My August TBR list
Every month I share with you the books that caught my attention and that made it to my TBR list. This month's is crazy long because, now that the libraries are open again, Donna and I restarted our Buddy Reads plan and picked the 24 books that we'll read over the next year - 2 per month. Some are already on my TBR, but there's lots new that we decided to read. AND I've joined in with That Artsy Reader Girl on her weekly Top 10 Tuesday book blog roundup and seeing what other bloggers recommend has dramatically impacted my TBR - in a good way!
You can see my full TBR list, all 600+ of them on my Pinterest Terrie's TBR List board. I keep it updated with what is on my list and remove books once I've read them. They're further divided by genre folders to help me find something I'm in the mood for.
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published 2015, 391 pages
I chose this book because: saw it on Pinterest and it looks interesting
Synopsis: storylines of two women, one during the period when Chinese people are forced to leave their homes due to anti-immigration laws, the other a woman who finds an artifact that reveals a major tragic event that affects her future.
The Goodbye Man #2 by Jeffery Deaver
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Published 2020, 432 pages
I added this book because: I enjoy Deaver's books and it was on Kindle sale
Synopsis: Colter Shaw is a new kind of character - a reward hunter with survival skills. This story takes him to the wilderness of WA (my home state!) to ferret out a dangerous cult.
Among Others by Jo Walton
Genre: fantasy
Awards: Nebula and Hugo
Published 2011, 304 pages
I added this book because: Donna suggested it for our revived Buddy Reads this year from our Award Listing menu tab
Synopsis: young girl finds refuge in two worlds, playing among the spirits and in science fiction books. When her mom tries to bend the spirits with dark magic, there are deadly results and she has to avoid the darkness.
The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
Genre: General Fiction
Published 2019, 384 pages
I added this book because: it was highly recommended by my sister Donna; she got it in a grab bag from the library
Synopsis: a famous poet relates the story of her family (family saga) and a betrayal that reverberates through decades (sounds a little like Morning Light with Violet Swan)
Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault by Cathy Guisewite
Genre: Nonfiction, Humor
Published 2019, 336 pages
I added this book because: I found this book on a Good Housekeeping 'best of' list and suggested it as a Buddy Read
Synopsis: a collection of humorous essays about everyday life by the author of the Cathy comic strip
**ED: Review here
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Genre: Classic, General Fiction
Published 1890, 240 pages
I added this book because: Donna and I added this to our Buddy Read list
Synopsis: a classic neither of us have read; a young man sells his soul for everlasting youth and beauty.
**ED: DNF August 2020, 25%
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published 2019, 336 pages
I added this book because: I suggested as an add to our Buddy Read list
Synopsis: a woman's brother & fiance die in WWI leaving her a "surplus woman" so she becomes an embroiderer for a cathedral but when war comes again, she has to fight for her independence.
**ED: Review here
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
Genre: Mystery
Published 2018, 336 pages
I add this book because: another book added for Buddy Reads
Synopsis: a girl disappears from a 'haunted' boarding school; 20 years later her sister can't get over her murder and when the boarding school is being renovated, new secrets come to light
**ED: Review here
Howl's Moving Castle #1 by Diana Wynne Jones
Genre: YA Fantasy
Published 1986, 302 pages
I added this book because: Buddy Read for this year picked by Donna
Synopsis: a girl is put under a spell that makes her an old woman and to break the spell she must find Howl's Castle, make a deal with a demon, and fight a witch.
**ED: Review here
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published 2017, 342 pages
I added this book because: we added it to Buddy Reads for this year
Synopsis: based on true novel of kids who are abducted, abused, and adopted out and the lawyer who discovers her family's secrets bound up in the scheme
A History of Loneliness by John Boyne
Genre: General Fiction
Published 2014, 384 pages
I added this book because: on the Buddy Reads list
Synopsis: a man becomes a priest in Ireland after a personal tragedy and eventually sees the Church face some issues which leads him back to his personal history and secrets
**ED: Review here
The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Published 2017, 321 pages
I added this book because: one of my selections for our Buddy Reads
Synopsis: a famous romance author shares revealing, shocking secrets
**ED: Read May 2021, 4 stars
Coffin Road by Peter May
Genre: Mystery
Published 2016, 392 pages
I added this book because: recommended by a GR friend
Synopsis: a man loses his memory but discovers someone is trying to kill him; he has to survive
Auxiliary: London 2039 by Jon Richter
Genre: SciFi
Published May 2020, 300 pgs
I added this book because: recommended by a GR friend
Synopsis: an old-school detective tries to solve a murder in a future where everything is run by technology and humans basically live virtual lives; gripping, unpredictable, bleakly atmospheric
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published July 2020, 400 pages
I added this book because: I'm a sucker for this type of historical book
Synopsis: woman flees Paris in WWII and becomes forger of documents for Jewish children trying to get to Switzerland; she keeps a book of their real names so a record will be saved & this book turns up years later bringing back all her memories of that time
Devolution by Max Brooks
Genre: Horror
Published June 2020, 286 pages
I added this book because: Mt. Rainier (home) and Bigfoot!
Synopsis: after a Mt Rainier eruption, a journal is found chronicling the tale of a town's violent, bloody wreckage, and....proof of a terrible predator - Bigfoot
The Replacements #2 by David Putnam
Genre: Thriller
Published 2014, 288 pages
I added this book because: it showed up on sale for Kindle and sounded interesting
Synopsis: ex-cop hiding from FBI in Costa Rica for kidnapping 8 kids from very abusive situations is now forced back to US to help 3 other children when someone from his past kidnaps them and holds them for ransom
Dark Sacred Night #21 Bosch by Michael Connelly
Genre: Mystery
Published 2018, 400 pages
I added this book because: I like this author
Synopsis: Detective Ballard and Bosch work a disturbing cold case together.
Rise the Dark by Michael Koryta
Genre: Mystery
Published 2016, 400 pages
I added this book because: I bought it on Book Outlet; it's a mystery by an author I've enjoyed before
Synopsis: an investigator is caught up trying to figure out who murdered his wife
Vicious #1 by V. E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy
Published 2013, 366 pages
I added this book because: sadly, I can't remember
Synopsis: two college boys experiment with near death & discover supernatural effects; 10 yrs later one friend is trying to stop the other from killing all others with supernatural powers, written in a gritty comic book style
Six of Crows #1 by Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy
Published 2015, 465 pages
I added this book because: I read and loved Ninth House by Bardugo
Synopsis: six dangerous outcasts team up for a criminal endeavor & end up trying to save the world in they don't kill each other first
**ED: Read 9/21
Into the Drowning Deep #1 by Mira Grant
Genre: Horror / Fantasy
Published 2017, 440 pages
I added this book because: badass mermaids
Synopsis: a ship goes exploring and is lost at sea; when a second ship follows, they find mermaids violently defending their homes
**ED: Review here
Illuminae #1 by Amie Kaufman
Genre: YA Fantasy
Published 2015, 698 pages
I added this book because: sounds intriguing
Synopsis: told in memos, hacked docs, emails, maps, etc. trilogy about young couple trying to save the world as it’s under attack from rival megacorporations, a plague, etc.
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Genre: Nonfiction
Published 2018, 248 pages
I added this book because: it sounds like a book I need to read
Synopsis: explores the complex reality of today's racial landscape covering white privilege to police brutality to systemic discrimination, etc.
**ED: Read 3/22
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson
Genre: General Fiction
Published 2019, 352 pages
I added this book because: it was recommended by a GR friend
Synopsis: a new woman to the neighborhood upsets the neighborhood at a book club meeting when she gets everyone to drink too much wine and secrets start spilling
As you can see, my list has EXPLODED by 25 (25!!) books. I only read 8 this month so that makes a net ADD to my TBR list of 17 books! Yikes. When will I ever find the time???? So many books, so little time. Are any of these books on your TBR or did you add them after seeing them here? Is there one here that you think I should eliminate? Let me know how your TBR list is looking.
