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Friday, June 25, 2021
The Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag—2021 Version
11:41 AM
I saw this tag on Nicole's blog, BookWyrm Knits, and thought it looked like a fun way to assess where I am in my reading now that we're just about halfway through 2021. I'm not sure who originally created this tag—if it was you or you know who it was, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. At any rate, here's how Nicole did it, so I'm going to follow her format:
Total Books Read in 2021 So Far
98
My goal is to read 200 books this year, so I'm right on track. Goodreads says I'm two books ahead of schedule. Go, me!
Best Book You Read in 2021 So Far
I'm going to go with The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustain. It's a historical novel about two young women living on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. Their hardscrabble lives entwine because of a murder, which creates an unlikely bond between them. The setting and characters in this book are so well drawn that I found myself really sinking into the story and caring deeply about what happened to the two main characters. This assured debut was an A read for me, one of only a few books I've truly loved this year.
Best Sequel You've Read in 2021 So Far
I love reading series! I'm always in the middle of a bunch of them, so I've read a number of sequels this year. I think my favorite so far is The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny. The 11th book in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, it's a mystery about a shocking discovery searchers find in the woods while looking for a missing boy.
New Release(s) You Haven't Read But Want To
I've talked a lot about new releases this year in my Top Ten Tuesday posts. You can check out this list, this one, and this one to see which I've been most excited about. I'll be listing even more new releases I want to read in my next TTT post, so look for that next week. In the meantime, here are the top three 2021 releases from the first half of the year that I haven't read yet but am looking forward to:
The Removed by Brandon Hobson—This already-released novel focuses on a Cherokee family and the 15-year-old tragedy that still haunts them.
Survive the Night by Riley Sager (available June 29, 2021)—The wait is almost over for this one, Sager's newest thriller. It's about a ride share gone horribly wrong.
Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly DeVos (available June 29, 2021)—I'm not huge on zombie novels, but this YA one just sounds like tons of fun. It's about a weight loss camp that is overrun by the creatures and the intrepid campers who must stop them.
Most Anticipated Release(s) for the Second Half of the Year
This is actually the exact topic for next week's Top Ten Tuesday post. Here are the top three I'm most excited about, although I've already read one of them.
Bluebird by Sharon Cameron (available October 5, 2021)—I loved this exciting WWII novel about a young woman who holds the key to a devastating secret, one that many people would kill to have. I can't wait for Bluebird to finally be out in the world. It's an excellent read!
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty (September 14, 2021)—Lots of readers are chomping at the bit for this new release. It's about a group of siblings who are dealing with the disappearance of their mother, possibly at the hands of their father.
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney (available September 7, 2021)—This domestic thriller revolves around a couple celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary who win a weekend away in Scotland. The troubled union needs some TLC, but the getaway is not all it seems...
Biggest Disappointment
After Alice Fell by Kim Taylor Blakemore—I was really looking forward to this historical novel about a woman who is trying to get to the bottom of her sister's mysterious death at an insane asylum. The premise promised great things. Unfortunately, the story moves at a glacial pace and the characters are off-putting and unlikable.
Biggest Surprise
The Captive Kingdom by Jennifer A. Nielsen—I binge-read this middle-grade series because the latest book in the series was nominated in an awards competition I was helping to judge. While The False Prince was a decent read, the next two books really dragged for me. Needless to say, I really wasn't looking forward to reading the newest installment. To my great surprise and delight, The Captive Kingdom was a rollicking adventure story that breathed new life into the series. I ended up enjoying it very much.
Favorite New Author
I've read a lot of new authors this year, so this is a toughie. Because I've now read and enjoyed two books by both of these ladies, assuring that they are not one-hit wonders, I'm going to go with Sarah Stewart Taylor and Tessa Wegert. Both write twisty, atmospheric police procedurals.
Newest Favorite Character
Hmmm...the only one that is really coming to mind is Laurent Lepage, the 9-year-old boy who goes missing in The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny. He's an imaginative, boy-who-cries-wolf kind of child, one whom no one takes seriously. It's only when it's too late that his neighbors realize just how important he really was to their community. Unfortunately, Laurent will not be a recurring character.
Book(s) That Made You Happy
I've tried to read happier books this year since I tend to gravitate toward darker, more serious reads. Two of these are classics that I've read several times but decided to revisit in 2021. The other is a celebrity memoir that just made me smile. I listened to all of them on audio and the delightful narrations definitely added to the pleasurable reading/listening experience.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Answer Is... by Alex Trebek
Book(s) That Made You Cry
Interestingly, all the audiobooks above have sad parts that made me a little teary.
Favorite Review You Have Written This Year
Uhhh...I don't really have favorite reviews. According to Blogger stats, my review of A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor has been my most popular review this year.
Most Beautiful Book You Have Gotten This Year
I don't really read graphic novels or other illustrated books. As far as cover art goes, though, I think The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley stands out since it's so unique and eye-catching. I enjoyed the story as well.
What Books Do You Need to Read By Year's End?
I don't need to read anything, although I do want to read 102 more books to meet my goal for the year. As far as a reading plan goes, I don't really have one. I'm just choosing whatever looks good and keeping my fingers crossed that they pan out (a method that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't). I also need to catch up on writing reviews since I'm woefully behind. Since I've been rocking my reading challenges this year, I really want to make sure I finish all of them.
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I'm not into tagging people, but if you want to do this one, please do! I'd love to read your answers. How are you doing on your 2021 reading so far? What reading/blogging goals would you like to accomplish before 2022?
21 comments:
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I'm glad you thought it was interesting enough to play along! I don't remember who created the tag, and I even popped back through my prior installments of this tag but I didn't see anyone calling out the creator.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
I don't usually do tags, but this was a fun one! I've never seen it going around before, so I'm glad you gave me a heads-up!
DeleteI love Anne of Green Gables. And the Captive Kingdom is on my TBR :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed listening to ANNE on audio this time around. It's such a fun story and the audio brings it to life in a different way. I hope you enjoy THE CAPTIVE KINGDOM. I was pleasantly surprised by it!
DeleteJust reading your post got me thinking about what I would choose for each category. It's always nice to reflect on what we've read in a wider way and not just for reviews.
ReplyDeleteI have the Fire Keeper's Daughter and hope to get to it before year's end.
I agree. I don't normally do these kinds of posts, but it was a fun way to look back at what I've read so far this year and what I still want to read.
DeleteThis reminds me that I have The Answer Is waiting for me to read.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it! It's a fun listen/read.
DeleteWonderful list. Some themes are different from the one I did but a lot is similar. I just admire how you will want to read 200 books this year, I've just managed 36. But then, my books often get over 500, so maybe I should double that number. LOL I love the BLUEBIRD cover. Looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy Mid Year Freakout list.
200 books has been my goal for the last five years or so and I haven't made it yet! I usually read more in the first half of the year than in the second, but we'll see. And, yes, my books are definitely shorter - I rarely read 500+ page books! You're more patient than I am :)
DeleteI always dreamt of reading 100 in a year and even managed it once but I think it's more important to enjoy the books we read. I'm sure you agree there. Doesn't mean we can't dream.
DeleteFun post! And yay for being right on track to reaching your goal of reading 200 books this year. That's awesome. :D
ReplyDeleteI might actually make it to 200 this year! We'll see...
DeleteWhat a great roundup of the first half of 2021 this is. I can't even imagine reading 200 books in a single year.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I'm a little ahead on the number of books I want to read for the year (100) but I'm starting to go slower and slower. It's either me or the books I've been choosing because I've already abandoned 10 books, several of them fairly deeply into the books.
I came into the year wanting to read a lot of stuff published from about 1940 through the seventies, and have not done very well with that. All the bright and shiny new stuff out there is, as usual, too big a temptation.
I always find that I read more in the first half of the year than in the second. Not sure why exactly. I feel like I've also been abandoning a lot of books lately, although I usually push through and finish if I make it to the halfway point or beyond. Just depends.
DeleteHa! I definitely know about the shiny and new. My head is always turned by the latest and greatest!
I went through a major reading slump the beginning of the year so definitely haven't come close to your 98. But it looks like you have a very good selection so far this year :)
ReplyDelete-Megan Bookstacks & Golden Moms
Ugh. I don't know if I've ever experienced a true reading slump, but I do feel like I've started a bunch of books lately that just didn't capture my attention for one reason or another. For some reason, I've picked up a lot of stinkers lately, although it could just be my mood ... it's blazing hot and I'm cranky! LOL.
DeleteI liked the Alex Trebek memoir a lot. I hope to read 4-5 of the others on your list this week as well. I usually read 125-150 books but this year I may go higher as well - it's been that kind of a first half.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a great book? I thought it was going to be more serious, so I was surprised by how light-hearted it is. Such a delightful read!
DeleteI haven't managed to reach 200 books yet, but I think I might be able to do it this year. The first half of 2021 has been excellent for reading (at least as far as how many books I've read) - let's hope the second half is even better. Sounds like you're going to CRUSH your goal!
98 books read already this year? Impressive!!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you loved reading, The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustain. I love historical fiction too and just downloaded the audio edition of The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustain to my iPad in the past 48 hours as it sounded like a good read... Now to find the time to listen to this novel.
I really enjoyed THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE. It's sad, but it's also very absorbing and hopeful, ultimately. I hope you enjoy it!
Delete