These past few weeks have been bumper ones in terms of acquiring new books for my already large collection! Here's what I've added to my ever-growing TBR pile recently (links go to goodreads).
From a family member de-cluttering her bookshelves:
One of my family members recently decided to have a big clear out of books, so my Mum, sister and I all got to have a look through and pick out some titles to keep. I chose the following:
1. In the Woods by Tana French - I'm not a natural crime/thriller/mystery reader but I've heard so many good things about Tana French on blogs that I had to bring this one home. It's about an Irish detective who has to solve a new mystery at a site familiar to him from his childhood. I'm looking forward to trying this, it'll be something new for me.
2. The Book of Loss by Julith Jedamus - A diary is stolen in the imperial palace of Kyoto and it reveals a bitter rivalry between two ladies-in-waiting to the Empress. I have a weakness for historical fiction of any kind, so bringing this one back was a no-brainer.
3. Digging to America by Anne Tyler - The story of two Korean babies adopted by two different families in Baltimore, who celebrate 'Arrival Day' each year. I love a good immigration story, hopefully this will measure up.
4. Jubilee by Shelley Harris - Historical fiction set around the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. Promises to cover multi-culturalism and identity.
Other Physical Copies:
5. The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan - This was on the long-list for the Women's Prize for Fiction and is about Harvard graduates. When I mentioned that I wanted to read it, the lovely Kaz sent me her copy :)
6. The Perfume Garden by Kate Lord Brown - For a blog tour. A house in Valencia, untouched since the Spanish civil war in 1936, is about to give up it's secrets. I do like a good dual narrative story.
E-books:
7. Blood of the Lamb by Sam Cabot - The Historian meets the Da Vinci code? Yes please! This one is a supernatural thriller about a missing manuscript in Rome and I am so excited to read it! (Review copy from netgalley).
8. Farewell: The Greatest Spy Story of the Twentieth Century by Sergi Kostin and Eric Raynaud - On offer for Kindle. A true account of a KGB agent that became a spy for the West, under the nose of Brezhnev.
9. American Isis by Carl Rollyson - Review copy from Netgalley. I love Sylvia Plath, and this biography includes new material from the recently opened Ted Hughes archive.
10. Amity and Sorrow by Peggy Riley - I was actually invited to read this one, how exciting! I've seen a lot of positive reviews of it and polygamy is just interesting, so I'm hoping to read this very soon.
11. The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi - A bit of a cult classic about life in 1990s Britain. It's been on my wishlist for ages, so I snapped it up when I saw it reduced for the kindle.
Have you read any of these titles? If so, what did you think of them?
In the Woods is fantastic and I'm not usually into thrillers either. This really gets into the character's head. I tore through the whole series ans can't wait for the next book!
ReplyDeleteAll the positive comments about it are making me excited to read it :)
DeleteI've read In the Woods, and not only is it a good story, she writes excellent, flawed characters. I've not gotten to any others in the series, but I think that's why you keep reading -- because of her characters. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteMy STS
I am hearing so many good things about In the Woods, can't wait to see if I agree with everyone else.
DeleteI haven't read any of those, but I've been looking about for The Red Book, and it seems pretty difficult to find (or at least when I was searching for actively). I'd love to read your thoughts on that.
ReplyDeleteI had trouble finding it in the library system here, so I was happy when Kaz kindly offered to send me her copy. I'd be more than happy to pass it on to you when I've read it :)
DeleteThe travels of The Red Book! I had no idea it was so hard to find!! We should track where it goes...
DeleteYeah, it was hard to find for any acceptable price (I don't want to pay overly much for a book I don't know I will even like that much). And I don't have library access here in Helsinki. In a way it would be awesome to have a book travelling the world! :) I'll be eagerly waiting for your thoughts, Sam :)
DeleteNice haul Sam! Of your new books I've only read Amity & Sorrow so I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on the rest :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
Yours was one of the reviews of Amity and Sorrow that made me excited to get to it :)
DeleteI read Buddha of Surbia a few year ago - it's a little different! I've also been clearing out bookshelves at the moment and handing out copies to family and friends...best way to spread the book loving! :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't mind a little different, as long as it's in a good way :P
DeleteI had a clear out when I moved house recently, but the spaces on the shelves are starting to fill up already...
I need to read my copy of In the Woods. It was our March read for my book club but sadly, I was not able to read it. Anyway, great haul.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to join a book club but I don't know of any locally. I've heard In the Woods is supposed to be awesome, hopefully we will both enjoy it :)
DeleteI loved Digging to America (actually I pretty much just love Anne Tyler in general!), I hope you enjoy it :-) I need to do one of these posts soon, although mine is all library loot but lately I've been having loads of days where I go to the library and they just have everything I want to read sitting on shelves waiting for me. I love days like that :-)
ReplyDeleteThis will be my first Anne Tyler, I love immigrant experience books so I have high hopes. And yes, you should post your library loot, although I am trying to stay away from my library and your post might encourage me to visit....
DeleteI haven't read any of those, but they do sound good. I hope you enjoy them! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, hopefully I will enjoy all of them :)
DeleteI really liked Digging to America. I'm also interested in trying Tana French as one of my coworkers always raves about her. As much as I struggle with nonfiction, I've also really been looking forward to the Sylvia Plath book because I just love her so much.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of Anne Tyler titles on my TBR shelf but have yet to read them. I'm eager to see what you think! I've heard good things about her.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover of Buddha of Suburbia so that's the one I'm most curious about. All your books sound goo - I hope you enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteLovely collection of new reading. I've only read two - Tana French I love but I didn't really like The Red Book much.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about The Red Book, it sounds like something I'd enjoy and the cover is beautiful. Your current read, Salt Sugar Fat, and American Isis have been talked about quite a bit on the magazine book review circuit here in the States, I'm curious to see what you think!
ReplyDeleteOut of all your gorgeous new books I think The Perfume Garden intrigues me the most. I like the double narrative, secrets and lies historical genre :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge crime/thriller/mystery reader, but I really enjoyed the audio version of Into the Woods earlier this year and now have plans to read the rest of the series.
ReplyDeleteI've read quite a few of Tyler's books and Digging to America is one of my favorites. Enjoy!
I haven't read any of these, so I can't really squeal at you (except, ooh, new books! *squeal*!) But I DO want to read The Buddha of Suburbia because Hanif Kureishi wrote My Beautiful Laundrette, so he's clearly amazing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these but you have a really interesting mixture of books. I look forward to seeing what you think of them.
ReplyDeleteThe Perfume Garden sounds interesting. There is something so compelling about a deserted house, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your book loot!
Great acquisition
ReplyDeleteEveryone loves Tana French. She is so popular and apparently her crime novels are real good but somehow I never got to read one. Should fix that though as soon as possible.
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