn clever.  He’s like Daz – I will explain!  For those from different countries – Daz is a washing powder for your clothes – every year (according to the tv commercials) Daz comes out with a newer and better powder – even though last year’s was the ‘best ever’.  This is ML in a nutshell.  Every time I read one of his books I think ‘this is his best yet’ and I wax lyrical about how he’s an author at the top of his game, blah blah blah – and yet then I read his next book and it blows everything else out of the water (see what I did there!!)  I admit I’ve put him up there on a pedestal and every time I read his newest work I almost have a sense of fear going on – how on earth can his books keep getting better and better.  The answer – I have no idea but they just do!

And, coming soon:

Red Sister (The Red Sister Trilogy #1)  – could this be the absolute best of the best of the best!!???

Just to cheat, I would also include Sarah Pinborough (because you have to have the women represented too!)  I love her work and how she defies any kind of pigeon holing!  I’ve not read everything she’s ever written but I’m working on it and I’ve yet to find something I dislike!

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

I love reading because I get to travel as I read through the pages of a book – I love fantasy because that travel takes me to places that don’t exist!  On top of that, yes, fantasy seems to have a bit of everything – if you love historical books, crime, mystery, horror – it’s all included within fantasy.  Time travel, life on Mars, dragons, wizards, angels and demons, gas light, steampunk – reading fantasy just, for me has everything.  I still read from other genres, but fantasy has been a long time love starting in my younger years and continuing to date.  It always pulls me back.

4). What’s the book that started your love for your favourite genre?

Well, I guess I would have to start really early by saying fairytales – everyone must surely love fairytales and it’s the common ‘go to’ book for bedtime stories.  Yes, I was heavily influenced by those bedtime reads and to date I love retellings.  My favourite is Beauty and the Beast – no doubts.  The first fantasy books that I picked up independently were probably around the age of 8 or 9 – The Wizard of Oz and the Borrowers – and I credit both of those to my teacher at the time who I just really liked and was a person who greatly encouraged reading in all her pupils.  But – I suppose the book that really sealed the deal was The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

One book to rule them all!

5). 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?

This is such a toughie, there are such a lot of things to consider and I would hate to choose a book that was wrong for that particular person and perhaps sour for them the whole fantasy read experience!

I think I would go for The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.  I loved this book in fact I was captivated.  Gaiman can write some very dark material but he can also write some beautifully whimsical stories and this is one such.  Plus- opening lines and quotes:

‘There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife…’

6). Why do you read?

I’ve always read – it’s just my thing.  I like to use my imagination which is why I prefer to read a book before seeing adaptations – I want to make up the characters in my own mind’s eye, visualise the places and be thrilled by the plot.  Books are just something I can enjoy whenever I want to – on the bus, during my lunch break, before sleeping – I’m pretty much always reading and I always have a book with me – (kindle has definitely helped in that respect).  With a book – basically I never feel alone – that probably sounds odd but there it is!

Now, who to tag!!

Well, firstly – everyone – please join in!  Curious minds need to know your answers and if you enjoy a different type of read it would be great to see your answers.

And – (and yes, I know everyone is very busy so if you can’t take part no worries):

1. Susan at Dab of Darkness – I always tag Susan because I love her answers!
2. Agnes who blogs at Mitriel Faywood and That Thorn Guy
3. Zezee at zezee with books
4. Tammy at Books Bones and Buffy
5. Rinn at Rinn Reads
6. Andrea – at Little Red Reviewer
7. Mark Lawrence  – because you never know – he might be super keen to share his answers too but nobody probably ever thinks to tag him! (or not – plus, no harm in trying…)