Right, this will be my first book haul post and am quite excited about it. I get new books in one form or another all the time and often they just get consigned to the enormous to-be-read pile or the forever expanding Kindle queue and forgotten about. So doing this is a helpful reminder of all the books I’ve got waiting for me and also it’s always a great way sharing new authors and giving ideas about what to read next. I’ve watched lots of book haul videos on Booktube so not sure how this will translate to traditional blog but we’ll give it a go. Anyway, enjoy!
The following books are ones that I’ve requested from publishers for review .
Moonglow by Michael Chabon
This is the new novel from the writer of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and Wonder Boys and seems to be a strange mixture of fiction and biography. As I understand from the publisher’s blurb, after Chabon’s first book was published in 1989 he visited his grandfather who was dying and decided to tell him lots of stories and this novel is sort of based on those. Not sure what it will be like, I haven’t read any Chabon yet despite having a couple but it sounds like it will be interesting so I will let you know. Can’t remember when it’s out but soon!
Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah
I am super super excited about this! It’s out in September (6th, I think) right before my birthday so was going to be hinting heavily but then the publisher (I want to say Harper) granted me a copy. Woohoo! Obviously I will still buy a copy because they look so nice on my shelf. I love Agatha Christie and Poirot and while I’m not always keen on Sophie Hannah’s novels I did really enjoy The Monogram Murders. The Christie estate have up until last year resisted calls for writers to continue the stories of Poirot and Marple but I think they’ve chosen well in Sophie Hannah who has proved to be quite faithful to Christie’s style.
The Apostle Killer by Richard Beard
Don’t know too much about this. It’s by the same writer of Acts of the Assassins which I also have but haven’t read yet – you’ll probably hear me say this a lot because my acquisition rate to read rate is quite appalling, it’s something I’m always trying to improve. – Anyway, this is what the publisher says:
“Set in a hazy Middle East that seems at once ancient and modern, The Apostle Killer features Gallio, an aging, hardboiled investigator who has one last chance to save his career: He’s got to prove Christ’s resurrection was a hoax.”
Sounds quite intriguing. I’m always interested in stories that mingle history, mystery and theology. That one is out in September I think.
The Muse by Jessie Burton
Firstly, the cover. Isn’t it just absolutely gorgeous?! So beautiful. I could look at it all day. Definitely one to get in hard copy as well. I have actually read this one already and loved it. I will try and get a review done asap. Burton has stuck with historical fiction (Her first novel was The Miniaturist which you can find the review of here) but has shifted to a dual time frame structure with a mystery involving a long lost painting that connects them. One is set in 1967 London where young aspiring writer Odelle, who came over from Trinidad five years previously, gets a new job at prestigious art gallery the Skelton Institute and meets Lawrie Scott who has been left a mysterious painting by his recently dead mother. The second goes back to Spain in 1936 where secret artist Olive Schloss and her parents have rented a villa in the countryside near Malaga and become entangled with local artist Isaac Robles and his sister Teresa and the political strife that leads up to the Spanish Civil War.
Keep You Close by Lucie Whitehouse
Don’t know too much about this except it involves mystery and murder. Published by Bloomsbury they say:
They said it was a tragic accident.
She knows better…
Sounds good to me! Shall let you know, it’s out in August.
The Fire Child by S.K. Tremayne
Now, I requested this from the publisher and I’m not really sure why. I read The Ice Twins a while ago after see it everywhere on Twitter and to be honest I thought it was naff. You can see read my review here. So not really sure what possessed me. All I can say is that I really like the genre and don’t like to count people out, after all even the greatest writers have a rotten egg occasionally.
The Museum Of You by Carys Bray
This is a book I’ve heard a lot about on Booktube. A lot of my favourite vloggers have raved about it so was very pleased to get a copy and I think this will be my next read. It is the story of Clover who has been brought up by her single father after the death of her mother. She wants to know more about her mother but doesn’t want to upset her dad so creates this ‘museum’ of her mother in the spare room in order to find the answers to her questions. This sounds like it will be an emotional read but probably quite lovely too.
Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
OK, so this was the last ARC I was given in June but by no means the least. Anne Tyler carries some hefty literature weight and this has been widely anticipated for a while. It’s part of the Shakespeare reimagined series that started with Jeanette Winterson’s The Gap of Time and Howard Jacobson’s Shylock is My Name. This one updates the play The Taming of the Shrew. I think I’ve read one review that wasn’t particularly complimentary but I’m looking forward to reading it and seeing what I think myself. Also that cover is so lovely. I would have it on my shelf just for that reason alone.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
This book I bought after wanting it for a while. Anyone who has seen Amy Poehler in anything will know she’s a very funny lady so I can see myself chuckling away at these essays at the desk at work.
So that is the books that I can remember acquiring throughout the month of June. If I remember any more I’ll update this post, there will be more. There’s always more! Let me know what you think, if you’ve read any of them already or are excited about any of them.
Maria Reads 