Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Can't Wait Wednesday - Mr. Dickens and His Carol


Linking up with Wishful Endings today :)

Every week, I skim through the "Coming Soon" list at Barnes and Noble for the following week.  
I love looking at the covers and selecting finalists for my upcoming favorites.
Yes, I'm a book nerd.

If I find a cover that interests me, then I open it up and read the blurb...there are way too many books to read for me to waste one more second, so a book has to grab me...where I am in that moment.
And most of the time, I can't even predict what that moment looks like.
It's up to the book really ;)

I force myself to stop at 1 choice.
1
That's it.

Without further adieu, here's my Can't Wait choice among the "Coming Soon" selections on Barnes and Noble for the week of October 30, 2017:



Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva



Here's the synopsis from Barnes and Noble: 
(I've highlighted in red the parts that yell at me loud and clear that I must read this book!)


A charming, comic, and ultimately poignant story about the creation of the most famous Christmas tale ever written. It’s as foggy and haunted and redemptive as the original; it’s all heart, and I read it in a couple of ebullient, Christmassy gulps.” —Anthony Doerr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All The Light We Cannot See
Laced with humor, rich historical detail from Charles Dickens’ life, and clever winks to his work, Samantha Silva's Mr. Dickens and His Carol is an irresistible new take on a cherished classic.

Charles Dickens is not feeling the Christmas spirit. His newest book is an utter flop, the critics have turned against him, relatives near and far hound him for money. While his wife plans a lavish holiday party for their ever-expanding family and circle of friends, Dickens has visions of the poor house. But when his publishers try to blackmail him into writing a Christmas book to save them all from financial ruin, he refuses. And a serious bout of writer’s block sets in.
Frazzled and filled with self-doubt, Dickens seeks solace in his great palace of thinking, the city of London itself. On one of his long night walks, in a once-beloved square, he meets the mysterious Eleanor Lovejoy, who might be just the muse he needs. As Dickens’ deadlines close in, Eleanor propels him on a Scrooge-like journey that tests everything he believes about generosity, friendship, ambition, and love. The story he writes will change Christmas forever."




Y'all, seriously...I'm squealing...I want this book so badly and am hoping hoping hoping that it's as good as it sounds!!!!


What do you think of this week's choice??
Do you want to read it as much as I do??


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday - Unique Book Titles






If you're a reader like me, the part of your life where you decide what to read next can be an overwhelming experience.  
There are so many books I want to read...where do I start????  
The idea that more books are published on any given day than I could ever read in my lifetime makes my brain freak out a little bit too :( I heard that on an Anne Bogel podcast today on my way home from work.  
I rely on book covers and catchy titles to reel in the finalists when I'm searching.  I looked through my review archives to see what I had there that jumped out at me...books I know the title had something to do with me choosing it.
Here they are:





I'm a huge memoir fan as is apparent by this list.




Memoir and humor...I'll take it all day, any day.
The stuff about getting older is just icing on the cake :) 

Bossypants by Tina Fey


Women's issues, memoir, man's world, humor...bossy britches to boot.
I felt a little left out of this one bc of all the references to Third Rock (which I didn't watch), but who wouldn't want to read a book called "BossyPants"?  
Who wouldn't want to be a "BossyPants?"




Ok, who doesn't like a tell-all by a child actor??  While some celebrity memoirs can be dull, this one was anything but.  Alison Arngrim has quite a voice and just as interesting of a story to tell as well.




I love anything to do with Mennonites and the Amish...this memoir was no different.  There was a sequel to this one Mennonite Gets Married, but I wasn't as interested in that one.  I think it's still on my shelf, however, and I may just pull it down.  I remember this book being so dang funny.  

Sad Desk Salad by Jessica Grose


A working girl...who eats lunch at her desk every day...technology...learning the ropes in a man's world.  Yes, thank you.




My youngest daughter's name is Reagan, and sometimes when we're feeling silly, we call her "Arugula"...I know that's part of the reason I accepted this book for review.  I ended up marking this one up so much, and it's still on my keeper of all keepers shelf :)


The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
I haven't finished this review yet...oy.


A family saga...the best...with a little magic and food mixed in for "flavor"...see what I did there?




I listened to this one and loved it so!  Definitely for the dog fans out there :)



Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies at The Broke and the Bookish.