Behold! New Books

[nymeth]

I’ve been peer pressured into sharing the contents of my latest book order, and who am I to resist? Here’s is what will hopefully be arriving to my house in the coming week:

• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater: Renay made me do it. Enough said, right? I’ve never read Stiefvater before, so hopefully this will be a good place to start.
  
  
• Hangsman by Shirley Jackson: I’ll read any Shirley Jackson I can get my hands on, so there was never any question of me resisting this recent Penguin Classics reissue.
  
  
• Doll Bones by Holly Black: I almost bought this on three different occasions before, so I thought it was time to cave and order it. I think The Coldest Girl in Coldtown has been getting better reviews, but although I do want to read it this strikes much more as my type of book.
  
  
• Touch Not The Cat by Mary Stewart: I’ve been collecting her books on the assumption that I will love her, so I really hope I’m not wrong.
  
  
• Deconstructing Penguins: Parents, Kids, and the Bond of Reading by Nancy and Lawrence Goldstone: This was recommended to me by a lovely librarian and bloggy friend who I’ve been chatting with about the pre-teen reading group I run. She promises it’s really useful and not just for parents, and I can’t wait to start reading. Yay, knowledge.
  
  
• Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang: I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Gene Luen Yang (is anyone reading The Search? Who do I have to bribe to get friends to read The Search?), so I’ve wanted this from the moment I knew it existed. The recent National Book Awards longlist sealed the deal, though, and into my shopping cart it went.
  
  
• Midnight is a Place by Joan Aiken: “But Ana,” you say, “didn’t you recently mention that your library got a whole batch of shiny new Joan Aikens?”. Well, yes, I did indeed mention that, but this wasn’t one of them and the cover is pretty and it sounds really good. DON’T JUDGE ME.

So, what should I read first? What should I have bought instead? And if anyone wants to share their own recent book piles of shame I’d love to hear about them.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I can has borrow them all? (well apart from Doll Bones which I already have)

*grin*

Ana (The Book Smugglers)

[nymeth]

My library es tu library :D

[bookgazing]

I think you should def start with Raven Boys because then I could read Raven Boys and we would have another book in common across all three of us :)PS. Have I mentioned that Scorpio Races strikes me as a total Ana book?

I'm really interested in Boxers and Saints but have heard it may be difficult to understand if you don't have any grounding in the history already so let me know how you find it.

[renay]

Seconded re: The Raven Boys! It's really different in tone but the magic in it and The Scorpio Races reminds me a little of the magic in Chime. And you loved the magic in Chime, right, Ana? :D :D :D :D

[nymeth]

Right :D

[nymeth]

Nope, you had not mentioned that! I will keep it in mind. And eep, now I'm a bit scared re: Boxers & Saints, but I'll let you know how I fare.

[(Anonymous)]

I really enjoyed Doll Bones. It was heartwarming and much cuter than I expected. Thanks for sharing Deconstructing Penguins. I'm going to seek a copy of that myself right now.

Jennifer | Book Den

[nymeth]

I have really high expectations for Deconstruction Penguins. Fingers crossed that we both find it useful!

I'm planning to read Doll Bones very soon - I'll let you know what I think.

[(Anonymous)]

Oooh, go with Doll Bones, I desperately need some more feminist/gender discussion about it! To me, this is the key element of the book that is getting ignored - yes, it's about growing up and changing but it's also about how we gender this process, how we gender play and imagination, and how that's the scariest thing of all. (Obviously I loved this element!)

Here's my review: http://www.fatgirlreading.com/tween-tuesday-doll-bones-by-holly-black/

-Angie (@misskubelik)

[nymeth]

You highlighting that element on Twitter and on your review is a huge part of why I've been dying to get to it. I'll report back once I've read it!

[rubyscarlett]

I can't get along with Mary Stewart. I'd be really curious to see if you can spot what bothers me as I can't really explain it myself. I did like Nine Coaches Waiting but even then it wasn't right. The gender dynamics are... bizarre, to say the least. On top of so much else. She makes me really uncomfortable.

[nymeth]

AHHHHH :( It's probably for the best that I know this going in, though.

[myfriendamy]

I really need to get to The Raven Boys. I've loved all of the other Stiefvater books I've read, even the wolf ones! so I know I'll like it!

Otherwise looks like you've spoiled yourself with some good books :D

[nymeth]

Fingers crossed that most turn out to be as good as they sound :D

[thebaconfat]

I wasn't crazy about The Raven Boys! So don't feel alone if it's not quite your thing, but do check out Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races regardless because it is awesome.

[nymeth]

Will do!