Booking Ahead: September 2021

September 1, 20212 Comments

The arrival of autumn usually sees me craving something a little gothic or slightly spooky in my reading choices, and this year is no exception. I always look forward to choosing potential reads for when the afternoons are rainy and cool or the nights are beginning to draw in and I want to get lost in a great read.
There are many titles I’m interested in reading at the moment, so this month I’m going very much overboard with my list, knowing that there’s no chance I’ll read them all in September, but thinking more that they’ll see me through the whole season.
In keeping with a change of reading mood, and Readers Imbibing Peril (#RIPXVI) happening throughout September and October, here are a few (or a lot of) titles catching my eye at the moment…

To begin, books I hope to try in September – gothic, historical, mystery, magical, academic settings, I can’t wait to get started…

The Secret History by Donna Tartt – you know that autumn and particularly September are upon us when this title appears on my TBR list again. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve thought I would like to read this book and yet so far I still haven’t managed to get around to it. It’s always this time of year when I remember it too.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik – A magical school setting? Next book available very soon? Sounds good.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow – I loved The Ten Thousand Doors of January when I read it earlier this year, so I’d like to find time for this over the coming weeks.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers – Two timelines – Paris, 1925 and Virginia, 2005 – a circus setting, and a possible family curse. This sounds mysterious and magical.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke – I’ve seen a lot of good reviews for this one, and I’ve had it on my TBR list for ages now, so hopefully this season I’ll finally discover it for myself.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters – This would be a reread, which I’ve been doing quite a lot recently having never done it before. It’s so long since I first read this. It was probably pre-blogging days because I don’t think I ever wrote about it.

And possibly getting slightly more strange and spooky towards and during October with…

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward – Have seen so many reviews for this that say just enough without giving anything anyway and I’m intrigued. I’ve wanted to read this for a while but kept saving it for this time of year.

The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell – I’ve read all of Laura Purcell’s novels so far and enjoyed every one. I think my favourite is still The Silent Companions, which is definitely one I’d recommend for the dark nights of autumn. This latest is another title I’ve been saving for my seasonal TBR list.

The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier – It’s a long time since I read anything by Daphne du Maurier and the mention of apparent time travel makes this sound interesting.

It Will Just Be Us by Jo Kaplan – A decaying mansion on the edge of a swamp and plenty of spooky goings-on by the sound of it, this sounds like a great choice for Readers Imbibing Peril.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager – Another tale with a possibly haunted house, in this case Baneberry Hall, a place to which Maggie Holt returns after many years to renovate and prepare it for sale.

So, there’s a list guaranteed to keep me reading well into autumn. There’s little chance I’ll read all of these, and I’ll probably narrow my choices down a little for my Readers Imbibing Peril post later this week.

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 2021

August 1, 20216 Comments

It’s time to select a few potential reads for the month. As predicted, due to reading Wizard and Glass I didn’t have chance to read much else last month, so there’s at least one book here making a reappearance. I’m reading slowly again at the moment, so this month I’m only going to choose a couple of books…

The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower #4.5) by Stephen King – Roland Deschain and his ka-tet—Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy, the billy-bumbler—encounter a ferocious storm just after crossing the River Whye on their way to the Outer Baronies. As they shelter from the howling gale, Roland tells his friends not just one strange story but two . . . and in so doing, casts new light on his own troubled past.

In his early days as a gunslinger, in the guilt-ridden year following his mother’s death, Roland is sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape-shifter, a “skin-man” preying upon the population around Debaria. Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, the brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast’s most recent slaughter. Only a teenager himself, Roland calms the boy and prepares him for the following day’s trials by reciting a story from the Magic Tales of the Eld that his mother often read to him at bedtime. “A person’s never too old for stories,” Roland says to Bill. “Man and boy, girl and woman, never too old. We live for them.” And indeed, the tale that Roland unfolds, the legend of Tim Stoutheart, is a timeless treasure for all ages, a story that lives for us.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow – In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the Eastwood sisters–James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna–join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women’s movement into the witch’s movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.

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 2021

July 1, 20217 Comments

It’s time to select a few potential reads for the coming month. I’m going to list a few titles but the first book I must mention is the next in the Dark Tower series, Wizard and Glass. It’s a very long book, so I may be being a bit overly-optimistic with the rest of this list but there are quite a few books I’d like to try and get around to, and who knows what else will make it’s way onto my TBR list as well?

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

Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower #4) by Stephen King – This is the book that gives a glimpse into Roland’s past – his time with his old friends Cuthbert and Alain and his meeting with Susan Delgado. I remember enjoying this the first time I read it, so I’m looking forward to revisiting the story to see if I still enjoy it as much.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers – Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal – On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process.

Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon, as a calculator. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too.

Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow – In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.

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 2021

June 1, 20216 Comments

It’s that time again, a glance at my TBR list to select a few potential reads for the month of June. I’ve been reading very slowly of late so I won’t choose too many titles, especially since I must mention…

Wizard and Glass by Stephen King. This is the fourth book in the Dark Tower series, and I do want to continue my reread this month so I imagine this will take up a fair amount of my reading time. It’s been a long time since I read these books but from memory I think this was one that I really enjoyed, where we learn more of Roland’s past and about his friends and some of their adventures. Can’t wait to get back to it.

A few other titles I’d like to read this month may include…

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton – I’ve wanted to read this for a while now. I enjoyed The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle so much I can’t wait to see what’s in store of this tale of murder, mystery and possible supernatural happenings on board a ship bound for Amsterdam.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – My current and ongoing read which I should definitely finish this month. It’s so good, and I can’t wait to see how it’s going to end, although I don’t really want to get to the end.

If I manage to read any/all of these choices I might return to the Joe Pickett series by C. J. Box. I read the first book recently and find myself wanting to discover what happens to Joe and his family next.

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 2021

May 1, 20218 Comments

Welcome to the TBR pile once again! I’ve picked out a few potential reads for May.

I think my Dark Tower reread may continue this month with the 4th book the series, Wizard and Glass.

There’s another book that I’d like to read this month as well which is another by Stephen King…

Later by Stephen King – The son of a struggling single mother, Jamie Conklin just wants an ordinary childhood. But Jamie is no ordinary child. Born with an unnatural ability his mom urges him to keep secret, Jamie can see what no one else can see and learn what no one else can learn. But the cost of using this ability is higher than Jamie can imagine – as he discovers when an NYPD detective draws him into the pursuit of a killer who has threatened to strike from beyond the grave.

Beyond that I’m not sure yet what else I’ll be reading.

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 2021

April 1, 20217 Comments

The monthly wander through the endless pile/list of books is upon us again as I select a few potential reads for April. Bring on the books…

The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower #3) by Stephen King – I have a feeling that my Dark Tower reread will be continuing this month as I can’t seem to put those books down at the moment.
I’ve seen various suggestions for other King books connected to the Tower, and as if several thousand pages of Tower wasn’t enough, I’m actually considering adding a few of the connected novels in too.

That said, there is at least one other book I would like to mention here too…

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – I’m reading this at the moment and it’s very good. I picked it after enjoying Mexican Gothic so much.

So, there are a couple of the books that may feature in my reading this month. There’s also the chance that something completely unexpected will catch my eye…

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 2021

March 1, 20217 Comments

Welcome to another wander through my TBR pile, where you find me wondering what I should read next. I’m not too sure what I’m in the mood for at the moment, but there are at least a couple of books I’m definitely hoping to read over the coming month…

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – Last year I had the pleasure of reading my first novel by this author, Mexican Gothic. I enjoyed it so much that I knew I would have to pick up at least one of her backlist titles and Gods of Jade and Shadow caught my eye with it’s lovely cover. I’ve already started reading and so far I think I’m going to enjoy it just as much as Mexican Gothic. It’s very different to that story, following Casiopea, a young woman who accidentally frees the Lord of Xibalba and ends up having to go adventuring with him as their fates become entwined. Can’t wait to read more of this.

The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower #2) by Stephen King – I’ve started my Dark Tower reread and don’t want to wait too long between volumes, so I might pick up book 2 this month. I think I might enjoy another Western/Weird West tale. From what I remember this one features more modern time periods too as Roland draws his ka-tet together for the first time.
From memory The Drawing of the Three is a longer read than The Gunslinger, so I’m not sure I’ll manage to fit in anything else over the month but you never know.

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 2021

February 1, 202112 Comments

Welcome to the first Booking Ahead of 2021. February finds me in an unusual reading situation.
I feel in the mood for a bit of… rereading.
This is something I rarely if ever indulge in. There are so many new books all vying for attention, and that’s still the case, but for some reason I am really tempted by a couple of books I’ve read before.
They’re both Stephen King titles, and the first is The Shining. The second is The Gunslinger, which is the first book of the Dark Tower series. I’ve wanted to reread that whole series for quite a while.
I recently discovered I must have read both of these books during my pre-blogging days as I don’t seem to have written about them before, so if I do read either or both of them they’ll probably make an appearance on the blog.

That said, there are a couple of other books that I bought recently and I’m still amazed that I haven’t instantly picked up at least one of them yet, so they’re both worth a mention in my potential reads for the month too…

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

There are also the new titles that are catching my eye right now, and a couple that I’m interested in are…

The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell – As the age of the photograph dawns in Victorian Bath, silhouette artist Agnes is struggling to keep her business afloat. Still recovering from a serious illness herself, making enough money to support her elderly mother and her orphaned nephew Cedric has never been easy, but then one of her clients is murdered shortly after sitting for Agnes, and then another, and another… Why is the killer seemingly targeting her business?

Desperately seeking an answer, Agnes approaches Pearl, a child spirit medium lodging in Bath with her older half-sister and her ailing father, hoping that if Pearl can make contact with those who died, they might reveal who killed them.

But Agnes and Pearl quickly discover that instead they may have opened the door to something that they can never put back…

The Burning Girls by C. J. Tudor – A new-to-me author from last year, I enjoyed The Other People and I remember being intrigued by the teaser at the back of that book for this latest offering. Here’s a short description… An unconventional vicar moves to a remote corner of the English countryside, only to discover a community haunted by death and disappearances both past and present–and intent on keeping its dark secrets–in this explosive, unsettling thriller from acclaimed author C. J. Tudor.

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 2020

December 1, 20204 Comments

Welcome to another Booking Ahead. It’s time to look for a few potential reads for the month. I’d like to read at least three books if I can, which will mean I’ve read 30 books this year. Not a massive total but more than I probably expected.
I may pick up a couple of seasonal reads this month…

The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library #1) by Genevieve Cogman – I’m already reading this and am glad to have found a new series to read as I think it’s one I’m going to enjoy. Irene is a spy for a mysterious Library which houses books from many alternate realities and in this first story she’s sent to an alternate London to retrieve a certain book. Of course, nothing is ever easy, and so the adventure begins.

Christmas at Wynter House by Emily Harvale – Neva Grey is looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas with her family in the cosy cottage they’ve rented in the picture-postcard village of Wyntersleap. Nestled between rolling hills and a gently burbling river, it’s going to be idyllic.

Except it’s not. Torrential rain causes the river to burst its banks and the quaint little village isn’t quite so cosy with water lapping at the doors. Add to that a power cut and a sudden blizzard and Christmas is looking bleak … until gorgeous Adam Wynter invites them all to Wynter House.

Although not everyone is happy to share the ancestral home. Adam’s elder brother, Rafe is less than pleased. Their grandmother, Olivia extends a grudging welcome. And for Carruthers, the oddly arrogant butler, unexpected guests are a Christmas surprise he could do without. Especially one as troublesome as Neva’s eight-year-old niece.

But something’s not quite right at Wynter House. What is Rafe intent on hiding behind the locked doors of the old barn? And what really happened to his first wife? It’s a good thing Neva has a sense of humour. She’s going to need it this Christmas at Wynter House.

The past couple of years have seen me reach for a seasonal Agatha Christie novel during December. I’ve read The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, so this year my choice may be…

Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Crime by Agatha Christie – There’s a chill in the air and the days are growing shorter . . . It’s the perfect time to curl up in front of a crackling fire with these wintry whodunits from the legendary Agatha Christie. But beware of deadly snowdrifts and dangerous gifts, poisoned meals and mysterious guests.

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 2020

November 1, 202012 Comments

A new month, another wander through my seemingly endless list/pile of books I want to read. There are a couple here that I’m really looking forward to…

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal – This is the first book in the Glamourist Histories series. I’ve already started reading and I’m really enjoying it. Regency era setting, Austen-esque (is that even a word?!) characters, manners, magic and misunderstandings, it’s a complete change for me and I cannot wait to get back to it. The story centres around the Ellsworth family, mainly the two sisters Jane and Melody, and their social circle, which of course includes a number of potentially eligible suitors. And… magic.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – I have a feeling this would have been a perfect choice for Readers Imbibing Peril but I didn’t have chance to read it last month. Here’s a brief description – An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . .
That sounds like something I’m going to enjoy. It will be another new-to-me author, although I do also have Moreno-Garcia’s previous book, Gods of Jade and Shadow, on my TBR pile, so maybe I’ll pick that up soon too.

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal – This one is by the same author as Shades of Milk and Honey but it’s a completely different genre and I’m interested because Shades caught my attention so completely that I want to see whether that happens again.
Also, I don’t really read much in the way of sci-fi, and although I haven’t signed up for Sci-Fi Month I’ve seen many blog posts about it and it put me in mind to give the genre a try. This seems as good a place to start as any. It’s the first in the Lady Astronaut series and tells the story of an attempt to colonise space after a meteorite falls to earth, meaning the planet will become uninhabitable.

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon – I hadn’t heard of this book until I came across it in the Goodreads Choice nominations so it’s a spur-of-the-moment addition to my monthly TBR list and hopefully I’ll manage to fit it in. A historical story about a woman in search of a new start undertaking a journey out West on the Oregon Trail.

Spellbreaker by Charlie N. Holmberg – A new Victorian era Fantasy novel. Here’s a brief description… The orphaned Elsie Camden learned as a girl that there were two kinds of wizards in the world: those who pay for the power to cast spells and those, like her, born with the ability to break them. But as an unlicensed magic user, her gift is a crime. Commissioned by an underground group known as the Cowls, Elsie uses her spellbreaking to push back against the aristocrats and help the common man. She always did love the tale of Robin Hood.
Sounds good, doesn’t it?

I’ve probably chosen way more books than I’ll be able to manage over the course of a month, yet it’s only a small selection of everything bookish that caught my attention recently. There’s certainly a great variety of genres and themes in my selections for this month. Let’s see how many of them I actually manage to read…

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.