<center><i> Today's post is all about books! For 2021. my [Goodreads challenge](https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/11650-2021-reading-challenge) was to read 30 and I (almost) did it - yes, I kind of cheated as I have read 29 and started the 30th but haven't finished it so I was debating on what to do and decided just to count that one as well to please myself and pretend I accomplished this 100%. </i></center>

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<p><div class="text-justify"> As usual I went through phases of reading a lot, one book after another to not reading at all for a month or more. Majority of the books I have read are from my local library, I think there's only one that I borrowed from a friend and one I have read in PDF format. Another common thing for my reading habits is to read crime/mystery/thriller/drama for the most part so this year was no different. I like to throw in a so called 'self help' books every now and then and this year I even went with a couple lovey-dovey books that I actually liked. I really liked drama books that I discovered this year so I'll definitely look for more in 2022. as well. </div></p>

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<center><h3> Here are my top 5 books I have read in 2021. without particular order: </h3></center>

<h5> [1. Kristin Hannah - The Nightingale](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21853621-the-nightingale) </h5>

<p><div class="text-justify"> This book was actually Goodreads choice 2015. winner and it's definitely the one that left a big impression on. I am pretty sure that someday I will re-read this one and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes life story books and dramas. Even though I said there is no particular order in listing these books, this one might be my favorite. </div></p>


![IMG_8952.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nikolina/23z7SSZVXVJy6UAM5QfduwUS3hnFjYMfhN1ff5QbCL3FNrSdPaBaq6FiS9tcup98FqU6A.JPG)

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<h5> [2. Milan Kundera - The Unbearable Lightness of Being](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9717.The_Unbearable_Lightness_of_Being) </h5>

<p><div class="text-justify"> Another life/love drama that I really enjoyed - for some reason the writing style and story telling of this book appealed to me as well as the characters and I am happy I picked it up from the library. Same as book number one, I think there is a big chance I will re-read this one in the future as well. </div></p>

![20210419_122955.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nikolina/23wqrswRzjKt9boNmCArJdXkAvkNRV3JsF9EZPoorw16RTpHxA3dpUuLK1JBEwXF4WiZu.jpg)

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<h5> [3. J.D. Baker - The Fourth Monkey](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31125554-the-fourth-monkey) </h5>

<p><div class="text-justify"> A really good mystery/crime book that got my attention from start to finish. I believe there is a part two of this book but we don't have it yet at my local library, I hope soon we will get it as I would love to read that one as well. </div></p>

![20210429_135802.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nikolina/23wgWJ78uDEbX4kUFeE2Zs2ggP9AE6NJLHfCCCdULW12E5YoceXBm555Eu3fj27ZHAmRj.jpg)

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<h5> [4. Donato Carrisi - Into the Labyrinth](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36667766-l-uomo-del-labirinto) </h5>

<p><div class="text-justify"> Donato Carrisi is my favorite author and I have read a few of his books in 2021. that I really, really liked (as usual) and I don't think I can pick a favorite. Into the Labyrinth also has a film but I haven't watched it yet - even though I absolutely love reading mystery, crime and such, when it comes to movies and TV series I cannot watch it if it has even a minor scary scene, especially now that I live alone. At the same time, I am very curious to see how this movie turned out so I'll find an opportunity to watch it in hopes it's not too scary. </div></p>

![20210607_125308.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nikolina/23xpAusbLVNs5qaXbqfHeg1cStKtTt5p7wvdDqmPJYd4tQab1VfSMmfNYvmpD8rPm85nX.jpg)

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<h5> [5. Tom Rob Smith - Child 44](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2161733.Child_44) </h5>

<p><div class="text-justify"> First I discovered a movie by the same title where Tom Hardy plays the main role. Beginning of the movie kind of gives an impression that it's just a movie about war/politics but soon the entire story goes in a different direction. I have to say that book and movie have some big differences but I would still recommend both. </div></p>

![IMG_9023.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nikolina/23xynKGJBATGXz3Crt6UCo81EWx9KymPwUPK3a78y1FpuQX76Q8iU3CdirqQRTpPz3ZwU.JPG)

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<center><h3> My 2022. Goodreads challenge </h3></center>

<p><div class="text-justify"> Last year I was debating if I should go for 20 books as a round number or 21 so it would "match" the year but I was feeling like I would reach that goal easily and it wouldn't be as much of a challenge so I went for 30. This year I don't think I will have that much time to read so after some thinking I decided to go for 22 books this year. I will definitely keep you updated on the books I'm reading and how this challenge is going! :) </div></p>

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<center><h6> Thank you for checking out this post! Let me know what are your reading goals for this year... :) </h6></center>

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