Soffitta1's 2021 Category Challenge

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Soffitta1's 2021 Category Challenge

1soffitta1
joulukuu 10, 2020, 3:00 pm

Still thinking about how to go about this.

2soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:17 pm

Category 1: Inspiring Women

Women hold up half the sky, yet that is not reflected in our industries or in our governments. I want to read more by the women who inspire me. ... and then talk about their actions, their ideas and how we can make a difference. Seems far-reaching, but if you can't make profound changes after the last year, when can you?

Apr
1. Margaret Atwood - Dearly
I am a huge fan, for Atwood's literary output and also her unflinching calling out of polluters and support for women's rights.
The poems are on a mix of topics, but I would like to highlight the cycle of poems "Songs for Murdered Sisters". I watched an author talk on the book of poetry and Atwood explained the background to the poems. The poems are a stark reminder of the daily violence against women, these, amongst other poems, are why I will keep returning to this collection.

Sept
2. Sinead Burke - Break the Mould
Bought this for my tutor group, an inspirational read and perfect for a Y7 class.

Oct
3. Kim Jiyoung born 1982
I was blown away, there was much I could relate to in this book and it is rare to see a no-holds barred account of women's life.

Dec
4. Malala Yousafzai - We are displaced
I listened to the Fane talk for this, it is a series of stories from girls and women that Malala has met and are also refugees. I will be adding this to my tutor book box as well.

Hard to pick a favourite, but for the unexpected, I would go for Kim Jiyoung born 1982.

3soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:20 pm

Category 2: Inspired by Virtual Challenges
I have been doing The Conqueror's Virtual Challenges since Easter 2020 and it has been a great way to get fitter and "travel".

Challenges:
Challenge 1 - Hadrian's Wall *completed
Dec
2. The Eagle of the Ninth
I last read this as a child, so it was fun to revisit, especially after a visit to York in October. Still stands up as a cracking good read.

Challenge 7) Iceland Ring Road * completed
Jul
1. Butterflies in November
Bought for the cover, I read this quite quickly and would read more if I came across another book by the author.

4soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:27 pm

Category 3: Asia

Jan
1. The Tea-planter's daughter India
Apr
2. On Earth we're briefly gorgeous Vietnam
3. The girl from the tea garden - India
May
4. The Secrets of the Tea Garden - India
Jun
5. The Fat Years - China

Jul
6. How much of these hills is gold - China
7. How we disappeared - Singapore
8. Girl in Translation - Hong Kong
9. The Disaster Tourist - South Korea
Nov
10. Restaurant of Love Regained Japan

Having been born in Asia, I have always gravitated towards books set there or by Asian writers. This

My favourite was How much of these hills is gold, an often unseen look at the American West, I was reminded of China Men and Daughter of Fortune.

5soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:29 pm

Category 4: Spanish-speaking world

Jun
1. Dominicana - Dominican Republic
Aug
2. The Silenced Argentina
Nov
3. Cold Skin - Spain

Favourite was Dominicana, a female immigration story which pulled you in.

6soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 2, 2022, 5:51 pm

Category 5: Celtic Connection

Apr
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stane (Scots Language Edition), Scotland
2. Voyager, Scotland
3. The Ninth Child, Scotland
4. The Lost Lights of St. Kilda, Scotland
Oct
5. Strange Hotel, Ireland
6. Cheer up love, Scotland

Maybe as a Scot I am biased, but my favourite was The Ninth Child. The blend of history and faeries and an area I used to walk in as a child really hit the spot.

7soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 3, 2022, 10:02 am

Category 6: Crime, thriller, mystery

Jun
1. City of Spies

Jul
2. Sunburn

Aug
3. That's not what happened

Sept
4. The House of the Hanged

Nov
5. Slaughter in the Sapperton Tunnel

My favourite was That's not what happened for the way it sjowed how fact turns into fiction as it moves from person to person.

8soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 3, 2022, 5:36 pm

Category 7: Myths, legends and history
While you would assume on the one side of stories we have fact and the other is fiction, it is more complex than that. As has been said, history is written by the victors, often leaving those who follow with a well-rehearsed narrative. Myths are stories from the firesides of our ancestors, changing as they move through time and space, but often with a meaning or truth at the centre. I love myths and legends, I have always been fascinated by how different peoples explain the world around them through their myths and the flawed heroes of the big sagas.

Apr
1. The Silence of the Girls

May
2. How to stop time

Jul
3. At night all blood is black
4. The Mermaid of Black Conch
5. Black Tudors
6. Manningtree Witches
7. Ghost Wall
8. The People in Trees

Sept
9. Helen Oyeyemi - Gingerbread

A contender for my favourite category - At night all blood is black is one of my top reads for the year and I loved The Silence of the Girls. I will be getting the next book when it comes out in paperback.

9soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 3, 2022, 6:17 pm

Category 8: Geography

May
1. The Secrets of the Tea Garden
Jul
2. A Season in the Congo
Aug
3. Diamond Hill - Author talk
Oct
4. Tidelands
5. Yaa Gyasi - Homegoing debut by the author
6. Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Dec
7. The Island
8. Fifty words for Snow
9. Netherwood

Well, a great selection here. To choose a favourite is really hard as the books were so different. The best judged by cover and bought was Last Night at the Telegraph Club - it is so good to see ever more diversity in YA fiction. Homegoing - interesting premise in the story and jumping time frames and a stark look at slavery and its consequences. A fab debut fiction book about a now gone area of Hong Kong - Diamond Hill. I also loved the Cantonese linguistics. A seasonal read for a traveller and linguist, I had to ration my reading of the wonderful Fifty words for Snow.

10soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 6, 2022, 3:03 pm

11soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 6, 2022, 3:06 pm

Category 10: People

Jul
1. Mr. Fox

Sept
2. Abi Dare - The Girl with the Louding Voice

Oct
3. China Rich Girlfriend
4. The Passenger
5. Conjure Women
6. The Witchfinder's Sister

Nov
7. The Darcy Cousins

Dec
8. The Bolter
9. The Parable of the Sower

Another really strong category. I was blown away by The Girl with the Louding Voice. The Passenger was gripping but as we the readers know what was coming, a stark reminder of the darker side of humanity.

12soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 6, 2022, 3:13 pm

Category 11: Readalong with friends
1. A Winter Book January, my choice
2. Feel better in 5 February
3. The Midnight Library March
4. Untamed April
5. The Girl who reads on the Metro May, my choice
6. Warrior Women Rebel Bitches June
7. Slug by Hollie McNish Jul
9. Sex and Vanity -Sept, my choice
10. The Comfort Book - Oct
11. Exciting Times - Nov
12. A Boy called Christmas

I enjoyed A Winter Book, a good one to start the year with. As a big fan of A Room with a View, I loved seeing how the book was updated - Sex and Vanity.

Didn't read
8. The Summer Book - Aug - I have read this before.

Unread from 2020
May - Swallows and Amazons
Sep - La Belle Sauvage
Nov - Danny the Champion of the World
Dec- The Truth Pixie

13soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 10, 2022, 2:01 pm

Category 12: Book groups

Jul
1. The Thief on the winged horse

Aug
2. One August Night
3. The Castaways

Sept
4. Mexican Gothic
5. The Wolf Den

Oct
6. Paris by Starlight

Nov
7. The Betrayals

Dec
8. Away with the Penguins

A very varied bunch of books. I thought The Wolf Den was fantastic, not always easy to read but, for a novel set so many centuries ago, this seems remarkably now. I flew through Paris by Starlight, magical realism and a strong mesage. However, I can't not recommend Away with the Penguins enough for a deceptively light Winter's read.

14soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 15, 2022, 12:21 am

Category 13: Adjectives

Oct
1. The Smallest Man
Dec
2. Black Venus

I'd have to go with Black Venus as my favourite here. I discovered Angela Carter rather late, thanks to the 1001 list. Such a fantastic writer.

15soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 19, 2022, 5:28 pm

Category 14: 2020 Author Talks
While I was in a bit of a reading slump last year because of all the screen time, I started to listen to author talks. They reminded me of my love of books. These are books by some of the authors I listened to last year.

Jan
December talk - Jeannette Winterson
1. Hansel and Greta

Apr
2. Failosophy

Nov
3. Bernardine Evaristo - Girl, woman other

I didn't connect so much with Failosophy, but the other 2 were excellent. The artwork for Hansel and Greta is great.

16soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 19, 2022, 5:36 pm

Category 15: 2021 Author talks

Aug.
1. Bolu Babalola Love in colour
Oct
2. Kate Mosse - Jan 2021
The Burning Chambers
Dec
3. Madhur Jaffrey - Seasons of Splendour - May 2021
4. Anita Sivakumaran - Cold Sun - Sept 2021

Four completely different books, but I most enjoyed Cold Sun for the writing and setting.

17soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 19, 2022, 5:39 pm

Category 16: Europe

Apr
1. The Glass Woman - Iceland
Jul
2. The Floating Book - Italy
3. The Life of Elves - France
4. Happy Fat - Denmark
Oct
5. The Young Bride - Italy
Dec
6. Firebird - Russia Elizabeth Wein

Top two reads were the The Glass Woman for its atmospheric writing and the dual narrative of The Floating Book.

18soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 20, 2022, 2:25 pm

Category 17: Short and Sweet
Apr
1. Zikora
Jun
2. Shine, Pamela! Shine!

Jul
3. Giraffe & Flamingo

Dec
4. The Visit

I fell over these short stories on Kindle, a great find. I loved The Visit - an alternate reality where traditional gender roles are flipped. A really good way to highlight the treatment of women today.

19soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 20, 2022, 2:26 pm

Category 18: Bridgerton
I watched the series and then a talk with the author. My brain is pretty full with work at the moment, so not been reading much, but I enjoyed reading this series.

Jan
1. The Duke and I
2. The Viscount who loved me
Feb
3. An offer from a gentleman
4. Romancing Mr Bridgerton
Mar
5. To Sir Phillip, with love
6. When he was wicked
7. It's in his kiss
8. On the way to the wedding

Bridgerton Prequels: The Rokesbys
Jun
9. Because of Miss Bridgerton
10. The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
11. The Other Miss Bridgerton
12. First Comes Scandal

In a tough year of teaching, these books were just what I needed. They also helped me put of my reading slump.

20soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 20, 2022, 2:32 pm

Category 19: WOW Festival
This year was my 3rd festival, online but still amazing.
2021 talks

Women in Greek Myths: Natalie Haynes and Bettany Hughes
Jun
1. A Thousand Ships

Ruby Wax - promoting And now for the good news
Jul
2. How to be Human - actually read this one

Arundhati Roy in conversation with V (Eve Ensler)
4. Azadi
2020 talks
Aug
3. Elif Shafak - How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division

The WOW festival is such an amazing event, I really missed that connection with others. I did listen to a number of the online talks. My recommendation here would have to be Azadi - a series of essays and talks. I have always been a big fan on Indian literature, but I know so little of the real country, so this was informative and eye-opening.

21soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 20, 2022, 2:36 pm

Category 20: Inspired by Jacaranda's TwentyIn2020 Literary Festival: Black Voices, British Writing.

I watched talks from this festival and took advantage of the book and voucher deal. It was great to be able to see many new authors to me and also to push myself out of my normal genre comfort zone. In this category will be books from the talks I listened to as well as other works by female authors.

Empowering Black Women through Romance Writing
Actually, I don't read a lot of romance writing, although this year I seem to have read more than normal. This was a great talk and I'd like to read them all!
Jun
1. Rasheda Ashanti Malcolm - Love Again
Oct
3. Lisa Bent - Symona’s Still Single

In Conversation with Stella Oni
Aug
2. Stella Oni - Deadly Sacrifice

Other books
4. Adua

My top read was Adua - both for the story and writing. The use of different time frames helped to really show Adua's story and also how she became the woman in the present. It is also a stark look at the lives of Black people in Italy.

22soffitta1
joulukuu 10, 2020, 3:08 pm

Couldn't resist, going through a bit of a reading slump, but this will inspire me!

23spiralsheep
joulukuu 10, 2020, 3:11 pm

>22 soffitta1: Good luck with your reading!

24DeltaQueen50
joulukuu 10, 2020, 3:44 pm

You've set up some interesting categories and I am looking forward to seeing how you fill them.

25dudes22
joulukuu 10, 2020, 5:07 pm

You've got a few very interesting categories. Looking forward to seeing what you read.

26rabbitprincess
joulukuu 10, 2020, 8:27 pm

Welcome back! I hope you find lots to enjoy in your virtual travels and that the reading slump is over soon.

27MissWatson
joulukuu 11, 2020, 3:44 am

I'll be watching to see how yo fill your categories. So intriguing!

28thornton37814
joulukuu 11, 2020, 2:50 pm

Welcome to the challenge.

29soffitta1
joulukuu 12, 2020, 10:43 am

Thank you all! It's lovely to start planning again. I do enjoy reading other people's challenges as well, so looking forward to the book bullets.

30Tess_W
joulukuu 12, 2020, 2:12 pm

Good luck with your 2021 reading!

31lkernagh
joulukuu 31, 2020, 5:54 pm

Wishing you good luck with your 2021 reading!

32soffitta1
huhtikuu 12, 2021, 4:26 pm

Broken my reading slump and had a look again at my categories. I have been reading more - and enjoying it. I may change more around as the year goes on.

33DeltaQueen50
huhtikuu 13, 2021, 1:16 pm

Sorry to hear that you have had a reading slump - but happy to hear that you have put it behind you!

34soffitta1
huhtikuu 13, 2021, 4:14 pm

It's good to be back! I have also been catching up here - and it has been so nice heading back into bookshops this week.

35soffitta1
elokuu 3, 2021, 4:06 pm

January reads
1. A Winter Book - this was my book group choice. I enjoy Jansson's work, both for adults and children and this didn't disappoint.
2. The Tea planter's Bride - I have connections with Northumberland, Scotland and tea. These are quite easy reads, with some deeper topics touched on, but not as developed as they could be.
3. and 4. The Duke and I and The Viscount who loved me - I really enjoyed the series of Bridgerton and the source material is fun.
5. Hansel and Greta - one of a retold fairy tale by one of my favourite writers. Great book and lovely images.

36soffitta1
Muokkaaja: elokuu 27, 2021, 6:20 am

February reads
Well, didn't read much in February. Long days teaching online took it out of me. In my free time, I spent outside walking - great for clearing the head.

6. An Offer From A Gentleman and 7. Romancing Mister Bridgerton - two more Bridgerton books. Just what I needed to help me switch off.

8. Feel better in 5 - from the book group I do with my friends. I don't read many books like this, the friend who chose this had listened to his podcasts. This is good to dip in and out of - with short, bite-sized exercises to boost your mind and body.

37soffitta1
Muokkaaja: elokuu 27, 2021, 6:21 am

March reads
Another month without reading much, but at least face-to-face teaching at the end of the month reduced the hours online.

More Bridgerton
9. To Sir Phillip, with Love
10. When He Was Wicked
11. It's In His Kiss
12. On The Way To The Wedding

38soffitta1
Muokkaaja: elokuu 27, 2021, 6:21 am

April reads

The Easter break gave me a chance to get back into books. I finished a couple I had had on the go for a while and cracked open a few more.

13. Dearly: Poems - Take your time with these, well worth a read. I also listened to the author talk on this.

14. Zikora: A Short Story - a free short story on Amazon and worth the dip.

15. The Midnight Library - book group choice, I read this in a oner, such an interesting concept.

16. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - hard at times, but the human side of the book is well-told. Relationship between a mother and son that was seemingly sabotaged by her past.

17. The Girl from the Tea Garden - third in the series, some familiar faces.

18. Failosophy: A Handbook For When Things Go Wrong - not my cup of tea, but some interesting ideas.

19. Voyager (Outlander) - I have been watching the series and this seems very faithful. It was good to revisit the action.

20. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stane (Scots Language Edition) - great to read in Scots, I really enjoyed the translation of names!

21. Sarah Thornhill - Australian book, I had read others by the author and am still struck by her fantastic use of description.

22. The Silence of the Girls - wow! I love Pat Barker, especially her WW1 books, but this moved into another favourite area of mine - myths and legends. Excellently written, I can't wait for book 2!

23. The Glass Woman - I enjoyed this, if enjoy is the right word. Bought on the cover and blurb, I wasn't disappointed. A book where there is a lot more going on as the author peels back society's veneer.

39soffitta1
Muokkaaja: elokuu 27, 2021, 6:21 am

May reads
24. The Girl who reads on the Metro - this was my choice for the book group. Strangely enough, it has a reference to Bookcrossing in it! There is a lot of potential here, the concept of matching people with the right book is certainly lovely, but not as much magical realism as I had expected.

25. How to stop time - I read this fairly quickly, interesting premise looking at the personal cost of living an extended life. Give it a go.

26. The Secrets of the Tea Garden - book 4 in the series, this one is about a return to India on the eve of partition.

40soffitta1
Muokkaaja: elokuu 27, 2021, 6:22 am

Jun

Bridgerton Prequels - Rokesbys - good to switch off and get stuck into.
27. Because of Miss Bridgerton
28. The Girl with the make-believe husband
29. The Other Miss Bridgerton
30. First comes scandal

31. Dominicana - loved this, read it in two sittings. A lot going on in the book - role of women, life of an immigrant and family dynamics. I really rated it.

32. Shine, Pamela, Shine - short story on Kindle. A bit of a strange one, leaves you with a lot more questions than answers.

33. City of Spies - picked this up in a charity shop, tempted because I was watching the TV adaptation of The Seamstress - excellent book and series. So, it was interesting to see where the spies moved around to, but ultimately the premise here was stronger than the story telling and writing. A quick thriller to read, but if you want a better book, read The Seamstress (also marketed as The Time in between).

34. The Ninth Child - purchased from a fab independent bookshop in Frinton - Caxton's. This is a fab book, ticking many of the boxes for my type of books - historical, female-led, Scotland and some magical occurrences. This book is set at the water works being made at Loch Katrine. The doctor's wife, struggling with the suffering miscarriage after miscarriage meets a strange man at the loch. This man has returned from the fairies, a long time after he left. I don't want to say more, but this is a great book.

35. A Thousand Ships - having recently read The Silence of the Girls, the names were more familiar. I also listened to the author in conversation before reading this. There is a different feel here - this one moved between more voices and left the reader with more to contemplate. I'll be looking out for more by the author.

36. The Fat Years - a strange book, oddly prescient. It is hard to tell whether this is a near possible future book written as sci-fi or as a political statement. Worth a read.

37. Love Again by Rasheda Ashanti Malcolm Twenty in 20 book from the Jacaranda weekend. Romantic fiction with strong female characters and human drama. The protagonists did make me feel rather old with their nightlife! So strange to read about clubbing at the moment as well.

41JayneCM
Muokkaaja: elokuu 6, 2021, 9:04 am

I've grabbed a few to add to my reading list!

I have Natalie Hayne's Pandora's Jar and The Children of Jocasta as I love Greek mythology. I am very much loving the increase in interest in ancient Greece and all the new books set there. I also have Ariadne to read this month.

I noticed on Goodreads that there is a sequel to The Time In Between, called Sira, but it seems to only be published in Spanish at the moment.

42soffitta1
elokuu 9, 2021, 7:03 am

I bought Pandora's Jar - it looks fab, the book talk was really good. I have also got Ariadne on my wishlist. I loved reading the Greek myths and legends as a child, so I am also loving this revival!

Thanks for the heads up about Sira - Amazon does have another adaption of one her books. It is called The Vineyard - La templanza. I haven't seen it in the bookshops.

43soffitta1
tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:18 pm

Failed on writing mini reviews, but will try and do group round ups.

44soffitta1
tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:18 pm

Category 1: Inspiring Women

Women hold up half the sky, yet that is not reflected in our industries or in our governments. I want to read more by the women who inspire me. ... and then talk about their actions, their ideas and how we can make a difference. Seems far-reaching, but if you can't make profound changes after the last year, when can you?

Apr
1. Margaret Atwood - Dearly
I am a huge fan, for Atwood's literary output and also her unflinching calling out of polluters and support for women's rights.
The poems are on a mix of topics, but I would like to highlight the cycle of poems "Songs for Murdered Sisters". I watched an author talk on the book of poetry and Atwood explained the background to the poems. The poems are a stark reminder of the daily violence against women, these, amongst other poems, are why I will keep returning to this collection.

Sept
2. Sinead Burke - Break the Mould
Bought this for my tutor group, an inspirational read and perfect for a Y7 class.

Oct
3. Kim Jiyoung born 1982
I was blown away, there was much I could relate to in this book and it is rare to see a no-holds barred account of women's life.

Dec
4. Malala Yousafzai - We are displaced
I listened to the Fane talk for this, it is a series of stories from girls and women that Malala has met and are also refugees. I will be adding this to my tutor book box as well.

Hard to pick a favourite, but for the unexpected, I would go for Kim Jiyoung born 1982.

45soffitta1
tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:21 pm

Category 2: Inspired by Virtual Challenges
I have been doing The Conqueror's Virtual Challenges since Easter 2020 and it has been a great way to get fitter and "travel".

Challenges:
Challenge 1 - Hadrian's Wall *completed
Dec
2. The Eagle of the Ninth
I last read this as a child, so it was fun to revisit, especially after a visit to York in October. Still stands up as a cracking good read.

Challenge 7) Iceland Ring Road * completed
Jul
1. Butterflies in November
Bought for the cover, I read this quite quickly and would read more if I came across another book by the author.

46soffitta1
tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:27 pm

Category 3: Asia

Jan
1. The Tea-planter's daughter India
Apr
2. On Earth we're briefly gorgeous Vietnam
3. The girl from the tea garden - India
May
4. The Secrets of the Tea Garden - India
Jun
5. The Fat Years - China

Jul
6. How much of these hills is gold - China
7. How we disappeared - Singapore
8. Girl in Translation - Hong Kong
9. The Disaster Tourist - South Korea
Nov
10. Restaurant of Love Regained Japan

Having been born in Asia, I have always gravitated towards books set there or by Asian writers. This

My favourite was How much of these hills is gold, an often unseen look at the American West, I was reminded of China Men and Daughter of Fortune.

47soffitta1
tammikuu 2, 2022, 12:29 pm

Category 4: Spanish-speaking world

Jun
1. Dominicana - Dominican Republic
Aug
2. The Silenced Argentina
Nov
3. Cold Skin - Spain

Favourite was Dominicana, a female immigration story which pulled you in.

48mathgirl40
tammikuu 2, 2022, 4:21 pm

>44 soffitta1: I too loved "Songs for Murdered Sisters" from Atwood's collection and was moved when reading about the inspiration for the poem cycle.

49soffitta1
tammikuu 2, 2022, 5:49 pm

So important to be told, so important to remember the women. One thing I love about Atwood is how she lays bare the issues we face from environmental concerns to feminism and beyond. I have signed up to her talk for the release of her new book Burning Questions.

50soffitta1
tammikuu 2, 2022, 5:51 pm

Category 5: Celtic Connection

Apr
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stane (Scots Language Edition), Scotland
2. Voyager, Scotland
3. The Ninth Child, Scotland
4. The Lost Lights of St. Kilda, Scotland
Oct
5. Strange Hotel, Ireland
6. Cheer up love, Scotland

Maybe as a Scot I am biased, but my favourite was The Ninth Child. The blend of history and faeries and an area I used to walk in as a child really hit the spot.

51soffitta1
tammikuu 3, 2022, 10:02 am

Category 6: Crime, thriller, mystery

Jun
1. City of Spies

Jul
2. Sunburn

Aug
3. That's not what happened

Sept
4. The House of the Hanged

Nov
5. Slaughter in the Sapperton Tunnel

My favourite was That's not what happened for the way it sjowed how fact turns into fiction as it moves from person to person.

52soffitta1
tammikuu 3, 2022, 5:37 pm

Category 7: Myths, legends and history
While you would assume on the one side of stories we have fact and the other is fiction, it is more complex than that. As has been said, history is written by the victors, often leaving those who follow with a well-rehearsed narrative. Myths are stories from the firesides of our ancestors, changing as they move through time and space, but often with a meaning or truth at the centre. I love myths and legends, I have always been fascinated by how different peoples explain the world around them through their myths and the flawed heroes of the big sagas.

Apr
1. The Silence of the Girls

May
2. How to stop time

Jul
3. At night all blood is black
4. The Mermaid of Black Conch
5. Black Tudors
6. Manningtree Witches
7. Ghost Wall
8. The People in Trees

Sept
9. Helen Oyeyemi - Gingerbread

A contender for my favourite category - At night all blood is black is one of my top reads for the year and I loved The Silence of the Girls. I will be getting the next book when it comes out in paperback.

53soffitta1
tammikuu 3, 2022, 6:18 pm

Category 8: Geography

May
1. The Secrets of the Tea Garden
Jul
2. A Season in the Congo
Aug
3. Diamond Hill - Author talk
Oct
4. Tidelands
5. Yaa Gyasi - Homegoing debut by the author
6. Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Dec
7. The Island
8. Fifty words for Snow
9. Netherwood

Well, a great selection here. To choose a favourite is really hard as the books were so different. The best judged by cover and bought was Last Night at the Telegraph Club - it is so good to see ever more diversity in YA fiction. Homegoing - interesting premise in the story and jumping time frames and a stark look at slavery and its consequences. A fab debut fiction book about a now gone area of Hong Kong - Diamond Hill. I also loved the Cantonese linguistics. A seasonal read for a traveller and linguist, I had to ration my reading of the wonderful Fifty words for Snow.

55soffitta1
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 6, 2022, 3:07 pm

Category 10: People

Jul
1. Mr. Fox

Sept
2. Abi Dare - The Girl with the Louding Voice

Oct
3. China Rich Girlfriend
4. The Passenger
5. Conjure Women
6. The Witchfinder's Sister

Nov
7. The Darcy Cousins

Dec
8. The Bolter
9. The Parable of the Sower

Another really strong category. I was blown away by The Girl with the Louding Voice. The Passenger was gripping but as we the readers know what was coming, a stark reminder of the darker side of humanity.

56soffitta1
tammikuu 6, 2022, 3:12 pm

Category 11: Readalong with friends
1. A Winter Book January, my choice
2. Feel better in 5 February
3. The Midnight Library March
4. Untamed April
5. The Girl who reads on the Metro May, my choice
6. Warrior Women Rebel Bitches June
7. Slug by Hollie McNish Jul
9. Sex and Vanity -Sept, my choice
10. The Comfort Book - Oct
11. Exciting Times - Nov
12. A Boy called Christmas

I enjoyed A Winter Book, a good one to start the year with. As a big fan of A Room with a View, I loved seeing how the book was updated - Sex and Vanity.

57soffitta1
tammikuu 10, 2022, 2:02 pm

Category 12: Book groups

Jul
1. The Thief on the winged horse

Aug
2. One August Night
3. The Castaways

Sept
4. Mexican Gothic
5. The Wolf Den

Oct
6. Paris by Starlight

Nov
7. The Betrayals

Dec
8. Away with the Penguins

A very varied bunch of books. I thought The Wolf Den was fantastic, not always easy to read but, for a novel set so many centuries ago, this seems remarkably now. I flew through Paris by Starlight, magical realism and a strong mesage. However, I can't not recommend Away with the Penguins enough for a deceptively light Winter's read.

58soffitta1
tammikuu 15, 2022, 12:21 am

Category 13: Adjectives

Oct
1. The Smallest Man
Dec
2. Black Venus

I'd have to go with Black Venus as my favourite here. I discovered Angela Carter rather late, thanks to the 1001 list. Such a fantastic writer.

59soffitta1
tammikuu 19, 2022, 5:29 pm

Category 14: 2020 Author Talks
While I was in a bit of a reading slump last year because of all the screen time, I started to listen to author talks. They reminded me of my love of books. These are books by some of the authors I listened to last year.

Jan
December talk - Jeannette Winterson
1. Hansel and Greta

Apr
2. Failosophy

Nov
3. Bernardine Evaristo - Girl, woman other

I didn't connect so much with Failosophy, but the other 2 were excellent. The artwork for Hansel and Greta is great.

60soffitta1
tammikuu 19, 2022, 5:36 pm

Category 15: 2021 Author talks

Aug.
1. Bolu Babalola Love in colour
Oct
2. Kate Mosse - Jan 2021
The Burning Chambers
Dec
3. Madhur Jaffrey - Seasons of Splendour - May 2021
4. Anita Sivakumaran - Cold Sun - Sept 2021

Four completely different books, but I most enjoyed Cold Sun for the writing and setting.

61soffitta1
tammikuu 19, 2022, 5:40 pm

Category 16: Europe

Apr
1. The Glass Woman - Iceland
Jul
2. The Floating Book - Italy
3. The Life of Elves - France
4. Happy Fat - Denmark
Oct
5. The Young Bride - Italy
Dec
6. Firebird - Russia Elizabeth Wein

Top two reads were the The Glass Woman for its atmospheric writing and the dual narrative of The Floating Book.

62soffitta1
tammikuu 20, 2022, 2:25 pm

Category 17: Short and Sweet
Apr
1. Zikora
Jun
2. Shine, Pamela! Shine!

Jul
3. Giraffe & Flamingo

Dec
4. The Visit

I fell over these short stories on Kindle, a great find. I loved The Visit - an alternate reality where traditional gender roles are flipped. A really good way to highlight the treatment of women today.

63soffitta1
tammikuu 20, 2022, 2:27 pm

Category 18: Bridgerton
I watched the series and then a talk with the author. My brain is pretty full with work at the moment, so not been reading much, but I enjoyed reading this series.

Jan
1. The Duke and I
2. The Viscount who loved me
Feb
3. An offer from a gentleman
4. Romancing Mr Bridgerton
Mar
5. To Sir Phillip, with love
6. When he was wicked
7. It's in his kiss
8. On the way to the wedding

Bridgerton Prequels: The Rokesbys
Jun
9. Because of Miss Bridgerton
10. The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
11. The Other Miss Bridgerton
12. First Comes Scandal

In a tough year of teaching, these books were just what I needed. They also helped me put of my reading slump.

64soffitta1
tammikuu 20, 2022, 2:33 pm

Category 19: WOW Festival
This year was my 3rd festival, online but still amazing.
2021 talks

Women in Greek Myths: Natalie Haynes and Bettany Hughes
Jun
1. A Thousand Ships

Ruby Wax - promoting And now for the good news
Jul
2. How to be Human - actually read this one

Arundhati Roy in conversation with V (Eve Ensler)
4. Azadi
2020 talks
Aug
3. Elif Shafak - How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division

The WOW festival is such an amazing event, I really missed that connection with others. I did listen to a number of the online talks. My recommendation here would have to be Azadi - a series of essays and talks. I have always been a big fan on Indian literature, but I know so little of the real country, so this was informative and eye-opening.

65soffitta1
tammikuu 20, 2022, 2:37 pm

Category 20: Inspired by Jacaranda's TwentyIn2020 Literary Festival: Black Voices, British Writing.

I watched talks from this festival and took advantage of the book and voucher deal. It was great to be able to see many new authors to me and also to push myself out of my normal genre comfort zone. In this category will be books from the talks I listened to as well as other works by female authors.

Empowering Black Women through Romance Writing
Actually, I don't read a lot of romance writing, although this year I seem to have read more than normal. This was a great talk and I'd like to read them all!
Jun
1. Rasheda Ashanti Malcolm - Love Again
Oct
3. Lisa Bent - Symona’s Still Single

In Conversation with Stella Oni
Aug
2. Stella Oni - Deadly Sacrifice

Other books
4. Adua

My top read was Adua - both for the story and writing. The use of different time frames helped to really show Adua's story and also how she became the woman in the present. It is also a stark look at the lives of Black people in Italy.