Mid Year Reading Check In

Hi folks,

I’m a few days past the mid year, but better late than never. My book coven decided to do this mid year check in, (which I believe has been called elsewhere the “Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag”, but we’ve dropped the “freak out” bit due to ableist connotations). Tysephine from The Neverending Unread found the tag for us and links to the original posts. Make sure you check out her excellent blog!

1. Best book you’ve read in 2019.

I hate being asked to pick favourites! Here are some that I really enjoyed.

Laurinda by Alice Pung

The Raven Tower byAnn Leckie

The Moor’s Account by Laila Lalami

The Runaways by Fatima Bhutto

The Arsonist by Chloe Hooper

There There by Tommy Orange

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

Highway Bodies by Alison Evans

2. Best sequel you’ve read in 2019.

This is easier as I haven’t read that many sequels.

3. New Release you haven’t read yet but want to.

Not even close to all of them but:

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

The Old Lie by Claire G. Coleman is out at the end of August and I can’t freaking wait.

5. Biggest disappointment.

Probably the Elizabeth Cage books by Jodi Taylor. I mean, they were fine, but they weren’t the same sort of rollicking good fun as the St Mary’s Chronicles.

6. Biggest surprise.

Probably The Raven Tower. I have attempted to read Ann Leckie before and failed (Ancillary Justice on audio, but the narrator sounds like a robot – they are supposed to sound like a robot, it’s nothing to do with the narrator – but even on double speed I couldn’t deal). To me The Raven Tower is just beautifully written with every word in the right place.

7. Favourite new author (debut or new to you).

Again, I hate picking favourites. Alison Evans, Laila Lalami Fatima, Bhutto and Akwaeke Emezi are all new to me authors that I want to read everything from.