I am finally back from my travels, and, as you can see, blogging again. I have a lot more to write about Thrillerfest, and I'm trying to catch up on my book reviews. Normally, I'm behind with my reading. At the moment, I've been reading up a storm. Unfortunately, I haven't been writing the reviews. I'm more than a dozen behind, so that's a problem. But look for them to start appearing this week, okay?
In other news, my voice is beginning to recover from T-fest. So sad to have such delicate vocal chords. Clearly, I should spend more time typing and less time talking. And I have a lot of typing to do this morning. I haven't posted a Mailbox Monday post in three weeks. You can guess how many books I've acquired in a three-week period. Plus, there was another Audible.com audiobook sale, and you know that I can't resist them! So, we'll see how far we get before I give up. Anything that I can't get to will have to roll over to next week.
Only Time Will Tell
by Jeffrey Archer
Release date: August 30, 2011
Source: Amazon Vine
This is how you can tell I'm a child of the 70's. I keep hoping Jeffrey Archer's going to write another Kane & Abel. I did so love those classic novels. This one is apparently going to be the first in a series, a family saga. My hopes aren't really that high, but this should be reasonably enjoyable nonetheless.
Dominance
by Will Lavender
Release date: July 5, 2011
Source: Amazon Vine
Yes, another copy. Someone's going to get it.
by Boyd Morrison
Release date: July 5, 2011
Source: Finished hardback from publisher
I love it when publishers send em books that I'm dying to get my hands on! However, this one didn't stay in my hands for long. It was last week's giveaway. I suspect another copy will be coming my way soon...
Various authors
Release date: July 5, 2011
Source: Finished hardback from publisher
This was a surprise from the kind folks at Simon and Schuster. I hadn't heard of this book before it arrived in the mailbox. It's one of those collective novels, where each chapter is written by a different novelist building on what's come before. The list of contributors is impressive indeed. Among the 26 authors are: Alexander McCall Smith, Sandra Brown, Faye Kellerman, J.A. Jance, Jeffery Deaver, Kathy Reichs, Lisa Scottoline, and Jeff Lindsay. I'll be honest, I generally like the idea of these things better than the execution, but hope springs eternal. The book is short, starry, and in my house, so I'm going to read it. I'll let you know how it is.
by Meg Cabot
Release date: July 5, 2011
Source: Finished hardback from publisher
Ms. Cabot has moved from Princess Diaries to vampires. That seems like a logical progression. Sorry, can't give this away here. I know someone who is desperate to get her hands on it.
by J.A. Jance
Release date: July 5, 2011
Source: Finished hardback from publisher
Wow, this is the 20th book in the series. Impressive longevity! I'm unlikely to jump into the series at this point, no matter how good the books are. A likely future giveaway.
by Michael Marshall
Release date: June 28, 2011
Source: Finished hardback from publisher
I'm not familiar with Michael Marshall, but the description of this book is really enticing. Much more so than the cover, I'm afraid. Is it just me? I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing this one soon!
by Felix J. Palma
Release date: June 28, 2011
Source: finished hardback from publisher
This book, on the other hand, has a beautiful cover. And, I read my galley of it from cover to cover within the past few weeks. I haven't written the review yet, but the short version is that after some early misgivings, I found this book to be truly delightful, and am looking forward to the next book in the trilogy! I would give away my galley copy here, but it's a little too well-read for you guys. (I like to give you clean, unread books.) Your loss is the face-to-face book group's gain.
by Ellen Sussman
Release date: July 5, 2011
Source: Galley from publisher
Does this look familiar? Oh yes, it's this week's giveaway that no one is entering. What I've seen of this book is completely delightful. Man, y'all are tough to give free books too! Perhaps once I get video of the author up on the blog... Sorry for the delay. There aren't enough hours in the weekend.
by James Rollins
Release date: March 1, 2011
Source: Gift from author
This is a newly reissued copy of this novel. Jimbo's earliest novels are finally being released in hardback, one a year. This particular title is special to both of us, as it is the book that brought the two of us together 11 years ago, and incident that we still frequently laugh over. Jimbo bought this copy for me at the Mysterious Bookshop while we were in NY and nicely inscribed it for me. Thank you, Jimbo! You know I love all your books!
by Jeff Abbott
Release date: July 1, 2011
Source: Thrillerfest tote bag
Yes, I received a lovely finished hardback of this current bestseller in my T-fest tote bag. Score! I've heard nothing but good things about it.
by Robert Gleason
Release date: August 30, 2011
Source: Thrillerfest tote bag
This galley was the other title in my tote bag. I haven't really had a chance to look it over properly yet, but the cover is certainly an eye-catcher!
by Diana Gabaldon
Release date: 6/28/1992
Source: Thrillerfest giveaway
I now have a Kindle, audiobook, and paper copy of this book on hand. I am rapidly running out of excuses not to read it--except for the fact that it's 896 pages long! Should I move it up on the TBR list?
by Nancy Bilyeau
Release date: January 10, 2012
Source: Thrillerfest giveaway
The debut author of this forthcoming period thriller was signing galleys at T-fest. I heard her speak on a panel regarding historic fiction, and I look forward to checking the book out.
by Sophie Littlefield
Release date: July 19, 2011
Source: The novel's editor
Adam gifted me a copy of the galley of Rebirth while we were at Thrillerfest, and Sophie kindly signed it. Guess what? It's going to be this week's giveaway! As it happens, I finally read this book over the weekend, and I loved it. And not just because we're friends. I'll be posting a review within the next 24 hours.
by Alex Shakar
Release date: August 23, 2011
Source: Electronic galley from publisher
I already have a paper galley of this one that I was looking forward to reading, but having an electronic copy as well just moves it that much higher on my TBR list. You guys may have noticed that I like reading books in multiple formats--often at the same time.
by Diana Abu-Jaber
Release date: September 6, 2011
Source: Electronic galley from publisher
Here's another book I have in paper. It was one of the titles I was most excited to grab at BEA, as I am a fan of the author. There are so many great books to read before fall, I barely know where to begin!
by Umberto Eco
Release date: November 8, 2011
Source: Electronic galley from publisher
Shameful confession: I have never finished an Eco novel. I tried to read Foucault's Pendulum years ago, but it defeated me. I can probably count on the fingers of one hand writers who were too challenging for me: Eco, Pynchon, Dostoevsky. Those are the only three I can think of, and I haven't attempted to read any of them in years. I've been intimidated. It's time to conquer my fear. Mr. Eco, we've got a date this fall!
by Harrison Geillor
Release date: October 4, 2011
Source: Electronic galley from publisher
Some readers may recall that I read the first book in this series, The Zombies of Lake Woebegotten, because it was a gift from the publisher. Despite being neither a fan of Prairie Home Companion nor zombies (all evidence to the contrary), I thought the book was a hoot! That is why, after refusing to read or view anything written by Stephanie Meyers, I will read this book. What will the pseudonymous Mr. Geillor satirize next? I can't wait to see!
by Lydia Millet
Release date: October 24, 2011
Source: Electronic galley from publisher
I have never read Ms. Millet, have you? The description of this novel sounded interesting, and the page count sounded short. It seemed like the perfect introduction to the work of an author I hope I'll like.
Okay, we're already at 20 books. Let's save the dozen Audible.com titles for next week, shall we?
Books finished within the past few weeks:
I can barely remember them all, but here are a few titles...
Rebirth by Sophie Littlefield
Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner
Charlie All Night by Jennifer Cruisie (red-eye flight reading)
Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder
Before I go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
Blood of the Reich by William Dietrich
Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
Books I'm currently reading:
Machine Man by Max Barry
Dominance by Will Lavender
Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami (Yes, Nicole, I'm reading my first Murakami. I'm totally lost, but the writing is gorgeous!)
So, what books have come into your home? What have you been reading?
No comments:
Post a Comment