Haul #1 of library holds. I had to leave a couple of books behind as I walking home and can only carry so many at once. I have to say this is a really good haul and I want to start all of them right now and how will I decide which comes first (considering I already have one library book on the go and another new book that needs to be read soon for book club!).
Where should I start?
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson -- "In Denmark, Professor Anders Larsen, an urbane man of facts, has lost his wife and his hopes for the future. On an isolated English farm, Tina Hopgood is trapped in a life she doesn’t remember choosing. Both believe their love stories are over. Brought together by a shared fascination with the Tollund Man, subject of Seamus Heaney’s famous poem, they begin writing letters to one another. And from their vastly different worlds, they find they have more in common than they could have imagined. As they open up to one another about their lives, an unexpected friendship blooms. But then Tina’s letters stop coming, and Anders is thrown into despair. How far are they willing to go to write a new story for themselves?"
Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss -- Why does this make me think of Shirley Jackson? "A taut, gripping tale of a young woman and an Iron Age reenactment trip that unearths frightening behavior."
The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg -- "When Doris was a girl, she was given an address book by her father, and ever since she has carefully documented everyone she met and loved throughout the years. Looking through the little book now, Doris sees the many crossed-out names of people long gone and is struck by the urge to put pen to paper. In writing down the stories of her colorful past—working as a maid in Sweden, modelling in Paris during the 30s, fleeing to Manhattan at the dawn of the Second World War—can she help Jenny, haunted by a difficult childhood, unlock the secrets of their family and finally look to the future? And whatever became of Allan, the love of Doris’s life?"
The Light Over London by Julia Kelly -- "It’s always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost relationship: among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier’s life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages."
I mention epistolary in my blog title as I think that is going to be the next task I tackle on the Read Harder list. I have been thinking of possible reads for a while now and it dawned on me, purely by chance I am reading a book right now that would work nicely already. I have been reading Jami Attenberg's Saint Mazie and it is made up of diary entries and clippings and anecdotal bits by people who knew Maizie. I know the book is based on an actual person and I plan on reading about her in due time as well.
Now, not only is Maizie working as an epistolary novel choice, but of the four library books I brought home, three of them also include diaries or letters. So, I think that is one task I will be able to line of very quickly. I am trying (very loosely) to cross of two tasks a month, which should complete the challenge by the end of the year very easily.
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I have to pass on some links since it is the end of the week. There is always so much that ends up in my inbox. I skim a lot and mean to go back to lots but some are lists or quick reads. Here are a few of those that caught my attention in particular.
I think this is the first book to screen list of adaptations I have seen this year and I feel just sort of tepid about them. I do want to read Where'd You Go Bernadette, and if The Woman in the Window ever comes out in paperback I want to read that as well (only hoping it is not another Girl on the Train sort of story?). I go back and forth about reading Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, but as I do have it in a smaller mass market size book (it is a chunky one) I should really give it a go. Another version of Little Women? Then again, it is Greta Gerwig directing so I'll likely see it (so far off on the horizon, though, as it is not coming out until next December!).
The Edgar Award nominations have been announced. I am not familiar with quite a few titles on the list so there is lots to explore. I think I have heard of the Leftys (Left Coast Crime Convention), and they have also announced their nominees. Yet more to explore.
I'm excited to see this new imprint--American Mystery Classics published by Otto Penzler Publisher (W.W. Norton). They are reissuing classic American mysteries-vintage titles. I have already ordered two of the books!
As you can see with the Edgars and the Leftys we are approaching the start of book prize season! The 2019 Pen Award finalists have been announced. I'm excited for the Stella Longlist, however. The Stella Prize is the Australian women's literary prize, and there are always some really interesting books on the list that I find I want to read. It is a little harder to get my hands on some of those books, but often they are just the thing to get me out of my reading comfort zone. The list is not just fiction but also includes nonfiction and short stories. And there are always #ownvoices (indigenous) authors included. The list will come out February 7 and about a month later we'll get the Women's Prize Longlist, too. Ahh, the anticipation!
So, I leave you with two easy questions. Have you read any of the books in my library pile? Any that are absolutely not to be missed? And I have been avoiding reading thrillers for a while now. There is a sense of samey-ness to some of them and I have been feeling really jaded by that. I've been binging on traditional detective stories (and shall keep on with Kinsey Millhone), but I am feeling ready to get back to a good thriller. Have you read one lately that is especially good? Recommendations always welcome!
Ghost Wall is compelling and a fast read - mostly because it is hard to put down. It reminded me a little of Sarah Moss's first book which is set on an archaeological dig in Greenland.
I am in line at the library for Meet Me at the Museum and I might have to investigate the other books you have in your pile as they look intriguing!
I have had The Goldfinch since it came out in hardback - and no I haven't read it (haven't read any of Donna Tartt's books, but haven't admitted as much to my daughter in law who is a big fan of hers)
I do keep looking at the volume as it sits on my shelf but since I have quite a few big thick books in progress at present, it will probably have to wait a little longer for its moment!
I have read Where'd You Go Bernadette? and very much enjoyed it if that is any help and since I have given a copy of Little Women to my eldest granddaughter, I hope to finally get around to reading it again for the first time in many years. I'm unlikely to go out if my way to watch any of the film versions of it though as I have my own idea of what the characters look like and the casting rarely matches up!
As to thrillers to whet your appetite : I very much enjoyed Elly Griffiths' standalone The Stranger Diaries and Ruth Ware's most recent book The Death of Mrs Westaway is very good too.
Posted by: LizF | January 25, 2019 at 05:00 PM
I loved Where'd You Go Bernadette and am excited about the movie version, though a big part of the appeal of the book, for me, was the form of it - which is epistolary, actually!
Posted by: Heather | January 25, 2019 at 05:22 PM
I've read The Red Address Book, Ghost Wall, Meet Me At the Museum & Light over London is what I'll be starting next. We're on the same reading wave length! I liked all of the one's I've read so far. I just finished Transcription by Kate Atkinson & think you could easily bypass this until you have absolutely nothing else to read. But I did finish it, so it's not horrible.
The mystery my reading group all liked was Anthony Horowitz's The Word is Murder...more a fun mystery because the author writes himself into the story...very clever.
Posted by: cathy | January 25, 2019 at 07:39 PM
I haven't read any of the books on your library pile, but I did love Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I'm usually not inclined to read books just because they are in line for a prize, but I may start to remedy that, or at least read some of the prize winners. I recently was looking at a list of prize books from previous years (Pulitzer and other prizes) and found I had read only a handful of ALL the previous prize winners. Made me feel quite literarily ignorant. I actually do better on classics than prize winners, and I'm not that great on my classics, either!
Posted by: Kathy | January 26, 2019 at 03:06 PM
as an afterthought - 3 books that I've read in the last month, Ghost Wall, Meet Me at the Museum & Broken Ground by Val McDermid have been about bog people...and a PBS documentary about them. Never heard much about them before & now 3 books & a documentary? Is something going on that I'm not aware of?
Posted by: Cathy | January 26, 2019 at 04:57 PM
I am eager to read Meet Me at the Museum and look forward to what you might have to say about it - that at the Red Address book.
Love your pile - always do.
Posted by: Penny | January 28, 2019 at 10:25 AM
I have started sampling the books as I know I can't read them all as there are lines of people waiting for them. I started the Moss as that is one I think I can fit in, but not sure which of the others to try now--especially since I am in progress of reading the Lyndsay Faye novel. They always all come in at once!! I have had the Tartt since it came out in cloth, but as it is a big book, I also have it in mass market size--though have not yet picked up either.... I want to read Where'd You Go Bernadette before the movie comes out. and I am in line for the Griffiths, which does not come out here until March!! I swear Little Women must be the most adapted book to film classic--or maybe a Jane Austen book has that honor?
Posted by: Danielle | January 28, 2019 at 03:24 PM
I seem to be coming across epistolary novels left and right all of a sudden!! I wonder how they will adapt an epistolary novel to the big screen? I really should pull it off my stack soon! I have heard many good things about it.
Posted by: Danielle | January 28, 2019 at 03:25 PM
I have yet to read any of Anthony Horowitz's mysteries, but I do have the Magpie mystery. I gave the Light Over London a Go and while I did enjoy that chapter I think I am just not in a mood for a parallel story with one thread set in WWII. I seem to have been picking up lots of war stories and think I want something else. So now it is back to the stack to try another one. I started Ghost Wall and think I will read it this week easily. The bad thing about having so many books come in at once-I have to pare down the pile as I can't read them all before the due date--and none of them can be renewed right now. Sigh. The library borrowers dilemma. Glad you liked all the other choices--our tastes really do overlap! I think the Kelly will be a really fast read for you going by the chapter I read. I love the premise however!
Posted by: Danielle | January 28, 2019 at 03:29 PM
Some prize list books look really good, but I don't feel the need to read the winners usually. Whichever book from the list that appeals the least is usually the book that wins! I do plan on reading Where'd You Go Bernadette--it sounds good and everyone seems to have loved it. Classics. I am just not managing those these days sadly.
Posted by: Danielle | January 28, 2019 at 03:30 PM
Hmm. That is interesting--it must be a trend! I forgot Meet Me at the Museum is about bog people, too. I will try that next! I really need to try Val McDermid, too. She intrigues me--I keep coming across her books, but I never know where to start with her work.
Posted by: Danielle | January 28, 2019 at 03:34 PM
I think I am going to try Meet Me at the Museum next. Aside from the fact it is a smallish book that looks like a fun and fast read--how can you go wrong with a story set in a museum!
Posted by: Danielle | January 28, 2019 at 03:34 PM
what I liked about Broken Ground (McDermid) is that it wasn't quite as violent as some of her other stuff I've read. I must be getting squeamish in my old age.
Posted by: cathy | January 28, 2019 at 03:45 PM
Now that you say that--I think that is why I have yet to read her books. When I pick one up either it sounds like part of a series (and I hate jumping in midstream), or it sounds a little too graphic. Same story with Mo Hayder...
Posted by: Danielle | January 29, 2019 at 03:34 PM
Oh the tragedy of leaving some library books behind! Did you leave them on your hold shelf so you could get them in a day or two or did you return them and will have to remember to request them again another time?
Posted by: Stefanie | January 30, 2019 at 06:30 PM
Which one are you going to start with? Meet Me At the Museum sounds so good. I want to know what happens next! Thank you for all the links. I need to check out the Edgars and see which mysteries I need to check out.
Posted by: iliana | January 30, 2019 at 08:44 PM
Lots of good books to look through but I'm particularly interested in the Meet Me at the Museum book. Sounds really like a fun read. FYI, for some reason I've been having a lot of problems commenting on your blog. I'm sure it's user error on my end!
Posted by: iliana | February 03, 2019 at 11:47 AM
I am trying to finish a library book that is due--tomorrow, but I am going to be late unfortunately. I think next up is going to be Meet Me at the Museum, though! It looks like it will read fairly quickly, too!
Posted by: Danielle | February 04, 2019 at 03:36 PM
I need to be more discerning about what I take home--think about what I can actually really manage to read. The weather is just too cold and icky right now to be lugging books back and forth. It is indeed always sad to leave some behind that I might not get back to pick up before the hold expires, though!!
Posted by: Danielle | February 04, 2019 at 03:43 PM