Hello readers!
Together with one’s most anticipated releases, we bloggers normally have a bunch of backlisted books we’d like to get to ASAP. In order to not let my backlisted books wait too long on my shelves, I like to have a short list of books I for sure want to read this year – a top 3 or top 5, normally, so that the list is realistic, achievable and focused. Obviously I’d like to read everything I own, but that is not realistic as of now, so I like to prioritize. My list for 2021 includes:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is a rather new addition to my TBR (I received it as a gift a couple weeks ago), but it immediately went up in priority because I think it’s a cool project for 2021! I read a collection of Tolstoy’s short stories last year and loved it, so tackling this epic sounds like a doable thing to do, and something I’d actually enjoy reading in an immersive, no-time-pressure kind of way. I’ve already started it, though, so it doesn’t technically count (?).
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Marquez is another author whose work I’ve adored in the past and I got this as a birthday gift years ago, so it’s time! I am sure I will love it, plus it goes nicely with my objectives of reading more classics and Latin American authors this year.
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie is a book that I think I will love, and it’s a Women’s Prize Winner – I lowkey would like to eventually read all the winners (also slowly make my way through the International Booker Prize winners), so this is a step in the right direction!
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin is a book I think will make me immediately buy and marathon the next two. From what I have heard about it, this epic fantasy sounds like just my kind of book and I can’t wait to read it!! It’s just sad that reading this immediately adds 2 more books (plus her other works) to my TBR. *sigh*
Tupinilândia by Samir Machado de Machado is a Brazilian thriller about capitalism, dinosaurs and theme parks. I NEED to read it. I don’t think it’s translated to English, sadly, although curiously enough it’s been translated to French.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers – I have the entire FOUR book series and did not even read the first one *sigh*. In my defense, I bought book 2 thinking it was a standalone, then had to buy book 1 once I realized it was not a standalone, then I saw the eARC for the 3rd one available and got approved for it… then for a year did not read ANY of them and then got approved for the eARC of the 4th! I must read them!!
So that is is for my year goals for backlisted books! I’m sure throughout the year I will add a lot of other stuff (I’ve been using my end-of-the-year vacation to get through a few already), but these I would be very surprised if I did not get to.
Ah you have such great reading ahead of you! The Fifth Season and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet are two of my favourite books of all time.
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Ohh that’s really encouraging to hear!
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ooh Home Fire is one of my favorite books; I’m excited for you to read it!
I also very much want to read Becky Chambers’ series!
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Home Fire sounds so good!!! I’m really excited for it!
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I also have the Fifth Season on my TBR for 2021! Everyone raves about that series, and I’m so excited to read it. Let’s hope we enjoy it!
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Yay!! Good luck to us, I am sure we will both enjoy it!
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“The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet”!!! SQUEE!!! I’m so excited for you, I wish I could read it for the first time again.
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I’ve heard such amazing things about The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet I’m SO excited to read it!! And knowing that you loved it too hyped me even more!
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I know it’s not a book that’s for everybody, but I think you’ll really like it. 😀
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I hope you can get to all of these sometime soon!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Thank you! I really look forward to them!
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This is a great list! I really liked Anna Karenina and Home Fire when I read them, and I have also been meaning to read The Fifth Season and Small Angry Planet for far too long… I’m having the same struggle with them as you, knowing that once I get started I’ll want to binge the rest of the series and continue with the authors, which makes it seem like a bigger commitment. But perhaps this is the year! Best of luck completing your list 🙂
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I love the idea of making a prioritization list for backlist books (and keeping it manageable)! Looks like you have a lot of fantastic reading ahead of you – all of these books are also on my TBR
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