Tag Archives: to read

The Monday Check-In ~ 8/22/2022

Posted in The Monday Check-In by
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.

Life.

It’s been a super busy week at work, and even though I slowed down over the weekend, I still felt like I had no time to read!

What did I read during the last week?

Well, okay, I did manage to read some books…

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: Sweet, whimsical, and magical. My review is here.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare: Done! This was a group read with my book club — we finished this past week. Terrific experience reading and discussing this classic with the group. What can I say? My book group rocks!

Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson, #13) by Patricia Briggs: The awesomeness that is the Mercy Thompson series finally has a new release! This series (and its main character) continues to be an absolute favorite. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished the first season of Paper Girls and the third season of Never Have I Ever this week. Two very different shows, but both were terrific!

Also this past week, I tried the first episode of She-Hulk (pretty good so far) and continued with new episodes of Reservation Dogs (excellent) and What We Do In The Shadows (also excellent).

Fresh Catch:

I read an e-ARC of this book when it came out last year (my review), and with its paperback release, the publisher was kind enough to send me a copy! It’s really a great, disturbing, twisty read — highly recommended!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

I haven’t quite settled on my next book, so I’m reading the opening chapters of two! Let’s see which one hooks me first.

Now playing via audiobook:

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot: I’m enjoying this audiobook so much! But — argh — I expected to finish it over the weekend, then ran out of time. I think just one or two more days of driving to work should do it for me!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. If anyone wants to join us, just ask me how! All are welcome. Update: As of this week, we’re up to chapter 50 — and since there are 155 chapters in all, that means we’re at about 32%. Still a long way to go!
  • Nothing else at the moment! My book group’s next classic read doesn’t start until October, so for now, I’m light on long-term reading commitments, and I’m not hating it.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Shelf Control #331: My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

Posted in Shelf Control by
Shelves final

Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!

Title: My Oxford Year
Author: Julia Whelan
Published: 2018
Length: 352 pages

What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):

Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of Oxford, this sparkling debut novel tells the unforgettable story about a determined young woman eager to make her mark in the world and the handsome man who introduces her to an incredible love that will irrevocably alter her future—perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks.

American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: Study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.

When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret.

Immediately, Ella is faced with a seemingly impossible decision: turn her back on the man she’s falling in love with to follow her political dreams or be there for him during a trial neither are truly prepared for. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.

How and when I got it:

I added My Oxford Year to my Kindle library in 2019.

Why I want to read it:

I’m pretty sure that what drew me to this book in the first place was realizing that it was a novel written by a favorite audiobook narrator. And now that I’ve listened to Julia Whelan’s newest book (Thank You For Listening — absolutely loved it!), I’m eager to go back and read her first novel.

To be honest, I find the synopsis above a little confusing, but I’m sure the political piece and the time in Oxford will all make more sense once I read the book. I’m not sure that the synopsis on its own would have particularly drawn me in or made me take notice, but the title and cover are both charming, and I really do want to read more by this talented author.

What do you think? Would you read this book?

Please share your thoughts!

Literary Potpourri
Elza Reads
Reviews Feed
Bookshelf Journeys


__________________________________

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 in the comments or link back from your own post, so I can add you to the participant list.
  • Check out other posts, and…

Have fun!

The Monday Check-In ~ 8/15/2022

Posted in The Monday Check-In by
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.

Life.

I had a great time on our little mini-vacation last week! My husband and I got away to the Monterey area of California, with Big Sur, Pacific Grove, and Carmel as highlights. Lots of beautiful coastline as far as the eye can see! It made me especially happy to wander Cannery Row in Monterey so soon after reading Steinbeck’s classic — while it’s a very touristy area now, there are tons of little signs and artwork and artifacts that pay tribute to Steinbeck and his novel, and I loved seeing all of it!

And on a family note… my youngest — my BABY — turned 20 over the weekend! How is that even possible??? Now it’s official — no more teens chez moi!

Blogging.

Dare I say it? I’ve gotten my pending ARCs list down to fewer than 20 titles! I’m super committed to getting through my outstanding ARCs, and then focusing on reading other things — anything I want, whenever I want. If I can catch up on all the ARCs for books being released through the end of September, I’ll only have six left (for books scheduled for release October – December). Wow, this makes me feel so free!

I mean, sure, I’ll continue to request ARCs for books I really, really want to read no matter what… but I’m going to try to be better at avoiding impulse requests, because I do want to keep my obligation reading to a minimum going forward.

What did I read during the last week?

Lucy Checks In by Dee Ernst: Heart-warming story of second chances, with a lovely setting. My review is here.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson: Surprisingly fun (and no, there are no actual serial killers in the book). My review is here.

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan: A favorite for 2022! The fact that the author narrates the audiobook, and that the story is about an audiobook narrator, makes this book extra delicious. My review is here.

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen: Overall, I really enjoyed this Western-themed fantasy, but wished the world-building had been clearer. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I made more progress with Paper Girls (on Amazon) — just two episodes left to watch! Definitely recommended!

Next up: Season 3 of Never Have I Ever!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: This looks like a good, light read! I’m just getting started, but here’s hoping it’ll turn out to be fun.

Now playing via audiobook:

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot: This is my book group’s pick for August — and I just couldn’t resist listening to the audiobook version narrated by Nicholas Ralph, who stars in the PBS adaptation of the book.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. If anyone wants to join us, just ask me how! All are welcome.
  • Hamlet by William Shakespeare: It’s our final week! My book group has been reading and discussing one scene per week, and this week, it’s Act V, scene II. Our discussions have been great — I feel like I’ve gotten so much more from this read than I ever did during my college Shakespeare course.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Shelf Control #330: Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory

Posted in Shelf Control by
Shelves final

Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!

Title: Pandemonium
Author: Daryl Gregory
Published: 2008
Length: 288 pages

What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):

It is a world like our own in every respect . . . save one. In the 1950s, random acts of possession begin to occur. Ordinary men, women, and children are the targets of entities that seem to spring from the depths of the collective unconscious, pop-cultural avatars some call demons. There’s the Truth, implacable avenger of falsehood. The Captain, brave and self-sacrificing soldier. The Little Angel, whose kiss brings death, whether desired or not. And a string of others, ranging from the bizarre to the benign to the horrific.

As a boy, Del Pierce is possessed by the Hellion, an entity whose mischief-making can be deadly. With the help of Del’s family and a caring psychiatrist, the demon is exorcised . . . or is it? Years later, following a car accident, the Hellion is back, trapped inside Del’s head and clamoring to get out.

Del’s quest for help leads him to Valis, an entity possessing the science fiction writer formerly known as Philip K. Dick; to Mother Mariette, a nun who inspires decidedly unchaste feelings; and to the Human League, a secret society devoted to the extermination of demons. All believe that Del holds the key to the plague of possession–and its solution. But for Del, the cure may be worse than the disease.

How and when I got it:

I bought a paperback over five years ago, most likely at a library sale.

Why I want to read it:

I think this book initially made its way into my hands based on a friend’s enthusiastic review. And given that she’s both a huge horror reader and someone who knows my tastes, I tend to pay attention when she insists I need to read something.

I love the sound of these possessions, and think it’s hilarious that Philip K. Dick is one of the people possessed in this story! The premise sound weird and original and truly engaging, and I do intend to read this book… now I just need to make time for it.

Pandemonium is author Daryl Gregory’s first novel. I’ve read two other books by this author (We Are All Completely Fine and The Album of Doctor Moreau, both terrific), and I’m very up for reading more. If you’ve read any other of his books, please let me know if you have a favorite!

What do you think? Would you read this book?

Please share your thoughts!

The Boston Bibliophile


__________________________________

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 in the comments or link back from your own post, so I can add you to the participant list.
  • Check out other posts, and…

Have fun!

The Monday Check-In ~ 8/8/2022

Posted in The Monday Check-In by
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.

Life.

Photo by Avinash Patel on Pexels.com

On the road again! By the time this post goes up, I’ll be on day 2 of a 3-day mini-road trip with my husband. Nothing too fancy, but I couldn’t let the month of August go by without attempting to squeeze in one more little getaway. We’ll be spending time in the Carmel/Monterey/Big Sur area of California, not too far from home, but with some beautiful sights to see — and (we hope) yummy food, great hikes, and pretty places to just spread out on a blanket and relax!

Blogging.

I had an unusual couple of days this past week, in terms of blog stats. Out of nowhere, I had about 3 days in a row with over 2,000 views — and believe me, that is exponentially much more than my normal traffic! What’s behind the big bump? Virgin River! I published a post with my thoughts on season 4 of the Netflix show, and for whatever reason, it got a huge number of views!

My takeaway, after looking at my stats in general, is that in-the-moment Netflix-related posts seem to get much, much more traffic than any book-related posts… but I’m still a book-woman at heart and will always focus on writing about what I read (despite the allure of a spike in blog visits).

What did I read during the last week?

Upgrade by Blake Crouch: Fascinating, scary sci-fi! My review is here.

The Comeback by Lily Chu (narrated by Phillipa Soo): So much fun. My review is here.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: 3.5 stars. The setting makes for an engaging, unusual backdrop, but I felt oddly unengaged by this retelling of a classic. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finally got out to a movie! Making a date with a friend helps — I’ve been wanting to see the new Thor movie since it came out, but kept procrastinating… until my friend insisted we commit. It was fun! The screaming goats may have been my favorite part…

In home viewing, I watched The Summer I Turned Pretty over on Amazon Video, which was sweet and nicely done, and very faithful to the Jenny Han book (as far as I recall). Weirdly, I know I read the full trilogy (the first season corresponds to book #1), but I have zero memory of what happens in the other books. I guess I’ll have to wait for season 2 and 3 to find out!

I also started Paper Girls (also on Amazon), but haven’t had time to get very far. I read 3 or 4 volumes of the graphic novel series and really liked the story, and the show seems to be doing a great job of adapting it so far.

Fresh Catch:

One new book! I did in fact read this book via Kindle pretty much the second it came out last fall, but it was just released in paperback and I had to have a copy of my own. Plus, with the next October Daye book coming in early September (this will be #16 — can you believe it?), it’s time for a reread!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

These are the two books I have queued up on my Kindle for my road trip — I’m pretty close to finishing Lucy Checks In, and then will be starting Love in the Time of Serial Killers. I’ll share my thoughts when I get back!

Now playing via audiobook:

Thank You For Listening by Julie Whelan: A novel about an audiobook narrator? How could I not listen to the audiobook version, especially when it’s narrated by the author, who is herself an outstanding audiobook narrator! I’ve been loving it so far (at about the midpoint currently), but had to take a break while on my trip. (My husband DOES NOT appreciate my attempts to get him to listen to audiobooks while we’re driving!)

Ongoing reads:

These books will be on my plate for months to come:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’ve started our group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. If anyone wants to join us, just ask me how! All are welcome.
  • Hamlet by William Shakespeare: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading one scene per week, and we’re close to the end. This week, we’re starting Act V.
  • Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb: I’ve been trying to read one or two tales per week, and this week read A Winter’s Tale. Really fun project!

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Shelf Control #329: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Posted in Shelf Control by
Shelves final

Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!

Title: Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Published: 2016
Length: 221 pages

What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):

While the Titanic and Lusitania are both well-documented disasters, the single greatest tragedy in maritime history is the little-known January 30, 1945 sinking in the Baltic Sea by a Soviet submarine of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German cruise liner that was supposed to ferry wartime personnel and refugees to safety from the advancing Red Army. The ship was overcrowded with more than 10,500 passengers — the intended capacity was approximately 1,800 — and more than 9,000 people, including 5,000 children, lost their lives.

Sepetys (writer of ‘Between Shades of Gray’) crafts four fictionalized but historically accurate voices to convey the real-life tragedy. Joana, a Lithuanian with nursing experience; Florian, a Prussian soldier fleeing the Nazis with stolen treasure; and Emilia, a Polish girl close to the end of her pregnancy, converge on their escape journeys as Russian troops advance; each will eventually meet Albert, a Nazi peon with delusions of grandeur, assigned to the Gustloff decks.

How and when I got it:

I have a paperback edition on my shelf, which I think I bought at a used book store at least 3 or 4 years ago.

Why I want to read it:

This book had so many great reviews when it came out! I remember reading newspaper reviews (all positive) at the time, plus so many bloggers talked about how powerful it is.

I’ve read one book by Ruta Sepetys before — Out of the Easy — set in 1950s New Orleans. I liked it, but not as much as I’d expected to, and while I’ve heard good things about other books by this author, I haven’t gotten around to exploring any other of her works.

I’m drawn to Salt to the Sea based on the premise — because yes, while I’m quite familiar with the Titanic and the Lusitania, before picking up this book, I’d never heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff. There’s something so awful about ships sinking — the idea of it is absolutely terrifying to me, and the scale of this particular tragedy is so huge that it’s hard to comprehend.

I’m glad I stumbled across my copy of Salt to the Sea while thinking about what book to feature this week! It sounds like an emotional read, and I’m interested in the historical aspects as well as the stories of the individual characters.

What do you think? Would you read this book?

Please share your thoughts!

Literary Potpourri


__________________________________

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 in the comments or link back from your own post, so I can add you to the participant list.
  • Check out other posts, and…

Have fun!

The Monday Check-In ~ 8/1/2022

Posted in The Monday Check-In by
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.

Life.

Wait… how did it get to be August already? Summer is zipping by!

I made a quick trip to Seattle this past weekend to attend a family wedding, and it was lovely! A truly joyful, loving occasion, plus a wonderful chance to spend time with family I haven’t seen in a long time. What a treat!

Blogging.

I didn’t see a note from WordPress on this (although maybe it happened during a busy week when I wasn’t online much)… but I believe July 2022 marks my 10-year anniversary of blogging! I’ll need to double-check (maybe I have my dates wrong) — but in any case, it’s hard to believe it’s been that long! What a blast it’s all been.

What did I read during the last week?

Heat Wave by TJ Klune: I love the entire The Extraordinaries trilogy, and book #3 is an epic, awesome finale! My review is here.

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck: A surprisingly enjoyable treat! This was my Classics Club spin book for the summer, and I’m so glad I had a challenge to motivate me to read this. My thoughts are here.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch: Finished on the plane home — review to follow. (Short version: Fascinating and impossible to put down).

Pop culture & TV:

Oh dear… I finished season 4 of Virgin River and shared some thoughts, and my post has (I think) become my most-viewed post ever! Not everyone agrees with me… but that’s what blog post discussions are for!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: Just getting started, but I’ve yet to be bored by one of this author’s books!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Comeback by Lily Chu (narrated by Phillipa Soo): I’m loving this audiobook! Only about an hour left to listen to — it’s really fun and engaging.

Ongoing reads:

These books will be on my plate for months to come:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’ve started our group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. If anyone wants to join us, just ask me how! All are welcome.
  • Hamlet by William Shakespeare: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading one scene per week — almost done with Act IV.
  • Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb: Progress, finally! I read one more story this week — A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sweet! I’m going to try to read a few each week from here on out.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Shelf Control #328: Red Moon by Benjamin Percy

Posted in Shelf Control by
Shelves final

Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!

Title: Red Moon
Author: Benjamin Percy
Published: 2013
Length: 544 pages

What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):

They live among us.

They are our neighbors, our mothers, our lovers.

They change.

When government agents kick down Claire Forrester’s front door and murder her parents, Claire realizes just how different she is. Patrick Gamble was nothing special until the day he got on a plane and hours later stepped off it, the only passenger left alive, a hero. Chase Williams has sworn to protect the people of the United States from the menace in their midst, but he is becoming the very thing he has promised to destroy. So far, the threat has been controlled by laws and violence and drugs. But the night of the red moon is coming, when an unrecognizable world will emerge…and the battle for humanity will begin.

How and when I got it:

I picked up a paperback edition several years ago, most likely through a local used book store.

Why I want to read it:

In case it’s not entirely clear from the synopsis, this is a werewolf book! I remember hearing about Red Moon when it was first released — especially, that this is not the story of a werewolf as an urban fantasy love interest, but a gory, violent, disturbing tale with (if I remember correctly) plenty of political allegory as well. (I could be wrong on that point).

I’ve read all sorts of werewolf stories, from before and after this one was published, and I enjoy a variety of approaches, but the only other truly super dark one I’ve read is The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan, which is very, very dark indeed (but also excellent).

I’ve held onto Red Moon for years, and since then, have read several other of Benjamin Percy’s books. He’s a gifted, inventive writer with a flair for telling unexpected stories. I think my favorite of his so far is The Dead Lands (published 2015), which is soooo icky at times but also mesmerizing and unlike anything else I’ve read.

I do think I still want to read Red Moon, but given how long it is and how much time has passed since I added it to my TBR pile, I’m going to really have to talk myself into giving it a try.

In case you want to know more, here are a couple of reviews that I bookmarked for future reference:
New York Times
NPR

What do you think? Would you read this book?

Please share your thoughts!

Literary Potpourri
Reviews Feed


__________________________________

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 in the comments or link back from your own post, so I can add you to the participant list.
  • Check out other posts, and…

Have fun!

The Monday Check-In ~ 7/25/2022

Posted in The Monday Check-In by
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.

Life.

A nice relaxing weekend after an intense workweek!

This will probably sound silly, but one of the little things I started doing for myself recently is getting my nails all prettified! I hadn’t had a manicure in over 10 years, but last month indulged prior to going to a wedding, and I realized that I really liked it… so I went again yesterday and ended up pink and sparkly.

Kind of fun doing something just for the sake of feeling upbeat — and the process itself felt relaxing and pampering, so a big win all the way around!

What did I read during the last week?

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate: The real history behind the story is interesting, but the novel itself feels muddled and unengaging. If this hadn’t been for my book group, I’m not sure I would have finished. My review is here.

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey: Creepy and surprising. My review is here.

The No-Show by Beth O’Leary: Excellent! So much more depth and emotion than you might guess from looking at the cover. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished watching Stranger Things! Season 4 was a bit oddly constructed, with super long episodes (that season finale was almost 2.5 hours!!) — but overall, I thought it was SO good, and loved how it ties together so much going all the way back to season 1.

I started my Stranger Things binge with season 3, since I’d already seen 1 & 2 when they first dropped… but now I’m thinking I should go back and re-watch season 1 at the very least.

Meanwhile, the new season of Virgin River dropped on Netflix this week. I’ve only had time to watch about half of the episodes. It’s comfort watching — nothing you wouldn’t expect, same gorgeous scenery, same small town quirkiness… all taking place within the same year as seasons 1, 2, and 3! Man, this show moves slowly.

Fresh Catch:

Ooh, some awesome new books arrived this week!

(Yes, I’ve already read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — I just loved it so much that I needed to own a hardcover edition of my own!)

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Heat Wave by TJ Klune: It’s the 3rd and final book in the Extraordinaries trilogy! I love these characters SO much. I have a feeling I’m going to want to listen to the audiobook as soon as I finish the print version — I did audio re-reads of books 1 & 2 recently, and the narrator is amazing.

And sometime in the coming week, I need to start:

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck: This is my Classics Club Spin book, and the due date is fast approaching! I haven’t felt really in the mood to pick this up so far, but I think I’m going to need to push myself a bit and just make it happen.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Comeback by Lily Chu (narrated by Phillipa Soo): I really liked my last audiobook by this author and narrator (The Stand-In), and this one is off to a great start!

Ongoing reads:

These books will be on my plate for months to come:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’ve started our group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. If anyone wants to join us, just ask me how! All are welcome.
  • Hamlet by William Shakespeare: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading one scene per week — almost done with Act IV.
  • Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb: No progress… but since I’m still planning to get to it, in little bits and pieces, I’m leaving it here a bit longer.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Shelf Control #327: The Red Magician by Lisa Goldstein

Posted in Shelf Control by
Shelves final

Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!

Title: The Red Magician
Author: Lisa Goldstein
Published: 1982
Length: 192 pages

What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):

Winner of the 1983 American Book Award, The Red Magician was an immediate classic.

On the eve of World War II, a wandering magician comes to a small Hungarian village prophesying death and destruction. Eleven-year-old Kicsi believes Vörös, and attempts to aid him in protecting the village.

But the local rabbi, who possesses magical powers, insists that the village is safe, and frustrates Vörös’s attempts to transport them all to safety. Then the Nazis come and the world changes.

Miraculously, Kicsi survives the horrors of the concentration camp and returns to her village to witness the final climactic battle between the rabbi and the Red Magician, the Old World and the New.

The Red Magician is a notable work of Holocaust literature and a distinguished work of fiction, as well as a marvelously entertaining fantasy that is, in the end, wise and transcendent.

How and when I got it:

I’ve had a paperback edition on my shelves for years and years, and I honestly don’t remember when or where I got it… but there’s a good chance I picked it up at a library sale at some point.

Why I want to read it:

I really wonder if I knew that this was Holocaust-related fiction when I picked up a copy, or if I just expected magic-based fantasy. In any case, the synopsis is really intriguing.

I’m always cautious when it comes to fiction set during the Holocaust, because if not done well, it can feel manipulative or even exploitative. I’m very curious to see how this fantasy story plays out, and I’m also pretty surprised that a book with this combination of real world horror and fantastical elements ended up winning the National Book Award!

I’ve read one book by this author (Ivory Apples), and have one other on my shelves that was among my very first handful of Shelf Control books (The Uncertain Places). I’d definitely like to read at least the two books I own, and I’d certainly be open to exploring more of her work.

What do you think? Would you read this book?

Please share your thoughts!

Literary Potpourri


__________________________________

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 in the comments or link back from your own post, so I can add you to the participant list.
  • Check out other posts, and…

Have fun!