2018 is nearly over and 2019 is glimmering on the horizon. This year I set myself the challenge of completing 52 books which I exceeded by reading 56. I also set myself the challenge of reading 52 books I already owned which I didn’t complete but managed to clear 21 books from the TBR backlog.
So here it is, the best, the rest and the DNF’d…
My top 6 for 2018
- Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow
– This was given to me as a Christmas present by Alan. He said he picked this one off my wishlist because it was the prettiest looking cover. I read over 200 pages of it on Christmas Day itself.
– This was given to me as a Christmas present by Alan. He said he picked this one off my wishlist because it was the prettiest looking cover. I read over 200 pages of it on Christmas Day itself.- Wicked Like a Wildfire
– I received this in a Fairyloot crate so it wasn’t something I picked out myself. I loved this book so much I pre-ordered the sequel to see how it ends.
– I received this in a Fairyloot crate so it wasn’t something I picked out myself. I loved this book so much I pre-ordered the sequel to see how it ends.- From Here to Eternity: Travelling the World to Find the Good Death
– I was so excited when Caitlin announced on her YouTube channel that she was releasing a second book. I adored Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and this second book did not disappoint.
– I was so excited when Caitlin announced on her YouTube channel that she was releasing a second book. I adored Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and this second book did not disappoint.- The Graveyard Book
– Alan and I listened to this on a car journey to and from the Lake District. It’s such a great book and it was narrated by Neil Gaiman so that’s a definite plus.
– Alan and I listened to this on a car journey to and from the Lake District. It’s such a great book and it was narrated by Neil Gaiman so that’s a definite plus.- Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
– Another Fairyloot book, I loved the idea of an ‘anti-hero’ and I have the second book to read this year.
– Another Fairyloot book, I loved the idea of an ‘anti-hero’ and I have the second book to read this year.- Daughter Of The Burning City
– This was also a Fairyloot book. It had a circus and I was sold at that.
– This was also a Fairyloot book. It had a circus and I was sold at that.Books I DNF’d in 2018
- Hell’s Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men by Harold Schechter – I picked this as a Kindle First book as I’m into true crime. Unfortunately, the writing style of this book made it more of a slog than an enjoyable experience.
- The Muse by Jessie Burton – I listened to this as an audiobook and couldn’t get into it at all which is a shame as I loved The Miniaturist. I might try this one again later on and read it rather than listen to it.
- Family Trust by Kathy Wang – I bought this as it was one of Buzzfeed’s reading club books. I think I made it halfway through before I gave up. I wasn’t invested in the outcome of the story, any of the characters (most of which were repellant) and I didn’t like the constant jumping of perspectives.
- Under the Dome by Stephen King – This is another audiobook I gave up on. This time, I think I spoiled it as I’ve already seen most of the TV adaptation of this book.
- I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson – This was a recommendation of a friend. I wanted to like this book, I really did. I don’t know whether its a case of YA contemporary not being my genre or whether I was just in the wrong place mentally for this book but I tried 3 times to read this before giving up.
- The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present by Ronald Hutton – Another audiobook which bit the dust, mostly because it was just really dull.
The Rest of My 2018 Reading
- The Wisdom of Psychopaths by Kevin Dutton
- Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
- Legendary by Stephanie Garber
- The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid
- Caravel by Stephanie Garber
- A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs
- Escape From Jonestown by Laurence Bouvard
- The Blood by E S Thomson
- Dark Asylum by E S Thomson
- Beloved Poison by E S Thomson
- Everless by Sara Holland
- La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
- The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
- A Whole New World by Liz Braswell
- Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
- Into The Water by Paula Hawkins
- Artemis by Andy Weir
- The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
- The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
- Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett
- The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli
- The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
- The Witchfinder’s Sister by Beth Underdown
- Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett
- Heart Berries: A Memoir by Therese Marie Mailhot
- The Strange Case of Thomas Quick: The Swedish Serial Killer and the Psychoanalyst Who Created Him by Dan Josefsson
- The Psychopath Whisperer: The Science of Those Without A Conscience by Kent A Kiehl
- Momento Mori by Muriel Spark
- Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive by Kristen J Sollee
- Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
- Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
- 1984 by George Orwell
- The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets by Simon Singh
- Killer By Nature by Jan Smith
- Women and Power by Mary Beard
- Secrets of Sleep Science by Craig Heller
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
- Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
- Jane Austen At Home by Lucy Worsley
- The Beast of Birkinshaw: Life of Serial Killer Peter Manuel by Jack Smith
- The Circle by Dave Eggers
- The Birdwoman’s Palate by Laksmi Pamuntjak
- Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear