So after saying I wasn’t really looking into any of the books coming out in 2018, (Books on Fire for 2018) I peeked in at my library’s “On Order” page!
Help.Me.
Of course I came away with too many ear-marked for the For Later folder, but for too many I threw On Hold because I can never cool that trigger finger!
Here are the ones I put On Hold, before trying to relax and store the rest in the For Later file:
The Dictionary of Animal Languages by Heidi Sopinka. I put this one On Hold first because of the title and that cover. Aren’t both completely intriguing? But with this as the first part of the description, it sounds like something completely written for me! Ivory Frame is a renowned artist. Now in her nineties, the famously reclusive painter remains devoted to her work. She has never married, never had a family, never had a child. So when a letter arrives disclosing that she has a granddaughter living in New York, her world is turned upside down and the past is brought painfully to life.
Three Things About Elsie is a no-brainer! Joanna Cannon wrote the beloved The Trouble With Goats and Sheep but I’m not sure I can wait for the library hold to arrive, so I may just run out and buy this one when it first hits the store’s shelves.
Winter Sisters by Robin Oliveira. A new Mary Sutter story!! We’ve been so patient, as Hoarder Elizabeth said when I sent this tidbit of information to her. :-) Have you read My Name is Mary Sutter yet? If not, remedy that speedy quick!
First Person by Richard Flanagan. Flanagan amazed me with his well-deserved Man Booker winning The Narrow Road to the Deep North and while I know First Person is decidely different in style, I’m completely looking forward to this one.
Red Sky At Noon by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Just as Richard Flanagan did, Sebag Montefiore impressed the hell out of me with his novel One Night in Winter, so I cannot wait to get my hands on this one too.
Mary Cyr by David Adams Richards. New David Adams Richards – that is all that needs to be said!
Ha! – I just noticed, and while it was done completely unintentionally, I grouped the first three books by female authors and the last three all by male authors. :-)
Here are a few of the ones in the For Later folder:
Mrs. Osmond by John Banville. (This one was published in 2017) I am not 100% certain of how I may feel about reading this recreation of sorts to Henry James’, Portrait of a Lady, but I’m willing to give it my best try. I have so many of Banville’s marked to read so hopefully this will be one that I do get to!
Happiness by Aminatta Forna. It has often been suggested to read Forna for her powerful and excellent books, but this will be my first, even though I have many of her earlier ones marked to read.
The Drama Teacher by Koren Zailckas. Have you read Zailckas’ Mother, Mother?? It was excellent! What a thrill ride! I cannot wait to read The Drama Teacher!
A Line Made by Walking by Sara Baume. I’ve had Spill, Simmer, Falter, Wither on my TBR for ages! I finally see the library brought that one in too, so I can finally read that one, but A Line Made By Walking is also calling my name, so I might be reading this one first. Looking forward to some excellent Irish fiction here with Baume’s story.
And from Netgalley and ARCs sent by publishers (some published in 2017) it looks like I’m very (more like ridiculously) well stocked for reading through the beginning of 2018: (can you believe it? 2018!)
Jennifer Haupt contacted us asking if we would like to read In The Shadow of 10,000 Hills and after reading the description, why yes, yes, it does look like something I’d like to read. Thank you Jennifer.
We Were Strangers Once by Betsy Carter. Okay, this is cheating. This was given to us in 2017, but it will be read for sure by the beginning of 2018!
The Balcony by Jane Delury. This one I requested first because of that cover! Beautiful! But a “century-spanning portrait”? Count me in!
Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao. This one was on my Books on Fire post but it sounds fantastic and I can’t wait to get to it! This also sounds like an ideal pick for our in-person book club too. This one and the next two are paperback ARCs so it will be great to settle in with these by the fire.
This is How it Ends by Eva Dolan. One Goodreads reviewer claims this to be, “Cleverly plotted and blindingly well written, this psychological thriller takes you into the world of social activism and murder.” so I’m hoping it’s a thriller that will thrill me.
The Exact Nature of Our Wrongs by Janet Peery. Another attractive cover that first caught my eye, but one who’s story sounds like a must read, and is another that may appeal to our in-person book club as well. It sounds to me like it could very well be like the successful book club choice, Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett.
Additional ARCs recently requested hopefully coming this way:
The Beloveds by Maureen Lindley. Given my recent success reading The Loney I couldn’t resist asking for this one!
The Eight Mountains by Paolo Cognetti. This sounds so far up my alley it was another no-brainer to request. The Eight Mountains is about the friendship between two young Italian boys from different backgrounds and how their incredibly strong connection evolves, changes, and challenges them throughout their lives. Right? You just added it to your TBR too didn’t you?
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. I really, really liked Jewell’s Girls in the Garden so I’m hotly anticipating reading Then She Was Gone.
These should keep me busy from the New Year / Winter 2018 to the beginning of Spring 2018 right? Do you think? :-) This doesn’t even take into account the ones I’m still trying to read from my Fall List!
I think this is one of the best times of the year to read. There is this sense of coziness and warmth where you get to snuggle down (by the fire with fuzzy blankets, and now reading socks!) and lose yourself, forgetting the cold, wintry weather outside and channeling yourself into great books.
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