End of year reflections and book recommendations
Hello! Happy Thursday and almost Happy New Year! Wow. 2022 went so quickly but also so slowly and I must thank you all for being here with me!
At the end of every year, I pull out a composition notebook that has my new years goals and add in things I did that year that either accomplished those goals and/or how I went above. For example, I probably wrote "travel" and now I can write I had a truly chaotic adventure in Europe! It's interesting to reflect and realize that even if I didn't meet my goals exactly, I still did so much in 365 days.
Earlier this year (or last, I have no memory of this place), I mentioned wanting to read less this year and by jove, I think I have! Officially, my Goodreads reading count is at 150 (ish) when last year it was 171, but if we're removing manga (which that's a whole twenty minute conversation about whether or not I feel like I count it for myself), I read 123 so far, with the hope of finishing two more before 2023 rolls in. And last year I didn't count manga (again, long conversation), which means I dropped about 50 books!! It's a silly thing to be so proud of but I am.
And since we reflecting, I'm going to give you all one sentence reviews of a few books. I was talking to my book club about them (shout out!!) and some books this year I've mentioned in depth, some I've glossed over, and some I didn't mention because they were truly some of the worse things my eyes have ever consumed.
So! Without further adieu, bottom five and top five books. :) I'm not going to negatively talk about books that aren't out yet even though some deserve it but that's my main caveat. And also! Are these books bad? Not essentially - I just didn't like them. ....Except number 1. Fuck that book.
Bottom 5:
5: A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan (Romance) - I feel bad but the MCs had no chemistry and also the Main Male Love Interest had my brother's name - WHEW did I endure.
4: Meant to Be by Emily Giffin (Romance) - Why was it important for me to know how JKF jr died to understand this book?
3: By the Book by Jasmine Gulliory (Romance) - I knew we were doomed when Lumiere was the fucking wi-fi password in this Beauty in the Beast retelling.
2: The Makeup Test by Jenny L. Howe (Romance) - This man STOLE HER PHD SPOT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE GIRL BACK ...AND IT WORKS.
1: Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner (Romance) - I have never screamed at protagonists quite like I have in this story; everyone was beaten with the stupid stick in this book.
Wow! Those were ALL romance books!!! I don't even know if that's saying something except I read SO much romance this year. Anyway, onto top five; please note there are a lot of white men in this list, something I am ashamed of. :(
Top 5:
5. Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes (Non-Fiction) - As someone who loves Greek Mythology and also realizes how the women are always shafted, it was really an interesting read to have them highlighted so well.
4. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (Non-Fiction) - I already talked about this early in the year but this book was intense; I read it in January 2022 and I think about it maybe once a month. I will never go to Mount Everest.
3. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (Fantasy) - Dumbasses who are blind to their attraction to each other having to work together to solve a mystery - did you mean my favorite genre??
2: Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe (Non-Fiction) - I wrote a whole newsletter on this one, holy shit it's so good.
1: The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (Non-Fiction) - I wrote a whole newsletter on this one so I won't go into it again but this man is so fascinating.
And cause this is my newsletter, honorable mentions.
If you want any more information on any of the books, or IDK, a top 150 list where I rank them all (what is wrong with you), I am down to discuss. But I hope this gives you a few options of books to read (or....not), or maybe gave you a laugh!
Until next year my friends!
At the end of every year, I pull out a composition notebook that has my new years goals and add in things I did that year that either accomplished those goals and/or how I went above. For example, I probably wrote "travel" and now I can write I had a truly chaotic adventure in Europe! It's interesting to reflect and realize that even if I didn't meet my goals exactly, I still did so much in 365 days.
Earlier this year (or last, I have no memory of this place), I mentioned wanting to read less this year and by jove, I think I have! Officially, my Goodreads reading count is at 150 (ish) when last year it was 171, but if we're removing manga (which that's a whole twenty minute conversation about whether or not I feel like I count it for myself), I read 123 so far, with the hope of finishing two more before 2023 rolls in. And last year I didn't count manga (again, long conversation), which means I dropped about 50 books!! It's a silly thing to be so proud of but I am.
And since we reflecting, I'm going to give you all one sentence reviews of a few books. I was talking to my book club about them (shout out!!) and some books this year I've mentioned in depth, some I've glossed over, and some I didn't mention because they were truly some of the worse things my eyes have ever consumed.
So! Without further adieu, bottom five and top five books. :) I'm not going to negatively talk about books that aren't out yet even though some deserve it but that's my main caveat. And also! Are these books bad? Not essentially - I just didn't like them. ....Except number 1. Fuck that book.
Bottom 5:
5: A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan (Romance) - I feel bad but the MCs had no chemistry and also the Main Male Love Interest had my brother's name - WHEW did I endure.
4: Meant to Be by Emily Giffin (Romance) - Why was it important for me to know how JKF jr died to understand this book?
3: By the Book by Jasmine Gulliory (Romance) - I knew we were doomed when Lumiere was the fucking wi-fi password in this Beauty in the Beast retelling.
2: The Makeup Test by Jenny L. Howe (Romance) - This man STOLE HER PHD SPOT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE GIRL BACK ...AND IT WORKS.
1: Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner (Romance) - I have never screamed at protagonists quite like I have in this story; everyone was beaten with the stupid stick in this book.
Wow! Those were ALL romance books!!! I don't even know if that's saying something except I read SO much romance this year. Anyway, onto top five; please note there are a lot of white men in this list, something I am ashamed of. :(
Top 5:
5. Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes (Non-Fiction) - As someone who loves Greek Mythology and also realizes how the women are always shafted, it was really an interesting read to have them highlighted so well.
4. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (Non-Fiction) - I already talked about this early in the year but this book was intense; I read it in January 2022 and I think about it maybe once a month. I will never go to Mount Everest.
3. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (Fantasy) - Dumbasses who are blind to their attraction to each other having to work together to solve a mystery - did you mean my favorite genre??
2: Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe (Non-Fiction) - I wrote a whole newsletter on this one, holy shit it's so good.
1: The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (Non-Fiction) - I wrote a whole newsletter on this one so I won't go into it again but this man is so fascinating.
And cause this is my newsletter, honorable mentions.
- The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (Urban Fantasy)
- Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins (Romance)
- The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart (Fantasy)
- Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles (Romance)
- The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Fantasy)
If you want any more information on any of the books, or IDK, a top 150 list where I rank them all (what is wrong with you), I am down to discuss. But I hope this gives you a few options of books to read (or....not), or maybe gave you a laugh!
Until next year my friends!
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