Reading Highlights so far this year
Classics
I have read way more classics this year than I ever have before. Which really isn’t saying much but I’m very happy to finally be reading them. I did set a goal at the beginning of the year to read more classics and I feel I’ve done a good job at that. Each time I open one I’m floored by how great the writing is. I feel classics are especially good at creating atmosphere, which is of great importance to me in books.
I read Wuthering Heights in February this year and I absolutely loved it. Every character is so insane and I truly never knew what would happen next. I can see why it’s Bella Swan’s favorite book, and I can see myself rereading it just like she did. I think January/February is a perfect time to read this book, too. When you’re in the dead of winter this book brings such an eerie cold feeling it’s just perfect.
The next 2 books that may? be considered classics are Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew The Secret of the Old Clock. I really enjoyed And Then There Were None, I gave it a 4/5 rating. There are parts (that I won’t spoil of course) that have stayed with me since I read this back in April. I’ll address Secret of the Old Clock in another post all about Nancy Drew.
And right after Nancy Drew, I found my first ever 5/5 classic: Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery! I absolutely adore Anne and her outlook on life. She finds the good in everything and everyone and is so grateful for the little things. She charms everyone in her life whether they wanted her to or not. I read Anne of Avonlea a few weeks later and enjoyed that one just as much. I cannot wait for the next one, Anne of the Island. I’ve heard it is a good fall read so I’m hoping I can get to it in the next couple of months. I’m thinking there may be some romance in Anne’s near future and I’m SO looking forward to it.
I just finished another classic, another modern one, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Another 5/5! There is something about the era of this book that always captures my attention. It was published in 1938 so I’m assuming it was written in the 30s. The setting is at Manderley, a large estate that belongs to one of the main characters. There are staff that work and live there and the owners of the estate have tea served to them in the afternoon - that kind of setting, with a gothic influence. I loved everything about this book and I can’t wait to read more by Daphne du Maurier.
That’s it for classics this year, but it’s been a fantastic time so far.
Other Highlights
Liveship Traders Trilogy - Mad Ship & Ship of Destiny
These are the 2nd and 3rd books in the Liveship Trader’s Trilogy which is the second trilogy in the much larger series, The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb. I will take a moment to say I am very much enjoying my time with this series so far. At this point, I have started book number 7 out of the entire 16-book series. Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny were great, although I did enjoy the trilogy’s first installment, Ship of Magic, the most. It’s about pirates, sentient ships (some that go mad and turn on their crew), sea serpents, and so much more. I ended up really really loving one of the characters, Malta. I will remember her forever.
Christine - Stephen King
Summer always makes me want to read horror, so I decided to pick up Christine at the start of it this year. It did not disappoint. I absolutely devoured this book, I could not put it down. I almost felt like Arnie, obsessing over the book as much as he was obsessing over the car. I just had to know what happened next. I’ve only read a few Stephen King’s at this point (trying to fix that), and I think this one is by far my favorite. (Misery is the current runner-up if you’re wondering.)
Sookie Stackhouse - Charlaine Harris
I’ve been reading this series on and off since I was about 14, which is when the TrueBlood show came out on HBO. My mom wouldn’t let me watch it, but I was mischievous and went over to a friend’s house to watch it. Then I told on myself and was allowed to finish the show and read the books. I think by now I’ve read the first book 3 times. And I’ll probably read it again. There is something so comforting about the world Charlaine has built. I just really love living in Sookie’s POV. Anyway, in 2023 I started a reread of the series with the intent to finally finish it. Up to that point I had only read through book 6, out of 13. So I read the first 2 that summer, the next 2 the next summer, and then forgot the next year. But never fear, I read 3 this summer. So I finally read a new-to-me Sookie, having finished the 7th book recently. Out of all of her different love interests, I think I can confidently say I want her to end up with Eric, but we’ll see what happens.
I’ve read more than what’s listed here, but these are what I’ve really enjoyed so far this year. I hope to get a couple more classics in, maybe East of Eden or Little Women. But I also have Anne of the Island for fall, so we’ll see what I end up actually reading. Thanks for reading! I hope to update these things monthly going forward.