2018 Reading Challenge 8-Month Update
2018 Reading Challenge 8-Month Update
To date I’ve read 61 books! Yes, I completed my 2018 reading challenge.
Today I am sharing my top five favourite books of 2018 so far. I say so far because we have a solid four months of reading left to enjoy. These books could potentially get knocked out of top spot by 31 December 2018.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
In the number five spot is a 4-star read. I read this book in a single night. It was early in April and I remember being tired and pausing and heading bed, but then I could not sleep so I had to get back up and complete this book.
This tale is atmospheric and twisty but something in the overall portrayal of Rebecca and the unnamed narrator/heroine bothered me so not quite a perfect story. But the storytelling is brilliant and you are indeed being told a story, the narrator is reminiscing after dreaming about her former home. Goodreads gives a better synopsis.
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
This book was magical realism is a hauntingly beautiful tale. Summarising this book without getting in a plot point is difficult, here is the summary, read it. I gave it four stars in February but now I feel as if it is 4.5 star book.
I have often thought of this story and the sadness and love and the wild obsessive nature of the characters.
Have you read this novel? If you have please let me know what you thought of it.
I 100% recommend if you can fully commit to being in the story and not question the magic.
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
This book was my first 2018 fav. And, it was my first 5-star book of the year.
I read this in January 2018 and I it blew me away. So clever, so much fun. A novel within a novel about people in the publishing industry. A whodunit within a whodunit.
The layout is brilliant, you get real quality mystery narrative that isn’t too gimmicky and over the top like the present trend of unreliable women narrators.
If you love classic mystery tales, read this book.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
I listened this book via Scribd.
And, that is honestly the best way to experience this book. It is a novel written in verse about a young Latinx poet. Elizabeth Acevedo narrates the audiobook and it is perfection. I gave this 5-stars, I remember listening to it on a Friday afternoon while I worked and I had to pause it and save it for after 5pm.
This book brought me to tears, the strained parental relationships while not the same in my childhood spoke so closely to my own experiences I broke down and cried. This is a beautifully written story.
I plan to buy the book so I can add it to my collection.
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
At number one is Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson.
5 stars
Loved this. So many emotions, got teary-eyed. I read Ti-Jean and His Brothers for CSEC literature and to see that inspiration woven into this masterpiece of sci-fi dystopian was a magical experience. I’ve wanted to read this book since I was at uni over a decade ago and it never happened. Glad I finally decided to read this tribute to Caribbean storytelling traditions.
I almost want to reread this book before the end of 2018, but I won’t. I will find other works by Hopkinson to explore.
Have you read any of my 2018 favs? Let’s talk some more in the comments.
Until next week Wednesday, happy reading!
Chantel DaCosta
Chantel DaCosta is a storyteller, editor and lifestyle blogger. She is passionate about mental health awareness and Jamaican women's own-voices stories.
