Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag

Hello, beautiful people!

June is over, which means that we're officially halfway through the year.

To celebrate that and reflect on the books I've already read since the beginning of the year, I decided to be very original and to do the mid-year freak out book tag, because I love this one so much! Did I really wait until July to post it? Why, yes.

Best book you've read so far in 2018

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Oh, how happy I am to have read this book in June, because even when I wasn't quite done with it yet, I knew it would be my answer. If you want to know how obsessed I am with this one, I wanted to reread it when I was a hundred pages in. It was such a thrilling and emotional novel, it broke my heart many times, introduced me to one of the most memorable characters ever with Evelyn Hugo and it made my little bisexual heart so happy. 

Best sequel you've read so far in 2018

I haven't had the best of luck with series since the beginning of the year. I did read first books in several series (the sequels aren't out yet anyway), but picking up sequels has been hard, it might be because I'm in the mood for standalones, or sequels can often be disappointing (it depends, of course, but lately, I've been more disappointed than pleased). However, there are some exceptions to this rule, one of them being Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones. This duology is so close to my heart, as so many elements of it are my absolute favourites (can you believe poppies are on the cover when they're my favourite flowers?) and it was such an excellent and satisfying conclusion. I've been missing Liesl since January and I will never stop. I already want to reread these books so much.

New release you haven't read yet, but want to.

There aren't so many, actually, because I either got to my most anticipated releases already or they aren't out yet. The three I can think of at the moment are A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews, Circe by Madeline Miller, Sightwitch by Susan Dennard and To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

While I haven't read many sequels since the beginning of the year, I'm excited for quite a few sequels for the second half of the year, as my most anticipated releases are Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare and Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor. There are so many others of course, but those are the ones I'm the most excited for!

(Me on the day I'll get my hands on those books)

Biggest disappointment.

Unfortunately, Villette by Charlotte Brontë. I have many reasons for not liking it and I know other readers or critiques have the same reasons for liking it, I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea. I had really enjoyed the beginning, so I didn't expect to dislike it so much, but it happens sometimes. However, I read Shirley by Charlotte Brontë and loved it, so I'll just erase Villette from my memory.

Biggest surprise

I know this one was really hyped, but, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. I still can't get over how much I adored this novel, need the sequel RIGHT NOW or how many things happened in just one book. I still can't believe it's a debut novel either. It's one of the best fantasy novels I've read in the past few years. If you still haven't read it, don't think too much on it and go for it!

Favourite new author

Without any hesitation, Alice Oseman. I've read all of her books within a week, when I never do that. I can't even binge-read book series anymore and yet, I needed more of her writing. I adore every single character she writes, her pop culture references (when I read that Frances from Radio Silence watched Parks and Recreation, I so screamed), seeing her characters making cameos in her other works (for Radio Silence). I'm so impressed by her, as she's only two years older than me (!!) and she's so talented. Moreover, I adore her YouTube channel where she talks about writing.

Newest fictional crush

PETER QUIIIIILL. I am pretty sure that everyone will give me a side-eye for that, thinking I'm only talking about MCU!Peter Quill. But I am so not. I love both comics!Peter Quill and MCU!Peter Quill and they have different backstories and storylines for some things! So as I've been reading the Guardians of the Galaxy comics for the past few months, I can legitimately say that he can technically be my newest book boyfriend. I'm pretty insufferable when I read them, though, because I scream a lot because of Peter. Oops. 

Newest favourite character

Juliet Ashton from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, without any hesitation. When I reread my review of this book, I realised how obvious my answer would be, I seem so passionate about her:

      "Juliet was such a great main character, especially when you consider that this book is set right after WW2, she speaks her own mind, is smart, sunny (if you've read the book you'll appreciate that reference), independent, had great taste in books. I would have read another book about her and I'm even more excited to see her come to life on the big screen."

I adore her so much and I knew I would from the second I read that she had written a biography about Anne Brontë, who is, incidentally, my favourite Brontë. Now that I've watched the movie, I love Juliet even more and it isn't only due to the fact that she is portrayed by Lily James. I still have tears in my eyes from when they talked about Anne Brontë, I can't.

Book that made you cry

Y'all, I cry in front of almost every movie I watch, I usually feel things too loudly, so I have probably cried while reading most of the books I've read so far this year. If I had to pick one, I'd say All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor. I adored this book so much and a part of it made me sob really hard, because it echoed my personal life perfectly. I cried for an hour after finishing it, that's how it affected me. I'm so glad I read it, I so needed it.

Book that made you happy

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo. This book made me the happiest because it meant travelling back into the Grishaverse, which I'm always missing a little. Moreover, collection of short stories can sometimes be uneven, but it wasn't the case with this one, I adored all of the stories. It was also made of fairy tales/folk tales and it gave me such a warm feeling while reading it, like I was a little child again, listening to a bedtime story.

Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year

I've seen several book adaptations, now that I'm thinking about it, but my favourite was Love, Simon. I had loved the book and was so excited to finally see the characters on the big screen and I wasn't disappointed in that. It is such an amazing and adorable story and it's been meaning more and more to me lately, on a personal level. I also adored The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but I'd say that Love Simon follows its novel more closely!

Favourite review/post you've written this year

I found two versions of this question, so I'll answer to both. My favourite review I wrote was for All of This is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor, it was such a thought-provoking book and I had so much to say about it. My favourite post I wrote would be the one about The Greatest Showman, where I explained why I couldn't like this movie like so many people did. It was such a great post to write, because I had to do some historical research (can you tell I used to be a history major?) and I stood by everything I said, every single time (I had an argument about it at uni once, and I so won both the argument and a friend at the end of it).

Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)

It was a bit hard to pick, but while I tend to prefer paperbacks for reading, I have a weakness for what's under hardbacks' jackets. So, without hesitation, the most beautiful book I got since the beginning of the year is The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar. Honestly, look at how stunning it is:

It was really hard to pick just one and I've rarely cheated to those questions since the beginning of the tag, so I'll show you my second favourite, because I can't get over the naked hardback. Ladies and gentlemen, please feast your eyes upon The Cruel Prince by Holly Black:

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Reading wrap-up + Favourites | June 2018

Hello, beautiful people!

I am beyond happy that June has come to a close, because it felt as long as January was. It's not really surprising, considering how busy I've been this month. I finished my second master's thesis, visited family in the south of France, had two interviews for master's degrees and got accepted into the one I wanted the most (yeah, I'm really going to do two masters lmao), had my presentation for my thesis and did well, which means that I'm officially on holidays and graduating from my current uni. Overall, it's been a really stressful month, but it was all for the better so I'm really happy! Now, I need to sleep.

W H A T  I  R E A D

When I was really good at picking up books in very different genres for the past year or so, in June, I mainly focused on YA literature, more specifically on books with LGBTQIA+ characters. As June was Pride month, I just needed to focus on those, which is why I pretty much "forgot" about classics and basically only read books with LGBTQIA+ characters. Yes Please and The Big Four* are the only ones without any, because I read them during a readathon and one was a buddy read, but that's it. Anyhow, here are the books that I read:

• Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley, 4/5 stars
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 5/5 stars
• The Big Four by Agatha Christie, 3/5 stars
• I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman, 5/5 stars
• Yes Please by Amy Poehler, 4/5 stars
• Solitaire by Alice Oseman, 3.5/5 stars
• Radio Silence by Alice Oseman, 5/5 stars
• Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman, 4/5 stars
• All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages, anthology edited by Saundra Mitchell, 3.88/5 stars
• The Ship of the Dead (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #3) by Rick Riordan, 3.5/5 stars
• Autoboyography by Christina Lauren, 4/5 stars
• Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, 5/5 stars

My favourite read of the month was, of course, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I didn't know what to expect when I started reading it, but I wasn't a hundred pages into it that I knew I would need to reread it. It was such an amazing novel and my favourite read of 2018, and I still can't get over it. I also finally read Alice Oseman's works and found new favourites, namely Radio Silence, I Was Born For This and Heartstopper, her on-going webcomic series. This month was full of the representation I needed in terms of books and it made me the happiest.

*I am convinced there is something going on between Hercule Poirot and Arthur Hastings, though.

F A V O U R I T E  B L O G  P O S T S

Iris @ Tea With Darcy went to Dublin and posted amazing pictures of her trip (it includes bookstores, OF COURSE).

Cait @ Paper Fury enlightened us on her publishing journey, how she got an agent and a book deal!

Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books shared her tips to avoid reading slumps.

Resh @ The Book Satchel talked about what she learnt from challenging herself to read 30 books in 30 days.

Holly @ Nut Free Nerd made a comparison between The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, because that classic inspired the contemporary novel and it was so interesting!

F A V O U R I T E S

TV SHOW // Parks and Recreation (NBC)

You might think: "Oh no, not again". But I can't help it, y'all. In June, I finished Parks and Recreation. I haven't watched any episode since June 14th and I miss it so much that it hurts. It truly is one of my favourite TV shows ever and in total, it only took me a month and two days to watch its seven seasons. I miss these characters, but I am so happy with the ending they got, it truly was what they deserved. My favourite character out of them all definitely was April Ludgate, I saw myself in her for so many things and her relationship with Andy Dwyer was the best thing ever. I still listen to the Mouse Rat songs every day, there is always one to fine my mood the best and they always make me smile. I'm mentioning this first in my favourites because I haven't watched a lot of TV shows this month (*cue intense crying*), as I couldn't really get over this one.

(Helpless from Hamilton playing in the background)

Chris Pratt

Okay, it feels very embarrassing in a way, but this was a long time coming... Between my rewatch of the MCU movies and my binge-watch of Parks and Recreation, I think that everyone had figured out I had a (celebrity) crush on Chris Pratt. Except for me, apparently, because I denied it so many times. Then... I apparently exploded. I watched Jurassic World, even though I criticised the movie many times and I still do, I even watched Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in theaters twice (but it's quite good in my opinion). I watched too many YouTube videos, too many Instagram stories, I even watched a western (but he was really good in it so it was worth it). I don't know, I like him a lot, he makes me laugh a lot and I can't believe I tried to deny it when there are receipts on my very blog (look at the date, it really is hilarious). AHEM, anyway, fangirling over Chris Pratt really helped me get through this month and I nail everything when I listen to him singing the Mouse Rat's songs, so what can I say... *hides in a corner*

Alice Oseman's novels and YouTube channel

As you've noticed, I got really obsessed with Alice Oseman's writing in June. I don't read a lot of contemporary novels, but I fell in love with hers. The themes she talks about resonates with me, I relate to her characters a lot because they feel so real (Frances must be my favourite) and I always get too addicted and can't put her books down. I got physical copies of her novels once I was done, then started binge-watching her YouTube channel, where she talks about writing. I also love that she's drawing, because I get to picture her characters even more and her online webcomic, Heartstopper, is the cutest thing ever; it follows Charlie and Nick, characters introduced in Solitaire (they also have their own novella). Alice Oseman is such a talented person, I look up to her a lot, because she has already accomplished so much and she's only two years older than me!

MUSIC // Guardians of the Galaxy 70s Mixtape

You know me, I usually listen to the same songs over and over again, this month it was mostly Mouse Rat's songs from Parks and Recreation as well as the 70s mixtape from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. I love listening to the mixtape so much, it makes me in such a good mood and makes me want to dance. On the downside, I can't listen to Come and Get Your Love without stopping everything I'm doing to dance like Star-Lord in the movie, but there are worse things I guess, haha.

MUSIC // Pray for the Wicked - Panic! at the Disco

Look, I actually listened to something else! The newest Panic! at the Disco album was released at the end of this month and I've been listening to it over and over again. I was so excited about it, as I've been listening to (Fuck a) Silver Lining and Say Amen (Saturday Night) ever since they were released as singled in March! Anyway, it's absolutely amazing and I love it a lot. I also introduced my boyfriend to this album and he really liked it as well.

Now, let's move on to the movies part!

MOVIE // Love, Simon

Love, Simon only came out on June 27th in France (yes, this is the worst), but I managed to go to an early screening of it at the beginning of the month. There are no words to explain how much I loved it, how much it meant to me considering where I'm at in my life. In a way, I'm not even mad anymore that I watched it for the first time in June, when the entire world had already watched it. I watched it for the first time during Pride month and it made the entire experience even better. I'm so looking forward to watching it yet again and again (spoiler alert: I already did on July 1st).

MOVIE // The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

While this movie came out in the UK in April, we had to wait until June to have it in France. I was so eager to finally watch it, because I adored the novel so much (I made my best friend and my mom read it, haha). I was curious to see how they would adapt it, considering it is an epistolary novel. They did change quite a few elements of the original story, but they kept the spirit of the book and that's what mattered the most to me. My favourite quote was still in there and it made me the happiest. The cast was fantastic, it made me so happy to have a mini Downton Abbey reunion with Lily James, Jessica Brown Findlay, Matthew Goode and Penelope Wilton. Overall, it was a very good movie and I think they did a good job, but I know some readers have been a bit disappointed because of some changes (which I totally understand). Now I have another reason to visit Guernsey as soon as possible (after all, Victor Hugo lived there at some point and wrote Les Misérables there, it's meant to be) and I need to reread the novel!

MOVIE // Incredibles 2

Last but certainly not least, Incredibles 2 has started being released all around the world. I got lucky enough to go to an early screening with my best friend and my boyfriend and it was absolutely amazing, the wait was all worth it. We also got superheroes masks and took pictures with people who attended, there were fans with T-shirts, oh that was so much fun. I adored the movie so much, I had missed those characters, I really liked the plot and I laughed so hard. I want Jack-Jack to be my little brother, he was so precious and my favourite character for sure! I won't say a lot more considering it's technically not out everywhere yet, but go watch it, it'll make you so nostalgic and happy.

Beware when watching Incredibles 2 though, 

there is an epilepsy warning due to some of the scenes.

L O O K I N G  A H E A D

I am so excited for July, because it's the month of my holidays (I'll be working full time in August). I am planning on reading and blogging a lot, seeing my best friend and my boyfriend a lot, to rest and to have fun overall. So far, I'm also planning on going to the beach with my best friend for about a week, I miss my second hometown so much and it's truly not that far from where we live anyway. There are also so many movies I'm looking forward to watching, such as Adrift, Ant-Man and the Wasp, as well as Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! For TV shows, the second season of Harlots will start airing, I'll probably start watching it when there are several episodes out, but I had missed it so much! I also can't believe Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik and Sea Witch by Sarah Henning are coming out. July, you better be amazing. 

How was your month? Any new favourites in books, TV shows, movies?

Lots of love,

Lucie

My most anticipated releases of the year (part 3) // Grabby Hands

Hello, beautiful people!

Today, I'm back with another of my Grabby Hands posts, where I talk about all of my most anticipated book releases. I am doing those every three months, so today I'm here to present to you my Summer 2018 edition, aka July to September releases. Of course, it doesn't include every single new release for those months or anything, those are, of course, the books I need to get my hands on like... RIGHT NOW.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Published: July 7th 2018 by Del Rey
Genres: adult, fantasy, retelling

At long last. I adored Naomi Novik's Uprooted, which came out forever ago (and by that I mean: three years ago) and I had been wanting to read something else by her. Apparently, this one is inspired by Lithuanian/Russian folklore (from what I gathered from early reviews, I might be wrong) and follows Miryem, who comes from a family of moneylenders and is sent to collect money from villagers. For unknown reasons, she manages to change silver to gold, which leads her story to be tangled with creatures that haunt the wood and their king. *dramatic music* Spinning Silver sounds absolutely amazing and I cannot wait to devour it!

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Published: July 31st 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genres: young adult, fantasy, retelling

Excuse me, but I've been waiting to read it forever, because it's a villain origin story and I adore those so much. It's about Evie, who has been casted out as a witch ever since her best friend Anna drowned. One day, she meets a girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna and is convinced her best friend survived, even though the other girl denies it. Both of them meet charming princes and believe at a chance at their happily ever after, but Anna has secrets of her own and Evie would do anything to help her. The blurb says: "The rise of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic villainess is a heart-wrenching story of friendship, betrayal, and a girl pushed beyond her limits—to become a monster." and if it isn't enough to convince you, I don't know what will.

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley

Published: August 7nd 2018 by Sourcebooks Landmark
Genres: historical fiction

If you don't know, Susanna Kearsley is my favourite historical fiction writer as well as writing inspiration. Yup. No biggies. So of course, Bellewether has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2018 ever since I heard she was working on a new project. This one is set in 1759, in the North American colonies, during the Seven Years War which opposed France and Britain. When French officers are brought as prisoners to Long Island, it changes Lydia Wilde's life, because she eventually develops feelings for a French-Canadian lieutenant. Centuries later, their story has become a local legend, that Charley, the new curator of the Wilde House Museum, is set on exploring to understand what happened. I actually got an ARC of it and am planning to read it in July, so I'll be talking to you about it and fangirling about Susanna Kearley's writing some more very soon on here!

These Rebel Waves (Stream Raiders #1) by Sara Raasch

Published: August 7th 2018 by Balzer + Bray
Genres: young adult, fantasy

You know you've been waiting for a book for a long time when you've been following the Pinterest inspiration board of it when it didn't even have a title yet. Anyway, Sara Raasch is the author of the Snow Like Ashes' trilogy, which I really liked, and I'm so happy that she's finally publishing more books, especially this one, which sounds like the book of my dreams or something. It has a) pirates b) a dichotomy between a magic land/a country driven by religion c) an island d) a black market e) conspiracies. It sounds absolutely amazing and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

Published: August 7th 2018 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Genres: young adult, fantasy

Another author whose previous trilogy I adore has a new book coming out. *throws confettis into the air* Dance of Thieves is the first book in a new duology set in the same world that The Remnant Chronicles (you know, The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal and The Beauty of Darkness --> I want to reread them again), so of course, I need it. The main characters are a reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty? Give it to me now. It's gonna be so much fun and I have my fingers crossed that we'll see some of the characters of The Remnant Chronicles again. Oh wait, I have a reason to reread them now. I have to, just in case.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

Published: August 28th 2018 by Scholastic
Genres: middle grade, fantasy

I mean, it's a new Victoria Schwab novel, so, I don't really have to explain why I need it so badly, right? It follows Cassidy, a young girl whose parents are a sort of (inept) ghost-hunting team, but she can actually see ghosts, her best friend Jacob is one. The family heads to Edinburgh, which is very haunted, and Cassidy meets another girl who can also see the dead and tells her that her job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn't quite so sure about it, but she joins a fight against the Red Raven, a sinister being who haunts the city. I am beyond excited to read this novel, it's been some time since I last read middle grade and I'm so curious about the story, especially as it's set in Edinburgh!

Toil and Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft, 

edited by Jessica Spotswood and Tess Sharpe

Published: August 28th 2018 by Harlequin Teen
Genres: anthology, young adult, fantasy

I love YA anthologies so much, I mention some of them often enough in my most anticipated releases (as I'm typing this, I've been reading the All Out anthology, so, see?). This one has fifteen contemporary, historical, and futuristic stories featuring witchy heroines who are diverse in race, class, sexuality, religion, geography, and era. I don't know that many of the authors who contributed, but I've read and loved Emery Lord's novels, Robin Talley's Lies We Tell Ourselves and previous short stories I've read from Anna-Marie McLemore and Jessica Spotswood. I'm so excited to discover even more YA authors, it always motivates me more to pick up some of their novels (I'll be on the lookout for Elizabeth May and Zoraida Córdova the most).

As She Ascends by Jodi Meadows

Published: September 11th 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genres: young adult, fantasy

I've had trouble with sequels this year. Either I just don't pick them up, or they've been disappointing me (there are exceptions to this rule, but I can think of... one). Nevertheless, there are always authors I trust and Jodi Meadows is one of them. I adored the first book in the Fallen Isles trilogy, Before She Ignites, as well as everything she wrote, so I have faith it will put me back on tracks with sequels. This trilogy has dragons and secrets and a main character with anxiety, I devoured the first one and I can't wait to know what happens next. Moreover, the truth is, I quite miss fantasy. I haven't read a lot of it lately because I've been disappointed by some novels... But I miss it and a world I love will help.

Wildcard by Marie Lu

Published: September 18th by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Genres: young adult, science fiction

Warcross was amazing. I'm not really surprised because Marie Lu is such a talented author and I've always adored her books, but I'm so happy it was the case for Warcross as well. I don't read a lot of science-fiction type of books, but I adored the world it was set in (reading about video games is the best) as well as the characters. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end (even though I had guessed part of the plot twist) and I've needed the sequel ever since then. September can't come fast enough!

For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig

Published: September 25th 2018  by Greenwillow Books

Genres: young adult, fantasy

I read Heidi Heilig's debut, The Girl From Everywhere, when it came out a few years ago and really enjoyed it, so I was curious to know what the author would come up next, this one definitely sounds interesting! It follows Jetta, who comes from a troupe of shadow players, it seems like she's moving puppets without string or stick. In truth, she is able to see the souls of people who recently passed away and bind them to puppets with her blood. However, practicing the old ways has been forbidden ever since the colonial army conquered Jetta's country, but she manages to earn a spot aboard the royal ship where she'll have to hide the truth on her powers. But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined—and safety will never seem so far away. This trilogy is set in a world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism, it has a bipolar heroine and the story is told through different formats. I really cannot wait to get my hands on this one. 

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

Published: September 25th 2018 by Delacorte Press
Genres: young adult, historical fiction, retelling

Kiersten White is an author I've been keeping my eyes on for the past few years, I read Illusions of Fate and And I Darken* by her, which I adored. Her stories always intrigue me so much and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is no exception. This one follows Elizabeth Lavenza, who has had a tough life and is on the verge of being thrown out into the streets, until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, a boy who has everything, except a friend. She becomes her friend and is taken in by his family, but as the years pass, her survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim. I am so excited about this one because the main character is a secondary character from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and I so trust Kiersten White with this. 

*I haven't read Now I Rise, the second book in that trilogy, yet, but I've decided to binge-read it when I also get the third one! I cannot wait, the first novel was so promising.

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Published: September 25th 2018by Tor
Genres: adult, science fiction

I am beyond excited to have not only one, but TWO of Victoria Schwab's novels to talk about in this post. I can't believe that Vengeful is now a written novel and that we will get our hands on it in a few months. I am so curious to see where the story will go next, as for years, it wasn't sure whether we would get Vengeful or not and that it got rewritten many times to make it as amazing as possible. It's been quite a while since we got a new novel by Victoria Schwab, I can't wait to drown in her words again and to be surprised by everything that goes down. Also, it gives me another reason to reread Vicious, so cheers to that! If you haven't read Vicious yet, just go for it, don't try to figure out what it's about or anything, JUST READ IT.

Are you excited for any of these books? 

What are your most anticipated releases for July, August and September?

Lots of love,

Lucie

TOP 5 // Classics I want to read this summer

Hello, beautiful people!

It's been a while since I last wrote a 'top 5 books I want to read' post and I had really missed those, because I love talking about books I really want to read, especially when it comes to classics. Now that I'm almost on holidays, I have way more time to read classics and I couldn't be happier about that, I feel like I haven't read that much of them this year (sure Lucie, you managed to read War and Peace, Middlemarch and Shirley, which were quite lengthy ones, and others). So today, I'm here to talk to you about those I desperately want to read; funnily enough I found two of them second-hand yesterday, when that post had been drafted for a week.

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell (1848)

It has occurred to me that I haven't read anything by Elizabeth Gaskell since Victober 2017 and I'm a bit mad at myself for that, especially since I have so little of her novels left to read (Mary Barton, Sylvia's Lovers and Cranford, but I never know if that one is considered a novel or not). Granted, I also have her biography of Charlotte Brontë and some of the novellas and short stories left after that, but still, it's not the same. Anyhow, Mary Barton was Gaskell's first novel and I'm so looking forward to reading it. The main character, Mary, rejects her working class lover Jem Wilson, thinking of marrying Henry Carson, the mill-owner's son, in the hope of making a better life for herself and her father, a trade unionist. But when Henry is shot down in the street and Jem becomes the main suspect, Mary finds herself painfully torn between the two men. It sounds so good and I still can't believe I found the Penguin English Library edition of it (see the picture at the beginning of the post), as it's out of print!

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot (1860)

I recently read Middlemarch by George Eliot and adored it so much that I've been thinking about picking up the rest of the author's works. I had heard from several readers that The Mill on the Floss was more approachable than Middlemarch, but I got through that one, so I'm confident I'll enjoy the first as well. The Mill on the Floss follows Maggie Tulliver, who is always trying to win the approval of her parents, but her personality often brings her into conflict with her family. It is said to have an interesting portrayal of sibling relationships, which is one of my weaknesses in literature and that it's considered George Eliot's most autobiographical novel. Moreover, I've heard such amazing things about the heroine of this novel and I cannot wait to meet her. By the way, have I mentioned that I'm planning on getting the Penguin English Library edition? It's absolutely gorgeous, but no one is surprised. 

Let's take a moment to stare at it:

L'Œuvre by Emile Zola (1886)

You might not know that about me, but Emile Zola is one of my favourite French writers. I have a very special relationship with L'Œuvre (The Masterpiece in English), because I've been meaning to read it for almost nine years, ever since we had to imagine what happened after one of the scenes for a class. Yet, I never got around to read it, still telling myself, years after years, that I needed to get to it. This summer, I have no more excuses, because I borrowed my grandmother's copy and I can't wait to finally know what happened after that scene. L'Œuvre is the story of a young artist moving to Paris to find success and is conquered by the flaws in his own genius. While his childhood friend becomes a successful novelist, the artist's originality is mocked at the Salon and he gradually turns to a doomed obsession with one great canvas. It is said to be a quite autobiographical novel for Zola and to provide unique insight into Zola's relationship with the painter Cézanne. 

The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy (1887)

I haven't read anything by Thomas Hardy since The Mayor of Casterbridge in February (which was amazing) and I really miss his writing, so I have to read as many of his works as possible this summer, starting with The Woodlanders. This one narrates the rivalry for the hand of Grace Melbury between a loyal woodlander and a sophisticated outsider. According to the Penguin Classics edition, The Woodlanders, with its thematic portrayal of the role of social class, gender, and evolutionary survival, as well as its insights into the capacities and limitations of language, exhibits Hardy's acute awareness of his era's most troubling dilemmas. It sounds amazing, as all of the works of Thomas Hardy that I've read so far, I cannot wait to get to it.

Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier (1941)

Last but not least, we're leaving 19th century to move on to modern classics and Daphne du Maurier, as always. I adore Daphne du Maurier, both as a writer and as a woman, she's one of my biggest inspirations. Frenchman's Creek is the only one of her most popular novels I have left to read and I'm so looking forward to it, I have missed Cornwall, her words, her characters and the atmosphere she always manages to create. It's going to be my sixth novel by her, then I'll try her short stories, because I'm so curious about The Birds! In the meantime, this novel follows Lady Dona St Columb, who seems to be involved in every intrigue of the Restoration Court, but she secretly despises the Court life. She retreats at her husband's Cosnish estate, but it used to be the base of a French pirate, hunted down by all Cornwall. Upon meeting him, Dona's thirst for adventure has never been more aroused and together they embark on a quest, which will force Dona to make the ultimate choice, between sacrificing her lover to death, or risk her own life to save him.

That's it for the classics I want to read the most this summer! I also want to read more French literature once again, The Three Musketeers (Les Trois Mousquetaires) by Alexandre Dumas and Guermantes' Way (Le Côté de Guermantes) by Marcel Proust are also patiently waiting for me, but I've mentioned them on other 'top 5' posts and I haven't forgotten about them.

Are there any classics you want to get to this summer?

Lots of love,

Lucie