Every answer on this tag might be The Lord of the Rings. I read the book or trilogy depending on how you see it for the first time this year after watching the films a billion times and reading Tolkien’s epic is perhaps one of the best things I have done in 2021 as a whole. I mean, it’s not been action-packed because of old corona, but I am practically a hobbit, so I wouldn’t have done much so far in the year anyway.
2. The best sequel you've read so far this year
The Two Towers by J.R.R Tolkien. I warned you.
3. New release you haven't read yet but want to
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, I got the Waterstones special edition the day it came out but I haven’t read it yet! What is wrong with me lol. I always do this.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I don’t really keep up with releases as per prompt 3, but I have an advanced reader copy of A Strange and Brilliant Light by Eli Lee from Netgalley which comes out in July. It sounds pretty interesting and fits in with my whole Sci-fi fantasy mood at the moment.
5. Biggest disappointment
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. Seemingly everyone loves the Sherlock Holmes stories but I just don’t lol. I found Baskervilles to be so dull and boring, and tbh I only read it because I was writing an article for work about the legend that inspired the story. I have read two others A study in Scarlet which was ok and Sign of the Four which I hated. I just don’t get the hype, these are not really classics they are just popular
6. Biggest surprise
Oedipus the King by Sophocles I listened to the full play on audible and I really enjoyed it. I’m surprised because I thought it might be dull or too hard to get into but I guess the translation was pretty modern, unlike Shakespeare which really needs to be watched to be understood. It shouldn't really be a surprise though because I used to hang out in the library at lunchtime when I was at school and read greek tragedies. How edgy and Dark Academia of me lol.
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Tolkien mon amour, tu est très très magnifique
8. Newest fictional crush
Not new because of the movies but Aragorn is such a babe and I don’t really crush on characters…