This week's Top Ten Tuesday's prompt is Best Books I Read In 2021 and Tell Me Something Tuesday's prompt is What are your favorite books/audiobooks that you read in 2021? so I combined them plus some others as I don't think you should just highlight the good. I think one of the best things about being a reader is that if you can't enjoy a book, the least you can do is enjoy talking about it, whether in a positive or negative way. I haven't read a lot this year so my list is very short. [ Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl over here. Tell Me Something Tuesday was originally created by Heidi but is now hosted by Berls, Jen, Karen, Linda and Roberta. ]
The Best Books I Read in 2021:
These two books are the most fun reads I had for 2021. They're weird, wacky, slightly creepy, and probably kind of nerdy but they are amazing.
Honorable Mentions:
This is a good take on Mulan but since it continues from a moment in the Disney movie (the animated version), it is sort of a sequel and probably shouldn't read it unless you have seen the movie or at least know what had happened in the first half of the movie. This could still have been shorter in the middle and perhaps a bit longer in the end. The ending is a bit open-ended which I didn't like but at the same time, I would read if there is a second book.
I did enjoyed this book but I guess this would have been one of the best that I read but for this: when a scene stops before it gets to the end, then we are in the afterward, then we go back and continue that scene and then move back to the present - I just don't like this going back and forth. Other than that, this book was quite enjoyable.
The Worst Books I Read in 2021:
I didn't like reading this yet I really like the idea of the book. To sum up the main reason why I didn't like it: If you're reading a book and a bunch of people suddenly appears and have inane commentaries/conversations that have nothing to do with what's going on in the book or if it relates to the current mentioned event, it does not add to the story, would you be able to enjoy your book? I wouldn't. If the commentaries are funny (they aren't), if they are important to the story (maybe two of them add any real info, very long info, to the story but you can still skip them) and if they serve any purpose except to annoy the reader, then maybe I would have enjoyed the book a little. Plus these commentaries ruin the gothic mystery vibe, turns it into a comedy and forces readers into accepting humor when it really didn't need it.
And the mystery is kind of dull. And what makes it worst is that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (two men while all the characters are gendered-swapped to be female) did most of the solving of the murders. The ladies in this so-called Athena club are mostly there to give the necessary info. The entire book is mostly introduction of characters, then their back story, some gory detail about a murder, back to introductions and back stories and then the end. And yes, I have to consider this as a first book in a series but why do I have to read an info dumping book to get to a good book? I'm not going to continue this series because all the books have inane commentaries. Read all about my complaints here on this post, just scroll down.
I didn't like the writing or the tales but I loved the cover which is really the only good thing I can say about this collection of short stories. The tales are deviated versions of fairytales but I find most of them kind of boring, some a little disturbing but most are pointless. More about my complaints about this book over here on this post.
What was the best and worst books you have read in 2021?
I haven't read any of these yet but have been curious about a few of them. I really appreciate that you included your worst books too. It's nice to see the contrast sometimes. Great post! :)
ReplyDeleteAshley Sapp: I like to see the contrast as well. Not all books appeal to people and I like seeing that.
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I love that you also gave us your worst!
ReplyDeleteDeanna: So do I.
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I have not read any of these. Happy New Year! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/12/top-ten-tuesday-cover-love.html
ReplyDeleteCindy: I'm not surprised people haven't read any of these books as we all have such different taste which is okay.
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A Problematic Paradox and The Unspeakable Unknown look like such fun reads! I read more middle grade than I used to because my daughter's in that age range. I'm always looking for books she (and I) might enjoy, together or separately. That's disappointing about The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter and Beasts and Beauty. They are both books I have been wanting to read. Well, I won't rush into them now.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great 2022!
Literary Feline: I love reading middle grade books even though I'm not the target audience. A Problematic Paradox and The Unspeakable Unknown are fun books if you don't mind some creepiness.
DeleteI think The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter is not for everyone but it really does depend on the reader. Beasts and Beauty, I find, is definitely not for children with the mature subjects, I guess I was mostly disappointed because I had too high an expectation but who knows, perhaps you might enjoy the stories more than me.
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Love that you included the worst books, too. :D
ReplyDeleteLark: Actually, I like talking about the books I dislike and I seem to have more to say about them than the books I do like.
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Oh no! I just picked up THE ALCHEMIST'S DAUGHTER at the library. I hope I like it better than you did.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
Susan: I heard the audio bookfor THE ALCHEMIST'S DAUGHTER might be better than just reading it. Maybe you'll like it.
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Thanks for sharing the good and bad.
ReplyDeleteChristine: I'm always happy to share.
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Nice that you included your worst. With so many books to read out there, I like to avoid ones I may not like.
ReplyDeleteWendyW: I also like to avoid books I might not like and I must admit, there are many books I'm currently avoid reading.
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That's a bummer about the Goss book but I think I would have some of those concerns as well. Has a nice cover. That's not enough though. lol
ReplyDeleteGreg: It's shame about the Goss book because it really could have been one of my favorite if it was written differently but the cover is great.
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Thank you for sharing books that disappointed you as well.
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/the-10-best-books-i-read-in-2021/
Pam: I love sharing my disappointments and I like others to share them as well, that way, I won't feel like I'm complaining alone.
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I like that you included the worst books you read this year. The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter seems disappointing. I read a book this year with commentaries at the bottom of every. single. page. It was so annoying, so I ignored them, which actually improved the story!
ReplyDeleteLectrice Vorace: For the Alchemist's Daughter, the commentaries are half the book and if you don't read them, well, it's like reading half a book. The author must have some intention when including them, unknown to me but certainly, there must be a good reason she wants to annoy the reader.
DeleteI have read books with footnotes and most of the time, it's not that annoying but when it gets too long, then, I'll have complaints.
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I've not read any of these, but I am glad you found some favorites! Sorry about the disappointing ones, too. I agree though, I do like to make note of which books were quite disappointing, too!
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