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Friday, November 1, 2024

It's time for the Norway in November reading challenge!


It's time for Norway in November and I'm ready to read some Norwegian literature this month. I've decided to pick up a book or two by Maja Lunde.  I'm thinking The History of Bees or The End of the Ocean...maybe both? Either way, I'm excited. It should make for a fun reading month. 

So, what exactly is Norway in November? Well, it's a reading challenge hosted by my dear friend, Meredith. All you have to do is read a book that has been translated from Norwegian to English. Pretty simple, eh? If you want the full details head on over to Meredith's awesome blog, Dolce Bellezza. And, let me know if you decide to join in on the fun. 

Happy reading!


Wednesday, October 30, 2024

A Christmas Ghost Story: A Chilling Tale for Dark Days and Long Nights by Kim Newman

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

I just received this novella, A Christmas Ghost Story by Kim Newman, and I'm eager to read it. I love the title and I love the cover. It's the perfect story for this Halloween season. So, what is the story about? Well, according to the blurb I read:

From the acclaimed author of Anno Dracula, the perfect gift for those who love the dark fantastic imaginations of Neil Gaiman and T. Kingfisher, this is a nightmarish tale of a haunted Christmas set deep in the British countryside not too long ago. Cosy traditions are made twisted and terrifying as a mother and son grapple with their painful past.

Lynda and her teenage son Rust prepare for Christmas, hanging fairy lights and making decorations. The first door of the advent calendar is opened, but the chocolate inside tastes off. Rust receives his first Christmas card, it's unsigned and the message is aggressive rather than festive.

The cards keep coming, one each day and each more sinister than the last, and a frightened Lynda recalls a seasonal TV show from her childhood that featured similar happenings, and while she remembers it vividly, there is no evidence that it was ever broadcast…

As their Christmas cheer is gradually poisoned, with real dead robins replacing plastic ones, the turkey rotting in the freezer and Rust becoming increasingly unwell, Lynda begins to wonder if her childhood Christmases were in fact as joy filled as she remembers…

A terrifying tale of seasonal dread from a master of horror.


Whoa! How creepy does that sound? How is a TV show only Lynda remembers coming true? Who is sending those cards? Why is her son getting sick? Who is determined to scare them to death? What is happening? Yikes! Okay, this sounds like a fun one. And, I can't wait to read it! I'm going to need a cuppa,  a cozy reading spot, and my copy of A Christmas Ghost Story this weekend. Talk about perfect reading plans. 

And now, I'm off to tackle some more books on my TBR list. Hope you are all having a wonderful week. Happy reading!




Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!


Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Death Comes At Christmas edited by Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

I love anthologies. They are always such fun to read. Eighteen authors all writing about the same topic, but in such different ways - who wouldn't love that? Am I right? So, of course I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this lovely, Death Comes At Christmas edited by Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane. I mean, c'mon, it has Christmas in the title and the theme is murder-mysteries. How could I resist? My favorite holiday and my new favorite genre - Hurrah!  So, I grabbed a huge cuppa and settled in for a long night with my new favorite book. And let me just say, what a treat it was! 

I really enjoyed reading stories by some of my favorites (C. L. Taylor, Claire McGowan, J. T. Ellison) and reading stories by new-to-me writers (Belinda Bauer, Angela Clarke, Tina Baker) - talk about a fun a festive mix. There were locked-room mysteries, cozy mysteries, and some dark and twisty stories - all of which made for an exciting and thrilling reading experience. I would happily recommend Death Comes At Christmas to fans of murder mysteries and anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to LOVE this book to bits! Make sure to grab a copy ASAP. Or gift a copy to your favorite bibliophile. Either way, make sure to check this book out. 




Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

Monday, October 28, 2024

Tasmania: A Novel by Paolo Giordano and translated by Antony Shugaar

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

about book:

After losing the future he imagined for himself, a writer sets out in search of connection and purpose at a tipping point with climate change and global conflict, in this breathtaking novel from the Strega Prize–winning author of The Solitude of Prime Numbers.

In late 2015, Paolo feels his life coming apart: While his wife, Lorenza, has decided to give up on pregnancy after years of trying, he clings to the dream of becoming a father, not just a father figure to Lorenza’s son. As their marriage strains, Paolo immerses himself in work, traveling to Paris to report on the UN Climate Change Conference in the wake of terrorist attacks that shook the world. His journalism dovetails with a book he hopes to write on the atomic bomb and its survivors, a growing obsession that will take him to cities across Europe and ultimately Japan.

Along the way, Paolo interacts with a vibrant cast of characters, each struggling to find their own Tasmania, a safe haven in which to weather the coming crises—global warming, pandemics, authoritarian governments, and wars. He develops a friendship with a brilliant, opinionated physicist, who followed the scientific path Paolo had abandoned, and who will test Paolo’s loyalty and values.

A stunning return to fiction after How Contagion Works, Paolo Giordano’s semi-autobiographical novel captures the fear, anxiety, wonder, and beauty of this time of uncertainty and upheaval, exploring how we can create and maintain relationships with other people when it feels increasingly difficult to connect.

my thoughts:

An introspective novel, Tasmania by Paolo Giordano and translated by Antony Shugaar, is a must-read for everyone. This is a story about how everything in life (climate crises and the rise of political turbulence) has everyone searching for a safe haven, a Tasmania of their own. The fact that no matter the difficulty, hope never dies, feels so truthful to humanity. The fear, anxieties, and worry that life is unraveling is so relatable. We've all had those moments where things are just so overwhelming and we need to escape - so we dive into a work project, travel plans, anything to divert our attention to whatever crisis it is we wish to avoid for the moment. Of course, problems never really disappear do they? 

Paolo feels like everything is falling apart so he throws himself into his work, which involves travel. And, he decides to focus on a book idea he's been obsessing over. He is wanting to escape into a different part of his life, one that is far from his personal life. Except his work life brings about more questions and worries. Thankfully, through it all, it's the people he meets along the way that remind him of the fact that hope lingers in all of us. Hope connects us. 

I really enjoyed this one. It was thoughtful and relatable. I found myself looking forward to reading it each night - I made myself take my time, because I didn't want to let go. I love when a book is so good you want to savor it. 

I would happily recommend Tasmania to fans of Giordano and to anyone looking for their next great read. 



Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

Thursday, October 24, 2024

WiseHeart: A Novel by Claudia Ermey

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

about book:

Perfect for Fans of Jennifer Hartmann's Catch the Sun and Monday's Not Comingby Tiffany D. Jackson

After Jonathan Earl David Iverson watches the first Star Wars movie and realizes his initials spell JEDI, he secretly fancies himself a Jedi warrior. He is determined to protect the women in his life including his single mom, Iris, whose live-in boyfriend is speed dating on the side; his hippie Aunt Rainbow, and her lovesick 12-yr-old, Penny, and of course. . .

Dora, beautiful and brilliant, the love of his life. Stanford scholarship secured, she is bound for the stars and will let nothing stand in her way.

But when Jed’s mistaken for a hero who has taken down a high school shooter, he must come clean and risk losing Dora, or slip further toward the Dark Side.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a fantastic story! I loved WiseHeart by Claudia Ermey. It was heartwarming, emotional, dramatic, relatable, and so much more. This is one book that I would happily recommend to everyone - it's a definite must-read!

Jed has decided that it is up to him to protect the women in his life. He's seventeen and his initials spell JEDI - so, of course he's a warrior. He wants to keep watch over his mom, Iris, whose boyfriend is up to no good; his aunt Rainbow and cousin Penny who happen to live next door; and Dora, his one true love. Oh, and then there's high school to deal with - all the usual drama and chaos that involves. I don't want to share anymore, because this is one story you have to experience for yourself. I will share that Jed finds himself in a situation where the truth must prevail at the cost of his love life. After all, a warrior must fight for good, right? 

Ermey has written a terrific story that will grab you right from the start. You'll fall in love with these characters and enjoy getting to know them. And, you'll definitely fall in deep with this story. Make sure to grab a copy and gift one to your favorite bookworm. You are going to LOVE WiseHeart! I know I did. 


Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!