Since I had a birthday recently I thought it was a good excuse to treat myself to some books. With the help of some Borders coupons, Half Price Book sales and Amazon here’s what I got:
- The Fire Engine That Disappeared by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö. This one I’ll probably read pretty soon as it’s the next book for discussion for my mystery book group.
- The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. This book has been on my wishlist since it came out. It’s about time I got it.
- The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson. Another selection for my mystery book group.
- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. This one has been recommended to me a lot. I love the cover and most importantly that it features a young girl sleuth. It already brings back memories of Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy.
- The Condition by Jennifer Haigh. A novel that explores family ties, self delusions and denials. Sounds intense.
- The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold. I actually did not love The Lovely Bones, mainly because I had some issues with one big plot point in the novel, but I do think Sebold is one to watch so I had to get this book.
So much for my resolve to not go to the library so I could pare down my stacks. Anyway, make sure to stop by tomorrow because I have an author guest post I’m excited about and a book giveaway!
18 Comments
Yay for birthdays and the excuse to buy more books! Enjoy your new acquisitions.
I’ll be interested to read what you think of The Almost Moon. I had a huge problem with The Lovely Bones in general, so I’m wondering if I should try this one or not.
I loved The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I was a huge Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew fan, too. I’d still like to go back and re-read some of those. I can’t wait to get my hands on The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag.
Those books sound wonderful! I can’t wait to hear what you’ll think of them, especially The Almost Moon. I’ve not read anything by Alice Sebold but I do have that book in my pile!
Happy reading! 🙂
I absolutely loved Oscar Wao – I hope you do too, Iliana!
looks like you bought some good ones! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
You got some wonderful loot there! I have The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie too, I’m anxious to read it. I’ve wondered about the Diaz too, I’ll be watching for your review. Enjoy your new books!
Funny how not going to the library can backfire and end up costing you. I think I have the Diaz book, but I’m not sure. And, that is why I’m sending boatloads of books away from my house. One should at least know what’s in the tumbling TBRs, don’t you think?
Birthdays are one of the best excuses to buy books 🙂 I’d like to read Oscar Wao too. And you have me intrigued with Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by mentioning Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on The Almost Moon. It’s been on my list for awhile!
Your description of the Alan Bradley novel makes me wonder if you’ve read Catherine O’Flynn’s What Was Lost. It’s not a mystery, exactly, but It sure brought my Harriet the Spy memories back hard. And, so, of course I had to re-read Harriet, which was even better than I remembered it being. How one book leads to another to…
I read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and just finished The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag. I loved both books.
I hope you enjoy The Almost Moon more than I did. I just couldn’t find anything redeeming about the main character. I bought The Condition ages ago and still haven’t read it. Funny how that goes. LOL
Happy belated Birthday! You’ve got several there that I’d like to read. And I’m curious about the Haigh book–I read an earlier on by her and have looked at this one but can’t quite decide–so I look forward to hearing whether you like it or not!
Have fun with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I love Flavia de Luce, girl spy, and think you will, too. I just finished the second book in the series and it was wonderful. How can a 70-year-old man write so convincingly in an 11-year-old girl’s voice?
Yours is the second reference this week to the “Pie” book — I’m going to have to check that one out. I loved “Lovely Bones,” but the reviews of “Almost Moon” made me not even give it a try. I’ll be interested in what you think. Currently reading “The Eighth Scroll,” which any fan of mysteries with an archeological twist will enjoy. This one involves the Dead Sea Scrolls Project, with a long-hidden message that comes to light — and what happens next… Danger is what happens next, that’s for sure. You’re going around the world, and back in time 2,000 years, in search of a Dead Sea Scroll that’s so challenging, theologically, that one of the scroll’s authorities refused to release it to the public, out of fear of its religious impact.
Happy weekend everyone! I’m rooting for the Hawks tonight!
Birthdays are the best excuses for buying books 🙂 Great picks. Alice Sebold is very good, I’m curious to see what you’ll think of The Almost Moon. I read it, and it drained me a bit.
Enjoy Sweetness! 🙂