2021 End of the Year Book Tag!

Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog! 

I know I just did a tag a few weeks ago but I absolutely love the End of the Year Book Tag (created by Ariel Bissett) so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do it. Some of the questions don't apply but others I can have full discussions with.

So without any further ado, let's get into the tag! 

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1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish? 

Nope! I try my absolute hardest to finish books soon after I start them. I think the longest it's taken me to read a book this year has been Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. It took me 54 days to read that book, so about two months. Normally I finish books within a week, sometimes two weeks. I'm currently not in the middle of anything.

2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition you to the end of the year?

I have a few! I love October books, with the spooky and the atmospheric and the unsettling. I've already read one book that I saved particularly for this time of year--Small Favors by Erin A. Craig. I finished it last night, actually. It was just the kind of book I wanted to really kick off the spooky season. I have quite a stack of books next to me as my (tentative, since I'm still very much a mood reader) TBR for October, and all of them have some sort of tie to the spoop. 

One in particular I'm very much looking forward to reading this month is All These Bodies by Kendare Blake. It's a new release that came out last month, about a town in the 1950s that is ravaged by vampires. I really enjoyed Kendare's other horror book, Anna Dressed in Blood, so I'm hoping this book has a similar vibe to it.

A nonfiction I'm hoping to read this month is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. It's written in that style where it feels like a novel, but it's real events and people. This book is centered around the city of Savannah, Georgia, and it's also set in the 1950s, though I think it spans a number of years. I love reading nonfiction that is history-based, especially if it is about a time period or place that I don't know too much about. You're never too old for learning!

3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for?

Yes, I think there are a couple! I know a lot of the books I'd been waiting for came out today actually, but I don't have them yet (obviously). I know Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson and Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan came out today, and I've definitely been looking forward to those two. 

I'm also very excited for Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw, which comes out October 19th. It's a horror novella with Japanese folklore sprinkled in there, which are two things that I absolutely adore.

4. What are three books you need to read before the end of the year?

Ooh that's tough. There are a lot more than three books that I need to read before the year is over. In fact, there are more like 30 books that I am hoping to get through, my entire physical TBR. I told myself that I would read every book I own in 2021, and I've got a long ways to go. But let's see, the ones that take priority...

First would be Servant of the Crown by Duncan M. Hamilton. It's the last book in the Dragonslayer series and it's criminal that I haven't gotten to it yet. It definitely needs to happen before the end of the year. 

I'll also say The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec. I've been talking about this book on my blog since February, when it came out (and when I purchased it, on release day). It's the story of Loki's wife in Norse Mythology, Angrboda. A lot of people have compared it to Madeline Miller's Circe, in terms of writing style and subject matter. I don't know why I haven't read it yet. Other books have been taking precedent, I guess. 

The last book I'll mention isn't even a book, but a series. It would be great if I could get through The Diviners series by Libba Bray. I'll need to reread the first book, but I have all four sitting unread on my shelf and it's bothering me. I think next year I need to implement a "no buying whole series before starting them" rule. I've gotten through all of the other series I bought at once this year, Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares not included (I know, don't yell at me!). The Diviners is my last big hurdle. Hopefully I can cross it before the new year.

5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite of the year?

Well, I'm not sure. It would have very big shoes to fill. Will I find something I love more than Fifty Words for Rain? There have been a few books this year that have come close--like The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir--but no cigar. I'll be sure to do a "Favorite books of 2021" blog post at the end of the year so you can see my full list. 

6. Have you already started making plans for 2022?

Not any definite plans, but I have some ideas for blog posts and such. I don't want to spoil anything though, so you get mum from me! 

I will say that if I don't succeed in reading all of my physical TBR before the end of the year (which is looking less and less likely by the day) then that will definitely carry over to 2022. But other than that, I'm playing by ear, like I always do. 

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There you go, the End of the Year book tag! I always have so much fun answering these questions, so I hope you enjoyed reading my answers. I'd love to know your answers as well! Feel free to say I tagged you to do this if you want, but you can also just tell me your answers in the comments or tweet at me @AllyEmReads.

Until next time!