Well... my annual book thread. (even though I have only made two threads like this...)
According to Goodreads my top genres of 2024 were "Fiction, Classics and Fantasy"
I think I might also read a lot of those genres in 2025.
I don't think I'm that big fan of fantasy (or a least the stuff that I often associate with fantasy which is stuff you would expect from LotR)
But yup, here are some of the books I've read (and because this thread is kinda long, you may skip to the books that you are interested in)
White Bird (R.J. Palacio)
A graphic novel based on The Julian Chapter which is in some editions of Palacio's other book Wonder. (or at least it is in the edition that I own)
It is a sequel to Wonder and also a prequel because it takes place during WW2, while Wonder takes place in a contemporary setting.
The novel is about Julian's grandmother's past. About when she was a young Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France.
Like Wonder, it also features a character with a disability.
The Outsiders (S.E Hinton)
This is a book that I had wanted to read, but I don't know why.
A strange coincidence is that my mother had read this book 50 years ago before I read it. (she told me while I was reading)
Well... I liked that book.
I know that there is a movie adaptation of that book. I have never watched it, but I would like to watch it one day.
A Doll's House (Henrik Ibsen)
Not at (G)I-DLE's "Wife" making me read this. Or at least the fact that someone called it "the Kpop version of A Doll's House".
The play does have a "wife" theme, and it was controversial back in the Victorian times that some theaters refused to have it performed.
I have read the play, and I have also watched a Danish movie adaptation of it. For both the play and the movie, I personally felt as if the ending was the only part I liked and that the rest was a bit boring.
The Metamorphosis & other stories (Franz Kafka)
This is pretty much just a collection of some Kafka short stories.
When I was reading this collection, I felt as if The Metamorphosis is the only one I like and maybe his short stories aren't quite my cup of tea.
I did also kinda like Hunger Artist (I feel like this story would perhaps be triggering to people with an eating disorder though)
Madicken (Astrid Lindgren)
Or "Mischivious Meg" or "Mardie To The Rescue", as the English editions are called.
I used to read that book a lot when I was younger, and other Astrid Lindgren books.
I am currently reading the sequel "Madicken och Junibackens Pims".
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 (Cho Namjoo)
Well... that book is kinda controversial in South Korea for being feminist. (kinda like A Doll's House)
I would recommend this book though.
I know that there is a movie adaptation of this book, but I haven't watched it.
Finn Family Moomintroll (Tove Jansson)
Well... I really like Moomins.
For those familiar with the 90's Moomin anime, the stuff happening in this book are the stuff that happen in the first episodes.
This is the third book in the Moomin book series, but I think this book was the first to get translated into English.
Skip Beat! (Yoshiki Nakamura)
I have read 3 volumes of it. (or actually just a "3-in-1" volume)
When I was a teenager and ELF, I watched the Taiwanese drama adaptation which starred Donghae and Siwon. (BTW Mify's "Future" is such a cool soundtrack)
I have also watched a bit of the anime.
Sometimes when I have read this book, it has felt kinda cathartic. (or at least that it has motivated me to follow my dreams and also become successful)
This manga has a trope that I kinda like, which is "rivals to friends", or at least I kinda like it when two characters don't get along at first but then become good friends, which is the case for Kyoko and Kanae.
The manga kinda has a love triangle. Most of the times when a manga/book/drama etc... has a love triangle, I find them often very predictable, but in this I don't know which one she might end up with. The manga is still ongoing (since 2002), and I don't know if she has ended up with one of them or if the mangaka is like "I'll make the readers wait 30 years for this to happen".
Everything, Everything (Nicola Yoon)
I thought this book was okay.
I have also watched the movie.
And well... when I watched the movie adaptation of The Sun Is Also A Star, which is another Nicola Yoon book, I felt as if, despite not having read that one, I preferred it rather than Everything Everything.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
I think that I pretty much read this one because of Mingi's Wonka outfit in the Work music video.
When I was younger, I watched the Tim Burton movie adaptation and liked it. (even though I know that some people hate that movie and prefer the one with Gene Wilder)
Well... one part of the book reminds me of when people complain about children spending too much time their phone and computer. (In this case, it was more the fact that some children spent too much time in front of their TV)
Mary Poppins (P.L. Travers)
Well... when I was younger, I watched Disney's Mary Poppins movie a lot. (I know that Travers didn't like it)
I guess because of nostalgia reasons, I personally prefer the movie, even though the edition that I read has some pretty illustrations.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
When I watched the kdrama My Love From The Star, the character Do Minjoon was reading this book, which made me want to read it.
When I bought it in a bookstore, the cashier said "Oh, this book is really good." and she also mentioned another DiCamillo book, but I didn't get which one.
But yup, I agree with the cashier. It is really good.
Alice In Wonderland / Through The Looking Glass (Lewis Carroll)
Yup, I read both of these books.
I was reading the edition in Danish and well... the book has some puns in it that don't work in Danish. (or at least, they would go over people's heads)
I think that book is weird, but I also kinda like it.
The Magician's Nephew (C.S. Lewis)
I remember buying this book because of me seeing number 1 on the spine and thinking that it was the first book in the Narnia series. Even though it kinda is, if you want to read the series chronologically. But it is actually the prequel.
This book is probably more for the readers who want to know about the creation of the Narnia world.
Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris (Paul Gallico)
I read this book pretty much because I had seen the movie. (even though I didn't watch the entire movie)
This book made me almost want to buy a Dior dress.
Some few years ago, I read Amy Tan's book "The Bonesetter's Daughter" and I feel like these two books are a bit similar to one another. They both have mother-daughter relationships in them, except for the fact that in The Joy Luck Club it focuses on four daughter-mother relationships rather than just one.
I know that there is a movie adaptation of it, but I haven't watched it.
I like both The Bonesetter's Daughter and The Joy Luck Club. I probably would read more Amy Tan books.
White Nights (Fyodor Dostoevsky)
I often associate that author with thick books, but it is actually a short one.
I kinda liked that book.
I would recommend it for the type of people, who want to read classic Russian literature, but also want to read something short.
The Boy Who Invented the Bubble Gun (Paul Gallico)
This is a book that I have wanted to read since I was a child, and it was something that my family has had in our bookshelf in a while.
I was surprised to find out that it is the same author who wrote Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris.
Well... I feel like younger me wouldn't have liked that book.
Bjørnen (Katrine Marie Guldagger)
A book that I rented in the library, just because the title made me think of some inside joke that me and my brother have about bears.
Well... this book is one of my least favourite books this year.
It was unbearable, I couldn't bear this book, just kidding.
But at least this book wasn't my cup of tea.
Maybe I would have liked the book better if the bear was the main character.
I know though that this author has written some children's books and I guess I would like those books.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)
Well... I like this book. I prefer this book over The Magician's Nephew.
And I remember when I was younger and watched the movie adaptation.
While I was reading it, I was craving Turkish Delight.
Well.... these were the books that I read in 2024.
