Happy World Book day everyone. I am seeing pictures everywhere of Witches, Cats, Monkeys and it's fab. Wherever you are I hope you are enjoying it. So i though I'd mix things up for today and do a different type of post today. I will post another review tomorrow as a bit of something extra, but I need help with my book addiction and this seemed the best way to go.

Like a lot of book-lovers, I seem to find myself with rather an enormous amount of books. These comprise of books I've read and loved, stored carefully on our bookshelves ready to be re-read when the mood takes. Then there is my To Be Read pile, or for those in the know, my TBR pile. This is stored less lovingly in a drawer at the side of my bed and on the edge of a blanket box, nestled next to any ironing I have. Don't even get me started on the kindle. If an email pops up from Pageturners, I have taken to averting my eyes from the list of treats that they may have, and all for 99p! I flee from my phone, holding my hands over my eyes so I'm not tempted in any way.

In this TBR pile, I can see the various phases I am going through. At the moment I am definitely on a Russian kick, but I have a number of books by Black authors, Big Read Challenge Books, Christmas Books and also author phases. . So rather than alluding to my gigantic TBR pile in my monthly wrap up posts, I am going to list all of the books I had at the end of 2020 on my TBR pile as a way of holding myself accountable. The aim is that I want to read the majority of these this year. Also, we live in the world's smallest house, and I have to be very picky about which books make it onto my bookshelves. So hang onto your hats people and let's find out which books I'm going to be reading this year.

Big Read Challenge

• Emma by Jane Austen - I love Pride and Prejudice and am looking to re-reading this lovely story on which the film Clueless was based.
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis - A children's classic. I always cry when Aslan dies.
• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - I like reading big books (and I cannot lie). I read this years ago and loved it, but this year will be reading it again as a buddy readalong over on Instagram. I am hopeful this will not turn into The Stand all over again.

Fiction Books

• Those who are loved by Victoria Hislop - I fell in love with this authors writing as soon as she published 'The Island. Perfect summer reading.
• The Summer without You by Karen Swan - Backlist title from one of my favourite authors.
• The Foundling by Stacey Halls - The Familiars blew me away last year, so I was delighted to receive this as part of a secret Santa present from one of my best friends
• A Special Relationship by Douglas Kennedy - another of my favourite authors. How he writes women is stunning.
• The Christmas Party by Karen Swan - A lovely birthday present from my husband who knew I was desperate to read this.
• Beartown by Fredrick Landvik - Reading this as part of a readalong over on Instagram. This is everywhere at the moment
• News from Thrush Green by Miss Read - part of my #missreadreadalong2021 reading the Thrush Green series by Miss Green.
• Christmas at the Little Knitting Box by Helen J. Rolfe - Purchased at the end of last year. This is the first in the series. I'll probably read this in July knowing me.
• Snowflakes and Mistletoe at the Inglenook Inn by Helen J. Rolfe - The follow up to the title above. Also did I tell you I am following an Instagram account which publishes Christmas images every day. I AM OBSESSED.
• Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber - *sigh and the Christmas books keep on coming. Wonderful author, one of my comfort reads
• The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley - Love the premise of this, people choose to live authentically, rather than posting about their perfect lives on social media and instead presenting it as it actually is.
• Northern Lights by Nora Roberts - Another guilty pleasure. I did read this years ago, but am keen to read it again
• Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid - A sneaky last minute purchase before I fully commit to this list. I have loved the Taylor Reid Jenkins novels I have read already and this promises a 'Sliding Doors' vibe.
• Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu - Sneaked in another last minute purchase of this one before the list went live. I saw the film last night and it was fab!

Crime Books

• Rules for Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson - I've actually just finished this and am so excited to share this with you. Richard and Judy have picked this as part of their book club
• The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne - Once the review is up for Peter Swanson you will understand why I read this next.
• Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith - Ditto above.
• Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters - Read this years ago and it made me hoot with laughter. Think The Mummy meets Indiana Jones with Amelia Peabody as the female heroine. A lot of umbrellas are smashed over people's heads.
• U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton - I only have a few of the Sue Grafton's left to read, this is the series featuring Kinsey Millhone.
• The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves - This is our family book club read, after we all went to an online event with Ann run by Waterstones. Can't wait to read this.

Miscellaneous

• A Poem for Every Night of the Year edited by Allie Esiri - Beautiful collection of children's poetry, with a poem for every night. I'm trying to read this in line with what day it is.
• The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2021 by Lia Leendertz - Handy little almanac packed full of information about sunrise, sunsets, tides, seasonal produce, what to do in the garden and folklore. I am reading this at the start of each month.

There will be lots of other reads to be done and reviewed. I can't wait to get really stuck into this list and writing this post has made me feel excited about my reading year.

What is one book that you are looking forward to reading this year?