Saturday, June 30, 2018

The Mid-Year Freak-Out Tag






This tag has been around forever. I think I’ve done it several times already. Good thing I always have new stuff to freak out about.








The Mid-Year Freak-Out Tag







A snapshot of my reading so far. I'm 2 books behind where I should be.








Best book you’ve read so far in 2018?






The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock. When I say that I like stories with a strong sense of place, this is exactly what I’m talking about. This novel is set in the 1970s and stars a group of teens who are growing up in rural Alaska.














Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2018?





A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. My Game of Thrones obsession is still going strong. I’m tempted to binge watch the show for the billionth time.














New release you haven’t read yet but want to?





There are so many! Let’s go with The Outsider by Stephen King. I haven’t read any King so far this year. My life is incomplete without him.














Most-anticipated release for the second half of 2018?





Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak. Zusak hasn’t published a book since 2005. Bridge of Clay was supposed to come out in 2011, but it didn’t. To say I have high expectations would be an understatement. October needs to get here now. Also, I’ll be devastated if the book sucks. I’ve been waiting for an eternity!














Biggest disappointment?





I’ve been DNFing books before they can disappoint me. I’m quickly being crushed under the weight of my TBR mountain, so I don’t have time to waste on books that get on my nerves. That being said, I should have DNFed The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts by Laura Tillman and . . . And Now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold. They’re both tedious. I kept reading because I hoped they’d get better. (Spoiler alert: they didn’t.)













Biggest surprise?





The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. Since I’m a very serious grownup, I’m skeptical of talking animal stories, but I adored this children’s book. It’s an escapist read with depth! It’s about forgiveness, and how nice mice sometimes do bad things, and the importance of soup.














Favorite new author?





Mackenzi Lee. It’s very hard for a retelling to impress me because I usually find them predictable. This Monstrous Thing impressed me. It’s even more impressive because I loathe Frankenstein, which is the story that’s being retold. Mackenzi Lee must be talented if she can take all the stuff I hate and transform it into one of my favorite books of the year. I love the characters, the plot, the steampunk world, everything. 














Newest favorite character?





Anne Jacob from The Butcher’s Hook by Janet Ellis. Anne is a proper, upper-class woman from 1700s London. Then she brutally murders a ton of people. I need to find more historical literary horror novels. This might be my new favorite genre.














Books that made you happy?









All of these! They made me happy because they’re good books. I recommend them all.














Favorite book-to-movie adaptation?





I don’t believe I’ve seen any movies yet this year. I’m not a movie person. I did binge 42 hours of the Outlander TV show. I’m proud of myself for sitting still for 42 hours. I haven’t read the books, and I don’t plan to, but the show is fun.














Most beautiful books you bought so far this year?

















What books do you need to read by the end of the year?



So many! I own around 60 unread books. Twenty-something of them were bought last year. The rest are from this year. I guess the older ones should be a priority? I feel bad for neglecting them.










Do you want to do this tag? Consider yourself tagged.








46 comments:

  1. I'm glad you've been enjoying the Game of Thrones books. I really hope we get stuff from GRRM this year. I like the cover for Saint Death-very effective!

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    1. I love the cover of Saint Death, too. I didn’t like the book very much, but I don’t want to get rid of it because it’s too pretty!

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  2. I love The Tale of Despereaux! Have you read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane? It's also by Kate DiCamillo, and also amazing.

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    1. Nope. Despereaux is my first DiCamillo book. I need to find more of them.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  3. Considering you read two monster Game of Thrones books, being 2 behind on your GR goal isn't bad at all! The Butcher's Hook sounds delightfully creepy, might have to check that one out!

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  4. I really need to read The Smell of Other People's Houses. It is just sitting on my shelf. I just started The Outsider and am really excited for it.

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    1. YES! Read the smelly houses book. I hope you like The Outsider.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  5. I also seem to stay 2 books behind at all times! XD I LOVE the Outlander TV show! I've only gotten through the first two books, but I can confidently say the show is more interesting.

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    1. After reading the Game of Thrones books, I don’t think I can handle another giant series. I’ll have to stick with the TV show.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  6. Same - with The Outsider. Must read soon!

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  7. I didn't know you could make those cute little graphs on Goodreads. I used to only use it when I was looking for a book, but it's such a useful web site!

    I'm with you on the movie thing. I watched The Darkest Hour with my husband this year, and then I went to go see The Incredibles with my family. I think that's it. My husband asked me if I wanted to go see Jurassic Park for my birthday, I was like "meh". He went to go see the movie a couple of days later with the kids, and I went and bought a book with the money he would have spent on my movie ticket, LOL.

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    1. Movies are rarely worth the cost of the ticket for me. I’d rather spend that money on something else.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  8. Oh man, I own The Smell of Other People's Houses---I really need to read that one soon!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  9. I just finished writing my own Freak Out Tag! :D I'm rereading Scythe soon so I can finally read Thunderhead, I really enjoyed it the first time around. I really want to read This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee as well, I loved her Guide to Vice and Virtue and Bygone Badass Broads. ♥

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    1. I just ordered Gentleman’s Guide. I have high expectations. I hope you like Thunderhead. The ending is crazy.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  10. I added The Outsider as my pick for "New release you haven’t read yet but want to?" as well! I should have my post up either this afternoon or tomorrow :)

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  11. I'm so glad you loved The Smell of Other People's Houses and Scythe, both books have been recommended to me plenty of times, I can't wait to read them at some point :D
    Lovely answers! :D

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  12. I need to read both The Outsider and The Smell of Other People’s Houses.

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  13. I enjoyed The Outsider. I would recommend it. :)

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  14. Well, those Game of Thrones books are behemoths so in my mind, you're like 6 books ahead of schedule, lol! I keep hearing great things about The Smell of Other People's Houses. I'm really going to have to pick up a copy of that.

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    1. I feel like I should be 6 books ahead. The second GoT book took me a whole month to read.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  15. Outlander! I might be slightly obsessed by both the books and the show :) The Smell of Other People's House is a great book. I do need to try to read the Game of Throne books at some point.

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  16. I have a problem. I keep buying books when my TBR is already so long. lol

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  17. I can't believe you're reading George RR Martin! I am super intimidated by that series!

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    1. I also can’t believe I’m reading them. I put them off for years because they’re like bricks. I’m enjoying them, though.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  18. I also love books with a strong sense of place, so I think I would like The Smell of Other People's Houses. (The title kind of says it all, doesn't it?) Thanks for all the great recommendations!

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    1. Yes! The setting of the smelly houses book is perfect. It’s a big part of the story.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  19. A Storm of Swords is my favorite ASOIAF book so far. There was just so much to love in that one.

    That cover of Saint Death.

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    1. Doesn’t Saint Death have the best cover ever? A Storm of Swords is my favorite GoT book so far. I loved the ending.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  20. Ooo The Butcher's Hook sounds amazing!!! I am going to request it ASAP. Lol.

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  21. Love the Outlander tv show too! I've only watched the first season, but I'll definitely continue! Scythe is on my TBR and a new Markus Zusak book sounds amazing!

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  22. I'm so happy you enjoyed Scythe and The Butcher's Hook! I own both of them but haven't found the time to read them yet. Hope to do so soon, though! Have a wonderful week!

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  23. I'm glad you loved The Smell of Other's People's Houses because I haven't seen many people posting about it!! I need to complete this TAG asap
    Tori @ In Tori Lex

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  24. I had made a HUGE dent in my TBR pile this year - but then I went to ALA and now my answer to what do I need to read before the end of the year is all of them lol

    I just got Dread Nation and it is a gorgeous cover!

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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  25. I loved the first series of Outlander and must get to the second series soon. I've read the first book and I have to say I'm very impressed at how closely the TV series follows the characters. A great selection of books and answers to the questions:))

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  26. I haven't read any of these but I've heard great things about The Smell of Other People's Houses, and The Butcher's Hook sounds so cool and creepy!

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  27. 48 books into the year is such a good number, especially as you read some big books as well. I need to read The Smell of Other People's Houses and Scythe already DD:

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  28. I I just read The Gentleman's Guide and I need more from Lee!

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