Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2025

I found this meme on Read with Stefani's page. What a great idea. Here is the original tag. This is my fifth year of participating.

Looking back at the first half of a year shows me, how many bad books I read this year, partly book club books, partly other challenges, but also partly because I chose them and thought they would be great. Well, hopefully the second half of 2025 will be better.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2025

Hislop, Victoria "The Figurine" - 2023
One of my favourite authors published a new book and I just loved it. And because I mention it three times in this list, I have used it as the cover picture.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2025

I haven't read any sequels this year.

3. New release you haven't read yet but want to

Brooks, Geraldine "Memorial Days: A Memoir" - 2025 (Goodreads)
Another favourite author whose next book has just been published.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Obama, Michelle "The Look" (Goodreads)
When one of the Obamas publishes something, it is definitely worth a read.

5. Biggest disappointment

Thoreau, Henry David "Walden; or, Life in the Woods" - 1854
A book club book that was just boring.

6. Biggest surprise

Takahashi, Yuta "The Chibineko Kitchen" (J: ちびねこ亭の思い出ごはん 黒猫と初恋サンドイッチ/Chibinekoteino omoidegohan kuronekoto hatsukoisandoitchi) - 2020
A nice find, if you want to have one last conversation with a deceased loved one, visit the Chibineko Kitchen. 

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Actually, there were no new authors that I really liked and would like to read more from.

8. Newest fictional crush

I don't get crushes, I don't read the kind of books that give you crushes.

9. Newest favourite character

Helena McCloud from
Hislop, Victoria "The Figurine" - 2023

10. Book that made you cry

I grew up with three younger brothers which is probably the reason I don't cry easily but I think people would probably cry over
Hansen, Dörte "At Sea" (GE: Zur See) - 2022

However, I did read a few books that could make be cry because they were so badly written.

11. Book that made you happy

I don't read "happy" books but this is a funny one by a German journalist I really love.
Heidenreich, Elke "Dr. Moormann & I" (GE: Frau Dr. Moormann & ich) - 2023

12. Favourite Book To Movie Adaptation You Saw This Year?

I haven't watched even one new movie this year, and I haven't heard of movie adaptations of my books. 

13. Favourite Review You’ve Written This Year?

That would be the same as my favourite book so far.
Hislop, Victoria "The Figurine" - 2023

14. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

MacLeod, Janice "Paris Letters": A Travel Memoir about Art, Writing, and Finding Love in Paris" - 2014 (Goodreads)
Such a beautiful cover from one of my favourite cities.

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I don't have to read any books. However, I am in two book clubs and the next ones we are going to discuss are:

Ihimaera, Witi "The Whale Rider" - 1987

Kivi, Aleksis "Seven Brothers" (Seitsemän veljestä) - 1870
Schreiber, Jasmin "Marianengraben" [Mariana Trench] - 2020

16. Favourite Book Community Member

I need to mention it every year. It is just as impossible as to say which is your favourite child or which is your all-time favourite author or book. There are so many wonderful people in the blogging community.

Books read so far: 46 (last year it was 40)

Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2024
Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2023
Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2022
Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2021

* * *

I'm not going to tag anyone but I'm sure a few of you will want to do this. So, feel free to follow that idea but, please, let me know. And Stefani, I'm sure she'll like to know how many are picking up that idea.

Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2024

I found this meme on Read with Stefani's page. What a great idea. Here is the original tag. This is my fourth year of participating.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2024

Kingsolver, Barbara "Demon Copperhead" - 2022
Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favourite authors and this retelling of "Damon Copperfield" by one of my favourite classic authors shows this again.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024

I haven't read any sequels this year.

3. New release you haven't read yet but want to

Alvarez, Julia "The Cemetery of Untold Stories" - 2024 (Goodreads)
I read her book "In the Time of the Butterflies" which was a very sad story about a dictator and all his terrors. She is a great author and I am looking forward to this book about books.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Chevalier, Tracy "The Glassmaker" - 2024
Also a fantastic author who has given us so much information about history and how women lived during many different times.

5. Biggest disappointment

Ryan, Donal "The Thing About December" - 2013
A book club book that turned out nothing like I expected, dreary and boring.

6. Biggest surprise

Tsumura, Kikuko "There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job" (Konoyoni tayasui shigoto wa na/この世にたやすい仕事はない) - 2015
Another book club book but this one delivered more than I expected.

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Fosse, Jon "Morning and Evening" (Morgon og kveld) - 2001 
The latest Nobel Prize laureate. I have to read more by him.

8. Newest fictional crush

Zierl, Helmut "Follow the Sun. The Summer of my Life" (GE: Follow the Sun. Der Sommer meines Lebens) - 2020
I don't get crushes, I don't read the kind of books that give you crushes. But I saw a reading by the author of this autobiography and talked to him afterwards. He's a famous German actor and I had always liked him but he was actually so NICE that I think this would be my crush.

9. Newest favourite character

Selma from
Leky, Mariana "What You Can See From Here" (GE: Was man von hier aus sehen kann) - 2017

10. Book that made you cry

I grew up with three younger brothers which is probably the reason I don't cry easily but I think people would probably cry over
Harris, Robert "Fatherland" - 1992
Şafak, Elif "10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World" - 2019

11. Book that made you happy

I don't read "happy" books but this is both a funny one and a hymn to cats, so a nice story.
Kerkeling, Hape "Paws off the table! My cats, other cats and me" (GE: Pfoten vom Tisch! Meine Katzen, andere Katzen und ich) - 2021

12. Favourite Book To Movie Adaptation You Saw This Year?

I have only watched one new movie this year, "The Zone of Interest" (IMDb) It's a fantastic film but I have no idea how good an adaptation it was from this book:
Amis, Martin "The Zone of Interest" - 2014 (Goodreads)

13. Favourite Review You’ve Written This Year?

That would be the same as my favourite book so far.
Kingsolver, Barbara "Demon Copperhead" - 2022

14. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

Falcones, Ildefonso "The painter of souls" (El pintor de almas) - Die Tränen der Welt - 2019
Such a great author. Isn't it a beautiful cover?

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I don't have to read any books. However, I am in two book clubs and the next ones we are going to discuss are:
Kapitelman, Dmitrij "Das Lächeln meines unsichtbaren Vaters" [The smile of my invisible father] - 2016
Shute, Nevil "On the Beach" - 1959 
Keyes, Daniel "Flowers for Algernon" - 1959

16. Favourite Book Community Member

I need to mention it every year. It is just as impossible as to say which is your favourite child or which is your all-time favourite author or book. There are so many wonderful people in the blogging community.

Books read so far: 40 (last year it was 51)

Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2023
Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2022
Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2021

* * *

I'm not going to tag anyone but I'm sure a few of you will want to do this. So, feel free to follow that idea but, please, let me know. And Stefani, I'm sure she'll like to know how many are picking up that idea.

The End of Year Book Tag - 2023 Edition

I haven't been blogging much lately, the last couple of weeks have just been too busy and since I only seem to achieve half of what I usually do, there is not a lot of time left for the PC. However, it is also that time of the year where we start reminiscing and I was reminded of this by Dini @Dinipandireads with her End of the Year Book Tag.

This tag was originally created by booktuber Ariel Bissett.

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
Well, there are "hundreds" on my TBR pile and there are books I didn't finish and won't finish but they don't deserve to be listed here.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
Not an autumnal but I am in the middle of reading this:
Kingsolver, Barbara "Demon Copperhead" - 2022

Is there a new release that you're still waiting for?
I'm waiting for several to be issued in paperback, but especially this one:
Follett, Ken "The Armour of Light" - 2023

What are three books you want to read before the year ends?
The year is as good as over, so I will not be finishing any more books. I guess I should have done this earlier.

Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?
Same as above, I doubt it.

Have you already started to make reading plans for 2024?
Well, we have books lined up for my book clubs:
Lessing, Doris "The Grass is Singing" - 1950
Taschler, Judith W. "Summer and Winter" (GE: Sommer wie Winter) - 2011
Uusma, Bea "The Expedition. A forgotten story about a polar tragedy" (Expeditionen: min kärlekshistoria) - 2023

So, how was your reading in 2023?
In the second half, I wasn't getting on too well, I just couldn't read as much as I usually do. Still, not too bad. And I found some really good ones.

Did you find any new favourites?
My favourite book I read last year was:
Brooks, Geraldine "People of the Book" - 2008

Have you read any of the books on my list or are they on your TBR pile?

If you feel like doing this, feel tagged. It would be nice if you link back and post your link in the comment section.

10 Year Challenge Book Tag 2023

I was not tagged but saw this challenge on Deanna's page A Novel Glimpse through Bea @ Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic. It was created by Rincey Reads. It’s a fun tag that takes a look back at my reading 10 years ago versus today. Please check out Deanna's, Bea’s and Rincey's posts.

What was your favourite book in 2013?
Ruiz Zafón, Carlos "The Prisoner of Heaven" (E: El prisionero del cielo - El cementerio de los libros olvidados #3) - 2011
One of my favourite book series ever.

What is your favourite book of 2023 (so far)?
Brooks, Geraldine "People of the Book" - 2008
Not a difficult decision, I absolutely loved this story.

What was your least favourite book in 2013?
Gillham, David R. "City of Women" - 2012

What is a book published in 2013 that you still want to read?
Garfield, Simon "To the Letter: A Curious History of Correspondence - A Celebration of the Lost Art of Letter Writing" - 2013
I read "On the Map. Why the World Looks the Way it Does" by the same author and only just found "To the Letter".

What is the book published (to be published) in 2023 you want to get before 2024?
Follett, Ken "The Armour of Light"

What is a genre you used to read a lot of that you don’t read as much of anymore?
I don't think there was a huge change between the genres I used to read and those that I read now. I still like classics, Nobel Prize winners, anything I can learn from ...

What is a new genre you’ve discovered since 2013?
I think I have read books from all genres and haven't really found any new ones. I know which ones I love and which ones I truly dislike. And I doubt that this will change.

What is a reading or book habit you are hoping to leave behind in this decade?
Same as last year: Buying too many books. But I doubt that will ever change.

What is a new reading goal or habit you want to create in the upcoming decade?
I think I have more than enough reading habits and don't intend to change them.

I'm not tagging anyone but invite you all to do this, if you like to participate. If you decide to do this, leave a link in the comments so I can check out your post. Thanks!

I did this already last year. See my 10 Year Challenge 2021 here and my 2022 Challenge here.

Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2023

I found this meme on Read with Stefani's page. What a great idea. Here is the original tag. This is my third year of participating.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2023
Brooks, Geraldine "People of the Book" - 2008

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023
Ruiz Zafón, Carlos "The City of Mist" (E: La Ciudad de Vapor - El cementerio de los libros olvidados #5) - 2020

3. New release you haven't read yet but want to
Frazier, Charles "The Trackers" - 2023 

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I usually wait for new releases in paperback but it is hard to find which ones will come out this year, so I have listed a few books by authors I like who will release a new book this year, however, it might take a while until the paperback version is available:
Follett, Ken "The Armour of Light"
Krug, Nora "Diaries of War" (Goodreads)
Oates, Joyce Carol "48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister" (Goodreads)
Whitehead, Colson "Crook Manifesto" (Goodreads)

5. Biggest disappointment
Kazantzakis, Nikos "The Last Temptation of Christ" (GR: Ο τελευταίος πειρασμός, O telefteos pirasmos) - 1951

6. Biggest surprise
Ibrahimi, Anilda "Red Like a Bride" (IT: Rosso come una sposa/Rot wie eine Braut) - 2008

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Dangarembga, Tsitisi "Nervous Conditions" - 1988

8. Newest fictional crush
Not my thing.

9. Newest favourite character
Defne from
Şafak, Elif "The Island of Missing Trees" - 2021
 
10. Book that made you cry
I don't really cry over books as I explained last year. Growing up among boys, I learned not to cry too easily. But if I did, it would probably be one of these:
Abulhawa, Susan "Against the Loveless World" - 2020
Keefe, Patrick Radden "Say Nothing. A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland" - 2018

11. Book that made you happy
I don't really read "happy" books. But funny ones make me happy:
Bythell, Shaun "Seven Kinds of People you Find in Bookshops" - 2020

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
I think the most beautiful book cover I got this year is this one. And the content is beautiful, as well.
Hislop, Victoria "Maria's Island" - 2021

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
I haven't even finished many of the ones I had on this list last year and therefore, will keep them here. But there are quite a few on my other various challenge lists.

Ackroyd, Peter "Dominion: The History of England from the Battle of Waterloo to Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Volume V" - 2018 (Goodreads)
Canetti, Elias "Die Blendung" (Auto-da-Fé) - 1935
Ernaux, Annie "Les années" (FR) (The Years) - 2008
Gaiman, Neil "Coraline" - 2002 English
Hawes, James "The Shortest History of Germany - A Retelling for Our Times" - 2017 (Goodreads)
Körner, Torsten "In der Männer-Republik. Wie Frauen die Politik eroberten" (GE) [In the men's republic: how women conquered politcs] - 2020 (Goodreads)
Pamuk, Orhan "Manzaradan Parçalar: Hayat, Sokaklar, Edebiyat" (TR) [To Look Out the Window/Pieces from the View: Life, Streets, Literature] (German translation: Der Blick aus meinem Fenster) - 2008 
Poe, Edgar Allan "The Murders in the Rue Morgue and other stories" - 1941-1945
Sadat, Jehan (جيهان السادات Dschihan as-Sadat) "A Woman of Egypt" - 1987 (Goodreads)
Wickert, Ulrich "Frankreich muss man lieben, um es zu verstehen" (GE) [You have to love France to understand it] - 2017

14. Favourite Book Community Member

I mentioned last year that this is just as impossible as to say which is your favourite child or which is your all-time favourite author or book. There are so many wonderful people in the blogging community.

Books read so far: 51

Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2022
Mid Year Book Freakout Tag 2021

* * *

I'm not going to tag anyone but I'm sure a few of you will want to do this. So, feel free to follow that idea but, please, let me know. And Stefani, I'm sure she'll like to know how many are picking up that idea.

Book Tag: 5…4…3…2…1…

I found this on Dianna's blog A Novel Glimpse and on Dini's blog, Dinipandireads, who found it on Becky's blog @ Beckysbookblog. Becky saw this tag on Instagram but wasn’t sure where it originated, so if you do know the creator, please feel free to add a comment so we can post a link to them up!  Thank you all.

5 Books You Love

This is such a tough one. I have linked some of my favourite books by some of my favourite authors (except for the last one, she has only written that one trilogy).

 

Austen, Jane - "Persuasion" - 1817
My favourite book by Jane Austen, one of my favourite classic authors.
Mann, Thomas "Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family" (GE: Buddenbrooks) - 1901
My favourite book by my favourite German author.
Pamuk, Orhan "My Name is Red" (TR: Benim Adım Kırmızı) - 1998
My favourite book by one of my favourite authors ever. Definitely my favourite Turkish author.
Ruiz Zafón, Carlos "The Shadow of the Wind" (E: La sombra del viento - El cementerio de los libros olvidados #1) - 2001
One of my favourite books ever. Too sad the author left us so early.
Stroyar, J.N. "The Children's War" - 2001
Definitely the best book I ever read. I must warn you, it's out of print and it's a trilogy. But if you're lucky, like me, you might still find a used copy.

4 Autobuy Authors

Again, there are many. I list the first one that came to my mind and the last ones they published. Hopefully, there will be more.

Hansen, Dörte "Lunchtime" (GE: Mittagsstunde) - 2018
Right now, my favourite contemporary author. Her first book (This House is Mine) was translated into English, this one not. Yet, I hope.
Kingsolver, Barbara "Unsheltered" - 2018
One of my favourite US American authors, loved her since I read my first one by her (The Poisonwood Bible).
Lawson, Mary "A Town Called Solace" - 2021
Definitely one of my favourite authors ever, Canadian writer Mary Lawson.
Pamuk, Orhan "The Red-Haired Woman" (TR: Kırmızı Saçlı Kadın) - 2016
Like I mentioned, one of my favourite authors. This was, like all the others in this category, his last book (well, he brought out one more that is still not available in paperback).

3 Favourites Genres

The Genres were not difficult but the books were.

Classic Books
Since I already mentioned my favourite classic author, Jane Austen, here is my favourite book by my next favourite:
Dickens, Charles "Oliver Twist" - 1838
Travel Books
German journalist Stephan Orth travels the world similar to the way I used to when I was younger, only we called it "Pasporta Servo" and visited like-minded Esperanto-speakers. This was the first one I read and it might be even more interesting to read today with the war going on.
Orth, Stephan "Couchsurfing in Russia: Friendships and Misadventures Behind Putin’s Curtain" (GE: Couchsurfing in Russland. Wie ich fast zum Putin-Versteher wurde) - 2017

Historical Novels
There are lots of books that teach us history while entertaining us with a nice novel, Edward Rutherfurd is probably one of the best authors of that genre. This was his first one.
Rutherfurd, Edward "Sarum: the Novel of England" - 1987

2 Places You Read

I read anywhere, in my armchair, my bed, in the car, in doctor's waiting rooms, wherever I have a few minutes by myself. Here you can see my reading nook/armchair.

1 Book You Promise to Read Soon

There are tons of books on my TBR pile, this is the one I might read next.

Abulhawa, Susan "Against the Loveless World" - 2020

Now, I hope more bloggers will take this on and I am looking forward to your results.

The Last Book I … Book Tag

I found this on Dini's blog, Dinipandireads, who found it on Becky's blog @ Beckysbookblog. Thank you both.

The Last Book I Bought
Ansay, A. Manette "Blue Water" - 2006

The Last Book I Borrowed
It's been a long time since I borrowed a book since our local library doesn't have much that interests me and it is all in German. But here is one I borrowed from a good friend:
Hesse, Hermann "Narcissus and Goldmund" (GE: Narziss und Goldmund) - 1930

The Last Book I Was Gifted
Another book I received from the same friend for my birthday:
Suttner, Bertha von "Die Waffen nieder!" (Lay Down Your Arms! or Down with Weapons!) - 1889 

The Last Book I Gave to Someone
A wish from my son:
Herbert, Frank "Dune" - 1963/64 (Goodreads)

The Last Book I Started
Clinton, Hillary Rodham & Chelsea "The Book of Gutsy Women: Favourite Stories of Courage and Resilience" - 2019

The Last Book I Finished
Dobbert, Steffen "Ukraine verstehen: Geschichte, Politik und Freiheitskampf" [Understanding Ukraine: History, Politics and Struggle for Freedom] - 2022

The Last Book I Rated 5-Stars
Follett, Ken "The Evening and the Morning" (Kingsbridge #0.5) - 2020

The Last Book I Rated 2-Stars
DeLillo, Don "The Silence" - 2020

The Last Book I DNF
I almost DNF this but I had it with me one day when I couldn't walk any longer and was posted in a café so the others could have their outing. So, I finished it.
Peetz, Monika "Sommerschwestern" [Summer Sisters] - 2022

The Last Book I Listend To
That was also the first book I ever listened to. Or maybe the second … It's been so long ago, I don't even remember which one it was, I just couldn't get into them.

If you want to do this challenge, just copy the list from here:

The Last Book I Bought
The Last Book I Borrowed
The Last Book I Was Gifted
The Last Book I Gave to Someone
The Last Book I Started
The Last Book I Finished
The Last Book I Rated 5-Stars
The Last Book I Rated 2-Stars
The Last Book I DNF
The Last Book I Listend To