I think I have started off the year with some very good reads so I hope that’s a sign of books to come! I’ve already finished one book this year and will tell you more about it soon but for now let’s go over what’s on my nightstand.

The first book I started this year is Florence Gordon by Brian Morton. Florence is one of those larger-than-life type personalities. She’s got strong opinions on things and isn’t shy about telling you what she thinks. She’s paved the way for other feminists and scholars but her carefully constructed life is a bit upset now that she is finding fame and some of her family members are wandering back into her daily life.

What I like about this book so far are Florence’s strengths. Just because she’s a woman in her 70s doesn’t mean that now she is just thrust in the role of a grandmother. She’s still making waves and doing things on her terms. Go, Florence!

Next up is A Barricade in Hell by Jaime Lee Moyer. When I read the first entry in this series I thought it had some flaws but a lot of potential and so far this book is proving that. The atmosphere feels much more somber, as it should as the main character sees ghosts, and there doesn’t seem to be a rush to introduce characters and set up the back story.

Something must be working very well in this one because I was reading it right before sleep one night and had some very odd dreams about ghosts and such. Might be putting this off for a morning read instead.

My other read is A Scream In Soho by John G. Brandon. This is from the British Library Crime Classic collection and it’s set in London during WWII. As the title states a scream pierces the night in Soho and so the mystery begins. Detective Inspector MacCarthy is our protagonist set to solve a brutal crime.

I’m not very far into this one so I can’t say much about the inspector but I really like the descriptions of characters and setting. I feel like I’m watching a black and white noir film.

Those are my latest reads. I haven’t done all that much reading this week what with being back at work, trying to work out, run errands, etc. So I’m very happy the weekend is almost here so I can get more time with my reads. Happy weekend everyone!

Last weekend I went to the library to pick up some holds because after reading all of the end of year lists, I had quite a few books I wanted to look into! Of course, not only do I pick up my holds but I did a bit of browsing. Here’s what I came home with:

• A Scream in Soho by John G. Brandon. This is a classic mystery published by The British Library Crime Classics. I like the cover art and will tell you more about this one soon. Of course now I’m also very interested in checking out other books from this collection. Have you guys read some? Any you have to recommend?
• The Giraffe’s Neck by Judith Schalansky. A German novel about a former East German school teacher who is the last of her kind. She knows she has to adapt to new ways but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. I think this sounds like a great book and there are illustrations from old text books. Neat.
• Under A Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes. This is the first in the Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Smith series. You know I love detective fiction.
• Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. A love story set against the backdrop of New York City, Paris and Barcelona. Sigh.
• A Game For Swallows by Zeina Abirached. I haven’t read a graphic novel in a long time so I’m really looking forward to this one.

I have a few other holds so hopefully those won’t all come in at once.

As far as books bought go I had some coupons for B&N right before the holidays and I couldn’t pass up 40% off savings so I bought these two.

You Disappear by Christian Jungersen. According to the blurb on the cover this is a “provocative.. tensely executed thriller.” And, I also bought The Solitary House by Lynn Shepherd. A mystery set in mid-century Victorian London. The setting, the cover, I just couldn’t pass this up. Has anyone read this series? I believe there are a couple of others, this one being the first.

Okay, now I have to get busy and read these books! What about you, what new books did you get recently?