So, so many books lately. Books on my wishlist, books on the library hold shelf (I'll be going for them this weekend and will share later . . .) and new books I have been unable to stop myself from buying. Life as a book glutton. I think it is the cold winter--storing up stories or something, like squirrels hoarding acorns. I bet you understand though.
Granted I have had some of these for a while, but they have been sitting by my bed and I am longing to start reading (why am I such a slow reader, and/or why have I not had more reading time lately?). So catching up on recent book aquisitions:
The Expats by Chris Pavone -- This is Pavone's first novel and I have long wanted to read it. He has just published his fourth book and it features the same characters and it appeals to me as well. But always one to read in order, I have to start at the beginning. "Kate Moore’s quiet Luxembourg days are filled with playdates and coffee mornings, her weekends in Paris and skiing the Alps. But Kate is also guarding a tremendous secret—one that’s becoming so unbearable it begins to unravel her new expat life. She suspects that another American couple are not who they claim to be, her husband is acting suspiciously, and as she travels around Europe, she finds herself looking over her shoulder, increasingly terrified that her own past is catching up with her. As Kate begins to dig, to uncover the secrets of the people around her, she finds herself buried in layers of deceit so thick they threaten her family, her marriage, and her life."
The Innocent Party and Other People by Celia Dale -- You have probably noticed (since I keep sharing teasers) that I am really liking Celia Dale's novels. She wrote a dozen or so novels between the mid-40s and the 1980s. I have been trying to find copies--two more crime novels from the 60s and 70s.
A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum -- I have passed the last couple of months on the Book of the Month Club's selections but this and the Fforde below appealed greatly so two books this month to make up for the slim pickings of before. Really want to start this one soon! "Three generations of Palestinian-American women living in Brooklyn are torn between individual desire and the strict mores of Arab culture in this powerful debut—a heart-wrenching story of love, intrigue, courage, and betrayal that will resonate with women from all backgrounds, giving voice to the silenced and agency to the oppressed."
Early Riser by Jasper Fforde -- Seems timely, this story . . . "His latest novel is set in an alternate Wales where most of the human population hibernates through the deadly winter months. A few people—members of the Winter Consul Service—stay awake to watch over the sleepers and to ensure that everyone has a peaceful winter. Enter Charlie Worthing, who is embarking on his first winter and attempting to navigate the ins and outs of his new job, complete with intense isolation, nebulous Wintervolk, and the stray zombified aristocrat. The last thing Charlie is equipped for is a visit to Sector Twelve. The story is told, of course, with Fforde’s particular brand of winking humor, which fans of his previous books will love. All in all, this book is a delightful romp through an eye-blinkingly new world."
The Similars by Rebecca Hanover -- I don't read a lot of YA, but this and the book below are from YA lists that sounded too good to pass up! "Junior year gets cutthroat when clones roam the halls... Similar teens: This fall, six new students are joining the junior class at the elite Darkwood Academy. But they aren't your regular over-achieving teens. They're clones. And the "similar" teens are joining the class alongside their originals."
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi -- "It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance. To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood. Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history--but only if they can stay alive." I have heard that the world building in this story is pretty amazing, which is what made me order it.
As always too many good books to read and too little time lately in which to read them. I do want to share one link that I really liked, yes, another book list, but one right up my alley--Ten Essential Scary Books by Women! I have read two, am planning on reading the Sarah Moss and will be checking out the others!