Tag Archives: to read

The Monday Check-In ~ 9/14/2015

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.

roshhashanah

Today is Rosh HaShanah! Wishing all who celebrate a sweet and happy New Year!

What did I read last week?

another dayHello GoodbyeEverything Everything

I read three terrific YA novels this past week:

  • Another Day by David Levithan
  • Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith
  • Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

My review post for all three is here.

Fables v22

In graphic novels, I read Fables, volume 22: Farewell which wraps up the amazing Fables series after 150 comic issues. Fables features a vast cast of characters and intricate world-building, and is simply a marvelous read, start to finish. As to volume 22, it’s a good-bye piece — so on the one hand, it’s a bit underwhelming story-wise, but it’s still a great opportunity to revisit all the favorite characters and see where each ends up. (Let’s face, if you’re a Fables fan and you’ve read the series up to this point, you’ll read this one as well.)

Fresh Catch:

The Hummingbird

My copy of The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan arrived this week! I’ll be participating in the blog tour for this book next week. I really enjoyed the author’s previous novel, The Curiosity (review), and I’m so looking forward to this one!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:
Euphoria

I have a book group discussion of Euphoria by Lily King coming up next week, but my library copy is due back by Friday. Better get cracking!

Now playing via audiobook:

Fatal ThawTrigger Warning

I finished the audiobook of A Fatal Thaw by Dana Stabenow, the 2nd in her Kate Shugak mystery series. I love the Alaska setting and the character of Kate herself, and the audiobooks move quickly and hold my attention. The narrator, Marguerite Gavin, does a great job of capturing the unusual and quirky characters through their voices, and I especially love her portrayal of Kate. I’m looking forward to continuing this series!

I’ve just started Trigger Warnings, a story collection by Neil Gaiman, who also narrates the audiobook. I’m a terrible short story reader — I always feel impatient, like I’m just wasting time until I get back to reading a “real” novel. But, I’ve found that listening to audiobooks of short stories doesn’t irritate me the same way, so I’m hoping for success with Trigger Warnings!

Ongoing reads:

ABOSAAN&S

Moving right along! Two chapters per week for each book, as part of discussions with the Outlander Book Club. We’ll wrap up both in December!

So many book, so little time…

boy1

Coming soon… Shelf Control!

Posted in The Reading Life by

Thank you to one and all who voted in my poll over the weekend to help me choose a title for my new weekly feature here at Bookshelf Fantasies.

Drumroll, please…

We have a name!

I’m excited to introduce you to…

cooltext135572146599882Up to now, my Wednesday posts (Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday) — inspired by Waiting on Wednesday and Wishlist Wednesday — have been focused on upcoming new releases, highlighting not-yet-published books that I want to read. And while I’ll never run out of those, I’m realizing more and more that I need to regroup and focus on the books I already have. (Want to know more? Check out my recent post, Counting up the books).

With that in mind, I’m bouncing with joy as I introduce Shelf Control. My Shelf Control feature will run each Wednesday (starting next week) — and much like my Wishing & Waiting posts, will focus on a book that I really want to read. But with a catch!

Shelf Control

What’s the catch? Quite simple. My Shelf Control picks will be books that I already own — either physical copies from my overflowing shelves, or one of the many unread titles elbowing each other out of the way on my Kindle.

I was originally thinking of this as something I’d do myself each week, but based on some comments received, it sounds like there might be interest out there for others to join in! So, I’ll be adding in a linky tool, and would love to share the love!

I’m looking forward to highlighting some of the goodies from my shelves… and I’m hoping this will give me the added motivation to start focusing on reading books I already have!

Because some days, when I look at my shelves, I worry that I’ll end up like this:

i-73c19bd88539520d00a6fc53d6eb2f2b-buried-under-books-no-words-alphaSee you next week for Shelf Control!

The Monday Check-In ~ 9/7/2015

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.

Happy Labor Day! Does this mean summer is finally over? It feels like it’s barely started…

What did I read last week?

Secondhand SoulsA Little in Love

Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore: Done! My review is here.

A Little in Love by Susan Fletcher: Done! My review is here.

KinKith0-439-85564-0

In graphic novels, I read The Good Neighbors trilogy (Kin, Kith, and Kind) by Holly Black, and loved it. My review is here.

Fresh Catch:

Mermaid Chair

I picked up a used copy of The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. After really loving The Invention of Wings (review), I thought I’d give this one a try, despite some not-so-stellar reviews on Goodreads.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:
another day

I’ve just started Another Day by David Levithan. Given how much I loved Every Day (review), is it any wonder that I’m thrilled?

Now playing via audiobook:

StardustFatal Thaw

I finished listening to the Stardust audiobook over the weekend. Such a treat! Even if you’ve read the story before (as I had), I encourage you to give the audiobook a listen. Neil Gaiman is a great narrator and makes the whole story just so… adorable! Plus, the audiobook concludes with an author Q&A that’s funny and informative and just terrific to hear.

Switching gears completely, I started listening to A Fatal Thaw by Dana Stabenow, the 2nd in her Kate Shugak mystery series. I love the Alaska setting and the character of Kate herself, and these audiobooks seem to move quickly and hold my attention. I’m only in the opening chapters, but I like it a lot already!

Ongoing reads:

ABOSAAN&S

Moving right along! Two chapters per week for each book, as part of discussions with the Outlander Book Club. We’ll wrap up both in December!

So many book, so little time…

boy1

 

Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday: The Japanese Lover

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

There’s nothing like a Wednesday for thinking about the books we want to read! My Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday post is linking up with two fabulous book memes, Wishlist Wednesday (hosted by Pen to Paper) and Waiting on Wednesday (hosted by Breaking the Spine).

My most wished-for book this week is:

Japanese Lover

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
(to be released November 3, 2015)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

From New York Times and internationally bestselling author Isabel Allende, an exquisitely crafted love story and multigenerational epic that sweeps from San Francisco in the present-day to Poland and the United States during the Second World War.

In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma Belasco’s parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. There, as the rest of the world goes to war, she encounters Ichimei Fukuda, the quiet and gentle son of the family’s Japanese gardener. Unnoticed by those around them, a tender love affair begins to blossom. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the two are cruelly pulled apart as Ichimei and his family, like thousands of other Japanese Americans are declared enemies and forcibly relocated to internment camps run by the United States government. Throughout their lifetimes, Alma and Ichimei reunite again and again, but theirs is a love that they are forever forced to hide from the world.

Decades later, Alma is nearing the end of her long and eventful life. Irina Bazili, a care worker struggling to come to terms with her own troubled past, meets the elderly woman and her grandson, Seth, at San Francisco’s charmingly eccentric Lark House nursing home. As Irina and Seth forge a friendship, they become intrigued by a series of mysterious gifts and letters sent to Alma, eventually learning about Ichimei and this extraordinary secret passion that has endured for nearly seventy years.

Sweeping through time and spanning generations and continents, The Japanese Lover explores questions of identity, abandonment, redemption, and the unknowable impact of fate on our lives. Written with the same attention to historical detail and keen understanding of her characters that Isabel Allende has been known for since her landmark first novel The House of the Spirits, The Japanese Lover is a profoundly moving tribute to the constancy of the human heart in a world of unceasing change.

A new Isabel Allende novel is definitely a reason to cheer! The plot and the setting sound amazing to me. Can’t wait!

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

Looking for some bookish fun on Thursdays? Come join me for my regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables! You can find out more here — come share the book love!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I host 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 ~ 8/31/2015

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.

What did I read last week?

Last SummerPersuasion3

The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff: Done! My review is here.

Persuasion by Jane Austen: A funny thing happened while listening to the Persuasion audiobook. I got to within 2 hours of the end of the audiobook, and just felt like something was missing. Maybe my attention wandered at crucial moments or I was just having a distracted week (quite likely), but I felt like I just wasn’t FEELING the story. So, I grabbed my printed edition off the shelf and started over from the beginning… and enjoyed it very much! Sometimes, you just need to take the time to slow down and absorb some Austen.

PS – I just noticed how well these two covers go together! I love when that happens.

Pop Culture:

My son and I have been watching Buffy together, and we finished season 2 this past weekend. Ouch, the feels! The season 2 finale is never not heartbreaking. There really are so many excellent episodes in the 2nd season. I originally watched Buffy years ago with my daughter — it’s super fun to be experiencing it all over again with my younger kiddo!

222_Becoming2

Fresh Catch:

Hot off the press! A few new releases arrived this week:

Secondhand Soulsanother dayFairest

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:
Secondhand Souls

Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore! I’m so excited.

Now playing via audiobook:

Persuasion 2Stardust

As noted above, I didn’t really fully engage with the Persuasion audiobook, although I still intend to finish it. Meanwhile, while I was busy catching up with Persuasion in print, I switched over to the audiobook of Stardust, read by Neil Gaiman himself! It’s been a long time since I first read Stardust, and it’s lovely to revisit the story, plus Neil’s narration is amazing.

Ongoing reads:

ABOSAAN&S

Two chapters per week for each of these, for my online book group discussions with Outlander Book Club. Both books should be done by December!

So many book, so little time…

boy1

Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday: The Brontë Plot

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

There’s nothing like a Wednesday for thinking about the books we want to read! My Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday post is linking up with two fabulous book memes, Wishlist Wednesday (hosted by Pen to Paper) and Waiting on Wednesday (hosted by Breaking the Spine).

My most wished-for book this week is:

Bronte

The Brontë Plot by Katherine Reay
(to be released November 3, 2015)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious measures to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy’s secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt, and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change.

In a sudden turn of events, James’s wealthy grandmother Helen hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy’s predicament better than anyone else.

As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen’s wisdom, as Helen confronts the ghosts of her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters’ beloved heroines, who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of change.

Now Lucy must go back into her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that’s been waiting for her all along.

I’ve read Katherine Reay’s two previous novels, Dear Mr. Knightley (review) and Lizzy and Jane (review), and really like the way she incorporates themes from classic novels into contemporary stories. I’m really looking forward to The Brontë Plot!

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

Looking for some bookish fun on Thursdays? Come join me for my regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables! You can find out more here — come share the book love!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I host 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 ~ 8/24/2015

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.

What did I read last week?

What You Left BehindI Am Princess XInvention of Wings 2

What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi: Done! My review is here.

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest: Done! My review is here.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd: Done! My review is here.

Fresh Catch:

I went to a book event and it was awesome! Felicia Day gave a great talk and then signed a bazillion books. She was funny and smart (as you’d expect) and really lovely to all of her fans. And yup, I got a signed book!

You're Never Weird

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:
Last SummerSecondhand Souls

The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff: I’ve just started, but hope to power through in the next couple of days. Watch for my blog tour post on Friday!

This is release week for Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore! I will need to start reading this one the instant it arrives!

Now playing via audiobook:

I finished listening to the audiobook of The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. The review link is up above — I’ll just add here that the audiobook was phenomenal. The beautiful story was truly enhanced by the emotion brought to the audio by the two narrators.

And now…

Persuasion 2

I’m back to Jane Austen! I’m just starting Persuasion, which will be my fifth Austen audio adventure this year. I read the book so long ago that I hardly remember anything but the bare bones of the plot, so I’m really looking forward to diving back in.

Ongoing reads:

ABOSAAN&S

Two chapters per week for each of these, for my online book group discussions with Outlander Book Club. Both books should be done by December!

So many book, so little time…

boy1

 

 

 

Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday: The Beast’s Garden

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

There’s nothing like a Wednesday for thinking about the books we want to read! My Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday post is linking up with two fabulous book memes, Wishlist Wednesday (hosted by Pen to Paper) and Waiting on Wednesday (hosted by Breaking the Spine).

My most wished-for book this week is:

Beast's Garden

The Beast’s Garden by Kate Forsyth
(Published in Australia on August 3, 2015 – US publication date ???)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

A retelling of The Beauty and The Beast set in Nazi Germany

The Grimm Brothers published a beautiful version of the Beauty & the Beast tale called ‘The Singing, Springing Lark’ in 1819. It combines the well-known story of a daughter who marries a beast in order to save her father with another key fairy tale motif, the search for the lost bridegroom. In ‘The Singing, Springing Lark,’ the daughter grows to love her beast but unwittingly betrays him and he is turned into a dove. She follows the trail of blood and white feathers he leaves behind him for seven years, and, when she loses the trail, seeks help from the sun, the moon, and the four winds. Eventually she battles an evil enchantress and saves her husband, breaking the enchantment and turning him back into a man.

Kate Forsyth retells this German fairy tale as an historical novel set in Germany during the Nazi regime. A young woman marries a Nazi officer in order to save her father, but hates and fears her new husband. Gradually she comes to realise that he is a good man at heart, and part of an underground resistance movement in Berlin called the Red Orchestra. However, her realisation comes too late. She has unwittingly betrayed him, and must find some way to rescue him and smuggle him out of the country before he is killed.

The Red Orchestra was a real-life organisation in Berlin, made up of artists, writers, diplomats and journalists, who passed on intelligence to the American embassy, distributed leaflets encouraging opposition to Hitler, and helped people in danger from the Nazis to escape the country. They were betrayed in 1942, and many of their number were executed.

The Beast’s Garden is a compelling and beautiful love story, filled with drama and intrigue and heartbreak, taking place between 1938 and 1943, in Berlin, Germany.

Ever since reading a review of this book on the Book’d Out blog, I’ve been dying to track down a copy. So far, I haven’t been able to find out when this book will be published in the US, but I really hope it’s soon!

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

Looking for some bookish fun on Thursdays? Come join me for my regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables! You can find out more here — come share the book love!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I host 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 ~ 8/17/2015

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.

What did I read last week?

The UninvitedIn the Unlikely Event

The Uninvited by Cat Winters: A really terrific, memorable read. My blog tour post and review is here.

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume: Done! My review is here.

Off-line:

In real life, we celebrated my kiddo’s 13th birthday last week. It’s hard to believe my baby is a teen! And as of today, he’s also an 8th-grader. Yup, today is the first day of school here… and yes, I do think the middle of August is too early! I’m not sure which of us is grumpier about the return to the morning bustle and the nagging about homework. (Here’s hoping that as the mother of a mature 8th grader, the nagging routine will be a thing of the past for me!)

Fresh Catch:

Two book I’ve been wanting arrived this week:

Book of Strange New Things Narrow Road to the Deep North

It may be a while before I get to these, but I’m so excited to have them here!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:
What You Left BehindI Am Princess XLast Summer

I’ve about halfway through What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi. Once I finish, I have a library book to read before it’s due back (I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest) and then I need to start the next blog tour book on my list, The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff. How’s that for an eclectic reading week?

Now playing via audiobook:

Working for Bigfoot

I had a lot of fun listening to Jim Butcher’s Working For Bigfoot, a collection of three linked short stories set in the world of the Dresden Files. In each story, a reclusive but powerful sasquatch named River Shoulders hires Harry to watch out for his half-human son, and it’s all great fun. Plus, you know, the audiobook narrator is James Marsters, so obviously it’s fabulous.

invention of wings

My book group’s discussion of The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd starts later this week, and I didn’t think I’d get to it at all — until I had the brilliant idea to start the audiobook while out walking this weekend. The audio is wonderful so far, and I love the two narrators and how they portray the two main characters. I have a feeling I’ll be taking the long way on all my walks and drives this week, just so I can extend my listening time!

Ongoing reads:

ABOSAAN&S

Two chapters per week for each of these, for my online book group discussions with Outlander Book Club. Both books should be done by December!

So many book, so little time…

boy1

 

Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday: Until We Meet Again

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

There’s nothing like a Wednesday for thinking about the books we want to read! My Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday post is linking up with two fabulous book memes, Wishlist Wednesday (hosted by Pen to Paper) and Waiting on Wednesday (hosted by Breaking the Spine).

My most wished-for book this week is:

Until We Meet Again

Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins
(to be released November 3, 2015)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

They exist in two different centuries, but their love defies time

Cassandra craves drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger shows up on their private beach claiming it’s his own—and that the year is 1925—she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making.

As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love—and Lawrence’s life—into jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history…or risk losing Lawrence forever.

Time slip… romance… and a gorgeous cover! What’s not to love?

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

Looking for some bookish fun on Thursdays? Come join me for my regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables! You can find out more here — come share the book love!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I host 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!