March 20, 2018

Do you keep a TBR list?

I’m an impulsive reader. Are you? First, I have FOMO when I hear others’ reviews of new releases. Also, my reading selections depend upon when my digital library holds come in, on current great Kindle deals, and, of course, on my book club’s selections. For me, though, making a list is a fluid experience.

I’m linking up today with That Reader Artsy Girl for Top Ten Tuesday. If you’re clicking over from there, welcome!

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Spring TBR (in no particular order)

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The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
(author of The Nightingale)

I just recently read this! When you make your lists, do you also write something you’ve already accomplished on them so that you can check it off right away? I haven’t reviewed The Great Alone yet, so I guess it still counts as spring reading. I’ll be reviewing it on the blog soon. However, until then, you can check my brief Goodreads review….and readers must know that there are*** trigger warnings*** for domestic abuse.
By the way, are we friends on Goodreads?

Amazon Information Here

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Force of Nature by Jane Harper

This is the sequel to The Dry (brief review here), but I think it can be considered as a stand alone, too. It was on my winter TBR but it wasn’t released until February, so I’m bumping it to my spring list. The sad news is that I’m #33 on the digital hold list at the library. Diligently, I look for a good Kindle price every week.

Amazon Information Here

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Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

I’m eager to read this sequel to Beartown (brief review here); however, Us Against You doesn’t release until June, so I may need to bump it to my summer TBR! I’m on the library waiting list but until it’s released, I won’t know how far back I am on the list. Backman is one of my favorite newly discovered authors. Have you read any of his work?

Amazon Information Here

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The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce

This was a BOTM (Book of the Month Selection) and it looks promising, especially for music lovers! I’m on a hold list at the library but it’s not yet available digitally, so until it is, I don’t know where I am on the wait list.

Amazon Information Here

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My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith

As a fan of #1 Ladies Detective Agency series, I’m curious about Smith’s recent work involving Italy + food + romance. It sounds light and delightful. I’m #1 on the library’s digital wait list!

Amazon Information Here

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Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr

The only thing I needed to know about Four Seasons in Rome before it went on my TBR was that it’s by the Pulitzer Prize winning author of the beautifully written All the Light We Cannot See.
*Edited to add that I’ve removed this from my active TBR list and moved it to the-books-I-want-to-read-some-time shelf or until I travel to Rome.

Amazon Information Here

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A Surprise Postal Book Club Selection

This seems like a good time to tell you about the Postal Book Club I joined! I signed up for this book club with 5 other women (whom I do not know) through Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club connections. Here’s how it works….6 participants scattered throughout the country each select a book and a small journal. First, each person reads their book and makes notes (including questions for other readers) in the journal. Then each person mails the book and journal to the next person on the list. That person will read the book and make notes in the journal and pass it on. There are 6 of us, so we mail our books every other month (we started at the end of January), and at year’s end we’ll have read all 6 books. ***Note: the person who coordinated this, set up our group based on our preferred genres which we had indicated to her when we signed up for the club. Book selections are supposed to be kept a surprise (which means that I don’t talk about the titles on social media or email participants about what’s coming). It’s fun to see what you’ll get. At the end of the year, I’ll receive my original book back along with notes in the journal from 5 other people. My next selection comes at the end of March and I’ll have 2 months to read it, make notes in the journal, and mail it to the next person. Doesn’t this sound like fun? If you love book mail, it’s easy to set up…all you need is a group of 5 other people. My group doesn’t know each other IRL, but you could set this up with your friends far and near! It’s a wonderful idea for friends or family who can’t get together for IRL book clubs I’ll give you an update (including titles of books we’ve read) in December! I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments.

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84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

This title may hold the record for being on my TBR the longest. My main obstacle is that it’s not available to read digitally. I need to get myself down to the library to check out a physical copy.

Amazon Information Here

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***edited to add…

Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel
(released 3/27)

Amazon Information Here

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Winter TBR Update

For this update, I’ll list the books from my winter TBR list and give star ratings, links for the review or Amazon information, and  brief comments. I’m not including cover pics, but you can follow the link to my original post or to Amazon to find covers. (listed in order of my original list)

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Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Completed: 4 Stars
Review
Comment:  A compelling and sad true crime retelling (U.S. Native American History).

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Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Completed: 4 Stars
Review
Comment: Real life versus children’s stories;
biography + U.S. middle America history.
I recommend not listening to this on audio because the reader is less than ideal.

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Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Bumping this from my winter to my spring TBR
Amazon Information Here

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84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Bumping this from my winter to my Spring TBR.
I’ll need to get myself down to the actual physical library to borrow this because it’s not available digitally for Kindle or digitally from the library. I could listen on audio but that doesn’t provide me with my best reading experience.
Amazon Information Here

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Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Completed: 4 Stars
Goodreads Review (not reviewed on blog)
Comment: Grandparents are important and seniors can find love, too! (There’s also a movie adaptation on Netflix with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda).

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As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner

Completed: 4 Stars
Review
Comment: A memorable and unforgettable read.

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Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

Completed: 4 Stars
Review
Comment: A heartfelt YA story of the adoption triangle.

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The Library At The Edge Of The World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

Completed: 3 Stars
Goodreads Review (not reviewed on blog)
Comment: Others have enjoyed this character driven book…it just wasn’t the right book for me at the time (see review for more details).

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Eden

Bumping from my winter to my spring TBR. I recently bought this for Kindle at a great price (sale no longer available) ….so look for a review soon….

Amazon Information Here

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The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff

Completed: 4 Stars
I didn’t review this one.
Comments: A quick and easy histfic read and a page turner. (same author as Orphan’s Tale and an earlier work)

Amazon Information Here

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Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

Bumping from my winter to my spring TBR. Not released until June. I’m on the library waiting list, and in June if I have a long wait, I’ll probably purchase it to alleviate my FOMO stress. Backman is totally worth shelling out the bucks!

Amazon Information Here

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…. That’s it ….

Completing 7 out of 11 from my winter list is not too bad (considering release dates, library wait lists, that I did a lot of other reading….and Prairie Fires and Killers of the Flower Moon were both dense and long reads).  Do you keep TBR lists?

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Happy Reading Bookworms!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!
Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

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Looking Ahead

Friday 3/23, I’ll review We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

Amazon Information Here

What are you reading this week?

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Links I Love

DefinitelyRA: Thoughts After Seeing The Wrinkle Movie.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society coming to theaters April 20! 

If you loved The Book Thief, Markus Zusak has a new book releasing in October:
Bridge of Clay

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Extra: 

Author Panel + Brunch

If you live in Southern California near Corona, you might be interested in an Author Brunch at the Corona Public Library on Saturday morning, April 21. Authors are Susan Meissner, Laura Kamoie, and Michelle Gable. Here’s the flyer:

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Sharing is Caring

I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along, promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.

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 Let’s Discuss!

I’d love to hear all about what you are reading this week!

Do you keep a TBR list on your phone or in Goodreads?

What’s on your Spring TBR list?
Do we share any titles?
I’d love to know if you have some “must adds” for me!