My husband and I are in the process of hopefully moving. We’ve been in our place for nearly six years and it feels like it’s time for a change. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that we’re partially motivated by the needs of our German Shepherd who seems to be craving personal outdoor space like he never did before. But you know, when your dog is a family member, you accommodate.
You’d think that, with the looming spectre of packing up all my books and moving them, I’d be a little more hesitant to buy more books, but there, you’d be wrong.
See, I had a birthday not that long ago. And when I have a birthday I get gift cards to buy books and I’m incapable of saving them for very long.
Also, spring is a ridiculously great time for new titles AND discounted book as stores gear up for summer titles.
Here then, a reckoning of some of the books I have lying around the house that I haven’t read.
The Rivals of Versailles by Sally Christie. This is the second in a promised trilogy. The first looked at a group of sisters who were all the mistresses of Louis XV and this one features the next group, including the Marquise de Pompadour. I made the mistake of loaning this to my sister and a friend and now both are waiting for me to read the second one so they can read it too. The third one will be out at the end of the year.
Ritual by Mo Hayder. This is the 3rd in the Jack Caffrey series which is proving to be seriously messed up. There was some open-endedness with the end of the second book and I’m looking forward to finding out what happened but I also need to be in the right headspace. Luckily, I borrowed this from a friend (along with The Nightmare by Lars Keplar and The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, so good) so if I read it soon, I can return it and not have to pack it.
I Am Malala by Malala Yousefzai. I started reading the Foreward in the bookstore and became completely invested, so I bought it. I have yet to read it.
The Illegal by Lawrence Hill. I meant to read this before Canada Reads started but obviously didn’t get to it. I even leant it to a friend so she could finish it and return the Speed Read to the library. There’s something preventing me from reading this even though, by all account it’s wonderful. And I always love Hill’s books.
Stalin’s Daughter by Rosemary Sullivan. This book has won all the awards, including the Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust Prize for Nonfiction, and the BC National Award for Canadian Non-fiction. I bought it when it first came out in hardcover (it’s now available in paperback) and I still haven’t read it! By all accounts, Stalin adored his daughter and I so want to read about this other side of a monster who was responsible for the deaths and disappearances of millions of people.
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. I loved The Humans and I love Matt Haig on twitter. He’s been so open about his own struggles with mental illness and I admire him so much for being such a tireless advocate for those sharing his struggle. He wrote this book for himself but it seems like anyone that reads it gets so much out of it. I have wanted to read this for as long as it’s been available and I still haven’t.
Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart by Claire Harman. Seems like there’s a non-fiction theme going on doesn’t it? It took me a long time to think about the woman behind Jane Eyre. When I read Syrie James’ book about the Brontes I became interested in them as women for the first time. I was so excited about this biography and it sits on the shelf, gathering dust!
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. This is my book club book and I always have to time the reading of our picks properly, so I don’t forget the details before we meet. Our date’s been set for Cinco de Mayo so I do really need to read this soon.
She’s Not There by Joy Fielding. This is one of those books that I know I will devour in an afternoon under the right conditions. Why have I not dipped into it yet?
The Lost Prince by Selden Edwards. So I bought this book (discounted) months and months ago and actually started reading it once. Then I realized that it was the second in a series and you really did need to read the first to understand what the hell was going on. I have yet to find the first book.
Did I mention that I went to the library last week??
I’m the worst.
The Paperback Princess 
You’re so funny. I love that you have stacks of books waiting to be read. Moving books may be a pain, but for me it’s worth it. After all, what’s a house without books? 🙂
I keep reading that one of the ways to guarantee that you read regularly is to always have the next book lined up. So really, I’m just doing my part to ensure that I keep reading.
The Illegal is wonderful. I finished it about a week ago. Great cast of characters and a compelling, thought-provoking story. I also enjoyed reading about what it feels like to run really, really fast. Like you, I want to read Claire Harman’s book, and I’m tempted to buy it, though I might end up waiting for the library copy. The hold list isn’t too long. But before that, The Nymph and the Lamp, which Naomi recommended last week, and before I can get to that one I need to finish The Woman Upstairs, which I have from the library. I’m about halfway through. And then there’s Austen’s Emma, because I’m writing a paper about it (and I’m reading the gorgeous illustrated and annotated Harvard University Press edition instead of my old Penguin copy). So, what did I read this afternoon when I got home? A collection of essays about Anne of Green Gables, Anne’s World…. Because it needs to go back to the library soon. Your book-buying and book-borrowing habits sound very familiar to me.
This also sounds like the way I read! The Anne’s World essays sound nice. And, just so you know, I’m reading Hangman’s Beach right now and loving it! I’m so relieved that it’s just as good as The Nymph and the Lamp (so far – only a quarter of the way through). 🙂
Oh, good, I’m glad you like Hangman’s Beach! I’ve borrowed The Nymph and the Lamp from my parents and I’m keen to start reading.
Yay! No library due date! 🙂
How are you liking The Woman Upstairs? I didn’t love it when I had just finished it, but the more I think about it, the more I really appreciated it. Nora is so angry! Something we don’t get too much of in fiction – really pissed off women.
Oh a collection of Anne essays sounds so good! I miss Anne now that the readalong is so far behind us. And spending time with Austen is always a good idea. I think Sense and Sensibility might be the next Austen that I re-read. Maybe?
I do like The Woman Upstairs, so far, anyway, and I think Nora’s anger is one of the reasons I like it so much. I’m interested in the debate that surrounded that book, about why some readers expect heroines to be likeable, and I’m thinking about Nora in relation to Emma, because Austen said she was going to take a heroine “whom no one but myself will much like.” And I’m reading about Anne partly because I still haven’t finished the readalong…. I’d like to finish rereading Rainbow Valley and then Rilla. Of course I think S&S is an excellent addition to your reading list!
Haha!! I have many boxes of books in my basement that I never unpacked from my last move! Before our next move, I’m going to have to go through and purge those!
Ah a basement! There’s no way that I end up with one of those when we move. I’m hoping that I can finally convince my husband that built in bookshelves are the way to go. Everywhere.
No, you’re the best!
The two books I want you to read for me (I’m allowed to make requests, right?) are Charlotte Bronte and Stalin’s Daughter. But, mostly Stalin’s Daughter because I haven’t seen it around as much as the other, and I’m very curious about it.
Books are totally and completely worth moving. And dogs are worth moving for.
Requests actually help! So many books mean I have the hardest time choosing the next book. I had my brother pick for me earlier this week (he chose Pretty Girls over Ritual) and it ended up being a really great reading experience (even though the subject matter was horrific). Amanda asked for Stalin’s Daughter too. I’m getting a READING CHAIR this weekend after searching for one for SIX YEARS. So maybe that’s the book for the inaugural read.
I’d do pretty well anything for that dog of mine. He’s my angel baby! (yeah…we’re those people…we don’t have kids)
A Reading Chair! 🙂
Not even the worst! I should even have read this list of books bc I obviously just added to my own. I hadn’t heard of Stalin’s Daughter and now I’m very curious. I’m sure the Illegal is wonderful – but I’m totally waiting to hear what you say before I put it on my own hold list. No pressure.
We are looking into moving too and high on the list is a yard for the dog. For the kid too – but mostly for the dog. It’s just important!
A yard. Ha. Do you know where I live? We’re looking at townhomes that have “green space” – some of them do masquerade as more yard-ish but mostly they are little patios with a strip of green. But it will make a world of difference for my boy.
Ha sorry about the list. I should have maybe added a disclaimer. That’s two votes for me to read Stalin’s Daughter…
Anything Lawrence Hill writes is amazing so I’m sure that when I actually read this one, I will love it. I think next will be…The Queen of the Tearling. Library book!
Holy poop! Stalin’s Daughter is 741 pages! What are you doing to my reading life?!
I doubt that it’s actually 741 pages of reading – there are likely pages and pages and pages of bibliography and notes. I’d say the actual reading clocks in around 500-something. But I’d have to check…
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What an awesome stack of book! The Illegal is really great, so I do hope you give it a go! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Just Mercy too. I picked it up a few months back but haven’t gotten to it yet either.
And a new house!? That is so exciting. A yard sounds idyllic, for both your dog and yourself!
Awesome stack of books* #grammarpolice
Wellllllll I live in Vancouver so a house is out of the question. But a townhouse will be a significant upgrade. Just have to find it…staring to prep for sale of our place though which basically means packing up everything that gives the place our personality.
Just Mercy was a tough read. Going to have to pull my thoughts together on that one.
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