2020 TBR Book Challenge

2020 TBR Book Challenge

Last updated: December 28th -20, for newer information check my TBR 2021 post

For the past five years I've done a challenge to get my TBR list down.

Although I've gotten a grip on my TBR, I still continue with this to expand what I read.

This is very close to last years one, with a few modifications.

1. Start a series & complete a series (can be separate series)

Faith: Taking Flight

My Calamity Jane

2. A book from the GoodReads Choice Awards (2019 link)

Book Love

3. A book you meant to read in 2019

Persuasion

4. Someone else's recommendation

Myyttihovi

5. Released as a movie/TV show

Kuolema niilillä (Death on the Nile, in the makes)

6. Award winner

Animal Farm

7. A book in Finnish

Paddingtonista 16.50 (16:50 From Paddington)

8.  A really long book (500+ pages)

Solutions and Other Problems

9. A book by an author you haven't read before
The Guest List

10. Choose by cover

Serenity and Firefly

11. A book where one of the main characters is royalty

The Ickabog

12. A book you choose randomly

Dear Girls

13. A book published in 2020

Hawk, Come Tumbling Down

14. A Standalone

Burn

15. Genre you don't read enough

How to Drag a Body and Other Safety Tips

16. A collection (e.g. essays, short stories, poetry, plays)

Mermaid's voice returns in this one

17. Non-fiction

Unspeakable Acts

18. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold)

Lukitut ovet (Turn of The Key)

19. Classic
Lady Susan

> 20. Science

The Happy Brain

> Bonus: Reread a book

The Book of Ivy

Completed: 19+/20

Read on lovelies,

S

Read This Month: November & December

Read This Month:

November & December

1. Humble Pi Non-fiction audiobook ✦✦✦✦.5

2. The Bride Test audiobook ✦✦✦✦.5
-

3. How To Non-fiction ✦✦✦✦✧

4. Supernova (Series Finisher) ✦✦✦✦.5

Data:

Male/Female author:

         50% female,

         50% male

Genre:

         50% non-fiction,

         25% romance,

         25% fantasy

Pages:

       1 479 p

Format:

         50 % audio books,

         50  % physical books

Average:

         4.375

*For more info check my Goodreads: link*

Read on lovelies,

S

2019: Statistics and Achievments

Yearly Statistics & Achievements

2018 version: link

2017 version: link
2016 version: link

First of all I finished the 2019 TBR challenge (link)

I also finished 6 out of 10 of my Anticipated reads of 2019 (link)

            > Out of the 4 left: 2 have yet to be released (Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor, An Ember in the Ashes #4), 1 I no longer am interested in reading (Her Royal Highness) and only 1 book I just didn't get to (Soul of Stars)

My TBR (link) is down to 1 book (Sorcery & Cecilia: or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot)

            > It has been zero for most of the year and I've been really happy with that!

& when it comes to classics, well I didn't read that many.

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Total books read: 44 (Compared to 2018: 42 and 2017: 34)

            10+3+1+8+1+3+9+5+0+0+2+2

           > Interestingly enough September and October were 0 months also last year, but not the years before

Month read most: January: 10

    least: September & October: 0

Pages ~ 11 980 (2018: 15 211 & 2017: 10 542)

    Average length 272 pages (2018: 362 & 2017: 310)

Format: ebook: 12 (2018: 6), audio: 26 (2018: 13), physical 6 (2018: 23)

Arc/sent: 14 (2018: 13)

Reviewed: 18 (2018: 13)

In Finnish: 3 (2018: 2)

Most popular (according to Goodreads): To All The Boys I've Loved Before

     Least popular Magical Experiments

Length: longest  549 (Supernova)

               shortest 18 (Paw Prints)

Publication oldest: 1885 - Työmiehen vaimo

        books I read published this year: 22

Stars: in order of least: 2,3,4 ("1" means any rating starting with a 1. Meaning 1 and 1.5 are both included in "1")

       average being ~3.81 this year & over all in all the years ~3.26

       Highest rating being 4.5, given to 12 books

       Lowest rating 2.5, given to 1 book

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Series Finished:

Daughter of the Pirate King (duology)

Cinder and Ella (duology)
Renegades (trilogy)

2019 goals, TBR etc. all coming in the next few weeks.

Read on lovelies,

S

Christmas Songs Book TAG

Christmas Songs Book TAG 2019

I'll try to limit the answers to books I've read this year, but we'll see how that goes!

1. “All I Want for Christmas Is You”: Favorite bookish couple.

Maybe Lara Jean and Peter from To All The Boys I've Loved Before, but that is definitely also influenced by the movie

2. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”: Name a book where a character is away from home (school, vacation, etc.)

First that comes to mind is A Natural History of Dragons with quite a few trips and expeditions in it

3. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”: Name your favorite “little” book (children’s book, short story, novella, etc.)

Adulthood is A Myth was a short little comic which I really enjoyed

4. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town“: What book(s) do you hope Santa brings you this year?

That'll be Renegades, though it won't be a surprise since my sister has gotten me the previous two the past few years

5. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”: Which book turned your nose red (made you cry)?
I rarely cry while reading, but I remember feeling quite emotional in The Lovely and the Lost

6. “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”: Your favorite book/kind of book to read during the holidays.

This time of year makes me want to reread the Harry Potter books, and I'm thinking I'll go with a few of the illustrated editions this year!

7. “We Three Kings”: Your favorite trilogy.

So far I've finished two series, both of which are duologies (Daughter of the Pirate King being at the top).
But if I finish Supernova this year, then I guess that's the one for this year

8. “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow”: A character you would love to be snowed in with.

I have no idea! The dogs from The Lovely and the Lost? Though that might be on my mind since it was an answer a couple questions back

9. “Last Christmas”: A book that seriously let you down.

With the lowest rating so far, that would be Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which let me down since I actually enjoyed the movie.

10. “White Christmas”: An upcoming release you’re dreaming about.

My Calamity Jane has been on my mind, and I can't wait for it!

Read on lovelies,

S

A Natural History of Dragons book review

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

SUMMARY
"All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever."

Goodreads' link to the book!
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Written like a guide to dragons by a natural historian but also bringing the reader in on the adventure, though I was skeptical - this story had plenty of things to enjoy!

Stars: ✦✦✦✦.5

So as usual, I'll tell 4.5 things I liked about the book and 0.5 thing I didn't like.

+1 | The writing and entire concept

+1 | The humor, still keeping in mind the style and era

+1 | The imagination and details in the whole world

+1 | The characters and different types of relationships

+/-0.5 | The pace, though made sense with the whole natural history subject, at times made it slower to read

Read on lovelies,

S

End of the Year Book TAG

End of the Year Book TAG
Last years link


Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
I'm pretty sure I've finished all the books I've started this year, so no.
Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year? As usually this time of the year, I'd love to continue rereading the Harry Potter series.

Is there a new release you're still waiting for? When writing this I'm still waiting on Supernova, which will be released early November.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?
Not entirely sure what I'll end up reading but The Bride Test, Soul of Stars, The Beautiful are all on my TBR.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year? Hmm maybe How To, but after saying that it wouldn't really be a shock.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2020?
Yes, and as usual I'll start posting end of the year stats at the end of the year, and tbr and challenges for 2020 in the beginning of the year.

Read on lovelies,

S

Helsinki Book Fair 2019

Last year's post: link

This year I only spent Saturday at the book fair, but here's everything memorable!

This years theme was France with a record number of visitors - over 90 000.

I don't think the theme was as present as past years, with only some sections. Without knowing it beforehand I don't think I would've even realized that that was the theme.

A change they did this year was making the "center" bigger and having four bigger pathways to it, which I think worked out really well and helped navigating.

There were lots of talkers and books, though the 2e slots felt smaller when comparing to last year. In addition to books there were quite a few other things there this year, from cushions, bags, posters, mugs, tea and even beds.

As always I picked up some Christmas and birthday gifts, and ended up with some bits and bobs as well.

Read on lovelies,

S