Archives for December 2017

Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week’s topic is the Top 10 Books I’m Looking Forward To in 2018.

I read some great books in 2017 (check out my favorites in My Top 10 Favorite Books of 2017 post), but there are a lot of books to get excited about in 2018. One of my goals for the new year is to read more backlist, but I still can’t resist making a list of the books I can’t wait to read once they’re released. All the books on my list come out before June, and I’ll include the release date for each.

Since I haven’t read any of these, all descriptions are from the publisher, but I am including my reasons why I want to read each of them. I hope you’ll be able to add a few to your TBR. Here’s to a spectacular year of reading!

The Top 10 Books I’m Looking Forward To in 2018:

The Immortalists, by Chloe Benjamin (Jan. 9)
It’s 1969 in New York City’s Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children—four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness—sneak out to hear their fortunes.
The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in ’80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality.

Why I Want To Read It: With the tagline, “If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?” I simply cannot resist giving this book a try. It’s also got a ton of press, and I maybe I’ve fallen prey to good marketing, but I’m still hopeful.

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, by Daniel H. Pink (Jan 9)
Timing, it’s often assumed, is an art. In When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, Pink shows that timing is really a science.
Drawing on a rich trove of research from psychology, biology, and economics, Pink reveals how best to live, work, and succeed. How can we use the hidden patterns of the day to build the ideal schedule? Why do certain breaks dramatically improve student test scores? How can we turn a stumbling beginning into a fresh start? Why should we avoid going to the hospital in the afternoon? Why is singing in time with other people as good for you as exercise? And what is the ideal time to quit a job, switch careers, or get married?

Why I Want To Read It: The majority of this list is fiction, but I do like a good non-fiction audiobook and this one seems like the perfect combination of psychology (my favorite non-fiction topic) and science, as well as self-help.

Thunder Head, by Neal Shusterman (Jan. 9)
Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the chilling sequel to the Printz Honor Book Scythe from New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology.
The Thunderhead cannot interfere in the affairs of the Scythedom. All it can do is observe—it does not like what it sees.
A year has passed since Rowan had gone off grid. Since then, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. His story is told in whispers across the continent.
As Scythe Anastasia, Citra gleans with compassion and openly challenges the ideals of the “new order.” But when her life is threatened and her methods questioned, it becomes clear that not everyone is open to the change.
Will the Thunderhead intervene? Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?

Why I Want To Read It: I read the first book in this series last winter and gave it five stars (that doesn’t happen very often!). The premise is SO interesting. In Scythe, we learn that the world is now a utopia, but to maintain this utopia, certain people are assigned to control the population by learning the “art of killing. Creepy, huh? I’m very eager to see what the second book brings.

Ms. Ice Sandwich, by Mieko Kawakami (Jan. 23)
A boy is obsessed with a woman who sells sandwiches. He goes to the supermarket almost every day, just so he can look at her face. She is beautiful to him, and he calls her “Ms Ice Sandwich”, and endlessly draws her portrait.
But the boy’s friend hears about this hesitant adoration, and suddenly everything changes. His visits to Ms Ice Sandwich stop, and with them the last hopes of his childhood.

Why I Want To Read It: Haruki Murakmi, one of my favorite authors, strongly recommends this book. If Murakami likes it, then I have to give it a try, no questions asked!

American Panda, by Gloria Chao (Feb. 6)
At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.
With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth—that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.
But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

Why I Want To Read It: Seeing as I’m half-Taiwanese, I feel it’s my cultural duty to read any new books that feature Taiwanese characters (plus, I just like connecting with my roots). Since Mei is Taiwanese, it follows that I have to read this book.

Force of Nature, by Jane Harper (Feb. 6)
When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path.
But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened.
Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion, and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder?

Why I Want To Read It: Jane Harper’s debut, The Dry, which also featured Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk, was intense and unputdownable. I want to support Harper as a new author and I can always use a good mystery/thriller in my hot little hands.

The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah (Feb. 6)
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown.
At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

Why I Want To Read It: Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale was one of my most satisfying reads in 2017. If The Great Alone is even close to as good, then I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. Also, I have a digital Advanced Reader Copy and I let a trusted fellow reader borrow my Kindle to read it. She thought it was great, so I’m confident I’ll feel the same.

The Female Persuasion, by Meg Wolitzer (April 3)
Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman when she meets the woman she hopes will change her life. Faith Frank, dazzlingly persuasive and elegant at sixty-three, has been a central pillar of the women’s movement for decades, a figure who inspires others to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time, Greer- madly in love with her boyfriend, Cory, but still full of longing for an ambition that she can’t quite place- feels her inner world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most exciting path of her life as it winds toward and away from her meant-to-be love story with Cory and the future she’d always imagined.

Why I Want To Read It: I thoroughly enjoyed Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings a few years back, so I’m excited to see what else she has up her sleeve. Also, the fact that this book seems to have a rather feminist agenda appeals to me 🙂

Macbeth, by Jo Nesbo (April 10)
Set in the 1970s in a run-down, rainy industrial town, Jo Nesbo’s Macbeth centers around a police force struggling to shed an incessant drug problem. Duncan, chief of police, is idealistic and visionary, a dream to the townspeople but a nightmare for criminals. The drug trade is ruled by two drug lords, one of whom—a master of manipulation named Hecate—has connections with the highest in power, and plans to use them to get his way.
Hecate’s plot hinges on steadily, insidiously manipulating Inspector Macbeth: the head of SWAT and a man already susceptible to violent and paranoid tendencies. What follows is an unputdownable story of love and guilt, political ambition, and greed for more, exploring the darkest corners of human nature, and the aspirations of the criminal mind.

Why I Want To Read It: It’s the English major in me that really wants to read this one. I’m game for trying almost all Shakespeare retellings, and the fact that this one is a thriller by none other than the great Jo Nesbo, rings all my bells.

From Twinkle with Love, by Sandhya Menon (May 22)
Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle is all over it. The chance to publicly showcase her voice as a director? Dream come true. The fact that it gets her closer to her longtime crush, Neil Roy—a.k.a. Sahil’s twin brother? Dream come true x 2.
When mystery man “N” begins emailing her, Twinkle is sure it’s Neil, finally ready to begin their happily-ever-after. The only slightly inconvenient problem is that, in the course of movie-making, she’s fallen madly in love with the irresistibly adorkable Sahil.
Twinkle soon realizes that resistance is futile: The romance she’s got is not the one she’s scripted. But will it be enough?

Why I Want To Read It: Sandhya Menon’s When Dimple Met Rishi was a highly-rated read for me last year, and it’s pretty impressive that she’s churned a second book out so quickly. Smart YA romances are hard to come by, so when I find an author that does them well, I’m a loyal customer.

What books are you looking forward to in 2018? Please share in the comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week’s topic is Top 10 Favorite Books of 2017.

Overall, it’s been a pretty good year of reading. Many of my favorite books of 2017 have been mentioned in earlier posts, so I will refrain from sounding like a broken record and gushing over them again here. For most of these titles, I’ll do one of three things:

1. Give the publisher summary and a short justification for my great love of the book.
2. Provide my summary and critique from an earlier post.
3. Link to the post where I mentioned the book.
   

And here they are…my 10 favorite books of 2017!

The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How To Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too), by Gretchen Rubin
Books about personality types are my jam and the Four Tendencies was such an enlightening read. Gretchen Rubin divides people into four categories according to how they respond to expectation (both inner and outer) then provides ample information on how to improve your own life knowing your tendency, and also how to work with and communicate with others based on their tendencies. You can take her online quiz without purchasing the book, but once you find out your tendency, I bet you’ll want to read the book and learn more!
From What I’ve Been Reading: November Edition

Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate
From the publisher: Trees can’t tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories…Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood “wishtree”—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with a crow named Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows, this wishtree watches over the neighborhood. You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experience as a wishtree is more important than ever.
Why I loved it: Red has a fantastic sense of humor and the story is very timely.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer
Guernsey was a delight from beginning to end! The main storyline is about a writer looking for inspiration for a new book and she finds it in a motley, humorous and incredibly endearing group of readers from the island of Guernsey. Told during the post-WWII time period through letters, Shafer and Barrows do an excellent job keeping the story cohesive and developing these lovely characters. I have plans to cook a literary feast inspired by this book once the holidays are over. Potato Peel Pie, here I come!
From What I’ve Been Reading: November Edition

A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman
I wrote about A Man Called Ove in my Worth the Read? series back in July. Click here to read it!

Sourdough, by Robin Sloan
The descriptions of Sourdough sound pretty hokey: a young coder is gifted with a magical sourdough starter that opens the door to an underground tech-focused farmers market scene that changes her life. What?!? Magic bread? I was skeptical, but I am keen to read anything about food, so I gave it a shot and I absolutely devoured it (haha). Sourdough was a blend of twenty-something angst, friendly teasing of futuristic tech, and the healing (and sometimes destructive!) power of food. Be warned, though, you will have major cravings for soup and sourdough bread while you’re reading this book. I don’t even really like sourdough and I was dying for some.
From What I’ve Been Reading: October Edition

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit, by Michael Finkel
From the publisher: Many people dream of escaping modern life, but most will never act on it. This is the remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality–not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own.
Why I loved it: As an introvert, the idea of getting away from everything and everyone is incredibly appealing. To read about someone who actually did it was enlightening and thought-provoking. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book after I read it.

Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan
I read this in August and declared it my favorite read of the summer season. I’m not sure I can say it ended up being my favorite book of the year, but it’s definitely in the top 3. Click here then scroll ALL the way down to read my review!

You’ll Grow Out of It, by Jessi Klein
From the publisher: As both a tomboy and a late bloomer, comedian Jessi Klein grew up feeling more like an outsider than a participant in the rites of modern femininity.
In You’ll Grow Out of It, Klein offers-through an incisive collection of real-life stories-a relentlessly funny yet poignant take on a variety of topics she has experienced along her strange journey to womanhood and beyond. These include her “transformation from Pippi Longstocking-esque tomboy to are-you-a-lesbian-or-what tom man,” attempting to find watchable porn, and identifying the difference between being called “ma’am” and “miss” (“Miss sounds like you weigh ninety-nine pounds”).

Why I loved it: I listened to the audiobook for this one (it’s narrated by the author) and I don’t think I’ve laughed out loud in the car more than with this book. Any book that can make me laugh uncontrollably is probably going to make it on my top 10 list for the year.

Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977 – 2002, by David Sedaris
Here’s another Worth the Read? book…what did I think of it? Click here to read an find out!

The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah
From the publisher: The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France—a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women.
Why I loved it: I’m a sucker for WWII stories anyway, but Kristin Hannah’s ability to make me fall in love with the book’s amazing characters made the reading experience so incredibly emotionally-wrought and meaningful.

What were your favorite books of 2017? Please share in the comments below!