2022 was the worst reading year ever – no kidding! I hardly read anything, neither for work or for myself. 2023 has to shape up differently or … I don’t know. Sometimes I think I lost the joy but then I’m in the middle of a book I really like and it’s definitely not that. I think part of the issue is that I’ve been pretty much dead tired all the time last year and just couldn’t bring myself to pick up a book after work lest I fell asleep. Anyways, while I don’t know how things will turn out, at least January was a good kick-off to the year …

What I’ve Read

1. Elfentochter (Modern Faerie Tales, #1) by Holly Black & Anne Brauner (Transl.) • 5/5
   [Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales, #1)]
   

   I still remember when I first read this as if it were yesterday – which it was not, it was half my lifetime ago. Back then I was completely blown away and it still has a hold on me after all this time. The atmosphere is wonderfully ominous – I just want to crawl into this book! Well, not really, because it’s dark as hell. Deliciously so, though I had forgotten just HOW dark it actually is. This book also firmly established Holly Black as my queen of faerie stories. Her faeries are not just beautiful, they are cunning and absolutely ruthless, which is just my cup of tea. I’ve been planning this reread for the longest time because I just wanted to go back to the beginning before finally tackling the Elfhame books.

2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg: 300 Statements der berühmten Supreme-Court-Richterin
   by Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Stefanie Retterbush (Transl.)  • 3/5
   [Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words]

   I saw this when browsing through the publisher catalogues and it just caught my eye. It was pretty interesting to learn more about her – both through her own words as well as through the summary of her life at the end of the book. However, it didn’t give me enough. Also, some things were rather painful considering what has happened since the book was first published.

3. Vampire Knight Pearls, Vol. 1 (Vampire Knight, #1-2) by Hino Matsuri • 4/5

   I can’t remember when or how I discovered the anime but it must’ve been in the late 2000s. I was absolutely smitten though I never finished watching it (who’s surprised?!). When I saw Carlsen publishing these bind-ups, I decided to finally get back to these characters and their world and read the manga. Still very much enjoying this and I’m excited to see where the story’s actually going. Also, I just like vampires. I definitely need to add more vampires to my reading list.

What I’ve Read for Work

Since last year was a bad reading year overall, naturally, it was even worse when it comes to the books I should have read for work. I have a ginormous amount I should’ve finished half a year ago. At least I’m tackling them now …

1. Gideon Green: Das Leben ist nicht schwarz-weiß by Katie Henry
   [Gideon Green in Black and White]
   

   I like teen detective/crime stuff, so I was looking forward to reading it. It did remind me a little of Veronica Mars, which had my expectations go through the roof. While it couldn’t quite live up to those, I still enjoyed it. A quick, entertaining read.

2. Deadwater High: Den Tod im Team by Jessica Goodman
   [They’ll Never Catch Us]

   I REALLY enjoyed this one! I absolutely loved the complicated relationship between the sisters and the tough subjects that were also addressed besides the murder mystery.

3. Fanny Frühling: Mein Haufen Brüder by Stephanie Gessner
   [Fanny Spring: My Bunch of Brothers]
   

   I’m always having a very hard time when the protagonists is thrown into that kind of situation and feels overlooked because I just feel so so sorry for them. Apart from that, it was an entertaining little read.

4. Ein Sommertag mit Zauberschnee (Milla und das Mini-Mammut, #3)
   by Alexandra Fabisch & Barbara Korthues (Ill.)
   [A Summer Day with Magic Snow (Milla and the Mini-Mammoth, #3)]
   

   My favourite of the series – which is in general very entertaining due to all the fun concepts. I really liked the story about the witch who’s accidentally locked herself into her own castle and still manages to wreak havoc.

Also: A LOT of picture books from our autumn 2023 programme.

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