lou's library

Seeing as we’re halfway through the year (how did that happen and where did the last six months go??), I thought I’d do the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag. It’s basically a number of questions designed to make you think about what you’ve read so far this year. The internet tells me it was created in 2012 by the YouTubers Ely and Chami, but I can’t actually find them so unfortunately can’t link to them. Anyway, let’s get into those questions!

Best Book You’ve Read So Far

Oh dear, oh dear. I’ve read quite a few five-star books this year and to pick a favourite feels impossible right now. Perhaps it’s because I only read it a few weeks ago and so is still fresh in my mind, but I’m gonna go for In Memoriam by Alice Winn for this one. It’s set during the First World War and handles themes of friendship, grief, national identity and love and has some of the most unforgettable characters I’ve ever come across in books. (I AM SORRY @@after you’d gone by Maggie O’Farrell, you’re a very close second and I love you!!!)

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far

Now this is easy. It’s got to be A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J. Maas, the second part in the ACOTAR series. My love for this series definitely cooled off a bit after the first three books, but the second one had me reading in every spare second and I love when a book does that! I just enjoyed the trajectory of the sequel much more than I did in the first one. Was it all a bit downhill from there? Potentially. But I’d still read it all over again for the second part alone.

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To

Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan is one I’ve heard great things about, and seeing how I adored Mayflies by him, I can’t wait to read this. But hardbacks are so blooming expensive these days and my library doesn’t offer it, so who knows when I might get around to reading this (it’s my birthday next month @@any friend reading this I SHALL LOVE YOU ETERNALLY).

Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half Of 2024

Well, isn’t that going to be the same one for any reader under the sun? Intermezzo by the one and only Sally Rooney, obviously. Watch that book become my entire personality in September. I shall be insufferable and shall love every second of it. Good thing I’ll actually be off work when it comes out, can you imagine having to sit through eight hours of work before you can start reading????

Biggest Disappointment?

Okay, I was so ready to absolutely love this. And then just didn’t. Everyone and their cat was reading Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman until I finally decided to give it a go as well. And why not? It was giving very Agatha Christie cosy murder mystery vibes. Very English, very fun. It sounded perfect. Perhaps it fell flat for me because I buddy-read this with my best friend and we went all in with our predictions and suspicions and so the actual plot couldn’t live up to our wild imagination. But the ending just didn’t do it for me, and as much as I enjoyed the writing and some of the characters, it just couldn’t reach my expectations. As David Tennant will be in the movie adaptation, I guess I’ll have to watch it. Perhaps that will be better.

Biggest surprise?

I was fully prepared to enjoy the Heartstopper graphic novels, as they sounded fun and cosy. But as I don’t tend to read a lot of graphic novels and these ones are targeted at a slightly younger audience, I didn’t think I was gonna love them half as much as I did. I immediately had to go back to the library to get the next one after finishing the first. Actually, I still haven’t read the fifth one because someone keeps lending it before I can get my hands on it EVERY SINGLE TIME. Watch me give in and buy the whole series because it’s been months and I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. Sorry for shouting, but it’s been tough.

New Favourite Author?

Maggie O’Farrell!! It all started a while ago when I read Hamnet by her (who else is counting the days until the adaptation starring Paul Mescal?????) and obviously loved it. Then I bought The Marriage Portrait on a whim and loved that even more. So I decided to read all of her books, and got her first novel, After You’d Gone. And Christ Almighty, did that book tear my heart out. I read it on a train (wouldn’t recommend) and all I wanted to do was shout about how much I hated and loved this book. I’m now absolutely certain I must read anything this woman has ever written and am about to start another one of her books, which I guess makes her one of my favourite authors! I just wish she wouldn’t break my heart every time I read something by her.

Newest Fictional Crush?

I’m reading the Thrown Of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas right now (I’m both late to the party and in my Sarah J. Maas era right now) and am crushing hard on Rowan. No spoilers please, as I’m only on book four, but I do hope he’ll survive the shit that will surely be going down in these next few books. I’d hate to lose him, because he’s so wholesomely fucked up in his own way. But if I had to guess, I’d say he might just die simply because that would be so very horrible, which is the vibe this series is giving so far.

Newest Favourite Character?

Dexter Mayhew, you absolute beauty and perfectly flawed boy. He’s got layers, an impeccable sense of humour (most of the time), knows how to get himself in deep trouble, is so chirpy and yet so very, very sad and has the best best friend in the world. He’s a mess, from page one to the end, but boy oh boy was I ready to go through it all with him. Safe to say I was UPSET by the end, even though I knew what was coming. I just thought it was amazing how the author managed to make someone so privileged and flawed so intensely loveable. Show me one person who has read this book who doesn’t adore Dexter. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Emma, too. But Dexter is the one that stuck with me, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over this damn book.

Book That Made You Cry?

I’m not a crier, but Slug by Hollie McNish definitely made me tear up a little. It’s a collection of poetry and short prose, and so painfully relatable and beautifully written that I had to put the book down and take deep breaths while reading it. A lot of it centres on what it’s like to be a woman these days, and Hollie McNish captures that so well, I found it hard to believe at times. So yeah, if I was a crier, I’d have balled my eyes out.

Book That Made You Happy?

This made me realise I apparently really enjoy sad books. I wonder what that says about me. The only book I can think of right now that genuinely made me happy was Winnie the Pooh, because I’ve loved those stories ever since I was a child. That bear can put a smile on my face any time of day, and I find these books immensely comforting. Also, Winnie has the best advice. Period. When in doubt, turn to some Winnie the Pooh and it’ll all be okay.

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year?

This was a complete cover buy. Had I ever planned of reading this before I saw it at Shakespeare and Company in Paris? Nope. Did I immediately know I had to have it anyway? Yup! Has it been standing on my bookshelf intimidating me ever since? Perhaps. James Joyce’ works don’t exactly have the reputation of being easily accessible. But one day, I shall read this. Until then, it shall look devastatingly beautiful on my bookshelf. No regrets, honestly.

What Books Do You Need To Read By The End Of The Year?

So, a few years ago I got it into my head that I’d really like to understand American politics (sounds impossible, am I right?). Like, understand how someone like Trump could become president, like how in the name of freedom they let people run around schools with guns, how they would choose to get rid of the right to abortion. And so I bought These Truths, because apparently that’s what you need to read to gain a deeper understanding of it all. What I hadn’t known but should’ve guessed is that it’s an absolute door stopper of a book. Makes sense, considering the depth of the topic. I’m on page one-hundred-and-something, and would really, really like to have read this by November. So that I can understand the election, the result, and everything in between. Is that gonna happen? Your guess is as good as mine.

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing. I can’t wait to see what the second half of the year will hold reading-wise, but I sure hope it’s a new favourite Sally Rooney book (no pressure at all, Sally).