Somehow, I have read excessively slowly in the first five months of 2024. Well, not somehow. “Somehow” is definitely a PLL rewatch, a lot of movies, and honestly a very busy and very fun year so far. I have wanted to return to the classics this year, and I’ve only done that with two books so far…but I’m okay with that because I have indeed (mostly) really enjoyed the non-classics I have picked up. And besides, I am anticipating a classics-heavy, reading-heavy summer, and it’s so delicious I can’t wait. Anyway, let’s recap the slowest reading year to date…
Classics
I started the year off strong with a reread of Shirley, my beloved. I first read this back in autumn 2020, and it was divinity the first time round, and even sweeter the second. If there’s one thing (and what a wonder that there are many things) that the Brontë sisters were good at, it was writing tension and angst and slow-burn that makes you want to both gouge your heart out but also swim in the horrors of limerence and unrequited (but definitely secretly requited) love for all your days.
I read this slowly, not because it wasn’t good (because it was everything I have been craving in reading, see: I miss the classics so much it hurts), but because of busyness! Again, that is the general trend for the slowest reading year to date. It was like the quenching of a long-awaited thirst, and I can’t wait to reread Jane Eyre later this year and maybe read Villette at long last.
God Emperor of Dune is the only other classic I have read so far, but boyyyy was it ever a good one. The climactic ending was everything I could have ever wanted, and the buildup throughout the entire book was insanely good. I shall leave you with some tasteful memes that help to encapsulate the sprawling aura of worm-man-god-man-eternal-ghola madness.
Series
Red Rising Saga
I devoured Golden Son and Morning Star, mostly whilst sunbathing (as early as March!!! i was thrilled!!!), and it was such fun. Currently, I’m taking a slight break from the series to pick up a classic or two, but I will likely return and start book four in June. The action and pacing really picks up nicely in these two books as compared to book one. I’m still not over the beauty of Morning Star’s ending <3
The Atlas Series
I hadn’t read The Atlas Six since last February or March, so aside from the memorable twist/ending, I was feeling a little rusty on the intricacies of the rising action that set up different relationship dynamics and such. However, it became fairly easy to pick up on those bits in the first quarter of The Atlas Paradox. I like the pacing in this second book a whole lot better than the first, and this book was significantly harder to put down. I think this is definitely one of those series that gets better after book one.
The Atlas Complex was another excellent whirlwind. The build-up to the sacrifice required by the archives was great, as were the twists and turns in the final act of the book. A really great series all in all!
Stand-alones
I finally got around to reading The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries by the star among women that is Emma Thompson. I actually had no idea (not quite sure how, given that this probably the Austen adaptation I’ve watched most in my life) that she had written the screenplay prior to this, so it was so much fun to get a look at her thought-process through her diaries as well as read the scenes that didn’t make the final cut. Although I’ve already known that Emma is one of the funniest, wittiest, and most intelligent stars of her time, it became even more apparent in her diaries from the making of this film. I so enjoyed her humourous and affectionate descriptions of the people and places she worked with. It made me crave more of her written mind, and it made me adore her even more than I already thought possible. This is 1000% a reread for future years <3
Romance
Had loads of fun with Bride, by Ali Hazelwood. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did because I haven’t touched a vampire-themed read since middle school, when I read a couple of the My Sister the Vampire books. Moreover, I never read Twilight, and have only seen snippets of the films. Neither vampires or werewolves have ever interested me, but I have loved every Hazelwood I’ve read so far, so I figured I would like it, and it was genuinely such a fun and good romance read.
Butcher and Blackbird was my first foray into audiobooks, and the reason it was actually enjoyable is the fact that it was more dramatised than most and had a male and female acting out Rowan and Sloane. I only “read” this because my friends and I decided to start it on the drive home after visiting my sister, and it was so hilarious to listen to this fluffy, utterly cheesy romance with my two best mates. Since I got a free trial to finish listening to it, I also “read” I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. I have been wanting to read this since it came out, and I enjoyed hearing Jennette’s story in her own voice. It was well-written and vulnerable and moving.
Fin
I look forward to changing up the pace of the slowest reading year to date and make the next couple of months a hot-girl-book summer. I also look forward to catching up with my Goodreads goal; this is the first year I’ve actually had to adjust it. Thank u for reading! What books have you enjoyed in 2024 so far?