Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag 2023

It's a cornucopia of books despite it actually being a "mid" year so far at the mid-year mark (see what I did there?) So while I haven't read as much as a normally do, I've still got thoughts on the books I did get to - and lots of optimism for the books I'm going to get to in the second half of the year.
MENTIONED:
Demon Copperhead - amzn.to/46DmT2N
The Three-Body Problem - amzn.to/44bVPpI
The Dark Forest - amzn.to/3JPnwMX
Razorblade Tears - amzn.to/3JLVHVK
All the Sinners Bleed - amzn.to/46RI41k
Sea Change - amzn.to/43gRfVN
The Apology - amzn.to/44xI3xu
Happiness Falls - amzn.to/44Fv2SJ
Miracle Creek - amzn.to/3NIbm9N
Miracle Creek Video Review - • Miracle Creek by Angie...
What We Kept to Ourselves - amzn.to/3rjvpnq
The Last Story of Mina Lee - amzn.to/3D7eJSE
Same Bed, Different Dreams - amzn.to/3roEFa4
What if This Were Enough - amzn.to/44gPWro
Foreverland - amzn.to/3XLbNVe
Our Missing Hearts - amzn.to/44ipXjc
The Power of the Powerless - amzn.to/3PW61hE
The Luminaries - amzn.to/44zjhx4
Birnam Wood - amzn.to/3PRuwN5
Pod - amzn.to/3pE0EJk
Pod: Unhinged Video Review - • Pod by Laline Paull .....
Straight Man - amzn.to/46IklAk
Pizza Girl - amzn.to/46CqxKd
Flux - amzn.to/3O55fOb
Rebecca - amzn.to/3XHdxii
ELSEWHERE:
Goodreads: goo.gl/vlGtSd
Instagram: / daejin
Discord: / discord
#midyearbookfreakouttag

[@fallenangelz291]

I found a pristine copy of Demon Copperfield in the Little Library on my street! Hope to get to it sometime this summer. I quit Poisonwood Bible, too, but I loved her Prodigal Summer.

[@ThePoptimist]

You too!? It's like they're seeding the book out there in the world - I'm not angry about it. Hope it resonates for you as much as it did me.

[@alldbooks9165]

I can’t believe you found Demon Copperhead at a LFL meanwhile I completely forgot to get it while traveling through the states and Canada.

[@ThePoptimist]

Copperhead and most recently DuMaurier's Rebecca! I've been really lucking out in the LFL department

[@jillkolb5496]

Always love when you drop a vid!

[@ThePoptimist]

They have been a bit few and far between!

[@lindysmagpiereads]

I read The Power of the Powerless after watching your standalone review of Our Missing Hearts and it made an impact on me. So, thank you. 😊

[@ThePoptimist]

That makes me so happy! Thanks for letting me know - I'm glad it hit like it did.

[@nola1104]

I enjoy your reviews so much...

[@ThePoptimist]

Thank you so much - truly appreciate the love!

[@eliza.the.earthling]

Ooo I hadn’t heard of All the Sinners Bleed until now and I’ve just reserved it at my local library!

[@ThePoptimist]

Nice! You may have gotten there just in time as the book also made Obama's Summer Reading List. (if that's even relevant wherever you might be)

[@1book1review]

How do you manage to mention so many books I'd been meaning to read and always forget to in a mid-year freakout tag? Ah dang it. One day I need to write them all down instead of relying on memory :D

[@ThePoptimist]

At my age I've started relying on a Pinterest board to save all the books I'm hoping to read. At home, it feels like I have an unending list of TBRs - at the bookshop, my mind goes completely blank every time.

[@1book1review]

@@ThePoptimist that is actually a nice idea. I mostly use wish lists on amazon and audible, but in a book store I turn into an overwhelmed kid in a toy store (aka headless chicken).

[@user-qo6tz1oe1v]

Don't know what to say, but I loved both The Poisonwood Bible and Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. But dnf'ed Demon Copperhead. To each his own I guess

[@ThePoptimist]

100% I guess we were both taken by surprise by Copperhead!

[@sochiazuh]

Putting Barbara Kingsolver on my TBR list. Thanks.

[@ThePoptimist]

You're gonna love it!

[@vitareads]

Demon Copperhead sounds great. I've dismissed it in the past, but you've sold me. Birnam Wood is on my TBR, as is Pizza Girl. I had a great time reading Rebecca, and 100% agree about that cover. I don't know what they were thinking with that edition. I appreciate your channel so much. Your intellect, articulation, and overall content choices are so magnetic. Thank you!

[@ThePoptimist]

You are too kind - thank you! Honestly I don't know how I've put off reading Rebecca this long, always nice when the universe conspires to give you a little nudge.

[@vitareads]

@@ThePoptimist I have so many books on my shelves that I inevitably get too when given that same push. I hope you love Rebecca. Happy reading.

[@myreadinglife8816]

I am 2/3 of the way through Demon Copperhead and loving it! Also surprised by how much I am enjoying this book.

[@ThePoptimist]

Have you read David Copperfield? I'm curious if it hits different if you know the source material.

[@myreadinglife8816]

@@ThePoptimist yes but it was a long time ago. I have mostly noticed the character similarities like UHaul was Uriah Heep.

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

Tell you what… maybe we can buddy read _David Copperfield_ … in a few years. (It’s a book I want to read but really can’t see getting to.) And then something needs to be done to get you to cut back on the trade-show gallivanting. We need more books talked about here! I’m glad you got to this tag, was seriously hoping for it. 👍

[@ThePoptimist]

Not everyone is ready to return to travel so there a few of us picking up the slack but this year has been especially busy! One day we'll get to David Copperfield!

[@dwaweru7]

Hadn't heard of Demon copperhead. Thank you.

[@ThePoptimist]

Definitely worth checking out!

[@readandre-read]

Demon Copperhead is one of top 3 so far (along with How High We Go in the Dark and The Night Ship) and it inspired me to read David Copperfield; loved it! This is the first time I've been even vaguely interested in Pod! The Bear was so good and I'm sad that it's over again.

[@ThePoptimist]

Well hell, now I need to check out The Night Ship considering how much I loved both Demon Copperhead and How High We Go in the Dark! The Bear's episode length was perfect for the story but it also meant I just blazed through the season. Missing it already too!

[@readandre-read]

@@ThePoptimist Jess Kidd is a new-to-me author this year and The Night Ship is her newest book. I highly recommend it!

[@Robert.Sheard]

I've never ventured into The Poisonwood Bible, but feel exactly the same way about Demon Copperhead. (FWIW, I enjoyed David Copperfield many years ago.) I've snagged a copy of Yellowface, but it may be a bit before I get to it. I share your takes on Celeste Ng and Emily St. John Mandel, too.

[@ThePoptimist]

Solid, consistent performers those two - there are worse fates I suppose.

[@giovannacenteno]

I had to read the Poisonwood bible for a class in college and absolutely hated every minute of it but your endorsement makes me think I should give Kingsolver another chance

[@ThePoptimist]

Right?! Never had luck with Kingsolver before but happy to have the universe but this book in my hands - hope you get the chance to check it out and enjoy it as much as I did.

[@paulwinchell6904]

Finally read Yellowface know that the main charcter was going to a trainwreak at the end. Despite this i couldnt put the book down.

[@ThePoptimist]

Total trainwreck but perfectly, cynically done