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→ 2023 book round up
Dec. 30th, 2023 05:22 pm1. How many books did you read this year? Any trends in genre/length/themes/etc?
79 books. About 34% romance, with mystery/thrillers a close second. Also, three books by Japanese authors about books/bookshops and cats.
2. What are your Top 3 books that you read this year for the first time?
Exiles by Jane Harper
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
The Favourite by Alice Coldbreath
3. What's a book you enjoyed more than you expected?
What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell is a Disney Twisted Tale book, retelling the story of Tangled with Rapunzel's mother drinking the moondrop flower potion instead of the sundrop flower. Instead of healing, Rapunzel's hair can kill. There are aspects of the book that I found weird (a whole subplot with a sibling pair in the hospital; the book is apparently the brother retelling the story to his sister as she recovers from a round of chemotherapy) and Elizabeth Báthory is a major villain?! All that being said, Rapunzel's voice throughout is amazing, and I hope to write a fic about this particular universe in the upcoming year.
4. Which books most disappointed you this year?
I read Joan is Okay by Weike Wang for a book club pick, and was immensely bored. Nothing happened, and I was surprised when it just... ended. I think I'm not a fan of the literary genre, but I'm willing to give it a few more chances. I also read a romance where the hero said "just let it happen" to get the heroine into bed and just... no.
5. Did you reread any books? If so, which one was your favourite?
I re-read The Inheritance Games so I could read the entire series (at the time) this year. I have not yet read the fourth book. It's a pretty decent series, and I would've adored them as a teen.
6. Did you DNF (= did not finish) any books?
Quite a few, I think, mostly because library loans ended. The most recent was Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. I may or may not go back to that one, as the whole plot seems to be "100 Reasons Why I Hate Lestat", and it's a bit boring after a while.
( Cut to save room )
79 books. About 34% romance, with mystery/thrillers a close second. Also, three books by Japanese authors about books/bookshops and cats.
2. What are your Top 3 books that you read this year for the first time?
Exiles by Jane Harper
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
The Favourite by Alice Coldbreath
3. What's a book you enjoyed more than you expected?
What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell is a Disney Twisted Tale book, retelling the story of Tangled with Rapunzel's mother drinking the moondrop flower potion instead of the sundrop flower. Instead of healing, Rapunzel's hair can kill. There are aspects of the book that I found weird (a whole subplot with a sibling pair in the hospital; the book is apparently the brother retelling the story to his sister as she recovers from a round of chemotherapy) and Elizabeth Báthory is a major villain?! All that being said, Rapunzel's voice throughout is amazing, and I hope to write a fic about this particular universe in the upcoming year.
4. Which books most disappointed you this year?
I read Joan is Okay by Weike Wang for a book club pick, and was immensely bored. Nothing happened, and I was surprised when it just... ended. I think I'm not a fan of the literary genre, but I'm willing to give it a few more chances. I also read a romance where the hero said "just let it happen" to get the heroine into bed and just... no.
5. Did you reread any books? If so, which one was your favourite?
I re-read The Inheritance Games so I could read the entire series (at the time) this year. I have not yet read the fourth book. It's a pretty decent series, and I would've adored them as a teen.
6. Did you DNF (= did not finish) any books?
Quite a few, I think, mostly because library loans ended. The most recent was Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. I may or may not go back to that one, as the whole plot seems to be "100 Reasons Why I Hate Lestat", and it's a bit boring after a while.
( Cut to save room )
