Thursday Quotables: The Travelers

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Welcome back to Thursday Quotables! This weekly feature is the place to highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week.  Whether it’s something funny, startling, gut-wrenching, or just really beautifully written, Thursday Quotables is where my favorite lines of the week will be, and you’re invited to join in!

NEW! Thursday Quotables is now using a Linky tool! Be sure to add your link if you have a Thursday Quotables post to share.

The Travelers

The Travelers by Chris Pavone
(release date March 8, 2016)

I’m loving this tense spy thriller, which features a lot of moving parts and people doing mysterious things. I’ve read about 40% so far, and just wish I had time to read straight through to the end without interruption! One thing I’m really enjoying is that beyond the intrigue and spy shenanigans, there are a lot of little moments that show so much about marriage and relationships:

This is one of the things that drives Chloe crazy about this renovation project, about her husband in general. She doesn’t care if everything is perfect; she merely wants it to be good enough. And this is exactly why Will doesn’t let her handle any of it. he knows that she will settle, will make compromises that he wouldn’t.

Here’s another:

Will sprawls amid the sheets while Chloe rearranges her hair, and replaces earrings, reties her scarf, all these tasks executed distractedly but deftly, the small competencies of being a woman, skills unknowable to him. The only thing men learn is how to shave.

 

What lines made you laugh, cry, or gasp this week? Do tell!

If you’d like to participate in Thursday Quotables, it’s really simple:

  • Write a Thursday Quotables post on your blog. Try to pick something from whatever you’re reading now. And please be sure to include a link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your post (http://www.bookshelffantasies.com), if you’d be so kind!
  • Click on the linky button (look for the cute froggie face) below to add your link.
  • After you link up, I’d love it if you’d leave a comment about my quote for this week.
  • Be sure to visit other linked blogs to view their Thursday Quotables, and have fun!

Shelf Control #25: Pride of Baghdad

Shelves final

Welcome to the newest weekly feature here at Bookshelf Fantasies… Shelf Control!

Shelf Control is all about the books we want to read — and already own! Consider this a variation of a Wishing & Waiting post… but looking at books already available, and in most cases, sitting right there on our shelves and e-readers.

Want to join in? See the guidelines and linky at the bottom of the post, and jump on board! Let’s take control of our shelves!

cropped-flourish-31609_1280-e1421474289435.png

My Shelf Control pick this week is:

Pride of BaghdadTitle: Pride of Baghdad
Author: Brian K. Vaughan (art by Niko Henrichon)
Published: 2006
Length: 136 pages

What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):

From one of America’s most critically acclaimed graphic novel writers – inspired by true events, a startlingly original look at life on the streets of Baghdad during the Iraq War.

In his award-winning work on Y THE LAST MAN and EX MACHINA (one of Entertainment Weekly’s 2005 Ten Best Fiction titles), writer Brian K. Vaughan has displayed an understanding of both the cost of survival and the political nuances of the modern world. Now, in this provocative graphic novel, Vaughan examines life on the streets of war-torn Iraq.

In the spring of 2003, a pride of lions escaped from the Baghdad zoo during an American bombing raid. Lost and confused, hungry but finally free, the four lions roamed the decimated streets of Baghdad in a desperate struggle for their lives. In documenting the plight of the lions, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD raises questions about the true meaning of liberation – can it be given or is it earned only through self-determination and sacrifice? And in the end, is it truly better to die free than to live life in captivity?

Based on a true story, VAUGHAN and artist NIKO HENRICHON (Barnum!) have created a unique and heartbreaking window into the nature of life during wartime, illuminating this struggle as only the graphic novel can.

 

How I got it:

I bought a copy while browsing in the local used book store.

When I got it:

About a year ago.

Why I want to read it:

Y: The Last Man and Saga are two of my favorite series of all-times. This is a stand-alone graphic novel from the amazing Brian K. Vaughan, and it sounds really interesting and so different!

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Want to participate in Shelf Control? Here’s how:

  • Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
  • Add your link below!
  • And if you’d be so kind, I’d appreciate a link back from your own post.
  • Check out other posts, and have fun!


For more on why I’ve started Shelf Control, check out my introductory post here, or read all about my out-of-control book inventory, here.

And if you’d like to post a Shelf Control button on your own blog, here’s an image to download (with my gratitude, of course!):

Shelf Control

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten books to read if you’re in the mood for shocking twists

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Ten Books To Read If You Are In The Mood For X… which means lot of room for individual interpretation… which makes checking out other bloggers’ lists so much fun.

My spin on the this week’s topic is all about the big shockers. When’s the last time you read a book that made you gasp with a sudden game-changing reveal? Or something that made you have to go all the way back to the beginning to see how it all looks different now that you know what you know? Or even (see #1 below) something as basic as assuming a certain character is the THE most important character, only to see him/her killed off in the very first book in a huge series?

My ten books with the biggest game-changing shockers — those “what did I just read???” moments — are:

1) A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin: You know what I mean, right? That heartbreaking moment when the character you love DOESN’T get a last-minute reprieve from the executioner? Damn you, GRRM, for killing off the people I expect to win! And he just keeps doing it and doing it and doing it.

GoT

For the rest, I’m not going to include any comments. Because even knowing that there’s a twist, or knowing what kind of twist it is, can really take away from the impact of that OMG! WTF! moment.

2) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (review)

We Were Liars

3) Everything, Everything by Nicola Joon (review)

Everything Everything

4) The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler (info)

basic 8

5) Fingersmith by Sara Waters (info)

fingersmith

6) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (review)

Gone Girl

7) Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (review)

Code Name Verity

8) Hater by David Moody

hater

9) The Uninvited by Cat Winters (review)

The Uninvited

10) Then and Always by Dani Atkins (review)

Then and Always

 

Have you read any books with mind-blowing twists? Please let me know in the comments! And if you’ve written a TTT post this week, please share your link and I’ll come check it out. Thanks!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly features, Shelf Control and Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I’m building a Book Blog Meme Directory, and need your help! If you know of a great meme to include — or if you host one yourself — please drop me a note on my Contact page and I’ll be sure to add your info!

 

The Monday Check-In ~ 2/29/2016

cooltext1850356879 My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

In real life:

leap day

It’s very weird to type “February 29th”, isn’t it?

What did I read last week?

Two-Family HouseStars AbovePlay with Fire

The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman: My review is here.

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer: Such a great way to wrap up the Lunar Chronicles series! My review is here.

In audiobooks, I finished the 5th book in the always outstanding Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow, Play with Fire. Can’t wait to start the next one!

Elsewhere on the blog:

I’m starting my Outlander rewatch! I’ll be rewatching all of the season 1 episodes and posting recaps/reactions throughout the next month. 16 episodes to savor all over again! If you’re doing the same, come chat with me and share your thoughts.

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Fresh Catch:

No new books this week. Yay, me!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:
The Travelers

The Travelers by Chris Pavone: 20% in, and it’s great so far!

Now playing via audiobook:

Blood Will Tell

I can’t help it! I need more Kate Shugak!

Ongoing reads:

MOBYemma

My book group is reading and discussing two chapter per week of both Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon and Emma by Jane Austen. This is an online group, and anyone is welcome to join us — so if you’re interested, just ask me how!

So many books, so little time…

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Stars Above by Marissa Meyer: What’s Inside?

Stars AboveThe fantastic Lunar Chronicles series came to a close in 2015 with the publication of the final novel in the series, Winter. But wait! It’s not quite as finished as it seemed… because here we are in 2016 and we have a final FINAL volume in our hands.

Stars Above is a collection of stories that tie in and around the main characters and events of the novels, with most taking place in the years prior to the start of the series. The collection includes four previously published stories and five that are brand new.

So what’s inside Stars Above? Read on…

“The Keeper” (new): Ah, some backstory! “The Keeper” focuses on Michelle Benoit and her role in Cinder’s early years. As readers of the series know, Cinder was rescued from an almost successful murder attempt by her aunt Levana and hidden on Earth for years, while all of Luna believed her dead. In “The Keeper”, we see how Cinder was first entrusted to Michelle’s care and how she kept Cinder hidden and safe, all the while trying to provide a loving, secure home for her niece Scarlet. It’s a sweet story, and gives us a glimpse of events that we’ve heard reference to, but which we’d never learned many details about.

“Glitches” (previously published): “Glitches” follows “The Keeper” chronologically, as we see Cinder’s arrival in New Beijing and her introduction to the family of Linh Garan, her protector and adoptive father. Cinder is newly awakened and adjusts both to her new environment and her new status as a cyborg.

“The Queen’s Army” (previously published): This story shows Wolf’s transition from ordinary Lunar child to fierce, modified soldier serving the queen, showing his physical transformation and emotional struggles as well as his development into the pack Alpha.

“Carswell’s Guide To Being Lucky” (previously published): What was Carswell Thorne like as a teen-aged boy? Probably exactly what you’ve imagined — a total flirt, a guy who uses his charm to get his way, and a consummate swindler who seems to always know how to work the crowd. But even as a self-satisfied teen, Carswell still dreams of his future in space…

“After Sunshine Passes By” (new): Oh, so sweet and sad. This new tale introduces us to 9-year-old Cress, a Lunar shell kept alive with other outcasts like herself just for their value as scientific specimens. But Cress is a sweetie and a dreamer and imagines someday being of actual value, maybe even finally being accepted into society. What she gets instead is years of isolation in an orbiting jail… and this story shows how it all came about.

“The Princess and the Guard” (new): Lovely little Princess Winter’s early years are shown in this story, as we see her growing up in the palace and being trained to use her Lunar gift, until she begins to become aware of the danger and cruelty inherent in having such manipulative power. We see Winter’s decision to abandon her gift, even at the risk of madness, the cruelty of Levana, and how Jacin set his course in life with protecting Winter as his top priority.

“The Little Android” (previously published): I loved this story when I first read it, and I love it still. “The Little Android” is only tangentially connected to the characters of the Lunar Chronicles, as the android of the title has a brief meeting with the mechanic Linh Cinder. What this story truly is is an imaginative and moving retelling of the Little Mermaid fairy tale — not the pretty Disney version, but the tragic yet lovely story by Hans Christian Andersen. “The Little Android” makes a great stand-alone, but as part of this collection, shows yet another side of the Lunar Chronicles world.

“The Mechanic” (new): We’ve seen Kai and Cinder’s first meeting in the marketplace from Cinder’s perspective already. Here in “The Mechanic”, we get the same meeting as seen through Kai’s eyes. It’s fun to get the royal view, and to see the crown prince already struggling to fulfill his responsibilities to his people while at the same time being a teen boy who has just spotted a fascinating and surprising girl.

“Something Old, Something New” (new): As the title suggests, this final story in the collection is all about the Happily Ever After that our beloved characters have truly earned! The whole gang gathers for Scarlet and Wolf’s wedding, and there are romantic moments galore for all of the couples. This story really ties up the entire series with all the hearts and flowers and giddy joy we readers could possibly hope for.

Stars Above includes an excerpt from Heartless, the new stand-alone novel by Marissa Meyer scheduled for publication this coming fall. The blurb reads:

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Sounds good, right? I generally prefer not to read excerpts, so I skipped this one… but for those who can’t resist a sneak peek at the next book, it’s yet another reason to pick up a copy of Stars Above.

All in all, Stars Above is a must-read for fans of the Lunar Chronicles. It’s like Marissa Meyer has given a final gift to her readers…

present-307984_1280… and as a grateful reader, my response to Marissa Meyer is:

thank-you-907818_1920

 

Book Review: The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Two-Family HouseSynopsis:

(via Goodreads)

Brooklyn, 1947: in the midst of a blizzard, in a two-family brownstone, two babies are born minutes apart to two women. They are sisters by marriage with an impenetrable bond forged before and during that dramatic night; but as the years progress, small cracks start to appear and their once deep friendship begins to unravel. No one knows why, and no one can stop it. One misguided choice; one moment of tragedy. Heartbreak wars with happiness and almost but not quite wins.

From debut novelist Lynda Cohen Loigman comes The Two-Family House, a moving family saga filled with heart, emotion, longing, love, and mystery.

My thoughts:

The Two-Family House is the story of sisters-in-law Helen and Rose. Helen is married to Abe, a kindhearted, loving man who, along with his younger brother Mort, owns and runs Box Brothers, a box manufacturing company. Helen and Abe have four sons; Rose and Mort have three daughters. Mort is a bitter, closed-off man whose life has been a series of disappointments. He has little attention or love to spare for his children, and resents Abe’s happiness and success. The two families share a brownstone, with Abe and Helen living just up the stairs from Rose and Mort.

Rose and Helen are best friends, and the two of them and all of their children are constantly in and out of one another’s apartments, sharing holidays, birthdays, and really, just about every moment of every day, as well as their innermost hope and dreams. In 1947, both women became pregnant, the first time they’ve been expecting together. Mort is convinced that he’ll finally get the son he longs for, and treats Rose with more respect and tenderness than he’s ever shown before.

But a blizzard hits New York while Abe and Mort are away on business and, snowed in and unable to get to a hospital, both women go into labor at home. A midwife is fetched from down the street, and two healthy babies are delivered. Helen has a baby girl — her first daughter — and Rose finally succeeds in giving Mort the son he’s always wanted.

All is perfect. Right?

Well, no. From the time that Natalie and Teddy are born, the relationship between Helen and Rose seems to change. Rose withdraws, becoming increasingly unfriendly, and shows all the signs of postpartum depression. She takes little interest in her new baby and often leaves him to cry, until Helen swoops in to the rescue from upstairs. Helen takes care of both babies, and tries to reach out to Rose, but to no avail: The closeness between the two seems permanently broken.

The novel travels through the years that follow, ending more than 20 years later. Through those years, we see the children grow up and how the various relationships all change. The story is told through chapters with an alternating array of points of view, so we get chapters from the perspectives of Abe, Mort, Rose, Helen, and some of the children.

The shifting points of view yield an uneven results. Some characters are simply more interesting than others. There are stretches of time where the main occurrences are quiet rifts or disruptions, or pieces where we mainly hear how unhappy various characters are. Tragedy ensues, but time keeps marching forward. The parents age; the children grow up. Relationships change, and in some cases, fracture.

Through it all, it all comes down to the birth of the children in 1947, what really happened, and how that one night changed everything for everyone.

MINOR SPOILERS FROM HERE ON!

Listen, if you’ve read what I’ve written so far, it’s not a stretch to figure out what happened during the blizzard. Heck, we pretty much know within the first couple of chapters. So yes, I’ll just go ahead and say it: The babies were switched. Sorry, but this barely counts as a spoiler — it’s obvious right from the beginning.

So the question in the novel is — why did this happen? How did it happen? And how do the characters go forward with their lives once it has happened?

The why and how are answered, but not entirely satisfactorily. I just didn’t buy it. Would a mother who’s just delivered a newborn willingly trade under any circumstances? Well, maybe… but in the circumstances provided in The Two-Family House, I didn’t believe it. The motivation, at least on one side of the equation, just didn’t seem strong enough to me.

But accepting the premise, it’s interesting to see the dynamics play out in the days, months, and years that follow — the guilt, the resentment, and the willful dishonesty that’s required to perpetuate a lie. Once the initial deception has happened, even if there’s regret or second-thoughts, there seems to be no way to undo what’s been done (and actually, we never see either of the women contemplate or consider switching back). And despite the fact that these events were only possible because of the incredibly strong bond between Helen and Rose, it’s the switch itself that cause the rupture in their relationship, creating an insurmountable obstacle that hinders every interaction from that moment forward.

The plot of The Two-Story House is interesting, but somehow the execution lacks true drama or momentum. The fact of the switch is obvious from the start, and the resolution at the end of the book and what drives it is also something that pretty much any reader will see coming from a mile away. I enjoyed the family dynamics and the shifting relationships between all of the various combinations of characters, but wished there had been something a bit more to truly make me care about the outcome.

Overall, this is an enjoyable book, particularly when viewed as a period piece and a character study. But in terms of the plot, I never quite bought the actions or motivations of Helen and Rose, and since this is what drives the entire story, I always ended up feeling like something was missing.

Still, I do think readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with a domestic focus will appreciate this novel, and I look forward to seeing what this debut author will do next.

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The details:

Title: The Two-Family House
Author: Lynda Cohen Loigman
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication date: March 8, 2016
Length: 304 pages
Genre: Adult fiction
Source: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley

Outlander Obsessions: Prepping for season 2

The new issue of Entertainment Weekly arrived in my mailbox today, and it has me jumping out of my skin with excitement:

ew-cvr-1406-outlander

Hey you! Wipe the drool off your chin and pay attention!

Season 2 premieres April 9th, and it can’t get here a moment too soon. It’s been a long, long Droughtlander indeed.

Leading up to April 9th, I think it’s time to get serious and do a season 1 re-watch. My plan is to watch all 16 episodes between now and April 9th. I’ll be writing up my reactions to each episode (most of which I’ve already viewed 2 or 3 times) and will post as I go along. Feel free to chime in and share your thoughts!

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And I suppose it goes without saying… but if you haven’t indulged in the “kilty” pleasure of watching Outlander yet, now is the perfect time to start.

Or hey, go old school and read the books!

outlander-book-series

As they say in Paris:

OLs2

 

 

Thursday Quotables: Stars Above

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Welcome back to Thursday Quotables! This weekly feature is the place to highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week.  Whether it’s something funny, startling, gut-wrenching, or just really beautifully written, Thursday Quotables is where my favorite lines of the week will be, and you’re invited to join in!

NEW! Thursday Quotables is now using a Linky tool! Be sure to add your link if you have a Thursday Quotables post to share.

Stars Above

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
(published 2016)

This collection of Lunar Chronicles stories is off to a great start! From “The Keeper”, the opening story:

Cinders. Embers. Ashes. Michelle hoped that whatever strength had allowed this child to survive the fire all those years ago was a strength that still burned inside her. That it would go on burning, hotter and hotter, until she was as bright as the rising sun.

She would need that strength for what lay ahead.

What lines made you laugh, cry, or gasp this week? Do tell!

If you’d like to participate in Thursday Quotables, it’s really simple:

  • Write a Thursday Quotables post on your blog. Try to pick something from whatever you’re reading now. And please be sure to include a link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your post (http://www.bookshelffantasies.com), if you’d be so kind!
  • Click on the linky button (look for the cute froggie face) below to add your link.
  • After you link up, I’d love it if you’d leave a comment about my quote for this week.
  • Be sure to visit other linked blogs to view their Thursday Quotables, and have fun!

Shelf Control #24: The Magician’s Lie

Shelves final

Welcome to the newest weekly feature here at Bookshelf Fantasies… Shelf Control!

Shelf Control is all about the books we want to read — and already own! Consider this a variation of a Wishing & Waiting post… but looking at books already available, and in most cases, sitting right there on our shelves and e-readers.

Want to join in? See the guidelines and linky at the bottom of the post, and jump on board! Let’s take control of our shelves!

cropped-flourish-31609_1280-e1421474289435.png

My Shelf Control pick this week is:

magicians lieTitle: The Magician’s Lie
Author: Greer Macallister
Published: 2015
Length: 320 pages

What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):

Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus in The Magician’s Lie, a debut novel in which the country’s most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husband’s murder –and she has only one night to convince a small-town policeman of her innocence.

The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. One night in Waterloo, Iowa, with young policeman Virgil Holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an all-too-real murder? When Arden’s husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later that night, the answer seems clear.

But when Virgil happens upon the fleeing magician and takes her into custody, she has a very different story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless—and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding. Over the course of one eerie night, Virgil must decide whether to turn Arden in or set her free… and it will take all he has to see through the smoke and mirrors.

 

How I got it:

I received an ARC via NetGalley.

When I got it:

Towards the end of 2014, a month or so prior to the publication date in January 2015.

Why I want to read it:

Doesn’t it just sound amazing? I loved the description when I first came across it, and I still think it sounds like it’ll be a great read. I haven’t included any ARCs in a Shelf Control post up to now, but this is one I was sure I wanted to read… and I still do want to read it!

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Want to participate in Shelf Control? Here’s how:

  • Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
  • Add your link below!
  • And if you’d be so kind, I’d appreciate a link back from your own post.
  • Check out other posts, and have fun!


For more on why I’ve started Shelf Control, check out my introductory post here, or read all about my out-of-control book inventory, here.

And if you’d like to post a Shelf Control button on your own blog, here’s an image to download (with my gratitude, of course!):

Shelf Control

Top Ten Tuesday: My ten most unusual (or uncomfortable) reads from the last 12 months

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Ten Books I Enjoyed Recently (last yearish) That Weren’t My Typical Genre/Type of Book (or that were outside of your (my) comfort zone).

I’m not sure that I actually have a comfort zone when it comes to reading, or what could possibly be outside it. I read a lot of different genres, and can’t think of much of anything that would actually be uncomfortable for me to read. Well, apart from extreme violence, hard-core porn, gratuitous brutality, and… I don’t know… books about car racing? Okay, I guess there are some things I just won’t read.

nope

In any case…

For purposes of this list, I think I’ll focus on books that are a little different from what I might be most likely to read, for a variety of different reasons. My top ten unusual reading choices from the past year are:

drummroll

1) The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (review): I read very little non-fiction, and might not have picked this one up on my own if not for my book group. I’m so glad I read it! It’s a marvelous piece of historical storytelling that is moving and informative and so very readable.

The Boys in the Boat

2) Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman (review): I am just not a short-story reader. I get bored, my mind wanders, and I’m dying to get back to “real” reading (i.e., novels). But I discovered that I can tolerate short story audiobooks, and having Neil Gaiman narrate his own stories made this one a pleasure.

Trigger Warning

3) The Expats by Chris Pavone (review): I don’t gravitate toward spy thrillers all that often. I don’t remember why exactly I was drawn to this book, but I’m glad I read it and want to read more by this author.

Expats

4) The Dead Lands by Benjamin Percy (review): It’s not that I don’t read horror, although I haven’t read quite as much lately. But The Dead Lands was certainly an uncomfortable read, despite being a great story. So icky and full of scary creepiness and nastiness. But really worth reading!

Dead Lands

5) All I Love and Know by Judith Frank (review): This one actually made me uncomfortable because of its political stridency. I was surprised, because I’d expected to really enjoy this book, but found it so preachy that it made me unhappy.

All I Love and Know

6 & 7) Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke (review) and The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (review): I love science fiction, but it’s been several years since I’ve read any of the classics. Both of these books were terrific.

Childhoods EndMan in the High Castle

8) Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (review): I wouldn’t call this an unusual choice for me, exactly — but I was uncomfortable with the questions marks surrounding this book, including whether we really understand the author’s wishes and whether she truly wanted this book to see the light of day.

Go Set A Watchman

9) The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand (review): Not a bad book, but romance is definitely not my genre. I mean, I love a good love story, but this was a bit too much for me.

Chocolate Thief

10) My final book is perhaps a weird choice, but I think it’s got to be Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined by Stephenie Meyer (review): I never thought I’d want to read another book related to the Twilight universe, but this gender-swapped version of the original story was a quick read and satisfied my curiosity.

Life and Death

What books made your list this week? Please share your links!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly features, Shelf Control and Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I’m building a Book Blog Meme Directory, and need your help! If you know of a great meme to include — or if you host one yourself — please drop me a note on my Contact page and I’ll be sure to add your info!