Half Year Book Tag

So… I’m well aware that it’s “catch up on tagged stuff week” for me and that more than half the year has gone and that I wasn’t tagged for this, but I saw it over on BexnBookx, who created it, and I just couldn’t pass it up. (I’m just gonna pretend that she tagged me.)

I think book tags are like books for me. I can’t help buying more and more books (though I’ve slowed down a lot recently) and I can’t help doing whatever tag catches my eye.

Favourite standalone book hauled and read so far in 2017:

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

This is Noah’s memoir about growing up in South Africa in the shadow of apartheid. It’s a great read that I highly recommend to everyone. I bought and read the e-book earlier this year out of curiosity because I’d heard lots of people talking about it and I’m glad I did. Noah is a comedian, so he mixes in some humor in his story, but the book is also a serious contemplation on race relations and inequality and many other topics.

Favourite series that you started or continued to read in 2017:

Chalion series by Lois McMaster Bujold, which begins with The Curse of Chalion

I picked up The Curse of Chalion after reading a review of it on a blog because of how gods and religion function in the story: It’s all mixed up with the magic system. The story is engrossing and is a bit different from fantasy novels I usually read because the protagonist is a middle-aged veteran. The story follows Cazaril, a former soldier who returns to his home mentally and physically scarred and wanting nothing more than safe, peaceful life. But instead he is assigned tutor and secretary to the princess, a position that sometimes places him in danger as he tries to protect the princess for those who want to control her. It’s a great read.

Favourite bookish items purchased or received this year:

“When in doubt, go to the library.”

That’s this t-shirt from Out of Print Clothing that features a quote by Hermione. I’ve wanted this t-shirt since forever and am glad I caught a quick percentage-off sale on the website one weekend. Now I’d like a sweater because “Winter is coming.”

Favourite debut author:

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

Not a favorite, but I certainly like him. Eames dropped Kings of the Wyld earlier this year and I recently read and enjoyed it. It’s a fantasy novel about a band of warriors who come out of relative retirement to save the daughter of one of the band members. It was a fun read and very entertaining. My favorite characters are Ganelon and Moog, though Moog can be very silly sometimes.

Favourite under-hyped book that you read this year:

Normal by Warren Ellis

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

I have two. Normal is a techno-thriller set at a mental institution that cares for futurists, scientists and social scientists who think professionally about the future (like Michio Kaku, who published The Future of the Mind). One of the patients go missing and it’s up to the protagonist, who was recently committed to the institution, to find out how. This is a very short read. It’s interesting and humorous and I highly recommend it. It sort of questions how far will we (or do we plan to) progress in scientific and technological advancements and what will such advancements be used for.

The other is The Strain, which is basically a vampire-zombie apocalypse that begins in New York City. It’s freaking awesome! I love the TV show, which led me to the book, which is just as great. I wish more people were fans of it.

Favourite book read this year that you were late to the party on:

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

Again, I have two. The Curse of Chalion, which I mentioned above, has been out for a while and the author is pretty popular in the science-fiction/fantasy community, but this was the first I’d tried her work and now I am a fan.

It’s the same with The Way of Shadows. Brent Weeks is very popular and I often see his Lightbringer series books featured and reviewed on blogs and in vlogs. The Way of Shadows was my introduction to his work and I enjoyed reading it. It was awesome.

Potential favourite that you haven’t got around to reading yet:

Black, Vol. 1 by Kwanza Osajyefo, illus. by Jamal Igle

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

My plan is to read both of these before the end of the year (hopefully, I do). I think I’ll like both enough that they’ll probably become favorites.

I’ve since forgotten what Americanah is about and I want to keep it that way because it has received lots of hype and for such books, it’s best that I read it not knowing much. Black, Vol. 1 is a comic book set in a world similar to ours where Blacks are discriminated against. The exception is that only Blacks have super powers.

Favourite re-read in 2017:

Saga, Vols. 1-3 by Brian K. Vaughan, illus. by Fiona Staples

Eragon by Christopher Paolini, narr. by Gerard Doyle

Oh man! Reading Saga again was like the first time I read it. I was hooked and on edge and racing to the end to see what happens next. And Eragon on audio was great because the narrator, Gerard Doyle, did a great job in his narration. I sped through it too.

Favourite cover on a book released this year:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Hufflepuff 20th-Anniversary Edition

I am a Ravenclaw, but I had to get this bright yellow edition because yellow is my favorite color right now (it alternates among blue, sea green, purple, and yellow). I didn’t like the blue used for the Ravenclaw edition or I would have gotten it instead.

(Optional) Favourite book box this year?

I no longer subscribe to book boxes so instead, I’ll feature a beautiful box-set of books I ordered this year.

Tawney Man Trilogy box-set

I got these pretties from Book Depository. They’re so beautiful! I’m currently making my way through Robin Hobb’s books, one trilogy at a time, with Emily at Embuhlee liest, and we’re starting on this trilogy this week.