Oh my goodness, what a year it has been! This has been the most incredible year of our lives, but it has also without a doubt been one of the most challenging. I can’t believe we’re already staring down the end of 2019!
I was very kindly tagged to tackle the End of the Year Book Tag by Siobhan at Novelties –thanks, Siobhan! What a fun change to actually be tagged in a post, instead of simply tagging myself. 😉
Let’s get started!
Are There Any Books You Started This Year That You Need to Finish?
Hmmmm….I DNF books all the time, so I don’t really ever feel like I need to finish anything. I can’t even remember what books I’ve started this year, it really all has been a bit of a blur!
Do You Have an Autumnal Book to Transition into the End of the Year?
I’m not much of a seasonal reader, and I don’t typically pick books based on the season or the weather. I’m just as happy reading a wintery Nordic noir novel in the summer as I am in the dead of winter! I do tend to gravitate towards more comforting books as we move towards winter, though – I tend to suffer from SAD as the weather turns cold, dark and endlessly grey, though for me the comfort tends to come more from familiarity than from anything particularly intentionally comforting in the story! Historical fiction is always a favourite – it’s so comforting to be able to escape into another world when the world outside your window is just so dreary and depressing.
Is There a New Release That You’re Still Waiting For?
Nope! Oh my goodness, no. I don’t read current books or contemporary books, and I don’t follow what’s new or hot or popular. I usually pick books because the covers catch my eye at the second-hand book store, so I honestly have no idea what’s coming soon or hot off the press. I’m such a terrible librarian when it comes to adult fiction.
What Are Three Books You Want to Read before the End of the Year?
I really wanted to nab a copy of Bad Blood this year, after I listened to the podcast adaptation and found it absolutely fascinating. Unfortunately I am so far down the hold list that I doubt I’ll be getting a copy in any format until the new year!
Other than that I don’t have any books on the TBR horizon for the rest of the year.
Is There a Book You Think Could Still Shock You and Become a Favourite of the Year?
Alas, no! Look, this year has been absolutely rubbish when it comes to reading. Having a new baby is no joke, and my brain is absolutely fried. I am barely able to keep my eyes open at the end of the day. I can’t recall a single book I’ve read this past year, and I know for a fact that I did actually read a few books this year.
Have You Already Started Making Reading Plans for 2020?
Honestly, I would be happy to simply pick up a few books in 2020! 2019 was an absolute write off for me when it comes to reading – well, I have read an awful lot of board books, but I don’t know if that really counts. I miss reading, I really do, and now that baby is getting a bit bigger and we’re finally able to sleep through the night most nights, I am hopeful that I’ll be able to get back into my usual reading routine.
That being said, podcasts have been a real saving grace for me, particularly during the first three months postpartum, when I really struggled with PPD and intense feelings of isolation and loneliness. Listening to podcasts helped me feel like I was still connected to the world outside of the nursery, and kept my brain active and engaged when cabin fever really started to set in. I might try listening to some audio books as a way of easing myself back into reading – on that note, does anyone have any audio book recommendations I should check out in 2020?
Thanks again to Siobhan for tagging me, and I look forward to reading everyone’s posts!