Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Armchair BEA, Day 2: The Two Men in My (Reading) Life This Year

So today is apparently giveaway day for Armchair BEA, but I don't know anything about that *looks away embarrassedly, shows you an empty purse* I mean, look, I do have a bag of books ready to go to a charity shop, but they're all books that I dislike. Why would I want to do that to you? Exactly, I wouldn't. So, let's move on from this whole shenanigan, shall we?

And, let's talk about books (obviously). The back up plan today for the tightarses (hiiii!) is to talk about your favourite books so far this year, or the books you're most anticipating that are being promoted at BEA. Do I have any clue about which books are being promoted at BEA? No. And do I much care, since I don't really like reading books that are super-duper new, because how do I know if they're any good and if I should spend time on them? Exactly. Tried and tested, people, tried and tested.

Anyway, so my reading life this year (so far) has been basically dominated by two authors (oooer, I'm being dominated...), who are in no way obscure, but who are Bill Bryson and Haruki Murakami. These are authors who I'd had no more than a passing acquaintance with before this year (I'd read 2 Bill Bryson books, out of the 8 or so I owned, and had only heard of Murakami) and yet, now I can't stop reading them, or, in the case of Murakami, thinking about their books.

Because here's the thing. I was trying to compile a list of some of my favourite books of the year, and it occurred to me that the two Murakami books I'd read were already my favourites, and not just of the year, but of all the books. And add to that the FOUR Bill Bryson books I've read this year, really no one else is getting a look-in with my reading! And part of the Bryson reading is tactical- I like to read one fiction and one non-fiction book together, but I've got plenty of other non-fiction books. Bryson's are just the greatest. A Short History of Nearly Everything is my favourite so far, but really? They're all so so so awesome.

So yeah. There's that, and then there's Norwegian Wood and 1Q84, and you've basically got a list of my favourite books of the year so far. But. But but but but but. I think I also have to honourably mention the following books too, because some of them have had quite the impact on me. Like:

  • Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer- I haven't eaten an animal since I read this book. And, whilst it would be unfair to say that it's the whole reason I haven't eaten meat since then (I totally wanted to stop eating meat but just haven't had enough motivation/support until now) it seriously helped. A lot. 
  • Freedom by Jonathan Franzen- Ok, this didn't exactly change my life, but it was sort of awesome, and a lot better than I was expecting it to be considering all the bad press that Franzen gets/invites by being a dick. So yeah, it was a nice surprise wrapped in believable and so so sad characters.
And then, also, I've been re-reading a fair bit this year, and the best of all of those?

  • It by Stephen King- My eternal love for King started with this book, and this year I finally got to re-read it as part of my own personal, let's read all the King challenge. I mean, there's nothing I can say about this book that I haven't already said a billion times, but can we all just read it already so that I can stop going on about it? 
  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- Always amazing, I think I still managed to find new things when reading Jane Eyre this time around. Another one of my all time favourites that I was really happy to review and discuss with everyone else.
So, yeah. Reading-wise, it's been a pretty good year so far, and long may it continue! So... What else is good that y'all have read this year? Or, you know, ever...

27 comments:

  1. I've been wanting to re-read Jane Eyre for awhile now! I haven't read it in a few years and it's always been one of my favorites. Of course, King is ALWAYS wonderful.

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    1. I love this comment :). Jane Eyre is definitely worth a re-read, probably every year, and there are always new aspects I focus on each time I read it! And YESSSS King. My favourite :)

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  2. Just found your blog, I am a new follower :)

    I keep meaning to reread Jane Eyre, I did enjoy it but think I would get more out of it on a second read. Have you read Villette?

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    1. I really think that Jane Eyre is the book that keeps on giving- Each time I read it it's literally like a new book for what I get out of it! I have read Villette, but a really long time ago, as in, at a time where I don't think I properly appreciated classics, so I definitely have to read it again, as well as Shirley.

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  3. "And do I much care, since I don't really like reading books that are super-duper new, because how do I know if they're any good and if I should spend time on them? Exactly. Tried and tested, people, tried and tested."

    I KNEW I LIKED YOU.

    I'm going to read some Bryson. I totally am.

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    1. Aw, I thought you were shunning me? :) It's totally true though! This is why classics are so good, cause they've stayed loved forever and there has to be a reason for that!

      READ ALL THE BRYSON! Dude, if you lived near me I could totally lend you all the Brysons cause I think I kind of have them all. IMAGINE IF WE ALL LIVED NEAR EACH OTHER AND COULD SHARE BOOKS AND HAVE A BOOK CLUB OMG!!!

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    2. I am going to second this: READ ALL THE BRYSON.

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  4. I have been wanting to read Freedom - I will have to add it to my list!

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    1. Yay! It really is good! Like not literally the greatest thing I've ever read, but still pretty amazing, and so much better than I was expecting!

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  5. I want to try Freedom. I have it on my shelf, I have excuses. Just lazy. Look, I can't even type a whole sentance.

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    1. Hehehehe, that is so me in every comment ever! Freedom is good but it is looong when you look at it on a shelf, I understand. I got it from the library which always motivates me to read something more than if I own it, which is baaaad!

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  6. I also want to reread Jane Eyre. I did just reread The Great Gatsby and I swear the experience gets better every time. I need to read a Murakami this year too. Norwegian Wood is my favorite.

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    1. Jane Eyre is totally like that too! I've read The Great Gatsby twice and I know I liked it but like I seriously can't remember anything about it... I'm definitely going to give it another try because I know it's beautiful and I want to remember it!

      Also, I LOVE NORWEGIAN WOOD! And I love that you do too! I fully recommend 1Q84, because that's the only other Murakami I've read, but I'm sure they're all great. Every single one!

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  7. Haha, I like your post, especially your comment about tried and true books. I usually don't read super new books but I'm trying to be more open-minded lately and not get turned off by all the hype. I really want to read something by Murakami this year! Any suggestions for where to start? I know he has some short stories so I was thinking that might be a good idea. But I'm open to recommendations from a true fan!

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    1. I really super love Murakami BUT I've only read two of his books so I'm maybe not the best to ask for recommendations of him! Here's what I'd say- I read Norwegian Wood first and it made me love and adore him, but I read it as part of a readalong and I'm hyper-aware that basically everyone else who read it didn't really like it because it is sort of super-depressing, or, rather, about depression. So if that doesn't appeal to you, then I can but recommend 1Q84 because it's a lot less depressing and, as far as I can tell, more classically Murakami-esque.

      Well, that was the longest reply ever! SO basically, probably Norwegian Wood?

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  8. I love when books can impact your daily behavior. I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and while I didn't LOVE the book, it changed the way that I eat. And I read The King's English and it changed the way I shop for books :-)

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    1. Oh excellent! I do like it when books can do that too, it's like magic :). Eating Animals is so amazing for that.

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  9. You are making me consider re-reading It cos the first time I was very meh on it. But I was also 14, so in generally I think that's a meh time.

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    1. I don't understand this comment! Only I'm going to assume it's about Jane Eyre, in which case, REREAD, because there isn't a single classic I read before I was about 16 that I actually understood (I'm not saying you didn't understand it, but I was definitely like 'this is haaard and boooring' so I'm just assuming that's what you did too! lol).

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    2. sorry, you're making me consider re-reading King's "IT" No Jane Eyre. I read that like last year and decided it was not for me. Rochester annoyed me too much.

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    3. OH! Totally missed the capital 'I' there... What a div I am. Bet that's not the first time that's been done though haha!

      Ok, well CLEARLY you have to read IT again! Oh my gosh the amazingness of that book... Like, it's even more important to me that you like it than Jane Eyre (although... Jane Eyre... *sigh* I JUST LOVE THAT GIRL SO MUCH!)

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  10. I love Bill Bryson! He could write about the phone book and it would probably be interesting.

    Eating Animals is a very powerful book and gave me a lot to think about.

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    1. That is the truest thing that's ever been said ever! I do love how he just picks something and then throws himself into it, it's pretty awesome :). And yay for Eating Animals! Did it stop you eating meat or just make you think more about the meat you buy? Cause either way, you know, is good :)

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  11. Sounds like you've had a kind of hefty reading year so far. Glad you found something to help your motivation! I'm glad you joined ABEA! Tattooed Books

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    1. It has been pretty hefty, but that's how I read man! :) I'm glad I joined ABEA too :)

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  12. I've enjoyed all the Bill Bryson titles i have read and would like to read more

    Happy BEA

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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  13. I've heard great things about all the books on your list! But the only one I've read so far is Jane Eyre and that's my favorite book of all the times.

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