2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Not a lofty, ambitious to-be-read list consisting of 100+ book titles. Just a simple plan for the upcoming week — what I’m reading now, what I plan to read next, and what I’m hoping to squeeze in among the nooks and crannies.

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Despite another week of real-life craziness, I did manage to read some great books!

Night Broken (Mercy Thompson, #8) Grasshopper Jungle The Summer I Wasn't Me

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs: Loved it! My review is here.

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith: Weird and wonderful. My review is here.

The Summer I Wasn’t Me by Jessica Verdi: Done! Watch for my review and blog tour post about this terrific YA book on April 5th!

The kiddo and I have more or less ditched Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper, although we may end up giving it one more shot. We also read the first chapter of Treasure Island, but we’re feeling very non-committal at the moment.

Fresh Catch:

No new physical books this week, but I did get a few e-ARCs that look pretty terrific:

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

The Shambling Guide to New York City The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry Visible City

I’ve just started The Shambling Guide to New York City by Mur Lafferty, and so far, it’s a riot.

After that, I’ll be diving into:

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Visible City by Tova Mirvis

And also in the works:

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon continues! Coming up this week: Chapters 49 – 53. Want to join in? Contact me and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

17Mar2014

The Monday Agenda 3/17/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Real life interrupted my reading and blogging plans this week in a big way… but here’s what I did manage to accomplish in my bookish life this past week:

Sunrise (Ashfall, #3) Night Broken (Mercy Thompson, #8)

Sunrise by Mullin: Done! A great conclusion to an action-packed trilogy, Sunrise will definitely satisfy fans of the Ashfall series. Check out my stop on the blog tour here, and be sure to enter the giveaway!

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs: I’m absolutely loving this newest installment in the Mercy Thompson series — and just wish I’d had the time to devote to reading it. I hope to finish in the next day or two!

Fresh Catch:

Here’s what the kiddo and I brought home from the library this week:

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

Grasshopper Jungle Side Effects May Vary The Lost Sisterhood

The next few books I plan to dive into are:

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier

And also in the works:

Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising Sequence) The kiddo and are slowly working our way through Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper.

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon continues! Coming up this week: Chapters 44 – 48. Want to join in? Contact me and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

10Mar2014

The Monday Agenda 3/10/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

House of Glass The Opposite of Maybe 16 Things I Thought Were True

House of Glass by Sophie Littlefield: Done! A story of a home invasion that quickly spirals out of control, House of Glass focuses on the family whose world is turned upside down and how their relationships and secrets factor into the dangerous situation they face. Shelleyrae at Book’d Out wrote a spot-on review of this book; you can see it here.

The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson. Done! My review is here.

16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler: Done! My author Q&A, review, and blog tour post can be found here.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths The kiddo and I are finished D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths this week, and loved it! A great book to share, one that we each enjoyed. Finally, a successful book pick for the two of us!

Fresh Catch:

One library book:

Grasshopper Jungle

Two books I just had to buy before that Amazon gift card burned a hole in my pocket:

Sailor Twain: Or: The Mermaid in the Hudson We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

(PS – I’ve read Sailor Twain already, but didn’t own a copy — and now that it’s out in paperback, just couldn’t resist!)

And the next volume in one of my ongoing series… which I really, seriously need to get caught up on one of these days:

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

Sunrise (Ashfall, #3) Night Broken (Mercy Thompson, #8)

I’m so excited to read Sunrise by Mike Mullin, book three in the terrific trilogy that starts with Ashfall and Ashen Winter. My blog tour post will be up on March 15th — be sure to check it out!

I’m also practically bouncing off the walls waiting for the new Mercy Thompson book to arrive this week! Night Broken by Patricia Briggs will be released this Tuesday, and this will be a (as they call it in my son’s school) DEAR book for me — “drop everything and read”! Can’t wait.

And also in the works:

Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising Sequence) Next up for the kiddo and me: We’re just starting Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper.

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon continues! Coming up this week: Chapters 39 – 43. Want to join in? Contact me and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

3Mar2014

The Monday Agenda 3/3/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

City of Jasmine The Husband's Secret 16 Things I Thought Were True

City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn: Done! My review is here.

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. Done! My review is here.

16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler: Done! Watch for my blog tour feature later this week…

Fresh Catch:

Just a few new books on my Kindle, one bought, two received as ARCs:

Somewhere in France: A Novel of the Great War The Here and Now The Daring Ladies of Lowell

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

House of Glass The Opposite of Maybe The Mapmaker's Daughter

It looks like this will be an adult fiction week, starting with:

House of Glass by Sophie Littlefield: I meant to read this one last week, but somehow I ran out of time. (Ummm, too much TV, perhaps?)

After that:

The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson

The Mapmaker’s Daughter by Laurel Corona

And also in the works:

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths My kiddo and I are still reading D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths each night before bed, and it’s loads of fun. I feel like I’m reliving my childhood, and kiddo is really enjoying the crazy shenanigans of the gods. Finally, a win in the book arena for mom!

And my ongoing project:

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon continues! Coming up this week: Chapters 34 – 38. Want to join in? Contact me and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

24Feb2014

The Monday Agenda 2/24/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Time Tutor After I'm Gone

Better off Friends Whisper Of Jasmine

The Time Tutor by Bee Ridgway: A review — plus a giveaway of the new paperback edition of The River of No Return — will be up a bit later today. Check back to enter!

After I’m Gone by Laura Lippman. Done! My review is here.

Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg: Done! My review is here.

Whisper of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn: This romantic novella is a prequel to City of Jasmine (see below), and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week… but in book-related news, Game of Thrones season 3 arrived on DVD!

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

City of Jasmine The Husband's Secret House of Glass

I’m *this close* to finishing City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn, and should have a review up in the next couple of days.

Next up, I’ll be reading:

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty (which I’ve been wanting to read — and now need to read for a book group discussion)

House of Glass by Sophie Littlefield

And also in the works:

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths In the never-ending struggle to keep my kiddo engaged with books, we’re now reading assorted stories from D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths each night before bed, and he’s really enjoying it. It’s been so long since I’ve looked through this book, so I’m getting a kick out of it too!

And my ongoing project:

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon continues! Coming up this week: Chapters 29 – 33. Want to join in? Contact me and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

17Feb2014

The Monday Agenda 2/17/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5) The Winter People See Jane Run The Time Tutor

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon: I finished this massive 1,400 page book thanks to lots of binge-reading and staying up past my bedtime… but I got it done! I love the series (obviously), and was surprised by how much I enjoyed my re-read of The Fiery Cross. To be honest, I’d been avoiding it, as there are several parts that are just so awful or painful that I couldn’t stand the thought of experiencing them again. And yes, plenty of terrible things happen in this book, but there’s so much to love as well. All in all, I’m really happy that I decided to drop everything else and do a re-read!

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon: I think this one will stay on my “on hold” list for now. I hope to come back to it in a few weeks.

See Jane Run by Hannah Jayne: Done! My review is here, and I should be posting an author feature a bit later this week, so check back!

The Time Tutor by Bee Ridgway: Done! Stay tuned for a review and a very special giveaway coming up next week!

House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini: Did not finish. I was reading this one with my son, and neither of us ended up caring enough about the story to want to continue. We’re officially done with this one.

Fresh Catch:

Here’s what arrived this week:

By Blood We Live (The Last Werewolf, #3)

By Blood We Live by Glen Duncan: The third book in the trilogy that begins with The Last Werewolf and continues with Talulla Rising, I expect this book to be just as gory and blood-drenched as the previous two — and just as incredible a reading experience. These books are not for the squeamish, but I do think they’re excellent! I’m really looking forward to reading this one!

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

After I'm Gone Better off Friends City of Jasmine

I’m about half-way through After I’m Gone by Laura Lippman. I’ve never read anything by this author before, since I don’t usually go for crime/mystery novels — but I’m really wrapped up in this book so far! I hope to finish in the next day or so.

And after that, I’m planning to read review copies of two books due out later this month:

Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn

In addition:

My quest to find a book that interests my son continues! We started reading Fahrenheit 451 together a few days ago. I’m convinced that he’ll love Bradbury if he just gives him a chance! So far, so good, although the language and symbolism often go over the kiddo’s head. Still, he’s interested for now, and I’m happy to have an excuse to revisit this book again after so many years!

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon continues! Coming up this week: Chapters 24 – 28. Want to join in? Contact me and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

10Feb2014

The Monday Agenda 2/10/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

When Audrey Met Alice Archetype

I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing two new books right in time for their release dates last week:

When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens: My review, along with the author’s guest post, is here.

Archetype by M. D. Waters: Suspenseful and altogether terrific. My review is here.

And then things went a bit astray, despite my careful planning…

The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5) Instead of moving forward to the next ARC on my reading schedule, I decided to reread a truly massive book. So, for the past several days, I’ve been reading Diana Gabaldon’s The Fiery Cross — because I’m in the midst of an attack of Outlander obsession and felt the need to re-read the books I’m less familiar with in order to be ready for the upcoming new book in June. Sigh. I love it, but I’m also shaking my head at myself for starting a 1400 page book when I have so much else to read!

Fresh Catch:

Two very different books came my way this week:

Riot

Riot by Mary Casanova: I just received a review copy of this new book aimed at middle grade readers, set in 1989 during a labor dispute in Minnesota. It sounds quite interesting, if a bit outside of my usual reading topics.

Locke & Key, Vol. 6: Alpha & Omega I am completely thrilled that volume 6 of the incredible Locke & Key graphic novel series has finally been released! I think I need to hold off on reading #6, though, until I have time to re-read #5 (if not all of them), so that I can truly enjoy this final volume with all of the details fresh in my mind. I love these books!

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

The Winter People See Jane Run The Time Tutor

Assuming I finish The Fiery Cross within the next few days (only 400 pages to go!), I’ll return to my regularly scheduled reading with:

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (which I started last week, then abandoned for my huge red book…)

See Jane Run by Hannah Jayne: I was intrigued by the premise of this new young adult novel, and will be participating in the blog tour next week.

The Time Tutor by Bee Ridgway: A prequel novella connected to The River of No Return — which was one of my very favorite books of 2013!

In addition:

House of Secrets (House of Secrets, #1) House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini: My son and I have practically stalled on our read-together venture with this book, but we haven’t quite abandoned it yet. We keep ending up with other things to do besides sitting down to read House of Secrets — which may be a sign that, despite being pretty fun so far, neither of us feels really grabbed by this book. We’ll keep going, and see if we get more into it this week.

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon continues! Coming up this week: Chapters 19 – 23. Want to join in? Contact me and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

3Feb2014

The Monday Agenda 2/3/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Splendour Falls Midwinterblood When Audrey Met Alice

The Spendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley: Done! My review is here.

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick: Done! I’ve had this book on my shelf for almost a year now, and I’m so happy that I finally took the time to read it. An unforgettable book — no wonder it just won the Printz award! My review is here.

When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens: Done! I just finished reading this terrifically entertaining middle grade novel about the life of a First Daughter who finds inspiration in the diary of a former First Daughter, Alice Roosevelt. Check out my blog tour post — today! — to read more about the book, hear some thoughts from the author, and get my take on it all!

Fresh Catch:

I was thrilled to receive these review books this week:

House of Glass The Serpent of Venice: A Novel

Two very different books — and I’m really looking forward to both!

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

Archetype The Winter People

I’m excited to be reading:

Archetype by M. D. Waters

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

In addition:

House of Secrets (House of Secrets, #1) My son and I seem to have settled into House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini for our newest read-together book. So far, it’s strange and eerie, set in modern-day San Francisco but with all sorts of weird, occultish things happening already. And seriously, a family buying an old, supposedly haunted mansion in Sea Cliff for $300k? Clearly, something supernatural is going on!

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon is moving right along. Coming up this week: Chapters 14 – 18. Want to join in? Contact me and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

27Jan2014

The Monday Agenda 1/27/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy The Swiss Affair Alienated (Alienated, #1)

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee: Done! My review is here.

The Swiss Affair by Emylia Hall: Done! My review is here.

Alienated by Melissa Landers: Done! My review is here.

Fresh Catch:

Just a few new books came my way this week:

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #1) Deep Secret (Magids, #1) Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things (Courtney Crumrin, #1)

Plus, a couple of new ARCs, but I think I’ll hold off on writing about those until I’m a bit closer to reading them!

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

When Audrey Met Alice The Splendour Falls

When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens: I’ll be participating in the blog tour for this new release in early February. The book looks terrific!

I’m caught up on all of my ARCs for January, so before moving on to the February list, I’m carving out time for a book from my shelf. I’m really can’t wait to read The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley, whose books just never let me down!

House of Secrets (House of Secrets, #1) In the world of reading with my kiddo, we’ve had a tough time settling on a new book to read together. We started The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King, but it didn’t grab him. After that, we read the first chapter of Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, which also went nowhere. Next, we’re going to try House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini. Third time’s the charm? We shall see.

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon is moving right along. Coming up this week: Chapters 9 – 13. Want to join in? Just let me know and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.

20Jan2014

The Monday Agenda 1/20/2014

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Vanishing Dirty Magic (The Prospero's War, #1) Cruel Beauty Heartbeat

The Vanishing by Wendy Webb: Done! My review is here.

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells: I read a few chapters, then decided it wasn’t for me — at least, not right now. It looks like fun urban fantasy, but I suppose I just wasn’t in the mood. Maybe another time.

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge: Done! My review is here.

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott: I just finished this book late on Sunday, with more than a few tears in my eyes. Review to follow.
Updated to add: The review for Heartbeat is up now, here.

Dinosaur Summer by Greg Bear: My kiddo and I finished reading this terrific sci-fi adventure story this past week. My thoughts on Dinosaur Summer are here.

Fresh Catch:

It’s a bonanza of books, some new and some picked up from the used bookstore:

The Splendour Falls Joe Golem and the Drowning City: An Illustrated Novel

The Haunting of Hill House Hollow City (Miss Peregrine, #2)

What’s on my reading agenda for the coming week?

First up, a couple of ARCs for January new releases:

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy The Swiss Affair

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

The Swiss Affair by Emylia Hall

If I finish both of these, I’ll be caught up on review copies for the month, and can then indulge myself with a book or two just for me! The one I’m most looking forward to? The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley! This is one author who has never let me down, and I’m really excited to read this new reissue of one of her older books.

My son and I are debating our choices for our next “together” book. Right now, we’re leaning toward The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King. So far, he’s liked the first few chapters that we’ve read, so this is looking like a definite maybe. My kiddo’s first Stephen King — what a great milestone!

The Outlander Book Club’s re-read of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon is now underway! The goal is to read a chapter each weekday, from now until June, finishing just in time for the release of the next Outlander book, Written In My Own Heart’s Blood. Up this week in Echo: chapters 4 -8. Want to join in? Just let me know and I’ll provide all the details!

So many book, so little time…

That’s my agenda. What’s yours? Add your comments to share your bookish agenda for the week.