I've not forgotten about my Lost in the Stacks project, and I even had a book all ready to bring home yesterday to share, but the thought of lugging just one extra book in my bookbag from work to the bus stop and then onwards home was just too much for me to consider. These sunny and over 100F (37C) degree days are really beginning to wear on me. I don't just change clothes when I arrive home after my (usually pleasant) twenty minute walk, I peel them off. But let's not linger on that unpleasantness (since I know I am not alone in dealing with the heat!). How about a book list instead. I love book lists as you probably know.
I've been noting down lots of forthcoming titles as they crop up in my book browsing. My list is at least as long as my arm. Here are a few highlights. Not to wish away summer (well, kind of actually since I have a vacation to look forward to and hopefully cooler weather . . . ), but fall always brings a bounty of new books.
The Painted Bridge by Wendy Wallace -- "An elegant, emotionally suspenseful debut, The Painted Bridge is a story of family betrayals, illicit power, and a woman sent to an asylum against her will in Victorian England."
Dear Life: Stories by Alice Munro -- A new collection by a master short story writer. I've decided I need to read all her books. That's what happens when you spend your day off reading short stories. More about this later.
The Child's Child by Barbara Vine -- I love Barbara Vine/Ruth Rendell! I can't believe she is still whipping out a book or two a year. "From “unequivocally the most brilliant mystery writer of our time” (Patricia Cornwell), a new novel from Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine, about a brother and sister involved with the same man in contemporary London." I'm leaning towards bringing one of her books with me on vacation (as yet undecided as to which one).
The St. Zita Society by Ruth Renell -- "From three-time Edgar Award–winning mystery writer Ruth Rendell comes a captivating and expertly plotted tale of residents and servants on one block of a posh London street—and the deadly ways their lives intertwine."
Something Red by Douglas Nicholas -- "From debut novelist Douglas Nicholas comes a haunting fantasy of love, murder, and sorcery set in one of the coldest winters of thirteenth-century England."
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton -- I'm behind in reading some of her prior books, but I do like her storytelling style. "The new novel from the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Distant Hours is a spellbinding mix of mystery, thievery, murder, and enduring love."
The White Forest by Adam McOmber -- I'm reading his book of short stories at the moment and really looking forward to reading his first novel, too. "In this hauntingly original debut novel about a young woman whose peculiar abilities help her infiltrate a mysterious secret society, Adam McOmber uses fantastical twists and dark turns to create a fast-paced, unforgettable story."
Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler: A True Love Story Rediscovered by Trudi Kanter -- "The astonishing true journey of Trudi Kanter, an Austrian Jew, whose courage, resourcefulness, and perseverance kept both her and her beloved safe during the Nazi invasion is a rediscovered masterpiece."
Eight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto -- "A deeply affecting meditation on the lives of women artists, Whitney Otto's vivid novel explores the ambitions, passions, conflicts and desires of eight female photographers throughout the twentieth century. This spectacular cast of spirited, larger- than-life women offers wide-ranging insight about the times in which they lived. From San Francisco to New York, London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, and Rome, Otto spins a magical, romantic tale that creates a compelling portrait of the history of feminism and of photography." This sounds like it could once again be a book of interlinked short stories?
The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood -- "Part literary mystery and part love story, The Obituary Writer examines expectations of marriage and love, the roles of wives and mothers, and the emotions of grief, regret, and hope."
Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers -- "A Canadian bestseller, this richly imagined novel is about a young French woman sent to settle in the New World."
City of Women by David R. Gillham -- "It is 1943—the height of the Second World War—and Berlin has essentially become a city of women. In this page-turning novel, David Gillham explores what happens to ordinary people thrust into extraordinary times, and how the choices they make can be the difference between life and death."
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart -- This is a reissue! "First published in 1956, this haunting novel of suspense and romance set in the Scottish Hebrides blends pungent description with sheer terror as only Mary Stewart can. Most visitors to the Isle of Skye are there to climb the jagged peaks of Blaven or fish the many sparkling streams, but Gianetta Brooke came to forget Nicholas Drury—the husband she had painfully divorced. Upon arrival, however, Gianetta realizes that this won’t be a typical vacation when she discovers that Nicholas is numbered among the guests at the small inn. Then, upon the treacherous slopes of Blaven, a murder is committed, and although Gianetta missed the first act of an eerie, unearthly crime, the murderer is set to strike again and again before a thrilling finale that pits Gianetta face-to-face with a madman."
So, there's a baker's dozen of new books for you (or for me, as the case may be!). I could go one, but for fear of overwhelming you, I'll stop now and save the rest for some other day.
Are there are new/forthcoming books you're watching for? I know there are loads more authors releasing new books this fall--like Zadie Smith, Michael Chabon, Ian McEwan, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, J.K. Rowling, Pat Barker, Jasper Fforde . . . so many to look forward to!