January '24 Goodreads Update 1

Oh boy. For whatever reason, I didn't do a second Goodreads update in December. I am regretting that decision now as there are about 20 new books on my to-read shelves. I have broken the 1000 mark on that list. So get a snack and a drink and settle in, because this is a long one. I'll try to be brief.

Venona: Soviet Espionage in America in the Stalin Era by John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr - My sister told me I might like this, so I added it.

Fourteen Days by the Authors Guild - This is a "collaborative novel" in which a whole bunch of authors write about an apartment building 2 weeks into a COVIID lockdown.

Stealing by Margaret Verble - Verble is an Oklahoma author.

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy - This one one a lot of awards and is set in Ireland.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune - I loved the first 2 books I read of his. I didn't read the third because it is a Pinocchio retelling and I don't like that one. This one comes out in September.

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas - This is the third book in a series I'm reading. I have read the first and have the second, but haven't read it.

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - The author grew up in Tulsa and now lives in Norman. The first three in this series were stunning. I haven't read the fourth but this fifth one comes out in July.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - I had the first three in this series, but I was waiting for the paperback release. I got it for Christmas!

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller - I have loved all of Levenseller's books so far. I got this first in a series for Christmas. My cover is prettier than this one, though.

Cruel as the Grave by Sharon Kay Penman - I had picked up the first and fourth books in this series at the used bookstore. I got this second one for Christmas.

Dragon's Lair by Sharon Kay Penman - This is the third in the series. It is set during Richard the Lionheart's reign, i.e. The Crusades.

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub - My husband gave me this for Christmas and was so pleased when I had never heard of it. But Pride and Prejudice and witch? I'm here for it.

My Friend Toby by Gregory Panaccione - My husband gave me this for Christmas and assured me that the dog doesn't die.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill - I added this to my to-read list when I got the ARC of it from NetGalley.

Reading in the Brain: The New Science of How We Read by Stanislas Dehaene - I got this for Christmas, too.

ADHD for Smart Ass Women: How to Fall in Love with Your Neurodivergent Brain by Tracy Otsuka - Does this really need any explanation?

The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien De Castell - So this is about seven bad guys who are trying to stop the good guys from making the world a better place. I hear it's quite funny.

A Day of Fire by various - I recognize exactly one of the authors who contributed to this, but never mind. My understanding is that when they excavated Pompeii, they found where people had been frozen in place in the middle of whatever they were doing. Each author took a person and tells their story here. Entirely made up of course.

Out by Natsuo Kirino - I tried to read this a good 15 years ago or more. I couldn't get into it. I was reminded of it on a podcast recently and re-added it to my to-read list. I would like to give it another go.

Exiles by Jane Harper - I liked the first in the series and have the second. This third one was being withdrawn from the library so I nabbed it.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas - This is the second book in the series I started last month with A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Way of the Bear by Anne Hillerman - This is another one that was being withdrawn. I like Anne Hillerman. So I rescued it.

The Library: A Fragile History by Andrew Pettegree and Arthur de Weduwen - When I was at the bookstore with my friend last week, I found this. It sounded amazing, so I bought it. When we got home I texted her the ISBN number and she ordered a copy for herself.

Ok. That's all. I hope none of your parts have fallen asleep.