still.here

favourites from around the web and the world ...................................................... I post anything I like or find interesting or funny. These things include Doctor Who, Star Wars, books, quotes, movies and series, actors and actresses, music, musicians, lyrics, and anything else that might come up.

[jedigurl]

Happy Star Wars day everyone! Celebrating May 4th with a pic of part of my sw shelf. I still love the old expanded universe! What's your favourite SW novel? #maythefourthbewithyou #starwarsbooks #maytheforcebewithyou #bookstagram #shelfie #igreads #prettybooks #starwars

[jedigurl]

Happy #worldbookday everyone! It's possible that I might have bought fifty books recently...😏 Couldn't say no to this wonderful collection. Have you read any of the penguin modern box? #penguinmodernboxset #prettybooks #bookstagram #bookcollection #igreads #shelfie

[jedigurl]

The best thing about spring and summer is outdoor reading. And it gets even better if there are some lovely colourful flowers to look at every now and then... 📖🏵️ #currentlyreading #istilldream #jamessmythe #boroughpress #igreads #bookstagram #booksandplants #spring #readingonthebalcony

[jedigurl]

It's spring! Finally! I'm looking forward to reading on the balcony and spending lunch breaks in the sun... #bookstagram #booksandflowers #tulips #shelfie #nofilter

[jedigurl]

This is not a foodie account but I've got to share this .... we went for some #swedish dinner last night. So unbelievably tasty! Had #elkburger and also vodka that tasted like blueberries. #soyummy #foodstagram #notafoodiebut #amidoingthisright #nonbook (hier: Kerstins svensk restaurang im Hotel Henriette Davidis)

[jedigurl]

It's #indiebookday! 🎉🎉🎉 Newest addition to my bookshelves: #bestseller by #bekaadamaschwili #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksandplants #igreads #prettybooks

[jedigurl]

Today I read the first essay in #timparks collection #whereimreadingfrom. In this book Parks writes about books and reading and tried to answer several questions concerning the reading process and the world of books. The first question is "do we need stories?". Intriguing and thought-provoking! #currentlyreading #kunstmannverlag #prettybooks #booksaboutbooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #mereadingbooks #igreads

[jedigurl]

I've just started reading #toolikethelightning and I'm already absolutely fascinated by it. Weird sci-fi with a philosophical twist. Very promising... #currentlyreading #adapalmer #torbooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #prettybooks #sciencefiction #mereadingbooks

[jedigurl]

A quote that made me laugh because it rings so true... From #sourdough by #robinsloan. #currentlyreading #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #igreads #quotes #farrarstrausgiroux

[jedigurl]

I'm finally starting this today! #pleasebegood #murakami #currentlyreading #prettybooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram

[jedigurl]

Because I'm almost dying in anticipation for the new #murakami here's my #murakamishelf. The German translation will be available next monday and even though I did not love his last novel, Murakami is a #mustbuy for me... I know there are still a few missing from my collection. #harukimurakami #bookstagram #bookshelf #shelfie #1q84 #oevre

[jedigurl]

Trying out different pens while on the phone... #notebook #pens #stationary #thingsyoudowhenbored #isthisstillbookcontent

[jedigurl]

I love the creepy cover of my #currentlyreading! #creepycover #thegripofit #dontreadwhenalone #jacjemc #fsgbooks

[jedigurl]

~ in which I answer hard-pressing questions like “have I read more ebooks than physical ones?” or “which genre was the predominant one?” and of course “which one was my 2017 favourite?” ~

But first, let’s get the resolutions out of the way! Here’s my new year’s resolution for 2018: Write more! And write consistently! I have neglected my blog in recent months and I probably could make up some half-assed excuse for this. But here’s the truth: I’ve been lazy. I’ve started writing some reviews and even had a few other ideas but I haven’t finished anything really since August. So there, this is my first step in the direction of bettering myself.

On a personal level, 2017 has been an awesome year. After ten years of living in the same apartment, I’ve finally moved on to something bigger, brighter and quieter. Also, in May I started a new job that improved what is nowadays called my “work-life-balance”. A LOT. Although I miss parts of my old job (my colleagues!!! and being surrounded by books all day), all in all, I’m in a much better place now than I was a year before. So, this was the personal side of it. Now let’s get to the interesting part.

2017 in reading!

I read (i.e. finished) 38 books this year, that’s 12.265 pages! In my Goodreads reading challenge I aimed fairly low (30 books) in order to take some of the pressure off and give myself a little bit more freedom in choosing what I read. I think that worked out quite alright.

I’ve read more physical books than ebooks – 80%. I still love my e-reader, though!

I’ve only reviewed a third of the books I read – that needs to change in 2018!!

At last, let’s do the hardest part of the year in review: the favourites! I’ve decided to narrow it down to my top three… but then I simply couldn’t choose. So here are the books that received a five-star rating from me.

Sometimes when you’re sick you’ve got to treat yourself to something from the wishlist… #newbooks #holdyourown #katetempest #picadorpoetry #poetry #bookstagram #igreads #booksofinstagram

How I spent my Sunday… Fourth in an awesome Austrian thriller series! Danke @ursulapoznanski, für einen unglaublich spannenden vierten Teil! Meiner Meinung nach der bisher beste von allen! Und mein Chardonnay hätte Beatrice glaub ich auch geschmeckt! ???? #justfinishedreading #poznanski #beatricekaspary #schatten #wunderlichverlag #booksandbooze #whitewine #bookstagram #igreads

This one is going in the top five of 2017! Probably even top three… What an awesome book! #nathanhill is a true craftsman of literature! ?????? #awesomereads #bestbooksever #thenix #alfredaknopf #bookstagram #igreads

I’m done! It took me six awesome weeks and I’m absolutely in love with Rothfuss’ writing! Though he did leave more than a few questions unanswered… #finishedreading #patrickrothfuss #thewisemansfear #kingkillerchronicles #daytwo #kvothethebloodless #kvotheforever #bookstagram #igreads #brokenspines

Out of the 38 books, I read 8 books turned out to be five-star books for me. Not a bad outcome, in my opinion… That means about 20% of the books I’ve read in 2017 were absolutely awesome! I also think that these eight books represent my reading year awfully well. There’s Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, YA, a Thriller (!), and poetry. There are books that are part of a series as well as stand-alone novels. There are books I’ve read in German and ones in English. As I’m writing this, I’m trying to decide which is the absolute number one and I’m torn between the two largest of the bunch. The Nix (I even reviewed that one here, yay!) and The Wise Man’s Fear (which is part two of a series) come to a close tie.

To me that sends a clear message: I tend to like big books and I’m going to not shy away from them in 2018. And on this additional resolution, I’ll end my retrospective of 2017 in reading.

Have a great 2018 – in reading and otherwise!

  2017 – My year in Reading ~ in which I answer hard-pressing questions like “have I read more ebooks than physical ones?” or “which genre was the predominant one?” and of course “which one was my 2017 favourite?” ~

[jedigurl]

First post and first read of #2018. Happy new year everyone! 🎉😊 I'm #currentlyreading #tyll by German author #danielkehlmann and so far it's ok but not as great as expected... #mereadingbooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #rowohltverlag #feelingtotallyhyggerightnow

[jedigurl]

Today I've been craving some poetry so I turned to this little volume of the #penguinmodernpoets series. I read the #emilyberry part and I'm really intrigued. Definitely going to read some more of her work! Do any of you have a favourite poetry collection? #bookstagram #shelfie #poetry #ifimscaredwecantwin #prettybooks #igreads

[jedigurl]

My #nailpolish matches my #currentread! It's a short introduction to the life of queen Elizabeth II. #elizabethii #biography #penguinmonarchs #bookstagram #igreads #prettybooks #goldenbooks #colourcoding