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?

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?

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 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?

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 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 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?

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?

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?

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?

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!

Thank you to everyone who entered my two year blogiversary giveaway to win this little bundle of goodies:

Once again I was overwhelmed with the support and good wishes from you guys – book people really are the best people!

I’m thrilled to announce that the winner of the giveaway is:

Emma at damppebbles.com

Congratulations, Emma! I’ll be in touch shortly to get your details and will get your prize sent over to you in the next few days.  I hope you enjoy it!

At the weekend, I marked the two year anniversary of my blog, and said that I would do a giveaway to mark the occasion.  I have to say that I was overwhelmed by the good wishes I received – honestly, you guys are the best! 🙂

So, the giveaway – I’ve put together the following little package:

• A signed copy of Paula Hawkins’ new novel, Into the Water
• A Paperchase notebook
• Some Hotel Chocolat goodies

To enter, simply leave a comment on this blog post by midnight on 8 June 2017 – the winner will be chosen at random after this date.  UK entrants only please!

Today, Jo’s Book Blog turns 2!

When I started this blog as a way of sharing my love of books with other like-minded people, I wasn’t sure whether it would work, whether I’d be able to put enough content together, whether anyone would actually give a monkey’s about my opinions.  I’ll be honest – two years in, I still have all these doubts, but what I have found is that the blogging community is absolutely wonderful, and I’ve “met” lots of wonderful people through running my blog, and it’s been worth it just for that!

So to celebrate, and as a little thank you, I’m going to put together a little giveaway, the details of which I’ll post in the next couple of days.

Rules:

1. Please credit Princess at RoyalReader (or just Royal Reader), as the creator of this tag, and add the rules
2. You can use the graphics provided in your post, or you’re welcome to make your own!
3. Thank the person(s) who tagged you and let others know of their fabulous blogs
4. Tag as many people as you want, be it 1 or 20, it’s entirely up to you!

Many thanks to Annie over at The Misstery for tagging me into this one.  If you don’t already follow Annie’s blog, you really should – she reads a wide variety of novels, and I’ve added several books to by wish list and TBR as a result of her wonderful and honest reviews!

THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE: A BOOK YOU WOULD SAVE WHEN CIVILISATION ENDS?

It might be cheating, but I’m going to say The Knowledge by Lewis Dartnell, as it’s a handy guide for restarting civilisation should the worst happen.  It covers a multitude of aspects, including how to purify water, make cloths from scratch and how to get technology going again.

THE VAMPIRE: A BOOK YOU WOULD STAKE THROUGH THE HEART?

The First Bad Man by Miranda July.  There was a lot of hype about this when it was first published a couple of years ago.  I’ve honestly no idea why – I didn’t enjoy it at all.

THE HAUNTED HOUSE: A BOOK THAT STILL HAUNTS YOU?

The Handmaid’s Tale is a book that has stayed with me since I first read it at the age of 17.  I’ve reread it since then, and it’s still as powerful now as it was when I first read it.  Perhaps even more so, given what’s going on in the world…

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER:  A BOOK WITH A TWIST YOU DID NOT SEE COMING?

I recently (so recently I’ve not had chance to review it yet!) read Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjussen.  Hannah comes home one day to find her partner, Matt, has left the house they share.  He’s taken everything of his with him, and the house looks exactly as it did before he moved in.  He’s even put Hannah’s books which had been moved to the loft back on the book shelf.  There’s no sign he was ever there, it’s like he never existed… Brilliant, brilliant book, and I did not see that twist coming at all!

THE CREEPY DOLL: A BOOK THAT SEEMS INNOCENT BUT ISN’T?

A couple of years ago, Penguin released a Modern Classics edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with this wonderfully creepy cover.  It proved to be Marmite – some, like me, loved it, and others hated it.  I loved it so much that I went out and bought it, and gave it a reread for the first time since I was child.  And it’s wonderfully dark reading it now.

THE MONSTER: A BOOK YOU COULD BARELY TACKLE/DEFEAT?

I’ve found this to be a particularly difficult category, as if I’m not enjoying a book, I won’t usually finish it.  But there are some that I’ve not enjoyed that I’ve really wanted to like, and that I have persevered with, one of which was J by Howard Jacobsen.  I read it in 2014 when it was first published, and I can’t really why I struggled with it so much, but I do remember it being hard work.

THE COMEDY-HORROR: A BOOK WITH MIXED GENRES THAT WORKED (OR DIDN’T)?

I absolutely loved Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, and found it to be a wonderful mix of science fiction, thriller with a bit of a love story thrown in for good measure.

THE (CLICHED) TEEN HORROR: A BOOK YOU FOUND SUPER CLICHED/STEREOTYPICAL?

It took me an age to think of something for this category, and I’m not entirely sure that this answer is what was meant for this tag, but, in the absence of anything better:

I loved David Eddings’ series The Belgariad, which starts with Pawn of Prophecy, when I was growing up (pre and early teens).  Whilst I can see that these books are quite cliched in the “orphaned child is actually king of the world” sense now, I do still have fond memories of them, and I’ll still read them again at some point.

THE DEMONIC POSSESSION: A BOOK SO GRIPPING YOU NEEDED AN EXORCIST TO ESCAPE IT?

For me, Sleeping Giants was one of those books that I started reading and had to keep going to find out what happened – it’s absolutely amazing.

THE SCIENCE FICTION: A PRECIOUS BOOK YOU WOULD PERMANENTLY SACRIFICE TO ALIENS FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND?

This is another tricky one to answer, but I’ve chosen Beauty by Raphael Selbourne, which is a novel about overcoming differences, of race, in this instance, but I think that it shows that we are capable of acceptance and of seeing past the things that make us different, and that might be important should aliens come calling!

I tag:

• Natalie at The Owl on the Bookshelf
• Janel at Keeper of Pages
• Wendy at Little Bookness Lane
• Susan at Books From Dusk Till Dawn
• Mairead at Swirl and Thread

And anyone else that would like to take part!

I was absolutely thrilled when I was nominated for this award by both Natalie at The Owl on the Bookshelf and Susan at Books From Dusk Till Dawn.  I love both of these blogs, and I really appreciate the support they’ve shown to me, both generally and in nominating me for the Blogger Recognition Award.

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog
2. Write a post to show your award
3. Give a brief story of how your blog started
4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers
5. Select other bloggers you want to give this award to
6. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide a link to the post you have created

I started my blog in May 2015 as a way of sharing my love of reading and all things book related with a wider audience.  It’s something I’d been thinking about doing for quite a while, although I’m not sure I’d ever have taken the final step of actually setting up a blog without the encouragement of my other half.

I’ll be honest, it was quite a daunting experience, particularly for the initial few posts, but I’ve found that I grown more confident with it over time.

My advice to new bloggers would be:

• Do things your own way.  There are lots of bloggers out there, and we all do things differently – it would be really boring if we were all the same.  So, experiment, and find a style that works for you
• Don’t put yourself under pressure – for most of us, this is a hobby, and it’s something we do whilst balancing our day jobs and general lifestyle.  It doesn’t matter if you can’t blog every day, or if you need to take a break.  Life can be stressful enough, so be kind to yourself, and treat blogging as a hobby and something to be enjoyed, rather than letting it become a chore

I’m nominating the following blogs for the award:

Cathy at Between The Lines

Cleo at Cleopatra Loves Books

Emma at Emma’s Bookish Corner

Dave at Espresso Coco

Renee at It’s Book Talk

Janel at Keeper of Pages

Wendy at Little Bookness Lane

Annie at The Misstery