Booking Ahead: September 2020

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

It’s time to take a look at the TBR pile and select some reads for the coming month. Here’s a selection of what I’m hoping to read…

I’ve already started Pines by Blake Crouch and it’s such a page-turner that the other two books, Wayward and The Last Town are definitely going onto my TBR list. Whether I’ll read straight through or choose a totally different book in between I’m not sure yet.

The arrival of autumn usually sees me craving something a little gothic or slightly spooky in my reading choices. Actually, parts of Pines have been a little creepy, and if the book ends on a cliff-hanger I might not be able to resist carrying on.

In keeping with a change of reading mood, and Readers Imbibing Peril (#RIPXV) happening through September and October, a few other titles catching my eye at the moment are…

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. I watched The Turning recently, and there’s a new Netflix series apparently loosely based on this story, so am tempted to check it out.

Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver – I love the description, a ‘darkly gothic thriller’, and the setting of the manor house out in the wilderness. It sounds like the ideal scenario for some autumnal evening reading.

I Am Dust by Louise Beech – Eerie events haunting the new cast during a revival of a musical called Dust. Sounds tempting…

I’m also interested in sampling at least a couple more of the Dark Corners collection after I enjoyed The Sleep Tight Motel so much. There are a few more stories, most of which sound intriguing, and being able to read a whole story in one sitting is still pretty unique to me.

I doubt I’ll be able to manage even half of this list over the course of one month, so some titles may make a reappearance in October.

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: August 2020

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

Here are a few of the books I’d like to read throughout August…

New Books

Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang – New York City, 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?
A reappearance on Booking Ahead for this book. I’ve read part of it already so it’s an ongoing read. I have ideas about who may be behind the killings so looking forward to seeing if I’m right.

Books from the Backlist

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison – I’ve been tempted by this book a couple of times before and for some reason never started reading it. Then I see really enthusiastic comments about it online and I’m intrigued all over again.
I’ve finally decided that I’ll take the plunge and although I’m only just starting I do think it’s a story I’m going to enjoy, especially once I’ve mastered the pronunciation of the complicated names and titles! It’s a good thing that the guide to the Elflands is at the front of the e-book edition as I think it’s going to be very helpful.

The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett – At the moment I’m continuing with the Discworld novels in order so the further adventures of Rincewind and Twoflower are next on the list.

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: July 2020

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

Time to select a few potential reads for the coming month. After all the time spent reading Lonesome Dove I think I fancy something a little bit Fantasy-themed this month, and so I‘ve chosen the following. I doubt I’ll manage to read all these this month, but they do all sound amazing; the only decision is which to pick first? It will probably be Ten Thousand Doors as I’ve wanted to read that one for quite a while now.

Here are a few of the books I’d like to read throughout July…

New Books

Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang – New York City, 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?

Books from the Backlist

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – This may finally be the month that I start reading this book. I’m really looking forward to it. A sprawling mansion, books, secret doors, other worlds? Can’t wait.

City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty – Eighteenth century Cairo, tales of djinn and spirits, enchantment and magic, and Nahri, who wishes to one day leave Cairo. Sounds like the start of an exciting trilogy, and the last book is already out so if I enjoy it I could just carry on reading.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – My final choice of potential reads for this month. Southern Mexico, someone dreaming of a different life, a meeting with a Mayan god of death, and the offer of a deal. Sounds intriguing.

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: June 2020

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

I had another fairly slow paced reading month last month and at my current pace I’ll be lucky to reach the end of Lonesome Dove by the end of this month!
That said, if I do finish it I really fancy reading some Fantasy next and there are a few titles that spring to mind, so, here’s what may end up in my reading pile in June…

Books from the Backlist

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry – I’ve read over half of this now. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish it this month.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – I’ve wanted to read this for a while and I’ve seen so many good reviews. Am really looking forward to finally discovering this book for myself.

And, some series beginnings that I like the sound of…

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman – The adventures of a librarian spy, beginning with a visit to an alterative London? Sounds good to me!

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal – A Regency-era tale with added magic.

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor – ‘Follows a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History’. That description certainly grabs my attention for this first book in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s.

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: May 2020

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

Welcome to my TBR pile once again! So many books and still I have little idea what I’d like to read next so compiling this post is a little tricky and I’ll probably go wherever the reading mood takes me. So how about I tell you about the books I’m already reading at the moment. I don’t usually read more than one book at a time, so this is new…

Books from the Backlist

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry – A sprawling saga of a novel that follows the fortunes of the Hat Creek Cattle Company, a group run by two former Texas Rangers, as they travel from Texas to Montana, driving a huge herd of cattle in order to set up a new ranch in Montana. This is very different from the sort of book I would usually choose but it’s totally engrossing. The characters are brilliant and I really like most of them already, which probably isn’t going to go well throughout the duration of this massive novel. I wouldn’t be surprised if bad things lie ahead for at least some of them. It’s over 900 pages so I think Lonesome Dove will keep me occupied for quite a while.

Darkness There, Selected Tales by Edgar Allan Poe – I’m loving Lonesome Dove, but it’s incredibly long, so I thought I’d dip in to this short collection of stories by Poe now and again throughout the coming weeks, just for a change. I don’t actually think I’ve ever read anything by Poe before. This collection contains The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Raven, The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Pit and the Pendulum. I do fancy something a little Gothic, and so I’m hoping this short collection will fill that spot.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – I’m still reading/listening to the audio of The Night Circus. I’m enjoying revisiting this book after such a long time, and there’s a lot that I don’t remember about it. I don’t tend to re-read very often at all, and audio is definitely a new experience for me. I’m glad I finally decided to try an audio book, and I wouldn’t be put off from trying another one if something caught my attention in future.

In other news, I’m watching the latest series of Outlander and I’m really enjoying it. It’s put me in mind to try and get back into the books because I know I started them. I only read the first book and then watching the series took over and for some reason I never went back to the books. Looking through my e-reader I was surprised to find I actually own all but two of the books, so I obviously intended to keep reading. I might try and fit a couple of smaller books in first having committed to the rather massive Lonesome Dove, but I would like to resume with the adventures of Jamie and Claire.

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: April 2020

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

I don’t actually have any set ideas what I’d like to read next at the moment but I do hope I’ll settle into something good. There’s at least one thing that deserves a mention here though…

Books from the Backlist

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – I’ve finally taken the plunge and decided to try an audiobook. I’ve had this idea in mind for a while now, so when I saw this, narrated by Jim Dale, I thought I’d give it a try. It’s a book I remember I enjoyed reading, but it’s been a few years and I can’t really remember that much about it, so I’m looking forward to this new reading experience.

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: March 2020

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

Welcome to another wander through my TBR pile.
I’ve been enjoying some really good books recently and I’m wondering what I should pick up next. I have this huge pile of books and even more on my e-reader yet I’m not sure what I fancy next.
Here are at least a couple of the books I’m definitely hoping to read over the coming month. Beyond these, well, anything is possible…

New Books

The Guest List by Lucy Foley – An island, a wedding party, a murder mystery. It sounds a little Agatha Christie-ish and I cannot wait to get reading!

Books from the Backlist

Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J. D. Barker – I’m finally reading this having had it on my TBR pile forever. It’s very Gothic and I’m loving it so far. It almost makes me tempted to read Dracula once I’ve finished this, but then I wonder if I should have a change and try something completely different?

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: February 2020

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

Welcome to the first Booking Ahead of 2020.
I’ll be choosing a mix of new book and older titles as I’ve signed up for Beat the Backlist again and want to see how many books I can read from my TBR pile.

New Books

The Other People by C. J. Tudor – I’ve never read anything by this author and I’ve seen some good reviews for this latest so thought I’d check it out and possibly try some of her backlist titles if I enjoy this.

Books from the Backlist

The Poison Song by Jen Williams – This is the final book in the Winnowing Flame trilogy. I’ve enjoyed the adventures of Vintage, Tor and Noon and can’t await to get back into this world again.

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett – I finally decided I’d discover Discworld from the beginning. I can still always change my mind and go for one of the series within the series later on, can’t I, but for now I’ll see where it all began.

Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J. D. Barker – I’ve mentioned this book before, more than once, but it’s definitely the closest to the top of my TBR that it’s ever been, so hopefully I’ll read it soon!!

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: December 2019

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

Welcome to another Booking Ahead. It’s that time again, to look for a few potential reads for the month. There are two books I really do want to read as soon as I can, so they’re definitely having a mention. Beyond that, I’m not sure, so it may be a short list this month.
Here are my December reading choices…

New Books

Angel Mage by Garth Nix – I’ve never read anything by Garth Nix but I’ve seen reviews for this book mentioning angel and musketeers?! Sounds like a decent combination to me. Can’t wait to get started reading this.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern – I couldn’t not want to read the new book from the author of the Night Circus. It’s a lovely looking book, and the story sounds great, so to the top of the TBR pile it goes.

Books from the Backlist

I’m not sure I’ll manage any Backlist books this month. Both the books I’ve chosen already are pretty long and I’d love to read them before the end of the year.

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month year for another Booking Ahead.

Booking Ahead: November 2019

Booking Ahead is an opportunity to glance through my never-ending TBR list/pile and select a few potential reads for the coming month. If I’m not reading books I love talking about books I’d like to read, so this post is a perfect excuse to do just that.

My TBR pile remains massive, and I’ve just picked up another pile of books from the library, so here’s a small selection that may be keeping me busy throughout the coming month…

New Books

Bone China by Laura Purcell – I’ve enjoyed both of Laura Purcell’s previous novels so I’m really looking forward to another gothic tale, this time set in Cornwall.

Full Throttle by Joe Hill – A short story collection, one of which, Into the Tall Grass, has been adapted into a film. I don’t usually read short stories, but I enjoyed Joe Hill’s Strange Weather and The Fireman so thought I’d give this new collection a try.

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg – That cover!! You shouldn’t choose a book for the cover, I know, but I saw a brand new copy on the shelf at the library and I couldn’t resist picking it up. It sounds like this might have a Westworld type theme? We’ll see…

Books from the Backlist

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – I’m actually reading this one at the moment. I started it during Readers Imbibing Peril but didn’t manage to finish it before the event ended.

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What are you hoping to read this month? Have you read of my picks, and if so what did you think?
See you again next month for another Booking Ahead.