READING CHALLENGE 2020 - ALL THE BOOKS I READ IN THE 2ND QUARTER
Here we go again with the RC 2020 ^^
Continuing with the second quarter and some really amazing finds and new faves ;)
Of cause I am slowly but surely slipping into the "You´ll fail again" direction but I´m not giving up yet ;)
This post is all about the books from April, May and June in order in which I read them.
April
I heard so much about this book already including the series which is supposed to be good...buuut I never watched it ;) I finally decided to read it and chose it for "A book that passes the Bechdel test" Now you might wonder what the Bechdel Test is...here is the definition from Wikipedia: "The Bechdel test (/ˈbÉ›kdÉ™l/ BEK-dÉ™l), also known as the Bechdel–Wallace test, is a measure of the representation of women in fiction. It asks whether a work features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. The requirement that the two women must be named is sometimes added."
I never even thought about characters in a book that way and I was really surprised how limited the options actually are.
It needed quite some time until I got into the story and I have to say it was not an instant "Can´t put this down" book for me even tho I can say I liked it and it´s uniqueness from the beginning. The first about 100 pages you constantly wait and wait so see what happens and you know there is going to be something there but it takes sooo long. I mean I get it - it sets the atmosphere, the mood and the quite dystophian surroundings, which I find important but it might lead to many putting the book down and never touching it again.
One of the first things you see when reading this is the special style of writing. The story is told without any quotation marks and therefor it can be tricky to find a distinction between story teller and characters - I absolutely loved that ^^ I always liked things like that just little differences giving the book something special ;)
The story itself paints a truly horrific picture of a turn in history maybe not even too impossible. A question I´d love to discuss with others to be honest - how possible is a development like this?
We discover a world ruled by a patriarchic extremist religious regimen reducing women to mere function and structuring society by worth in terms of social status and such. Due to a drastic decrease in birth-rates Men in power have taken complete control of women in both body and mind to insure an increase in the declining birth-rates. So in as few words every member of society either a Martha for housework and cooking, a Jezebel, an Eye, an Angel (soldiers for the state), an infertile Wife or potentially fertile Handmaid. According to your social group you have a specific job to do all life and with that comes a special "uniform" which marks you in public as what you are. Horrific enough...
Even if the style and structure of the novel might leave room for discussion I am sure everyone will agree when it comes to how amazing and frightening and thought provoking the message of this story is. It´s filled with feminist thoughts and motives, it makes you want to fight for yourself and everyones personal rights of body and mind. And it makes you think about how contemporary the problems told of in this novel might already be for woman in present day. I´m sure there are many things in this novel to talk and discuss about and there are bits for sure which invite to think about and to be warned for our lives and our future.
So to put it in a nutshell...even tho this might not be my new favourite book I am sure it is of high value or everyone to read. The language is easy to understand therefor I´m sure its readably from a younger age on and might even be quite important for a younger generation :)
Or Die ehrbare Dirne, I red it in german and that´s the german title ;) I chose this book for "A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics". My first choice was Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace which was sitting on my shelves being perfect for this prompt and only waiting to be read buuut...after starting this I realised how insane it´ll be to read this for a reading challenge which calls for a book a week...and since I´ve been behind anyways... I went for a way easier option...well to be honest I maybe made it a bit too easy for myself ;)
So the Respectful Prostitute...I did not realise it whilst reading but now writing this at the end of June I realised it´s actually perfect for nowadays, especially with the Black Lifes Matter Movement!
I was shocked about some things said in this play regarding white peoples views and mindset towards black people...
Well ;) where to start with a work like this...
I am sure I´ll never be able to understand or wrap my head full around this and I won´t ever be able to talk about this book with enough knowledge since there is so insanely much to know about this work and everything influencing and surrounding it. I read a few comment on goodreads and was blown aways by some. Luckily I chose a version of this with a appendix explaining many things and adding some background information and I loooved that! I really want to learn everything about this epic work and I´m sure you can read this over and over again and still miss some bits.
Oh and...almost forgot...I chose this for "A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins" and why just settle for one if you can have all of them ;)
I chose this from my shelves for "A book with a three-word title". For prompts like this I always try to find something I already have...isn´t it funny how many books are sometimes just sitting there waiting to be read but at the same time you always get new ones ;) haha
I got this particular book in 2011 when I was backpacking in Ireland. I remember starting it there but never finishing it so here we go round to this time read till the end ;)
One would probably think this is a quick and easy read with its just above 100 pages buut it isn´t especially when you do not only want to read through and finish but if you want to get as much out of it as possible...yeah of cause I tried that. With that I found the reason why I did not finish it to this day ;) haha
I have to admit that it tales some pages to get into the story. The style is really heavy with symbolism and not really exciting to read even tho not boring...I would say.
There are so many layers to this and it´s quite allegorical too - probably the longest time I needed per page ;) I think there is a lot to know around the story the time it was written in and the life of the author that changes your reading experience. Even if it definitely won´t jump into my book faves I´m still thinking it´s not time wasted if you read it, just take your time and maybe do a bit of research and never over-analyse...haha I read some reviews which reminded me a lot of school and teacher always over-analysing every sentence ^^
Not very surprising, isn´t it, here comes another part of the Temperance Brennan series. I´ll just force this series into as many prompts of this Challenge as possible ;) haha
This time it´s for "A book by an author who has written more than 20 books" and it´s actually not as forced into the prompt as much ;)
This is the third book in the series and it´s another one I loved ;) The main topic in this one is Motor Cycle Gang Criminality (after the serial killer in the first, and the religious cult theme in the second) and besides the many detailed information you get throughout the story line, which tends to get a bit tiring to be honest I really loved the story line and the plot. This time again it was a gripping way of story telling and I love the way it unwrapped at the end.
Now I am really excited to read the next part...some open questions I need some answers for ;)
May
Here we go part two of the Readaholics series ^^ I chose this for "Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge" even tho I gotta admit I really don´t know anymore which one that was ;) hahah but you can be sure I found one which made this book a good fit ;)
Again I really wonder why this series isn´t more popular. Of cause its not a genius work of literature but it´s such so so so lovely to read, I love the characters so much and you really grow closer and closer together and the story line is always easy but not boring to follow and includes its thrilling twists and turns. Once I´m finished with this series I´ll definitely read more of Laura DiSilverio.
In this story a guy get murdered in a newly opened Brew Pup owned by the brother of the main character (Amy-Fay) and he is the main suspect so of cause Amy-Fay has to try and find prove for his innocence.
I love how everything plays out, how you get confused and how everyone holds together.
First of all this is an absolutely beautiful book...the book itself not even talking about the story ^^
This is my choice for "A book with more than 20 letters in its title". Well I got 46 didn´t I, or did I miscount???
I am a huge fan of everything Walter Moers and I talked about several of his books in past Reading Challenges. If I remember correctly this in one of the newest ones even tho I already have this on my shelves at least a year. It is such a beautiful book with the wonderful illustrations in it and have to thank my lovely boyfriend for having this edition ;)
The story is set, as all the Moers stories I read so far, in the fantastic country called Zamonien and this time it´s about a princess who calls herself Insommnia because she can hardly ever sleep sometime up to 20 days she´s awake. In that time she spends it learning languages reading walking around the castle. One night tho everything changes when a "Nachtmahr" pays her a visit to change everything.
As usual in the Moers stories it takes sometime for the story to really get started, it really starts around page 100 so that is definitely something you gotta like in a book and I know some people who dislike especially that. I also did not really like the main character in the beginning...she seemed nice but also quite annoying and quite arrogant, but in general this was a lovely book and I loved the illustrations in it :)
One of the things I loved most about this one is the way brain things are talked about or explained everything from how an idea is born to how depression arises :) you really can picture it and it makes sense without any scientific reality or fact.
Or Das Parfum, the german title and I read it in german ;)
This is my choice for: "A book published in the 20th century" - the prompt with possibly the most options to choose from ;) I chose this one because I had it on my shelves and really wanted to finally read it ;)
I absolutely loved the way the story is told the language is perfectly chosen and the style is great...I need to read more by SĂ¼skind!
I just assume most of you know this due to the movie which came out in 2006 or you just know this one since I feel like its just very well known... ;) haha
I haven´t seen the movie but am planning on now I read the book.
From the very beginning you kind of learn to dislike the main character Jean-Baptiste Grenouille but at the same time kind of pity him or feel sorry - I often felt like just screaming give him a hug ;) haha
Quite soon though you´re just left horrified and quite stunned by his character and well its flaws...to be nice...I was just sitting there wishing to never meet anyone like him...
It´s a truly powerful narration which grabs you and sweeps you away. Sometimes it might take a bit too much time for descriptions and such but nevertheless definitely a recommendation, I liked reading it :)
Oh my first ever Poirot book so I of cause decided to go for the first on in the series for the prompt: "A book set in the 1920s".
I wanted to read a Poirot story for ages and where better to start than with his first case ever ;) Of cause I knew the general story already since I watched all the Agatha Christie movies and series already...big love ^^ I love David Suchet in the role but I love all the others either ;)
So back to the book ;) If you´re not a english native speaker you´ve got to get used to the language first, its not hard to understand at all and does not take long but some bit´s need to get used to.
I absolutely loved the book and can´t wait to read more soon, I actually plan on one soon ;)
This is the one where the old lady of the Styles Estate gets murdered by strychnine in her bedroom which´s doors are all bolted from the inside and no one knows how anyone could have gotten in or how she got poisoned. Of cause Poirot, after being asked to take a look by his friend Hasting, is the only one who immediately sees all the clues and connections ;)
Everyone knows the drill with Poirot, no surprises there but still always surprising who did it in the end ;)
June
Surprise! Here comes part 4 of the Temperance Brennan Series ;)
This time, and I hope I found the right info online...it´s for the prompt: "A book published the month of your birthday" actually I wanted to read this in July...don´t know what happened there ;) I probably could not wait to read it ;) haha
This time it all begins with a huge plane crash which instantly made me feel uneasy tbh ;) I am not afraid of flying but reading about it this way makes me want to stay on firm ground for the rest of eternity ;)
Soon, of cause ;), Temperance Brennan discovers a mystery close to the crash site which at first only seems to be strange but develops into something biiig quite rapidly. Including everything from confusion to Tempe being under suspicion and a huge conspiracy to be discovered this part was one of my faves and I red this in almost no time...so hard to put down. After part 2 and 3 being a bit fact overloaded and therefor interesting but a bit word, this one gives you all the facts but still feels so fast paced and thrilling. I loved it a lot and again can´t wait to read the next one :)
"A book with a pink cover" well I was surprised but this is my first pink cover book ;)
Beginning with I never saw the movie but always wanted to but not before I had time to read this first and I hope to find time to watch the film soon ;)
I got this one on a recommendation of a friend of my mums and I am very thankful for it since I was drawn into this from page one.
The whole book reads a bi t like a reality show but one of the good ones and you just constantly want to know what happens next and you´re confused all the time because of all the characters and their relations...haha I kept checking in the front of the book where I had a genealogy of all the family members ;) I absolutely love this one and highly recommend it - reads so nicely and it´s really fun and gripping!
I wanted to read this one for a bit longer now and am so happy I could include it in this challenge. I chose it for the prompt: " A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)". To be honest I only judged by the girl on the cover wearing glasses...at the time I really hoped the character in the book would wear them too ;) haha
Oh and I adore this one a lot - such a wonderful book. From page one on its told in such a lovely warm way I immediately I felt like I wanted to meet Nina or be her hahaha if that makes sense ;) I always wanted to work in a book shop and seems to be such a perfect place to spend everyday ^^
I also love the structure of the book and how every chapter you get a little introduction to what happens next, it´s almost like a little diary.
The story begins with a little outline of the character Nina and her everyday. But soon enough her life takes a sudden turn and a huge surprise disrupts her almost perfectly organised life. Soon we get to know what lay hidden all her life and how it changes her and how she always imagined her future to be.
I can only recommend this one for a little lighter and warm read which reaches all the way down to your heart leaves you feeling cosy.
I started this second quarter of the year very behind on my reading and quite unmotivated to read at all.
You might think being in Quarantine and spending so much time at home makes you read more...buuuutt it didn´t, not at all, at least not in my case ;)
At this point I still am not finished with all of the above...I just set my goal to read enough to be able to say something about them but I really have some catching up to do ;)
What about you? Are you up to date with your goal?
How many books do you want to read in 2020
Happy Reading!
xoxo
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