Aloha bibliophiles!
Can you believe we’re half-way through 2016 already? Unbelievable! I’m happy to announce that I’m well on my way to meeting my 2016 reading goal! I’ve read/listened to 34 books so far and my goal is to reach 52! This is actually my first year (since like 3rd grade) where I’ve set a reading goal for myself and have kept track of how many books I’ve read. I do have to freak out about the fact that I’ve only crossed one book off my 2016 reading challenge though! That leaves 11 specific books I have to read and I picked some VERY lengthy ones. I need to GET ON IT!
Anyways, let’s get to what you came here for…Oh wait? You don’t know why you came here? You were hoping there would be some awesome giveaway or freebies? Sorry, not today! However, I will grace you with my sarcastic humor! Let’s take a look at my selections for the Midyear Freakout Book Tag:
The Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2016
Stars Above: A Lunar Chronicles Collection by Marissa Meyer
I cannot push The Lunar Chronicles series more. It’s up there in my favorites, hands down. Even if you don’t usually read YA, fantasy, or sci-fi, this series brings them all together beautifully. The story and the character development is truly poetic. And Stars Above, a short story collection in the series, was emotionally touching; at different turns, inspiring and heart-wrenching.
The Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far
After You by Jojo Moyes
I LOVED this sequel to Me Before You. It was a realistic and honest portrait of grief, something that we don’t often explore fully. I was very moved and happy to read the continuation of Lou’s story.
A New Release You Haven’t Read yet (But You Want To)
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
I have heard phenomenal things about this book and it’s been on so many summer reads list (including my 2016 Modern Mrs. Darcy reading challenge). I’m very excited!
Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half of 2016
Biggest Disappointment
City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg
I heard great things, but I think it just wan’t my cup of tea. I enjoyed the family-relationship drama, but the New York City punk and drug scene didn’t captivate me.
Biggest Surprise
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
I had no idea what I was walking into with this novel, but I’m so happy I chose to go down that path. This is one of my new favorites. It was such a touching story. I laughed and cried my way through this glorious read.
Newest Favorite Author
Diana Gabaldon
I’ve been (slowly) reading through the Outlander series this year and I love it. Thanks Diana! It’s so obvious the amount of research and detail that goes into her novels.
Newest Favorite Character
Android Mech6.0/Hoshi Star
This is a character from The Little Android short story in Stars Above. Tears, tears, tears. I can’t remember that last time I loved a character so much. My heart was so connected to her!
A Book That Made You Cry
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Does this one even need any explanation? Have your tissues ready. It’s an emotional ride.
A Book That Made You Happy/Made You Laugh
The Humans by Matt Haig
This novel was hilarious, but still managed to be very deep. Oddly enough, for a book about an alien, it really fostered a sense of faith in humanity.
Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year
The Hedge Knight: A Game of Thrones Prequel Graphic Novel by GRRM & Others
Maybe this is cheating, since it’s a graphic novel, but the illustrations were stunning. Here’s a few…
Favorite Adaptation So Far This Year
A Song of Ice and Fire Series by GRRM
At this point, the show has surpassed the published novels, but it is WONDERFUL! I will take my GoT fix wherever I can. I can’t not watch the show, but every day that goes by without news of the next book’s release kills me a little inside.
What Books Do You NEED To Read Before The End of This Year?
As I mentioned earlier, I have yet to cross off many of my selections for the Modern Mrs. Darcy 2016 Reading Challenge. Here’s my list:
- Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
- Bad Feminist: Essays by Roxane Gay
- The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- How to Create a Mind by Ray Kurzweil
- Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- Wicked by Gregory Maguire
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
What are some of your picks for these categories? What books are you still looking to read this year?
Until next time, bibliophiles….
The Bibliophile Struggle 
I’m so scared to read the sequel of Me before you because I just….that sentence don’t even need an explanation. I’m going to be a mess if I read that book and that’s what has been keeping me from reading it…maybe one day, I’ll read it…I have to try to get over Me before you first *sigh* (that is if I ever will)
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I understand! It’s not an easy read…but I think the sequel *might* be able to help bring you some peace!
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Thanks I’ll definitely get to it!!!
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I’m glad that you liked After You. Im a little hesitant about it. It’s on my TBR.
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Definitely worth reading!
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So much to say!
1) You now make me want to pick up The Lunar Chronicles like ASAP
2) I read Me Before You but am scared to read After You… I feel like it may ruin the perfection of Me Before Me.
3) Eligible is calling my name too
4) I’ve been meaning to read A Man Called Ove too and now I REALLY want to get to it
5) Diana Gabaldon rocks my world
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1) Get The Lunar Chronicles immediately.
2) I was also worried, but I felt like it was a great addition. I’m sure there are differing opinions, but it felt cathartic to me. However, I’ve also experienced a somewhat similar event. It just felt real.
3) If you read Eligible first, you have to tell me how you like it! I value your opinion.
4) Do it immediately. I’m almost not sure if I want you to read A Man Called Ove or The Lunar Chronicles first.
5) Agreed.
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