So, more than half of the year 2015 is already over and I decided to do the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag by ReadLikeWildFire and Ely Jane. I will only take books that I have read until the end of June in consideration.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2015

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon.

It was a close call (with An Ember in the Ashes) but considering this is the first book of a longer series, I am absolutely excited. It is the kind of book I enjoy immensely. I love the world-building, the fantasy, and the writing style. 

 Best sequel you've read so far in 2015

Captive by Aimee Carter

This book took a completely different turn than I expected but it was so great. I can’t wait for Queen coming out at the end of the year.

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

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

This will definitely be in my next book haul. It sounds interesting, is getting great reviews, and is a stand-alone.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Winter by Marissa Meyer

There are many anticipated releases coming out in the second half of 2015 but Winter is the last book of series that I just love. And since I was expecting to read this at the beginning of 2015 and was so disappointed that the publishing date is at the end of this year, my anticipation is even higher.

Biggest disappointment

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The second installment of the Mara Dyer trilogy bored me to death. It was a good thing that I had already bought the last book or I might not have finished the trilogy.

Biggest surprise

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I did not expect to like this book very much. I thought it would be really slow and boring. But the writing was so magical that it took me to another world.

Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Sara Raasch

Snow Like Ashes was a wonderful debut novel and the beginning of a trilogy that I will definitely continue. It was a 5-star read for me.

Newest fictional crush

That would be Nick from The Bone Season. I really like his character but more than a crush on him I have a crush on his and Page’s relationship.

Newest favorite character

Elias from an Ember in the Ashes. I always enjoy strong, smart, and talented main characters. But I love them even more if they have an interesting past and inner struggle. So Elias was a sure thing.

Book that made you cry

Actually, there was no book I read and cried over in the first half of the year. But I will mention End of Days even though it doesn’t count, since I read it in July.

Book that made you happy

Weird Things Customers Say In Bookshops by Jen Campbell

Without Words. Just hilarious.

Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year

The DUFF

I have not read the book but I really enjoyed the movie. It was a light, fun movie to watch (but to be honest, I think the good movies are coming out in the second half of 2015. I have high hopes for Mockingjay and The Scorch Trials).

Favorite review you've written this year

Er ist wieder da-review and The Night Circus-review

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

Enchanted Forest by Johanna Basford.

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

Haha, waaaaay too many. There are some amazing books coming out in the second half of 2015. And I still want to read Red Rising and The Immortal Rules.

It has been ages since I last did a Book Tag but here it is: The Unpopular Opinion Book Tag. The Tag was created by TheBookArcher. Check out her channel!

1. A Popular Book or series that you didn't like.

I have to name three books because the reasons are very different:

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

It’s not that I did not like the book but I also wasn’t blown away by it. This book had so high reviews  that I was expecting a lot more. It is the perfect example how high expectations can ruin your reading experience.

Eleanor&Park by Rainbow Rowell

I read this book because I loved Fangirl by the same author. It is not the kind of book I usually enjoy but I wanted to give it a try because of the author. I should have stayed away. This book was just boring to me and proved to me that I should listen to my inner voice when it comes to books.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusack

Everybody seems to love this book and while I did not hate it, I was not impressed by it either. It bored me and the reason for that is are the repetitive stories about Nazi Germany. I have read so many by now that it becomes predictable.

2. A Popular Book or series that every one else seems to hate but you love.

The series I pick is not a series everyone hates but it is very underrated in my opinion:

TheBlackcoat Rebellion by Aimee Carter. I LOVE that series but for some reason not many have read it and even the people who read it are indifferent.

3. A Love Triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with.

Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. Ugh, I do not like Ginny and that pairing just annoys the hell out of me. I guess I always saw Harry with Luna. They had this great friendship which would have been a solid foundation for a long and loving relationship.

 4. A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for.

Contemporary romance. I hardly read books from that genre. Only from time to time I’m in the mood for some light romance but that does not happen very often.

5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like.

Rowan Whitethorn from Heir of Fire and Jace Wayland Morgenstern from City of Bone. Rowan is actually kind of ‘meh’ for me. I just don’t care for him one way or another. Jace, on the other hand, just annoys me. And talking about annoying: I already mentioned Ginny Weasley, didn’t I?

6. A popular author that you can't seem to get into.

V.E. Schwab and Colleen Hoover.

7. A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing.

Instant love in the most dramatic way. I don’t mind instant lust or instant interest. But love? Calling someone the ‘love of your live’ after only a week? It just makes my eyes roll.

8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

Just not interested.

9. The saying goes "The book is always better than the movie", but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. The book is just horrible. I DNF’d at page 100 but the movie wasn’t so bad actually.

Okay, this is looooooong overdue. Back in November (!!!!) I was tagged by It’s a Book World. A big THANK YOU. With my computer problems I just couldn’t get to it sooner, so, finally, here it is:

Rules:

1. Thank the blogger that nominated you, and link back to their site.
2. Post the award’s logo onto your blog
3. Answer the 10 questions you’ve been asked
4. Nominate 10 bloggers
5. Set 10 new questions for your nominees.

Number 1 and 2: check.

Number 3: Q&A

1. Name a book you recommend to everyone

I had this question before. Unfortunately the answer is the same: I don’t think there is a book I would recommend to everyone. We are all different and therefore our taste just differs.

2. Favorite book that has over 700 pages?

I'll go with "TheName of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuß.

3. Favorite classic?

Uh oh. Classics are not my favorite. “Nathan the Wise” by Ephraim Lessing. That book was bearable.

4. Worst book to movie adaption?

I’m sure there is one that is worse but I can’t think of it right now, so I go with “Breaking Dawn”. I love Kristen Stewart. I think she is a good actress but Breaking Dawn was just bad.

5. Do you watch a movie before you read the book?

Almost never. “Ruby Red” by Kerstin Gier was one of the few books I read after I had watched the movie.

6. What time of the day do you love to read the most: daytime or nighttime (so when it's dark outside)?

Daytime. I actually tend to fall asleep when I read at nighttime. Most of the time when I go to bed I read a little bit but quite often I’m asleep 10-15 minutes later. So daytime it is.

7. What do you think of the New Adult genre?

I’m not sure I have read anything of the New Adult genre. Considering my age I should read adult books but I don’t choose my books based on the age of the main protagonist. If the book sounds interesting I don’t care about the age of the characters involved. (Even though I tend to not read books that center around high school).

8. Favorite author that still lives?

Joanne K. Rowling

9. How big is your Goodreads tbr?

1 book. And I’m actually reading that book right now. Haha.

No, my web browser has a bookmark folder with all the books I want to read. Currently: 32. And that is not counting any continuing series I already started because those are not listed on there.

10. What book are you currenly reading?

“The Iron Trial” by Holly Black.

4. Nominate 10 Bloggers

I don’t know who has done this already. If you have been tagged before, please leave the link below. I would love to read your answers. I will shorten it to 8:

Traveling Through Pages

YA Fanatic

booklife4life

Kate

The Caffeinated Diva reads...

Kate says

Yodamom finds her Force

Heidi Hart

5. 10 new questions

1. What is your favorite book of 2014?

2. Do you have a favorite place to read?

3. What is your favorite childhood book?

4. What is your favorite/least favorite book genre?

5. Do you keep all the books you read or do you give them away at some point?

6. How many books do you own?

7. Is your taste in books the same as it is in movies?

8. Do you sometimes take a sneak ahead to find out what happens next or what happens with a character?

9. Are you happy that there are so many book to movie adaptations at the moment or would you rather have more original screenplays for movies?

10. Have you always enjoyed reading or did you pick up on reading at some point?

Can't wait for your answers!

Post-Halloween. First weekend in November. Beautiful weather outside. And I was stupid enough to go to Ikea – everyone was there. But now it’s here: this week’s Weekend Tag. The Reader Problem Tag was created by About To Read.

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?

Well, I don’t have that many books on my TBR but I do have quite a long list of books I want to read. And usually I just pick the book I want to read the most in that moment.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?

I quit. If I can’t stand a book, I quit. At times I put a book on hold, when I notice it is not the book but me because I’m not in the mood for the genre or something. But if it is the book, I quit.

3.The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, but so far away on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?

This year is the first year I’m doing the Goodreads reading challenge. Currently I’m 1-2 books behind schedule. I will see what I will do when December comes.

4. The covers of a series you love DO NOT MATCH. How do you cope?

My Harry Potter series does not match. My Daughter of Smoke and Bone series does not match. My The Kingkiller’s Chronicle does not match. I hate it but I also don’t buy the matching cover just to have it. Rather spend my money on new books.

5. Everyone and their mother love a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?

Other Goodreads reviewers who did not like it, as well.

6. You’re reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal?

Usually I don’t get that emotional about a book while I am in public. I can’t lose myself in the story as much as I do at home. If I notice a book gets emotional I often wait until I’m home to continue reading.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?

I hardly ever reread a book. I would either try finding a synopsis or try reading the sequel like that and hope that I remember what happened in the first book.

8. You do not want anyone, ANYONE to borrow your books. How do you politely tell people nope when they ask?

I say no. I’m German. Easy-peasy for me.

9. You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?

I wait it out and watch a lot of movies.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?

I put them on my TBR list. When I have read all my unread books and it’s time to buy new one I decide which one I like to read the most in that moment.

11. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?

Not too long. :)

How do you handle these situations? Let me know!

Whohooo, I have a long weekend because I had Thursday and Friday off (I went furniture shopping – again). That also means I get some reading done. But let’s talk about this weekend’s tag: The Social Media Book Tag. This tag was created by faultydevices and a little bit changes by Ariel Bissett. I’m going with Ariel Bissett’s version.

Your favorite shortest book

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

I have mentioned this book so many times by now that I’m not going to talk about the reason why I like it agin. It left an impression on me and I would recommend to anyone. It’s a must-read.

A book everyone pressured you into reading

Vicious by Victoria Schwab

It seemed like everyone loved that book and I really wanted to know why. Unfortunately I did not find it that impressive. I don’t know if it was the hype around this book and my very high expectations or if the book was just not my kind of book.

A book you read before it was cool

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by Joanne K. Rowling

Yep, I’m so hip. I read the first book before it was cool (well, in Great Britain it was kinda known by the time I read it, but that doesn’t count). By the time I read Harry Potter even booksellers hadn’t heard of it.

A book you don't remember whether you liked it or not

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

I think I didn’t like the last book of His Dark Materials but honestly, I don’t remember anything of the last book. I remember a lot from the first book and parts of the second but the last one is a complete blank page in my brain.

A book that was so beautiful that you had to instagram it

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I haven’t read this book yet even though it has been on my TBR for months now but I really hope this book is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.

A book you wish would be turned into a movie

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I think this series would make amazing movies. Peking as the location, all the sci-fi elements, and not to forget the great storyline would sum up to an entertaining movie.

A book you recommend to everyone

I have not read a book yet that I would recommend to everyone. The first difference would be between children and adults. And then it would depend on what they like. Harry Potter, for example, might be an amazing book but I know many people who just don’t like unrealistic books and would not enjoy this series. Or Living Dead Girl, for example, is a must-read in my opinion but I would never recommend it to someone too young.

Have you read any of these? Have you done this tag? I would love to know your answers. Enjoy your weekend!