cesca major | Lost in a Good Book

Top Five of 2023

06 Feb 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in Top Five List Tags: aaron blabey, adam silvera, becky albertalli, cesca major, clint mcelroy, james catchpole, joana estrela, maggie hutchings, matt kirkland, robbie couch, top five

Last year I made the decision to change up my Top Five lists because a few of the books I was simply adoring hadn’t actually breached the five star mark. Which in itself is a fascinating discovering since I am the one scoring these books. These books stuck with me, I found myself thinking about them all the time but somehow they never got a top score. My new plan was to include books that I thought were amazing reads even if I didn’t give them five stars (again, my own logic makes no sense, don’t look at it too closely).

I think realising I had a lot of rereads last year so not having anything to really shout about was weird. Not that rereads are bad, but it’s always nice to have new books to shout about. Having said that, new plan in tow as I went through my reads of 2023, this time I actually have five new reads of top scoring books I want to shout about. Go figure.

I had one book in my Top Five early on, the rest I had to look through my list a few times but I think I’m quite happy with my choice. Picture books I was substantially short on reading last year, but the ones I read were pretty great, just not as amazing as I have experienced in the past. Having said that, a couple snuck is as top reads of the year.

These are my top reads of 2023.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

This was a must read when I read the blurb and I am so glad it held up. There is a wonderful mix of queer rep in this story as well as a wonderful example of the dangers of being too defensive of labels, communities, and not allowing people to feel safe enough to explore who they might be. I love Albertalli exploring new environments to show it isn’t only high schoolers discovering who they are and taking chances. This university story follows Imogen as she takes scary steps to make new friends and adapt to changes in her world. The emotional and societal observations hit all the right notes and the characters bring this story to life making it feel universal despite the US setting.

Dracula Daily by Matt Kirkland

I have been talking about Dracula Daily for a couple years now and finally Kirkland released his book that brought together the amazing online community our year long read produced in 2022. This is the same classic story that has been around for a century but is told chronologically the way Dracula Daily produced via email. Instead of emails it’s now in one convenient place but it also includes the commentary from around the world. It also includes the jokes, the typos, the artwork, not to mention the in-depth analysis that made you realise the level of detail and depth in this classic that is often overlooked in film adaptations and what people assume the book is about. I loved both my reads of Dracula this way, and I love this book even more seeing how it brought people together to create something unique like this.

Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight

I adored this book. Bennett Daylight balances the satisfaction of providing answers with keeping some mystery alive and it works phenomenally. There is an easy enough premise but I loved how this story is told and how things are revealed. The story of a group of teenagers trapped in a shopping centre has the potential to be so many things and Bennett Daylight hits them all. The characters are diverse and unique and they bring as much to the story as the environment does. I know I will be rereading this story a lot because I truly could never tire of this amazing story.

The Eleventh Hour by Clint McElroy

It’s a given these books are going to end up in my Top Five each year they are published. The team does a fantastic job translating this story from podcast to visual medium and they’ve smashed it once again. This a continuation of The Adventure Zone series and takes our trio of heroes onto their next adventure. For all the goofs, jokes, and magical D&D content, this a powerful story about consequence and how decisions we make impact our lives.

Maybe Next Time

A very clever take on the time loop trope and I loved how Major builds on what you expect from the trope to making it her own. There is heart and humour, but what I loved was how Emma deals with the world around her and how it would be easy to see fault in her but at the same time you understand the situation she is in. This didn’t go where I expected which was great and I loved going on the journey and seeing the characters evolve around the story.

Honourable mentions

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

PICTURE BOOKS

My Own Way by Joana Estrela

Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey

Including these books because they were so close to a 5 star it feels wrong not to include them, especially since I’m short.

I Saw Pete and Pete Saw Me by Maggie Hutchings

What Happened to You by James Catchpole

11th Blogiversary + International Giveaway

23 Jan 2024 7 Comments

by Amy in Giveaway Tags: adam silvera, becky albertalli, blogiversary, cesca major, clint mcelroy, giveaway, matt kirkland, rachel lynn solomon, robbie couch, tegan bennett daylight

Whose idea was it to start a blog so early in the new year when there’s barely any time to realise you’re in January let alone plan a celebration for our continual blogging ventures?

But we’re here and it is an exciting way to kick off the new year. Traditionally this is a time for a giveaway to celebrate the books I’ve read this past year, a look back, somewhat rambly, somewhat morosely at my previous years and blogging history. I think there has been way too much of that of late so I’m diving into the celebrations.

Eleven years! I still remember so vividly those early years it’s hard to imagine where the time has gone. This year’s anniversary gift is traditionally steel, I think we all have wills of steel, (wings of steel too if you like) to still be here, still reading this and committing. I know I’m probably a little mad for doing it, but I am honoured and very appreciative for those who have stuck with me for so long, or for those who came late to the party. The more the merrier, try the punch. This blog has been built up and sustained by steely resolve, or it’s being held up by a steel will and determination to persist. I don’t think that’s a bad thing?

I read a weird mix of books last year, I barley scraped through with my challenge, I have yet to announce my top five, and I am trying new things on the blog which I am feeling out of my depth about. But this is why we celebrate. All the achievements, the failed features, the ongoing features, the trying to remember to do the features.

Speaking of features, on to the main reason we’re here. The sharing of the goods. As I say, I read a weird mix of books but I have managed to select the ones I adored and ones I would love more people to know about, read, and fall in love with. I have included my Top Five in these eight so see if you can pick which ones they might be, and I’ve added some others that were too wonderful to not highlight.

An infographic that says Lost in a Good Book's 11th Blogiversary Giveaway. There is a selection of eight book covers underneath and a small picture of an owl holding a balloon. The background is a parchment colour with an ornate black border.

The Selection

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Dracula Daily by Matt Kirkland

Royals by Tegan Bennet Daylight

The Eleventh Hour by Clint McElroy*

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

The First to Die at the End* by Adam Silvera

*Note: These items are sequels to other books.

To enter: For a chance to win one of the pictured books simply enter here and complete the Rafflecopter form.

Please note: This giveaway is international on the basis Blackwell’s ships to your country (I’m going to give Blackwell’s a shot after the Book Depo loss. Curse you, Amazon).

To see if you are eligible you can check their website.

Thank you for helping me celebrate eleven wonderful years of blogging and if you enter the draw I wish you the best of luck!

Giveaway runs until midnight AEDT on Tuesday 20th February 2024

Book Bingo 2023 Wrap Up

31 Dec 2023 3 Comments

by Amy in Book Bingo Tags: anna whateley, anne appert, becky albertalli, benjamin alire sáenz, book bingo, book bingo 2023, book bingo 23, book bingo update, bram stoker, cesca major, chris turner, clint mcelroy, douglas adams, emily carroll, erin stewart, imogen markwell-tweed, kaz delaney, laurinda lawrence, louise finch, matt kirkland, nd stevenson, neil gaiman, nikki rae, rebecca burgess, tegan bennett daylight, terry pratchett, wendy dalrymple

After last years complete nonexistent Book Bingo attempt, I am calling this a win. Not only for making it, but also for getting quite a lot of spaces filled. I liked my categories and I think I managed a great variety in books in filling each spot. Of course practically none have reviews, but maybe through the upcoming year I will be able to fill some review gaps with these books. Especially cause some were really great reads.

I am particularly proud of a few of them because they have been incomplete for decades. Decades. Now I can finally say I have finished them. Things like finally finishing The Hitchiker’s series, or finally finishing a book about The Simpsons I started reading sometime prior to 2010. That has to be an achievement in itself.

I took a few chances on these books too, looking for a certain style of book for research purposes, or to fit a holiday mood. Some were because I needed a book in that moment and it suited, others I had been hanging out to read for ages and finally got around to it. I love doing these bingos because it gives me a chance to pick things up, or finally read something I have had sitting on my shelf patiently waiting. It makes me broaden my reading, but it also makes me read the stuff I want to read but find excuse after excuse, or it seems to hard. I might try and force my hand a bit more next year and get through my TBR and my own shelves, especially because this one was filled accidentally. I should try to actively complete it next time. I already don’t like my chances but one can live in hope.

Did you do a bingo card this year? If you’re looking for ideas check through my bingo tag to find previous years and see if you can challenge yourself next year.