Tag Archives: to read

Wishlist Wednesday

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

Welcome to Wishlist Wednesday!

The concept is to post about one book from our wish lists that we can’t wait to read. Want to play? Here’s how:

  • Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
  • Do a post about one book from your wishlist and why you want to read it.
  • Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of the post at Pen to Paper.
  • Put a link back to Pen to Paper somewhere in your post.
  • Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

My Wishlist Wednesday book is:

 jacket image for Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff - large version

Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff
(to be released October 2013)

From Amazon:

Printz Award-winning author Meg Rosoff’s latest novel is a gorgeous and unforgettable page-turner about the relationship between parents and children, love and loss.

Mila has an exceptional talent for reading a room—sensing hidden facts and unspoken emotions from clues that others overlook. So when her father’s best friend, Matthew, goes missing from his upstate New York home, Mila and her beloved father travel from London to find him. She collects information about Matthew from his belongings, from his wife and baby, from the dog he left behind and from the ghosts of his past—slowly piecing together the story everyone else has missed. But just when she’s closest to solving the mystery, a shocking betrayal calls into question her trust in the one person she thought she could read best.

Why do I want to read this?

First off, I’ve read all of Meg Rosoff’s other books, and while some appeal to me more than others, I always enjoy her writing, her creativity, and how she never repeats herself. How I Live Now is one of my very favorite books, What I Was was just impossible to get out of my mind when I was done with it, and The Bride’s Farewell was lovely.

Second, I just really like the sound of this one! I like the emphasis on the father-daughter relationship, and I’d really like to know more about Mila’s talents and the secrets she uncovers. I’m really looking forward to reading Picture Me Gone!

What are you wishing for this week?

So what are you doing 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!

The Monday agenda 4/22/2013

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

MondayAgendaNot 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?

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

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

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

Fresh Catch:

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

So many book, so little time…

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

Wishlist Wednesday

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

Welcome to Wishlist Wednesday!

The concept is to post about one book from our wish lists that we can’t wait to read. Want to play? Here’s how:

  • Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
  • Do a post about one book from your wishlist and why you want to read it.
  • Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of the post at Pen to Paper.
  • Put a link back to Pen to Paper somewhere in your post.
  • Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

My Wishlist Wednesday book is:

 Unthinkable

Unthinkable by Nancy Werlin
(to be released September 2013)

From Goodreads:

Fenella was the first Scarborough girl to be cursed, hundreds of years ago, and she has been trapped in the faerie realm ever since, forced to watch generations of daughters try to break this same faerie curse that has enslaved them all. [SNIP! A bit of the synopsis has been deleted to spare y’all from spoilers related to the previous book!]

In her desperation, Fenella makes a deal with the faerie queen: If she can accomplish three acts of destruction, she will be free, at last, to die.  What she doesn’t realize is that these acts must be aimed at her own family and if she fails, the consequences will be dire, for all of the Scarborough girls.

How can she possibly choose to hurt her own cherished family not to mention the new man whom she’s surprised to find herself falling in love with? But if she doesn’t go through with the tasks, how will she manage to save her dear ones?

Why do I want to read this?

BECAUSE IT’S THE SEQUEL TO IMPOSSIBLE!

Okay, I’ll calm down now. I loved Impossible. The story of the Scarborough curse is haunting and beautiful, and I loved how the author constructed the story using the old Scarborough Fair song — but altered to fit the faerie-curse storyline. I am so excited that the author has written a follow-up novel, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Meanwhile, between now and September, check out Impossible — and I also highly recommend Nancy Werlin’s more recent faerie-world book, Extraordinary.

Quick note to Wishlist Wednesday bloggers: Come on back to Bookshelf Fantasies for Flashback Friday! Join me in celebrating the older gems hidden away on our bookshelves. See the introductory post for more details, and come back this Friday to add your flashback favorites!

The Monday agenda 4/15/2013

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

MondayAgendaNot 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?

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

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

Fresh Catch:

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

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

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

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

So many book, so little time…

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

Wishlist Wednesday

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

Welcome to Wishlist Wednesday!

The concept is to post about one book from our wish lists that we can’t wait to read. Want to play? Here’s how:

  • Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
  • Do a post about one book from your wishlist and why you want to read it.
  • Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of the post at Pen to Paper.
  • Put a link back to Pen to Paper somewhere in your post.
  • Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

My Wishlist Wednesday book is:

 Shadows

Shadows by Robin McKinley
(to be released September 2013)

From Amazon:

A compelling and inventive novel set in a world where science and magic are at odds, by Robin McKinley, the Newbery-winning author of The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword, as well as the classic titles Beauty, Chalice, Spindle’s End, Pegasus and Sunshine.

Maggie knows something’s off about Val, her mom’s new husband. Val is from Oldworld, where they still use magic, and he won’t have any tech in his office-shed behind the house. But—more importantly—what are the huge, horrible, jagged, jumpy shadows following him around? Magic is illegal in Newworld, which is all about science. The magic-carrying gene was disabled two generations ago, back when Maggie’s great-grandmother was a notable magician. But that was a long time ago.

Then Maggie meets Casimir, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. He’s from Oldworld too—and he’s heard of Maggie’s stepfather, and has a guess about Val’s shadows. Maggie doesn’t want to know . . . until earth-shattering events force her to depend on Val and his shadows. And perhaps on her own heritage.

In this dangerously unstable world, neither science nor magic has the necessary answers, but a truce between them is impossible. And although the two are supposed to be incompatible, Maggie’s discovering the world will need both to survive.

Why do I want to read this?

Robin McKinley is the author of some of my very favorite books, among them The Blue Sword, Deerskin, Sunshine, and Beauty. She’s absolutely one of the tops when it comes to world-building, particularly when magic and mystery are involved. I love the sound of Shadows — the idea of a truce between science and magic is so intriguing! I really can’t wait to read this book.

Meanwhile, if magic, fairy tale retellings, and mythology appeal to you, then I definitely recommend checking out any or all of Robin McKinley’s books.

Quick note to Wishlist Wednesday bloggers: Come on back to Bookshelf Fantasies for Flashback Friday! Join me in celebrating the older gems hidden away on our bookshelves. See the introductory post for more details, and come back this Friday to add your flashback favorites!

The Monday agenda 4/8/2013

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

MondayAgendaNot 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.

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

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

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

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

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

Fresh Catch:

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

Bought or received:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So many book, so little time…

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

Wishlist Wednesday

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

Welcome to Wishlist Wednesday!

The concept is to post about one book from our wish lists that we can’t wait to read. Want to play? Here’s how:

  • Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
  • Do a post about one book from your wishlist and why you want to read it.
  • Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of the post at Pen to Paper.
  • Put a link back to Pen to Paper somewhere in your post.
  • Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

My Wishlist Wednesday book is:

 World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

From Goodreads:

The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.

Why do I want to read this?

Well, I’m definitely late to the party on this one. World War Z has been sitting on my shelf for years, and I’m a little tired of the zombie craze, to be honest… but then I saw the movie trailer for the upcoming Brad Pitt production, so how can I resist?

Plus, I love novels that masquerade as journalism, and this book of “eyewitness” accounts of the zombie war sounds right up my alley.

Quick note to Wishlist Wednesday bloggers: Come on back to Bookshelf Fantasies for Flashback Friday! Join me in celebrating the older gems hidden away on our bookshelves. See the introductory post for more details, and come back this Friday to add your flashback favorites!

The Monday agenda 4/1/2013

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

MondayAgendaNot 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.

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

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

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

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

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

Fresh Catch:

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

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

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

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

So many book, so little time…

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

Wishlist Wednesday

Posted in Wishlist Wednesday by

Welcome to Wishlist Wednesday!

The concept is to post about one book from our wish lists that we can’t wait to read. Want to play? Here’s how:

  • Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
  • Do a post about one book from your wishlist and why you want to read it.
  • Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of the post at Pen to Paper.
  • Put a link back to Pen to Paper somewhere in your post.
  • Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

My Wishlist Wednesday book is:

 The Mercy of Thin Air

The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue

From Goodreads:

New Orleans, 1920s. Raziela Nolan is in the throes of a magnificent love affair when she dies in a tragic accident. In an instant, she leaves behind her one true love and her dream of becoming a doctor — but somehow, she still remains. Immediately after her death, Razi chooses to stay between — a realm that exists after life and before whatever lies beyond it.

From this remarkable vantage point, Razi narrates the stories of her lost love, Andrew, and the relationship of Amy and Scott, a couple whose house she haunts almost seventy-five years later. The Mercy of Thin Air entwines these two fateful and redemptive love stories that echo across three generations. From ambitious, forward-thinking Razi, who illegally slips birth control guides into library books; to hip Web designer Amy, who begins to fall off the edge of grief; to Eugenia, caught between since the Civil War, the characters in this wondrous novel sing with life. Evoking the power of love, memory, and time, The Mercy of Thin Air culminates in a startling finish that will leave readers breathless.

Why do I want to read this?

Okay, I just heard of this book a few days ago, when I found out that I won a different book by this author in a giveaway (yay, me!). I feel like I’m on a roll with picking Wishlist Wednesday books with a New Orleans connection (like my selection a few weeks ago, Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys). A multi-generational story featuring ghosts, New Orleans, modern love, and the Civil War — count me in! I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.

Quick note to Wishlist Wednesday bloggers: Come on back to Bookshelf Fantasies for Flashback Friday! Join me in celebrating the older gems hidden away on our bookshelves. See the introductory post for more details, and come back this Friday to add your flashback favorites!

The Monday agenda 3/25/2013

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

MondayAgendaNot 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.

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

How did I do with last week’s agenda?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So many book, so little time…

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