My limit for March was 20, and I have actually bought/borrowed/acquired 45 books. We can see how well the book buying limit worked for me, right?
Book #1: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Under the influence of
their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric
misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking
and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their
contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal
morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and
betrayal, and at last - inexorably - into evil.
I actually have no idea what this is even about. I did check The Goldfinch out at the library once, but I never even started it before it was due back and I was going to be away from the library long after the the due date....so I never read it. I have heard a lot of good things about this and the brief little flip through I did made me want to read it more as they are discussing a topic I like very much, Greek mythology. I am hoping to get to this either this year or next and I'll definitely tell you what I think of it.
Book #2: The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
Following a scalding
row with her mother, fifteen-year-old Holly Sykes slams the door on
her old life. But Holly is no typical teenage runaway: a sensitive
child once contacted by voices she knew only as “the radio people,”
Holly is a lightning rod for psychic phenomena. Now, as she wanders
deeper into the English countryside, visions and coincidences reorder
her reality until they assume the aura of a nightmare brought to
life. For Holly has caught the attention of a cabal of dangerous
mystics—and their enemies. But her lost weekend is merely the
prelude to a shocking disappearance that leaves her family
irrevocably scarred. This unsolved mystery will echo through every
decade of Holly’s life, affecting all the people Holly loves—even
the ones who are not yet born. A Cambridge scholarship boy grooming
himself for wealth and influence, a conflicted father who feels alive
only while reporting from occupied Iraq, a middle-aged writer
mourning his exile from the bestseller list—all have a part to play
in this surreal, invisible war on the margins of our world. From the
medieval Swiss Alps to the nineteenth-century Australian bush, from a
hotel in Shanghai to a Manhattan townhouse in the near future, their
stories come together in moments of everyday grace and extraordinary
wonder.
I don't know why exactly I wanted to read this beyond hearing a few people on Booktube saying good things about it that I actually don't remember now. Either way, I had a spark of memory of wanting to read it when I ran across it in the local Goodwill for only $0.99. Figure I may as well pick it up and read it, right?
Book #3: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Magnus Chase has
always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death,
he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits,
keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One
day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother
claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus
is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of
Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are
stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the
Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.
When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own
safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal
decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die...
I have read almost all of the other Rick Riordan books. I the only ones that I know I didn't read yet are the Trials of Apollo series, and the back half of the Heroes of Olympus. I own the entire Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus and Kane Chronicles books. When I saw this one on sale at Ollie's Bargain Outlet, I nearly lost my mind. I didn't even care which number in the series it was, I had to have it right away. I am excited to get to this one after I finish the Heroes series.
Book #4: Legend by Marie Liu
What was once the
western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation
perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in
one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is
a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest
military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the
country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as
malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have
no reason to cross paths—until the day June's brother, Metias, is
murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate
game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival,
while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of
events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them
together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its
secrets.
It was popular a little while ago on BookTube and then I found it for all of $2 at Ollie's Bargain Outlet and was like "Why not give it a chance?" I have no idea what it's even about besides being a dystopia set it what used to be the United States but is now something else entirely. It gives me almost Hunger Games vibes, and I am totally down to read that and see if I can actually get through it or not.
Book #5: Eve by William Paul Young
When a shipping
container washes ashore on an island between our world and the next,
John the Collector finds a young woman inside--broken, frozen, and
barely alive. With the aid of Healers and Scholars, John oversees her
recovery and soon discovers her genetic code connects her to every
known human race. She is a girl of prophecy and no one can guess what
her survival will mean... No one but Eve, Mother of the Living, who
calls her daughter and invites her to witness the truth about her
story--indeed, the truth about us all. Eve is a bold, unprecedented
exploration of the Creation narrative, true to the original texts and
centuries of scholarship, yet with breathtaking discoveries that
challenge traditional misconceptions about who we are and how we're
made. As The Shack awakened readers to a personal,
non-religious understanding of God, Eve will free us from faulty
interpretations that have corrupted human relationships since the
Garden of Eden. Eve opens a refreshing conversation about the
equality of men and women within the context of our beginnings,
helping us see each other as our Creator does--complete, unique, and
not constrained to cultural rules or limitations. Thoroughly
researched and exquisitely written, Eve is a masterpiece that will
inspire readers for generations to come.
They were talking about it on BookTube and it looked really good. I don't know why I like the weird biblical but not books that are about the human condition, I didn't before, but now they seem to be like the one thing I want to read above all else. I even considered adding Eve to the list of books I was reading today to bring the number to an even amount for dice rolling to decide the one I want to read. Yeah, it looks that good to me. I am intrigued by the premise and will definitely be putting this one on my list.
Book #6: The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green
The story of the
English folk hero and medieval outlaw Robin Hood who as legend would
have it lived in the days of Richard the Lionheart and Prince John
and, with his band of merry men, fought injustice and tyranny. This
retelling of the stories, first published in 1956, has become an
acknowledged classic: a literary mosaic in which Roger Lancelyn Green
has brought together material from the old ballads, romances and
plays, as well as retellings of Noyes, Tennyson, Peacock and Scott.
“For Robin Hood’s is a story that can never die,” he wrote,
“nor cease to fire the imagination. Like the old fairy tales it
must be told and told again — for like them it is touched with
enchantment...”
I like Robin Hood. I like pretty books. I like cheap things. I found this at, say it with me now, Ollie's Bargin Outlet....for only $0.79. I have no idea why even Ollie's wanted so little for it, but they did and I couldn't contain myself. I do have the Reader's Digest Paul Creswick edition of this book, but I could not control myself when I saw how pretty this was. It was worth the money and extra copies. I've seen various Robin Hood films (even the one with the foxes) and I love them. I am excited to get to this one and the P.C. one as well.
Book #7: The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
A mysterious woman, a
legendary cursed jewel, and a night train to the Mediterranean --
ingredients for the perfect romance or the perfect crime? When the
train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her
compartment. It's the perfect mystery, filled with passion, greed,
deceit. And Hercule Poirot is the perfect detective to solve it...
I love Agatha Christie and I used to have a very large collection of her books. Unfortunately, back in 2006 when I had this big collection, it was in a box on the floor in southern Texas. The entire thing was lost during Hurricane Katrina. Naturally I was more concerned with the people than my old hand-me-down books, but I did miss the chance to read them. So I've been slowly collecting them again in whatever format I can. I found this one down in my local Free Little Library. This makes four Agatha Christie books I have now. I'm happy and I hope to continue to grow my collection over time.
Book #8: The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey
The impact of The Late
Great Planet Earth cannot be overstated. The New York Times called it
the "no. 1 non-fiction bestseller of the decade." For
Christians and non-Christians of the 1970s, Hal Lindsey's blockbuster
served as a wake-up call on events soon to come and events already
unfolding -- all leading up to the greatest event of all: the return
of Jesus Christ. The years since have confirmed Lindsey's insights
into what biblical prophecy says about the times we live in. Whether
you're a church-going believer or someone who wouldn't darken the
door of a Christian institution, the Bible has much to tell you about
the imminent future of this planet. In the midst of an out-of-control
generation, it reveals a grand design that's unfolding exactly
according to plan. The rebirth of Israel. The threat of war in the
Middle East. An increase in natural catastrophes. The revival of
Satanism and witchcraft. These and other signs, foreseen by prophets
from Moses to Jesus, portend the coming of an antichrist . . . of a
war which will bring humanity to the brink of destruction . . . and
of incredible deliverance for a desperate, dying planet.
I have no idea? It looked interesting and I really can't tell if it's fiction or nonfiction right now. I haven't the slightest idea. I found it on my walk over to the Dollar General in the Free Little Library. I think I will put this near the top of our list of books to read for the year.
Book #9: Black Moon by Romina Russell
One final secret
stands between Rho and the enemy. But will the devastating truth be
enough to destroy her first? Rho, the courageous visionary from House
Cancer, lost nearly everything when she exposed and fought against
the Marad, a mysterious terrorist group bent on destroying balance in
the Zodiac Galaxy. Now, the Marad has disappeared without a trace,
and an uneasy peace has been declared. But Rho is suspicious. She
believes the Master is still out there in some other form. And
looming over all are the eerie visions of her mother, who died many
years ago, but is now appearing to Rho in the stars. When news of a
stylish new political party supported by her best friend, Nishi,
sends Rho on another journey across the galaxy, she uses it as an
opportunity to hunt the hidden master and seek out information about
her mother. And what she uncovers sheds light on the truth–but
casts darkness upon the entire Zodiac world.
Note to self, look at the series number before purchasing things. This is volume 3, and I don't happen to have Wandering Star (the 2nd book yet). I just saw "Romina Russell" and "Zodiac" and jumped on it like it was the last thing on the planet and I just had to have it. I suppose next month's first book purchase may well be Wandering Star just so I can read Black Moon! First, I ought to read Zodiac though. Yes. April I'll read the series so far as I have it.
Book #10: Bloodbound by F. Wesley Schneider
Larsa is a dhampir-half vampire, half human. In
the gritty streets and haunted moors of gothic Ustalav, she's an
agent for the royal spymaster, keeping peace between the capital's
secret vampire population and its huddled human masses. Yet when a
noblewoman's entire house is massacred by vampiric invaders, Larsa is
drawn into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that will reveal far more
about her own heritage than she ever wanted to know. From Pathfinder
co-creator and noted game designer F. Wesley Schneider comes
Bloodbound, a dark
fantasy adventure of murder, intrigue, and secrets best left buried,
set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Role Playing Game.
This one, and one a little further on, will require extra explanation. Firstly, this book has literally no description on Goodreads. There is only a picture of the book itself. I found the description on Amazon! Anyway, I paid under a dollar for this from
BookOutlet and I just had to have it because I am an avid player of Pathfinder RPG. Every other week I get with a bunch of friends and we play two games, one Saturday and one Sunday. I've been playing since around 2015, so still a bit of a greenhorn, but not as bad as I used to be. One of the recent characters played in our campaigns was a Dhampir, so this ought to be a very interesting read for me. Better than when I tried to read a Magic the Gathering novelization because this is at least already storytelling as I know it.
Book #11: Collins' Chinese Dictionary by Collins
With its clear layout, this invaluable book
offers the learner of Chinese or English the essential two-in-one
reference: an up-to-date dictionary and a user-friendly language
supplement in one handy volume. The Collins Chinese Dictionary is
designed for learners of Chinese or English, from beginner up to
university level. It is the ideal text for anyone who needs easy
access to both a dictionary and a practical language supplement. ?
The Collins Chinese Dictionary offers extensive coverage of today's
English and Chinese, with thousands of phrases and examples guiding
the user to the most appropriate translation. ? To help with the
pronunciation of Chinese words, this new edition includes pinyin for
all Chinese headwords, translations, phrases and examples. Pinyin is
the official phonetic system for transcribing Chinese characters into
the Roman alphabet, and is accepted in all Chinese-speaking
countries. ? In addition, the dictionary also includes both
simplified and traditional or complex Chinese characters. Simplified
characters are generally used in mainland China and Singapore, while
traditional characters are mainly used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and
Macau. ? The Language in Action supplement offers practical help with
everyday language for both Chinese and English ? The clear layout
ensures that users find the information they need quickly and easily.
? The radical index is a clear guide to looking up Chinese
characters, helping the user to navigate the dictionary and find
Chinese characters without knowing their pronunciation. Other titles
in the Collins Chinese Dictionary range include Collins Gem Chinese
Dictionary, Collins Pocket Chinese Dictionary and Collins Chinese
Dictionary.
I am using
Duolingo to learn a few (3) Asian languages. This just happens to be one of them and I am in short supply for dictionaries of the Chinese language. I am making the assumption here that this dictionary is in either strictly Mandarin, the most spoken language in China, or Mandarin and Cantonese. I don't know. I'll find out when the book arrives....eventually.
Book #12: Collins' Korean Dictionary by Collins
This Korean dictionary is designed for all levels
of language learner, whether at home, at school, or at work. It is
the ideal text for anyone who needs a wealth of reliable information
in a portable format.
I am learning Korean on top of Japanese and Chinese (Mandarin) if it wasn't already obvious. This I can blame on friends though. Backstory time. My friends and I were all watching anime and we were sort of just drifting from one to the next and then we found music by famous seiyuu (Japanese voice actors). That then lead us to looking up music from other Asian countries, primarily China and Korea. We fell in love with a lot of Korean bands and then I started watching K-Dramas and now I want to learn Korean so that way when I'm watching said K-Dramas (Black is amazing....I loved it) I don't have to actually read my TV screen any more. That will be the best part. Plus I can send "secret" letters to a friend of mine because literally no one else we know even knows Hangul.
Book #13: Emperor of the Eight Islands by Lian Hearn
An ambitious warlord leaves his nephew for dead
and seizes his lands. A stubborn father forces his younger son to
surrender his wife to his older brother. A mysterious woman seeks
five fathers for her children. A powerful priest meddles in the
succession to the Lotus Throne. These are the threads of an intricate
tapestry in which the laws of destiny play out against a backdrop of
wild forest, elegant court, and savage battlefield. Set in a mythical
medieval Japan inhabited by warriors and assassins, ghosts and
guardian spirits, Emperor of the Eight Islands by Lian Hearn is a
brilliantly imagined novel, full of drama and intrigue - and it is
just the beginning of an enthralling, epic adventure: The Tale of
Shikanoko.
Because I recognize "no" and "ko" in Japanese on the book's cover, I was immediately intrigued by the book. Of course I immediately needed to have it the second I realized it was pretty cheap. It was just the exact sort of thing I've been into lately. I want to read more about Asian culture and stories and this was definitely on the list then after I found it. I am excited to get it in the mail and to fawn over it like I usually do new (to me) books.
Book #14: Autumn Princess, Dragon Child by Lian Hearn
A self-assured warrior stumbles into a game of Go
that turns fatal. An ambitious lord leaves his nephew for dead and
seizes his lands. A stubborn father forces his son to give up his
wife to his older brother. A powerful priest meddles in the
succession to the Lotus Throne. A woman of the Old People seeks five
fathers for her five children, who will go on to found the Spider
Tribe and direct the fate of the country. As destiny weaves its
tapestry in Lian Hearn's Tale of Shikanoko series, an emotionally
rich and compelling drama plays out against a background of wild
forests, elegant castles, hidden temples, and savage battlefields in
Autumn Princess, Dragon Child.
The sequel to Emperor of the Eight Islands I suppose? It is marked as the second book in the series, but the synopses don't seem to have much in common besides Japan and the fact that the covers are done in a clear related pattern. Maybe it helps to read the books and then see what they are going on about and how they are connected to each other. Hopefully I like it.
Book #15: I Ching by David Hinton
In a radically new translation and interpretation
of the I
Ching, David Hinton strips this ancient Chinese
masterwork of the usual apparatus and discovers a deeply poetic and
philosophical text. Teasing out an elegant vision of the cosmos as
ever-changing yet harmonious, Hinton reveals the seed from which
Chinese philosophy, poetry, and painting grew. Although it was and is
widely used for divination, the I
Ching is also a book of poetic philosophy,
deeply valued by artists and intellectuals, and Hinton's translation
restores it to its original lyrical form. Previous translations have
rendered the I
Ching as a divination text full of arcane language
and extensive commentary. Though informative, these versions rarely
hint at the work's philosophical heart, let alone its literary
beauty. Here, Hinton translates only the original strata of the text,
revealing a fully formed work of literature in its own right. The
result is full of wild imagery, fables, aphorisms, and stories.
Acclaimed for the eloquence of his many translations of ancient
Chinese poetry and philosophy, Hinton has reinvented the I
Ching as an exciting contemporary text at once
primal and postmodern.
I have a modern "copy" of the I Ching fortune stick things. I know they have a proper name, I don't know what it is. I forgot. This I assume is more about Chinese philosophy and how it developed. It looked good and was about China so naturally I had to add it to the cart. I have no idea if it's hard cover or paperback now. I didn't actually look at the description to tell. It will go under my nonfiction for the month. (Maybe I'll even use it to participate in Nonfiction November).
Book #16: Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
A legendary author on par with William Faulkner
and Flannery O'Connor, Thomas Wolfe published Look
Homeward, Angel
, his first novel, about a young
man's burning desire to leave his small town and tumultuous family in
search of a better life, in 1929. It gave the world proof of his
genius and launched a powerful legacy. The novel follows the
trajectory of Eugene Gant, a brilliant and restless young man whose
wanderlust and passion shape his adolescent years in rural North
Carolina. Wolfe said that Look
Homeward, Angel
is "a book made out of my
life," and his largely autobiographical story about the quest
for a greater intellectual life has resonated with and influenced
generations of readers, including some of today's most important
novelists. Rich with lyrical prose and vivid characterizations, this
twentieth-century American classic will capture the hearts and
imaginations of every reader.
I was watching something ages ago, and ended up putting this book on my "Books to Buy" mental list...I had not found it at all recently until it showed up under BookOutlet's new releases and I clicked it. I think it's the most expensive book that I bought in that order? Either way, it's one of the two books from him that I have wanted for a while now and I finally got my hands on it. It's even the edition that I want.
Book #17: Love and Friendship by Jane Austen
These inventive and
entertaining pieces display the early sparkles of wit and imagination
of Jane Austen's mature fiction. Written when she was only in her
teens, they are by turns amusing, acerbic and occasionally downright
silly.
I haven't the foggiest idea what this could possibly be about. I guess it's like a series of shorts for children. No idea. All I know is that I am still sort of liking Jane Austen's books and this is one that I haven't read yet and definitely haven't got.
It looks like something that I would be interested in reading. Something that is right up my alley. I like the silly things and this would be a nice break from everything else that I'm reading that it would go right onto my Currently Reading list.
Book #18: My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
Sixteen-year-old
physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a
mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who
whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her
small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into
nothingness. There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the
courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a
section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found
her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman)
who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner. Even
though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to
fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact
becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really
wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between
wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can
discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman
may not be so easy to convince.
I remember hearing a lot of people rave about this one, and I figured I ought to actually read it when I saw it on BookOutlet and just had to grab it. I'll be waiting expectantly for the book to arrive in the mail.
Book #19: Of Dice and Men by David M. Ewalt
The
Hobbit meets Moneyball
in this definitive book on Dungeons & Dragons—from its origins
and rise to cultural prominence to the continued effects on popular
culture today. Even if you’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons,
you probably know someone who has: The game has had a profound
influence on our culture. Released in 1974—decades before the
Internet and social media—Dungeons & Dragons is one of the
original ultimate nerd subcultures, and is still revered by more than
thirty million fans. Now, the authoritative history and magic of the
game is revealed by an award-winning journalist and life-long dungeon
master. From its origins on the battlefields of ancient Europe,
through the hysteria that linked it to satanic rituals and teen
suicides, and to its apotheosis as father of the modern video game
industry, Of Dice and Men
recounts the development of a game played by some of the most
fascinating people in the world. Chronicling the surprising history
of D&D’s origins (one largely unknown even to hardcore players)
while examining the game’s profound impact, Ewalt weaves
laser-sharp subculture analysis with his own present-day gaming
experiences. An enticing blend of history, journalism, narrative, and
memoir, Of Dice and Men
sheds light on America’s most popular (and widely misunderstood)
form of collaborative entertainment.
This was a semi-impulse buy. I was browsing BookOutlet's "Game" section and this was one of the available for as cheaply as it was, I had to grab it. Again, like with Bloodbound, I do actually play this game and I'm interested in learning about it's origins. Plus I like the ironic name of it. I am starting it as soon as it arrives in the mail.
Book #20: Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
The city of Ludlow is
gripped by the hottest on record. The asphalt is melting, the
birds are dying, petty crime is on t e rise, and someone in Hannah
Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls. For Hannah,
the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six
months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But
how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her
bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders?
Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed,
and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place
among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone,
the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include
petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness. With the entire city
in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost
girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting
the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and
it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.
Murder mysteries are fantastic. I love them to pieces and this looked interesting to me. Plus I liked the cover art and was interested to see it in person. It looked like something that was just up my alley. Ghosts as well as murder. What demented girl could possibly say no to that?
Book #21: The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Ani, Crown Princess of
Kildenree, has spent her childhood learning the language of the
birds. But though Ani can speak to animals, she is never quite
comfortable speaking with people. So when Ani's silver-tongued lady
in waiting leads a mutiny during her journey to marry a prince in a
foreign land, Ani cannot persuade anyone to help her. She becomes a
goose girl and must use her own special powers to fulfill her true
destiny. Shannon Hale's Books of Bayern have become beloved,
perennial favorites, finding more and more readers every year since
they were published over a decade ago. Now with fresh new covers, the
fantastical, romantic, and gorgeously written series that first
introduced Hale as a master storyteller is prime to be discovered by
the a whole new generation.
I think I saw HaleHeartsNYC (I also probably got that wrong just now) talking about this one. It sounded pretty interesting and I thought I would give it a go. Doesn't hurt to at least try, right? Another book that will go up on the "before 2018 ends TBR" list. Another that I'll probably not actually read for years.
Book #22: The Uninvited by Cat Winters
Twenty-five year old
Ivy Rowan rises from her bed after being struck by the flu, only to
discover the world has been torn apart in just a few short days. But
Ivy’s life-long gift—or curse—remains. For she sees the
uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked,
unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October
evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in
her mother’s chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother
and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the
death of Ivy’s older brother Billy in the Great War. Horrified, she
leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules
governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world
of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because
they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her ‘uninvited guests’
begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn
apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly
revelations about to unfold.
I have a digital copy of this book, but it was so cheap on BookOutlet and I prefer reading physical copies to digital anyway, that I figured I may as well grab it while I was shopping. I haven't actually ever read the digital copy, so here's hoping I manage to read the physical?!
Book #23: Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
This world is trying
to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies make it
increasingly difficult to live a normal life, and after a completely
humiliating incident ruins her first (and perhaps only) real party,
she's ready to disappear. "Come and be the most powerful person
in the world." Suddenly, Lily finds herself in a different
Salem. One overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful
women--including Lillian, this world's version of Lily. "It will
be terrifying. It was for me." What made Lily weak at home,
makes her extraordinary here. It also puts her in terrible danger.
Faced with new responsibilities she can barely understand and a love
she never expected, Lily is left with one question: How can she be
the savior of this world when she is literally her own worst
enemy?
I have no idea. I don't remember putting it in my cart, but it was there when I placed the order so I just left it. I assume I wanted to read it or I really really thought the cover was pretty or something. I have no clue. Here's hoping I like it.
Book #24: World of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley
Charlotte, Branwell,
Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings have always been inseparable.
After all, nothing can bond four siblings quite like life in an
isolated parsonage out on the moors. Their vivid imaginations lend
them escape from their strict upbringing, actually transporting them
into their created worlds: the glittering Verdopolis and the romantic
and melancholy Gondal. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip
into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away,
they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as
their characters—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of
Zamorna—refuse to let them go. Gorgeously written and based on the
Brontës’ juvenilia, Worlds of Ink & Shadow brings to life one
of history’s most celebrated literary families.
I've read a few Brontë books and I found them interesting and then I stumbled across a review for this on BookTube and thought it looked like something I would enjoy and I will give it a try when it arrives and let everyone know what I thought of it.
Book #25: Glee: The Beginning by Sophia Lowell
Calling all Gleeks.
Get more of your favorite characters in this official Glee prequel.
All great performances deserve a warm-up Enroll early at McKinley
High--before New Directions was even a glimmer in Mr. Schuester's
eye. When did Rachel first decide Finn was more than just a jock?
When did Puck and Quinn start their secret romance? And how did the
fledgling Glee Club function without a fearless leader? Hint: It
wasn't exactly a perfect melody. Break out the gold stars and refill
the slushies: It's time to find out what happened to all your
favorite characters "before" the show-mance began.
Sunday afternoon, as we were getting ready to head to the game store to play Pathfinder for the evening, my friend told me to hang on, that she had something for me. I was like "But I'm coming back here, where you are and I'll see you?" but she absolutely insisted that I take whatever it was right away. So I waited a few extra minutes so she could get whatever it was. Turned out to be the first book in the novelization of the Glee television series. I love Glee and she thought this would be something I'd enjoy. It definitely is.
Book #26: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A grumpy yet lovable
man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous
young family moves in next door. Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the
kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars
caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict
routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from
hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with
a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky
exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning
a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next
door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a
comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship,
and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change
one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very
foundations.
I had a library copy, started it and ran out of time. Kind of like the first book. However this time I had been actually reading it. Now I can finish it without having to worry about running out of time this go around. I am happy to have my hands on a Backman book.
Book #27: The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
A gorgeous novel by
the celebrated author of When
the Emperor Was Divine that tells the story of a
group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as “picture
brides” nearly a century ago. In eight unforgettable sections, The
Buddha in the Attic traces the extraordinary lives
of these women, from their arduous journeys by boat, to their arrival
in San Francisco and their tremulous first nights as new wives; from
their experiences raising children who would later reject their
culture and language, to the deracinating arrival of war. Once again,
Julie Otsuka has written a spellbinding novel about identity and
loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times.
I grabbed this one as an impulse buy. I saw the very obviously Japanese last name and the geisha on the cover. I read it the day after I got it and loved it, so look for it right away in my wrap up for March. That's pretty much all I can say for right now.
Books #28-40: The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
I don't have a synopsis for this section, because it's thirteen books long. So I'll make up my own!
This book series follows the Baudelaire children after the unfortunate death of their parents. They go from one place to another, suffering various misfortunes along the way as they learn how to fend for themselves and what it's like to be on their own for real. The first person they are placed with is the (dis)honorable Count Olaf after it is revealed that their parents' will states that they are to be raised by the closest living relative, taken to mean the relative living the closest to them. It comes out early in the book that Count Olaf is only raising them in order to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune.
I read the series almost all the way through once, they didn't have volume 12 or 13 when I was in school, but I saw them all available at Barnes & Noble and I pounced immediately. I had to have them all. I've read the first one already and after finishing a few more books I'm going to read the rest of them. It's wonderful.
Book #41: The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro
Watson and Holmes: A
match made in disaster. Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are looking
for a winter-break reprieve after a fall semester that almost got
them killed. But Charlotte isn’t the only Holmes with secrets, and
the mood at her family’s Sussex estate is palpably tense. On top of
everything else, Holmes and Watson could be becoming more than
friends—but still, the darkness in Charlotte’s past is a wall
between them. A distraction arises soon enough, because Charlotte’s
beloved uncle Leander goes missing from the estate—after being
oddly private about his latest assignment in a German art forgery
ring. The game is afoot once again, and Charlotte is single-minded in
her pursuit. Their first stop? Berlin. Their first contact? August
Moriarty (formerly Charlotte’s obsession, currently believed by
most to be dead), whose powerful family has been ripping off famous
paintings for the last hundred years. But as they follow the gritty
underground scene in Berlin to glittering art houses in Prague,
Holmes and Watson begin to realize that this is a much more
complicated case than a disappearance. Much more dangerous, too. What
they learn might change everything they know about their families,
themselves, and each other.
I read the first book in this series, A Study in Charlotte, and I adored it. I think it took me all of a day to finish it? Maybe two? So when I got some coupons in the mail from Barnes & Noble, I spend it on this and the next one in this list (and this series). I am very happy that I found it and that I got my hands on it. I cannot wait to read it when it arrives.
Book #42: The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro
The hotly anticipated
and explosive third book in the New York Times bestselling Charlotte
Holmes series. It’s been a year since the shocking death of August
Moriarty, and Jamie and Charlotte haven’t spoken. Jamie is going
through the motions at Sherringford, trying to finish his senior year
without incident, with a nice girlfriend he can’t seem to fall for.
Charlotte is on the run, from Lucien Moriarty and from her own
mistakes. No one has seen her since that fateful night on the lawn in
Sussex—and Charlotte wants it that way. She knows she isn’t safe
to be around. She knows her Watson can’t forgive her. Holmes and
Watson may not be looking to reconcile, but when strange things start
happening, it’s clear that someone wants the team back together.
Someone who has been quietly observing them both. Making plans.
Biding their time. Someone who wants to see one of them suffer and
the other one dead.
The third book in the series. I purchased this at the same time as the second book. I'm going to probably reread the first one before I read the second and third. I want to make sure that the entire thing is fresh in my mind when I start the new ones.
Book #43: Elly: My True Story of the Holocaust by Elly Berkovits Gross
When Elly was just 15
years old, she, her mother and brother were deported by cattle car to
the Auschwitz II / Birkenau concentration camp. On the day they
arrived at Auschwitz, a soldier directed Elly to the right; her
mother and brother were sent to the left. She never saw her family
alive again. Elly later learned that her father also had been killed
in a forced-labor camp.
Everyone who knows me knows I adore anything related to WWII, and this little book caught my attention today while I was down at the Free Little Library nearer to my house. I love stories like this and it's a quick easy thing to read. I hope to get through it in one night. I think it's going to be a good book and another one that I can add to my list of WWII books I've read.
Book #44: Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
An airborne Boeing 747
is headed to London when, without any warning, passengers
mysteriously disappear from their seats. Terror and chaos slowly
spread not only through the plane but also worldwide as unusual
events continue to unfold. For those who have been left behind, the
apocalypse has just begun...
I've been interested in reading this for a while, but every time I was in the library they never had the first one. If I'm remembering correctly, this book is a fictional account of what happens to the people left on Earth after the Rapture. All of the souls that were not deemed worthy of ascending to Heaven on that day. I don't happen to recall offhand whether it is satirical or not, but I am interested to find out. I can't wait to start this one and add it to my shelves.
Book #45: Pour Your Heart Into It by Howard Schultz
The success of
Starbucks Coffee Company is one of the most amazing business stories
in decades. What started as a single store on Seattle’s waterfront
has grown into a company with over sixteen hundred stores worldwide
and a new one opening every single business day. Just as remarkable
as this incredible growth is the fact that Starbucks has managed to
maintain its renowned commitment to product excellence and employee
satisfaction. In Pour
Your Heart Into It, CEO Howard Schultz illustrates
the principles that have shaped the Starbucks phenomenon, sharing the
wisdom he has gained from his quest to make great coffee part of the
American experience. Marketers, managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs
will discover how to turn passion into profit in this definitive
chronicle of the company that “has changed everything . . . from
our tastes to our language to the face of Main Street.”
This was a weird decision for me, because I don't like Starbucks coffee. It's overpriced and way over done. Their signature, they have said in interviews, is burnt coffee...then a "blonde roast" which is literally regular coffee half with burnt. It's weird. Anyway, I saw this in the Free Little Library and thought I would give it a go because there are literally Starbucks everywhere. I have seen the ones inside Barnes & Noble and I'm sure there are others inside store locations. Maybe if I read this, I can finally find out why people are head over heels for terrible coffee?
