Introducing My Virtual Bookshelf - a new regular feature
As a new monthly feature, I'll be sharing with you what I've added to my TBR list each month. I'm a pretty avid list nerd, so I have a fairly extensive backlog of books already. Though I do weed it out occasionally, I find my list endlessly helpful and LOVE adding new possibilities.
A few years ago I remember making the self-commitment that I'd take a book OFF my TBR for each new book added. Somehow I thought my list was getting too long (around 800 titles) and this was a solution. That idea didn't even last a few months - my list is my list. It just makes me happy to know there are all those appealing books out there waiting to be read! And, it's the perfect reference when I see a book on sale - is it already on my TBR?
I wonder if I'll add more than I read each month? Follow along to find out. Here are the 18 books that caught my eye and made it to my TBR list for this month:
Freshwater, Akawaeke Emezi
Published 2018, 229 pages
Why I added this book: highly recommended by my friend Kathy
Synopsis: debut novel with lots of award nominations: a Nigerian girl has multiple personalities which become stronger as she gets older and moves to the US for college. **ED: became a DNF
The Vanished Birds, Simon Jimenez
Published Jan 2020, 400 pgs
Why I added this book: saw on Book Riot's new in 2020 list and it sounded interesting but outside my normal reading genres
Synopsis: debut novel, a lonely star-traveling woman finds a broken, mute boy and takes him in; together they become a family; intergalactic and time twisting.
Such A Fun Age, Kiley Reid
Published 2019, 320 pages
Why I added this book: Reese book club selection for January
Synopsis: debut novel set around a black young woman babysitter who is accused of kidnapping her white charge, touching on issues of race, gender, privilege **ED: Reviewed here
Rachel Maddow: A Biography, Lisa Rogak
Published Jan 2020, 288 pages
Why I added this book: saw on Book Riot's new releases list; love Maddow's way of explaining the news
Synopsis: written by NY Times biographer, a look at Maddow's early life and path to MSNBC news anchor
The Lager Queen of Minnesota, J. Ryan Stradal
Published 2019, 349 pages
Why I added this book: recommended by Instagram reading friend Kari
Synopsis: two sisters, one inheritance not shared; the inheritance goes to building a successful brewery while the other sister struggles; family drama (great cover!) **ED: Reviewed here
They Called Us Enemy, George Takei
Published 2019, 208 pages
Why I added this book: it sounds interesting AND it fit categories on two reading challenges for this year - #ReadHarder and #BooklistQueen
Synopsis: graphic memoir about Takei's experience with Japanese internment in the US (already got this through the library - Review here)
A Christmas Memory, Truman Capote
Published 1956, 48 pages
Why I added this book: highly recommended by my friend Kathy
Synopsis: autobiographical memories of his holidays as a child in AL
Magpie Murders #1, Anthony Horowitz
Published 2016, 498 pages
Why I added this book: found on a post at Beyond the Bookends about 'books about books' and it sounds right up my alley
Synopsis: an editor is reading the latest manuscript from her successful author client and starts to suspect the story might be true (another great cover)
Dear Fahrenheit 451, Annie Spence
Published 2017, 244 pages
Why I added this book: another from Beyond the Bookends list and then I discovered it was also recommended by Anne at #ModernMrsDarcy so I'm in
Synopsis: nonfiction, a Gen-X librarian writes a collection of love letters and snarky break up notes to the books in her life
Down the River Unto the Sea, Walter Mosley
Edgar Award Winner 2019
Published 2018, 336 pages
Why I added this book: showed up on my daily Kindle sale email and it's an award winning mystery
Synopsis: a former NYPD cop imprisoned for something he didn't do, now a private investigator must solve two cases: a man wrongly condemned to die and his own **ED: read 4/21; 4 stars
The City We Became #1, N.K. Jemisin
Published March 2020, 437 pages
Why I added this book: premise sounds interesting and it's the beginning of a series, and it showed up on a couple "best of" lists
Synopsis: Five New Yorkers come together to defend the city (that has an actual soul) but an ancient evil stirs beneath the city, threatening everyone
**ED: Read 4/21; 4.5 stars
Long Bright River, Liz Moore
Published Jan 2020, 496 pages
Why I added this book: high marks from Instagram friend Kari and premise sounds like a good thriller
Synopsis: one sister a cop, the other an addict who goes missing. Cop sister tries to find her as a string of murders has her worried. Suspense about fate and sisters and addiction
**ED: Reviewed here
The Unquiet Dead #1, Ausma Zehanat Khan
Published 2014, 352 pages
Why I added this book: #ModernMrsDarcy recommendation for a good mystery ALA Louise Penny
Synopsis: a debut novel (now 5 in series) of a detective team who handle primarily Muslim sensitive cases for the Toronto police are handed a murder that doesn't fit their usual cases **ED: Reviewed here
Recursion, Blake Crouch
Published 2019, 336 pages
Why I added this book: Donna's review sold me on it
Synopsis: A detective and scientist try to stop a force that attacks our minds and memories and begins to unmake the world as we know it
**ED: Reviewed here
The Other People, CJ Tudor
Published Jan 2020, 400 pages
Why I added this book: Highly recommended by a Goodreads buddy
Synopsis: a thriller about a man whose daughter disappears and he can't stop looking for her as the woman who knows what happens is on the run for her life
Thief River Falls, Brian Freeman
Published Feb 2020, 318 pages
Why I added this book: Free as an Amazon First Reads selection
Synopsis: Thriller about author who becomes a recluse after the death of her whole family. When a runaway shows up saying he's seen a murder, it's up to her to save them both
**Read 10/19/22 - Reviewed here
(It looks like I added 18 and read 13 - at that rate my TRB will continue to GROW!) Which ones did you add to your list? Or, have you already read some of these and can share a recommendation or steer me away?
Happy Reading!