As it’s less than 2 weeks until 2017 is over forever, I suggest you locate your local bookworm and comfort them.
Because they’re probably most definitely panicking.
There’s honestly nothing like the impending looming doom of the end of a year to remind us bookworms of the 77 things we need to do yet. A lot of people get “end of year crises” and bookworms are no exception.
“But why???” you ask while sipping eggnog and quietly wondering if it’s worth the christmas aesthetic to drink eggs and noggins.
Well let me explain in a highly educational post with 10 handy points about why bookworms panic at the end of the year. Also if you think all I do is post about various reasons to panic — YOU ARE NOT WRONG. It’s pretty much my aesthetic and I just roll with it.
As they say…’tis the season to be jolly and flustered like a plucked turkey that escaped the oven and is running about screaming with a list of goals it forgot to achieve.
Just…um…go with this imagery.
1. BOOKWORMS ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE THEIR “SINGLE FAVOURITE” READ OF THE YEAR.
This is a very specific kind of torture. I’m pretty extra sure whoever decided it was fun to make bookworms choose SINGLE FAVOURITES is also in league with the underworld. I guess if you read about 10 books a year this wouldn’t be too much of a big deal?? But 50 books? 100 books? oR LIKE ME 250?????? Just try asking me to choose a favourite meal, ok, since you want to see me cry.
And you want more reasons this is hard??? You’re on.
REASONS THIS IS TORTURE:
- Firstly we have rating-regret, which is when you rated a book 5-stars in January but your standards were lower then?!? You had less to compare it to. IT MIGHT NOT BE 5-STARS NOW. So is it a favourite or not?
- You can’t choose between your new favourites because they speak to different parts of your soul. It’s like saying “is your left eye or right eye better?” BOTHHHHH. ALL EYES???? AGH.
- You’ve read excellent books that are incomparable. Like how on earth do you put Lord of Shadows next to The Hate U Give?!?? They don’t…they can’t…they are so different and both 5-stars and this is hard. We lead a hard life. We need to sit down.
- There’s a difference between “favourite because it made me laugh” and “favourite because it made me cry” and “favourite because I used it to beat back the apocalypse of 2017 so thank me for my effort.”
- SOME OF US DO NOT LIKE MAKING DECISIONS.
2. YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU READ THIS YEAR.
One of my favourite and most common conversations of this year went a little like this:
Human: Have you read this book?
Me: Yeah! I read it in January and it was amazing!
Human: Do you remember that part when—
Me: hahah yeah no, I have no idea what it’s about don’t ask me anything.
I look at my January list of reads and I REMEMBER VERY LITTLE. Perhaps 13%. I feel like all books published in January are under a super unfair disadvantage. Mind you don’t ask me what I read in October either. Look these books still make me and change my world even if I don’t quite remember why or how.
I’m sure it’s fine. No one’s crying about this. Well, except that melting salty dead sea in the corner (me) who is trying to write an end-of-year-recap post (help) and can’t remember anything (goodreads, save me).
3.YOU LOOK AT THE 2017 GOALS YOU SET AND START SCREAMING.
I just peeked back at my 2017 goals list and I didn’t do too badly, mostly because I gave myself the lamest list because I don’t like failure and I love overachieving. #1 tip for overachievers = set low goals! It’s the laziest way to overachieve and it’s great! I know! Aren’t you glad to know me?!
However my “YOU MUST READ THIS IN 2017” list is just burning before my eyes.
How have I read 250 books this year and achieved nothing. I’m magical.
4. SOMETIMES END-OF-YEAR-EXHAUSTION BOOK SLUMPS APPEAR.
This MIGHT be just me, but I always find myself unmotivated to read in December. I mean (a) I’ve finished off my Goodreads goal and I’m literally such a Slytherin that if I’m not checking off boxes then WHAT’S THE POINT, and (b) there is a lot of Christmas food around and I get distracted, and (c) I feel I’ve worked hard in the year and want a break so I can start January really enthused to read.
I am literally the most unmotivated clamfish in December.
I haven’t picked up a book since Saturday so that’s how I am, how are you?
5. YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BUY BOOKS AND “GIFT THEM” TO HUMANS FOR CHRISTMAS BUT WHAT IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY KEEP THEM???
It’s just SO LOVELY when you buy a beautiful shiny book and wrap it up nicely and put a bow on it and then think maybe you should check it??? So you unwrap it and WOW it’s so shiny and beautiful and definitely a perfect gift. So you wrap it up again but you’re also accidentally walking to your room and WOW! It’s magic! It’s now on your bookshelf! How did that happen!
There’s not such thing as (a) too many books, or (b) eating too many christmas cakes. #Fact
6. YOU WONDER IF YOU’VE ACHIEVED ENOUGH THIS YEAR??
I’m a self-confessed overachiever but I’m sure a lot of us get to December and wonder IF WE’VE DONE ENOUGH?!? It’s silly because if you did your best, no matter what you did or didn’t achieve, then yes — you did enough. And you did great! And no one has to be achieving at 110% every single year.
But yet. Here we are. Anxiously scoffing eggnog and staring wide eyed at the impending doom of 2018 and wondering if WE SHOULD HAVE BUILT THAT SPACESHIP IN THE BACKYARD AFTER ALL??? UGUH WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING. CLEARLY NOTHING.
7. THE 2018 BOOK WISHLISTS ARE COMING UPON US STRONGLY AND THERE IS NO ESCAPE.
LOOK IT’S TOO EARLY TO BRING OUT THE 2018 WISHLIST. I’m not finished the 2017 lists. I’m not finished the 2015 lists if we’re going to be honest (no, really, please come meet my TBR) so this is terrifying.
I’m fine. I’m sure it’s fine. Everything seems FINE.
Also on this topic, I will be rolling out lists of 2018 releases I’m excited for VERY SOON and I’m broke and the year hasn’t even begun yet.
8. BOOK BLOGGERS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW ACTIVE TO BE ONLINE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
This gets me EVERY year! I literally ask the same questions of myself which look like:
- “Should I take a little hiatus over the Christmas week since most people will be busy anyway?”
- “Or should I post as normal since people are on holidays and maybe online more?”
- “Or should I flap about like a confused chicken as is my normal aesthetic?”
I have no idea. It’s a surprise for us all what I decide to do. But this is a DEFINITE cause for bookworm crisis.
9. AFTER YOU DO YOUR “YEARLY RECAP” POST, SHOULD YOU KEEP READING???
Again. SLYTHERIN. And I think it’s okay to be a goals-orientated person! But I also want to think of the books? THINK OF THE POOR BOOKS, EVERYONE. Books read in that last week of December…where do they fit??? You’ve already announced your “favourites of the year”. And they can’t squeeze into 2018 reads because they’re not. So they become this like little void of books we forget to talk about.
I tell you, after the 25th, it’s like a VOID. The only things that happen are Christmas leftovers and you feeling ready to never need to see a relative for another 12 months.
10. PLANNING YOUR 2018 GOALS, WHICH, LET’S FACE IT, IS A BIG DEAL.
Are you reading more next year? Less? Are you taking challenges? Focusing on a specific genre? Rereading? Writing? Writing more? Blogging more or less? Starting something new? Borrowing or buying books this year? On a book ban? Or zeroing in on the ARCs this year? Or doing less? OR THINKING ABOUT THE OTHER 2 MILLION THINGS YOU COULD OR COULD NOT DO IN 2018.
There’s just something fresh about the start of a new year that makes us plan all the things. And then forget about them 2 weeks later — but whatever right?! We need to embrace these feelings and also plan our life away before January 1st.
I can so relate to this! I definitely feel more stressed near the end of the year. Though that is largely due to all the stuff going on at the end of December (and in January) and only in part because of my reading life.
On previous years if I hadn’t met a certain goal yet, I’d read more in December. However this year, now that I achieved my goal maybe 2 weeks ago, I’m reading less. There is so much going on and somehow I feel less motivated now?! Like, I met my goal of a certain amount of pages (50,000+) and a few weeks before that the amount of books I wanted to read (200 books), but the next step of amount of books I won’t be able to get to (250 books) so I may as well not try.. Currently I’ve read 235 books. Yet somehow I don’t feel so motivated now, knowing I’ll never get to 250 books before the end of the year. I didn’t know goals and Slytherin were related! But I also don’t like my reading to feel too pressured too so. I’m kind of an odd fish. *shrugs*
I have trouble even picking 5 favourites of the year! Let alone one! There is just no way I could just pick ONE favourite. There are so many great books, and it’s hard to compare different genres too, like you say. Like, I read the Shades of Magic trilogy this year (one of the best fantasy things I read), but how does that compare to YA contemporary fiction and so on. I’m thinking I might just make a favourites list depending on genre. Like, my top 5 fantasy books/series and my top 5 contemporary and so on. Like you, I also can’t really remember what happened in books I read earlier in the year. Gladly though I keep lists so I can read back and see which books I read when and things like that.
I usually wait with writing a summary of the whole year, until the 30th or the 31rst of December, or even the 1rst of January, because I must include the statistics of the books read after Christmas but before January. I don’t have a blog, but I write a summary on a forum I’m part of and where I have my own reading log. Sometimes I’ll want to do my statistics and summary post on the 30th and then I pick a long book to read so that I will definitely not finish it before the year’s over.. to then finish it early in January, I remember a few years ago I specifically stopped reading 50 pages from the end, on the 31rst of December, to then read the last 50 pages on January 1rst.
Oh, and all the new releases! I have vowed not to pre-order anything until it’s January. Sometimes I pre-order books a couple of months ahead. But I’ve been spending a LOT of money on books lately so I decided not to pre-order anything that is released in January or later, until it’s January and then I can go online and pre-order all the books lol (well.. as long as I have money for them that is).
Yeah somehow I don’t feel like I achieved a lot this year, but maybe it’s normal to feel that way *shrug*.
Also, I very much approve the mentions of food in this post *nods*!
I actually feel a lot better knowing I’m not the only one who achieves a reading goal and then slows down.😂😂 *comes to stand with you* (Also 235 books is AMAZING and you are incredible!!)
And exactly right?! Like it’s so hard to pick between an amazing contemporary vs an amazing fantasy because they feel like they’re on completely different planes and planets. I CANNOT CHOOSE. I have to have like top 5 per genre.😂 At least.
(Also I love that you have a log!! Maybe you’ll start blogging someday too?! 😉 )
i wasn’t panicking before i read this post. but now i most definitely am 🙂
AREN’T I SO HELPFUL!?? 😂😂
This is so relatable, especially the OMG “To Post or Not to Post” during the holidays moments. The holidays are practically here and I still haven’t decided what to do about that, haha.
I am finding that I definitely tend to read less during December. I’m so busy for the first part of the month and then I’m so tired by the end that I fall asleep every time I sit down to read.
I haven’t decided yet either so WE’RE IN THE SAME PAIN.😂 I almost want to take a hiatus till the end fo the year, but I’ve got things to post still?! So I probably will keep posting.😂
I’m not panicking too much, I have a decent idea of my goals and stuff for next year, but there is still some degree of panic, just in general that 2017 is nearly over! I can definitely relate to the having less motivation to read now I’ve completed my GR challenge, the book I’m currently reading, I’m like, but do I really need to read this? I’ve completed my GR challenge, do I need to read this one more book (the answer is of course yes, but I am lacking in motivation). I’ve already read two books this month though, so if I didn’t read anymore, I’d be happy enough with that. I can choose one favourite book for this year, only because it stood out so much against all the others I read (A Conjuring of Light) but usually I find it a lot trickier, last year I had like five!
I’m glad some of us are sensible and calm then.😂 And saaaame about the Goodreads challenge. I just kind of want to save up my books to read in January, and that makes very little sense but still.😂 I’ve read 10 books this month, so that works right?!
(ACOL was beautiful and painful but definitely one of my top reads too!!)
I have a plan for my yearly recap post! I’m doing it in January! This may or may not be because I already overbooks December with posts! (We’re pretending I’m clever and did it on purpose.)
The wishlists are killer. Also I’m looking at my OwlCrate theme now and wondering WAIT I THINK THAT MAY BE ONE OF THE BOOKS I PRE-ORDERED so all I’m saying is I may have to give away a copy of Reign of the Fallen, we’ll see.
So much to read, so little time.
Hey that’s a good idea to do it in January!! That saves missing out on those books that might sneak in between now and Jan.😂 Honestly I’m worried I’ll read something amazing and then not know what to do with myself.
Omggg that’s terrifying not knowing if you’ve doubled up! I hear you!
I’m a lil bit stressed about the fact that I only read 35 books (though there’s still time) this year yet my 2018 releases list is already at 130+ books hahahah! *sobbing* I just can’t catch up (nevermind 2000s releases, what about all the classics from like centuries ago…) so could we like agree to slow time until immortality or alternatively, time-travel is invented??
And no, I refuse to choose a favourite child. The award shall be divided between Crooked Kingdom, The King’s Men, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and Autoboyography. ♡
Omg I HEAR YOU. I mean I read a lot (eeep) but I’m always behind too!? I think we bookworms just have a problem basically. Petition that we deserve that immortality. We’d put it to good use!!
THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE AND AUTOBOYOGRAPHY ARE MY FAVOURITES TOOOOOOO.
I’m struggling with having all my favorite posts happening at one time (I adore round-up lists of all kinds and EOY stats) so there’s lots going on on the blog, but also wanting to ignore all blogging stuff and just read whatever I want.
And also – I always designated Dec to read a bunch of backlist but I only end up reading like 1 or 2 before diving into 2018 releases or 2017 releases that “I just have to fit in before the end of the year”. It’s a vicious cycle.
I love seeing stats too! I love DOING stat posts, it just takes a lot of work right!? I’m terrified I’ll miss a book I really need to talk about ahhh. But I hope you do get to read some things you just feel like! That TBR is going to eat us.😂
My TBR is growling at me and I hardly made a dent in it with my 150 2017 reads and now theres all these 2018 books and all I want for Christmas is immortality… and books of course. Great post 😁
OMG I WANT IMMORTALITY TOO LET’S START A PETITION.
I’m having a bit of a December reading slump as well. I have one every year, or at least a trend from the last few years since I’ve started reading more again. There is just more stress. And more to do. Gifts to buy, gifts to wrap. Christmas cards to send, Menus to figure out. Entertaining family. Entertaining kid now. I mean, do we even have time to read in December? I envy school/college going people who get a vacation. Where is mine? XD
December is notoriously busy for SURE. But I’m glad I’m not the only one slumping a bit!! And you do have your smol demanding overlord to attend to so I think you’re doing a good job there.😂
Personally, I love reading Christmas-y books in December — other books in my TBR hold little interest whether I *should* be reading them or not. My holiday TBR somehow got HUGE this year though, so no way I’m getting through all of them either! And I’ll be lucky if I get a best of the year posted sometime in January…. so there’s one way to avoid the void LOL
Aww that’s so awesome you actually do seasonal reads!😂 I barely EVER read any Christmassy books although the book I’m reading right now was a really random pick but happened to have one Christmas scene.😂 SO! I did my 2 seconds of Christmas cheer.
Love your list because it’s SO right on! Choosing bests is pure torture. (I’m glad I finished that already.) The allure of 2018 books has been too great for me to resist. I’ve already read a few, but am also reading a couple books from this year with no intention of reviewing them and that feel so good!
Doing more and new goals go together for me and I suppose it’s time to start looking at those more closely. But, I don’t want to!!
Have a wonderful Christmas.
I’m so glad you agree.😂😂*shares cake of suffering with you* I have SO many 2018 books I’m freaking out about but like??? IT’s too early. IT’S TOO EARLY I’M NOT READY.😂 (And at the same time I want them to come faster, so basically I’m a mess.)
Why do I seriously relate to the ‘And then forget about them 2 weeks later’ part? 😂 This is what I did this year. And last year. Poor me. But good idea: instead of ‘Write in journal every day’ (which, with school, is impossible to do nowadays) maybe ‘Write once a week in journal’. I can feel good about myself if I write two times a week, instead of guilty! Yay! 😄
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL, ISN’T IT?!?😂 I mean, without Goodreads I’d have no idea what I read this year at all.😂 Also I think your journal idea sounds really good!! I tried journalling just once a month and that failed so I give up hahahaha. *falls over*
People pick one favorite book from the past year??? I’ve always picked, like, ten, and that’s the minimum. I could never be that specific, because I’d feel like I’m leaving one of my other favorite books out of the fun!
Setting low goals, OMG, you’re a genius. That’s exactly how I can achieve all my goals next year!
I actually read probably the most in December, because once my finals are over and the holidays hit, I have zero classes and zero responsibilities (except for work) and I can finally reunite with my poor, neglected bookshelf. After finals, you can usually find me in my room, stroking the spines of my paperbacks and whispering “I missed you” to them.
2018 winter releases are being posted on different blogs and I’m ALREADY PANICKING.
I think it’s impossible to pick ONE book.😂Unless maybe all you read was 5 or 10?!? Then it might be easier but ajfdksal I have so many in EACH genre. I think 2017 actually had a ton of really excellent releases!!
YOU’RE WELCOME FOR MY LAZY OVERACHIEVER TIP. I’m genius.
That’s really awesome you’re productive this time of year though! Please…teach me your ways.😂
Oh my gosh, yes to every one of these! I’ve always felt that way about reading books after releasing my “best books of the year” list.
And I always feel like I’ve accomplished nothing during the year, even if I have built that rocket ship.
I’m doing different things in 2018. Not more, not less, but different. Fewer reviews, more discussion posts, and more helpful info for authors! Yay! That is, if I don’t let fear paralyze me. 😉
I’m glad we’re together on this.😂 I mean it’s like if we read anything EXCELLENT from now on, it’ll go unnoticed?! So unfair for the poor smol book.😂
Oh that sounds exciting to be doing different things in 2018!! I need to make some goals but I have no idea what to do yet.😂
YES! The end-of-year book slump is real. I have so many things to do, and none of them are reading. I feel like I’ve barely read at all this month. I’m mostly just flapping around and eating Christmas cookies in December.
I’m soooo glad I’m not alone! I need to read at least SOMETHING this week.😂 But so far all I’ve done is listen to an audiobook.😂
This is my first holiday with a blog and I have to admit that the end of year panic IS A REAL THING *heavy breathing* I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT I’M DOING, but apparently everyone feels this way so it’s fine????? You talking about your struggles with posting more or less over the holiday is literally me right now.
AND HOW DARE YOU ASK ME TO CHOOSE JUST ONE FAVORITE. I FEEL BETRAYED! But I’m about 83% sure my pick would be The Scorpio Races because that book was amaze balls. 😁
*panics companionably with you* I DON’T KNOW WAHT I’M DOING AND I’VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 6 YEARS. (That probably was NOT helpful.😂 I’m great.) At least we can all relate with our crises right?!😂
Ooo, end of the year reading slumps. I feel that. I haven’t finished a book in like three weeks and I don’t know who I am anymore. I’ve STARTED books, I just haven’t FINISHED them.
Also, yes, summing up your favorite reads of the year always causes undo stress.
I sooo hear you. *runs into a wall in my crisis* I’ve read nothing sTILL and I’m just waiting for motivation to come back?! I love reading (I mean obviously😂) but I guess it’s okay to have these end-of-year-breaks too haha.
I totally get the end of the year bookworm panic. It’s so scary that we have only two weeks left *runs around screaming* It felt like January was yesterday, and now we’re close to January again and I still have books from the last 5 years to read that I didn’t get to. Send help 😮
Number #6 definitely hit home for me, because WHAT IF I HAVEN’T DONE ENOUGHT this year, what then?? It always makes me quite anxious to see other people talking about how many events they went to and what the did, because secretly I think we all compare ourself to others 😮
At least I get lots of Christmas money that I can spend on books though 😉
I’M NOT READY FOR JANUARY ALREADY. IT’S TOO SOON.😂 I mean, I do feel like this year has been long and a bit tedious (for me😂) but I’m also nOT ready for 2018 holy heck. *flaps about*
Here’s to hoping we just chill out about what we’ve achieved and eat more Christmas cake instead of panicking.😂
…I still need to read ten books. I STILL NEED TO READ TEN BOOKS. *Broken sobbing*
YOU’VE GOT TIME. GO FOR IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU.
WOWOW this post was beyond relatable, Cait. I’ve been wanting to do a post with like “the best” of 2017, but I recently realized that I actually have no idea what 2/3 of the books I read this year were about?! Like, if I read before June, it’s likely that I can’t remember the main character’s name.😂
Also, I feel you with the to-blog-or-not-to-blog (that is the question). My usual posting day falls on CHRISTMAS DAY, so I’m just going to schedule a post ahead of time I guess. But I’m stuck in the middle of “no one is going to read that post” or maybe “people will be traveling and will”?? I don’t know. It’s very confusing.😂
Anyway, great post! Merry almost Christmas and happy almost New Year!
I’m so glad I’m not alone omg.😂 Without Goodreads I’d have NO idea what I read at all.
And so true right?! Like I’m a day ahead of America, so do I post on my Christmas or the next day or…take a break!?😂 I mean, nobody probably cares as much as we panic about it but OH WELL.😂
Whenever people ask me what my favorite book is, or a favorite book that I’ve read recently, all I do is start listing basically every single 4-5 star book I’ve read within the past 5 years. Generally people lose interest around the 10th book and then I’m saved from actually making a decision because decisions are hard.
I also read a lot less in December… I was trying to read The Sandcastle Empire but am now reading Strange the Dreamer for the third time because I lost all motivation. Glad to know I’m not the only one!
This is so true right?! Also I have a LOT of books I rated 4 stars but I still want to flail over them, and I feel like all these end of year posts I’m only supposed to flail over the 5 stars AND I’M JUST STRUGGLING EMOTIONALLY HERE WITH THIS DISTRESS.
Strange the Dreamer is one of my favourites though so I hope you like it!!
Basically all of December is just me panicking about how much I have left to read and blog and oh wait I’m supposed to spend time with family but also bOOKS. XD
THIS IS RELATABLE. I think we’re probably brain twins or something here. (Although I mean…family vs books…. BOOKS.😂😂 Haha just kidding don’t tell my family.)
My reading this year has been… meh. My last read was a 5-star one, though, so choosing a favourite won’t be hard!
I’ve stopped reading for the year already; I’ll come back to it in 2018. This reading year has been exhausting, and I think I’m going to try and read books just from the big publishers next year. I want to support indie publishers and self-publishers… but I also want to keep my sanity.
Fair enough! I think it’s important to read what makes you happy. 🙂
Pretty much relate to everything in this post! I also find as a book blogger who suddenly has a bit of time off around Christmas, that all I want to do is read and yet I have a backlog of blog posts waiting to get published!
http://www.susanetc.co.uk
I’m really glad you’re motivated this time of year.😂 Teeeeach me your ways PLEASE.
I think I read about the same amount in December… maybe a little bit more, I’m not quite sure. I always get at least a couple books for christmas, and usually I’m done them by the 27th… because I get all the books I wanted the most, and then have to hurry through them.
I definitely cannot choose one favourite book of the year. I can’t choose one favourite book from December for goodness sakes, and it’s not even over yet!
Number five made me laugh…. SO relatable. I bought my friend a book, and I really want to read it, and I’m totally going to ask if I can borrow it once she’s done with it… I swear that wasn’t the ONLY reason I got it for her… just like… fifty percent of the reason.
It’s hard getting amazing books because like how can you help but read them all super fast, right?!😂 And choosing one favourite book is impossible! I’ve never met anyone who could do it!!
Yes, I very much do. Not only in books but in EVERYTHING. It’s December, man. I just wanna curl up under my comforter with my laptop and Netflix until I die. And maybe read… or write… or, y’know, participate in life. Sadly, that last one is mandatory. :'(
I actually tend to read more in December because that is when I get a lot of books. See, my b-day’s in September and my family is like “Oh no, what to get you” so I make a list that is 90% books and 10% other (and yet somehow I still get duplicates like, fam, wtf) and then I go to actually buy a book after my birthday and my mom’s like “Oh, you can’t get that one. Or that one. Or that one. You know what, how bout we just not go into Barnes & Noble, sweetie?” so from August to December I cannot go anywhere near books I legitimately want to read/own/EVEN LOOK AT. It’s very depressing and is why my book-reading-level goes from “Reading All Hours of the Night” to “Hasn’t Read An Interesting Book Since July”. So, yeah, last week of December is usually when I get a lot of books and then I go be happy and read all of them in a week and spend all my Christmas money on more books and oh, lookie here, more to add to TBR too.
HAHAHA I CAN’T CHOOSE A FAVORITE BOOK OF THE WEEK LET ALONE YEAR. Like… no, they’re all my babies. Well, not that one. Or that one. And that was just a walking, talking disaster, but yeah… I can’t pick a favorite. BOOKS ARE JUST SO GREAT, Y’KNOW? Like, how am I supposed to pick between bacon and chocolate? How do I pick between WiPs? How do I pick between parents (actually, not gonna lie, that’s an easy one, but you get the picture)? Books are my children, I am not picking a favorite (although I might have one… secretly…. but I wouldn’t want to hurt the others’ feelings)/
Saaaaame. I should be doing 89 things but so far I’ve just watched Stranger Things and drank a lot of tea.😂 WE’RE GREAT. DECEMBER IS FOR BEING A BLOB.
Also that’s awesome your family gets you books! My family refuses to ever buy me books because “I have enough”. *cries piteously* 😂
And so true right?! It’s impossible to choose favourites! They can be favourites for such different reasons!
NUMBER TWO OMG. Sometimes when I read books in like… one night… I forget to put them on my list/on Goodreads so I kind of just FORGET that I read it all. There are at least fifteen books missing on my list because FOR THE LIFE OF ME I can’t remember what I read that one night in March. GAH.
I normally can’t pick ONE book, but this year, I think I give my CROWN OF GLORIOUS BOOK to the Hate U Give by Angie Thomas because I just loved it so much :’)
AMAZING LIST AS ALWAYS!
I HEAR YOU!! It’s so hard to remember everything, right?! I’m really addicted to Goodreads so I don’t forget to update it but omg without it?! I’d have no idea what I read this year.😂
I’m sort of in-between with my reading in December because I’m less motivated to read actual novels and want to watch TV more often, mainly because it gets so cold where I am and my hands end up numb from trying to read. But then once I realise that I’m behind on my reading challenge I end up rereading a bunch of comics or manga to catch up on it 😅
And I don’t think I could ever pick just one favourite book from an entire year, that just doesn’t seem possible when I end up with at least one favourite from every month.
I totally hear that! And I’ve been watching way more shows lately because my sister is visiting and it’s fun to watch + chat about TV shows.😂 GOODBYE TBR. I HAVE REGRETS BUT OH WELL.
Picking one book is just not a fair question. People need to stop torturing us.😂
These are quite true! The picking a favorite is so hard- and exactly because of your reasons! What if I am just so much… savvier a rater now than I was 11 months ago!? And honestly if it wasn’t for Goodreads, I would have NO idea which books I read or when. So it’s probably a good thing it exists. I never know what to do with the year-end post because I can’t do it and THEN read more! Because the books would be in this… black hole of time or something! I will probably just do mine on the last day so that I don’t have to worry hahah!
Goodreads saves lives honestly. I would have zero idea what I read ever without it. 😂😂 What was life without it, Shannon??? I can’t even remember by this point.
That turkey! 😂 It’s unfortunately my current status. End-of-year-itis is putting it mildly – mine’s more of an end-of-year CRISIS.
December is when I devour as many books as available. It’s to compensate for the lack of time once school starts.
Wait, people are able to pick ONE favourite? How?!
WE CAN BE PANICKED TURKEYS TOGETHER. *mutual turkey flapping about* And that’s totally fair that December means MORE time to read for you! I hope you get to eat a big chunk out of your TBR. 🎉🎉
Rating regret; definitely. Also, I relate to #2 so much. I see someone reading a book that I’ve read, I say something like hey I’ve read that book, it was amazing! Then they agree and start gushing about details and I’m just standing there like uh. I don’t remember anything except that I’ve read it and I loved it.
It’s such a problem not remembering right!?? IT’S NOT OUR FAULT!! The beginning of the year was…a …long time ago. 😭😂😭😂
I’m panicking (in a very low key way) about writing my 2018 goals post.
*sends cake for good luck*
My biggest problem is I suck big time at updating Good reads. So basically I would know how many books I read by Jan (or feb? or later?) whenever I update everything. LOL
And yes, I forget the books I read in a year. So many lists. I need a personal assistant to keep track of my reading
omg that would be a problem!😂 I practically LIVE on Goodreads so it knows everything I’ve been reading and can helpfully remind me. Or else I’d have absolutely no clue at all.😂
I have the Goodreads app on my phone, and if nothing else as soon as I finish a book I go mark it as read and give it a star rating. Otherwise I can’t remember what I read and I will be reading a book and realize halfway through “Hey, wait a minute… I’ve read this already!”
Literally, I’ll be standing there in the book shop and look up a book on my Goodreads app to see if I’ve read it or not before I buy it. Believe you me, it’s saved me many times from making duplicate purchases!
This post was SO funny and relatable! 😆
I can’t start making wishlists for 2018 because I’m not ready for those books!! I have so many 2017 books I still need to read!
Great post! 😊
I’m so glad you liked it!!😂 And omg we’ll never catch up on the TBR piles right?!
When asked to choose a favorite book (or heck, favorite author, or even if you limit it to favorite book read this month in such-and-such genre…) my answer is and always will be “I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the heavens.” (Thank you, Ever After.)
Also: “and quietly wondering if it’s worth the christmas aesthetic to drink eggs and noggins” made me laugh coffee out my nose, so thanks for that. (It was an eggnog latte, btw. Fitting.)
My issue right now is trying to jam in all the Christmas books/novellas before Christmas, AND get reviews up pre-Christmas. Because after Christmas, who wants to read about Christmas books? Pfft. For my end of year wrap up, I’m literally just going to screen shot the post Goodreads made for me and stick that up on my blog, and I am not doing it until January 1st because DANG IT, I’m going to keep reading right up until 2017 puffs out in a bamf of purple smoke. (Shh, that made total sense.)
I’d love to pick favourite-book-per-month but I can’t even remember when I read a book.😂 It’s a problem hahhah. *dies a little* But omg yes that quote. (And I love Ever After!)
OMG EGGNOG INCEPTION.😂
That’s awesome you actually read Christmassy books! I never manage to do it. And I agree, it’s weird to read them outside of the Christmas lead-up?!😂
Argh I can’t believe it’s nearly 2018! Where has 2017 gone?? It’s flown by so fast…
I’m looking forward to writing a lot next year, though, I want to start really working hard on my work-in-progress! 🙂
Yay I’m glad you’re going to focus on writing next year!! I did that this year a LOT (wrote the most I ever have!) and it was really fun and encouraging and I felt I improved a lot.😂 Good luck for yours!!
GOOD POST! I love how hilarious your writing style is! I have to say that this is the most relatable post I’ve read in a while. I also have still not finished books I’ve wanted to since 2015 and still don’t know how I can find time to read those, as well as all of the newer ones from the past two years. So many books, so little time. (First world problems). Loved the post! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
AHHH THAT MAKES ME HAPPY.😂 And also absolutely RELATE with the 2015 books that still need to be read. I Just found a 2015 ARC I won and haven’t read yet. Whoops. Definitely first world problems, but eh, at least we can complain and laugh.😂
I’m all for confused chicken aesthetic, however, if you need to take a break over the holidays period to be with family (especially since you moved so far away), that’s cool with me, make sure you take care of yourself and have as much cake as possible :D. Self-care is what’s most important :).
Aww you’re lovely! 😂 Actually I won’t be seeing the family I moved away from so that sucks buuuut I do have one sister visiting so we’re watching Stranger Things and generally ignoring our life commitments. Oops. Hopefully I’ll get back on track in January!
Stranger things marathon sounds awesome. Yeah, gettinv back on track in January sounds like a good plan 😉
This was spot on. I’m currently trying to finish up my 2017 reading goals now (11 days to go!!) and trying to figure out what’s reasonable for 2018. The struggle is real!
Good luck for your reading goals!! *cheers you on*
I’m glad I’m not the only one who forgets what happens in the books I’ve read haha. I have been in a reading slump since October and even though I’ve read a few books since then, I am just extremely unmotivated to read right now. Hopefully, I’ll feel differently about it in January.
Happy Holidays!
~Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Omg we’re practically twins in this.😂 It’s terrible but also handy because it makes rereading very useful and not at all boring.😂
Nooo sadness about the slump except I’m in one right now so I HEAR YOU. Hopefully January cures us.😂
Just a quick note, the interview post will be going up on my blog this friday 🙂
As for meltdowns… recently got of a reading slump and oh my god! Rereading A Clockwork Angel helped but the next book I read?! Illuminae. I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS MUCH STRESS SINCE THE BLACKTHORNS WHO ARE THE REASON I’M GOING GREY AT 17 BECAUSE EMMA AND JULES IF HE’D SAID NO TO BEING PARABATAI AND JUST ADMITTED THAT HE LOVED HER…EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT! Seriously though, I love and hate AIDAN and I was sat in the lounge, flailing realising I not only had a heart, which was going into a frenzy because AIDAN is an evil genius and I love him but also just everything. Kady, Erza….I also stupidly made the mistake of only buying Illuminae and I kept telling myself I needed to buy the second book before I break up for christmas. Nope. I didn’t. #somuchregret
Fellow Slytherin here, I also feel unmotivated unless it’s checking of tick boxes. Its strange. As for the 5 days where the books are in a void…maybe do a post for the 1 January where you go ‘2017 Yearly Recap’/’What I read in 2017. it’s what I’m doing.
When someone asks me my favourite book, my default answer is recite the series title containing three books. I picked ONE series. It still counts, right? So glad I’m not alone in my panic and meltdown, I need 2018 already but then I don’t. Also just throwing it out there Queen of Air and Darkness comes out in December next year, early December. So Cassie can destroy ours hearts in time for Christmas…how kind, thoughtful and generous. Next year’s going to be stressful and painful for us bookworms – too many good books coming out.
Oh yay Chloe!! I’m so glad. 😀 Also the stress of all Cassnadra Clare books is REAL and honestly I was in such a mess after I finished Lord of Shadows. Like???? I didn’t ask for my life to be ruined so beautifully like this. THIS ISN’T FAIR.
ALSO GEMINA AND ILLUMINAE STRESS ME OUT SO MUCH. I WANT OBSIDIO BUT I ALSO DON’T.😂
I think doing the recap in January is probably a good idea but I’m not sure what I’ll do it.😂I kind of want to start January without recapping? To keep things fresh but WHO KNOWS. I’m having a crisis. (It’s hard to tell.😂)
I feel like this year I can’t even limit it to 3 books! I’ve had such a good reading year ahhhh.
Well your other option would be 31st December then haha,
Yes the stress is so real with her books. Although I have to say, I have an awful reading habit of reading the back pages before I’ve finished reading. So yeah LoS I already knew the ending and I was flapping about not wanting to get to the end (as if by me not reaching the end it’d not be real).
I need Gemina now, but also I don’t want it because Illuminae was so stressful. And people say reading is relaxing, pfft.
I have a reading slump because there is too much to do with the holidays. And I still want to write a blog post on the books I read in 2017, so double busy lol.
I hear you and relate so much.😂
Choosing favorites is honestly the bane of my existence. Because how am I supposed to compare??? There’s some quote in some book (and I cannot for the life of me remember what it is) that says something like, “It wasn’t like comparing apples and oranges. It was like comparing apples and dancing.” And that’s how I feel a lot of the time because these book don’t even inhabit the same dimension! So how am I supposed to hold them side by side and examine them?
I need to stop hyperventilating. Just don’t make me choose a favorite. For the love of everything good and chocolate on this earth.
As far as 2018 plans….. What are plans? What is this mythical year 2018? Will it arrive before the zombie wombat apocalypse?
Omg I LOVE that quote…comparing apples and dancing!? So true. And like it’s absolutely impossible to compare a book that made me laugh my head off and feel so so good — to one that broke my heart. I mean, how do you EVEN COMPARE THAT?!? They both fulfil such different things!
Ooh a zombie wombat apocalypse. EXCITING.
I sooo agree with setting the lower standards for the year. I had 35 for the year and I have already crossed it and I am sooo happy. All the points were spot on.
Overachieving is such a wonderful feeling. 😂 Totally worth it to aim low so you can accidentally aim high.😂
Yes, yes. I never read enough books in the year. I usually blame college, which this year can quite accurately take the blame. I’ll binge read on breaks, and then during the semester, it’s nothing but textbooks. :/ But I actually have few misgivings about oh, where has the time gone and such. This year was, eh, rough. I’m quite happy to say goodbye to this year and have a brand new untainted year coming. And maybe I”ll learn how to balance my schedule better and have more time for books? (Like, HA, suuuurrre).
Ugh nooo that would really suck to have no time (or energy probably too?!) to read because of all the college work.😭 Bingeing during breaks is good at least!! I hope next year is better for you too!
I CAN’T do “you must read this in 2018” lists because I am BOUND to get depressed at the end of the year. I’m a mood reader, I can’t even follow monthly TBRs properly, and if I put a book on a must-do list, it gets totally ruined for me.
I won’t even think about writing down exact goals because then someone will hold me accountable in December when I no longer have that adrenaline rush from all the way back to January when I decided that I would go for a run three times a week and work out. FORGET IT. I’m not making it public so that others can laugh at my miserable failure.
I think that number 4 is not me. I get end-of-the-year exhaustion in November during final exams, and I have 0% problem not reading or blogging a SINGLE thing during that month, but that’s only because I’m really focused on studying.
Ooh, you have no idea how BIG my anticipated list is. And it shouldn’t be much more than ten for a reasonable blog post because then there’s no point to making a “Most Anticipated” section when literally ALL OF 2018 BOOKS WILL BE INCLUDED.
I would never do my yearly recap BEFORE December 31st because I want to get everything in it and keep reading until the end. This particular 2017 I was able to choose only one favorite book because it surpassed most things (The Female of the Species).
I have so so many books to shriek about for 2018 though. 😭😂 I’m 100% doomed and not even going to pretend otherwise hahaha *dies* And omg I can’t follow a monthly TBR either?! I just read whatever. Hey but making goals public is a great way to keep them accountable!!
Honestly I’m probably going to do my year recap early and then just pretend the rest of the year doesn’t exist and watch Netflix.😂
This was amazing and made me so happy! So many of them are true for me – SOMEONE FINALLY UNDERSTANDS ME!!!
WE ARE BASICALLY THE SAME IN THIS. *shares cake with you*
Oh, this is so, so relatable! I love trying to create recap posts of my favorite books at the end of the year, but to my disappointment, I can’t for the life of me remember what I read during the year! I can pick out a few familiar titles, but I’m mostly bombarded with memories of nonfiction essays I had to read for English class, haha. Next year, one of my goals will have to be to write down my thoughts about a book and, most importantly, the title of the book (eek) because I always forget (and I forgot to update my reading challenge on goodreads….agh…..). I tend to read more during the last weeks of December than I do the rest of the years, aside from summer months, because I have break from school, so I often run into the conflict of whether to include it as an update on an already-uploaded recap post or wait a few days and try to squeeze all my reading in the first three days of January, my last days of break before I return to school, so those will count for my 2018 reading. Loved this!
claire @ clairefy
This is honestly why I use goodreads.😂Without it, I’d have absolutely ZERO CLUE what I ever read in a year.😂 And next year I’m going to write lists of my books too. Eeep. Should be fun.😂
Yay that you have more reading time in December though!! I hope you find some truly amazing books this holidays. 😀
Hey Cait! I’m not sure that you do tags, but in any case, I mentioned/tagged you in my rendition of the “booktuber book blogger” tag. Just thought I’d let you know! 😉 I absolutely love your blog!
Aww thank you so much, Amy! I’ll come check it out!
I think the blog speaks of my life in a nutshell. With teachers killing me every time they assign a school work, it’s a miracle I managed to read a lot of books this year. (Okay. Maybe not much of a miracle. I set aside schoolwork for hours of reading) I’m so busy with school I can’t even update my progress on Goodreads. I’ve set a goal and I know I’ve reached it but I can’t find time to sort my shelf and all that.
2017 has been a great year, nonetheless. Though I’ve probably forgotten half of what I’ve read in just a course of a year. I still can’t keep up with the tight schedule I have (being a student and a bookworm is sooo hard) and as a result, my TBR pile just keeps on getting higher and higher. I just hope 2018 will be a better year though. *crossing my fingers and wishing teachers will be less murderous next year
Eeek, it would be so hard not to have time to read! But I’m glad you do get SOME time in. (And good luck for your school next year! *sends cake*)
I appreciate the cake so much! Send some ice cream too, would you? 😂 I will always find time to read, don’t worry.
I appreciate the cake so much! Send some ice cream too, would you? 😂 I will always find time to read, don’t worry.
Wow! Thank you! You summed up the problems very well, and made me laugh a little too! 🙂
I’m so glad it made you laugh!😂
This is so on point! Like, oh my goodness, everything… so true. Especially forgetting what a book is about like 9.2 milliseconds after reading it! While I was at work a little while ago, someone asked me if this one book was appropriate for their kid. I stared at it… knowing I had read it… yet could literally remember nothing.
I ended up checking Goodreads for my review… which I could not find. Apparently, I mistakenly had not posted that review, even though I know I wrote it. Where it is now? Idek. Probably lost on my email account, where I sent the review to myself thinking I would get to posting it… and didn’t. So I had to read other people’s reviews instead. I tell you that struggle is real.
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
Haha people ask me that too on my Goodreads reviews!! And I’m like: I have no idea, I didn’t read it today so I don’t know.😂
Reasons why I will do my recap by the last day of the year. And can we talk aboout when you’re missing your Goodreads goal by two books? I’m gonna lie so bad even if I miss it 😂 It’s unfair. I mean, my in real stuff get always in the way.
The only good thing is that I completed a lot of my 2017 goals without realizing it. And my 2018 goals are already set. I feel strangely motivated
I’m glad you completed your goals though!!😂 That’s really amazing aha. I don’t think I even attempted HALF of mine omg.
Hello, you just put into words everything I feel when I open my Goodreads app. I now love you and will follow you forever. Kind Regards, Ashling.
😂😂 I’m so glad we relate on this.
SO TRUE. I just did my wrapup post (second to last post on my bloggity if you’re interested) and I literally have 20 favorite books from this year? I think my one single favorite is one I read in January or something early like that and I don’T REMEMBER IF IT’S AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT IT WAS??
Goodreads is a lifesaver when it comes to books I’ve read this year. Because like how the heck am I supposed to remember? (but then, I also remember the authors of almost all these books? but don’t remember what they’re about??)
I tend to read more in December, because of less school/procrastinating more because of finals in school (#studentproblems)
Ugh January books are killing me. I LOVE THEM BUT ALSO CAN’T REMEMBER THEM. I feel like reading in January is the greatest disservice to the book?!😂😂 Goodreads is like 90% of my memory these days.
#2 and #10 in particular get me.
I’ve long since given up on picking one favorite read of the year. I cheat by making different favorites lists. Because it’s impossible to compare some favorites when I like them in different ways!!
That’s a perfect solution!!😂 I can’t possibly list one favourite book haha.
Oh man, don’t even get me started on my single favorite read, character or writer 😀 it’s just.. just nope. I struggled enough when I had to do a “my favorite readS of the year”! Ten or twenty is already too little when you read 100+ xD the reason non-bookworms can choose a book of the year is because they read like 10 in the ENTIRE year.
Oh yes, I have the whole overachieving thing mastered though. I set super low goals this year xD well, when I say super… One of my friends set a 1 book challenge goal on Goodreads xD I have respect for something like that!
The good thing though, about buying all those books at the end of the year… Is that you can put them with “books I bought last year” and not ruin the new year’s stats xD
I usually solve the “keep reading” issue with putting everything I read after the post to the new year’s goal xD cumulative! And yes, I know, this is probably the only thing in which I am not very Hufflepuff!
It is so hard to narrow it down to even top 10 these days for me. 😂 Everything is awesome and I love BOOKS. *shrieks*
And yes that’s the perfect way to overachieve. It’s like underachieving overachieving and someone should award us for this.😂
Ummm yeah I might have taken a two week blogging hiatus over Christmas….and it was glorious.
Hey that’s fair! Recharging is great!