#bookishfortnight2018

[idratherdreamofjune]

Archive of Yearly Reading Review Tags

Because it’s not official without an unwieldy post title. In reverse chronological order:

#2023 Fortnight of Reading #bookishfortnight2022 #fortnightofreading #fortnight of books: COVID edition (I know, I know) 2019 - skipped this year it seems (shock) #bookishfortnight2018 (got up to day 10) #bookishfortnight2017 (through day 8) #fortnightofbooks2k16 (did the whole thing!) #fortnightofbooks2k15 (another successful year) #fortnightofbooks (...made it through day 6) #13daybookchallenge (all the way!) #12daybookchallenge (first one on tumblr - also completed) Joined tumblr in Aug 2011, wasn’t particularly active at first though.

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 2:

Most surprising (in a good way) book of this year?

Mmm, I think The Quiet Gentleman (which, very ironically, also goes under Book I’d Forgotten About) because it was the first Georgette Heyer book that I actually liked at all. Not sure why I forgot it so thoroughly - I guess the plot wasn’t the most exciting thing, no good twists?? - but the characters were great. And the leading man wasn’t a terrible cad, which was a nice surprise.

Most disappointing book/Book you wish you enjoyed more than you did?

So B. It (Sarah Weeks) - a story about a little girl named Heidi who runs away to find out where she and her mother came from. The plot worked and I liked the characters. But it was just so inherently sad - her mother is intellectually disabled and has gone through a lot. She can’t communicate very well, and her daughter doesn’t always understand. And then... more sad stuff. Overall a quite a sad story, without much redemption at the end. That’s life, but it’s not how I like my books. :P

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Last year I never finished this. :”P However, this time I have a week of mostly free time before the semester starts (bizarrely late this time - whatever are they up to?!). I’m going to pound out as many days’ worth of questions as I can before then. After the 22nd all bets are off. ;)

Day 1:

Overall - best books read in 2018?

The non-reread that really stood out this year was Charlotte Brontë’s Shirley. Second place in that category goes to Black Powder War (Naomi Novik) - I posted more quotes from the following book but BPW just felt like more of a classic rollicking adventure. Best rereads were Perelandra (C.S. Lewis) and Plenilune (Jennifer Freitag).

Best series you discovered in 2018?

None of the new series I read made unusually good impressions. Let’s say Madeline L’Engle’s “Time Quartet” in part on the strength of it’s reputation - I’ve only read the first two so far.

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 9:

Favorite non-romance relationship:

In Deep Down Dark (Hector Tobar), the relationship of Christian miner José Henríquez with his trapped fellow workers. He became, essentially, the group’s pastor and lead prayer daily.

Best non-fiction book:

Again, bringing up Deep Down Dark. A gripping recounting of this miraculous survival story. It just couldn’t have been any more unbelievable except that, yes, it happened! I kept yelling “listen to this part!!” to my poor sisters haha.

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 6:

Favorite cover of the year award goes to:

Lady Jayne Disappears, Joanna Davidson Politano

Great text effects and layout.

Most beautifully-written book you read in 2016?

I think this has to go to The Great Divorce; an almost ballad-like story with excellent word play and splendid truths. Another powerful story from C.S. Lewis.

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 8:

Favorite couple:

This actually goes to a reread couple - Mara & Sheftu from Mara: Daughter of the Nile (Eloise Jarvis McGraw). I really appreciate the development of their relationship and how they each have to overcome so much and risk so much for their happy ending. Also they’re both great characters who definitely deserve each other. ^^ Runner-up is Gervase & Drusilla in The Quiet Gentleman, mostly for being so level-headed and adult about everything yet still managing to be a very sweet pair.

Worst character death:

The one at the end of So B. It. Not wholly unexpected, but not the less painful for it. Especially because the opportunity for a proper goodbye was squandered. Sad sad sad.

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 3:

Book you recommended most to others in 2018?

Ooh hmmmmm.... Welll, not sure if this counts, because I didn’t read these this year, but it was probably The Chronicles of Narnia, which I think came in at three recommendations. :P

Book you most anticipated in 2018?

Return of the Thief!! :D

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 10:

The book I read but have already forgotten:

The Quiet Gentleman, apparently. :P Really it is a good book though - it was just a little too similar in plot to some others, with an unilluminating title.

Book with a scene that left you reeling:

While none of the romances in Shirley (Charlotte Brontë) were quiet up to the Best Romance of the Year category, there was still a lot of good writing and one or two scenes that floored me. One in particular which, while perhaps not on the level of “mad wife in the attack”, was quite the shocker. [SPOILER in my tags]

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 7:

Most memorable character:

This question was harder than usual, but I think Inej Ghafa, from Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows. To an extent she seems like a character written for the current big issue - a trafficking victim who overcomes her terrible past. Her fears, hopes, and internal conflict are believable and frame a very sympathetic character. I was intrigued by her veneration of the "Suli Saints" and the occasional faith-related discussions she had with other characters. Though it bears mentioning that her religion has some issues, it's rare to see a religious character portrayed in such a good light.

Most annoying character:

I don’t know how annoying she’s supposed to be from the author’s point of view, but: the dragon Iskierka, introduced in Naomi Novik’s Black Powder War. What a spoiled brat. Her only redeeming quality is how attached to Granby she is.

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 5:

Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2018?

Two books: Deep Down Dark, by Hector Tobar, is the story of the Chilean mining crew trapped underground for a ridiculously long period. It had some very intense life-or-death moments and a lot of psychological tension. On the other hand, The Great Divorce (C.S. Lewis) is fiction but very gripping. The “world-building”, if you will, was just the right amount of whimsical and eerie to really make it atmospheric. But what kept me hooked was learning the outcome of each of the many heavenly encounters described. The characters were so sympathetic that I really cared about their fates and had to keep reading.

Book that was most outside your comfort zone/new genre exploration?

Once again I don’t have my reading log in front of me (forgot to bring it to the library today). After some consideration, though, this one goes to Conundrums for the Long Week-End: England, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Lord Peter Wimsey, which was a sort of literary history and critical review. I’ve never been one to read literary criticism/meta on that scale, but I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It provided lots of behind-the-scenes-type detail and historical background that really deepens my appreciation of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. (Written by Robert McGregor and Ethan Lewis.)

[idratherdreamofjune]

Fortnight of Books: 2018

Day 4:

Best author you discovered last year:

Honestly there wasn’t really an over-the-top fantastic stand-out new author this year. Maybe Marie Rutkoski, whose Cabinet of Wonders I read thanks to @brambleberrycottage. It is the first of a series, and I do plan on picking up the following book. Should see if the library has it, since I’m here...

Author you read the most in 2018?

Naomi Novik - 3rd, 4th, and 5th books of the Temeraire series. Only three for the top author this year, that’s not very impressive. :P