A half-year retrospective…
This fun meme is run by Jo of The Book Jotter. The idea is to look back over the first six months of the reading year, select six categories from the selection Jo provides or create your own categories, and then find six books you’ve read between January and June to fit each category. It’s my second time of joining in, and I loved looking for patterns in my reading, though I found it harder this year – I seem to have been reading lots and lots of various types of crime and not a lot of much else! But I’ve squeezed out Six in Six categories and avoided duplication, and all my choices are books I’d recommend… except one. But I won’t be so mean as to name and shame it, so it can bask temporarily in the glow of inclusion…
Six Vintage Crime
I remain happily steeped in vintage crime this year, thanks largely to the wonderful British Library Crime Classics and my ongoing Murder, Mystery and Mayhem challenge…
Six Historical Fiction
There’s other historical fiction dotted around the six categories – I seem to be attracted more to historical than contemporary fiction at the moment, though I haven’t consciously been selecting books on that basis. This is the category that contains the book I didn’t love – but perhaps you would be blind to its faults…
Six Crime New Releases
I haven’t read much new crime this year but happily the ones I’ve chosen have turned out well, and I don’t think those two facts are unconnected. Cutting down on impulse picks on NetGalley and doing a bit of research means that the books that are squeezing onto my overstuffed TBR are tending to be of higher quality… or at least more to my taste…
Six for the Classics Club
I’m still desperately trying to catch up with my Classics Club list, and am thoroughly enjoying it – there’s a reason books become classics! My love affair with Oxford World’s Classics continues, who are feeding my addiction and whose introductions make for better informed reviews – in theory, at least!
The Expedition of Humphry Clinker
Six True Crime
After a few years of reading heavyweight history I needed a bit of a break and something lighter to fill the factual slot in my reading schedule. What better than a bit of true crime?
The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective
Six Great Fiction
As with contemporary crime, I’ve been far more selective about fiction this year, so I haven’t read much but the quality has been excellent. All of these are great reads.
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World
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So that’s my six sixes, and they tell me I’ve had a fabulous reading year so far! As usual, I’m late to the party but Jo gives us till the end of July, so if you haven’t already joined in you still have time – it’s a wonderful way to waste spend some time!
FictionFan's Book Reviews 
This is such a great meme, FictionFan. And you’ve done a fine job keeping up with the various challenges – far better than I could do. I find it interesting how our reading drifts in certain directions without our even noticing it. We move among the different sorts of writing for no specific reason, but it happens. It does to me, too.
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It’s a fun way to look back over the year and I’m always intrigued to see patterns emerging – I hadn’t realised I’d read so much true crime this year, for instance. Yes, I’m not always conscious of one book leading to another, but then I suddenly realise I’ve read several on the same subject. Some of last year’s categories have disappeared this year too – clearly I got fed up with concentrating on Scottish authors somewhere along the way… 😉
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Wow! Like Margot said, you’re great at keeping up with all of the reading challenges. Do you happen to have a master list of all of the books you’ve read since you began this blog?
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Ha! I wish I was! I always seem to be running behind, but they do focus my concentration a bit at least. Not quite back to the very beginning, but I think I have a list of everything from about the second year. I actually wish I’d always kept a record throughout my life as some people have – I definitely remember books I’ve written about better than ones I haven’t.
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Wow that truly was an effort and an interesting exercise. You did a great job gleaming all those books.
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Ha, thank you! I must admit I struggled to find six categories this year – most of my reading has been crime of one kind or another.
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I got, and have just started reading, the E F Benson, partly on your say-so. Of the others, I’ve only read two classics, the Tarzan book and The Riddle of the Sands (coincidentally published within a few years of each other). Impressed that you can fit your reading into the tight classifications given! Couldn’t do that myself…
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Ah, well, with this one you create the categories to suit the books you’ve read rather than the other way round, though even then it’s not always easy to find enough patterns in my eclectic reading. I do hope you enjoy the Benson – it’s very well written, and fun! I love books from that late 19th/early 20th century period – new enough to feel modern in the writing but old enough to give an insight on history. At the moment I’m having to remind myself not to spend all my reading time with vintage and classic books.
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you’ve set us all guessing now with your reference to the one book you didn’t love. What a tease you are! Agree with you re the Oxford World Classics – they’re introductions are superb. And I love their cover artwork
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Hahaha! Well, I did hide a little clue in there, but maybe I hid it too well. It’s Love Is Blind – one from William Boyd I didn’t love! Yes, I love the OWC books – they’ve really enhanced my classics reading the last couple of years. And they look good on the shelves… 😀
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Very impressive FF! I hope your next 6 months are just as enjoyable 🙂
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Since I’m so far behind on every target I set myself this year, the next 6 months will be stressful! Unless I just throw the TBR in the air, and get lots of new books instead… 😉
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This is a great way to look back over the first half of the year, isn’t it? I think I’ve taken part every year since Jo started it! That looks like a nice, varied selection of books, even if you feel you’ve been reading mainly crime.
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Yes, I find it really shows up patterns in my reading that I’m not aware of at the time. And I’m always pleased to discover that I’ve read 36 books (or 35 in this case) that I can happily recommend!
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While I’ve read 36 books this year, I don’t think I could divide them into proper categories of six. You’ve done well and in the process you’ve convinced me to add several of these to my wishlist, if not my actual TBR pile!
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You’re allowed to use the same books in more than one category if you want – I just make it harder for myself by refusing to duplicate because I’m a) mad b) masochistic and c) obsessive. 😉 Hurrah – the wishlist is the first step… 😀
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I really love this, FF! I remember when you did this last year. It’s such a great way to look back at your reads for the year so far. Wonderful job! (and I’d have the most hist fic too!)
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I do enjoy doing this one even though I found it harder this year. Must read less crime and more fiction! But it’s fun to see patterns emerging that I wasn’t aware of at the time… 😀
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I’m going to read more du Maurier as soon I get a copy of My Cousin Rachel and Jamaica Inn. I think I know which book you didn’t care for because it’s one I enjoyed and still haven’t done a proper review for my classics club list😂
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Ooh, I wonder if you’re right! I shall watch out for your review… 😀
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It sounds like you’ve had a great reading year so far! I’m planning to get to My Cousin Rachel this summer – in fact, it might be the next book I pick up.
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Yes, I’m always pleasantly surprised to find how many books I’ve enjoyed whenever I do a look back! My Cousin Rachel is very good – I think you’ll enjoy it. Fingers crossed! 😀
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I am quite tempted to do this look back myself now (though I’d probably have less crime on my list).
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Oh, do – it’s a great way of looking for patterns in your reading! Haha – yes, I need to get back to more fiction and less crime too. I must be feeling murderous right now… 😉
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Thank you very much for joining in. There is still a few days left of July to join in.
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Thanks for hosting! It’s a fun meme and a great way to see patterns in our reading. Don’t you do one for the second half of the year… hint! hint! 😉
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