Latest Acquisitions (February And March 2013)
Posted 11th March 2013
Category: Acquisitions Genres: N/A
8 Comments
These past couple of months I’ve been unable to accept many of the books offered to me. There were two reasons for this. Firstly, a lot of them needed reviewing by dates that I couldn’t adhere to because the number of days I allocate to ARCs were already booked up (including a good number of older books on this blog is important to me). Secondly, I’m getting to grips with how much it is physically (mentally?) possible for me to read in a week. Whilst I love reading and adding to my yearly count, there comes a point where you have to accept your limits. So here are the books that I’ve acquired since the start of February – both books for review, and older releases I’ve been wanting to read.
Anna Belfrage: A Rip In The Veil – I signed up for the tour of Like Chaff In The Wind and we were offered this book, too. I likely won’t be able to get to it beforehand, but apparently that should not matter too much as it can stand alone.
Anna Belfrage: Like Chaff In The Wind – The 1600s and the formation of the “new world” has always fascinated me, and I developed that interest further last year with my studies.
Eloisa James: Desperate Duchesses – Continuing my wish for general knowledge of the romance genre. (And I must admit I also wanted to see what my family’s reaction would be. I’ll have to write a blog post about that some time.)
Gillian Flynn: Gone Girl – A lot of people have said how awful the characters are, but it’s so popular a book I feel I should read it.
Jessa Russo: Ever – I liked the premise of this one, a girl still in love with her dead boyfriend, which she’s going to find difficult to get over seeing as he haunts her home.
John Elder Robison: Raising Cubby – I’ve grown up being informed about Autism and Asperger’s so this account, a primary source if you will, was particularly appealing.
Kate Forsyth: Bitter Greens – A fairytale retelling. Enough said.
Lindy Woodhead: Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge – I’m loving the TV adaptation, and knowing the facts are quite different I’d like to know the truth. This is the first time I’ve vetoed a book with a tie-in cover, but in this case I know it’ll help me remember how much I loved the show.
Lyn Andrews: The Queen’s Promise – The boyfriend spied a medieval-looking novel (turns out to be about Anne Boleyn). And he says I have enough books…
Sadie Jones: The Uninvited Guests – I loved The Outcast and Small Wars, so this made sense.
I also received the The Girl Below which I haven’t included in the list because I’ve already read and reviewed it. Likewise I’ve also already read Sherry Thomas’s Private Arrangements and His At Night. I’m loving my “work” right now and enjoying the mix of genres I have to write about. Whilst sometimes I wonder if perhaps I am reading a bit too broadly, in terms of blogging, I think I would lose my motivation if I honed in on particular genres or subjects too much.
What books have you bought/received/borrowed recently? Incidentally I’m aware this post format is starting to look bad as screen resolutions become higher (the book covers causing lots of blank space under the text) so I may switch to showing books all in a line – what do you think?
March 11, 2013, 11:46 am
This is a really exciting mixture of new books Charlie I look forward to hearing how you get on with them. Particuarly with Gone Girl as I’ve heard some mixed things about that book. Happy reading :-)
March 11, 2013, 3:47 pm
Great mix of books Charlie! Out of those listed I’ve only read Gone Girl. It was a dark and twisty tale and I totally enjoyed!
March 11, 2013, 11:10 pm
I’m so curious about Gone Girl – people seem to love it! The cover of the Bitter Greens is gorgeous and very enticing. I have a growing little pile of short story collections – coincidentally, I think? – they are all by women, so I’m excited to dive into them and consider the different voices.
March 11, 2013, 11:58 pm
Heh, I admit I am starting on one of Eloisa James’s books as well. Tell us what you think! I am foraying into the romance genre recently also and always trying to find writers whose heroines are cranky and smart. That is my jam. :p
March 12, 2013, 3:26 am
Gone Girl is worth a read because Flynn is so clever with the plot. I didn’t like it, but I admired it :)
Mr. Selfridge starts showing here in about a month and I was feeling ambivalent – it sounds like it is worth watching?
March 18, 2013, 10:33 pm
Oh, I hadn’t heard of Bitter Greens before! Fairytale retellings are all kinds of up my alley, and Rapunzel specifically? Sold. Great list!
March 19, 2013, 9:40 pm
Judith: Glad the oddness makes it enjoyable. There was a grittiness to Jones’s other books but not an oddness, so whilst I’m excited to read it I was wondering how different an experience it would be.
Jessica: Yes, it’s everywhere isn’t it? I’m not sure when I’ll get to it, but I’ve made the initial decision to read it at least!
Jennifer (Relentless Reader): I’m expecting a lot of points to discuss!
Jennifer (Books, Personally): Yes, it’s a sort of love without loving the story itself, or at least it seems to be, regarding Gone Girl. Bitter Greens is amazing, I highly recommend it (just finished it). Your reading sounds very interesting, and reading them around the same time will no doubt give you a lot of food for though.
Jenny: I have a review written – it’s still a draft but I’ll be sharing it soon. If you’re enjoying Eloisa James I’d recommend Sherry Thomas. The stories are very different but the writing has a similarity to it, somewhat.
Anbolyn: I understand you there – it sounds the sort of book that would make you feel similarly as Wuthering Heights. Great book, but wretched. I’m biased, but yes, Mr Selfridge is worth watching. The first episode is a good indicator of the the rest of the series, too, so if you don’t end up liking it you shouldn’t feel you’ve missed out, and of course vice-versa.
Beck: Welcome! That was my thinking, pretty much exactly :) Rapunzel against this backdrop has all the traditional story you want and the changes and additions fit in well.
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March 11, 2013, 9:13 am
I only know The Uninvited Guests, which I really enjoyed. It’s a bit odd but that makes it so wonderful.