2013

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?

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness: Done! My review is here. Beautiful, heart-breaking book.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell: Done! Delightful. My review is here.

A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn: I’ve read about 30% by now. So far, so good.

Fresh Catch:

First of all, this arrived:

Angel & Faith, volume 3: Family Reunion. My inner fangirl nerd is squealing with delight right now.

I did end up with a few library books this week as well. I don’t understand how that happened — all I did was stop at the library to return a book, and somehow I ended up with these:

I just can’t get ahead.

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

After A Spear of Summer Grass, I need to get through a few more books sitting on my Kindle, including The First Rule of Swimming and Questions of Travel. But I’m highly fickle these days, as well as easily distracted, so who knows what shiny new cover may catch my eye?

On the “call me ambitious” front, after seeing the amazing new movie version of Much Ado About Nothing this past weekend (see my reaction here), I’ve decided that I really need to read a Shakespearean comedy or two to make up for what are apparently some very sad deficiencies in my education. So, I pulled my massive Riverside Shakespeare off the shelf and plan to read through Much Ado in the next week or two. And I’m sure I’m going to be perfectly insufferable about the whole thing.

My son and I are continuing with The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis. We’ve just about reached the half-way mark at this point, and we’re finding it a quick and entertaining read.

So many book, so little time…

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

22Apr2013

The Monday agenda 4/22/2013

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway: Done! My review is here. Short version: Amazing! Don’t miss it — the book is being released this week.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell: Just started. I’ve read about 50 pages, and it’s a hoot so far.

From last week’s agenda: The Love Song of Jonny Valentine by Teddy Wayne. Finished reading during the previous week, but didn’t get the review up until a few days ago.

Fresh Catch:

NO NEW BOOKS! That’s right — a very big accomplishment for me. During this past week, I neither bought any new books nor borrowed any books from the library.

However… I did get a few review copies of books via NetGalley (thank you, NetGalley!). Here are some pretty pictures of the newest titles now waiting for me on my Kindle:

I’m really excited to read all of these, and can’t wait to dig in!

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

Once I finish Attachments, I plan to read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, and then dive into one of the lovely books pictured above.

My son and I have started reading The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis, although we haven’t gotten past the first chapter yet. I’m a Narnia novice — we’ll see how it goes for both of us. This is also a test to see whether my 10-year-old still has the patience for having his mom read to him. Fingers crossed!

So many book, so little time…

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

15Apr2013

The Monday agenda 4/15/2013

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent: Done! My review is here.

Not on last week’s agenda, but I read it anyway: The Love Song of Jonny Valentine by Teddy Wayne. Terrific read; review to follow.

Fresh Catch:

New acquisitions, both purchased and borrowed from the library — here’s what joined my collection, permanently or temporarily, this past week:

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

I plan to start with The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway. It’s a bit on the big side, so I may not have time for much else — but if I do, I should probably dig into some of the library books I have sitting in a pile here, before the nice library folks demand them back. Waiting to be read are Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan, and The House Girl by Tara Conklin.

Don’t even ask me about all the unread titles on my Kindle…

So many book, so little time…

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

8Apr2013

The Monday agenda 4/8/2013

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

Sometimes I ask myself, why bother with a plan? After all, I just end up reading whatever strikes my fancy, 9 times out of 10. Or so it seems. Anyway, in my own probably futile attempt to control the chaos, here goes:

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. Finished last week, and finally wrote a review. Plus, my book group discussion about Dreamers of the Day was terrific. And now I can say that I’ve read everything written by Mary Doria Russell — and can only sit back and wait for her to finish the next book.

The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones. Finished! My review is here.

Not on last week’s agenda, but I read it anyhow: Stranded by Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts. My son finished this middle grade book, then insisted I read it as well. Our take on Stranded is here. Short version: If your kids are Survivor fans, this kids’ book by the Survivor host is a great choice.

Also in kids’ books: My son abandoned me midway through our read-aloud of Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham, so I finally decided to finish it on my own. My review is here.

Fresh Catch:

New acquisitions, both purchased and borrowed from the library — here’s what joined my collection, permanently or temporarily, this past week:

Bought or received:

Plus, I went to hear Cheryl Strayed speak this past week (she was fantastic!) and I finally bought myself a copy of Wild, since the copy I read a few months back was borrowed from a friend. And look! She signed it!

I also picked up a few books from the library. Why do all my holds come in all at once??? I may not get to read them all before they’re due again, but here’s what came home with me this week:

So yeah. My book habits are out of control. Like that’s a surprise.

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

I actually have a clean slate at the moment. I’m not in the middle of anything! So what to read?

I intend to start with Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent. A Victorian lady undertaker! Sounds like something I’ll love.

Next, I’m really looking forward to reading the review copy of The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway, which just arrived in the mail yesterday. Time travel + historical fiction = something I can’t wait to read.

Meanwhile, I really should get to one of the new, biggish novels that have come my way, but I’m trying not to overcommit — so no promises for what’s next!

So many book, so little time…

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

1Apr2013

The Monday agenda 4/1/2013

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

Back from vacation, ready to catch up with the world once again!

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

I was on a family vacation all of last week, which meant plenty of reading, but not much blogging. May the gods of the interwebs bless my bulky but trusty home computer — trying to get by on a netbook and Starbucks wifi was not a fun experience! I still have some reviews to write, but here’s how I did last week:

Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. Finished it, loved it, but haven’t had time to sit down and review yet. Stay tuned.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Done! Amazing, intense, beautiful book. My review is here.

That Time I Joined The Circus by J. J. Howard. Finished last week, but didn’t review until this week.

Fresh Catch:

Despite being out of town, a few new books came my way, via a giveaway (thank you!!) and my lovely neighborhood library branch. Here’s the fresh catch of the week:

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

I’ve started the The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones, but haven’t gotten quite half-way yet. (Tried to read more on the airplane yesterday, but the three-year-old sitting behind me was just a wee bit distracting.)

Next up, either one of the library books (above) or else my new copy of A Tale For The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, which I had to buy the second it came out but still haven’t had time to read yet!

So many book, so little time…

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

24Mar2013

The Monday agenda 3/25/2013

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

You’ll have to excuse my brevity and lack of pictures this week. I’m out of town, staying in a lovely hotel which charges an arm and a leg for internet access… hence, my late night visit to the Starbucks across the road, which is apparently closing in 10 minutes. So, the very brief version of The Monday Agenda, courtesy of Starbucks and my finicky netbook.

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

That Time I Joined The Circus by J. J. Howard: Done! Review to follow.

Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. Started, about 100 pages to go. Really enjoying so far… and learning something too, while I’m at it.

Monday Agenda feature (but not this week): Fresh Catch!

Nothing to report this week. I’m out of town, hauling books and my Kindle everywhere I go, but so far managing not to add to my load by picking up any new books.

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

Since I’m traveling, I’m trying to stay nimble and light. I have two more “real” (i.e., made of paper) books with me, The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones and Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. And I have a feeling those will last me until I’m back home again.

And that’s it! My normal blogging and reading routines are definitely off this week — a small price to pay for an opportunity to visit with family and see some new sights.

So many book, so little time…

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

18Mar2013

The Monday agenda 3/18/2013

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Best of All Possible Worlds, by Karen Lord: Done! My review is here. (Amazing book. √ it out!)

Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg: Finished reading on Sunday – review to follow. Lots of fun!

And in the category of unbelievable accomplishments:

Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm by Philip Pullman: At long last, done! It may have been a struggle at times, but I’m glad I stuck with it. My review is here.

New Monday Agenda feature: Fresh Catch!

In addition to looking at my reading plans from the last week and setting goals for the coming week, I thought it might be fun to provide an update each week on all the new acquisitions that make their way into my home and onto my shelves. So, Fresh Catch for the past seven days:

From the library, I checked out four different urban fantasy anthologies for one specific purpose: To read the short story by Patricia Briggs in each collection! After reading the newly published Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson series, book #7) last week, I felt like a starving woman grasping at crumbs — please, give me more! The Patricia Briggs stories in these collections are not about Mercy herself, but do take place in her world:

book cover of Strange Brew byP N Elrod

Other new books purchased or received:

A Tale For The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

That Time I Joined The Circus by J. J. Howard

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

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

I’m in pre-vacation mode, heading out of town for a week starting next weekend, and that puts me into serious book decision-making panic. What to bring? What to read on the plane? What do I bring as back-up? See what I mean? Decisions, decisions, decisions.

To start the week, I want to read the review copy I received of That Time I Joined The Circus, a YA novel which sounds like a lot of fun.

I should try to read Eleanor and Park before I leave, so I can return it to the library and into the hands of whoever is eagerly awaiting it. (I understand there’s a rather long waiting list right now).

For “serious” vacation reading, I’m planning to bring with me Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell and The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones. And if I get through those, maybe I’ll finally read one of the 40 or so titles on my Kindle that I still haven’t gotten to!

My son seems to have bailed on our co-read of Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham, although he hasn’t yet declared himself officially out. I want to know what happens! If the kiddo decides not to keep going, then I’m definitely going to gobble this one up on my own. It’s quite wonderful so far!

So many book, so little time…

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

11Mar2013

The Monday agenda 3/11/2013

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Spellbinding by Maya Gold: Done! My review is here.

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, book 7) by Patricia Briggs: Done! My review is here. (Short version: Loved it! I want to live in Mercy’s world.)

New Monday Agenda feature: Fresh Catch!

From the library, I picked up copies of A Natural History of Dragons by by Marie Brennan; The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan; and The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones.

Front Cover

Other new books purchased or received:

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (of course!); Where She Went by Gayle Forman; and for my son, Stranded by Jeff Probst. (Yes, the Survivor host has written the first in a middle-grade trilogy about a bunch of kids stranded on an island. Hey, write what you know, Jeff!)

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

I received an e-ARC of a new science fiction book, The Best of All Possible Worlds, by Karen Lord. I’ve only read the first few pages, but I’m intrigued. I hope to make a big dent in this one in the next few days.

Next up, I’m expecting a copy of Ruth Ozeki’s new release, A Tale for the Time Being. I loved this author’s My Year of Meats, and I’m really looking forward to starting her newest book.

And if I finish both of these books and still have time, I need to dig into some of the books that have been patiently waiting for me. Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell is inching its way to the top of the pile. Our destinies may finally intertwine by the end of this week.

In the world of reading with my kiddo, we’re still enjoying — and puzzling over — Down The Mysterly River by Bill Willingham, although the kiddo has now discovered the joys of reading books on my IPad, and has ditched our mom/kid reading sessions for individual reading for a few days now. He is totally hooked on Dan Gutman’s hilarious Funny Boy books. Could it be that my boy is finally reading without being pressured to do so? I’m not holding my breath just yet, but perhaps we’re having a breakthrough!

And yes, I’m still reading Philip Pullman’s collection of Grimm fairy tales, a few stories each week. Slow and steady, but I’m getting there. Boy, there are some really gross and disturbing fairy tales in the mix!

So many book, so little time…

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

4Mar2013

The Monday agenda 2/25/2013

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler: Done! My review is here.

Spellbinding by Maya Gold: Started, but still have about half-way to go.

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

I hope to finish Spellbinding in the next day or two. And this is important, because it’s time to clear the decks for this week’s new arrival:

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs, book #7 in the Mercy Thompson series, comes out this week! I absolutely cannot wait, and want to be able to start reading it the second it arrives. I just discovered this series last year, and fell head-over-heels in love with it.

After Frost Burned, I really should try to make a dent in the TBR shelf — but what exactly I’ll read is TBD.

The kiddo and I are making steady progress with Down The Mysterly River by Bill Willingham, although it just took a big turn for the weird –which is probably a very good thing. So far, so good. Onward we go.

And yes, I’m still inching my way through Philip Pullman’s collection of Grimm fairy tales. Emphasis on inching. Forward motion is happening in very small increments, but it is indeed happening.

So many book, so little time…

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

25Feb2013

The Monday agenda 2/25/2013

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

Happy Monday! Scanning the reading horizon for turbulence… and here we go.

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Wild by Cheryl Strayed: Done! My review is here. This was a tremendously inspiring and involving read, to the point that it was hard to settle on just one thing to read next. I started two different books for me, plus a new one with my son. I haven’t made more than a dent in any, so…

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

Digging into the books I’ve just begun:

First up is Spellbinding, a not-yet-released YA novel by Maya Gold that I received as a digital ARC. I enjoyed the first several chapters, but had to take an ill-timed break when my Kindle battery died unexpectedly. I’ll dive back in within the next couple of days.

I’ve also just started The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler, described on Amazon as “an unforgettable novel about a mysterious mail-order bride in the wake of WWII, whose sudden decision ripples through time to deeply impact the daughter she never knew”. Great opening chapter — can’t wait to read more.

My son and I have just started Down The Mysterly River, a middle grade novel written by Bill Willingham, author of the amazing Fables graphic novel series. ‘Nuff said. I’m in.

I’m still moving forward, tiny bit by tiny bit, in my quest to get through my book of fairy tales. Some are weird, some are totally familiar, all are quite fun. Onward!

So many book, so little time…

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