My Life in Books - the 2020 version

I have planned to write a kind of wrap up post of this year's reading, but then I found this book tag by Annabookbel, and I thought it would be much fun (and easier!) way to do it. Here we go...

In high school I was... The Accomplice (Theodore Boone series by John Grisham) - not reviewed

People might be surprised by... Whose Body?

I will never be... The Vicar of Wakefield

My life in lockdown was like... This Side of Paradise (staying at home is a bless-in-disguise for an introvert!)

My fantasy job is... The Deerslayer

At the end of a long day I need... One Hundred Years of Solitude

I hate being... Murder(ed) on the Orient Express

Wish I had... The Fortune of the Rougons

My family reunions are... Hard Times

At a party, you'd find me with... The Belly of Paris (food is my sole entertainment at parties! 🤣)

I've never been to... Dublin(ers)

A happy day include... The Song of the Lark

Motto I live by... Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (or: when you're not sure, asking is better than assuming)

On my bucket list is... Three Act Tragedy (I've never seen live performance ☹)

In my next life, I want to be... The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

The Classics Club #2: COMPLETED! - A Wrap Up

Today I proudly announce that I have completed my 2nd The Classics Club challenge which I started in March 2017. Here's some summaries of what I've read in less than four years:

Original time frame
📚 60 books - March 1, 2017 ~ March 1, 2022

Actual time frame
📚 50 books - March 1, 2017 ~ December 20, 2020

Most mind blowing
👍🏼East of Eden - John Steinbeck

Most boring
👎🏼Resurrection - Leo Tolstoy

Most surprising
🤩 Max Havelaar - Multatuli
I thought it would be boring, it being a semi non-fiction, but turned out to be rather hilarious and interesting!

Most disappointing
☹ Possession - A.S. Byatt

New favorites
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Brontë
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cannery Row - John Steinbeck

Newly found favorite authors
❤ Anne Brontë
❤ Willa Cather
❤ Daphne du Maurier (still partial, but will definitely read more of her)

Glad I've Read (but once is enough!)
✅ One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
✅ The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
✅ This Earth of Mankind - Pramoedya Ananta Toer

You might wonder why I had stopped at the 50th book, while there's still a year and three months ahead to finish the challenge. It's because I'm planning on having a new approach of the challenge, starting next year. And that's why I have to stop this year, to start afresh on January. You'll get to know more about this next week. Stay tune! 😉

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag

Saw The 12 Days of Christmas  Book Tag over at Hamlette's blog the other day, and I think it's one merry way to celebrate Christmas!

Rules: 

#1 Use a different movie for each prompt 

#2 Add photos and/or explanations of how your choices fit the prompts 

#3 Tag a few friends to play along

Let's play!!

1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree - book that involves agriculture:

Far from a Madding Crowd

2. Turtle Doves - book about a long-lasting relationship:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles. 

The book isn't about relationship, but thinking about long-lasting one... there aren't many relationships which are as strong and long-lasting as Hercule Poirot's and Captain Hastings, right? 😉


3. French Hens - book that takes place in France:
The Belly of Paris... the title says it all, right?


4. Calling Birds - book where people talk on the phone:
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The phone call is one of the essential factors in this case.


5. Golden Rings - book with multiple romance:
Sense and Sensibility... ❤❤

6. Geese A-Laying - book with a birth or that features babies:
Dombey and Son

7. Swans A-Swimming - book where someone goes swimming:
The Pearl

It's not really a leisure swimming, but plunging into the water, nonetheless, right? 😆


8. Maids A-Milking - book with cows:
The Earth

"The cow had bolted and was galloping through a patch of lucerne, followed by the girl, who was desperately trying to hold her back."


9. Ladies Dancing - book with a dance scene:
War and Peace

How could one ever forget Natasha's dancing scene??


10. Lords A-Leaping - book about athletes:
The Great Gatsby

Jordan, the female golfer


11. Pipes Piping - book with someone playing a musical instrument:
The Song of the Lark... before becoming an opera singer, Thea is studying to be a great piano player


12. Drummers Drumming - book with characters in the military:
One Hundred Years of Solitude... how will one ever forget Colonel Aureliano Buendia and his entourage?!

Want to share the fun? Consider yourself tagged!