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Sunday 3 August 2014

What I Want To Read (that isn't already on my TBR shelf).

As seen in this post, my 'to be read' bookshelves are already relatively excessive and ever increasing. I am not a hoarder or overly materialistic in any other way - I am just obsessed with books. We all have our vices. I decided to pool my messy Amazon wish list into a few nice neat little piles here, and possible even prioritise (hahaha - failure guaranteed).

List 1: Pre-ordered books/Coming Soon -
'The Paying Guests' by Sarah Waters - I have read 'Fingersmith', but little else by Waters, and this books appearance on my list is mainly due to word of mouth and the promising premise.

'The World of Ice and Fire' by George R. R. Martin et al - I am full on obsessed with this series. Fantasy is rarely this well written, and the whole world and every character in it utterly enthralling. I am also lying in wait for the release of 'The Winds of Winter' by George R. R. Martin, the next book in the series proper, though no release date has been set so, I wont hold my breath. The release dates are as unpredictable as the books themselves and Oh Lord, I can't wait.

'Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage' by Haruki Murakami - Murakami is one of my favourite authors, and is certainly the author that makes the most appearances on my bookshelf. I have yet to read a book of his that has not been completely original in every way. This will also be the first book of his I have pre-ordered and waited for, as his back catalogue has easily been sustaining me until this point. This new book has been compared to his masterpiece 'Norwegian Wood', so it's fair to say I am pretty excited.



'The Seed Collectors by Scarlett Thomas' - Thomas is, along with Murakami, one of my all time favourite authors. I only wish she had an extensive a back catalogue as Murakami, as I have had to sit patiently for years between all of her books. The Seed Collectors is apparently not release until mid-2015 but I had to mention it here as it is so highly anticipated. Thomas studied a degree in Ethnobotany to write the book, and has expressed an embarrassment about the sex scenes in the new book! This is all I know about it, and I cant wait!


'The Slow Regard of Silent Things' (Kingkiller Chronicle) by Patrick Rothfuss - I love fantasy, but only what I consider to be good fantasy. For me, a lot of fantasy novels are trashy, silly and melodramatic, and can read like an embarrassing American Renaissance Fair. A small dose of these things can work in a good old fashioned fantasy novel, but a bit of realism within a fantasy setting goes a long way. The Kingkiller Chronicle books have, so far, been beautifully written and extremely addictive.

'The Taxidermist's Daughter' by Kate Mosse - Kate Mosse, whilst not as beloved an author for me as Thomas and Murakami, does tick a lot of my boxes with her novels. Beautifully written novels with a fantastical element and original ideas - yes please! This new novel, about a young girl living in a rotting ex-museum of taxidermy, when a murder takes place in her small town, sounds very interesting. The thought of a typical Kate Mosse novel with a murder-mystery style twist really appeals.

List 2: General 'Want to Read' books.
'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt - How have I not read this yet? This, and The Miniaturist seem to be on everyone's TBR piles, and this one in particular I am desperate to read. 'The Secret History', also by Tartt, is one my favourite books, and it does seem likely I would enjoy The Goldfinch. With that much hype it must be pretty decent surely?
'Rivers of London' by Ben Aaronovich - This one is not a new release by any means, but is the first book in a series I keep meaning to read. This must have been on my Amazon wish list for a couple of years, too many books you say?
'Pinball 1973/Hear the Wind Sing' by Haruki Murakami - Murakami's first two novels, both preludes to the wonderful 'A Wild Sheep Chase', and part of the Trilogy of the Rat. Apparently Murakami is not hugely proud of his first forays into literature, and these two books near impossible to anyone). One day I will get them in my clutches, but I do have plenty of Murakami to be getting on with for now.
'We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves' by Karen Joy Fowler - Hyped up to the eyeballs and loved to death on twitter, this s an obvious addition. I cant help but be swept along and I am really keen to read this. Being on the Man Booker Prize longlist doesn't hurt either. It sounds interesting, funny and original and, eventually, I will read it.

Too........many........books...........


2 comments:

  1. I've not read any of these. I hope you get to read them. I know...there are far too many books. I need way more time to read. too bad we all have to sleep. imagine if we could just spend that time reading but feel refreshed.

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    1. Oh, if only! Some of these book aren't even released yet and I am spending my time geeking out over them (when I should be working usually!). I will get to read them....eventually.

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