Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and the Story Siren, the aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. For more information about how this feature works and how to join in, see the sparkling and fizzy blog of Books, Biscuits and Tea.
I am on currently on a book buying embargo. I have bought so many books this year (both electronic and physical), that I have no more space on my bookshelves, nor time in my days (or nights) to read them all.
Of course, that does not necessarily mean I don’t have any new books to talk about this week. There are still library books, books for review, books I’ve already paid for… plus the odd book that has slipped through my net…
Books for Review:
1) Eden Baylee: Stranger at Sunset
It is January 2013, following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The luxury resort of Sunset Villa in Jamaica is struggling, not from the storm, but from a scathing review by caustic travel writer, Matthew Kane. They’ve invited him back in the hope he will change his mind. Also in the mix are an odd assortment of guests, including Dr. Kate Hampton, a respected psychiatrist. Sounds like a modern update on Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’.
2) Frédérique Molay: Crossing the Line
I enjoyed the first book in this series set in Paris, featuring the Head of La Crim’ Nico Sirsky, so am looking forward to the second one. Review and book giveaway coming up on the 17th of September.
Books from Netgalley:
3) Louise Douglas: Your Beautiful Lies
Following a book review at Cleopatra Loves Books, I rushed out to download this book and have already reviewed it. I didn’t like it quite as much as Cleo did, but that’s perhaps because I was expecting more of a murder mystery.
4) Celeste Ng: Everything I Never Told You
I’ve heard very good things about this debut novel about a Chinese American family in 1970s small-town Ohio. When the middle daughter is found drowned in the local lake, the whole family struggles to come to terms with the tragedy.
Subscription from Peirene Press:
5) Kamal Ben-Hameda: Under the Tripoli Sky
Libya in the 1960s and another patriarchal society ready to crumble. I never read a book by a Libyan author before, so a great way to expand my horizons. Beautifully produced, as always, by Peirene.
Library Haul:
6) Joseph Incardona: Banana Spleen
The daily life of a thirty-year old drifter, struggling to keep afloat and mostly legal in the expensive city of Geneva, exposing the underbelly of the picture-postcard town. Might be an interesting similarity here to the Tore Renberg book I’ve just read, set in the oil-rich city of Stavanger. Incardona is going to be present at the Book Festival in Morges, coming up September 5th-7th, so I thought it was a good time to become familiar with his work.
The One That Got Away…
7) James Runcie: Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night
With the TV series coming up soon – under the title ‘Grantchester’ – and with the Cambridge setting (which I can never resist), I thought it was about time to familiarise myself with the gentle, cosy mysteries featuring a detecting vicar. Plus, it was only 51p for Kindle on Amazon. (And that’s why it’s hard to resist Amazon, despite all our ethical qualms.)
You’ve got a very nice haul there, Marina Sofia! As always, I love the diversity of what you’ve gotten. And I’m very keen to see what you think of the next Molay, especially.
It was a gripping, quick read – and rather sad too. More to come!
Thanks for the mention and sorry this one didn’t quite work for you. I understand your point about Annie however in small close-knit towns like the one in this book (and the one I lived in during this time period) sadly, those views of a woman’s place were still very much in force. Loving the look of some of the other books featured here.
Really? I thought that was just in patriarchal societies like Greece or Romania. I just felt like yelling: ‘Watch out, you foolish woman!’ to her all the time.
I think at this time there was quite a variation between those areas where there wasn’t much mobility and big towns, Annie married in 1974 and still behaved according to her parents code, her mother irritated me for similar reasons to those you outlined but I believed it because of what I observed while growing up in a similar small town.
There’s a good haul there Marina!
At least I didn’t buy or borrow or download anything while I was on holiday for two weeks.
Know what you mean re Amazon – I downloaded no 3 in the Katie Maguire series for 51p too. It’s hard to moan when a book’s cheaper than a Mars bar! Interesting selection, as ever, Marina.
You’re so right – and that’s why it’s so hard for bookshops to compete (although, to be fair, I’ve spent a fortune in bookshops as well).
lots of goodies. Looking forward to what you have to say about Crossing The Line. I will read it too
Have read it already … and you will see (I like to build the suspense).
Stranger at Sunset looks great, definitely my kind of book. Here is my Showcase Sunday post for this week. I picked up four new ones http://www.ablondelibrarian.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/showcase-sunday-3.html
You can’t beat the classic formula of a small number of people, each with their own foibles and secrets, in a closed environment, can you?
I absolutely loved Everything I Never Told You and hope you enjoy it. I’m going to check out your other books on Goodreads–they all look appealing to me. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Thanks for the tip – looking forward to it!
These are all new to me, I am excited to read your reviews!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings