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!