Latest Acquisitions (May 2013)
Posted 24th May 2013
Category: Acquisitions Genres: N/A
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I think this has to be subtitled ‘the book blog and Christmas gift cards addition’. Let’s forget that last month I said there wouldn’t be as many books this time…
Barbara Kingsolver: Flight Behaviour – I’m not enamoured by the character names, but we’ll see how it goes. This will be my first book by Kingsolver, and has been reviewed by too many people for me to ignore any longer. I know the response has been mixed, but it’s partly that that made me interested – I want to see for myself how Kingsolver handles the different subjects she has included.
Debbie Dee: The Underground Witch – I read The Last Witch last year and although it wasn’t spectacular, it showed a lot of promise for the next book, so I said ‘yes please’ to this next book.
Emma Henderson: Grace Williams Says It Loud – It has been my aim, ever since the 2011 Orange Prize was shortlisted, to read said shortlist. I’m finally getting round to it.
John Green: The Fault In Our Stars – Recommended by too many book bloggers to leave it any longer.
Julie Kagawa: The Iron Queen – I liked The Iron King, wasn’t keen on The Iron Daughter, hoping this one will be more like the first.
Julie Kagawa: The Iron Knight – Ditto the above.
Laini Taylor: Daughter Of Smoke And Bone – I had absolutely no interest in this book for the longest time. Then Jenny wrote a review of it.
Meike Ziervogel: Magda – I wasn’t actually aware that Meike (of Peirene Press) had written a book until Jackie reviewed it. Having read Peirene’s books the last few years and having met Meike, when I saw this on a display in Waterstones there was no question, I was getting a copy.
Nancy Bilyeau: The Crown – Bilyeau had something special going on with The Chalice and I want to read the first part of Joanna’s story.
Paula Lichtarowicz: The First Book Of Calamity Leek – Caused by Judith’s review.
Peggy Riley: Amity & Sorrow – Judith, Jennifer, and Jenn’s, and I know numerous others, got me interested in this one.
Richard C Morais: Buddhaland Brookyn – This is fiction about starting a Buddhist monastery in New York. I have a thing for Buddhism, and also Buddhist monasteries (the culture is fascinating… and they make awesome vegan meals with random mixes of ingredients and not planning time…).
Taylor Stevens: The Doll – I reviewed The Informationist last year, so accepting the pitch for this just made sense. I’ve missed the second book, The Innocent, but considering the sort of series it is I’m hoping I’ll be able to work out what’s happened.
Yep, a lot to get through.
May 24, 2013, 8:28 am
Oh no, I’m responsible for two of your choices! What a stress!!
I hope you like all your books and especially those. Also, I loved the Kingsolver book and The Fault in Our Stars. Enough great books to get through the summer, methinks.
May 24, 2013, 9:16 am
I hope you enjoy Magda as much as I did. I also loved Calamity Leek and need to try John Green – fantastic list of new books :-)
May 24, 2013, 11:15 am
I listened to Daughter of Smoke and Bone on audio, and really liked it. I finally listened to The Fault in Our Stars also, and really liked that too. For all of the others, I’ll be waiting to hear what you think!
May 24, 2013, 1:19 pm
Looks like an interesting haul. It’s one of the definite benefits of being a book blogger – knowing who’s review to blame for the purchase. :)
May 24, 2013, 2:43 pm
I’m totally with you on character names. They really affect me!
May 24, 2013, 4:33 pm
Oooh, fantastic list! Can’t wait to see what you think of the Kingsolver — I hated it (I can’t remember if I reviewed it with loathing but as time as gone on my feelings have definitely turned to dislike!) — but I’ve never enjoyed Kingsolver save for The Poisonwood Bible.
I too haven’t been that keen on Daughter of Smoke & Bone but there have been so many swoony reviews I’m going to to give it a try…someday!
May 24, 2013, 10:17 pm
Wow, that is a great bunch of books there. The Fault in Our Stars is really lovely. I’ve tried to read the Kingsolver, but I find her overly preachy and with too much of an agenda for me to enjoy.
May 25, 2013, 9:18 am
Wow, so many great titles there. I have Calamity Leek on my wishlist too. And I didn’t realise Taylor Stevens was about to publish book 3 of the Vanessa Michael Munroe series… I loved The Informationist and have had The Innocent sitting on my TBR pile for awhile – I’d better get to that quickly otherwise I’ll fall behind!
May 25, 2013, 3:20 pm
I love the covers of Amity & Sorry and The Daughter of Smoke & Bone — I’ve been wanting to read both of those — hope you like them :)
May 25, 2013, 9:41 pm
Sounds like a real interesting haul of new books Charlie. I look forward to hearing what you think of them. Especially Amity and Sorrow.
June 19, 2013, 10:43 am
Jennifer: I had my eye on Lacuna a while back but read a lot about filler content, so I’ve put it off for now. That said I do still want to read it, so if Flight Behaviour is a success in any way I’ll take that as a sign.
Judith: No, it’s good :) I’ve read the first few pages of them and like it. Yes, I’m thinking I have some good books in this list (obviously in choosing they ought to all be but some I know may be so-so).
Jackie: Good to hear you liked Calamity. I think I will enjoy Magda, I like the focus being on the wife, and look forward to reading Meike’s own work.
Laurie: That’s good to know! I’m hoping to get through quite a few this summer. That’s the plan at least.
Alex: Hehe, yes. To be honest, with all the assertions that book bloggers don’t sell books I feel it’s important to mention when they do, because as far as I’ve seen the assertion’s false.
Rhapsody: They can, can’t they? Affect you, I mean. It just pulls you out of the story.
Audra: Good to know your opinion. I am eyeing it warily (even if I do want to read it). It’s interesting, regarding Daughter of Smoke and Bone – the few positive reviews (with sufficient details) I’ve read have outweighed all the negative ones and those that aren’t negative but don’t inspire you to read it.
Anbolyn: I’m very wary of the preachiness, even if the debate is an interesting one. This will be my first Green (I ‘should’ have read Paper Towns but never got round to it) and I’m so looking forward to it. There sounds a lot to discuss in it.
Jo: The Doll has either just been released or will be released later this month. I hadn’t heard about it prior to the offer, either, I just knew The Innocent had been released some time ago. Good idea to get to it (though of course in my case I’m hoping not reading it won’t be detrimental!)
Christine: I love Daughter of Smoke and Bone, though I think, whether due to being used to it or simply the sentiment it suggests, I actually prefer the US cover of Amity & Sorrow. Both I’m very much looking forward to, hope you get to them, too!
Jessica: The premise of that one is fascinating, right? I can see myself comparing it with other knowledge, which could be interesting or bad – I’ll try and keep that out of my review, though.
Jenny: I have a hunch I’ll love it. Your review detailed the themes well.
Lu: I think I’ll likely choose that as one of the first from this list :)
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May 24, 2013, 3:47 am
Hooray for new books :) If this Kingsolver doesn’t do it for you try one of her earlier books. They are GREAT