Monday, September 26, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday - Fall TBR



Please excuse me if this list looks a little more "TBR for all of 2016" instead of just Fall. Since I'm finally settled into my new house and actually have free time (what is this no homework thing? How did I forget how awesome it is? Someone please remind me of this the next time I say I'm going back to school) there is quite the book backlog to address. So welcome to my Fall TBR, where release date and excitement level aren't exactly related.


Top Ten Books on my Fall TBR


1. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs
I know it isn't 2011. However I am all about the trailer (featuring a stunning Eva Green) and need SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT after spending the last three weeks with poetry collections and the new Foer Tome. I just ordered this from Book Depository and hope it gets here super quick!

2.The Invisible Library - Genevive Cogman
I have no idea how I missed this series. I'm tired of using the craziness of the last two years as an excuse, so I guess all I can say is I've made a huge error. An error I plan to rectify this fall!

3. Delicate Edible Birds and Other Stories  - Lauren Groff
After loving everything about Groff's 2015 hit Fates and Furies I was excited to hear about her backlog being released in paperback. I'm a sucker for short story collections and have heard nothing but good things about Delicate Edible Birds. It's actually on it's way tomy mailbox as I type. Here's hoping it arrives soon!

4. The Queen of the Night - Alexandra Chee
I've seen this on all the end capes. I've heard all the reviews. I've seen it up and down tumblr and blogspot. I'm caving. Another 500+ page book really isn't going to help me hit my book goal for 2016 but I'm sold on The Queen of the Night.

5. Of This New World - Allegra Hyde
Look! A real October release! I've been hearing Hyde's praises for a couple months now and I must say this debut story collections looks like the perfect combination of fresh and of the moment. I currently have it dog earred for the October Readathon!

6. The Wonder - Emma Donoghue
I loved Room. I don't even know if that's a thing I should say? Room was a masterful and terrible journey. It was expertly written, tho. The Wonder just came out last week but I'm already hearing fantastic things! I can't wait to sink into another of Donoghue's expertly created worlds.

7. November Storm - Robert Oldshue
Another October release! Also another story collection.  During the chillier, prettier months I am all about short pieces that give me pause. This collection is supposed to be about people struggling, and dark feelings are another fall favorite.

8. The Woman in Cabin 10 - Ruth Ware
Basically since Gone Girl came out I've been picking up anything with "The Next Gone Girl" written in it's blurb. There have been a few misses with this (Gone Girl included. I don't know why I continue to do this to myself.) but books like Dark Rooms and The Girl on the Train have completely engulfed me in the last few years, so I'll continue my yearly mystery/thriller buy and hope that yet again I enjoy this story more than Amy Dunne's diary entries.

9. Bad Things Happen - Kris Bertin
Okay, more short stories. Again released earlier this year. But remember how I said the human struggle was kind of a fall trope for me? This is going to fall right into my fall wheelhouse.

10. Children of the New World - Alexander Weinstien
Stay with me for one more short story collection. Children of the New World, which was released earlier this month, sounds like Back Mirror on paper. The stories seem chilling but relevant. I'm hoping they stay just on the "Sarah can sleep" kind of scary.

Now that you know what I'm reading (and how desperately I'm in need of books that aren't short story related) I hope you all will send a few recs my way! Happy Reading!

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Bookish Resources - Holy Crap Life Is Busy Edition

You'd think that by nature of working at a library now I'd be up in all the literary news. But alas the stacks I maintain are used more for museum research than leisure reading. This paired with a concentration in Digital Content instead of public librarianship has lead me to feel a little, but not entirely, out of the bookish loop.

Since I am currently working my way through two tomes, in an ill advised attempt to finish my 2016 checklist (that I am woefully behind on.) In lieu of a review this week I've come up with a fail-proof list to keep overwhelmed grad students, or just generally busy people in the bookish loop when there is zero time to read.

All The Books - Book Riot - Podcast
2016 is the year I discovered podcasts. After devouring every history and politically related title I could find on podcast republic I started to look for book based listens. All The Books is the podcast that made me excited to read again. Having a weekly list of titles being released means I usually add one or two to my good reads shelves, and now am not entirely blindsided by the new release section at the book store. Liberty and Rebecca are the best, and I love how excited they get every week just to talk about books. They're truly infectious!

Literary Hub & Electric Literature (because do I really need to also include Book Riot?!)
LBR I spent more than half the time I was in library school working at a credit union that offered no mental stimulation but lots of internet access. These were sites I checked daily in hopes of finding a fun list or insightful article (or snippet of fiction) to keep my brain from oozing out of my ears. I highly recommend each, even though i'm sure I'm preaching to the converted.

Flavorwire
Flavorwire's book section has been my go to for quick book news updates and release info for going on six years. It's not always the most innovative, and occasionally the changes of contributors feels jarring, but I still always find myself coming back for more.

Oh, you might notice that despite increased commutes and the like audio books make no appearance on this list. I cannot for the life of me figure out a way to listen and retain to them. If you have any tips or recs please send them my way!






Thursday, September 15, 2016

The Princess Saves Herself in This One- Lovelace


I love this new wave of poetry.This Rupi Kaur, Tumblr ready, kind of verse. I am sure there are millions who hate it,but I am in love with the way it forms mantras out of small lines. It cuts deep in a way that people who came of age with twitter and the threat of character limits really understand.

In case you can't tell I'm not an expert in poetry.
Not of any sort.
None the less I can appreciate words that move me. It is clear that Lovelace has been through some unspeakable tragedies. For me, this collections of poems hit the perfect balance of evoking emotion, hitting home, and flow. It's easy to see the person behind this collection. It's someone who has dealt with greif, and heartache. Someone who has come of age during a time where BA's in English are laughable, and where body image issues turn into life consuming problems.
You don't need to relate to every poem to understand the beauty and power in this collection. I'd highly recommend picking up a copy.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Remember Me?

Hello.

I don't know there is a better way to start this type of post.

Hello. I'm sorry. I've been gone for quite some time.


You see I've been busy. There were many trips across the country, ones that bring together friends from hundreds of miles away.

I stood up in one of my oldest friends weddings. I didn't make a fool of myself during my maid of honor toast. I only cried a little.
I  moved. Within the same city, and into the house my grandmother used to own.But still, it counts. (Just ask my bank account.)

But really the real reason this blog has been eerily silent for almost two years has everything to do with graduate school. 

You see, I just finished my Master's of Library and Information Science.  After two years, a lot of stress. only a few buckets worth of tears, and a crazy last semester I'm done! I started a job at a special collections library earlier this summer. 
At the begining of the year I called 2016 a year of transition. I think I hit the nail on the head.

Now I have free time. I've binged a couple of shows on Netflix. I'm reading for pleasure again. 

And I've missed the bookish community.  So I'm back, at least I hope I'm back. Historically when I say these things something happens within a week and I jump ship. However the last two years have been an anomaly, and I have a lot of reading to catch up on!