Category: The pile

books, The pile

Books Incoming: Mid-January

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Well, after the Christmas special Books Incoming, I don’t actually have a lot to show you this time out. I’ve already read the Rivers of London graphic novel, and I’ve started Murder on the Minnesota. The Last Action Hero was bought because of how much I enjoyed Wild and Crazy Guys – and I think this is one that Him Indoors will want to read too. But that’s it. January does tend to be a quiet time for new releases, so there haven’t been any pre-orders dropping through the letter box, and because I was expecting books for Christmas I didn’t buy many in the second half of December. I also only made it into a bookshop for the first time this year this week so that limits a little! I would say Normal Service will be resumed – but remember I’m trying to reduce the size of The Pile, so maybe I should be hoping that it isn’t?! Still a third of this is already off the pile and another third will be shortly hopefully.

Have a great Saturday everyone.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: January 1 – January 7

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So I started 2024 by continuing the Drina binge and then started a new series of (short) cozy crimes with a home renovation theme. And I’ve already read one of my Christmas books, before it even made it onto the pile! I’ve started a couple of this month’s NetGalley books, but I haven’t finished any yet, so I’m basically already behind there. Hey ho I enjoyed my reading and that’s the main thing right?

Read:

Drina Dances in Switzerland by Jean Estoril

Drina Goes on Tour by Jean Estoril

Drina, Ballerina by Jean Estoril

Flippin’ Out by Patti Benning

Movin’ Up by Patti Benning

Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews

Capote’s Women by Laurence Leamer

Started:

Knowing Me, Knowing You by Jeevani Charika*

A Truth for a Truth by Emilie Richards

Findin’ Out by Patti Benning

Still reading:

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Animal, Vegetable, Criminal by Mary Roach

Three ebooks (two novels and a novella) bought. But I haven’t made it into a bookshop yet this year…

Bonus photo: I finished the jigsaw puzzle about three hours after last week’s week in books published!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, The pile

State of the Pile: 2024 edition

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Not going to lie, I didn’t want to do this post because, well you’ll see. But I do try to be honest here and so here is some transparency…

We enter 2024 with the to read pile bigger than ever. I’d love to say that all the books in front of the shelves are borrowed, but they’re not. I’ve just expanded beyond the shelves – which I said I wouldn’t do. It’s been a little this way all year, but has got worse in the last few months as I’ve been away from home a lot and so reading off the kindle and not physical books, and while I was trying to finish off the 50 states. So my goal for this year is to try and get back into *just* having the bookshelf of unread books and not piles nearby too. Wish me luck everyone…

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: December 25 – December 31

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Happy New Year! I hope 2024 is every thing you want it to be and more. I have a stack of new year content coming up as well as the last bits of looking back at 2023. And thank you for reading this blog – I don’t say it enough but I appreciate you all. Anyway, I finished off the year with a stack of books – including those last few states for the challenge and also a binge reread of Drina after I put the idea in my head!

Read:

If Only You Knew by Kristen Higgins

Rivers of London: Here be Dragons by Ben Aaronovitch et al

Faux Finished by Peg Marberg

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Dakota Cowboy by Lisa Mondello

Drina Dances Again by Jean Estoril

Drina Dances in New York by Jean Estoril

Drina Dances in Paris by Jean Estoril

Lethal Bayou Beauty by Jana de Leon

Ghostland by Jean Hager

The Falcon at the Portal by Elizabeth Peters

Drina Dances in Madeira by Jean Estoril

Started:

Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews

Still reading:

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Animal, Vegetable, Criminal by Mary Roach

Three ebooks bought – including the latest Veronica Speedwell which has dropped to a sensible price presumably because the new one arrives soon.

Bonus photo: end of year jigsaw update…

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: December 18 – December 24

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Happy Christmas everyone! I hope you’re all having a delightful day filled with whatever you want to be doing and hopefully lots of lovely food. And that you got the books you wanted of course. I’ve checked off another four of my missing states so I may still get the list finished before the end of the rest! Wish me luck.

Read:

Tempest by Beverly Jenkins

The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan

Six Geese a’ Slaying by Kathleen Bacus

Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score

The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters

Cowboy Dancing All Night by Jessie Gussman

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello*

Started:

If Only You Knew by Kristen Higgins

Still reading:

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Animal, Vegetable, Criminal by Mary Roach

Seven books bought and another preordered – there’s a sale on Beverly Jenkins and I needed to get the new Rivers of London ordered.

Bonus photo: a pile of presents (not for me) because if can’t post another gratuitous Christmas picture on actual Christmas Day when can I?!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: December 11 – December 17

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Quite a strange week in books: I know I need to read Christmas books and books that will help me tick off the last few states in my 50 states challenge, and yet here I am reading hustorical crime and girl’s own. What am I like…

Read:

Cape May by Chip Cheek*

The Socialite Spy by Sarah Sigal

Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood

Murder on the Mauritania by Edward Marston

June Grey: Fashion Student by Lorna Lewis

Guns in the Gallery by Simon Brett

Started:

Tempest by Beverly Jenkins

Still reading:

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello*

The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Animal, Vegetable, Criminal by Mary Roach

One ebook and one book bought. Restraining myself in the hopes of getting more books this time next week…

Bonus photo: the ice rink in Hannover square on Tuesday night – I didn’t skate, I just drank mulled wine and caught up with a friend while watching other people skate!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, The pile

Books Incoming: Mid-December

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Here we are with the pre-Christmas book haul. The Judi Dench was a whole saga, because the first copy went missing in the post and I didn’t think Simon at Big Green Books would have another one, but I got really lucky and he had a return. Which I got delivered to my parents’ house just to be safe! Then there’s a little batch of career novels which I treated myself to, another of the Edward Marston ship mysteries and two books from Foyles last week because I can’t help myself! Now depending on the amount of books I get for Christmas you may get a Christmas special books incoming, but I’m not sure yet, so I’m reserving the right to change my mind and bundle it all into January!

Have a great weekend everyone!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: December 4 – December 10

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So this week is a weird mix of audiobooks, cozy crime and checking which states I’m missing on Read across the USA 2023… And of course we continue to gear up for Christmas and all that that entails. Can I get everything done in time? Will I prioritise reading over present buying? Who can tell…

Read:

Seeing a Large Cat by Elizabeth Peters

The Dumb Money by Ben Mezrich*

Bones under the Beach Hut by Simon Brett

Thanksgiving in Paradise by Kathi Daley

Rehoboth Beach by Michael Morgan

Pumpkin Everything by Beth Labonte

Maui Madness by Kathi Daley

Started:

Cape May by Chip Cheek*

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello*

The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan

Still reading:

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Animal, Vegetable, Criminal by Mary Roach

Pre-ordered three – including the new Vinyl Detective! – and bought two ebooks and two book-books.

Bonus photo: I was staying down by St Pauls last week, so had a wander and enjoyed the Christmassy bits of things.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: November 27 – December 3

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A much better week in reading I have to say – which may have been because I didn’t go to the theatre and I was commuting into work every day which gives me nearly two hours reading time (if I want it) on the train each day. And just a quick note to say that I’m messing with the usual schedule this month because Christmas is coming and I have a fair few things I want to post before it’s too close to the big day!

Read:

Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin

Halloweeen in Paradise by Kathi Daley

Captain Marvel Vol 1: Higher, Stronger, Further, Faster More by Kelly Sue DeConnick et al

Blotto, Twinks and the Ex-King’s Daughter by Simon Brett

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict*

Private Lives by Noel Coward

The Shooting in the Shop by Simon Brett

A Night at the Tropicana by Channel Cleeton

Hello, Stranger by Katherine Center

Started:

Bones under the Beach Hut by Simon Brett

Still reading:

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Animal, Vegetable, Criminal by Mary Roach

Two ebooks bought and three Girls Own…

Bonus photo: because e-scooters aren’t lethal enough, how is this for an invention…

Actually two bonuses this week because after I mentioned the Inn at Boonsboro in recommendsday last week, – link to this popped up in one of my Facebook groups!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: November 20 – November 26

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Given that I went out three evenings last week – and had a busy weekend, I’m surprised the list is as long as it is! Anyway a fairly mystery heavy week of what there was. There’s less theatre and more train time this week, so we’ll see what that means for next week’s list!

Read:

False Colours by Georgette Heyer

He Who Whispers by John Dickson Carr

Puppies in Paradise by Kathi Daley

The Poisoning in the Pub by Simon Brett

Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery

The Hippopotamus Pool by Elizabeth Peters

Started:

Blotto, Twinks and the Ex-King’s Daughter by Simon Brett

Still reading:

Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

Animal, Vegetable, Criminal by Mary Roach

Three ebooks bought. Restrained…

Bonus photo: Christmas is coming and I have a tiny tree that came in the post as a gift!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.