2014

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

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Landline Just Like the Movies Since You've Been Gone

Landline by Rainbow Rowell: Done! My review is here.

Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fior: Done! My review is here.

Since You’ve Been Gone by Anouska Knight: Done! My review is here.

Across the Great Barrier (Frontier Magic, #2) The kiddo and I just finished up book #2 in Patricia C. Wrede’s Frontier Magic trilogy, and can’t wait to dive into #3!

Fresh Catch:

Two of my pre-orders arrived this week:

The Wraith Spike: Into The Light

Plus, two of my library holds came in as well:

The Geography of You and Me The Far West (Frontier Magic, #3)

And then there are the two books I picked up at the neighborhood used book store:

Songs of Willow Frost Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

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

Henna House Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet The Museum of Extraordinary Things

I haven’t quite decided on the reading order yet, but the next three books on my reading agenda will be:

Henna House by Nomi Eve

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Pop-culture goodness:

Have I mentioned that I’m one of the moderators over at Outlander Book Club? Maybe one or two or five hundred times?? We were absolutely thrilled this week to see that the newest issue of Entertainment Weekly includes a two-page spread about how to go on an Outlander binge — and guess who’s listed (in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY!!) as one of the fansites?

You could probably hear me hyperventilating from clear across the country.

Upcoming book club reads:

I have a few book club picks coming up:

Fields & Fantasies:

Join us for a discussion of The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman at the end of August. You can read more about Fields & Fantasies here.

Outlander Book Club:

All are welcome to join in for any of the upcoming group reads at OBC:

Classics read: OBC will be reading and discussing The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy (one chapter per week) starting August 18th.

Book of the Month: The August BOTM pick is The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Discussion opens August 20th.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes re-read: We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week starting September 2nd.

Want to join in the fun for any of the group reads? Let me know and I’ll provide the links!

So many book, so little time…

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

Happy reading!

4Aug2014

The Monday Agenda 8/4/2014

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy, #3) 6990472 Where She Went (If I Stay, #2)

I finally finished The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness! It felt like I was reading it forever. My review is here.

I read both If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman, and loved them both. If there was any doubt (and there really wasn’t), it’s now official: I’ll happily read anything and everything that Gayle Forman decides to write!

Fresh Catch:

One new addition to my shelves this week:

The Unwritten, Vol. 9: The Unwritten Fables

It’s a Fables/Unwritten cross-over! I haven’t started the Unwritten series yet, but I do love everything related to Fables. It’s clear to me that I need a good week or two of undiluted graphic novel time!

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

Landline Just Like the Movies Since You've Been Gone

After staring at it longingly from across the room for a few weeks, it’s finally time to read Landline by Rainbow Rowell. I’ve read about half so far — and like every other Rainbow Rowell book, it’s terrific.

Once I finish Landline, I think I’d better try to catch up on my backlog of ARCs. I intend to read Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore and Since You’ve Been Gone (don’t you love that cover?) by Anouska Knight, for starters.

Pop-culture goodness:

I had a blissfully fangirlish day this past week. On Wednesday, I took a day off work and headed downtown to a wonderful book signing/reading by Deborah Harkness. She was funny, smart (of course), gracious, and so friendly toward us all. What a pleasure!

From there, I hopped in my car and drove about an hour to get to the theater showing a preview screening of the first episode of Outlander. Arriving early, I had a great time hanging out with other fans for a couple of hours. The screening itself? What can I say? It was everything I’d hoped for. Amazing cast, beautiful settings, fantastic production… and so true to the book! Simply beautiful.

The first episode is available as a free preview via http://www.starz.com!

So many book, so little time…

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

Happy reading!

29Jul2014

Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday: The Outsorcerer’s Apprentice

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

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:

The Outsorcerer’s Apprentice by Tom Holt
(released July 15, 2014)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

A happy workforce, it is said, is a productive workforce.

Mmmm.

Try telling that to an army of belligerent goblins. Or the Big Bad Wolf. Or a professional dragonslayer. Who is looking after their well-being? Who gives a damn about their intolerable working conditions, lack of adequate health insurance, and terrible coffee in the canteen?

Thankfully, with access to an astonishingly diverse workforce and limitless natural resources, maximizing revenue and improving operating profit has never really been an issue for the one they call “the Wizard.” Until now.

Because now a perfectly good business model — based on sound fiscal planning, entrepreneurial flair, and only one or two of the infinite parallel worlds that make up our universe — is about to be disrupted by a young man not entirely aware of what’s going on.

There’s also a slight risk that the fabric of reality will be torn to shreds. You really do have to be awfully careful with these things.

Sssh, don’t tell, but I actually have a day job, and… well… let’s just say that supernatural workforce planning just tickles my funny bone, professional and otherwise. This sounds hilarious, and I’ve been told repeatedly that I need to give Tom Holt’s books a try, so this may be where I finally jump in.

I’m not sure that this really counts as a “Waiting on…” selection, since it’s already available — but since I don’t have a copy yet, it works for me!

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

Looking for some bookish fun on Thursdays and Fridays? Come join me for my regular weekly features, Thursday Quotables and Flashback Friday! 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’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!

28Jul2014

The Monday Agenda 7/28/2014

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy, #3)

I am STILL reading The Book of Life, and getting frustrated by how long it’s taking me. Granted, I’ve had a crazy week with little to no reading time, but still. Argh. I did make the executive decision not to re-read Shadow of Night after all — thanks to a good, thorough synopsis via a wiki site, I managed to get myself up to speed enough to be able to enjoy The Book of Life and not get completely lost!

Fresh Catch:

Once again… no new books! I think I still have one or two in my house to read. Or a dozen or so. At the very least.

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

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy, #3) Landline 6990472

Well, obviously, it’s all about The Book of Life right now. Deborah Harkness is doing an appearance at a local bookstore this week, and my goal is to have finished the book by the time I get in the signing line!

As soon as I finish The Book of Life, I’ll be starting Landline by Rainbow Rowell — which has been calling my name for a couple of weeks now…

… although I do also want to read If I Stay by Gayle Forman before the movie comes out!

Pop-culture goodness:

The big day is coming:

… and Starz has just released the opening credits sequence for Outlander, which left me absolutely teary-eyed and speechless. Check out how beautiful this is!

So many book, so little time…

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

Happy reading!

22Jul2014

Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday: Symbiont

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My most wished-for book this week is:

Symbiont by Mira Grant
(to be released November 25, 2014)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

THE SECOND BOOK IN MIRA GRANT’S TERRIFYING PARASITOLOGY SERIES.

THE ENEMY IS INSIDE US.

The SymboGen designed tapeworms were created to relieve humanity of disease and sickness. But the implants in the majority of the world’s population began attacking their hosts turning them into a ravenous horde.

Now those who do not appear to be afflicted are being gathered for quarantine as panic spreads, but Sal and her companions must discover how the tapeworms are taking over their hosts, what their eventual goal is, and how they can be stopped.

Mira Grant’s Parasite is one of the grossest books I’ve read in a long time… and I loved it. (You can see my review here.) I can’t wait to read the sequel, even though I know the ickiness factor will be sky-high. Tapeworms! Shudder.

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

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

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

21Jul2014

The Monday Agenda 7/21/2014

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

The Curiosity The Fever The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy, #3)

The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan: Done! Check out my review and blog tour post from earlier today.

The Fever by Megan Abbott: Done! The Fever is the first book to be featured in the new Fields & Fantasies Book Club, co-hosted by yours truly and Diana of Strahbary’s Fields. Watch for our posts on July 31st!

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness: Just getting started… and realizing, after about 70 pages, that I really should have re-read the previous books first.

Fresh Catch:

I wasn’t going to pick up any new books this week… except I had a Groupon for a local used bookstore burning a hole in my pocket… so I came home with a bagful of books, including some Stephen King, Agatha Christie, and more! All sorts of goodies to dive into… eventually.

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

Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy, #2) The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy, #3) Landline

I’m forcing myself to slow down and back up — which means that I’m putting on the brakes and re-reading Shadow of Night before continuing with The Book of Life. Even though I’m impatient at the thought of taking this approach, I know that I’ll enjoy the end of the trilogy more this way.

In any case, I’m hoping to move quickly through Shadow of Night so I can also start The Book of Life this week. Wish me luck!

And if I need a little break from the world of vampires and witches, I can always switch over to Landline by Rainbow Rowell.

Pop-culture goodness:

In preparation for…

… I finally started my Starz subscription… and have become obsessed with Black Sails. I watched all eight episodes of season 1 in the last few days. Avast, me hardies! Give me more pirates!

So many book, so little time…

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

Happy reading!

15Jul2014

Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday: Bitter Greens

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My most wished-for book this week is:

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
(to be released September 23, 2014)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The amazing power and truth of the Rapunzel fairy tale comes alive for the first time in this breathtaking tale of desire, black magic and the redemptive power of love

French novelist Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from the court of Versailles by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. At the convent, she is comforted by an old nun, Soeur Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, a hundred years earlier, is sold by her parents for a handful of bitter greens…

After Margherita’s father steals parsley from the walled garden of the courtesan Selena Leonelli, he is threatened with having both hands cut off, unless he and his wife relinquish their precious little girl. Selena is the famous red-haired muse of the artist Tiziano, first painted by him in 1512 and still inspiring him at the time of his death. She is at the center of Renaissance life in Venice, a world of beauty and danger, seduction and betrayal, love and superstition.

Locked away in a tower, Margherita sings in the hope that someone will hear her. One day, a young man does.

Award-winning author Kate Forsyth braids together the stories of Margherita, Selena, and Charlotte-Rose, the woman who penned Rapunzel as we now know it, to create what is a sumptuous historical novel, an enchanting fairy tale retelling, and a loving tribute to the imagination of one remarkable woman.

Historical fiction plus Rapunzel plus Venice? Yes, please!

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

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

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

14Jul2014

The Monday Agenda 7/14/2014

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

Happy Blogoversary to Me!

Somehow or another, I totally lost track of the fact that I’ve been blogging away for two whole years now! Today is the official anniversary of my very first blog post. Wow, how time flies! I decided not to do a big post about it, but just to smile, read some of my older pieces, and enjoy the idea that I’m still having fun as a blogger! And reading some really awesome books along the way.

Back to the Monday Agenda post:

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15) Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands The Curiosity

Skin Game by Jim Butcher: Finished reading last week, but wrote a review this week. Check it out here. (And now I sadly face the fact that it’ll be another year before I get to read more Dresden!)

Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian: Done! My review is here.

The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan: Reading now, about 1/3 left to go. Next week, I’ll be participating in the blog tour for this book’s paperback release, so be sure to check back for my post!

Fresh Catch:

I was delighted to receive my copy of this new release — although I might not have time to read it for another week or two:

Landline

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

The Fever The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy, #3)

First up is The Fever by Megan Abbott, the July pick for the brand new Fields & Fantasies Book Club!

And then I need to clear the decks, because book #3 in Deborah Harkness’s All Souls trilogy arrives! I’m hoping that I actually remember enough of the first two books to enjoy the 3rd without requiring a rereading marathon.

Pop-culture goodness:

How’s everyone’s summer entertainment going so far? I’m loving the new season of Defiance on Syfy, have enjoyed watching Vicious on PBS, and I have to give The Leftovers a try as well. I haven’t seen many summer movies so far, but I did just see The Fault in Our Stars over the weekend, and damn — it made me cry, even though I was sure I’d remain dry-eyed since I already knew what would happen from reading the book. Nope. Waterworks. Very good adaptation — I’m glad I finally got a chance to see it.

So many book, so little time…

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

Happy reading!

7Jul2014

The Monday Agenda 7/7/2014

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

Life:

Busy, busy week… thus, not much reading or reviewing! We had relatives visiting for most of the week, which was delightful. Plus, 4th of July celebrations! And my little guy (who’s not so little) left for three weeks of summer camp yesterday, which meant that I spent a good chunk of the weekend ironing name tags into clothes. (If you’ve ever gone to summer camp, you’ll understand!)

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15) Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands

Skin Game by Jim Butcher: Done! Another excellent entry in the Dresden Files series. Review to follow.

Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian: Just started.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week!

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

Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands Landline The Awakening of Miss Prim: A Novel

I’ll be continuing with Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands (of course).

The new Rainbow Rowell book arrives this week! I’m really looking forward to reading Landline.

And if there’s time, I’ll be starting The Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalie Sanmartin Fenollera.

Meanwhile, I really need to clear some space in my reading life for new week’s big release, The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. Finally, book 3 in the All Souls Trilogy!

Across the Great Barrier (Frontier Magic, #2) The kiddo and I are still enjoying Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede — although it’s now on hold for a few weeks, until he gets back from camp.

So many book, so little time…

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

Happy reading!

1Jul2014

Wishing & Waiting on Wednesday: Big Little Lies

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My most wished-for book this week is:

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
(expected US publication date: July 29, 2014)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .

A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. But who did what?

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads: Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

I loved Australian novelist Liane Moriarty’s previous novel, The Husband’s Secret (reviewed here in March of this year), and was so excited to see that she has a new book due out this summer. This author excels at capturing the secrets lurking in everyday lives. I can’t wait to read Big Little Lies!

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

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

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥