the mid year freakout tag

the mid year freakout tag (my 2023 reading stats so far) Jack in the Books

this seemed like a fun list to make and i'm impressed by how much i've committed to reading this year. it's been a great way to get out of my head. i have some good options to choose from here already. hehe.

1. Best book you've read so far. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

2. What is the best sequel you've read this year? Pass.

3. A new release that you want to read. Strong Female Character by Fern Brady. I LOVED her on Taskmaster, she has such a great voice. I swear sometimes I speak in it in my head. I read the summary of this book and want to read her story badly. I also think that reading about being a woman diagnosed with autism in adulthood will be important.

4. What is your most anticipated release for the rest of the year? PASS!

5. What has been your biggest disappointment so far this year? Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh. I read My Year of Rest and Relaxation last year and could not stand it but powered through it and got overwhelmed with it. Nevertheless, I did not want to write off Moshfegh. My biggest critique is the insistent fatphobia that serves no purpose here. There are how many short stories in here? And fatness is a disgusting and vile attribute of terrible people in each! It really pissed me off.

6. What has been your biggest surprise of the year? White Teeth by Zadie Smith.

7. Who is your favorite new author? Me writing my research paper obviously. Bam.

8. Favorite character that I read so far this year. Noooo I can't choose one. Podium instead.

P3: Charlie Spring in Heartstopper: Volume One.

P2: William of Baskerville in The Name of the Rose

P1: Sunja Baek in Pachinko.

Honorable Mention: Irie Jones in White Teeth. I loved her <3

9. A book that made you cry. Pachinko. Pachinko again. Pachinko again and again.

10. A book that made you happy. Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman.

11. The most beautiful book. Pachinko. Min Jin Lee's way with words will crush your soul and you will feel the strong emotions every second.

12. A book you need to finish by the end of the year. I don't really use those kind of goals. I read whatever I want whenever I want. I organize to-read pile with a little priority dropdown column. There's a few I have in mind that I'd like to read this year, like 5-10.

housekeeping: i think reading a lot of non-fiction threw off what i could choose from here. tried to include when i could and was really tempted to use author's voice as a podium-worthy character. in other news, it is Start Responding to School Emails part of summer break T-T