We have reached the end of June, which means it’s time for a mid-year evaluation of the reading year.

So far I’ve read 21 books, 8 of which are nonfiction. Generally, my nonfiction project (minimum one nonfiction book per month) has worked well. Nonfiction used to be my favourite genre and I am pleased to have rediscovered my enthusiasm. Furthermore, I am making decent progress on my Reading Around the World and Best British Books projects.

Whereas my reading quantity has been modest, the quality has been quite good. Half of the books have been 4 stars reads or higher and my average rating is around 3.6.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s move on to the questions.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2024
Two books have achieved top rating from me.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 was my first read of the year. This feminism novella will make you furious, but it’s an excellent account of all the more or less subtle ways women can be harassed, discriminated and put to a disadvantage in modern society.

Julia and the Shark focuses on growing up, dealing with mental health issues, forming relations and finding yourself. In the centre is a search for the elusive Greenland shark, which can reach abnormally high ages. It is beautifully written and emotionally impactful. Targeting a middle-grade audience, the novel can easily be enjoyed by all age groups.  

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024
I’ve only read one sequel this year, but it was a good one. Network Effect is the fifth instalment in the Murderbot series and it’s the first full length novel. So far, the novella format has suited the Murderbot stories perfectly, so I was slightly sceptical picking it up. Surprisingly, it turned out to be my favourite in the series so far. The longer format allowed for a more complex plot and a wider range of characters. Great fun!

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to
I try not to be caught up in the hype around new releases, but judging from the reviews so far, The Ministry of Time is a superb time travel romp, which also provides food for thought.

An exquisitely original and feverishly fun fusion of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time asks: What does it mean to defy history, when history is living in your house? Kaliane Bradley’s answer is a blazing, unforgettable testament to what we owe each other in a changing world.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Having loved Liz Moore’s novel, Long Bright River, I look forward to the 4th of July, where Moore’s next novel will be published. The God of the Woods is a story of love, inheritance, identity, and second chances, a thrillingly layered drama about the tensions between a family and a community, and a history of secrets that will not let any of them go.

5. Biggest disappointment
A few titles compete for this dubious honour, including Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, I Who Have never known Men by Jacqueline Harpman and Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad. I could also have added my recent reread of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. Interestingly, both Mansfield Park and Emma disappointed massively when rereading, even if I enjoyed them the first time around. This has made me worried about rereading Pride and Prejudice.

6. Biggest surprise
That Julia and the Shark has come up as one of my favourites this year was certainly unexpected. However, I have chosen The Woman in White for this question. Despite having enjoyed The Moonstone, I was utterly surprised how much I loved the The Woman in White with all its Victorian melodrama. Perfect entertainment and escapism.

7. Favourite new author (debut or new to you)
I don’t think you can judge an author based on just one book, but I am curious to see what Colin Walsh writes next. His debut Kala belongs to my favourite type of books, character-driven crime fiction. And this was an exceedingly well done example.

8. Newest fictional crush
Nah, no fictional crushes.

9. Newest favourite character
Count Fosco from The Woman in White was a fun and layered character; the kind of villain you can’t help secretly rooting for.

10. Book that made you cry
The 2024 winner of the Women’s Prize, Brotherless NIght, certainly made me emotional. The novel provides a fictional account of the early years of Sri Lanka’s civil war, seen through the eyes of a Sashi, a young Tamil girl studying to become a doctor. I found it a gripping story, which provided a nuanced perspective on the civil war, where atrocities were committed on all sides.

11. Book that made you happy
The Penguin Lessons is easily the most endearing book, I’ve read this year. It’s a memoir about the author’s experiences working as a teacher in Argentina during the turbulent years following the collapse of the corrupt Peronist regime. After having saved a penguin from a serious oil spill, a strong bond forms between the author and the penguin. Admittedly, I do have a soft spot for penguins, but I can’t see anyone disliking this wonderful memoir, which also provides interesting insight into living in Argentina and coping with hyperinflation.

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
I will pass on this, since I only read audiobooks and ebooks.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
It would be good to get to The Color Purple, which has been on my TBR for ages. Originally, I picked it as my commute read, but struggled to understand the heavy Southern accent. Certainly not a book suited to a noisy commute. In the meantime, I’ve found another version, which is narrated by the author herself and quite easy to understand. So let’s see if 2024 is the year I finally get to see, if The Color Purple can live up to its amazing film adaptation.

That was my reading wrap-up for H1, 2024. How has your reading year been so far?