Hi all! Before I forget, happy holidays everyone! Merry Christmas to Christians! I hope that the holiday season is showering you with blessings and gifts.

It has been a while since I did a book tag. Ironically, I resolved to publish at least one book tag a month. Unfortunately, I was not able to make good on this promise. Still, I am hoping to finish as many as I can before the year officially comes to an end. Speaking of the ending, can you all feel it? 2024 is just over the corner. In a couple of days, we will all be welcoming a new year. But before turning on a new leaf (or leaves for that matter), let me complete the End of Year Book Tag 2023 edition. I know it is a little bit late but still I want to do this. The basic premise of the book tag is to talk about books that readers have to complete before the year draws to a close. Without any more ado, here’s my version of the End of Year Book Tag.

Are there any books that you started this year that you need to finish?

Technically, I haven’t started reading Paul Murray’s The Bee Sting; I am about to start reading Colson Whitehead’s Crook Manifesto but I will read The Bee Sting once I am done with Whitehead’s latest novel. Before this year, I haven’t heard of the Irish writer. However, I kept encountering positive reviews of his latest novels. My interest in the book was further piqued when it was longlisted, and eventually shortlisted for the Booker Prize. The book was heavily favored to win but it was bested by Murray’s countryman, Paul Lynch. This is not discouraging me from reading the book which I plan to conclude my 2023 reading journey with.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

None because this is a late book tag. HAHA. Besides, I live in the tropics which have neither autumn nor winter seasons. However, I recently came from Japan which was transitioning from autumn to winter. It gave me my first taste of winter.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

While I am a backlist type of reader, I have recently been trying to read as many new releases as I can. This year, unfortunately, is not at par with the past two years. Nevertheless, there are new releases that I am looking forward to. Among them is James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. The book’s title is enough to pique my interest but it has recently been making the rounds among literary journals and magazines. The book was named by many a literary pundit as among the best books of 2023

Speaking of best reads of the year, another title that is ubiquitous in said lists is Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water. The book is actually part of my 2023 Top 10 Books I Look Forward To list. Unfortunately, I am still unable to obtain a copy of the book. Even if the book doesn’t form part of my 2023 reading journey, it would still be a pleasure reading the book. It was midway through the year when I learned that Anne Enright was releasing a new work, The Wren, The Wren. It initially did not gain my attention as I was barely impressed by The Gathering. However, the book has been receiving positive reviews, hence, making me rethink my decision not to read the book. I hope I get to obtain a copy of the book.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

As mentioned above, Paul Murray’s The Bee Sting is high on my priority list of books I want to finish before the year ends. If I do get to receive my copy of Paul Lynch’s Booker Prize-winning book, Prophet Song, then I will try to finish it as well before the year ends. Apart from these two books, I am looking at finishing my fourth Colson Whitehead novel, Crook Manifesto, his latest novel, and the sequel to his 2021 novel, Harlem Shuffle. Lastly, I am hoping I get to read Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s latest novel, Dust Child. If time permits, I am also looking forward to reading Tan Twan Eng’s latest novel, The House of Doors.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2024?

In previous years, I would have said yes. Reading resolutions are part of my annual traditions, especially in the past three years but, as of this time, I haven’t started planning for my 2024 reading year yet because I have been feeling a little sluggish lately. I have been feeling under the weather since returning from Japan. Nevertheless, I have slowly been piecing together how my 2024 reading journey is going to be.

A definite part of my 2024 reading year would be a 2024 Top 24 Reading List. However, I haven’t started contemplating which books to include for this annual reading endeavor. A backlist reading challenge is another staple, apart from 10 books by new-to-me writers I am looking forward to. I have already been checking out 2024 releases that I can include in the latter. My only hope is that I finally get to complete this challenge because ever since I started doing this, I was not able to complete a set. Selecting books for the former would be no challenge as I have quite a lot of reading backlogs. HAHA.

2023 has been a very prolific reading year, Imagine, the books I read this year accounted for 10% of the novels I have read, all time. I was not actually expecting that I would read 100 books this year because I set a modest target. But things happened I guess and I am more than grateful for it. I hope that 2024 will be the same.

As always, I am not going to tag anyone to do the tag. However, if you want to do your own version, feel free to do so. Just don’t forget to tag me so that I can check out your answers!

Happy reading everyone!