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Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

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27 Comments on Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

Is it mid-year already?  How did that happen?!

Many thanks to Tina at Reading Between the Pages for tagging me into this.  We, or at least I, so rarely get the time to pause and take stock, and it can be nice to look back over the last 6 months, as well as ahead to what’s coming up.

1) The best book you’ve read so far this year?

the-dry

Ask me on a different day and you’ll get a different answer, as I’ve read some amazing books this year, but the one that sprang to mind when I read the question was The Dry by Jane Harper.

I loved the setting, the characters, the writing, the twists in the plot.  Basically, this book has it all.

2) Your favourite sequel this year?

waking-gods

I adored Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel, and I was eagerly awaiting Waking Gods, which did not disappoint.

I love the epistolary format of both novels, and it was interesting to see what became of the characters a few years down the line, as well as finding out more about the nameless interviewer.

3) A new release that you haven’t read yet but really want to?

new boy

New Boy by Tracy Chevalier.  Part of the Hogarth Shakespeare Project, this is the first in that series that is based upon a play that I’m familiar with, telling as it does the story of Othello in a rather different setting.  I’m really looking forward to reading this!

4)  Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

godsgrave

There are so many releases that I’m looking forward to over the second half of the year, but the one that springs to mind is Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff.  I LOVED Nevernight, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

5) Your biggest disappointment?

the-sellout

The Sellout by Paul Beatty.  This was a book chosen by my book group, and I was looking forward to it as it also fits in with my Booker Prize Challenge (yes, that is still going on, although I haven’t read a Booker winner for longer than I care to admit).  The main issue was that I couldn’t get into it – I found it to be extremely hard work.  Additionally, the humour is very American, and as such, I found that some of it went over my head.

6) Biggest surprise of the year?

a clockwork orange

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.  This was another book group read, and one that I enjoyed much more than I expected to.  It’s not an easy read, and the language is difficult to get to grips with, but it’s worth persevering with.

7) Favourite new to you or debut author?

defender

G. X. Todd, author of Defender.  I loved her debut novel, and I can’t wait to read the next instalment in this series.

8) Your new fiction crush?

Hmmmm… I always struggle with this one, as I don’t really do fictional crushes.  Nope, sorry – can’t think of any! ☹

9) New favourite character?

for the winner

This is another tough one, but I’ll go for Atalanta from For the Winner.  I loved her attitude to life, and her determination to be treated as an equal, despite the view that women were largely considered to be property at the time.

10) A book that made you cry?

Eleanor Oliphant

It doesn’t happen often, but Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine prompted a tear or two.  Whilst I didn’t take to her at first, Eleanor is a great character, and I was fully invested in her story by the end.

11) A book that made you happy?

I’m struggling with this one!  I genuinely cannot think of a good answer to this question.  I have a tendency towards books that are bleak in nature, and so happy isn’t usually a factor.

12) Your favourite book to movie adaptation that you’ve seen this year?

the girl on the train

I really enjoyed the adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train.  I loved the book, and thought that the film was really well done.

13) Favourite book post you’ve published this year?

I think that it’s nice to do the occasional post that isn’t a book review, and I do particularly like writing up by experiences at Hay Festival.  I also enjoyed putting together my Blogiversary Giveaway post, as it was a chance to give back something to everyone who has supported me over the last two years.

14) The most beautiful book you have bought/received this year?

The Wanderers by Meg Howrey.  I think that these pictures don’t quite do it justice, but the cover is lovely, and I love the little cut out detail, and the two little embossed people.  And those end papers!

15) What are some books that you need to read by the end of the year?

Here are a few of the books from my TBR that I REALLY want to read:

Skitter by Ezekial Boone – the follow up to The Hatching which I read last year and really enjoyed, despite the spiders!

The Ice by Laline Paull – I loved The Bees and can’t wait to read her second novel

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman – a book I picked up this year’s Hay Festival.  I’m less familiar with Norse mythology, but I’m really looking forward to this

Yesterday by Felicia Yap – a debut novel that will be published in August, and that I’m lucky enough to have a proof of!

I’m tagging in:

Renee @ It’s book Talk

Laura @ Snazzy Books

Susan @ Books from Dusk Till Dawn

And anyone else that feels like taking part!

27 comments

  3. I still need to read Sleeping Giants, it’s been on overdue loan at my library for months, I think it’s fair to say – that person isn’t bringing it back 😂
    Godsgrave is my most highly anticipated new release too – I must confess, I broke my book buying ban to preorder, a first print, signed with sprayed edges edition – so worth it!

  4. I’ve thought about reading A Clockwork Orange so many times because it seems like such a fascinating book, but I’ve heard that it’s pretty graphic (or at least the movie is?).
    Great tag!

    1. I found the book to be less graphic than the film. There are some scenes – but the book didn’t dwell on them too much. It’s say that it’s worth giving it a go! 😊

    1. I have high expectations for Godsgrave, given how good the first novel in the series was. And For the Winner was brilliant, if you don’t mind a little fantastical element (the gods) in your historical fiction is definitely worth reading 😄

    1. You’re welcome! I’m really looking forward to it – I think that it will be interesting to see how the author deals with the issues that a lack of memory causes…

    1. There was a lot I’d forgotten when I saw the film, although it soon started to come back. I thought it was really well done x

  8. Yay! I’m so glad you did this! Loved your answers. I really enjoyed looking back at the first half of the year myself.
    The Dry was great and am also look forward to book two. Next month I’m reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I hope it’s not too big of a tear jerker.

    1. Ha ha! Thanks again for tagging me in. I’m not one for crying at books or films, but I’ll admit that Eleanor Oliphant got to me.

  9. I’m still struggling to keep up with book reviews and blogging; I don’t want to contemplate on other stuff! And now it’s almost July! Aaahhh!

    1. It can be a struggle! I seem to spend my weekends writing reviews that I struggle to keep up with during the week.

  10. I hadn’t heard of Sleeping Giants or Waking Gods, but I’ve just added the first book onto my wishlist – it sounds amazing and I can’t believe that I wasn’t aware of it.

    I ALSO wasn’t aware that Tracy Chevalier had a new book out – apparently I’ve been living under a rock. I’ve read every single one of her other books, but I have to admit that this one doesn’t really appeal. It seems very different from her other books, which can be a good thing, but I think I’ll wait for some reviews to surface first!

    I’ve been meaning to read The Clockwork Orange for years now, so I’m glad it’s more enjoyable than you expected!

    1. Sleeping Giants is amazing! I’m recommending it to everyone! 😂

      The new Chevalier is part of a specific project, in which certain authors were invited to write a novel imagining one of Shakespeare’s plays. Chevalier picked Othello. So, it may not appeal to some of her existing fans, but I like the idea behind it, and having studied Othello, in interested to see how it’s been brought into a more modern setting. Depends how into Shakespeare you are, I think 😊

  11. Pingback: Mid Year Freak Out Tag – Snazzy Books

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