What's Next? discussion

Its hard to believe we're already half-way through 2021. What's your favorite book of the year (so far)?

For me,
- Fiction: Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri; The Survivors by Jane Harper; Deacon King Kong by James McBride; and Writers & Lovers by Lily King
- Non- Fiction: Think Again by Adam Grant; and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
- Series: The Thomas Cromwell trilogy by Hillary Mantel (2 of 3 done!)

My decision to read fewer (but longer) books has been rewarding with 3 Pulitzer Prize winners sitting on my shelf waiting to be picked up.

Thank you to group members who are actively participating and sharing.

It is indeed hard to believe we are now in July with the summer well underway.

I consider the past six months a success in reading for me mainly because I have

1. Read and enjoyed books by writers for years have been on my to-read list, eg. Julian Barnes, Joan Didion, Sylvia Plath etc
2. Read and enjoyed non fictions in the nature category
3. Found hidden gems in translated fictions
4. Read and really enjoyed books written by authors that are highly recommended by members of this group
5. Read and was not disappointed by the latest releases by some of my favourite authors, eg. Rachel Cusk, Murakami etc

This should be a summary for the end of the year, but I have just been having such a good time reading these books and I feel like I need to share that with my fellow readers. I have been a bit slack on my book reviews however... for that I will try harder to put my thoughts into words for the 2nd half of the year.

To go back on topic, I will name my top 3 books read so far this year

1. Killing Commendatore - Classic Murakami
2. Long Live the Post Horn! - A surprise found on the topic and writing for me
3. Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri - Interesting fiction format which I think it's clever, especially so when it's originally written in Italian then translated into English by someone who's first language is English!

Thanks everyone for the book reviews and look forward to further exploring the recommendations mentioned here

Thanks for the check in post. I have read 33 books YTD but feel like I’ve been too indulgent in reading a lot of new release contemporary fiction and not clearing some quality books on my backlist. One book I did manage to get to that I really enjoyed (in spite of the own voices controversy) was American Dirt and I recommend it.

Top fiction books: The Push, Black Buck, We Begin at the End, Infinite Country (a very good authentic Own Voices story of immigration), American Dirt and People We Meet on Vacation (this is a perfect summer beach read).

Top Non-fiction books: Mixed Plate, The Premonition - I love all books written by Michael Lewis, even if they’re about the pandemic

For 2h21, I’m excited to read The Other Black Girl, Falling, The Night She Disappeared (new Lisa Jewell book), the Taylor Jenkins Reid trilogy starting with Evelyn Hugo, and from my backlist, Hidden Valley Road, Deacon King Kong, Circe and Piranesi.