Now that we have digital shelves, I find myself browsing online web sites, Instagram accounts, library web pages and recommendations at all hours of the day. I really enjoy doing it, but of course it sometimes cuts into my actual reading time. Still, there is just something about seeing a bunch of books together that makes me feel so excited - the possibility, the anticipation, the wonder of just what that book holds between its covers. This, no doubt, leads to my requesting and checking out/buying/downloading so many great titles.
So after looking over my reading apps and realizing that I may have a problem (in a good way), I thought it would be fun to make a list of all the things I currently have downloaded on my phone, iPad and/or Kindle. Some of these I am in the middle of reading, some I just like knowing I have, and others have been renewed or checked out more than a few times. And because I only keep track on my Goodreads account of the books I actually finish, sometimes I wish I had a list of the books I'd been looking at at a certain time in my life.
I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara | I've been hearing about this one so much that I finally decided I'd better read it. I'm just a few chapters in and so far it's great - good writing and an interesting (true) story.
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt | I honestly wish they had more ebooks at my library by Byatt. I love her writing. That said, I find I don't enjoy her as much digitally as I do when I have her physical books. I think because I like to just linger with her words and stories, and I don't tend to do that on a device.
Mercy Road by Ann Howard Creel | I got this free from NetGalley (my first! Yay!) and am excited to read it. It's set in WWI and is about a woman who becomes an ambulance driver. I like historical fiction and loved The Alice Network (woman spies during WWII) so I think this will be right up my alley.
Habit Stacking by Thomas M. Reed | I keep checking this one out because it has to do with my word this year (habit), but there are so many other books I've gotten into that I just haven't made the time for this one yet. I think there may be an element of procrastination, as well, since I haven't been paying much attention to my word lately.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg | See above.
Making Habits, Breaking Habits by Jeremy Dean | Also chosen because of my word, but this book has been opened. In fact, I'm about a third of the way through. I haven't picked it up recently, but I've really loved it so far - what it tells me about habits, how and why we make them, how and why we break them, and how we might (might!) be able to actually keep them.
The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson | Almost finished with this one. It was one of those books I chose mostly for the cover, and was surprised when it turned out to be very fantastical. (I thought it would be more like historical fiction.) I'm enjoying it, even if the last third has gotten a little slow. It's definitely a book you can sit with, one that makes you think, and one that also makes you suspend belief at times. Nothing wrong with that!
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher | I downloaded this last night on a pure whim. I heard a podcast (What Should I Read Next Podcast with Anne Bogel) in which she mentioned this was one of the iconic books of the 80s, and I was quite upset I'd never heard of it! I thought I was such an avid reader, but had never heard of this one. So of course, I just must check it out.
Overrun by Andrew Reeves | I decided to add something educational and nonfiction to my growing list. A few months ago I read a book by a man who cycled around the Great Lakes, and I got interested in the region. This book is about some of the environmental issues the region is facing, more specifically the Asian Carp Crisis. It will be either really fun and interesting, or...not.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides | I've heard so much about this one and had to wait a few months to get it as a request at my library. It's due in a week so I need to read it before it expires! I've heard it's such a page turner that you can read it in a day, but my problem is that I don't have a whole day to read! Ha.
How Hard Can It Be? by Allison Pearson | Added some humor reading to my "pile". I really don't know anything at all about this book.
People I Want to Punch in the Throat by Jen Mann | My sister Amy got me interested in this blog a few years back. I haven't kept up on it, but thought I might enjoy a book by this blogger. Not sure if this is just her blog content wrapped up in the shape of a book, or if there is something new here, but I think Mann will have something interesting and funny to say.
I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel | Since I just re"found" Anne's podcast and blog, I decided I'd better try one of her books (I didn't know she was an author). I love a good book about reading, and I like Anne's content on both her other mediums, so we're going to give it a try.
We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai | I am participating in a Refugee reading book club and the book for this month isn't available at my library (and I really didn't want to buy it that badly, since it was in essay format), so I thought I'd try this one as a substitute. I haven't even opened it yet, though.
An Odyseey by Daniel Mendelsohn | I cannot remember for the life of me why I chose this one. I'm pretty sure I heard about it on Instagram or a blog or a podcast. I usually only flag or download things that really catch my eye/ear, so there must be something I thought would be good about it, but I can't remember anymore and that has made me reluctant to open it. I need to stop doing that!
Brotopia by Emily Chang | This was a Book Club read for PBS NewsHour Now Read This. When I went to their blog just now I realized the Mendelsohn book is this month's pick (May). So that's where I got that recommendation!
The Au Pair by Emma Rous | Another book I've heard a lot about, waited months on the holds list for, and now have like two days to read because I put it off. I think it may be a thriller type, so hopefully "easy" reading.
So, folks, there you have it! My TBR list. I will be happy if I read just a third of them.
Here's to good reading!
1 comment:
Hello, I discovered your blog(s) when I did a Google search for information about (of all things) a certain kind of pencil called "Pax CromoMega 05.5mm" and I was directed to a 2007 post about school supplies for children in Ecuador. My daughter lived in Quito when her older child began his school years, so I sent her the link. I don't know, in spite of the name of your blog, if you still reside in Ecuador. All of your blogs are stimulating and well-written. Best wishes from Brazil.
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