Sunday 5 May 2013

Sam Sunday #14: Recent Acquisitions


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?

30 comments:

  1. 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!

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    1. All the positive comments about it are making me excited to read it :)

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  2. I'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!

    My STS

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    1. I am hearing so many good things about In the Woods, can't wait to see if I agree with everyone else.

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  3. I 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.

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    1. I 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 :)

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    2. The travels of The Red Book! I had no idea it was so hard to find!! We should track where it goes...

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    3. Yeah, 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 :)

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  4. Nice haul Sam! Of your new books I've only read Amity & Sorrow so I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on the rest :)

    Happy Sunday!

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    1. Yours was one of the reviews of Amity and Sorrow that made me excited to get to it :)

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  5. I 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! :-)

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    1. I don't mind a little different, as long as it's in a good way :P
      I had a clear out when I moved house recently, but the spaces on the shelves are starting to fill up already...

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  6. 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.

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    1. I'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 :)

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  7. I 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 :-)

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    1. This 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....

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  8. I haven't read any of those, but they do sound good. I hope you enjoy them! :)

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    1. Thanks, hopefully I will enjoy all of them :)

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  9. I 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.

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  10. I 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.

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  11. I 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.

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  12. Lovely collection of new reading. I've only read two - Tana French I love but I didn't really like The Red Book much.

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  13. I'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!

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  14. Out 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 :-)

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  15. I'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.

    I've read quite a few of Tyler's books and Digging to America is one of my favorites. Enjoy!

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  16. 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.

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  17. I 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.

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  18. The Perfume Garden sounds interesting. There is something so compelling about a deserted house, isn't there?
    Enjoy your book loot!

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  19. Great acquisition

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  20. Everyone 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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