The 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag

Hello, everyone!

It’s been another long time since I’ve had a post, but here I am today on the 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century. I’m way too excited about that.

Now that I finally have time to write, its a little lame of me to just put out answers to a tag instead of a review of some kind. But, this is what I’m in the mood for as it is so fun and Christmasy (wow, is that actually a word? My computer is not correcting me on that for once…). I hope that I’ll be more refreshed for movie and book reviews in the new year. You read that correctly, this is probably my last blog post for this year, 2021. I hope to have a nice stash of thoughts ready for you all in January! In the meanwhile, please tell me some highlights from your year and I will get around to answering comments.

Two years ago, Hamlette created a 12 Days of Christmas Movie Tag that I had a ton of fun filling out HERE, and last year she put a twist on it with books instead. I was not officially tagged, but I had fun with my stolen goods anyway. I hope you enjoy my answers!

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag:

Rules: 

#1 Use a different book for each prompt 

#2 Add photos and/or explanations of how your choices fit the prompts 

#3 Tag a few friends to play along 

(Hamlette calls these guidelines, so I might bend them a little...)

1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree -- book that involves agriculture 

Farmer Boy - by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Most of the Little House books involve farming of one kind or another, but this one stuck out to me for a few reasons, one of them the title. I distinctly remember a scene where it froze before people thought it was going to, so in the early morning the people on the farm were running around and trying to water the potatoes (or was it corn? Maybe I don't remember it so distinctly) to save them.

2. Turtledoves -- book about a long-lasting relationship 

David Copperfield - by Charles Dickens has a whole tidal wave of relationships. Some are short, but many span great lengths of the book. Whether it is a girl waiting for the love of her life, or a father doing everything to find his adopted daughter. I was not a huge fan when I read it, but now that it has sunk in a little, I think I should give it another go.

3. French Hens -- book that takes place in France 

Is it cheating to use two from the same author? Oh, well, I’m going with A Tale of Two Cities - by Charles Dickens. One of those cities is in England, and the other is in France… It’s about revolutions and sacrifice and revenge and one of my favorite books that Dickens wrote.

4. Calling Birds -- book where people talk on the phone 

Take your pick of any Nancy Drew book by Caroline Keene. Pretty much every book has a moment where Nancy gets a call telling her to drop the case. Sinister, eh? She never listens and the people behind the mystery end up where they deserve. And Nancy herself uses the phone a lot to call Bess, George, Hannah, Ned, and Mr. Drew.

5. Golden Rings -- book with multiple romances 

*grumbles* WHY is it so hard for me to always come up with answers to the romance question? I read enough books that have them. I’d been doing well on my own, but now I might have to resort to looking through Goodreads to remind me what I’ve read…

Ah, Winter - by Marissa Meyer is the last book in The Lunar Chronicles and has quite a few romances being wrapped up. It gets a little steamy for me two or three times, but in general I support the characters. I know I can think of five possibilities, but they don’t all get together.

6. Geese A-laying -- book with a birth or that features babies 

Mary Poppins - by P. L. Travers. Most are familiar with one of the movie versions, so a few years ago I decided to listen to an audiobook of the original. Michael and Jane are not the only Banks children, as they have two younger siblings, twins John and Barbara, who are infants. The whole book was a little strange, but everything involving those two babies broke my heart. 

7. Swans A-swimming -- book where someone goes swimming 

I hate that the only one I can think of is in the book The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - by Ann Brashares. The reason I don't like it is because the two swimming scenes are rather awkward.

8. Maids A-milking -- book with cows 

This one has stumped me above all others and is the last one I’m answering (I don’t know why I always feel the need to tell you guys that. I guess I’m just ensuring that I am honest?) Isn’t there something about Mr. Harrison’s cow in Anne of Avonlea - by L. M. Montgomery? I don’t remember the specific circumstances. Maybe I should be rereading that one instead of the third book. I know that in Patrick McManus’s any of collections of short stories there is bound to be one that mentions the evil cows that hate fishermen. I don’t get it, but then again, I’m not a fisherman.

9. Ladies Dancing -- book with a dance scene 

In Cloaked - by Rachel Kovaciny (the very creator of this tag, Hamlette herself!) (read my review HERE), characters enjoy dancing and have chances to do so. They happily reference this back to Pride & Prejudice - by Jane Austen, which says “To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” I was able to get two in one!

10. Lords A-leaping -- book about athletes 

You guys should see for now how I answer Harry Potter in almost every tag (and my Theology professor probably thinks I’m obsessed with it. I’m not, just all his essay questions work really well with it!). It works, okay? Quiddich is a hard game! I’ll be specific and say Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because Harry and the Weasleys go to an official match between Ireland and Bulgaria. Plus, you have to be pretty athletic to survive the Triwizard Tournament.

11. Pipers Piping -- book with someone playing a musical instrument 

In Little Women - by Louisa May Alcott, Beth March plays the piano. I know I use this book a lot, but it is so sweet and nostalgic! I know many people who play the piano in real life but I’ve never picked it up besides a few scales. I keep trying to convince my sister to learn “Ophelia” - by The Lumineers because there is a lot of awesome piano in it.

12. Drummers Drumming -- book with characters in the military

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows. While none of the characters it revolves around are in the military, they hear stories about when Guernsey was occupied by Germany and there were lots of soldiers around then. Some were rather important.

I stole this, so I don't think I can tag anyone, but please let me know if you fill this out so I can look at your answers!

This was the perfect thing for me to do this afternoon. I was feeling a little dull when I started, but now I'm lively again. I'd forgotten how much I love blogging! It is so refreshing. No better way to vent your feelings than pounding them out on a keyboard, right? Thank you to Hamlette for making this!

I hope that you all have a happy, merry, jolly, and all around peaceful Christmas and end of the year. Joy to you all!

Chloe the MovieCritic