discussion post: are you a book collector?

So I found this video where Tiernan, the vlogger, talks about how some people are book collectors. And by that, he means that there are some people who obtain many books--whether through purchasing them, trading, etc.--and begin to amass a huge personal collection. Some people take it a step farther: for example, you own allllll the harry potter books with the old covers as well as the new ones that came out. Or maybe you loved The Fault in Our Stars so much that you have the first edition that's blue, the paperback, the special silver edition and the paperback with the movie poster. 

Does this sound familiar? Maybe you know someone like this or maybe you do this. That means you're a book collector! And there's nothing wrong with that, it's actually very nice because you're supporting someone's work. Sometimes you may even be continuously paying for it in its various forms. But as I watched Tiernan humorously discuss this topic, I realized that I'm a little bit of a book collector. I have gotten more than one copy of the same book in the past but only for books that I really, REALLY like and wouldn't mind sacrificing the space on my shelf for. But I definitely do not go out and buy the movie tie-in editions or foreign editions. At least, not all of the time. 

I do have some exceptions however. One that immediately comes to mind is Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone. I abso-freakin'-lutely ADORE that book  and I have 3 copies on my shelf: the arc I received at BEA (a signed copy, I love it so), the hardcover and the paperback. I would love to buy the books in Spanish but I don't feel the need to get them in every form that's available. So my fangirling has its limits. I think it's a huge compliment to authors if readers go that extra mile, seeking out all the editions of a book or series that they're in love with but I personally don't feel inclined to do that. My reasons are more practical: I have limited space, I want to make it count....and why on earth would I even need copies of Daughter of Smoke & Bone in other languages that I can't even read?*

Watching his video and explaining how he's a book collector also led me to another conclusion about myself: this is also why when I see people who have MASSIVE bookshelves filled to the brim, it looks awesome and I'm happy for them but I think to myself, omg, I couldn't keep that many books! It is too much. I love books, don't get me wrong, but I don't want them to take up SO much space. 

But that's just me. I think I'm right in the middle of the spectrum. I like having books but I don't want my collection to have a life of its own. What about you? Are you a book collector? Are you like me who (usually) only keeps one copy of a book? Or maybe you're both? Let me know in the comments!

Here's the video I mentioned btw:  

I have to say, some of his examples of comments people have made to him when they see his collection..... I get them too. I HATE when people say I could buy other things with my money besides books. NO. My money, my decision. Also, clearly I AM buying other things like food and clothes because I'm walking around being alive. ;P Ok. Mini rant over. 

*But would I say no if an Italian edition fell into my path? Hell no. Lol. I could at least decipher that....

discussion post: how did you come up with your blog name?

source: found via google!

This is something I always think of whenever I find a new blog. I've seen so many that take the term 'bookish,' 'bookworm,' 'biblio-,' etc... and some of them are quite clever! It's not surprising to find so many variations with the word 'book' since we're a community of readers but I think it's cool whenever I come across a blogger who's managed to think of another name to go by. Or they incorporate books/reading into it in a fun way. Some of my favorites just off the top of my head: Supernatural Snark, Tales of Whimsy, Inkcrush, Chachic's Book Nook, The Book Smugglers. (I've linked them all if you're interested in checking them out--they're all awesome.) 

I've been asked by more than one person about my blog name but honestly it's not an exciting story. When I was still brainstorming about creating a blog and wondering what to name it, I had considered 'book mouse' or 'book faerie' but again, I wanted a name that stood out. Also, I wanted a cute name. That same day my mom came home and, knowing her only daughter loves toys, surprised me with a stuffed penguin (this was around the holidays btw). It was an adorable medium-sized penguin wearing earmuffs. EARMUFFS. I was enchanted. Then I swear to you, I looked at it and thought, "Penguin...what would sound nice with penguin?" 

"Pirate," my brain quickly supplied. 

"Pirate Penguin!" 

Then I tagged on "Reads" and viola, "Pirate Penguin's Reads" was born. I liked the sound of it, the alliteration. And it was cutesy (or so I think). The name felt right, and so I went with it. Sometimes I wonder now if it's too restrictive but I'm so used to it and it takes more work to reinvent oneself with a new blog name and a new blog. So Pirate Penguin's Reads is here to stay for the long haul :) 

Not all that interesting right? xD So I'm curious to know how you decided on your blog's name. Did you have a set plan when you decided on a name or did you just go with it as I did? Let me know in the comments.

Since my name stuck, I've also become more of a fan of penguins (I liked penguins before but I never thought about them until my blog name--funny how things work!) and I have a little penguin collection happening. Here are all my toy penguins as of now: 

The penguin that sparked the idea behind my blog name...along with his blue companions xD 

The trio of blue penguins ;D The one in the middle is actually a hand cream container! (Bought by my mom as well--she's da bestest ♥) 

I have other penguin-y things (earrings, watch, clip-on bookmarks...) but the little guys hang out on my bookshelf while the big guy sits on top of another bookshelf. I've actually taken the blue penguin on the far right to BEA with me!

Note: both photos shown here are mine. I doubt anyone would take them but whatever. Precautions. ;P 

discussion post: are you a fan of booktube?

I discovered booktube around April or May of this year and I had no clue of its existence. From what I can gather, booktubers have been around for at least a year but the community has now exploded. If you don't know what booktube is, it's basically people reviewing books in vlog format. 

Personally, I'm a fan of booktube and I'm subscribed to a few channels. There are some vloggers who have really great personalities and their enthusiasm for reading is contagious! Much like book blogs, a lot of these vloggers have recommended books that are now on my radar.The majority of the booktubers that I watch are in English but there are some Spanish vloggers that are fun too. I've also noticed that booktube has followed the same pattern as book blogging: YA continues to be the genre that is most read, there are the usual features that we see (like IMM/book hauls, wrap ups, interviews, etc.), and of course the drama llamas that occasionally popped up in the blogosphere have also made appearances in booktube. 

But despite that, I feel like this community of booktubers has a lot to offer and hey, anything that makes people read more books gets my support. I've considered throwing my hat into the arena but I hesitate partly because I'm camera shy and if I plan on teaching, my "online presence" has to be very PG. But anyway. I'm all for booktube! What are your feelings on booktube? Yay or nay? Did you know about it already? Are you a booktuber? If so, how do you find it different from traditional blogging? 

discussion post: how your reading taste changes over time

I recently did a sweep on my book shelves because my two book cases weren't enough to hold all the books I owned. I have piles on the floor in front of my smaller bookcase and a few other books scattered throughout my house and as much as I love books, I also realized that I needed space! So I gave away books that I knew I wouldn't get around to or books that I have read but didn't strike me as "must haves". I donated all of my books to the library and that was a good feeling, knowing those books would go to a reader who would love them.

But that's not why I'm writing this post. As I was making piles of books to keep and give away, I came across my copy of Hush, Hush. We all know Hush, Hush right?

I first read this book in 2009* and I REALLY enjoyed it. At the time. Now five years later, as I was deciding what to keep and what to donate, I wondered if I still liked this book. I certainly didn't LUV IT like I initially had all those years ago but I was curious. So I quickly reread the book.

And found that I didn't like it much. I wasn't even a fan of the romance that once seemed so edgy, so dangerously awesome.

Despite half a decade**, I still remembered everything that happened in this book before I even reread it. Patch and Nora hadn't changed a bit. But I had. Hush, Hush wasn't the enticing read I once found it to be. I remembered my gushing review that I wrote for it and I admit that I'm a little embarrassed to read it now but my feelings as a reader then were true. That review was a snapshot of what I liked five years ago.

Five years ago, my reading taste was different. Nowadays? I like other books so much more. Books like Seraphina, Grave Mercy, Devil in Winter, or Silent in the Grave. Just to name a few. (And yes, I did just shamelessly link my reviews onto this post ;D so read them if you haven't already, haha***.) As I've grown older, I find that my reading taste has changed along with other things. Which I know NOW is completely natural and to be expected.

When I was taking classes at my community college, an English professor of mine was lecturing on I don't even know what at this point but he said something that has stuck with me: "We don't read literature, literature reads us." I don't know if someone else said that or if it came from him but I love the simplicity and truth behind that statement. I found it an apt description for what I feel as a reader. Sometimes our favorite books will no longer be our favorites or they will remain favorites because we still connect to them time after time. So that is what I learned when I randomly decided to clean out my shelves. Have you grown out of any books? Have you ever had epiphanies like this when it comes to reading? Or just life in general?

If you're wondering, Hush, hush did go into the donate pile. No regrets about that. May it find a better home on someone else's shelf.

*I cannot BELIEVE it's been 5 years already. I was still a teen back then. 
**Dear god, I feel OLD. 
*** You don't HAVE to, of course. But the option's there. ;)

Note: This post isn't intended as an insult to the author of this book by any means. I am merely using this book as an example to explain how people, not books, change. There are other books that I could name but this was the book that happened to be chosen due to recent memory. I also think that everyone has the right to read what they want and if they like it or not, that is fine either way. Variety is the spice of life and all that jazz ;P