My Reading Pile #50
I was hoping to receive a box of books from a trade this week, but I’ll probably get them later today or on Monday. I actually only got mail delivered on one day this week, but it was a really, really good day.
And as I am sharing what I received in my mailbox this week, I’m giving credit to Kristi at The Story Siren who came up with the idea of sharing what’s in her mailbox each week.
I saw through the Shelf Awareness newsletter a few weeks ago that you could send an email to the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, to request an ARC of Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers.
Until I saw the newsletter, I hadn’t really taken a close look at the cover to see that it wasn’t a historical romance novel, but a seriously kick-a** book about a girl training to become one of Death’s handmaidens and an assassin. I was totally sold and put in the request. Well, it showed up this week much to my surprise. There may have been a high-pitched squeak in the elevator ride back to my apartment when I tore open the envelope and saw this book.
As it releases in early April, I hope to add it to the pile next week or the week thereafter. It’s on Goodreads if you’d like to check it out or add it to your TBR pile.
So, it was a slow week at the mailbox, but I am totally fine with that. There are so many releases coming out this week that I’ll have no shortage of reading material.
Anyway, over to the pile…
Here are the books I have in my reading pile this week.
(February 26 – March 3, 2012)
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First up is Northanger Alibi by Jenni James. I received a copy for review from the publisher a few weeks ago after the first delivery went MIA thanks to the holidays and my local post office’s serious lack of deliveries at that time. So, I’m super thrilled to finally be adding it to the pile this week.
I am not a fan of Jane Austen, but this modern retelling with a Gothic twist of Austen’s Northanger Abbey sounded like it would be the perfect way to enjoy this story. I love that the main character Claire is obsessed with Twilight and believes that a cute boy is actually a vampire. And that she feels that she needs to prove it.
I can’t wait to meet Claire and see just how she goes about that. And to find out if she’s correct and Tony is, in fact, a vampire. The description calls this a “hilarious journey” and I just can’t wait to see just how true that is.
I have absolutely no memory of Northanger Abbey, so I’m sure I’ll miss quite a few comparisons, but I have no doubt that this will be a super fun and quick read.
Next up is A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink. I received a review copy from the publisher, Penguin, several weeks ago. As release date is coming up on March 20th, I’m so glad that I finally get to add it to the pile this week.
I happened to spotlight this for my Book Watch post yesterday, so I won’t ramble on as I usually do. But from what I’ve learned so far about Helen Cartwright is that she’s awesome. And I can’t wait to find out more about the Dictata and especially those angelic brothers who protect her and the boy she’s known all her life that now wants to kill her.
Thee description may call this an “epic romance” but to me this book just sounds epic. And I am so excited it’s finally on the pile this week.
Wishful Thinking reads:
The Hunger Games. The movie will be coming out soon and I haven’t read the book. I feel like the last person on earth that hasn’t and now it’s getting serious. I won’t see the movie until I’ve read at least the first book. And I don’t want to miss that movie.
I heard it’s good…. Okay, I heard it’s awesome. Some say it’s their favorite book ever. Some say it has their favorite kick-a** heroine. While I still have my doubts that it will be as good as everyone swears it to be, I’ve learned not to put too much faith in my doubts. They were wrong about both Shatter Me and Divergent, so they clearly can’t be trusted.
Those left behind:
Once again I didn’t read any of last week’s reads. The Weeping and Sweet Evil are still on my TBR pile. And I hope to get to them before I start this week’s reads. At least The Weeping, as I have a tour stop coming up.
It was a short work week because of the holiday and work seemed to take over my days and evenings, leaving just enough time to create my posts and crash somewhere in the wee hours of the morning between four and five. There may have been a few hours of mindless television somewhere in the mix, but I was just too exhausted to read.
I did at least get to read Perception from the previous week’s pile and I’m just about three-fourths done with the non-YA book I’m reading for my other blog, so there was some reading accomplished this week. But I am seriously behind on reviews. I hope to remedy that this week and next. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
NetGalley Pile Adds:
Nope. I did not request anything new. I still didn’t get approved for any of my pending requests, but again, I didn’t get any denial emails either. But I’m actually glad. I have way too many books on the pile and I can say with complete assurance that March will not be a “me” reads month. There’s just still too much catching up to do.
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Even though the design work was just about done, I had to add a few more items onto the project sheet. So that took a bit of time away from reading. As did my need to make some adjustments to my domains. But work was the real culprit. It took a huge portion out of my evenings this week and kept me so mentally tied up in knots I didn’t even have the energy to read.
I don’t see this week as being much better, but ahhhhh, next week. I hope by then things will be less stressful and I can get back to devouring books like I love doing.
I hope you all have a really happy reading week this week!
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February 25th, 2012 at 9:12 am
I completely missed that one. I sent an email asking for Unveiling (or something like that). I can’t wait to hear what you think about Grave Mercy, the cover is awesome!
I hope you read Hunger Games before the movie comes out, at least you still have a few more months to get to it.
February 25th, 2012 at 11:26 am
Apparently there were a few and I missed them all except one. I think it’s sometimes about the placement on the newsletter and just the time to scroll through. That cover is awesome!
Doesn’t THG come out in March? They’re selling tickets for it already. Yikes!
February 25th, 2012 at 9:30 am
Northanger Alibi looks really cute. I’ll have to check out Grave Mercy. I hope you like the Hunger Games if/when you read it. Sometimes when you hear so many good things about a book and then finally read it doesn’t quite live up to expectations. I thought they were really good though.
February 25th, 2012 at 11:25 am
That’s what makes me the most nervous about THG. I don’t want to be the one person who’s just kind of okay with it and not falling head over heels in love. It just sounds too much like a Stephen King premise though I’ve been assured that it’s not the same. I will read at least the one. Glad to hear you think they were good though!
February 25th, 2012 at 9:45 am
I am loving Grave Mercy! I’m having a crazypants book week… went to Breathless Reads and getting more books tonight. Good luck with finding the time and energy to read!
February 25th, 2012 at 10:00 am
Awesome books. I missed the email from Shelf Awareness about Grave Mercy. I think I sometimes delete them when my inbox is really full. Hope you can get to The Hunger Games soon. It really is an awesome book!
February 25th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Grave Mercy was pretty good, it does read like a historical romance in some places. The assassin part of her job is more upfront in the beginning then it fades just slightly as some romance takes the spotlight. I hope you enjoy it.
I read A Temptation of Angels and I really was not impressed. The whole thing just feel apart in my hands and it is one of the few books that I think I actually rated 2/5.
I’m surprised you haven’t read Hunger Games but then again sometimes I’m in that situation with books like Delirium, Divergent and Wither. I feel like everyone has read those and stated how amazing they are.
February 25th, 2012 at 11:13 am
When Grave Mercy showed up this week for me I danced with joy in the kitchen. I am so excited!
February 25th, 2012 at 11:23 am
It’s awesome when surprise books show up isn’t it! Hope you love it!
February 25th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
OOOH, I WANT GRAVE MERCY SOOOO BAD, LUCKY!
Hi! We’re Goodreads friends but not blogger friends yet. I just followed your blog via linkys, would love it you could please follow me back via GFC at:
Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed
http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com
Thanks!
February 25th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
I’m excited to read Grave Mercy! Looks awesome! I just finished The Hunger Games Trilogy, so if you get the time I definitely reccomend reading them before you see the movie. I put off reading them too but they were great reads so I hope you have a chance to read them.
February 25th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Oh yay! I will definitely at least be reading book one before the movie. I can’t see the movie otherwise!
February 26th, 2012 at 6:57 am
Don’t be too hard on yourself, I only just read The Hunger Games last year (and I have only just convinced my friends to read it, within the last month or so). I really, really, REALLY liked the first 2 books, but Mockingjay kinda did me in. :/
And speaking of feeling bad for not having read a series… I haven’t read Michelle Zink’s book series (though I did recently win the second book from her). Eek! I gotta get on that!
February 26th, 2012 at 9:32 am
wow one AWESOME book is so much better than none <3<3
Now I really feel like adding that book to my to-read list on goodreads! so happy you got approved for a copy!
Now on to your reading pile…I have never actually read anything by Jane Aust… so…even though your gushing about that book has me dying to read it I have zero background to compare it to…so you think that would affect my read in any way?
And wow…Michelle's book…I am still one of those who has not read anything by her but own The Prophecy of the Sisters…and again…what you chose to write about of the book right in this post has me regreting not having read her previous ones
happy reading Rachel! <3<3<3 and hope that work lets you enjoy if only a little more of reading this week than the last! And since I have been a terrible follower this past week for school and work I am crossing my fingers for myself as well! I NEED to come back on stalker mode full force this week <3<3 so wish me luck!
February 26th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Good luck with the reading pile. I’ve been hearing great things about Grave Mercy recently.
I’ve also been meaning to try out that Jane Austen YA series. It looks cute. Happy reading.