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| The Secret History, by Donna Tartt; Catherine House, by Elisabeth Thomas; and Bunny, by Mona Awad |
In 2023, in the first half of the year, I have read seventy books!
What changed? In January of this year I found out about "BookTube," otherwise known as the part of YouTube in which people review and discuss books, otherwise known as something I may be the last reader on Earth to have discovered. I mean, before I stumbled across BookTube in my recommended videos page, I never got the idea to look for videos about books. I would just read books! But it turns out that it's motivating for me to hear other people talk about books. I've found so many good recommendations, especially after figuring out which reviewers line up with my taste in fiction. I've also tried some genres that were new to me, or less likely to come to my attention.
Several of the reviewers I watch have made videos for the "Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag," answering a set of questions about what they've read in the first half of this year and what they plan to read later. Since I'm not making videos, I thought I'd take it to my blog. I did not come up with these questions myself; my sources indicate they came from YouTubers known as Chami and Earl Grey Books. And now...
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S GET INTO IT.
Best book you've read so far this year?
I have a little set of books to discuss. I read Bunny, by Mona Awad, and I loved it. Later I read The Secret History, by Donna Tartt, and I loved it. Later, I read Catherine House, by Elisabeth Thomas, and I see it as a book that combines some of the best things about the previous two. I think you've already guessed that I loved it! All three of these novels are "dark academia," with some weird, otherworldly elements. I think it would be fun to re-read all three in a row, both to see what it's like to start with some understanding of what's going on and to be able to compare them more intentionally.
Best sequel you've read so far this year?
I haven't read many sequels this year. I'm not opposed to reading a series now and then, but most of the books I read are standalones. I enjoyed Hell Bent, by Leigh Bardugo, but it didn't have much competition in the sequel category.
New release you haven't read yet, but want to?
Because I've been Influenced by the many, many, many, many, many BookTubers who are sponsored by a subscription box known as Book of the Month, most of the brand-new release books in my possession came from the blue boxes I am now buying every month. I'm talking about The Last Word, by Taylor Adams; Weyward, by Emilia Hart; and Ink Blood Sister Scribe, by Emma Törzs. I'm also planning to read Translation State, by Ann Leckie, and Happy Place, by Emily Henry.
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?
Let me look at my pre-orders... The book I'm the most excited about at this moment is Rouge, by Mona Awad. So far, I've only read one of her other books, Bunny, which was outstanding. I just started to read All's Well yesterday, so I don't know how I feel about it yet. It could either feed or dampen my currently fiery passion to read Rouge, but I'll read Rouge either way.
Biggest disappointment?
There was one book I thought would be good, but didn't like: Piñata, by Leopoldo Gout. There was another book I didn't know much about but I had heard good things, and then I actually hated it: Normal People, by Sally Rooney. I'm going to say that Piñata was the more disappointing, though, because the premise had potential that raised my expectations, but then I didn't enjoy the way the story was told. Not just "didn't enjoy." The part of my mind that edits fiction kept yelling about the point of view choices, the structure, the pacing, and the implausibility of a certain object making it through customs from Mexico to the United States. It was not a good reading experience.
Biggest surprise?
I liked a romance novel! Actually, I liked two romance novels!! Those were both by Emily Henry: Book Lovers, and Beach Read. I hardly ever read romance novels, so that is a stunning achievement for this author. I'm sure she's somewhere reading this right now and bursting into happy tears because she totally knows who I am and cares what I think. Congratulations, Emily Henry!
Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?
This goes to Sarah Gailey. I've read three of her books in 2023: The Echo Wife, and Magic for Liars (which is one of my very most favorites for the year so far), and Upright Women Wanted. I'm looking forward to reading Just Like Home. I also managed to never read anything by T. Kingfisher before 2023, and now she's one of my insta-buy authors.
Newest fictional crush?
I don't really get crushes on characters! But I'll say that Gus from Beach Read would probably catch my attention if he were a real human person. :)
Newest favorite character?
I'm going to stick with Gus. :)
A book that made you cry?
It's rare for me to cry when I read, but that did happen once this year while I was reading The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, by Megan Bannen. I never would have heard of this book if I hadn't started to support oliviareadsalatte through her Patreon, which includes a couple of different book clubs at different levels; this was the first book I read for the book club I joined. It's a secondary-world fantasy romance novel for adults that is not too spicy, but not altogether without spice. I liked the unusual setting and the somewhat cozy story that wasn't too soft. There was a part toward the end that made me cry, but then got resolved beautifully. Not a sad book! But it made me care a lot.
A book that made you happy?
Also The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. :)
Most beautiful book you've bought this year (or received)?
Poison Ivy: The Virtuous Cycle, by G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara, and Arif Prianto. The artwork is gorgeous. I hardly ever buy special editions of novels, but I bought a couple with particularly nice covers: Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver, and What Moves the Dead, by T. Kingfisher (Maybe it helps to have a surname that starts with "King").
What book(s) do you need to read by the end of the year?
Lol, "need" is a strong word. I have no book-reading responsibilities, and I'm a mood-reader. If I state for the record that I want to read a certain book by the end of this year, there's a decent chance that I'll be more interested in another book by next week. Especially since these charismatic people on the internet keep Influencing me! So you might want to look to them for predictions about what I'll decide to read, and then check back here in late December.
Aside from Olivia (oliviareadsalatte, mentioned above), I'm also a huge fan and patron of Jordaline, of Jordaline Reads on YouTube, and Ally, aka allisonpaiges on YouTube. There are several others I follow, but these are the three I'll drop everything and watch when a new video comes out.
