As unbelievable as it may be, we are already well past the middle of the year, and the bulk of 2021 is now behind us, with only four months to go. How?! And, as unbelievable as this may sound, I’ve managed to read 60 books already and thus achieve my 2021 Reading Challenge. HOW. I have no idea, honestly. Especially when I consider just how busy I was with my last semester of undergrad & a flurried but lovely summer (summer wrap-up coming next week hehe). Anyway, I guess I have to manage to essentially discuss a year’s worth of reading in this mid-year reading check-in. Let’s do this thing.
Book stats so far
60 books total. As of when I accomplished this goal, because I might as well, and I don’t want to tack on the reading since. So, as of August 18.
At the moment of writing this, then, I am 22 books ahead of schedule. LUL.
- 24 classics, which is sitting pretty in my goal of 20-25 in this genre. 40% of my reads.
- 27 new-to-me reads. 45% of my reads.
- of which 7 are non-fiction. 12% of my reads, not bad.
- of which 20 are fiction, meeting my goal exactly. 33% of my reads.
- 35/60 are re-reads, so over half, which is honestly what has me here at this point already. 58% of my reads.
- Excluding The Chronicles of Narnia & Johnny Tremain (which I read in summer, every year), 7 childhood favourites were revisited in the early part of the year. For awhile, I was ahead of schedule because of these reads. 12% of my reads.
Of course, there is quite a bit of overlap in these categories, but the fact that I’ve met my goals in these areas makes that okay with me. mid-year reading check-in
Other reading goals I’ve essentially met
I wanted to revisit and experience both old and new reads in the WW2 genre—both historical fiction and non-fiction. I’ve done that so far, so I’m not super concerned with doing that in the months that remain.
I definitely did well with going back to childhood favourites. I have a few more that I still want to experience as it’s been so long, but I’m probably not going to do that until 2022, Lord willing.
Goals I still have to work on
Theology reads. Technically, I’ve read 3 proper theology reads—finishing Mere Christianity (which was started in 2020), Everyday Bible Study, & Illustrated Bible Survey (the last two for school). This is a solid 3 out of my goal of 5, but given all the other books I know I’m going to read in the latter half of the year, I know I’m going to need to seriously prioritise this goal, otherwise, time & story will get the best of me :’)
Genre-expansion. I genuinely have no idea if I’ll be able to pull this off. Ideally, I’d like to read at least one play, if not two or three, maybe a dark academia read, and some poetry. The only headway I’ve made in this is reading George Orwell’s Collection of Essays (which was thoroughly enjoyable & got me through April 24-May 24, ie the only book I read during that time because of my SAB hangover & school).
There is no way I’ll get to A Series of Unfortunate Events this year, lol. That little dream is going to have to wait at least another year :’)
Series I’ve discovered & fallen in love with
C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy
Oh. My. Goodness. I’m still planning on writing some Musings on this, so I’m going to keep this short. THIS WAS AN UNBELIEVABLY FABULOUS SERIES. I knew Lewis wouldn’t disappoint me, but I had no idea just how much he would SURPRISE me. Each book got progressively harder and harder to put down. The THEMES, the CHARACTERS. Ugh.
L.M. Mongtomery’s Emily Trilogy
I did not think it would be possible to love someone the same as I love Anne Shirley, but that was before I met Emily Starr. I ADORE HER. Honestly, I relate to her in ways I didn’t relate to Anne, and that’s saying something, considering I heavily relate to darling Anne. Emily is just the most wonderful heroine I have read in a very long time. I will one day write more about these, probably following next year’s re-read (bc yes, I will certainly be re-reading next year), when it’s is fresher in my mind. For now, I’m going to treasure my first ever experience with these books and keep my thoughts. Suffice it to say, Emily’s journey is darker than Anne’s, but in the best way possible, if that makes any sense. These books are swoon-worthy.
Leigh Bardugo’s Nikolai Duology
Thoughts ~heavily~ incoming. There were things I definitely did NOT like in this duology, which is a shock considering it’s Leigh, and I’ve loved everything I’ve read from her so far. However, overall, these two reads were gripping & thoroughly enjoyed. I think a lot of that is due to the fact that I read these in Summer, during some happy moments. So, perhaps my sentimentality is getting the best of some of my other feelings :’) Anyway, stan Zoyalai for clear skin.
Honourable mention: Madeleine L’Engle’s Time Quintent. Books 4 & 5 were my 59th & 60th reads of the year, respectively! mid-year reading check-in
Stand-alones I’ve discovered & fallen in love with
Corrie Ten Boom’s The Hiding Place
Though familiar with this stunningly true story from WW2, I had only seen parts of the film and never read the book. What a read. As a Reformed Christian myself, it was a joy and a blessing to read about Corrie’s faith-based perspective, which is ultimately what sustained her through the trials she endured. There are so many quotes that touched me so deeply. I’ll have to share them sometime. If you’ve not read this yet, and WW2 non-fic is something that interests you, please please pick this up. It’s incredibly moving and very encouraging.
Erin Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea
BOY OH BOY. Again, I’d like to write in more depth about this novel, because it deserves that, so I’ll keep whist and mum here today. Basically, it’s one of the greatest stories I’ve ever read. Story within story has long been a favourite of mine, and Morgenstern executed that beautifully, and on so many levels, and in so many stories 😉 What a dreamy & lovely read for the week I was in Pismo…
Honourable mentions: Lesley Pearce’s U.S. Debut, Dead to Me, & Madeline Miller’s Circe
Re-reads that re-thrilled me
As we all know, I am the queen of rereading. It is my entire bookish personality, if we’re being honest. I have reread thirty-five books this year, as I mentioned earlier. Thirty-five. Over half of my goal of 60. Insane. AND I HAVEN’T EVEN READ THREE OF MY OTHER ANNUAL STAPLES—The Last Battle, The Silmarillion, and The Lord of the Rings. Probably tbr in November-December. And, I’m planning on revisiting the Anne books & possibly HP. SoOoOoOOooo…
All that to say, there were quite a few rereads I enjoyed this year. :’) Ain’t nobody surprised about that one. Bullets, because otherwise, this will get longer and longer, and we don’t need that.
- Oliver Twist. first read of the year, very very enjoyable. hadn’t read it since i was 14? so, like great expecations back in 2020, it was wonderful to revisit with a deeper appreciation of dickens’ sense of humour.
- In These Girls, Hope is a Muscle. fab non-fic/bio, fab sports story. i do love a good sports story. this story is so wonderfully narrative. non-fic/bios with a strong narrative are the best-executed ones, imo.
- Where the Red Fern Grows. it made me WEEP. oh, and the sweeping imagery of the ozarks!!! <3!!!
- The Folk of the Air series. I promise a post is coming on this, SOON. been meaning to do that since my first read back in December, big oops. cardan mf greenbriar <333
- Ginger Pye. i still laugh as hard as i did when i first read it with my mama and sister as a little girl. and i now ugly cry when i read it. one of the most moving children’s books, ever.
Mid-Year Reading Check-In complete…
I still can’t get over how many books I’ve already read by this point. What is time? What is it?? Here’s to many more books and worlds to fall into before the year is up! Thank you for tagging along with me on this mid-year reading check-in! What are some of your favourite books/series that you’ve read & discovered this year?! I’d absolutely love to hear about them (:
p.s. come be friends on goodreads !!