We’ve entered July, which means it’s time for a mid-year reading check-in! If you are watching Booktube, you will already be familiar with this tag, which everyone has been doing recently.
So far in 2023, I’ve read 27 books. This brings me on track to reach 52+ books for the year, i.e. one book per week. Another soft target is reading one nonfiction book per month, which I am also keeping up with. And I’ve even found some cracking nonfiction books on the way.
Anyway, without further ado, let’s move on to the questions.
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2023
In 2022, at this time of year, I hadn’t had a single five-star read. This year, no less than six books have achieved top rating from me. I find it difficult to choose one favourite, but surely it must be between the following:
- These Precious Days by Ann Pachett – heartfelt essays
- Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield – unique story about loss
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens – solid classic with stand-out characters
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023
I’ve read three sequels this year, all excellent, but Faithful Place from Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series was in a league of its own. With its depiction of a poverty-stricken community in Dublin in the 1980s and a slow character-driven storyline, this is my favourite kind of crime fiction.
3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to
I am not too fussed about reading new releases. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes intrigues me, though. From what I’ve heard, it could be one of those clever, philosophical science fiction novels, I love so much. On the other hand, it could also be one of these dragged-out, pretentious stories with convoluted messages, which go completely over my head. Should I give it a try?
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Normally, I have no clue about future releases, but I recently heard of Angie Kim’s upcoming novel, Happiness Falls. After having enjoyed Miracle Creek, I am curious to see where the author goes next. Of course, I also look forward to Richard Osman’s The Last Devil to Die, the next instalment in the Thursday Murder Club.
5. Biggest disappointment
A few titles compete for this dubious honour, including Trust by Hernan Diaz, When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro and Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. None of these were bad books as such, but my expectations were just too high.
6. Biggest surprise
I picked up The Bandit Queens based on the blurb alone, but it didn’t disappoint. The novel effortlessly blends serious themes such as domestic violence and a problematic caste system with black humour, delightful dialogue and a fantastic depiction of the dynamics between a group of Indian women.
7. Favourite new author (debut or new to you)
I don’t think you can judge an author based on 1-2 books, but Tana French and Ann Pachett are both on track to become new favourites.
8. Newest fictional crush
Nah, no fictional crushes.
9. Newest favourite character
Miss Havisham from Great Expectations is one of Dickens’ most iconic characters and I can definitely see why. Tragic and unhappy, her fanatic thirst for revenge ends up ruining her own life as well as the lives of others.
10. Book that made you cry
Without actually making me cry, Wandering Souls certainly made me emotional. Following the journey of three young siblings, who flee Vietnam after the war and try to make a life for themselves in the UK was sad, heartbreaking at times, but also hopeful.
11. Book that made you happy
You probably have to be a Poirot aficionado to enjoy this book, which goes through every single Poirot novel and adaptation ever made. I loved it. I’ve never read a biography of Agatha Christie, so getting tidbits about her life and character was interesting as well.
12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
Can audiobooks be beautiful?!
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
I read for fun and don’t have any reading obligations. With my reading being rather slow at the moment, mood reading is the way forward. If possible, it would be good to get to Ali Smith’s Summer, though. I meant to read the Seasonal Quartet over one year with one book per season. However, after being disappointed with Spring, I “forgot” to pick up Summer.
That was my reading wrap-up for H1, 2023. Not bad at all, let’s hope the five-stars books continue to materialise in H2. How has your reading year been so far?
Not only has ‘everyone’ not been doing Booktube, some of us have never even heard of it! But then I don’t do social media, unless my blog counts. I don’t know many of the books you mention, but I didn’t enjoy the Armfield, so let’s see if I can do better with some of your other choices.
Haha, Booktube is just the rather large book community on Booktube. For some reason the tag is ridiculously popular there, but I haven’t seen it much in the book blogging community. I only started watching Youtube videos during lockdown and got – unavoidably – addicted. There’s lots of good stuff there, not just entertainment. I use it to watch science lectures and find information about topics I want to learn more about.
Ah! Yes, I’m just as bad at YouTube as I am at audio. Only just now, I junked a really interesting video because I couldn’t bear to spend the 20 minutes it required just sitting here watching it. Maybe later …
Yes, the two are probably related. I took to audiobooks and Youtube pretty much instantly. Apparently, listening is a good way for me to take in information and stories. Do you watch television? I guess Youtube is similar.
Not a big TV viewer. I prefer reading in the evening!
I prefer reading as well. And watching Youtube. 😆
Great blog as usual. I think the best book I read this year is The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan. Graphic, moving, mournful and Booker Prize winner which does not, in my view, mean it will be a good story but this was exemplary.
Thanks! I’ve heard good things about The Narrow Road to the Deep North. And I completely agree about your Booker winner assessment. In my experience winning the Booker is no guarantee whatsoever, that I’ll enjoy it.
27 already! Great going and the Poirot book is certainly on my list this year.
Thanks – yeah not too bad. I did come across someone on Youtube, who apparently reads 270+ books per year, so in that comparison, it is fairly modest. 😉
A wonderful update, so many great books to consider. I also re-read Great Expectations this year and was again in awe. And, I also want to read In Ascension, which promises to be a thought-provoking sci-fi. It is pity to hear about Trust. It is my personal most anticipated read of this summer, but I am prepared it to go either way! I didn’t even though about Angie Kim’s new book, should put it to my TBR, too. My reading is definitely going better than last year.
Thanks Diana! This was my first read of Great Expectations, but I could certainly see myself rereading at some point. I liked it a lot better than Dickens’ early works (Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby). Great to hear about In Ascension. I hope you will write a review, when you get to it. And regarding Trust: So many people loved it, so don’t listen to my opinion. As I said, I didn’t dislike it, but it certainly fell short of my (great) expectations. 😉
Fab post! I’m trying to get through the Seasonal Quartet as well, and have winter to listen to as I’m also behind! 😂
Thanks Nicki. Yes, it’s impossible to keep up with everything, isn’t it. 😊 I quite like seasonal reading, so I kinda feel I should be reading Summer during the summer months. Let’s see…
Great post, Stargazer💜 I learn so much about your reading tastes. And, congrats for staying on target with your annual goal!
Thanks Jonetta! I don’t take reading goals very seriously, they are more like soft targets. Nevertheless, it’s nice to be on track. 😊
Sounds like a great first half. Yes, Poirot’s book was great!
Here is mine: https://wordpress.com/post/wordsandpeace.com/27051
Poirot was great, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. And learned quite a lot as well.
The Mid-Year Book Freakout made me smile. Glad you’ve had so many great reads in the first half of the year, hope you have loads more in the second half.
It’s a catchy title, isn’t it. Thanks Rose, fingers crossed that I’ll find more favourites in the remaining part of the year.
🙂
What a successful year you’re having! I loved Gillian Anderson’s portrayal of Miss Haversham, the best I think.
I haven’t watched any of the adaptations, but now I’ve read the book, I am keen to try one.
Thank you for your post about your first half of your reading year 2023. One of my all time favorite is also “Great Expectations” by Dickens! I am curious about “Our Wifes Under the Sea”. Interesting that “When We Were Orphans” was a disappointment … because I loved the book so much. My year of reading was a little slow in the first half, and I hope the second half will be better. I was going low on my reading challenge goal but hope I will read about 48 books this year because I have some doorstoppers on my list.
I know a lot of people adore When We Were Orphans, but for me it didn’t stand out the same way books like The Remains of the Day or Never Let Me Go did. I thought it was interesting with the unreliable narrator leaving me doubting what was real. Anyway, we can’t all love the same books. 😊. I hope your reading will pick up in the second half and that you will reach your target. But of course it’s all about quality not quantity. And doorstoppers can definitely slow you down. I have had a few doorstoppers (incl Demon Copperhead) and really look forward to pick up some shorter books.
Great answers! It’s been a veeeery long time since I’ve added the Dublin Murder Squad series to my TBR but I never got around to checking it out. It’s great to hear how good it is though. A bit unfortunate to hear that Dark Matter wasn’t a hit for you. I remember the insane buzz around it. I’ll probably still try it, especially when I’ve read the following two books he published, just to see what the buzz was all about. Great answers, stargazer! 🙂
I think the Dublin Murder Squad is excellent, but if you prefer more action-packed books, it may not be for you. The mysteries unfold very slowly and unless you care about the characters, it will not keep you gripped through 500+ pages (Tana French writes very looong books).
Maybe, if I’d read Dark Matter, when I was younger, it would have been more fun. These days, playing with quantum physics tropes is quite common and the author has to bring something new to the table to impress (such as Everything Everywhere All at Once). Ah well, you can’t win them all…
Great update. Your top 3 reads are totally solid books – I liked each of them too. They’ll probably remain at the top perhaps. I think I was one of the very few who didn’t like Angie Kim’s book Miracle Creek — it just felt macabre the explosion of those kids & people in the device sub. I just couldn’t deal with it or the characters in it. Hmm but that’s just me. Hope you enjoy your upcoming books. Cheers.
I do see what you mean about Miracle Creek and I’ve seen others not liking it either. However, I was captivated and thought the author had a very honest discussion of topics which may feel a bit taboo.